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December 15, 2020 8:00am by Kokila Patel

General Debate 15 December 2020

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General Debate

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Maggie Pie

Today I declared New Zealand to be in the state of Woke Emergency.
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December 15, 2020 8:02am
- Captain Mainwaring
  
  And what state did you declare Aotearoa to be in?
  
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  December 15, 2020 8:05am
  - mark15
    
    Getting worse state.
    We’re in such a dire climate change emergency that parliament just went on holiday for two months.
    
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    December 15, 2020 8:07am
    - Doctor Sigmund Freud
      
      Bwahahaha
      
      Comment of the Week mark15 🙂
      
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      December 15, 2020 8:25am
    - emmess
      
      I wonder if they went to play in the summer snow in Otago or Southland
      
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      December 15, 2020 8:35am
    - oldfella
      
      mark15: Greta will not be amused.
      
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      December 15, 2020 8:42am
    - Greg Ettridge
      
      No holiday for Trev yet, he is back to tell us why it was a big mistake, I thought I read tomorrow
      
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      December 15, 2020 9:32am
    - Random T Person
      
      LOL ‘climate emergency’ = awesome weather.
      
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      December 15, 2020 10:59am
      - coge
        
        Today it is warm. Doubtless an ill omen. Of a coming vast climate apocalypse.
        
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        December 15, 2020 11:37am
    - Nickc2
      
      The same people would go on holiday if we were at war and they sent us there.
      
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      December 15, 2020 12:49pm
  - pdm
    
    CM- I don’t know about Maggie Pie but mrspdm and I do not live in Aotearoa so we don’t care about what state it is in.
    
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    December 15, 2020 8:38am
    - Harriet
      
      Aotearoa is that fucken woke it’s in the State of Victoria!!
      
      As history shows – Aotearoa has fuck all to do with Maori, it’s a public service/political/media label:
      
      Attach here [ New Zealand/ ……………… ]
      
      NZ modern history – from nanny state to nursery to neo natal class.
      
      New Never Never Land! 😎
      
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      December 15, 2020 12:02pm
- Nukuleka
  
  Common sense prevails only when ordinary folk push back against the woke nonsense. The latest in the UK, promoted by a BBC gardening presenter, is that gardening is racist because it uses terms such as ‘heritage’ and ‘native’. Just as in NZ it is often the taxpayer- funded public broadcasting service that pushes such absurd nonsense. The BBC, like RNZ, is the publicly funded face of nonsensical wokeness.
  
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  December 15, 2020 8:07am
  - artemisia
    
    ACT is a good front person to call this shit out. And if there were to be a quiet agreement with National to support it publicly – when the time is right, like not yet – that would be no bad thing.
    
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    December 15, 2020 9:34am
Luke Piewalker

Can I nominate Grant Robertson’s printing press as New Zealander of the year for services to getting Labour re-elected?
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December 15, 2020 8:04am
- Frank the tank
  
  In fairness that was a side show. The Covid Koolaid the Blairite handed out was the real champ.
  
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  December 15, 2020 8:23am
  - Simon
    
    Yep Labo Covid fear porn scared the plebs bigly. National , utter garbage, went along with it.
    
    Supposed to be the opposition party. National forever garbage
    
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    December 15, 2020 8:52am
    - Batman
      
      Or there’s just a small group of deluded internet cranks who think it’s a hoax… Including you, Simon.
      
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      December 15, 2020 9:14am
      - Frank the tank
        
        Sooooo if you don’t agree you’re a deluded internet crank? Righto…..I’ll file this alongside “deplorables”.
        
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        December 15, 2020 9:26am
      - Doctor Sigmund Freud
        
        You are alive Batman.
        
        It’s a hoax.
        
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        December 15, 2020 9:28am
- Simon
  
  Robertson does not control the money printing. RBNZ is a semi independent
  
  Had Labo direct control over printing then our currency would have collapsed. Like what happened in Argentina in 2009 2018
  
  However that’s not to say in a few years time NZ economy collapse from direct political running of money printing. NZ possible future isn’t Venezuela but Argentina
  
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  December 15, 2020 8:50am
- Isobar
  
  I think full credit for getting labour re-elected should go to Judith Collins and Peter Goodfellow. I don’t think anything contributed more than the inept opposition.
  
  Good thing they have learnt the lessons and made the required changes of key personnel. Oh wait…
  
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  December 15, 2020 1:10pm
- Paulus
  
  No, No, you have got it wrong or have I.
  I am in the very twilight of my life and today I suffer from being very hard of hearing, but today I heard on the so called media, that prior to Covid that we were well on the way to clearing Poverty and Child Poverty particularly.
  As such it is now taking longer to clear it, but this wonderful Government has it all under control.
  I cannot wait much longer.
  I am also hearing and reading daily now the we are on the cusp of an economic boom and that we are full of positivity for the future.
  Tell that to those who can least afford it and who have lost their jobs – under which poverty and loss of income along with price increases – try the supermarkets now.
  Despite Robertson throwing billions of dollars willy nilly into the economy people are yet to find that they are better off, I hate to think of the financial results after Christmas as the bills costs and and increases emerge. Investment incomes for the elderly who have saved is almost nil and look like remaining for a long time.
  Living in Tauranga I had to go into the CBD which I have not done for quite a while and notice the large rows and number of shops empty – and it looks that this will remain despite the Herald baby paper extolling the property boom in prices and sales and how much is going to be spent in the area.
  Promises and promises – but am sad that I am not being bamboozled by the media.
  
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  December 15, 2020 1:25pm
WaynelSexton

Georgia has selected a rival set of electors:

Because the President’s lawsuit contesting the Georgia election is still pending, the Republican nominees for Presidential Elector met today at noon at the State Capitol today and cast their votes for President and Vice President

https://mobile.twitter.com/DavidShafer/status/1338542161932021762
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December 15, 2020 8:07am
- Simon
  
  Scott Adams
  
  Things we know for sure:
  
  1. Joe Biden ran for president because he fell for the Fine People Hoax — the most debunked hoax in history.
  
  2. Fifty past and current American intelligence professionals lied to the American public about Russian disinformation and Hunter Biden.
  
  3. The so-called news industry is MOSTLY involved in propaganda and misinformation on political stories. We have no actual “news” business in America beyond the smaller outlets.
  
  4. China had “God mode” access to anything updated with Solarwind software, including Dominion.
  
  5. China (probably) has lots of blackmail material on the Biden family, which means the guy in charge of fixing this situation is the last person on earth who could do it.
  
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  December 15, 2020 8:44am
  - Batman
    
    I see the conspiracy loons have already linked solar wind and Dominion, because of course their squirrel brains have done so.
    
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    December 15, 2020 9:15am
    - Juliet2554
      
      Hey Batman, your words will not age well.
      
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      December 15, 2020 9:53am
      - Batman
        
        Oh I’m comfortable they will.
        
        I’m sure you lot will also go to your graves swearing that it was all rigged and Trump is the most innocent guy ever.
        
        I know I prefer fact over fiction.
        
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        December 15, 2020 10:13am
  - lastmanstanding
    
    Simon I agree on your #5. IMHO Biden will roll over on China cut back the trade tariffs do nothing about the genocide and hope like hell China doesnt release any of the damaging info it has on him and Hunter.
    Again IMHO I see as others do that Biden will be moved aside for Harris who was always destined for the Big Chair.
    She will be a woke disaster like Cindy however her power unlike Cindys is restrained as long as the GOP can hold the Senate.
    The US is a badly divided country and this will see the rise and rise of China and the descent of the US.
    China will assert its power on small countries like ours forcing us to chose between China and the US or risk our trade.
    As I have posted before if a government disobeys China and China is a major trade partner then China can easily bring about regime change by weakening the economy forcing the Government to be replaced by a new Government that doesnt have to be told what will happen to it if it doesnt obey Beijing.
    
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    December 15, 2020 10:04am
    - mikenmildagain
      
      I guess it’s not only on Kiwiblog that we can read the daily flow of fanciful predictions.
      Does anyone remember:
      Hilary Clinton being at death’s door and wouldn’t live long if elected?
      Jacinda Ardern being unable to cope with the pressure of being PM and/or her baby and so would not see out three years?
      Hilary Clinton to be locked up for her crimes?
      etc, etc
      
      Your predictions about Biden should be taken with a grain of salt. There is a difference between prediction and wishful thinking.
      
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      December 15, 2020 10:38am
      - amospicton
        
        Do you genuinely believe Biden will last 4 years MM? They will ‘arrange’ a Harris ascension at some point and probably sooner rather than laster.
        
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        December 15, 2020 3:50pm
  - IC5000
    
    You mean the Scott Adams who thinks his skills as a ventriloquist gives him some special insights into politics
    
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    December 15, 2020 2:51pm
- Andrei
  
  Nevada has done the same thing
  
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  December 15, 2020 8:50am
  - Batman
    
    No, a bunch of crybaby Republicans have nominated illegitimate ‘electors’ who will be humiliated come 6 Jan.
    
    All because a deranged narcissist can’t accept losing.
    
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    December 15, 2020 9:21am
    - flash2846
      
      A bit early for all your hatred isn’t it Batboy?
      
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      December 15, 2020 9:42am
    - WaynelSexton
      
      Cheer up Batman, it’s only four more years
      
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      December 15, 2020 10:23am
      - mikenmildagain
        
        But only about a month still you can start beating the drum for TRUMP 2024!
        Make America Great Again Again!
        
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        December 15, 2020 10:39am
      - WaynelSexton
        
        Keep in mind that if a state submits two sets of electors, the President of the Senate decides which group of electors to hear, as per the precedent set when Rutherford B. Hayes was elected. The President of the Senate is the Vice-President, Mike Pence. He also has the option of leaving the state out of the count.
        
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        December 15, 2020 11:13am
      - Batman
        
        There are also legal processes which would make Mike Pence persona non grata for attempting to do such a thing.
        
        And you left out that both houses have to agree, so your gambit is a bit of a moot point anyway.
        
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        December 15, 2020 11:14am
      - mikenmildagain
        
        Every time one laughable take on the US constitution is shot down, these morons just pivot to something even more nonsensical.
        There are still more stages after congress rejects any ‘alternative’ slates of electors and certifies the result.
        There will be the already canvassed idea that Tяumpy can declare a state of emergency and cancel the election result. there will be more crackpot ideas about preventing the inauguration. Then there’s secession, and, probably, appeals to Russia to invade.
        
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        December 15, 2020 11:37am
      - WaynelSexton
        
        Just enjoy the show.
        https://macris.substack.com/p/who-counts-the-votes-of-the-presidential
        
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        December 15, 2020 12:25pm
      - Batman
        
        Yeah this is exactly what Mike said, pivot to an even more nonsensical take.
        
        Reality is a tough opponent.
        
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        December 15, 2020 12:35pm
    - Engelbert Humperdink
      
      “No, a bunch of crybaby Republicans have nominated illegitimate ‘electors’ who will be humiliated come 6 Jan. All because a deranged narcissist can’t accept losing”
      
      Can you accept that people can have divergent, different and even completely 180-degree opposed opinions to yours, without them being illegitimate, deranged, and narcissistic and deserving of humiliation? If you can’t, that’s a problem for you.
      
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      December 15, 2020 11:40am
      - Batman
        
        Well, they do not merely have a different opinion, they have employed an entirely different set of facts and a reality that simply does not exist.
        
        But are they simply misled and misinformed? I don’t believe so. Sure, some will be average local body representatives but most should be intelligent enough to determine bullshit. Then again, smart people can be manipulated into cults when their emotions and fears are preyed upon and override their capability for logical thinking.
        
        Rather, I think the vast majority of the state reps, state officials, and federal GOP members are entirely complicit and are cynically using the bullshit disinformation about election fraud to maintain GOP power, against the clear wishes of the US people.
        
        That is entirely deserving of being called deranged, in service of a narcissistic personality, seditionist, and unworthy of their elected positions.
        
        They deserve all the public humiliation that is coming their way. History will shame them as undemocratic traitors who tried to usurp democracy.
        
        The same goes for those that spread and contribute to those lies. No quarter should be given to craven opportunists who seek to maintain the power of a minority with entirely outdated views.
        
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        December 15, 2019 1:22pm
Chuck Bird

I know the Speaker cannot be sacked by the government. Does anyone know if the Deputy Speaker can be?

I am trying to figure out what motivated Tolley to help Mallard out.
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December 15, 2020 8:11am
- Nukuleka
  
  Perhaps because once in power so many MPs become members of the same swamp.
  
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  December 15, 2020 8:12am
- cmm
  
  Politics is like professional wrestling. They are not really adversaries. They just put on an act for us muggles.
  
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  December 15, 2020 8:13am
- Maggy Wassilieff
  
  Anne Tolley explains here:
  
  As deputy speaker, Tolley said she set up a process that would protect all speakers of Parliament.
  
  “At some stage National will be in government and they will have a speaker. We’re a much more litigious community these days, so it may well be that National’s speaker gets into trouble.”
  
  https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/432852/former-deputy-speaker-expected-trevor-mallard-s-legal-dispute-to-be-costly-when-agreeing-to-it
  
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  December 15, 2020 8:15am
  - Frank the tank
    
    All pigs like their snouts in the trough whether Red, Blue, Black or Green.
    
    Comments like the above prove National will be long term better off without Tolley and her ilk.
    
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    December 15, 2020 8:30am
    - Isobar
      
      100% agree. You only have to see the damage she did to schools in Christchurch post quake to understand how useless she actually was.
      
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      December 15, 2020 1:14pm
  - Chuck Bird
    
    Thanks, Maggy, I wonder if National were happy with what she had done. It appears they may not have known.
    
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    December 15, 2020 8:32am
    - Maggy Wassilieff
      
      That might explain why Trevor is happy to turn up to Tomorrow’s Hearing.
      
      It is all going to be National’s Fault that Parliament continues to be a bully’s playground.
      
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      December 15, 2020 8:36am
      - Tony Stuart
        
        The fact that Tolley, who reported to Mallard, signed off the change after Crown Law advice is largely irrelevant, especially to Mallard defaming a public servant in the first place.
        
        And never, ever forget; this is not the first occasion when Mallard has used his privileged position to defame a public servant to suit his own agenda; remember Erin Leigh?
        
        https://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/2007/11/the_attack_on_erin_leigh.html
        
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        December 15, 2020 8:43am
      - Chuck Bird
        
        Tony, I do not see Tolley helping Mallard as irrelevant. I wonder if she told National. It seems they are surprised.
        
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        December 15, 2020 9:00am
    - Frank the tank
      
      If they didn’t know then they deserve this to be turned on them. That would smack of incompetence similar to that they charge the current clown government of.
      
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      December 15, 2020 8:42am
      - Chuck Bird
        
        Frank, if they did not know how does it reflect on the party if Tolley did not tell them?
        
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        December 15, 2020 9:12am
    - Sacha
      
      There may have been similar precedent decisions. Perhaps within the office, it was just a ‘routine’ decision, to meet any minister’s legal costs, and the Opposition parties were not customarily consulted.
      
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      December 15, 2020 10:08am
  - Tomtoddy
    
    Isn’t the issue that the changes were made because Mallard was already under the hammer? If Cabinet is protected then there is a case to cover the Speaker – not a strong case but it’s moot.
    
    The actual morality of the matter is making the change when he was facing a claim.
    
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    December 15, 2020 8:44am
    - hmmokrightitis
      
      Absolutely right.
      
      Its akin to changing the rules after a penalty has been awarded. And changing those rules such that the crowd pay extra for watching the penalty reversed to the other end of the field, the opposing goalkeeper told to stand behind the goal, and the ball placed 2 feet from the goal.
      
      Yet again the taxpayer gets shafted.
      
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      December 15, 2020 10:00am
  - Isobar
    
    Once again, i have said this time and time again, this is a beltway issue. The average NZ’er does not care. Repeat – no one cares.
    
    Mallard is an idiot and is completely in the wrong here, but for the average NZ’er – if they even know about the issue which is unlikely this is seen as a storm in a teacup and will quickly be forgotten about over the summer barbecues.
    
    It saddens me that the opposition does not seem yep able to pick their battles better, going through the motions on this might make Bishop feel better about losing his seat, but it wont win them any more votes.
    
    I feel sorry for the guy that was wrongly accused, but the opposition continuing the day in and day out about it, will not make it any better for him either.
    
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    December 15, 2020 1:20pm
- Geoff1
  
  Don’t waste your time Chuck – she retired at the last election. National may end up with egg on their face if they push too hard on the Mallard saga, she was the one who approved the changes to the rule allowing the speaker to be on a par with ministers.
  
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  December 15, 2020 8:41am
- lifesgood
  
  She is a disgrace to the National party. What gave her the right to make a sole decision about throwing away tax payers money. Is she the queen of the world or something?
  
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  December 15, 2020 9:13am
  - Chuck Bird
    
    lifesgood, I hope we find out soon. It seems like she might not have told National.
    
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    December 15, 2020 9:47am
- Paulus
  
  Tolley is no longer an MP – she did not stand at the last election, so what can she be sued for if Mallard can do whatever Jacinda wants.
  
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  December 15, 2020 1:28pm
Tony Stuart

Barry Soper sticks up for the victim of the alleged defamation by Speaker Trevor Mallard:

Speaker Trevor Mallard has been accused of destroying an innocent man’s life, after falsely accusing a parliamentary member of being a rapist.

Mallard’s in the firing line amid revelations taxpayers footed a $330,000 bill for his settlement and legal costs of a defamation action – after he wrongly called a staff member a rapist.

Newstalk ZB Political editor Barry Soper told Andrew Dickens the Prime Minister and Labour Party are not living up to their own words and values.

“If Jacinda Ardern pleads well-being and kindness as she does, there has been none of that applied to the man at the centre of this.

“He’s now very ill as a result of the accusation made against him, his life has been destroyed. That is not well-being or kindness.”

https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/andrew-dickens-monday-afternoons/audio/barry-soper-trevor-mallard-s-false-rape-accusation-has-destroyed-an-innocent-mans-life/.X9cLD7-8eOo.facebook

It’s well worth taking a few minutes to listen to the interview with Soper. One interesting point he raises is that any MP who happened to defame Trevor Mallard can now get their costs covered by the taxpayer should Mallard sue them. He’s effectively opened a new duck hunting season!
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December 15, 2020 8:14am
- Benedict Yu
  
  Soper has really risen to the cause on this.
  
  I heard jacinda yesterday saying it was “common” for Speakers to be subject of no confidence motions. Soper pointed out that it is rare and he could not recall one coming to a vote in Parliament.
  
  Why does she just make stuff up?
  
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  December 15, 2020 8:24am
  - Ehlana
    
    Maybe she just doesn’t actually know the answer, so says what works best for her and thinks that if it works for her, it must be true.
    
    That seems to be a problem that afflicts some people in public office.
    
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    December 15, 2020 8:34am
    - Maggy Wassilieff
      
      No one from the media is capable of fact-checking Labour and the PM.
      
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      December 15, 2020 8:37am
      - Benedict Yu
        
        I am. It usually takes me 3 minutes with Google. Why can’t journalists do that?
        
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        December 15, 2020 8:39am
      - Doctor Sigmund Freud
        
        @ Maggy
        
        ‘No one from the media is capable.’
        
        Full stop!
        
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        December 15, 2020 9:31am
      - GJM
        
        There are more than 50 million reasons why the media won’t go against Cindy the paymaster
        
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        December 15, 2020 9:36am
      - Greg Ettridge
        
        Sad thing is, some of the media are capable of fact checking, this is all about changing attitudes to reporting, what they think is relevant, not what is actual news.
        
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        December 15, 2020 10:16am
  - Tony Stuart
    
    I can’t recall a no confidence motion against a Speaker being debated or going to vote in the time in which I have been following politics. Perhaps Ardern is getting confused with the no confidence motion traditionally moved by the Leader of the Opposition after the opening debate each parliamentary year, and after each Budget.
    
    NZF and Labour threatened David Carter with a no confidence motion in the last-but-one Parliament, but it never proceeded.
    
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    December 15, 2020 8:37am
    - Benedict Yu
      
      But why is the Prime Minister who has been in Parliament 12 years unaware of such fundamental issues?
      
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      December 15, 2020 8:40am
      - Maggy Wassilieff
        
        She’s not very bright.
        
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        December 15, 2020 8:52am
      - Paulus Gnome
        
        The fridge bulb in Lighting Direct . . .
        
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        December 15, 2020 9:11am
      - cmm
        
        Why tell the truth when nobody ever calls her out for L-wording?
        
        Every time she L-words she pushes the boundary a bit further and nobody calls her on it. Result: she l-words more and more because she knows she can get away with it.
        
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        December 15, 2020 9:20am
      - Chuck Bird
        
        Maggy, she is politically bright or she is getting good advice. Labour got Mallard off the front page – down to page two.
        
        Does anyone think the timing of the bubble with Oz is an accident?
        
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        December 15, 2020 10:08am
      - Maggy Wassilieff
        
        she is getting good advice.
        
        She’s a pretty puppet on a string, Chuck.
        
        Work-out who’s pulling the strings and you might locate the puppet masters
        
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        December 15, 2020 12:12pm
      - Allan
        
        She is totally unaware of most issues.
        
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        December 15, 2020 4:31pm
    - cmm
      
      Can they make it a two for one deal and run a no confidence on Tolley at the same time?
      
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      December 15, 2020 9:17am
      - Tony Stuart
        
        No, because Tolley is no longer an MP, let alone one of the Presiding Officers.
        
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        December 15, 2020 10:33am
      - Ehlana
        
        Probably not, cmm, as she retired from Parliament at the last election.
        
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        December 15, 2020 10:54am
    - Tomtoddy
      
      Have you all signed the Taxpayers Union petition? It all helps.
      
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      December 15, 2020 10:40am
      - pdm
        
        Pity it does not include Mallards resignation as well.
        
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        December 15, 2020 1:08pm
  - Weinerpoop
    
    She makes stuff up because she is lazy, doesn’t do her background research and our media allow her to get away with whatever she wants.
    
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    December 15, 2020 8:44am
    - namron
      
      With jacinda, a big mouth does not indicate a BIG brain!!
      
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      December 15, 2020 9:25am
  - Nickc2
    
    She will continue to make stuff up so long as people vote for her. To prevent this would require a major shift in public opinion. Our MSM will never contemplate this whilst being supported financially by the current corrupt Govt.
    
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    December 15, 2020 8:57am
- Yvette
  
  “He’s now very ill as a result of the accusation made against him, his life has been destroyed. That is not well-being or kindness.”
  So where is any compensation or damages?
  
  Mallard claims to be bound by confidentiality in the “settlement” but the $330,000 payment appears broken down to only, supposedly, legal fees –
  
  Of that, $158,000 was a payment to the former staffer to settle a legal claim, $171,000 was paid in fees to law firm Dentons Kensington Swan and $4641.70 went to Crown Law for advice to the former Deputy Speaker Anne Tolley [1]
  
  So what is “to settle a legal claim”? – is that a payment of compensation from Mallard to the ex-employee, and if so who paid the ex-employee’s legal fees, and if in fact the $158,000 is the ex-employee’s lawyer’s fees, is there no compensation or damages?
  
  [1] https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2020/12/jacinda-ardern-has-confidence-in-speaker-trevor-mallard-as-national-vows-to-probe-him-over-taxpayer-funded-legal-settlement.html
  
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  December 15, 2020 8:42am
  - Tony Stuart
    
    Graeme Edgeler pointed out to me yesterday on Twitter that the man in question still has the opportunity to take a case to the Employment Relations Authority, where compensation can be awarded against the Parliamentary Service, his employer.
    
    37 2
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    December 15, 2020 8:46am
    - Maggy Wassilieff
      
      When your health is crap, you usually want to be away from any extra stress.
      
      It is why bullies pick on the vulnerable.
      
      36 1
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      December 15, 2020 8:54am
      - igm
        
        Ask Tau Henare . . . a classic example!
        
        8 2
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        December 15, 2020 10:09am
    - Yvette
      
      Tony Stuart, quite obviously then, the former staffer for his own wellbeing should take a case to the Employment Relations Authority, where compensation can be awarded against the Parliamentary Service, his employer, especially since Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern declares on State television and in the media –“My view is, and obviously he [Mallard] agrees, he has made a mistake. No one is debating that.”
      
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      December 15, 2020 8:58am
      - Tony Stuart
        
        Yes, but as Maggy notes, the man is already ill, and the $158k he got from Mallard will only cover his legal bills. There’s no guarantee he would receive compensation from the ERA, but there’s a cast-iron guarantee that he will incur further costs.
        
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        December 15, 2020 10:36am
    - cmm
      
      “awarded against the Parliamentary Service”
      
      Aka the taxpayer is going to have to cough up again and Mallard gets away free.
      
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      December 15, 2020 9:22am
- artemisia
  
  Mr Soper said –
  
  On the day he made the allegation, Mallard summoned me to his office and urged me not to interview the staff member he accused, saying it would re-traumatise the victim. I got the sense that he didn’t want the interview to take place because he knew his claim wouldn’t stack up. It didn’t.
  
  https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/barry-soper-trevor-mallards-rape-accusations-could-have-been-his-undoing/6VRFBPA6667UYR2YHTPRKKI2VU/
  
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  December 15, 2020 9:24am
  - Tony Stuart
    
    “The Government I lead will be the most open and transparent New Zealand has ever seen” – Jacinda Ardern, November 2017.
    
    It seems that Speaker Mallard didn’t get that memo.
    
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    December 15, 2020 10:37am
    - Libertarians are right
      
      That’s because the second he became Leader of the House, Hipkins made it his mission to ensure everyone did the exact opposite. Why do you think everyone thinks Hipkins is one of their most competent Ministers? It’s not from achievement, it’s from a complete lack of openness and transparency – we simply aren’t allowed to know how badly he’s stuffed up.
      
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      December 15, 2020 2:05pm
BAM

Former deputy speaker Anne Tolley expected Speaker Trevor Mallard’s legal dispute to be costly when she agreed to taxpayers footing the bill.

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/432852/former-deputy-speaker-expected-trevor-mallard-s-legal-dispute-to-be-costly-when-agreeing-to-it

Did no one in National know that Anne Tolley signed off on Mallards court case and had received advice from Crown Law that indicated, roughly, how much it would cost the taxpayer.?
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December 15, 2020 8:18am
- KiwiSapper
  
  “Former deputy speaker Anne Tolley expected Speaker Trevor Mallard’s legal dispute to be costly when she agreed to tax payers footing the bill.”
  
  AGREED…….To me that implies she was asked to agree otherwise it would be “decided”. So who asked her to “agree” and could it be that the same person also asked her to do the due process?
  Finally, could “that person” be the Duck?
  “A Deputy”, on her own volition DECIDING … not what is being reported but it is the way speed reader’s would think so. Media reporting is a red herring being dragged across the trail to divert the hounds attention from the Duck during the Duck shooting season
  
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  December 15, 2020 9:38am
  - Tony Stuart
    
    Correct; Tolley was the DEPUTY Speaker, which means she was under the direction of the Speaker. And we all know who that is.
    
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    December 15, 2020 10:32am
    - Chuck Bird
      
      Please explain Tony. What could he do if she refused to sign?
      
      3 1
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      December 15, 2020 12:34pm
Maggie Pie

Travel Bubble announced with The Cooks – YAY!

Travel Bubble announced with OZ – YAY!

Trevor? What about him??
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December 15, 2020 8:19am
- Gravelroad
  
  Nay.
  
  13 2
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  December 15, 2020 8:22am
- Frank the tank
  
  Lol. Dangle the carrot out of the plebs. Roman Emperors did the same type of thing when the mob got restless.
  
  Darryl Kerrigan is on the phone regarding the likelihood of Easter on the GC.
  
  18 2
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  December 15, 2020 8:33am
  - Charmaine Hawke
    
    Correct Frank, this is nothing but a distraction to keep the people happy. I note she offered no date this was going to start because then if she had to pull the plug people would be affected. This shows her profound lack of understanding of how the industry works or even how people other than her book travel.
    Airlines need lead time to get schedules in place, pilots and crews ready (remember them they have in most cases been on furlough and need time to get back up to speed, especially pilots who need flying hours) and time to sell seats but our PM is too addicted to the power she, temporarily, holds over us.
    Where are the reporters asking her the hard questions? Don’t bother to reply as I know they just want to know what Santa is getting Neve for Christmas.
    
    25 1
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    December 15, 2020 8:52am
- lifesgood
  
  Biggest joke ever. Travel bubble announced – yeah, well may be, and not until at least March. Deflection, deflection, deflection. I suppose the gullible will be sucked in, though.
  
  28 2
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  December 15, 2020 9:16am
- WaynelSexton
  
  Travel bubble to open at the beginning of flu season? She’s betting on the public to beg her to keep it closed.
  
  16 2
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  December 15, 2020 9:25am
- krazykiwi
  
  We have Mallard to thank for the Travel Bubble announcements.
  
  Every time her government gets in a a bit of a corner, Ardern will magnanimously return some of our fraudulently withdrawn freedoms.
  
  Bread and circuses.
  
  We’ve all been played for fools.
  
  27 2
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  December 15, 2020 9:57am
igm

One does not “Duck Hunt”, one “Duck Shoots”, there being no hunting required in the process.
The term “Duck Hunting” is only used by townies and Wokes.
21 5
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December 15, 2020 8:20am
- Paulus Gnome
  
  Hunt rhymes nicely with another word for Mallard, shoots not so much . . .
  
  25 3
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  December 15, 2020 8:37am
- Tony Stuart
  
  I think in this case, where the target is a particular Mallard’s position, rather than his protein, hunting is adequate!
  
  13 2
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  December 15, 2020 8:39am
- MCos
  
  For that matter I’ve never heard anyone use the word ‘woke’ in normal conversation (or ‘duck hunt’ for that matter)
  It seems to be a word favoured by the likes of yourself to describe anyone of opposing views.
  
  3 22
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  December 15, 2020 9:07am
Frank the tank

So the Blairite has been environmentally slut shamed by St Greta. Aaaaand nothing. Ok BMW Jimmy was left to comment on the shit sandwich and as Jimmy invariably does he dribbles out “we can do better”. Sure Jimmy, sure. She just doesn’t care anymore that her nuclear moment turned into an misdirected Iraqi scud.

The middle matters more than anything to the Blairite. A little criticism around Trev and house prices and out dangles the Australia bubble carrot. FFS how fucking dumb are middle NZ. It ain’t happening as it won’t be risk free and if there isn’t capacity to suddenly extract 1,000s of kiwis on holiday on the Gold Coast that you know the Blairite would demand with the first case of community transmission in Melbourne or Sydney. Doesn’t stop a retarded media reporting it as a fait accompli.

It’s hard not to be 100% cynical at the moment. This is a worst case scenario for anyone with half a brain stuck in some type of Truman show reality called Little Aotearoa where the name of a dress is more important than the speaker of the house gamming the system so we pay for his fuckups.

Merry fucking Christmas
42 3
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December 15, 2020 8:20am
- hilaryt
  
  FtT…yeah baby YEAH!
  
  4 3
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  December 15, 2020 10:11am
  - hilaryt
    
    …as in, you took the words right out of my mouth FtT…
    
    3 0
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    December 15, 2020 3:05pm
I remember when

I agree with the BBC gardening presenter.
Who wants to be a ‘native’ variety when you are competing with ‘exotic’ alternatives.
Hang on – can I still use alter – native.
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December 15, 2020 8:24am
Maggy Wassilieff

NZ National Annual Temperature:

1867: 13.1 °C

2019: 13.37 °C

https://www.climateconversation.org.nz/2020/12/nz-warming-transformation-wrong/
48 3
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December 15, 2020 8:26am
- Tarquin North
  
  That’s incredibly inconvenient considering we’re supposedly in the middle of a climate crisis, for God’s sake don’t tell Greta.
  
  40 4
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  December 15, 2020 8:43am
  - flash2846
    
    How Dare You!
    
    15 2
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    December 15, 2020 9:47am
- KevO'Brien
  
  I.E. 0.18 C. increase /century. With a 2deg rise between floor and ceiling it’s about knee height.
  
  15 3
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  December 15, 2020 8:57am
  - alloytoo
    
    Given the state of instrumentation in 1867 those figures are the same.
    
    18 4
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    December 15, 2020 9:30am
- MCos
  
  Wellington’s dragging down the average. From what I hear it keeps getting colder.
  
  13 0
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  December 15, 2020 9:09am
  - JackRabbit
    
    Perhaps something to do with Hell freezing over?
    
    13 3
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    December 15, 2020 9:21am
  - Bob
    
    Not for Trevor; it is getting warmer, and soon to be much hotter.
    
    12 1
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    December 15, 2020 10:10am
- MCos
  
  I note there is a table from which the 1867 temps are derived and it’s based on readings in Auckland, Taranaki & Wellington. None of these centres ever record temperatures in the thirties; usually well below.
  On the east of the North Is it’s an entirely different kettle fish.
  
  4 2
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  December 15, 2020 9:21am
- Captain Mainwaring
  
  And all the difference will be accounted for by the fact that we have a lot more concrete now.
  
  15 3
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  December 15, 2020 9:41am
  - MCos
    
    Plenty of new concrete in Wellington.
    Maybe it makes the place harder to warm up?
    
    3 4
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    December 15, 2020 10:53am
I remember when

A side effect of the coronavirus vaccine.
Deaths by all other causes in the United States will start rising again!
The good news is that it wont be before February due to the CDC lag time.
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December 15, 2020 8:30am
Maggie Pie

And from the ‘Only in Chy Naa’ file…..

Man walks two Rats at a street market with wires and hooks in their little mouths 🙁

https://twitter.com/MailOnline/status/1338550305143853056

WARNING: extreme cruelty video
13 8
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December 15, 2020 8:36am
- SB2
  
  Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
  Keep up the racially motivated slurs, Your doing well.
  
  https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/farming/opinion/105077433/new-zealand-has-a-long-history-of-animal-cruelty-and-neglectslurs!
  
  3 36
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  December 15, 2020 8:50am
  - Maggie Pie
    
    It’s ‘YOU’RE’ – dikhead
    
    31 8
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    December 15, 2020 9:25am
  - Greg Ettridge
    
    Typical leftard comment SB2
    Been to China and had a look have you.
    Eating brains out of live animals it’s all good in leftard world.
    
    28 3
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    December 15, 2020 9:43am
    - Maggie Pie
      
      I way preferred the old ‘stephieboy’.
      At least he was mostly on holiday 😀
      
      17 6
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      December 15, 2020 9:55am
      - Engelbert Humperdink
        
        Certainly a vacancy was always present.
        
        7 0
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        December 15, 2020 11:34am
Simon

Leaked CCP Database Translated to English
We now have the names in English…

a leaked CCP database sent shockwaves around the world as we learned the names of 1.95 million Chinese communist party members. The report showed massive communist infiltration in Western firms and governments, including the United States.

WARNING: this is a massive Excel file

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE TRANSLATED DATABASE

https://electionwiz.com/2020/12/13/leaked-ccp-database-translated-to-english/amp/
20 3
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December 15, 2020 8:38am
- Odakyu-sen
  
  I don’t know about Chinese names, but no AI system can properly translate all Japanese names due to a significant number of non-standard or unique “readings” of the characters.
  Granted, the machine translation will be accurate in around 95% of the (more common and standard) names, but not all of them.
  
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  December 15, 2020 9:03am
- kowtow
  
  And our Media Pardy response . Trump , Trump , Trump.
  
  13 3
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  December 15, 2020 9:38am
- 453mm
  
  Phil Twyford would like a copy please.
  
  7 1
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  December 15, 2020 11:03am
- The Housekeeper
  
  Simon, it is huge. Can you give us a hint? Anyone in NZ or with NZ links?
  
  5 1
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  December 15, 2020 12:09pm
oldfella

‘Be Careful What You Wish For’: Chris Trotter today over at the Daily Blog:
++
THERE’S A CURIOUS disconnect between the Left’s support for the Muslim community and its deep-seated mistrust of the security services. On the one hand, they are demanding that the white supremacists be hunted down and brought to justice – by any means necessary – while, on the other, they are wary of expanding the already extensive powers of the secret state. The problem, of course, is that it’s very difficult to achieve the former without promoting the latter. It is, however, far from certain that the Left understands this.
https://thedailyblog.co.nz/2020/12/15/be-careful-what-you-wish-for/
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December 15, 2020 8:40am
- The Housekeeper
  
  Trotter is right. The Muslim community is pleading for “significant expansion” of the NIC. As funds are limited, surely the NIC should concentrate it’s efforts on the most likely threats ie which of NZ’s communities pose the greatest threats of terrorism? Indeed, isn’t that why Muslims felt targeted in the first place?
  
  Another mass slaying in NZ is always possible. Without keeping tabs on everyone in NZ, it’s not possible to avert every single danger. Apart from the guy from the Bruce gun club who claimed he told Police, no-one else saw a threat. It’s not the first time someone has gone crazy with a gun in NZ and probably won’t be the last. Picking on responsible gun owners will make no difference.
  
  The knee-jerk calls to limit speech will ironically impact most harshly on Maoris and other minorities and their ability to challenge the status quo. Why can’t they see this? It’s bewildering that Maori refuse to see any threat to their wellbeing and beliefs from current immigration policy. Likewise the LGBT etc community. Many women find the wearing of hijab oppressive and the mere thought of having your clitoris forcefully chopped out as appalling.
  
  It’s foolish to mistake tolerance with acquiescence. Just because people don’t openly object to something, doesn’t mean they agree with you. If NZ hadn’t opened the immigration floodgates to people who hold such intrinsically opposed views to our own, would Brenton Tarrant have occurred at all?
  
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  December 15, 2020 2:04pm
UrbanNeocolonialist

Finally an audit has been allowed of some Dominion voting machines (Antrim county Michigan). Has found that all files and records have been systematically erased for this election, but not other prior elections. Ie a coverup is underway:

“A staggering number of votes required adjudication.This was a 2020 issue not seen in previous election cycles still stored on the server.This is caused by intentional errors in the system. The intentional errors lead to bulk adjudication of ballots with no oversight, no transparency or audit trail…”

“…Significantly, the computer system shows vote adjudication logs for prior years; but all adjudication log entries for the 2020 election cycle are missing. The adjudication process is the simplest way to manually manipulate votes. The lack of records prevents any form of audit accountability, and their conspicuous absence is extremely suspicious since the files exist for previous years using the same software. Removal of these files violates state law and prevents a meaningful audit, even if the Secretary wanted to conduct an audit. We must conclude that the 2020 election cycle records have been manually removed.”

“Likewise, all server security logs prior to 11:03 pm on November 4, 2020 are missing. This means that all security logs for the day after the election, on election day, and prior to election day are gone. Security logs are very important to an audit trail, forensics, and for detecting advanced persistent threats and outside attacks, especially on systems with outdated system files. These logs would contain domain controls, authentication failures, error codes, times users logged on and off, network connections to file servers between file accesses, internet connections, times, and data transfers. Other server logs before November 4, 2020 are present; therefore, there is no reasonable explanation for the security logs to be missing.”

https://www.depernolaw.com/uploads/2/7/0/2/27029178/antrim_michigan_forensics_report_%5B121320%5D_v2_%5Bredacted%5D.pdf
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December 15, 2020 8:43am
- UrbanNeocolonialist
  
  This is pretty damning, and various courts reluctance to grant permission for similar examinations in other counties and states is only serving to further delegitimize the election results. If Biden has won then audits will back him up and a proper open audit would remove the serious doubts harboured by a near majority of USAians.
  
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  December 15, 2020 9:17am
  - JackRabbit
    
    The destruction of logs and audit trails by Dominion is akin to the employees at Enron shredding documents to cover mis-deeds.
    
    On that basis, the down-tickers would have said about Enron: “Nothing to see here, move along please.”
    
    17 8
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    December 15, 2020 9:56am
    - Batman
      
      Zilch evidence of such an activity even taking place.
      
      This is why this all failed in court.
      
      7 18
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      December 15, 2020 10:09am
      - UrbanNeocolonialist
        
        Ahh, the evergreen “Trust me the there was no fraud” argument.
        
        While there are plenty of data analyses that are suggestive of fraud, that is not ‘proof’. The only way that fraud can be proven in this system is by auditing ballots. But politico-judicial system has been preventing such audits, so the proof cannot be obtained.
        
        This is the only the second instance where any such auditing has been allowed. Another very limited audit of 100 ballots in Arizona showed a 3% ‘error’ in Biden’s favour.
        
        What good reason is there for preventing or opposing such auditing on a statistically useful sample in contested areas? Preventing it is tantamount to an admission of electoral fuckery. And highly suspicious given dominance of Democratic sympathies amongst local govt and electoral workers in the contested areas.
        
        7 4
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        December 15, 2020 11:46am
      - SB2
        
        ” And highly suspicious given “the “dominance of Democratic sympathies amongst local govt and electoral workers in the contested areas.”
        
        ??
        
        Factual evidence?
        
        0 4
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        December 15, 2020 2:48pm
- JackRabbit
  
  A sea of red flags!
  
  11 7
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  December 15, 2020 9:18am
  - SB2
    
    Republican red ones?
    
    0 4
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    December 15, 2020 2:50pm
Than

The COVID vaccine has been approved and the first doses administered. Obviously excellent news! Now comes the massive task of distributing it, and of course persuading enough people to take it that we get herd immunity.

One thing that will make persuading people harder – the concerns over the safety of the vaccine do have some rational basis.

I have full confidence that the FDA review process was robust and followed scientific best practice. But at the end of the day it was conducted on a massively accelerated timetable, and safety is never an absolute. Even for traditional vaccines there is the remote possibility of an allergic reaction, or a batch of the vaccine could have been contaminated somehow. But drug companies have spent decades refining their formulas and processes to minimize these risks. That’s not true of the COVID vaccine.

For myself personally, I am going to get the COVID vaccine as soon as I can. The risk will be small, and I consider it my social duty to accept that risk to help get this pandemic under control. But I would also accept that concerns about its safety are not entirely unreasonable.
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December 15, 2020 8:56am
- kowtow
  
  If it’s so damn robust , safe , refined , formulaed etc……
  
  ……why do they need a waiver ?
  
  14 4
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  December 15, 2020 9:36am
  - Pharmachick
    
    Because the full approval process takes ~6months, but Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) took 7 days.
    
    15 0
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    December 15, 2020 10:06am
    - KevO'Brien
      
      Who takes responsibility during that period if anything goes wrong?
      
      3 2
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      December 15, 2020 11:21am
      - Pharmachick
        
        Well, its complicated. In most territories the Federal and state government(s) (or just “Govt. if you have a parliamentary system like NZ) as well as the advisory bodies [who are, after all not decision makers, they are just advisory*] are indemnified.
        
        Class action lawsuits against the pharmaceutical
        company are the remedy of choice in the US and have been used in the EU. Additionally, the European Parliament and/or individual governments can take companies to court in a similar vein. Not sure what it will look like for UK after Brexit.
        
        *to answer the inevitable Q, has a body ever gone against advice or majority decision. Answer: yes, at least on the part of the FDA where the best example off the top of my head is thalidomide, where there was one advisory hold out that succeeded in preventing approval of the drug in the US. Her name was Frances Oldham-Kelsey and she died last year.
        
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        December 15, 2020 1:12pm
    - curry4me
      
      Pharmachick: And because the USA is the home of the ambulance chaser.
      
      1 0
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      December 15, 2020 7:49pm
  - JackRabbit
    
    Because it will most likely be a nucleic acid-based vaccines, not a dead or inactived vaccine.
    
    The vaccine will stimulate the body to produce antigens that the body will theoretically produce anti-bodies for. i.e. it is capable of producing Covid-19
    
    https://www.immune.org.nz/vaccines/vaccine-development/types-vaccines
    
    While dead vaccines are for the most part safe,
    Live or Nucleic acid-based vaccines (AI) vaccines present a credible threat and have the potential to create the pandemic it was designed to prevent.
    
    The AI vaccines essentially create the virus within the body on the premise that the body’s immune system will create anti-bodies before it gets out of hand.
    
    However:
    [1] There are many unknowns as a result of a range of body types and conditions, that will affect the rate of growth of the Antigens.
    
    [2] There are many unknowns as a result of a range of body types and conditions, that will affect the immune response of the body and anti-bodies.
    
    https://www.the-scientist.com/news-opinion/polio-vaccination-causes-more-infections-than-wild-virus-66778
    
    Injecting a live vaccine of any sort, or a construct that will create antigens in a human is always going to end in tears for a percentage of the population.
    
    Extreme caution is required.
    
    9 3
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    December 15, 2020 10:25am
- Pharmachick
  
  Nice comment. Also, in the UK those that have recognized anaphylactic reactions (any cause) are recommended not to take the Pfizer version (other vaccines might be ok though).
  
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  December 15, 2020 10:07am
  - KevO'Brien
    
    Are they still experimenting on national populations? I thought Nuremburg outlawed that. Why can’t medico’s be satisfied with existing proven remedies as candidates for protocols instead of chasing patents?
    The whole catalogue of potential conditions rendering people at risk from the proposed prophylactic would surely render such offerings not acceptable under our stringent Medicines Act. Certification would be required here too.
    
    6 7
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    December 15, 2020 11:15am
    - Pharmachick
      
      I don’t agree that its mass uncontrolled experiments on a population basis. But I’ve never seen a regulatory environment like this in my professional lifetime. It is, however more of a reversion to the 1950s and 1960s before we tightened up the regulatory environment progressively into the 1990s. BTW, no need to Godwin the thread with extreme examples. This is nothing like the experiments of Aucshwitz, Ravensbruck or Baranowicze (<– to anybody reading if you don't know what they are/were, CARE if Googling. I refuse to describe such filth).
      
      10 1
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      December 15, 2020 1:18pm
      - KevO'Brien
        
        I’m not raising the ugly details–I saw the movies as a child. Resulting law concerned un-consented trials on human populations. Lawyers are presently raising such matters. I appreciate your standing and knowledge.
        
        6 1
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        December 15, 2020 2:53pm
      - Pharmachick
        
        @Kev [Aside]: yes, I’ve seen them too at the Holocaust Museum, in DC in 2003. Originals, unedited. After throwing up in the back of my mouth, I forced myself to watch them twice, and not turn away.
        
        Meat of your Q/comment: Its waaaayyyy more complicated than that. Vaccinations have to be either prescribed by a physician or mandated by public health law. Either way there is little redress to the courts because (1) if you agree to be treated by a physician, as long as they are treating you to the best of their knowledge and best of the standard of care they can give you cannot sue them. I’m not cure if that is common law or statute, but I *believe* that even law of torts cannot be used. This has given rise to rampant “off label” drug usage, for better and for worse. See here: https://www.fda.gov/patients/learn-about-expanded-access-and-other-treatment-options/understanding-unapproved-use-approved-drugs-label
        
        (2) Governments are indemnified from their citizens (except I guess in the cases of revolution/civil war/coup d’état).
        
        I don’t think the lawyers that are looking in to this will get very far. But I understand what a healthy sceptic would be thinking right now (as opposed to raving conspiracy lunatics – NOTE I am not calling you that!)..
        
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        December 15, 2020 3:28pm
      - Pharmachick
        
        PS: Per (2) * I guess apart from the very rare exception where the Govt or its representative(s) have been found to have knowingly been negligent or act in bad faith (primarily miscarriage of justice, see: Arthur Allan Thomas). Other payouts like Pike River or The Doc Platform are informal. And per drugs, they can decide to compensate, but I’m struggling to think of any drug example (not even diethylstilbestrol, thalidomide, Vioxx – where they happened they were company payouts. Also they lied about the clinical trials data for Vioxx so that one is different again).
        
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        December 15, 2020 3:39pm
- yossarian
  
  1000 cases of new strain of Covid in London overnight…does this make the vaccine obsolete already?
  
  15 1
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  December 15, 2020 10:08am
- KevO'Brien
  
  When we can’t sue and those controlling take no responsibility for the outcome of their vaccine count me out.
  The association with Bill Gates and his population reducers is not helpful either.
  
  8 5
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  December 15, 2020 11:20am
oldfella

I see the push is on for the next CEO of our Ministry of Children (AKA Oranga Tamariki) to be Maori.
So, the next boss will be chosen purely on racial grounds. Yes? Not the best qualified person for the job, but the best Maori for the job.
Maybe the next deputy CEO should be the best European for the job. To cater for all the kids who aren’t Maori.
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December 15, 2020 8:57am
- Clyde
  
  Amazing isn’t it. A racist woman like Turia who was quite happy to accept a damehood calling out for the CEO of CYFS (not going to use the East Polynesian name) to go because she isn’t Eastern Polynesian so that an Eastern Polynesian can take her place. Apparently the possibility that one of the reasons that Eastern Polynesian kids get beaten up or murdered by their parents or families is because they are simply bad parents doesn’t count – all to do with the Eastern Polynesian culture being affected by having to live in a modern world apparently.
  
  29 3
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  December 15, 2020 9:29am
  - mikenmildagain
    
    I’m curious. How did it become fashionable among a certain set to refer to Maori as ‘Eastern Polynesian’, and why do they have this preference?
    
    5 16
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    December 15, 2020 10:42am
    - Engelbert Humperdink
      
      Accuracy of origin.
      
      8 2
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      December 15, 2020 11:35am
      - Paulus
        
        Origin is further North to a tribe in South East Taiwan who still exist.
        I have an authoritative copy of the full migration in the whole of the Pacific which clearly shows this with Maori emanating via the Cook Islands before New Zealand.
        
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        December 15, 2020 1:41pm
      - mikenmildagain
        
        Really?
        Why then do we not refer to New Zealanders or European origin as Scottish, English, Norwegian, German, Italian, etc, etc?
        
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        December 15, 2020 2:16pm
    - Clyde
      
      Look on most official NZ Govt forms and the most ticked box is “European”. Describes origin. Doesn’t say “Dutch” or “German” or whatever. The peoples that colonised NZ in the mid 1200’s were East Polynesian. The East Polynesian peoples came from Taiwan originally as Paulus writes. Been a lot of work done on that migration study.
      
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      December 15, 2020 2:37pm
  - KevO'Brien
    
    Child beating is through Polynesia. Disobedient wives can get it too. Sometimes through tribal ranking the ladies can have a particularly high status so their male associates are not immune from such ladies physical wrath.
    
    17 3
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    December 15, 2020 11:03am
Thought Criminal

Greta has called out jacinda for her appalling inability to deliver on any of her frowny face press conference promises.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/dec/14/ardern-disputes-greta-thunbergs-criticism-new-zealand-climate-policy

Battle of the woke princesses!
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December 15, 2020 9:04am
- Benedict Yu
  
  How can jacinda “dispute” it? New Zealand has been worse in the developed countries for rising emissions since 1990. Rise has slowed down but still rising.
  
  It is amazing when someone says something that is backed by evidence jacinda just says “I refute that”. Then she waffles and waves her arms.
  
  It is incredible. Anyone in any senior position in a company who did that would be unemployed.
  
  36 1
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  December 15, 2020 9:15am
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    ” Anyone in any senior position in a company who did that would be unemployed.”
    This is why they are state sector employees. They would not last 5 min in the private sector. Basically unemployable
    
    25 2
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    December 15, 2020 9:45am
  - Thought Criminal
    
    How can jacinda dispute it? My assumption is with her usual one liner when she gets caught on the wrong side of the facts … “you have you story and I have mine” ???
    
    15 1
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    December 15, 2020 10:57am
    - mikenmildagain
      
      “alternative facts”
      
      6 4
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      December 15, 2020 11:02am
- Rich Prick
  
  Someone needs to tell Greta’s handlers that Cindy is amazeballs.
  
  32 3
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  December 15, 2020 9:20am
  - Thought Criminal
    
    It’s a WOKE OFF!!!
    
    14 1
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    December 15, 2020 10:57am
- Frank the tank
  
  The Blairite just doesn’t care anymore. At least Key played lip service to his constituency.
  
  As long as the myth of little Aotearoa persists that along with her sidekick, St Ash they saved 80,000 lives nothing else matters electorally.
  
  Downstream this will damage the International Jacinda brand if it continues, however at this juncture it’s all about the domestic audience.
  
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  December 15, 2020 12:05pm
- The Housekeeper
  
  What heaven when the woke inevitably turn on eachother.
  
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  December 15, 2020 2:27pm
Maggie Pie

Adults seemed way adultier when I was little.

Just saying.
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December 15, 2020 9:08am
- oldfella
  
  Agree, Maggie P, and when I was little Prime Ministers always looked like they knew what they were doing.
  Just saying. 😉
  
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  December 15, 2020 9:22am
Maggie Pie

TWITTER TRENDING…

President Trump to pardon Julian Assange

More to come
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December 15, 2020 9:13am
- alloytoo
  
  One wonders if Kim Dotcom has his people onto this?
  
  6 2
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  December 15, 2020 9:36am
- mikenmildagain
  
  I shouldn’t be surprised. They are both good mates of Vlad.
  
  7 7
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  December 15, 2020 9:49am
- SB2
  
  Which Furniture Removal company has the former US President and Melania selected ?
  
  3 21
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  December 15, 2020 9:50am
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    Wonder if they will steal silverware and furniture, art and rugs? Best ask Hillary how that’s done
    
    13 5
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    December 15, 2020 10:27am
- Juliet2554
  
  not sure if this is true.
  
  4 6
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  December 15, 2020 9:55am
- Batman
  
  The guy who tweeted that has since retracted it, saying he was misinformed.
  
  However, he hasn’t deleted the original tweet… Presumably because it got 90k likes and he can’t bring himself to do it.
  
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  December 15, 2020 10:00am
  - Maggie Pie
    
    Well i first heard about it when bestie Gilda actually txt me.
    She’s normally pretty much on to it to be honest.
    
    https://twitter.com/Strange_G/status/1338588693724983296
    
    3 8
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    December 15, 2020 10:31am
- Flossie
  
  Pardoned for what exactly? What crime has he been found guilty of?
  
  5 3
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  December 15, 2020 10:04am
oldfella

Each year our flu vaccine is tweaked to cover any new strains that have emerged.
I’m not a scientist, or have pink hair, but it strikes me that one corona virus jab may not only not fit all, it may only last till the next fast-moving variation hits town.
https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/13474181/new-coronavirus-strain-spreading-hancock/
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December 15, 2020 9:14am
- Pharmachick
  
  nSARs-CoV-2 (the virus that causes the COVID-19 syndrome) doesn’t mutate as fast as ‘flu. Although they’re reporting a new strain in the UK this week. Still, lots of Q around if the shot protects against infection, or just against severe disease; how long protection lasts, and if you have the shot, but get infected, can you still spread the virus… [unknown]
  
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  December 15, 2020 10:11am
cmm

Ummm let’s see…

Kardashian kids performing a “haka” is disrespectful.

Maori kids performing rap is todally Ok.

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/kiwis-slam-the-kardashians-over-tiktok-video-of-their-kids-performing-maori-haka/FW5J6UIVCZGOZNK2JF2S6V5U7I/
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December 15, 2020 9:15am
- Tarquin North
  
  That being the case, what would they think of a scribble faced cretin prancing around parliament in a cowboy hat?
  
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  December 15, 2020 9:30am
  - Tauhei Notts
    
    “A scribble faced cretin”
    That is brilliant!
    
    12 1
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    December 15, 2020 10:51am
    - namron
      
      I consider that “mess” you see on all parts of people’s skin to be graffiti!
      Both are ugly and unnecessary whether on a chin, other body parts or on a fence or a wall.
      And so many with “skin graffiti” have it on body parts where they can’t even see it – but everyone of us can and must tolerate it.
      
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      December 15, 2020 12:25pm
oldfella

If Cindy wants to be Prime Minister of Aotearoa, can we please get someone qualified to be Prime Minister of New Zealand?
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December 15, 2020 9:24am
- Steve Otto(North Shore)
  
  If I go on holiday to Aotearoa, do I have to quarantine when I return to New Zealand? Asking for a friend
  
  22 5
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  December 15, 2020 10:31am
  - Frank the tank
    
    No but you have to leave your brain at the border and chances are you’ll never be allowed out/get it back/labelled a conspiracy theorist if you disagree with groupthink Aotearoa.
    
    8 1
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    December 15, 2020 11:57am
- Paulus
  
  Listen you moron –
  over 50% voted for her (mostly women) so suck it up.
  
  1 6
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  December 15, 2020 1:44pm
MCos

At the secondary school I went to everyone had to play rugby with a few exceptions.
Now we’re finding out about the high incidence of brain damage at the higher levels, actually it’s been known for awhile, but it’s gaining more prominence.

In the meantime cannabis is illegal because very high usage may cause brain damage.
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December 15, 2020 9:37am
- mikenmildagain
  
  That’s not why cannabis is illegal. Drugs are legal or illegal according to their cultural context, not due to any inherent risk.
  
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  December 15, 2020 9:50am
- Jack5
  
  When did the politicians or law framers spell out that potential brain damage was the reason that cannabis is illegal in NZ?
  
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  December 15, 2020 9:55am
- SGA
  
  I’m genuinely not sure of your point here – “Because it is a good thing that we are now recognising or acknowledging the brain damage that might occur in sports such as rugby, then it’s a good thing that cannabis remained illegal”. Or was it – “we’ve been willing to accept that rugby can cause brain damage, so what’s the problem with cannabis”.
  
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  December 15, 2020 9:58am
  - MCos
    
    My point is there’s a double standard.
    Why is cannabis illegal? Because it supposedly messes with your head.
    Why, therefore, are contact sports actively encouraged by a lot of the same people who would never want cannabis legalized?
    Droves of rugby players are surfacing with brain damage and you can see why if you look at some of the old games when blokes played on after being knocked out.
    League is worse. Half them can hardly talk from throat damage from head high tackles.
    Boxing, Muay Thai is brutal, UFC.
    
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    December 15, 2020 11:11am
    - Frank the tank
      
      How about you begin a citizen-initiated referendum to make contact sports illegal then? See how that works out.
      
      Point is there was a referendum. Your side fucked it up by being smart arses and going the whole hog with legalization when decriminalization would have probably sailed through.
      
      You side lost – deal with it. Just like I have to deal with this fucking Little Aotearoa Truman show garbage NZ resembles ATM.
      
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      December 15, 2020 11:56am
lastmanstanding

I just saw DPF’s post on Alliance Group and the Wage Subsidy.
The situation is as follows.

1. There was no legal requirement to repay the subsidy if subsequently its wasnt required. Robertson has admitted they stuffed up by including a clause requiring repayment.

2. The Companies Act 1993 requires Directors to act in the best interests of the Company. No this is where it gets interesting. If a Company retains the funds they are maximising the returns to shareholders however there is a case that public opinion may result in lower returns in the future if say the public boycott the company for doing so.

3. The Court has to follow the law. Therefore they cant find the Company in breach for retaining the subsidy because the law didnt compel repayment.

4. If shareholders bought a case against the Directors for returning the funds and therefore depriving the shareholders of these returns the Court would have difficulty in not finding against the Directors because this is a fact whereas reputational damage would be very hard to prove.

I am surprised that corporate lawyers havent alerted the media to these points and let them babble on with ignorant comment on the matter.
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December 15, 2020 9:38am
- SB2
  
  It was I understand a guest post.
  
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  December 15, 2020 9:52am
- Swifty
  
  “Robertson has admitted they stuffed up by NOT including a clause requiring repayment?”
  
  You’re bloody kidding me!
  
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  December 15, 2020 9:55am
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    He was buying votes. Cunning as a shithouse rat
    
    18 4
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    December 15, 2020 10:35am
  - sooty
    
    Stupid is,
    As stupid does!
    
    6 3
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    December 15, 2020 11:22am
oldfella

NZ athlete’s photo used to illustrate international study (but not in a good way).
++
Study: Male Athletes Transitioning to Female Retain Massive Strength Advantage Despite Hormone Therapy
https://www.breitbart.com/sports/2020/12/14/study-male-athletes-transitioning-to-female-retain-massive-strength-advantage-despite-hormone-therapy/
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December 15, 2020 9:49am
Maggie Pie

Idiot on 1ZB tells Kerry Woodham……” prisoners respond more positively to ‘unconditional love’ rather than punishment”.
Suggests we should follow Germany’s example and let them out for 2 weeks paid holiday each year.

SHEESH!!!
26 6
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December 15, 2020 9:50am
- SB2
  
  Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
  In a vindictive frame of mind today?
  
  2 37
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  December 15, 2020 9:53am
  - Maggy Wassilieff
    
    What is Vindictive about Maggie Pie’s comment?
    
    Aren’t you just taking yet another opportunity to post a personal smear against a commenter?
    
    10 2
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    December 15, 2020 2:40pm
Jack5

Isn’t this racism? Can’t the Woke see that?

Tariana Turia, Maori (actually part-Maori) former MP, says the Ministry for Children (Oranga Tamariki) chief executive, Grainne Moss, should step aside and make way for Maori leadership. Moss is a White woman.

Imagine if someone called for a department chief who was white to step aside for White leadership?

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/te-manu-korihi/432861/call-for-oranga-tamariki-boss-grainne-moss-to-be-gracious-and-leave
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December 15, 2020 9:52am
- hilaryt
  
  on a hiding to nothing, is Moss. Who’d be her? Spectacular bypasses of sense, intellectual heft & fairness (same peeps almost certainly suck on the ‘kindness’ teat) by those with yuge axes to grind here. Disgraceful.
  
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  December 15, 2020 10:17am
  - Jack5
    
    Edit to my 9.52 post:
    
    Imagine if someone called for a department chief who was ~~white~~ Maori to step aside for White leadership?
    
    8 1
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    December 15, 2020 12:29pm
- Maggy Wassilieff
  
  Tariana Turia bullying a Public Servant.
  
  Very disappointing.
  
  Turia’s version of Whanau Care hasn’t proved to be a great success and it looks like she will find every excuse under the sun to blame other folks when Whanau don’t step up to the plate and protect their own kids from abuse.
  
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  December 15, 2020 2:43pm
  - Nickc2
    
    Exactly, disgraceful racism personified.
    
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    December 15, 2020 2:51pm
Juliet2554

ha all the text messages between Hunter & Joe Biden are on the laptop that Trump’s team has. Oops.
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December 15, 2020 9:54am
- Batman
  
  I thought it was the FBI which had the laptop?
  
  Or has the story changed now?
  
  It’s hard to keep up with the fevered figments of imagination in this case.
  
  Meanwhile in the real world, the tax investigation has been known about since mid-2019 and it not connected to the Giuliani fake news he got from Russian intelligence.
  
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  December 15, 2020 10:12am
  - Fletch
    
    Mark Levin takes a deep dive into the Biden crime family. It isn’t pretty. The whole family is corrupt. Up to their eyeballs in it.
    
    https://youtu.be/RHO72NNYE1s?t=139
    
    15 9
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    December 15, 2020 10:19am
    - Nickc2
      
      I believe the Democrats all know this. However, it makes way for Kamila Harris to assume the top job. Then, wait for the rest of the US to bitch because their country has been turned into a Socialist haven for anyone who will vote for the Democrats.
      
      4 1
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      December 15, 2020 2:56pm
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    I think the hard drive was copied 4 times for security. (in case the shop owner was suicided was one reason)
    
    14 5
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    December 15, 2020 10:39am
Doctor Sigmund Freud

There are only two things which impress criminals:

1) The cane

2) The gallows
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December 15, 2020 10:02am
Doctor Sigmund Freud

One day, in Mecca, the Prophet Muhammad dropped a bombshell on his followers: He told them that all people are created equal.

“All humans are descended from Adam and Eve,” said Muhammad in his last known public speech. “There is no superiority of an Arab over a non-Arab, or of a non-Arab over an Arab, and no superiority of a white person over a black person or of a black person over a white person, except on the basis of personal piety and righteousness.”
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December 15, 2020 10:23am
- KevO'Brien
  
  There is only superiority of Muslims over non-Muslims which requires conversion, agreed tribute or death. It’s all in their book and in their Teachers’s mouths. The rules apply world wide by virtue of the book.
  
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  December 15, 2020 10:47am
  - MCos
    
    With your name there’s a vague chance you are aware that’s exactly the teaching of the Catholic Church, or it most certainly was when we were taught Christian Doctrine at school.
    Just so there’s no misunderstanding Catholics thought they were the kingpins not the misguided Muslims or Protestants or anyone else who had to convert or they were locked out of heaven.
    
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    December 15, 2020 5:05pm
- Swifty
  
  Mohammed, if he did indeed say that and it’s impossible to be sure one way or the other, clearly then didn’t know what the hell he was talking about then did he?
  
  They’ll never admit it but the ol’ Mussies made a huge blunder when they padded variously described as between 30% and 50% of the Koran with text plagarised from Jewish stories and documents.
  
  Unwittingly, they ripped off and presented as fact stories, characters, events and dates we now know to be absolutely false.
  
  Which means their texts are full of falsehoods.
  
  They shot themselves in the foot there. Yes siree.
  
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  December 15, 2020 10:48am
  - mikenmildagain
    
    Imagine that, a religious text full of falsehoods. so just like every other religious text?
    
    10 5
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    December 15, 2020 11:30am
    - Swifty
      
      That’s my belief.
      
      5 1
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      December 15, 2020 12:35pm
    - KevO'Brien
      
      Except the Holy Bible of the Christians of the world.
      “Jesus is the reason for the Season”.
      
      3 2
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      December 15, 2020 2:56pm
      - Swifty
        
        Sorry, that too.
        
        See my original reply.
        
        1 1
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        December 15, 2020 3:01pm
C J Southern

US Election Reality Check

Suits filed: 69
Proceedings concluded: 65
States gained due to legal action: 0
Votes gained due to legal action: 0
Cases of election fraud proven: 0

Biden presidency begins in: 36D 19H 27M

Status: The countdown is proceeding normally. All lights are green. All systems are go
#ReportEnds
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December 15, 2020 10:32am
- mikenmildagain
  
  Counting down too to the launch of the Trump/Trump ticket for 2024. But will it be Jr or Ivanka as the running mate? Inside word is that Trump Sr prefers Ivanka as a mate.
  
  7 12
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  December 15, 2020 10:46am
  - barnacle bill
    
    I reckon the only way Trump will get another crack will be as an Independent.
    
    Cant see the Republicans will want any thing to do with him after all the crap that’s gone on.
    
    3 11
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    December 15, 2020 11:51am
    - Steve Todd
      
      Which would mean he would split the vote and ensure a second term for Biden-Harris.
      
      6 3
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      December 15, 2020 12:31pm
    - mikenmildagain
      
      Nah, the republican party is now a fully-owned subsidiary of the Trump clan.
      
      4 6
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      December 15, 2020 12:57pm
      - Batman
        
        I hear that Ivanka is going to move to Florida and primary Marco for his Senate seat…
        
        5 5
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        December 15, 2020 1:26pm
  - MCos
    
    “In the coming weeks, you should expect a sudden surge in Republicans who “never liked Trump anyway,” and are now ready to denounce his policies (which they totally never agreed with) and his behavior (which they were always appalled by) and who just want to help heal the nation.”
    Jim Wright (@Stonekettle)
    
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    December 15, 2020 5:09pm
- Isobar
  
  Thanks C J. I’ve really enjoyed and appreciated your regular updates on this.
  
  Paints a pretty shameful picture really of the outgoing administration.
  
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  December 15, 2020 1:35pm
Tauhei Notts

In the latest Tax Amendment Act which brought in the 39% tax rate there is a little part that recognises that the the person who has the power to hire and fire trustees of a trust, has effective control over that trust. So the name of that person must be disclosed to the tax department. And rightfully so, I agree.
And similarly, the person who has the power to hire and fire directors has effective control over that company.
The person who has the right to hire and fire directors of RNZ is a cabinet minister. It follows that to describe RNZ as anything other than Labour Party Radio is misleading.
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December 15, 2020 11:05am
- mikenmildagain
  
  Does it follow then, at least for you, that ministers’ powers to remove any crown entity directors mean that all Crown entities should have the words ‘Labour Party’ as part of their title?
  Labour Party ACC
  Labour Party Te Papa
  Labour Party TVNZ
  Labour Party NZQA
  Labour Party Law Commission
  etc, etc
  And that when a National government comes to power, all the crown entities should change their names accordingly?
  
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  December 15, 2020 11:29am
Fletch

In an interview on Fox News Monday, President Trump’s senior adviser Stephen Miller said “as we speak, an alternate slate of electors in the contested states is going to vote,” and those votes will be sent to Congress

https://www.forbes.com/sites/markjoyella/2020/12/14/on-fox-news-stephen-miller-says-an-alternate-set-of-electors-will-certify-trump-as-winner/
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December 15, 2020 11:09am
- Batman
  
  Yes it’s no surprise to see the Venice Beach Fascist supporting the seditionist moves to overthrow an election.
  
  6 16
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  December 15, 2020 11:16am
- KevO'Brien
  
  They have done so. Still 37 days to go.
  
  5 1
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  December 15, 2020 3:01pm
Maggie Pie

The Dems say they are now waiting for Mitch McConnel to call Sleepy Ol’ Joe….. “President Elect”

waiting, waiting, LOL!!
7 5
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December 15, 2020 11:42am
Batman

https://www.nytimes.com/live/2020/12/14/us/joe-biden-trump/biden-tops-270-votes-in-the-electoral-college-affirming-his-presidential-victory

It’s all over bar the childish shouting.

President Elect Biden. Get used to it (until Jan 20 when it’ll be President Biden)
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December 15, 2020 11:54am
- Batman
  
  And even more news: Bill Barr resigns as of 23 December.
  
  Clearly to avoid conflict over his position that the election fraud was a hoax.
  
  7 7
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  December 15, 2020 12:02pm
  - Frank the tank
    
    Bullshit he’s resigning as opposed to being fired when Joe comes in
    
    4 8
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    December 15, 2020 12:06pm
    - Batman
      
      A month before?
      
      Nah, he’s jumping off the plank in one final act of obedience.
      
      Trump has spent weeks openly talking about firing Barr.
      
      5 6
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      December 15, 2020 1:28pm
  - virtualmark
    
    Batman, I suspect he’s leaving in part because he doesn’t want to get caught up in the hail of pardons that will go down in the next 40 days.
    
    Watch for pardons for Ghislaine Maxwell, Assange, Snowden, Broidy, Prince etc etc. Not to forget all the Trump kids, Kushner and big Donnie himself.
    
    Not all of those pardons will be constitutional, and many will be challenged in court.
    
    5 5
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    December 15, 2020 1:34pm
- Fletch
  
  As I have said before, the so-called “safe harbor” date means little when there are lawsuits and states counts are being contested. As RBG said during Bush V Gore –
  
  “But none of these dates has ultimate significance in light of Congress’ detailed provisions for determining, on ‘the sixth day of January,’ the validity of electoral votes”
  
  The media would like to make something out of it, but it doesn’t mean the Joe Biden is president.
  
  6 6
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  December 15, 2020 12:43pm
  - Batman
    
    Well no, he becomes president on 20 Jan.
    
    This is another step towards that. Despite the pathetic attempts to stop it.
    
    5 9
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    December 15, 2020 1:29pm
- WaynelSexton
  
  Meanwhile, there are now dual sets of electors for PA, GA, MI, WI, AZ, NV, and NM. The media isn’t covering this, for the most part, and they wouldn’t know how to cover it, what it means, or how it plays out even if they did. But this should assure you that the President has matters well in hand, and that everything is playing out according to his plan.
  
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  December 15, 2020 1:04pm
  - Batman
    
    His plan? Hahaha oh do stop pulling my leg.
    
    There are no dual electors, there is one slate of electors and a few pity party groups of deluded idiots.
    
    They’re no more official than a plastic crown.
    
    You’ve been had.
    
    8 9
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    December 15, 2020 1:08pm
  - virtualmark
    
    Those second sets of electors have as much standing as a bunch of random people pulled off the sidewalk.
    
    They have been “elected” by the Republican caucus. That means nothing.
    
    4 5
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    December 15, 2020 1:36pm
    - WaynelSexton
      
      Time to read some history virtualmark.
      
      https://macris.substack.com/p/who-counts-the-votes-of-the-presidential
      
      As President of the Senate, Pence has the power to open and count the votes of the presidential electors. He can choose the Republican or Democrat electors. He can also choose not to count them at all.
      
      4 2
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      December 15, 2020 3:51pm
      - virtualmark
        
        Yeah good luck with that.
        
        After getting their arse handed to them in every court in the land I can’t see Pence having any standing to confirm the validly chosen Electoral College votes.
        
        Unless he wants to start the Second American Civil War that is. Now *there’s* some history. Take a look at the overlap between the states in the Confederacy and the states who are fellating Trump at the moment.
        
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        December 15, 2020 6:33pm
Swifty

The other day I asserted that Mallard has lost the moral authority his position as Speaker requires. Just like Len Brown lost his.

I see today the Stuff editorial using the same phrase:

https://www.stuff.co.nz/opinion/123701569/speaker-faces-pointy-inquisition-from-select-committee

Good. Let’s hope it catches on.
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December 15, 2020 11:54am
- Paulus
  
  You left out the trio man Phil Goff !
  
  6 1
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  December 15, 2020 1:49pm
Andrei

uh oh – the forensic audit of the Antrim county voting machines is out

Strangely enough all the security logs for these machines for the 2020 elections ar missing

68% of the votes cast in Atrim county where sent for adjudication where they can be altered

The logs for the adjudication process are missing -funny that

On election night Biden received 7768 votes in Antrim County while Donald Trump received 4509

The vote total in this county asof today is Trump 9748 while Biden’s tally is 5960

Whoa fellas there is omething mighty rotten in the Sate of Denmark
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December 15, 2020 12:04pm
- Fletch
  
  Yep –
  
  The company that conducted an independent audit of 22 Dominion Voting Systems in a small Michigan county released a report Monday concluding the machines are “intentionally and purposefully designed with inherent errors.”
  
  Consequently, Allied Security Operations Group advised in its report, President Trump should invoke his 2018 executive order to ensure national security in the event of foreign interference in an election.
  
  “We conclude that the Dominion Voting System is intentionally and purposefully designed with inherent errors to create systemic fraud and influence election results,” says the report, written by Russell Ramsland, a former Republican candidate in Texas. “The system intentionally generates an enormously high number of ballot errors.”
  
  https://www.wnd.com/2020/12/4877420/
  
  https://www.sgtreport.com/2020/12/breaking-bombshell-mi-judge-grants-attorney-matt-deperno-permission-to-release-results-of-forensic-examination-on-16-dominion-voting-machines-in-antrim-co-video/
  
  10 4
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  December 15, 2020 12:49pm
  - Batman
    
    How strange that the company led by a former failed GOP candidate would come up with exactly the result desired by the conspiracy kooks
    
    7 12
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    December 15, 2020 1:06pm
  - virtualmark
    
    That analysis is brought to you by the same knob who confused Minnesota’s counties with Michigan and then said there had to have been thousands of fake votes because the populations didn’t match up.
    
    Look, present your evidence in court. But remember that a court will test and examine that evidence, and who is bringing it, for credibility.
    
    5 5
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    December 15, 2020 1:38pm
Swifty

I now think the Human Rights Commission has now well and truly jumped the shark and has become a taxpayer-funded socialist advocacy organisation.

Who knew there were so many ‘human rights violations’ here in little ol’ NZ?

https://www.hrc.co.nz/news/human-rights-commission-launches-inquiry-discriminatory-pacific-pay-gap/

I wrote here the other day that I don’t know why they are continuing with the enquiry as it’s clear they’ve already pre-determined the outcome; that pay gaps exist in our society and that they are all caused by racial discrimination by Europeans.

“Through the Talanoa report, we heard directly from our Pacific communities about the human rights violations they are experiencing. Pay and racial discrimination continues to rank high,” says Saunoamaali’i Karanina Sumeo.”

No analysis, no detail, no stats – just anecdotes.

“In addition to low wages, Pacific workers say they are often overlooked for upskilling opportunities and promotions. These workers also fear retaliation in raising concerns with their employers. This is racist and discriminatory.”

Where’s her evidence?

“Currently, we don’t even know what the pay gap for Pacific workers is in the private sector because there simply isn’t any reliable data. However, I can’t imagine it being any better than the embarrassingly huge gap in the public sector,” said Sumeo.”

So she’s guessing at the problem and the cause and the solution? All three?

“The government and employers must realise this is a human rights issue. It impacts upon Pacific peoples’ ability to realise the right to equal employment opportunities, the right to be free from discrimination including their right to an adequate standard of living, housing, food, education, and health care,” said Sumeo.”

I didn’t know that we had a ‘right’ to an ‘adequate standard of living’ in NZ. When did we decide that? Who decides what is adequate? And, more importantly, at who’s expense will these rights be fulfilled?

What ‘right’ does anyone have to something, if it must be paid for by others?

The only thing that will raise the living standards of Pacific people in New Zealand is hard work, education, risk-taking, making good life choices and not giving great chunks of their income to the churches. The same as the rest of us.

Interestingly, of the dozen or so couples I have the most to do with socially, two are Samoan (both hubby and wifey). Both couples (late 30’s, early 40’s) both work full time, and knowing what they do I can’t imagine them earning under $200,000 (per couple) annually. They both own their houses and drive good cars. They have both also limited their family to just the two children (each). Both regularly spend 2-3 weeks in Samoa, I’d say approximately annually. So, even if discrimination does exist, which I doubt, it doesn’t seem to have done them much harm does it?

Overseas, particularly in the States, there has been research going on in this area for decades. The data consistently demonstrates that when you account for education, the having of children, hours worked etc etc any pay gaps narrow to a point statistically insignificant.

On a more contentious note, I will add an anecdote of my own. I personally know a number of Thais, Chinese, Vietnamese, Cambodians etc who have arrived here with nothing and within 20 years are in their own homes and the kids are training as engineers, doctors etc. Almost always they set up their own business soon after arriving.

Can Pacific people say the same? In what quantities? When was the last time you went to a Pacific-owned dairy? Takeaway? Baker? Plumber? Auto-shop? Tyre shop? Carpeter? Heating installer? Removal company? Clothes shop? Tiler? Roofer? Butcher?

Don’t get me wrong, there will be some. But let’s face it, our Pacific brothers and sisters are not, on the whole, the world’s greatest movers and shakers are they?

And a final point, if I was in charge anyone in the HRC with such a partisan, fixed and pre-determined view on matters like these would be gone by lunchtime. and invited to declare their candidacy for either the Labour or Green parties.

I shudder to think at the recommendations that may come from this inquiry.
10 1
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December 15, 2020 12:29pm
- MCos
  
  Thais don’t arrive here with nothing.
  All the ones I’ve met are either married to Kiwis, are here to advance their education or have a work visa that requires some sort of qualification.
  It takes a lot of motivation to come here except for family reasons, just the same as NZers going elsewhere.
  
  3 3
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  December 15, 2020 1:19pm
  - Swifty
    
    MCos, you’re not the only one with connections with the Thai community. OK?
    
    “are here to advance their education or have a work visa that requires some sort of qualification…”
    
    So? Doesn’t mean that they’ve arrived with suitcases of cash, in fact suggests the opposite.
    
    “It takes a lot of motivation to come here except for family reasons, just the same as NZers going elsewhere.”
    
    What’s that got to do with what I posted?
    
    6 0
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    December 15, 2020 3:11pm
    - MCos
      
      How many Thais do you know have arrived here with ‘nothing’?
      That’s my point.
      They don’t come here with no skills, no money, no contacts, nothing.
      Thais don’t want to come here under those circumstances. They’re not refugees.
      
      0 2
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      December 15, 2020 5:17pm
      - Swifty
        
        “They don’t come here with no skills, no money, no contacts, nothing.”
        
        I’m sorry, in my experience, many do – they may know a few people sure, but as to marketable skills, cash, no, not much.
        
        Do they then go on to do well? Yes, many do and that’s my point. I personally know tens and tens of them. Many of whom are at my house on a regular basis. They don’t wail and scream about anti-Thai discrimination and European racism.
        
        They get off their asses……just like my half-Pakeha, quarter Cho and quarter Thai daughter who has lived me full time for the last 18 years.
        
        5 0
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        December 15, 2020 6:17pm
- Engelbert Humperdink
  
  As a person of mostly (but not entirely) pallor I think I should claim discrimination because I don’t get any money unless I work for it, which is different from all the people of mostly (but not entirely) pigment who get freebies because they are pigmented. I doubt the Fooner will be on board with this complaint but let’s see…
  
  4 1
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  December 15, 2020 2:40pm
- KevO'Brien
  
  Saunoamaali’i Karanina Sumeo has a fancy title and seems to be throwing her headdress around. She has precious little understanding of Kiwi culture so no right to lecture us. If we get workers from Samoa they will be under contracts arranged with their Samoan handlers. They will be labouring class and can expect no better pay than other basic labourers.
  
  2 1
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  December 15, 2020 3:21pm
Fletch

You want “evidence” of fraud in the 2020 election? Here it is – all cataloged and clickable.

https://hereistheevidence.com/
8 7
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December 15, 2020 12:50pm
- Batman
  
  Meanwhile, back in reality:
  
  https://www.forbes.com/sites/jemimamcevoy/2020/12/14/voting-machine-manufacturer-demands-retractions-from-conservative-news-networks-over-fraud-claims/
  
  “Smartmatic—one of two voting machine manufacturers that’s been attacked by President Trump and his allies (without evidence) for supposedly rigging the 2020 election—announced Monday that it is demanding retractions and delivering legal notices to three conservative networks that promoted the conspiracy theories.”
  
  8 14
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  December 15, 2020 1:03pm
  - Fletch
    
    Of course they are going to say that. But they are crooked as hell. Funny how they all shut up shop and disappeared, the staff wiped all their social media profiles, they never turned up to court dates in PA. I don’t see why anyone should issue a retraction when the machines have been examined and found to be miscounting.
    
    Two more unexplainable vote counts in Antrim County also left voters stunned by the unexplainable outcome of the vote result by Dominion.
    In Central Lake’s School Board election, 742 votes were added to the total after a recount on November 6. (First image)
    
    Dominion’s vote totals showed 663 people voted in a district where there were only 6 eligible voters and only 3 of those 6 actually voted. Somehow, Dominion added 660 additional votes to the final tally. (Second image)
    
    https://www.sgtreport.com/2020/12/breaking-bombshell-mi-judge-grants-attorney-matt-deperno-permission-to-release-results-of-forensic-examination-on-16-dominion-voting-machines-in-antrim-co-video/
    
    5 3
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    December 15, 2020 2:25pm
    - SB2
      
      Dominion voting systems respond,
      
      FACTS ABOUT DOMINION AND ANTRIM COUNTY, MICHIGAN
      
      Dominion Voting Systems has been the target of a continuing malicious and widespread disinformation campaign aimed at eroding confidence in the integrity of the 2020 presidential election. Additional fabrications focused on our role in Antrim County, Michigan have been spread in the media over the last few days. In light of these new false claims, which have been presented without a shred of evidence, we wanted to share a few key facts:
      
      There were no software “glitches” that “switched” votes in Antrim County or anywhere else. The errors identified in Antrim County were isolated human errors not involving Dominion.
      
      https://www.dominionvoting.com/election-2020-setting-the-record-straight-antrim-county-michigan/
      
      1 11
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      December 15, 2020 4:22pm
      - Fletch
        
        You’re right about one thing – they weren’t “glitches”. They were programmed to tilt in favour of Biden, and test runs prove it.
        
        2 3
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        December 15, 2020 6:46pm
- KevO'Brien
  
  Thanks. I have my own collection including video.
  
  2 2
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  December 15, 2020 3:06pm
Maggie Pie

I’m really starting to feel sorry for all the normal people in Christchurch.

Just saying.
7 7
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December 15, 2020 1:04pm
- KevO'Brien
  
  Why, Biden’s not moving here too is he? Tickets seem to be freely available.
  
  3 2
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  December 15, 2020 3:07pm
- SB2
  
  Like this one ?
  
  https://www.newsroom.co.nz/action-zealandia-member-arrested-for-threat
  
  0 8
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  December 15, 2020 3:09pm
- Steve Otto(North Shore)
  
  Normal people in Christchurch is an oxymoron. Btw my sister lives there
  
  5 2
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  December 15, 2020 3:41pm
Steve Otto(North Shore)

So the US has say 153M registered voters. Trump gets say 74 million, Biden gets more than 80 million now.
What is wrong with this picture? Maybe a leftie could explain – they are good with numbers
8 6
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December 15, 2020 2:38pm
- Steve Otto(North Shore)
  
  Fuck, silly me, I got it. I did not include the dead voters or the double/triple voters
  
  11 5
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  December 15, 2020 2:39pm
- Steve Otto(North Shore)
  
  Oops, 1 downtick. I guess downtickers are fucking shit at math
  
  11 4
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  December 15, 2020 2:43pm
  - mikenmildagain
    
    Don’t worry, Steve, you can keep donating to your orange idol. TRUMP 2024!
    
    2 5
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    December 15, 2020 3:20pm
- Engelbert Humperdink
  
  One thing I have noted in life about cheaters – the rest of us have to live with consequences and losses to us of their cheating. But they have to live every day of the rest of their lives as cheats.
  
  I’m not sure whether they’re better off not believing in an afterlife or believing in one.
  
  Either way, regardless of the face they present to the world, I reckon a goodly number can never get over the fact that that woman, that status, that money, that power, that mansion etc were gotten by cheating.
  
  5 1
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  December 15, 2020 2:45pm
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    They have lived their lives cheating, so know no better. They are normal and everyone else is abnormal for not cheating.
    Remember the kids at school reading your answers? They grew up.
    
    6 3
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    December 15, 2020 3:44pm
- SB2
  
  The maths is really quite simple
  
  JOE BIDEN
  306
  electoral college votes
  81,283,495 votes
  
  DONALD TRUMP
  electoral college votes
  74,223,755 votes
  
  https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-interactive/2020/dec/08/us-election-results-2020-joe-biden-defeats-donald-trump-to-win-presidency
  
  But do distort the final result if you want with your silly and dumb voter fraud conspiracy theories
  
  1 13
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  December 15, 2020 3:15pm
- Fletch
  
  And what’s more, Trump got 11 million more voters than in 2016. There’s just no way Biden won.
  
  4 4
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  December 15, 2020 6:45pm
  - Mike
    
    How do you know those 11 million votes were all legitimate?
    
    1 3
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    December 15, 2020 9:17pm
Jethrod

It appears that Adrian has been using the back channels to get to the ANZ and has got to them to alter loan requirements to 40% of equity needed.
2 1
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December 15, 2020 2:50pm
Chuck Bird

This is being discused on NewstalkZB now.

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/damien-venuto-clarke-gayfords-ads-for-amazon-should-raise-eyebrows/WVZNUVRPTXDHAQ32FXVER3FTBU/
5 3
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December 15, 2020 3:11pm
Engelbert Humperdink

But all the best people assure us that Trump is narcissistic and delusional, n’est-ce pas?

“Donald Trump said during the second and final presidential debate on October 22 that he was optimistic a vaccine would be ready ‘within weeks’. When moderator Kristen Welker asked if that was a ‘guarantee’, Trump replied that it was not, but that the US would have a vaccine by the ‘end of the year’.

“It wasn’t the first time he had made this prediction publicly: ‘I think we’re going to have a vaccine by the end of the year,’ Trump said back in May.

“The media could have accepted that the President probably has better insight into the timeline of vaccine development and approval than those not involved in the process. Instead, they roundly mocked his prediction, declaring with the backing of so-called ‘experts’ that it would require a ‘miracle’ for the vaccine to be ready by 2021.
7 2
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December 15, 2020 3:24pm
Steve Otto(North Shore)

Now lefties, if you read this, don’t forget to read the bit about the checkout machine. Now go stand in the corner.
https://babylonbee.com/news/retail-worker-institutionalized-after-hearing-one-too-many-christmas-songs?
8 3
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December 15, 2020 3:26pm
Swifty

I don’t get what Turia is on about here. Assuming Peter Hughes will be the one appointing a replacement CEO – what would she have him do, in the job ad say “Pakehas need not apply?”

When writing out the job description, write “must not be honky” as a mandatory criteria?

Or, deliberately choose a Maori and just because they’re Maori?

How many employment and discrimination laws would he break if he did so?

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/dame-tariana-turia-calls-for-oranga-tamariki-boss-grainne-moss-to-be-gracious-and-leave/HDLIZETWSCUNAGLCG2AGD77U7I/

Is Turia losing her marbles?
10 1
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December 15, 2020 4:02pm
- sooty
  
  Old age dementia kicking in?
  
  1 1
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  December 15, 2020 6:24pm
Steve Otto(North Shore)

This can of course be explained …….
https://www.lawenforcementtoday.com/whitmer-has-police-200-troops-block-republican-electors-from-michigan-state-capitol/?
7 3
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December 15, 2020 4:19pm
Prince

An exemplary example of media manipulation and compliance on Radio NZ midday news today.
It was reported that latest Child Poverty stats were likely to show a worsening trend due to Covid, despite them being ‘broadly on track’ to show the Govt was meeting their targets before Covid.
Can anyone show Child Poverty was improving, or ‘on track to meet targets’, at any stage of the previous Govt’s term ?
A typical example of media and Govt working together to prepare us for some bad news, sheet the blame elsewhere (Covid), and lie about the Govt’s track record.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/audio/player?audio_id=2018777253
11 1
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December 15, 2020 4:20pm
- Swifty
  
  We have become Zimbabwe.
  
  9 0
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  December 15, 2020 4:41pm
pseudonymous

It’s obvious that a lot of “Aotearoans” can’t see the “WOOD” for the trees. What’s this bullshit that power companies can’t offer a discount for early payment. Megan, you have just really pissed off a pensioner-my bill has now increased by upwards of 30 to 40 bucks a month. No problem for you though is it? Getting paid over $200K pa and being the champion pie eater of Canterbury.
9 2
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December 15, 2020 5:02pm
- Prince
  
  On the positive side, you can pay it a few months later after 3 or 4 follow-ups. Join the dark side (not literally, Hopefully)..
  
  3 0
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  December 15, 2020 7:02pm
cmm

Stuff can’t even get very basic reporting right.

Today there was another fire in the Port Hills with two helicopters doing their bit.

One had a monsoon bucket. The other was a tanker type that does not carry the water in a hanging bucket but in a tank (either internal to the helicopter or clipped onto the skids).

There are one of each in attendance but Stuff insists there were two with monsoon buckets and even labels a photo of the tanker type as having a monsoon bucket.

It’s pretty obvious from the photo that that is not a monsoon bucket but is the pipe that they dip into the water to slurp up the next load.

It’s also pretty obvious that the water is falling out of the helicopter and not out of the bucket.

Now of course screwing up details like this are not important in this case, but it just shows how little effort they put in. Does anyone actually expect them to get anything right when it DOES matter?

https://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/300184155/fire-on-christchurchs-port-hills-caused-by-construction-work
12 2
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December 15, 2020 5:55pm
- sooty
  
  Dumb journalists! Situation normal!
  Kiddy scribler out from school, older ones on holiday!
  
  6 1
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  December 15, 2020 6:22pm
gorse

I note that Treasury says Government needs to raise taxes. Silence on the need to cut spending. We are knackered.
10 2
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December 15, 2020 8:14pm
- Ian Boag
  
  No worries. Give us some clues about where these spending cuts might come from. Pension + health + education = about 50% of the total. Being the big ones that’s where one would expect to see a good chunk of the cuts …..
  
  So give us some ideas about how we do that with an ageing population and greater health needs …
  
  2 1
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  December 15, 2020 8:33pm
- [email protected]
  
  Worse than that. The article goes on to say that they need to keep spending to limit the damage to people with low/no income.
  
  3 1
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  December 15, 2020 8:34pm

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Parliament fails to defend transparency
No Right Turn
"The principal view of human laws is, or ought always to be, to explain, protect, and enforce such rights as are absolute, which in themselves are few and simple."
Not PC
Word of the day
Hompaddock
The response to Budget 2026 has been unusually muted
Point of Order
You know what “does not pass the sniff test”? Labour’s incremental response to blatant corruption – this is why they plunged 7.5%
The Daily Blog
When is a Free Speech Union not a Free Speech Union?
The Standard
We Are a Country That Decided Housing Was The Economy
No Minister
My Opening Statement for the UATX Caplan-Jones Immigration Rematch
Utopia
Playing with numbers.
Kiwipolitico
Another non-tariff barrier
Offsetting Behaviour
Rugby Premiership Predictions for Round 18
Stats Chat
Budget 2026
NZCPR
UK Conversion Therapy Ban, Digital ID, Rallies, Elections
Bob McCoskrie's McBlog
A central banker’s fiction
Croaking Cassandra
THE WORKING FROM HOME RACKET BY PUBLIC SERVANTS
No Punches Pulled (Bob Jones)
Tory Whanau may have to sell Wellington mayoralty to make ends meet
The Civilian
The Accidental Engagement
Imperator Fish
Legal Beagle: Election '23: The Special Votes
Public Address
Get Vaccinated Tomorrow Or Shut Your Pie Hole
Cactus Kate
Making this movie might have been a mistake
Liam Hehir
Why I am retiring from political blogging
Kiwi FireWalker

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