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August 20, 2021 8:00am by Kokila Patel

General Debate 20 August 2021

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General Debate

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Happychappy

Borrowing not on Grant Robertsons agenda, dispute millions spent on non- Covid issues from Coroavirus fund.
So this is the problem pure and simple it corruption and we don’t have media or honest people running Parliamentary Services in Wellington to police it as Labour the Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern with Finance Minister Grant Robertson have to much power and no one wants to hold them to account.
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2021/08/borrowing-not-on-finance-minister-grant-robertson-s-agenda-despite-millions-spent-on-non-covid-issues-from-coronavirus-fund.html
The question is now who will stop it as if there is no consequences, Labour and the Goverment will hide and decieve much more because Covid – 19 has returned to our shores and they know the fickle voter has given them enough power to do what they want not what New Zealander’s want.
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August 20, 2021 8:00am
- westernScientest
  
  There is another interesting thing here to, the reserve bank has stopped the LSAP, well its on pause. They have effectively turned the money printer off on robo. If they dont re start it, they are relying on the market to set the interest rate for the government bonds they will have to issue to pay for all of this.
  
  How many buyers are out there for NZ bonds at the moment?
  
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  August 20, 2021 8:22am
- Tony Stuart
  
  There’s roughly $5.5 billion left from his original $50b fund. Some of it has been spent on Covid, but in recent, zero-Covid months, money has gone from the fund to finance cameras on fishing boats and the Jobs for Nature project.
  
  The cost of a nationwide lockdown is estimated at $1.2b per week, so Robertson’s $5.5b is not going to last long. I believe the Government is deeper in debt than we are being told; in recent weeks we have seen a number of government programmes put on ice, such as flood protection plans – https://www.newsroom.co.nz/govts-flood-protection-plans-dry-up
  
  Combine that with the likely increase in global interest rates in coming months and burgeoning inflation, and it’s not a good time for Robertson to go cap in hand to the money markets, but he may have no choice.
  
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  August 20, 2021 8:39am
  - pdm
    
    Inv – did I see somewhere that school lunches were bring funded from Covid reserves?
    
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    August 20, 2021 8:41am
    - Tony Stuart
      
      You could be right pdm. I did see an item on Seven Sharp (I think) that lunches prepared on Tuesday for distribution on Wednesday were all given away to social service agencies, and those that could been frozen went to hospitals where nurses and doctors could access them. I must say though, they didn’t look particularly appetising, and as they keep telling us on cooking programmes, you eat with your eyes!
      
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      August 20, 2021 9:07am
  - Wayne Mapp
    
    Can the government actually hide its level of debt? I think not.
    The reason why Robertson is holding back is very reason you have identified. They only have $5 billion left in the covid fund. The current lockdown will use all of that. So for the next lockdown more will have to be borrowed. That is why the squeeze is starting to go on – ask the nurses!
    The government has been proliferate in the last twelve months, now you are starting to see the glimmer of recognition that money in fact does not grow on trees. That social credit was, and always has been, a myth.
    
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    August 20, 2021 9:19am
    - gravedodger
      
      Did you mean profligate or is it double speak W M, asking for a friend
      
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      August 20, 2021 10:07am
    - kowtow
      
      Everyone , even this Mob of Muppets , knows that govt revenue does not grow on trees .
      
      They know it comes from the taxpayers’ pocket and the govt has very long arms and we have very short pockets.
      
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      August 20, 2021 10:14am
      - Bob
        
        and the very short pockets, actually have no money in them. A real conundrum for “Chubby Cheeks Robertson’
        
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        August 20, 2021 10:54am
    - Maggie's partner
      
      proliferate or profligate? I think we should be told
      
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      August 20, 2021 10:23am
      - Wayne Mapp
        
        Indeed, profligate.
        
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        August 20, 2021 10:59am
    - Aunty
      
      The pressure is getting to him, Wayne. Do you know how I know? Because he is getting more fat. Looks like he has turned to the comfort of food to deal with his anxiety.
      
      There is nothing to gloat over, here. It’s very worrying because we are in deep shit, and what are we as a country going to do about it because this is going to hit the pockets of every single one of us, more so since we only have socialists and left-wing student politicians in charge.
      
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      August 20, 2021 11:40am
      - Tricati
        
        We will need the rural sector more than ever to get out of the shit, and that will really grate with Ardern.
        They are lucky that the lock down will have minimized the planned farmer protest today, as the noisier the farmers get at a time our true debt is revealed, the harder for Ardern it will get.
        
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        August 20, 2021 1:41pm
    - lastmanstanding
      
      Wayne as a former long time politican you know Labour is the best borrower around. How many times have the Nats taken office and had to clean up the debt mess left by Labour. This time the debt will be “biggly” and I doubt even the Nats are going to be able to clean it up. We are bequeathing our great grand children a legacy of debt.
      
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      August 20, 2021 11:48am
      - Lance
        
        Trouble is to the less critically thinking electorate it looks like Labour are the Christmas ferries handing out goodies while National are the Grinch.
        Easy to create memes then of National hating the poor and spending NOTHING on the less advantaged in our society… well according to Willie Jackson anyway.
        
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        August 20, 2021 4:22pm
    - Nickc2
      
      Sorry Wayne, I have to give you an uptick on this one.
      
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      August 20, 2021 12:15pm
  - Happychappy
    
    Yes Tony but you go back to when money was issued to the Housing Acceleration Fund which they haven’t printed the figure in this column funnily enough but was apparently $ 3.6 Billion.
    
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    August 20, 2021 9:20am
  - kevn
    
    @Tony… We all just KNOW there is a cover-up going on.
    
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    August 20, 2021 9:36am
    - Tony Stuart
      
      How can you say that? This is “the most open and transparent government New Zealand has ever seen”…
      
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      August 20, 2021 9:50am
      - Sacha
        
        This is “the most open and transparent government New Zealand has ever seen”…
        
        – and we can all see through it, can’t we?
        
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        August 20, 2021 11:04am
  - all true
    
    Never seen any left Government which could handle money and after a left led stint the followers have to pick up the broken glasses.
    Over 50% of the population voted these clowns back and these people must be the apprentices of these clowns.
    
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    August 20, 2021 12:03pm
- Brian McDonald
  
  Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
  “they know the fickle voter has given them enough power to do what they want not what New Zealander’s want.”
  I think it is a sign of madness believing you think you know what other people believe. Other signs are probably perpetual moaning and crouching or having a hateful antipathy against a particular politician or politicians. Fighting to get the first post on a small blog every day could be compulsive behavior particularly considered besides the belief of knowing what others think and also the vindictive nature of your posts that are unable to hide your seething anger.
  But when you enlarge it to attacking imaginary fickle voters as not being New Zealanders when they are actually middle of the road New Zealanders not wed to any particular party then I think that could be evidence that you need another cat.
  
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  August 20, 2021 8:52am
  - Simon
    
    Sign of mental illness, losing their shit over kiwiblog & posters but keep coming back everyday, many times a day.
    
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    August 20, 2021 9:13am
    - doggone7
      
      Is that sort of something like those who loathe Ardern, loathe everything she stands for, hate and berate her performances on camera, especially at Covid updates, parking themselves in front of a screen or by a radio so they can hear her at 1.00 today?
      
      When they know all the important information is available from other sources at the same time or very own after.
      
      Is that a sign of mental illness? No doubt prevarication around that question will somehow wangle itself around to ‘civic duty.’
      
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      August 20, 2021 12:45pm
      - I remember when
        
        Thought she gave her best ever performance at 1.00pm today!!!
        
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        August 20, 2021 2:34pm
      - doggone7
        
        I knew all the punters would be enthusiastically there in front of their tvs! Well done!
        
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        August 20, 2021 3:03pm
- Maxx
  
  To be fair though it’s hard for the media to ask the hard questions when a) you’ve been informed ahead of time that the only questions that will accepted at the daily sermon and straight forward i.e. don’t actually ask anything that would put our holy leaders at risk, and b) there is prior evidence of what happens when you do ask challenging questions.
  
  Everything that I would expect from an open and transparent government that is modeled on socialist and communist success.
  
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  August 20, 2021 9:04am
  - Scott
    
    To be fair Maxx, it’s the media’s job to hold the government accountable. If every reporter decided to ask one probing question that would be a good start. Will the Prime Minister in response ban everybody from the press conference?
    
    At the moment the press conference questions are easy questions supporting the government line; “Should we lockdown for longer Prime Minister?”
    
    The media could ask probing questions such as why have we wasted the 18 months since March 2020? Why have we not improved our healthcare capacity, our intensive care capacity? Why have we not rolled out the vaccine with more urgency? Why are we the slowest in the whole OECD to roll out the vaccine?
    
    Locking down again is a major catastrophe to New Zealand life and the New Zealand economy. It costs us over $1 billion a week. Surely it is not too much to ask journalists to hold the government to account?
    
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    August 20, 2021 10:02am
    - rouppe
      
      Why are green grocers and butchers not allowed to open?
      
      Cannot believe that’s still the situation
      
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      August 20, 2021 12:44pm
      - Jack5
        
        I would blame vegan socialists for again discriminating against butchers.
        
        But it’s wider than that. Bottle stores closed while supermarkets sell grog, green grocers closed while supermarkets and dairies sell vegetables and fruit.
        
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        August 20, 2021 1:25pm
    - info@cruzpro.com
      
      Hopefully, when New Zealand approaches the next election the media will want to cover their butts by being more honest. The media has to know that National and ACT are not going to be kind to them if the voters wake up and kick Labour/Greens out.
      
      2023 is going to be very interesting.
      
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      August 20, 2021 6:59pm
  - PeeJay
    
    Not a huge fan of the massively partisan media in the US but I was impressed when Trump started ignoring CNN and all the media collectively stood their ground and supported CNN, despite the massive differences of opinion between the various organisations.
    
    The so called fourth estate in this country is a complete sham – all so desperate to curry favour they’ve long since abandoned any pretence at being impartial.
    
    I guess I’m spoiled by being exposed to overseas media years back – real journalists / interviewers like old Jeremy Paxman refusing to take shit from any politician! Still remember him hammering away at someone once because he was giving the typical evasive answer (can i just say – no, answer the bloody question!).
    
    It’s very clever though from Labour. Don’t play nice, no access. No access, no content. No content, no viewers / readers.
    
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    August 20, 2021 10:09am
  - nathie
    
    Yes, Barry Soper mentioned to HDPA the other day that if journos (like him) start asking hard questions of the PM, she stops taking questions from them …
    
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    August 20, 2021 10:33am
    - Tricati
      
      I also heard that – If Soper is a true ‘Senior’ journalist, he needs to use his position to now embarrass those in the Press Gallery and identify the past process of protecting Ardern. The more this gets sunlight, the less it will happen.
      
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      August 20, 2021 10:47am
      - Maggy Wassilieff
        
        Soper was on the end of a major hit job by Colin Peacock last night:
        https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/mediawatch/audio/2018808815/midweek-mediawatch-covid-s-media-comeback
        
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        August 20, 2021 11:07am
      - MrTips
        
        We already know who they are: Jessica Mutch , Hilary Barry, Tova O’Brien, etc.
        
        They are paid and bought protection agents, not journalists.
        
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        August 20, 2021 11:09am
      - RockyJ
        
        The only main stream outlet that seems willing to stand up to this is Newstalk ZB. I wonder if they got any of the government’s funding?
        
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        August 20, 2021 12:49pm
      - Paulus
        
        Isn’t he the only Male member of the Press Gallery ?
        
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        August 20, 2021 1:48pm
      - Nickc2
        
        Paulus @ 1:48PM
        If Soper is the only male in the Press Gallery and he is Senior and he tries to remind them of the role of the 4th Estate, you can bet there will be much hissing, spitting, baring of fangs and claws with vocals being lead by Jessica Hyphen Hyphen, Tova too Biased and the Bradford Bratt. You wouldn’t want to be within spitting distance of the furor.
        
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        August 20, 2021 2:36pm
  - Bob
    
    and you are not one of the chosen TWO to be allowed to ask questions!
    
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    August 20, 2021 10:55am
    - Paulus Gnome
      
      ‘I will take questions nowJessica’
      
      NowJessica in the Rtarower dictionary now . . .
      
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      August 20, 2021 12:24pm
- KevO'Brien
  
  This is part of the Auditor General’s job. Cinder’s believes she is above the law, her word is sufficient. She is not however supreme in Parliament, that alone has the sovereignty over the spending of the taxes exacted from the people.
  
  Cinder’s majority does not over rule that. Money “voted” for a purpose is appropriated by Parliament for that purpose not as later decided by the PM or her minions. This is a high crime against the people. If you are given money by your boss to buy the office lunch you do not spend it in the pub. Same principles-theft as a servant.
  
  I don’t know how far our law extends, but we need processes of intervention both at the payment level and personal sanctions against the parties involved. Theft from the people has to stop. Charles I had to surrender his head because he would not accept that Parliament was sovereign in tax matters.
  
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  August 20, 2021 9:17am
Souvlaki

We are in this lockdown and are now enduring a frenzy to vaccinate ONLY because Princess Ardern was too slow to secure vaccines for “the Team of 5 Million”….pfffft !
We furthermore know from overseas data, the vaccine efficacy attenuates with time, and it is likely we will need booster shots to maintain effective viral antibody levels.
Why therefore did Verrall say the Governmnent currently “has no plans” to order booster shots ? Will we be in the same situation this time next year because of Arderns indolence? Its certainly looking this way !
Can I remind Verrall/Ardern, their duty is to look after New Zealanders, NOT Nigeria or the Taliban !!
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August 20, 2021 8:01am
- graham
  
  Last week, the issue of “it’s not ethical/moral for rich countries to stock up on vaccine when poor countries have none” was raised again. And while I agree with that to some degree, I think it was Chris Bishop who said, well if you take that to the logical conclusion New Zealand wouldn’t have ordered ANY vaccine because we didn’t have Covid – so Ms Ardern should have said, we’ll be KIND and let EVERYBODY ELSE in the ENTIRE WORLD get their vaccines before us.
  
  YES, be kind. YES, we have a moral obligation to help other countries, especially our closest neighbours. But the NZ Government’s first obligation is to New Zealand. Why does this lot find it so hard to understand that?
  
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  August 20, 2021 8:20am
- G152
  
  So we’ll now have two flu shots a year
  
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  August 20, 2021 8:27am
  - Tall Man
    
    Three. Booster effective/or not for only 6 months 😉
    
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    August 20, 2021 11:37am
- Simon
  
  8. All modelled scenarios show a period of extremely high prevalence of infection
  lasting until at least the end of August.
  
  9. There are four major risks associated with high numbers of infections. These are an increase in hospitalisations and deaths, more ‘Long-COVID’; workforce absences (including in the NHS); and the increased risk of new variants emerging. The
  combination of high prevalence and high levels of vaccination creates the conditions in which an immune escape variant is most likely to emerge.
  
  https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1001160/S1300_SAGE_93_minutes_Coronavirus__COVID-19__response__7_July_2021.pdf
  
  “The combination of high prevalence and high levels of vaccination creates the conditions in which an immune escape variant is most likely to emerge. ”
  
  Thats the problem ( one of a few) of ro vaxxing the general population.
  
  Ro vax the vulnerable and then isolate them and then open the country for natural herd immunity.
  Comrades its the only option. (unless waiting 5 years for a non leaky vaxx)
  
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  August 20, 2021 9:04am
Matt Long

I wonder if New Zealand is at the end of the queue for remdesivir as well.
I have a fair idea we could not cope with a substantial outbreak of Covid if Labour’s other efforts are anything to go by.
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August 20, 2021 8:06am
- MCos
  
  Going by this list of drugs remdesivir, which is not approved here, is not likely to be available in NZ. https://www.health.govt.nz/system/files/documents/pages/csu_09_july_2021_covid-19_pharmaceutical_treatments.docx
  
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  August 20, 2021 8:20am
- UrbanNeocolonialist
  
  Remdesivir is essentially useless against covid – about as impactful as vitamin C and way less than vitamin D or zinc. Was only authorised by FDA because it was under patent and therefore profitable to the powers that be. https://c19rmd.com/smeta.html
  
  There are about 20 other pharmaceuticals that are better. https://c19early.com/
  
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  August 20, 2021 8:21am
  - surfing
    
    https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/nejmoa2007764
    
    Our data show that remdesivir was superior to placebo in shortening the time to recovery in adults who were hospitalized with Covid-19 and had evidence of lower respiratory tract infection.
    
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    August 20, 2021 10:12am
    - Ed Snack
      
      Look harder at the figures in that study, you might well find that is not a valid conclusion.
      
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      August 20, 2021 6:20pm
- krazykiwi
  
  Remdesivir costs about $US3000 per treatment (6 doses) which could be a factor, but the bigger factor will be Ardern’s worshiping at the UN altar. WHO have consistently downplayed treatments while promoting vaccines so Ardern will have stomped out anything other than towing the WHO line.
  
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  August 20, 2021 8:37am
  - dcrane
    
    Krazykiwi, what do you think of the complicated evidence on ivermectin and some of the other repurposed drugs? Doesn’t it seem that we should be growing a national stockpile to deploy as prophylaxis as part of a reopening strategy? Even if we can’t be sure it works well, ivermectin is low risk and inexpensive.
    
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    August 20, 2021 8:58am
    - krazykiwi
      
      Our political and health masters are demonstrating herculean cognitive dissonance in this regard.
      
      On one hand novel vaccines (some are technically gene therapies) are rushed to market with trial steps omitted, and yet these are “safe and effective”.
      
      Meanwhile treatments like ivermectin which have been in market for 40+ years, with more than 4.5 billion doses administered, approaching zero adverse reactions, and with the discoverer awarded a Nobel, but ivermectin is regarded as “unproven”, despite the extensive evidence.
      
      So, yes we should be accumulating this but we won’t. This government is totally enthralled with the UN (not surprises why) so while WHO advice is vaccinate, vaccinate, vaccinate prophylaxes will be largely ignored.
      
      WHO/CDC/NHI/FDA intransigence on prophylaxes could be related to the EUA. These emergency approvals are granted on the basis that there are no other prophylaxis or treatment option.
      
      BTW, you can by Ivermectin online but I strongly recommend against this. The supply providence is almost certainly unknown. Don’t risk it!
      
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      August 20, 2021 10:06am
      - Northshoredoc
        
        Ivermectin while mostly a fairly benign treatment for parasites can have side effects.
        
        https://www.medsafe.govt.nz/consumers/cmi/s/stromectol.pdf
        
        Importantly it has no proven benefit in COVID 19 infection.
        
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        August 20, 2021 11:21am
      - krazykiwi
        
        Northshoredoc, what constitutes ‘proven’? Genuine question. The link I posted shows what looks to be solid evidence of efficacy.
        
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        August 20, 2021 11:44am
      - dcrane
        
        Northshoredoc define “proven” please
        
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        August 20, 2021 11:48am
      - Northshoredoc
        
        KK forgive my cut and paste but I’m busy at present
        
        ‘Not all scientific studies are of equal value. Different types of studies have different scientific strengths and legitimacy, and for any given type of study, individual examples often vary in quality of the methodology, internal validity, generalizability of results, and applicability to a specific patient (external validity).
        
        Levels of evidence are graded 1 through 5 in decreasing order of quality. Types of studies at each level vary somewhat with the clinical question (eg, of diagnosis, treatment, or economic analysis), but typically consist of the following:
        
        Level 1 (the highest quality): Systematic reviews or meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials and high-quality, single, randomized controlled trials
        Level 2: Well-designed cohort studies
        Level 3: Systematically reviewed case-control studies
        Level 4: Case series and lesser-quality cohort and case-control studies
        Level 5: Expert opinion not based on critical appraisal, but based on reasoning from physiology, bench research, or underlying principles’
        
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        August 20, 2021 12:28pm
      - krazykiwi
        
        So, based on 63 studies
        
        Meta analysis using the most serious outcome reported shows 72% [55‑82%] and 86% [75‑92%] improvement for early treatment and prophylaxis, with similar results after exclusion based sensitivity analysis and restriction to peer-reviewed studies or Randomized Controlled Trials.
        
        This looks distinctly like Level 1.
        
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        August 20, 2021 1:18pm
      - Northshoredoc
        
        Unfortunately not –
        
        Level 1 (the highest quality): Systematic reviews or meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials and high-quality, single, randomized controlled trials
        
        .. the key words being ‘…of randomized controlled trials and high-quality, single, randomized controlled trials’
        
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        August 20, 2021 1:34pm
      - dcrane
        
        As expected, Northshoredoc, your argument can be used to eliminate much of the evidence that is successfully used by many doctors to make countless informed decisions.
        
        If we required large randomized controlled studies to learn anything, we would know essentially nothing about evolution, for example.
        
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        August 20, 2021 2:56pm
      - UrbanNeocolonialist
        
        Compilation summary of all trial data for Ivermectin:
        https://ivmmeta.com/
        Published peer reviewed results are way way ahead of ‘approved’ remdesivir. 32 RCTs . Pretty much universally positive across 60+ trials and studies (a few very underpowered negative results where random chance and 1 case swung result) Looks like a whole lot of FUD from big pharma and their glove puppets and gate-keepers to keep it out of Covid treatment protocols. Golden rule; Who has the gold makes the rules.
        
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        August 20, 2021 3:10pm
    - gravedodger
      
      @ dcrane, Ivermectin so “inexpensive” big Pharma will do everything to minimise its usefulness.
      Crying shame the anecdotal evidence of its contribution to the Indian experience is so muddled and deemed of little interest.
      
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      August 20, 2021 11:02am
  - Charmaine Hawke
    
    Remdesivir also doesn’t work as advertised and has proved to be useless against covid, much like AZT was useless against AIDS but Dr Fauchi pushed it anyway.
    
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    August 20, 2021 9:15am
  - MCos
    
    Medsafe is responsible for approving drugs; not the PM.
    Then Pharmac decides if they’ll finance them.
    
    In some countries dodgy new drugs get approved and the next minute an influential politician is driving to his new holiday home in his new Benz.
    
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    August 20, 2021 9:16am
  - KevO'Brien
    
    Bill Gates products are really dear.
    
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    August 20, 2021 9:19am
- Maxx
  
  Clearly we’re at the front of the queue, the same as we are for the vaccine. We just didn’t understand what the front was.
  
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  August 20, 2021 9:07am
  - Maggie's partner
    
    stand at the back of a queue. then ask everyone in the queue to turn around and face the other way. Fixed.
    
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    August 20, 2021 10:25am
  - zulumonster
    
    The front fell off …
    
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    August 20, 2021 11:06am
- Ed Snack
  
  Shouldn’t matter, the only clinical trial of Remdesvir I’ve seen showed it had absolutely no effect. Completely worthless as a treatment for seriously ill patients.
  
  Highly valued though by those medical “experts” who have an investment in the company that produces it as the price is phenomenal.
  
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  August 20, 2021 6:16pm
Ruahine

Does anyone know what vaccine the Taliban is using.
It obviously works.
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August 20, 2021 8:10am
Tomtoddy

If you are still wondering what is happening down on the farm that has rural people continuing their protest then here are few quick facts.

Nitrogen fertilizer is up in price by 100% in 12 months. Shipping costs for goods in and exporting products out are up 50%. Council rates have lifted by 170% over the last 20 years, or an average of 8.5% a year yet food costs are only up 50% for the same period and transport costs only 30%.
Compulsory farm plans forced on farmers by this Government are costing a minimum of $3,000 and some run over $10,000. Items like posts and wire for horticulturalists are up 200% in just one year. Farmers are having to spend a day a week on regulatory compliance, more trips to the town, more legal and accounting costs for advice. More consultants are needed to interpret new rules. Farmers are spending more days off the farm at meetings, fieldays and demonstrations to keep up with new demands, regulations and changes. They are being snooped on by drones, extremists with cameras sneaking in at night and threats being made to put them out of business.

Its getting very tough down on the farm and they havent yet begun to feel the effects of inevitable higher interest rates and general inflation.
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August 20, 2021 8:11am
- Ruahine
  
  None of the people controlling all the Lockdown decisions are going to personally lose any income as they are all living off the much maligned taxpayer who these days are largely farmers and small businesses people.
  
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  August 20, 2021 8:21am
  - Tricati
    
    Very true, and a major part of the problem the country is facing. The pricks controlling this aren’t directly affected by their decisions, are getting well remunerated regardless of the consequences and are removed from the daily reality so don’t give a shit.
    
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    August 20, 2021 9:47am
- UrbanNeocolonialist
  
  It will force productive farm size to grow to cover fixed regulatory admin overheads.
  
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  August 20, 2021 8:23am
- Gravelroad
  
  @Tomtoddy:
  This is a government of control and command – indulged and enabled by an army of extremists and haters.
  Farmers, especially farming families, are little more than peasants on a treadmill.
  Multi-National corporate “farmers” who quickly fall into line by agreeing with every government policy, price increase and demand, no matter how unreasonable and ineffective, have contributed to the upcoming nationalisation of land use.
  
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  August 20, 2021 8:28am
  - kowtow
    
    The Media Pardy is part of the enablers/ extremists and haters .
    
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    August 20, 2021 10:20am
- Inandout
  
  Tom, as well as farming being hit this has spread to the building industry even more seriously because items are simply unavailable, at whatever cost. The higher costs for everything are being borne by the consumer at every level and lockdowns simply raise the costs further. We are in deep financial shit and getting worse by the day and the government that was voted in is floundering. Crime in Auckland has exploded since Jacinda’s last decree, probably eminating from the motel dwellers. Socialism is a shit system and we are in that pile of crap up to our ears.
  
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  August 20, 2021 8:29am
  - artemisia
    
    Landlords facing similar as well, with many new regs, costs, risks. Some fairly stupid and some not fit for purpose. Even the government says so.
    
    Not to worry though. Rental owners have a range of options – increase the rent, terminate risky tenants where poss, sell up and smile all the way to the bank, leave vacant and let the capital gains mitigate the risks and hassles.
    
    The government is funding a survey of landlords with vacant rentals to understand the reasons. See above, not too hard to figure out with 5 minutes think time.
    
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    August 20, 2021 8:54am
  - PeeJay
    
    I’m in construction and it’s really hard at the moment. Price rises are incessant. Tenderers, who used to hold prices for up to three months are now struggling to hold for a month. Every few weeks we get an update from one of the suppliers with more price rises. Starting to see a lot of tags in tenders now with escalation.
    
    The issue I see though is wages. Working in the industry I’m seeing massive jumps in material costs but very slow or stagnant moves in wages or salaries. Top people are seeing some good offers at the moment, but for a lot, it’s pretty steady. With inflation primed and ready to go, stagnant wages and escalating prices are not a good recipe.
    
    Could be very interesting times ahead. The western world hasn’t really seen an inflationary economy for a long time now. Not sure we have the leadership economically or politically to get through this. Time will tell though.
    
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    August 20, 2021 10:17am
- Master Mariner
  
  Totally agree TT, Also Fisherman, Forestry and Mining.
  All primary producers are getting over run with Rules and Regulations.
  Basically all Industries that require “Hands on Work”.
  People in offices making rules for People working the land. A huge disconnect in reality.
  
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  August 20, 2021 8:32am
- Lara
  
  Please can you write a letter to the mainstream newspapers and tell them this?
  
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  August 20, 2021 8:37am
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    The socialist supporting newspapers will bin it. They don’t like the truth
    
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    August 20, 2021 9:07am
    - kowtow
      
      They’d probably report you , quietly , to the police who’ll be drawing up lists .
      
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      August 20, 2021 10:23am
      - Steve Otto(North Shore)
        
        Coster will come and see me? Good, I want a chat with him
        
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        August 20, 2021 10:45am
  - cas
    
    The Listener would probably print it. It has been very even handed in its letters column and has done quite a few critical of Govt editorials.
    
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    August 20, 2021 9:53am
    - lifesgood
      
      Might start buying it again then. I stopped when they became unbearably woke.
      
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      August 20, 2021 11:09am
- krazykiwi
  
  Once it get too expensive farmers can just sell to Gates. He has a recent food production land, and is now the largest farmer in the USA. 269,000 acres across 18 states are under his control.
  
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  August 20, 2021 9:01am
  - MrTips
    
    I look forward to his first FMCG product, MSPylori™️. Looks and tastes like an ulcer, virus protection (guaranteed to clean you out) and the only one on the market. Great.
    
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    August 20, 2021 11:15am
- Nickc2
  
  All this and without farmers, we will never pay off our debt. Thanks Cindy – NOT!
  
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  August 20, 2021 9:10am
- alan
  
  We should have had our first jab on the first day of Lockdown. We finally got onto the website and rebooked at first available date, 7 September. My wife got through on the phone afterwards and were promised those of us with a high risk (71 with COPD) would get a phone call to reschedule urgently. Still waiting by the phone. Meanwhile the Labour propaganda machine is saying it’s going to be available to 12 ~ 15 year olds from beginning of September. Perhaps they have a list of National/ ACT supporters they want to kill off?
  
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  August 20, 2021 9:46am
- Bob
  
  Wait until the large drop in production from the farms as a result of not being able to afford fertilizer, posts, machinery etc; filters down into the URBAN arena, and real jobs urban employment starts to fall as businesses close due to lack of customers.
  
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  August 20, 2021 11:02am
westernScientest

1230 today everyone.

Remember to toot what you have got, got an old fog horn lieing around, now would be the perfect time to get it running and show your neighbours what it can do. Show your support for the people keeping this country afloat and stand up against some of these ridiculous policies being pushed on us.
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August 20, 2021 8:15am
- Gravelroad
  
  @western-
  I went to the Groundswell protest here.
  Hundreds of people and vehicles took part.
  What was obvious was that very few farming related corporate businesses showed up with branding on clothes or vehicles.
  They had been told not to by their bosses.
  Upsetting the government and risking reprisals was more important to them than visibly supporting their rural customers – who pour huge money into their businesses.
  That is the control over people’s actions that this government has.
  Even members of not-for- profit,voluntary rural organisations were told not to wear branded clothing to the protest. Must keep in with Jacinda and the Labour/Greens.
  The most startling true story I heard, was of a member of a voluntary org who was called by that org’s “leadership” and told that they must take down off their own, private social media page a notice advertising the Groundswell event.
  Can’t be seen to be disagreeing with or challenging the government.
  This is getting to be a very serious situation for our democracy.
  
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  August 20, 2021 9:23am
  - westernScientest
    
    It is worrying, but the more public acceptance it gets though the less they will object. It was good to see beef and lamb out there, and a bunch of smaller business from all over the place, mechanics/dealerships etc. I dont have any first hand knowledge but my suspicion is that a number of the bigger companies were threatened with various things. For example, we have been being softened up for a while for government to steel overseer off ravensdown. Again, not first hand knowledge, but I suspect something similar happen to dairynz and the GIA around M bovis.
    As for the non-profits etc. Yeah I guess they were worried about loosing their primary funding. The CRIs certainly would be, with the review going on the likes of AGR or PandF (the two CRIs which are ~50% industry funded, scion is next at ~20%) may not exist by the next election.
    
    I agree it is a problem, but the only way out I can see is to try and gain further public awareness, if the government keep sliding in the polls, the treat of loosing funding etc. has less teeth. Although for that to work, when we get a change of government they actually need to do a big clean out of the Marxists in all the government departments, otherwise the slow march will continue.
    
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    August 20, 2021 10:22am
    - Gravelroad
      
      To be honest, I thought a lot of these companies and other entities hanging off the farming communities’ tits were absolutely gutless.
      But I guess they know that we have to keep buying their products to be compliant with the demands from the government – central, local and all the various activists and extremists who know much better than any of us on the ground.
      There is no way I would have taken down a social media post on my personal page though – but interesting that we are now under such state control that it was thought appropriate to demand it in case the Labour Party was offended.
      
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      August 20, 2021 12:15pm
    - Boutique Avo Orchard
      
      And you should start with certain Chief Executives of certain Ministries.
      
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      August 20, 2021 1:12pm
  - kowtow
    
    When Covinda said from the Podium of Truth yesterday ( in relation to firms pushing the lockdown boundaries) to the effect ” you won’t want us to read out your names from here” , that was a very clear indication of the way she thinks .
    
    Why not just say “Law breakers will be prosecuted”
    
    But one can see very clearly the Old Stalinist inclinations there , “We’re compiling lists , Comrades , and you don’t want to be on them”
    
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    August 20, 2021 10:27am
    - Nickc2
      
      No doubt Fraser House is keeping a database of names/non de plumes/email addresses of most contributors to this blog site. The only ones they don’t track/trace are those already on the Fraser House payroll.
      
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      August 20, 2021 10:53am
      - westernScientest
        
        I would hate to think how much of the GCSBs resources are dedicated to YSB…
        
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        August 20, 2021 11:20am
- westernScientest
  
  I hope everyone got out and had a toot, remember, again next Friday
  
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  August 20, 2021 12:34pm
Happychappy

North Shore Hospital closed to new admissions and is testing all staff and patients after a former patient- a young man in his 20s- tested positive to Covid overnight.
The new case was alerted to Senior Government Ministers at 2am this morning and deemed the 22nd case in the delta cluster.
The young man tested positive after he went to Waitakere Hospital yesterday. He has been receiving treatment for a unrelated condition at North Shore Hospital earlier in the week.
The New case was reported earlier this morning and North Shore Hospital is diverting patients elsewhere in response to the discovery.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/covid-19-coronavirus-delta-outbreak-north-shore-hospital-northcote-college-lynfield-college-caught-in-outbreak-lockdown-decision-today-extension-likely-say-experts/SZ5VFH36WYHKCGOQFH5NC5VC54/
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August 20, 2021 8:15am
maggiemay

Can anyone tell me why 12-15 year olds are able to book a vaccine before 20 -30 year olds? I think I’m correct to my reading of the protocol. What’s the science behind this?
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August 20, 2021 8:17am
- maggiemay
  
  https://covid19.govt.nz/covid-19-vaccines/covid-19-vaccine-rollout-groups/#group4
  
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  August 20, 2021 8:32am
- Tony Stuart
  
  From 1 September, anyone over 12 can book their vaccination; the doors will be thrown open.
  
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  August 20, 2021 8:41am
  - NK
    
    I just tried to book this morning and there’s no availability until mid-late September where I live.
    
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    August 20, 2021 8:47am
  - westernScientest
    
    The comment is probably referring to the point that at the podium of truth yesterday, one of the creatures said that children (I cant remember what the bottom age was) should just go along with their parents, who already have bookings and they can get jabed at the same time.
    
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    August 20, 2021 9:01am
    - Northshoredoc
      
      The ‘pulpit of truth’ should be burnt and those providing infantile lectures and lies from it be put in stocks and pelted with rotting fruit.
      
      The shambolic vaccine rollout and the ongoing nonsense touted around it by the Ministry and government is a disgrace.
      
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      August 20, 2021 11:26am
    - Ed Snack
      
      I’d be prepared to bet that there’s no level 1 qualified clinical trial showing that the risk for children being vaccinated is lower then the risk of same child getting Covid. Deaths from Covid for healthy people under 20 is minuscule, deaths from the vaccine are mounting and almost certainly higher, albeit the actual numbers are quite small still.
      
      But how ethical or moral can it be to recommend a treatment with a death rate of, say, 3 per million as protection against a disease with a death rate of 1 per million (indicative numbers only) ?
      
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      August 20, 2021 6:28pm
  - maggiemay
    
    Yes but 12-15 year olds now with an eligible parent.
    I suppose it’s family groupings.
    
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    August 20, 2021 11:07am
- cmm
  
  It’s not science. It’s politics.
  
  Parents are completely absorbed by the welfare of their kids and most don’t like the idea of them getting “protection” while their kids do not.
  
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  August 20, 2021 10:16am
peterwn

So Tim Shadbolt is concerned at Council officials peeping at his emails. The Council like other organisations no doubt has reserved the right for the CEO to access and review any email sent via the Council email system and that would include the Mayor’s and Councillors’ emails. If there are significant concerns of improper use of emails, then the CEO needs to act.
However employees and others need to be aware that employers’ and organisations’ use of communications facilities may be monitored especially in the case of suspected abuse. To be on the safe side nowadays, employees should avoid using employers’ communication facilities for private matters, something which is now easily done.
Perhaps Tim does not know how to set up a gmail. hotmail, etc address.
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August 20, 2021 8:19am
rockape

With our luck running out re COVID I expect the government is going to be shown up for its deficiencies. The only. Answer the PM has is lockdown, the only answer the finance minister has is borrowing. Poor Kiwis, we are in for a hard couple of years and beyond.
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August 20, 2021 8:21am
- Steve Otto(North Shore)
  
  We won’t run out if she lies about it. Only thing she is good at, bullshitting 24/7
  
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  August 20, 2021 9:12am
- cmm
  
  Couple of years? No.
  
  The borrowing will impoverish a whole generation.
  
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  August 20, 2021 10:17am
- Ian Boag
  
  There are just three ways to manage a pandemic
  
  (a) vaccination
  (b) antivirals
  (c) isolation
  
  Or we can just let it go …..
  
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  August 20, 2021 10:37am
  - Tall Man
    
    d) Prophylactic treatment for all those at risk and let it go.
    
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    August 20, 2021 11:23am
    - Ian Boag
      
      That’s (b).
      
      Some folk think that the general negative attitude towards ivermectin/HCQ/zinc/vitamin D etc is a big pharma conspiracy. Others think these treatments have not shown effectiveness. Go figure.
      
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      August 20, 2021 11:35am
      - Tall Man
        
        Nope, b) didn’t mention letting it go….
        
        https://naturalselections.substack.com/p/on-driving-sars-cov2-extinct
        
        That may help.
        
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        August 20, 2021 11:42am
      - Ian Boag
        
        Antivirals are the way HIV is managed – you take the meds forever. They don’t improve your “natural” immunity – they just screw things up for the virus.
        
        So if you started taking prophylactic eg ivermectin, why would you ever stop? It’s not as if there are significant side effects ….
        
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        August 20, 2021 1:38pm
      - Tall Man
        
        Personally I wouldn’t at this stage as I don’t believe I am at risk yet, although if the stupid one contimues this lockdown interminably alcohol abuse may lead to commorbities quicker than I would like.
        
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        August 20, 2021 2:53pm
      - Ian Boag
        
        Prophylaxis is handing it out “before”. There are some suggestions that ivermectin has a useful prophylactic capability. Administration <.b>AFTER infection is “treatment” not “prophylaxis”. There is a whole lot less stuff about ivermectin as an effective treatment …..
        
        You could make similar comments about vaccines – prophylactic and not a treament …..
        
        Actually we don’t have any generally accepted treatments – which takes us back to option (c) – isolation – or just letting it rip …
        
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        August 20, 2021 7:37pm
  - Northshoredoc
    
    a) has been a shambolic mess – we are late and slow.
    b) there aren’t any
    c) we’re all aware that this is Kim Jongcindas only play in the playbook – pity our border has failed yet again due to MBIE and MoH incompetence.
    
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    August 20, 2021 11:30am
    - Ian Boag
      
      (a) True – vaccination rollout has not been flash
      (b) Correct unless you believe in ivermectin/HCQ etc
      (c) Do you object to using isolation as a management tool or just to the way it has been handled?
      
      Just curious about (c)
      
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      August 20, 2021 11:52am
      - Northshoredoc
        
        No it is all we have left due to the abysmal roll out of the vaccine and the woeful management of MIQ – who would’ve thought having MIQ facilities in hotels embedded within your largest city would continue to cause outbreaks in said city – gosh was a surprise.
        
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        August 20, 2021 12:32pm
  - Ed Snack
    
    Those options of course only exist if such treatment options are available. HIV has no vaccine, and we are basically told by the medical establishment that there are no anti-virals for Covid.
    
    Of course one can mix and match. As we stand, I would suggest that the best approach for NZ is something not entirely dissimilar to what we have been doing.
    
    1. Vaccinate the vulnerable, eg, over, say, 60 or thereabouts. A pretty good case can be made for the advantages to anyone in that age bracket in terms of reduced likelihood of catching Covid HD reduced symptoms if one does. Note that this is subject to change as I don’t think we have final numbers on the reduction of symptoms as that is very political.
    
    2. Don’t vaccinate the under 20’s at all, at least not with the current vaccines.
    
    3. Very actively try to identify superior vaccines and get those ASAP. Novavax comes to mind, but the test results need to be completed to show safety and efficacy. With a safer vaccine, younger people can be included.
    
    4. Prophylaxis, use this, probably first with anyone diagnosed to limit symptoms and virus load. Use Ivermectin, zinc, Vitamin D, Vitamin C, and HCQ if appropriate. Both Ivm and HCQ have known restrictions though IVM is very safe in general, HCQ has heart arrhythmia exclusions amongst others. Certainly the Vitamins and Zinc could be used generally, and maybe IVM. Low Vitamin D levels seem to have a very close association with the seriousness of Covid symptoms, which ties in well with the seasonality as well.
    
    5. Forget bloody masks, cloth masks simply do not work in practice, though N95 style for close contact people with infected persons should indeed be used.
    
    6. Ensure the suitability of the MIQ and isolation facilities, Covid as an aerosol dispersed agent needs fresh air ventilation, or at least sterilised (UV is an excellent way) air circulation. Not sure if this is in place, it may be.
    
    There’s more, but don’t want to go on for too long !
    
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    August 20, 2021 6:43pm
    - Ian Boag
      
      Prophylaxis … first with anyone diagnosed to limit symptoms and virus load. Use Ivermectin, HCQ …
      
      Prophlaxis is administration before there are symptoms. Anything after that is “treament”. IVM and all that don’t look all that flash as treatments.
      
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      August 20, 2021 7:41pm
Humble Capitalist

I received an email from Wellington City Council yesterday apologising for the delay in responding to my email about a leaking water toby on the footpath in front of our premises. My original email was sent on 19th Aug 2020, so it has taken exactly a year to the day to get an email response.
The toby got fixed last year but it took numerous phone calls and a couple of months to get done. And the council apologise for a delayed response a year later!
I can only imagine what it might be like to be able to get back to my customers a year later without losing my business! Or to lie in bed half the day without losing any income.
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August 20, 2021 8:25am
- zulumonster
  
  yeah – but at least they are getting onto those critical cycle lanes and putting aside $70m to investigate better walking options for Wellingtonians. Am I going to get a nice new pair of walking shoes?
  Crumbling water infrastructure? If they can’t see it then it just can’t be real …
  
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  August 20, 2021 10:12am
  - oldfella
    
    Zulu, pass any water problems over to that 3 Waters bunch to sort out. See, easy fix. /s
    
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    August 20, 2021 11:08am
- peterwn
  
  I am still awaiting a response to one. The Council installed a green bicycle strip on the Harriett Street traffic light controlled intersection. Unfortunately the detector wires are now under this green strip with the result you have to wait for ever for a ‘green light’ if you stop clear of the green strip. The work around is to be naughty and ignore the green strip, but you theoretically could get a ticket. So I raised a fix it request, but presumably it is in the too hard basket. A quick fix would to put a radar detector on the traffic lights pole such as used for temporary road works traffic lights.
  
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  August 20, 2021 10:20am
Master Mariner

NZ Airforce evacuation heading to Middle of Indian Ocean before heading into Kabul.
My guess is Diego Garcia Island.
Also doubts whether they will be able to get in to bring Kiwis out safely.
Whats plan B , C, D and E?
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August 20, 2021 8:28am
- Master Mariner
  
  Whoops. Wrong. Next Guess would be Christmas Island ?
  Not sure why they would’nt say on AM show this morning.
  
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  August 20, 2021 8:42am
- Nickc2
  
  Some C-130s can refuel in flight but not sure if ours can. Aust has refuelling aircraft and may help if reqd.
  
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  August 20, 2021 9:20am
  - cmm
    
    In flight refuelling is both high risk and very expensive and only justified in combat or combat training situations. Unless RNZAF pilots do lots of in-flight fueling training, it would be extremely irresponsible to do this with 80 passengers on board – particularly when there are on-ground options.
    
    On-ground refueling also gives everyone a chance to stretch their legs and have a dunny break. C130s are not particularly well equipped for these purposes.
    
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    August 20, 2021 10:25am
    - Nickc2
      
      Agree with your last paragraph cmm having flown in C-130s many times, including long haul to RAF Mildenhall in the UK from Whenuapai with three overnight stops along the way. Not a pleasant flight!!
      I have worked on many Full Flight Simulators (RAAF & Aust Army) in recent years but was unaware Air to Air Refuelling was only for Fighter Pilots (the sharp end) – TKS.
      
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      August 20, 2021 12:52pm
      - cmm
        
        I’m guessing on the refuelling, but it is high risk and needs a lot of ONGOING training and is expensive in so many ways. We don’t have any flying petrol stations, so our pilots can’t get training here.
        
        There’s more to combat that just fighters. ie. transport into combat zones is also combat.
        
        Due to it being high risk, you’d only want to do it when the risk of in-air refueling is lower than landing. ie – typically combat situations or flying over hostile areas etc; and of course training for those. Our C130s are really intended for support missions (eg. post hurricane relief in the islands) so I can’t really see any justification for in-flight fueling training.
        
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        August 20, 2021 4:21pm
  - fisho
    
    Ours don’t have the capability for IFR, not many do. It’s normally only special operations C-130’s belonging to US, UK etc that are equipped.
    
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    August 20, 2021 11:37am
JibberJabber

Wondered why the Afghan Army collapsed so quickly?
Wonder no more…
https://twitter.com/JoshD0110/status/1428295447471341572
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August 20, 2021 8:34am
- Fuzzysnuggleduck
  
  Yep, almost comical – if they weren’t the ones keeping away the deadly Islamic fanatics away from moderates/progressives.
  I met a former NZDF trainer recently, and he said the Afghans he trained would shoot AK from the hip, and when he told them to use the gun sights and try to hit the target, the AK-shooters explained ‘God will do it/God decides’.
  Literal Spray & Pray.
  We has a laugh – use the bloody sights, and give God a helping hand!
  
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  August 20, 2021 1:05pm
Maggy Wassilieff

If your data doesn’t fit the model…discard it (the data, not the model)

https://www.manhattancontrarian.com/blog/2021-8-15-another-round-of-anti-science-from-the-ipcc
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August 20, 2021 8:36am
- KevO'Brien
  
  Traditional treatment by ideologues. Another is the HADCRUT way to secretly email friends with algorithms to adjust earlier data downwards so the present can be presented as awfully warm and getting worse. (NIWA fell for that.)
  
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  August 20, 2021 9:27am
NK

There is no specific evidence to suggest that the wearing of masks by the mass population has any potential benefit. In fact, there’s some evidence to suggest the opposite in the misuse of wearing a mask properly or fitting it properly,” Dr. Mike Ryan, executive director of the WHO health emergencies program, said at a media briefing in Geneva, Switzerland, on Monday.

March 2020.
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August 20, 2021 8:37am
- virtualmark
  
  The WHO were (absolutely inexplicably) slow in realising Covid was airborne.
  
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  August 20, 2021 9:00am
- KevO'Brien
  
  The masks can provide anxieties also they interfere with oxygen supply to some people. Expired gases may be re-inhaled with varying physical affects.
  
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  August 20, 2021 9:30am
  - gravedodger
    
    Well said Kev, nearly two hours yesterday at Neurology CHC and the discomfort became very very real
    
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    August 20, 2021 11:15am
- Ehlana
  
  NK, the advice back in early 2020 was against mask wearing by the general public. But it changed some months later, as more information emerged.
  Now the consensus is that masks do have benefit in reducing the aerosol spreading of viruses, when combined with other measures like washing hands and maintaining a physical distance. (See, for example, https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/coronavirus/in-depth/coronavirus-mask/art-20485449) .
  
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  August 20, 2021 9:52am
  - Ed Snack
    
    Nope, that’s not based on the science. It has been well established in the literature that cloth masks as used in the real world have no impact on viruses spread as aerosols.
    
    Marginally useful in a surgical setting where their primary intention is to prevent the transmission of oral bacteria to open wounds. Note those two specific mentions, bacteria and open wounds. Neither apply for Covid.
    
    Properly fitted and maintained N95 style masks can reduce aerosol viral intake and are useful in a clinical setting.
    
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    August 20, 2021 6:56pm
    - NZer In Exile
      
      “Properly fitted and maintained N95 style masks can reduce aerosol viral intake and are useful in a clinical setting.”
      
      Yep and they have to be changed after each patient treatment according to a nurse friend. They are also expensive for the general masses to use properly.
      
      It also sounds like garden variety crapola masks have little, if any effect, on the new big bogeyman, the much more feared (without sufficient evidence) delta strain.
      
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      August 20, 2021 8:08pm
- krazykiwi
  
  Masks are compliance muzzles.
  
  They are evidence that the fear narrative has been deeply installed.
  
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  August 20, 2021 10:22am
  - cmm
    
    I prefer to see them as religious trappings – like robes etc. They go well with the Pfizer Holy Water.
    
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    August 20, 2021 10:26am
    - krazykiwi
      
      Quite. Masks are a very visible way of identifying who has thrown their lot in with the Covid cultists. They are a modern day Jewish Star.
      
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      August 20, 2021 10:39am
I remember when

Stuff: Retail staff upset at non-essential tasks:
The union is like rust and never sleeps.
I should be at home on full pay like everyone else.
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August 20, 2021 8:38am
- Ruawai
  
  Surely if a business can operate without contact they should be able to carry on trading, the reason for the lockdown is to prevent transmission of a virus not prevent businesses from making money.
  
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  August 20, 2021 8:52am
  - westernScientest
    
    no comrade, we must force the capitalists to be kind by destroying them.
    
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    August 20, 2021 9:17am
Nickc2

To the Maori academics rewriting our history and education curricula.

History is not there for you to like or dislike. It is there for you to learn from. If it offends you, even better because you are less likely to repeat it. History is not yours to change or destroy.
Anon
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August 20, 2021 8:42am
- Steve Otto(North Shore)
  
  The indoctrinated left do not understand that
  
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  August 20, 2021 9:23am
- KevO'Brien
  
  What about the price we have paid for development since taking on the burden of stopping them killing each other?
  
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  August 20, 2021 9:31am
  - Nickc2
    
    Well Kev we haven’t been very successful at that have we? They’re still killing each other and others (Gang Warfare). In fact, we somewhat encouraged this behaviour insofar as Cindy’s gun buyback didn’t apply to Maori Gangs whilst we are simultaneously funding the bloody Mongrel Mob FFS.
    
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    August 20, 2021 10:01am
emmess

Proof that Biden is lieing when he blames the Trump plan for the disastrous pull out of Afghanistan

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QVKyAgk-J8I
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August 20, 2021 8:42am
- Steve Otto(North Shore)
  
  Batman will be along shortly to debunk this, then throw diversions – as well as have a moan about Trump
  
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  August 20, 2021 9:42am
  - Tall Man
    
    Only when he can tear himself away from that fridge 😉
    
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    August 20, 2021 11:06am
- NZer In Exile
  
  Biden/Harris blamed the Afghan army for running away. This after pulling out all support and gifting billions of dollars of high tech weapons to the Taliban. He’s also left behind 10 to 15 thousand American citizens!!! The guy should apologise and resign. The USA should immediately reverse what it’s just done and organise a proper transition. As Ben Shapiro noted, those Afghans under 25 will not know anything but a relatively free Afghanistan (courtesy of the USA enabled relative stability and freedoms). Roughly 60% of the population are under 25. Now they have been thrown to 8th century barbarians who commonly intimidate, imprison, murder, torture and rape and mutilate.
  
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  August 20, 2021 8:23pm
Tricati

Having the PM threaten un-essential businesses opening by say she will identify them form the ‘Podium of Truth’ is very unsettling – This is Stalinist behaviour.
Firstly, the definition of essential is still unclear and inequitable – how can builders on Government housing jobs be allowed to continue, and other builders/tradesmen be locked down.
Secondly, they have had over 12 months to get clarity over this issue, but like most things they have just been lazy, so blame others.
This latest outbreak is just a shambles, from lack of vaccinations, to limited testing stations, to border issues and still no forthright questioning of their ineptitude.
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August 20, 2021 8:42am
- Steve Otto(North Shore)
  
  The Govt has housing jobs on the go??
  Well bugger me, who woulda thunk it?
  
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  August 20, 2021 9:25am
  - westernScientest
    
    haha, or maybe a bunch of builders just realised when the cops turned up they could tell them they were govt housing and they were so shocked they went away?
    
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    August 20, 2021 10:26am
- Paulus
  
  Simple really – 53% of voters gave her an unconditional vote to do whatever she wants – and she does and will – and will get there again next time.
  
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  August 20, 2021 10:26am
  - Tall Man
    
    “and will get there again next time”
    
    Sorry Paulus, downticked for being so negative 😉
    
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    August 20, 2021 11:05am
- Maggy Wassilieff
  
  Yes,
  It was very creepy to see and hear her threaten folks.
  
  But seems to be a standard technique of bullies.
  
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  August 20, 2021 10:28am
- krazykiwi
  
  A lack of forthright questioning of their ineptitude is the agar jelly. None of stated failings could grow without it.
  
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  August 20, 2021 10:34am
Maggy Wassilieff

Dear Folks,
A CONFESSION

I have been taking my reusable carry bags into the local mini mart these last two days ….

I unwittingly may be spreading bertie germs on to the poor unsuspecting folks queuing at the check-out, as well as the check-out server.

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/covid-19-coronavirus-reusable-bags-to-stay-in-the-car-supermarkets-say/MGVRKKA7RPD6GTFBJQZFRTIVGY/
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August 20, 2021 8:44am
- westernScientest
  
  civil disobedience at its height!
  
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  August 20, 2021 8:45am
- krazykiwi
  
  After hundreds of million of Covid-19 infections, there is not one documented case of fomite transmission. We are post-science now. Its the dogma of unthinking obedience.
  
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  August 20, 2021 8:47am
  - Brian McDonald
    
    Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
    “the dogma of unthinking obedience.”
    Did your English teachers vomit over your essays or did they keep a bucket handy?
    
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    August 20, 2021 8:59am
    - KevO'Brien
      
      Many expert virologistic advisors prefer that dogmatic approach.
      
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      August 20, 2021 9:36am
    - emmess
      
      These days, generally it would be a mark of honour
      
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      August 20, 2021 2:26pm
- kevn
  
  @Maggy… Wearing masks but hanging on to warm sticky supermarket trolley handles.
  
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  August 20, 2021 8:50am
  - Flossie
    
    Doesn’t your supermarket provide wipes or spray for the trolley?
    
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    August 20, 2021 9:49am
    - Tall Man
      
      That’s why they’re sticky and wet Flossie ……
      
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      August 20, 2021 11:01am
  - Tricati
    
    Isn’t it nuts – Can go to a supermarket with numerous others yet the local baker/butcher, that could run like dairies with 1 in 1 out, are closed. Clearly the supermarkets are getting special treatment.
    
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    August 20, 2021 9:52am
    - Tall Man
      
      Saw a guy come out of the dairy on Wednesday carrying his “essential” newspaper. He then stopped grabbed his hanky and did a massive sneeze etc into the hanky …..
      
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      August 20, 2021 11:02am
      - Ehlana
        
        The newspaper could be essential Tall Man, if he has a fire to light.
        
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        August 20, 2021 11:35am
      - Tall Man
        
        About all they’re useful for these days.
        
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        August 20, 2021 11:44am
- cas
  
  At our local supermarket today I had to go and put mine back in the car but a nice person held my place in what little queue there was. But while I am on supermarkets, one of the supervisors when I asked her if people were being nice, said not all of them had been and when I asked if those thought this was all the fault of the supermarket workers she said yes.
  
  So a plea from me that when we go to the supermarket, petrol station, tip or wherever we are allowed to go give the workers all a smile and say thanks.
  
  And don’t dare to downtick me on this.
  
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  August 20, 2021 9:58am
  - Maggy Wassilieff
    
    I’m not down-ticking you…
    but when our Dear Leader lays the blame on poor working folk, she sets an example for others to do similar..
    
    https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/coronavirus/300242225/covid19-kfc-worker-claims-she-wasnt-told-to-selfisolate-before-going-to-work-wants-apology
    
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    August 20, 2021 11:14am
- Bob
  
  ,Bertie Germ’ only affects teeth; it is not a respiratory germ. Look at the healthy teeth on the podium of Truth each day.
  
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  August 20, 2021 11:14am
  - crikey
    
    Hard to miss the Podium of Teeth.
    
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    August 20, 2021 12:54pm
- lifesgood
  
  Probably a good thing, Maggy. You are doing your bit towards herd immunity.
  
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  August 20, 2021 11:16am
krazykiwi

Good essay out today on the futility of Covid-zero in Australia and New Zealand.

Walkabout

There is a moment in one of the Mad Max films where Max and his band of tagalongs have successfully escaped from their pursuers and are striking out through the post-apocalyptic Outback in search of The Safe Place, a haven of security where they hope to live out their lives in peace. After much struggle, they crest the top of an enormous dune only to see an endless desert stretching out beyond the horizon. It is as this point that the true nature of their predicament becomes clear; do they continue on alone into the unending sea of sand in what may be the forlorn hope of reaching The Safe Place, or do they stay where they are until their pursuers inevitably catch up with them, or do they turn around and head back into danger but to somewhere where they know there is water and shelter?

A poignant supporting cartoon.
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August 20, 2021 8:44am
- Brian McDonald
  
  Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
  You being a fan of Madmax movies doesn’t surprise me KK, fits with your handle. Madmax stuffs a squawking KK near an orange sand dune sort of thing.
  While there is no connection, your break-out post yesterday had what was probably a record number of upticks. Congratulations. Meanwhile, in the real world, some 180,000 plus people are booked for vaccinations.
  
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  August 20, 2021 9:21am
  - Tall Man
    
    A “vaccination” that doesn’t stop you catching the virus, doesn’t stop you from passing it on and doesn’t stop you dying if you have enough commorbidities to kill you isn’t a vaccination.
    
    But hey, if you’re dumb enough to hang your hat on it then you go for it but just remember, particularly apt for you, a silver bullet is still a bullet.
    
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    August 20, 2021 11:00am
    - Northshoredoc
      
      A “vaccination” that reduces your risk of catching the virus, reduces your risk of passing it on and reduces your risk of dying if you have commorbidities is a vaccination.
      
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      August 20, 2021 12:36pm
      - Tall Man
        
        And yet we don’t have the data that supports your assertion.
        
        We do know that Israel has a large spike and is one of the most “vaccinated” countries in the world.
        
        So as far as I am concerned it’s still a maybe and as I am fit and healthy with low risk of covid I’ll continue to wait thanks.
        
        Pretty sure I’m not alone either
        
        https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/126132158/wellington-doctors-antivaccination-text-message-to-patients-being-taken-very-seriously-by-medical-council
        
        Typcal stuff, the headline doesn’t really match the reality of the story.
        
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        August 20, 2021 2:57pm
      - Northshoredoc
        
        ‘We do know that Israel has a large spike and is one of the most “vaccinated” countries in the world.’
        
        ..and the data ex israel supports my comment completely.
        
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        August 20, 2021 6:13pm
      - Ed Snack
        
        Unproven Doc, no class 1 studies yet.
        
        It may be so, but I suspect less so as the vaccination affect lessens until we get more effective ones.
        
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        August 20, 2021 7:02pm
Maggie Pie

TRENDING…

New series of ‘Undercover Boss’ to feature NZ Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, decked out in full PPE gear, joining staff at Northcote Testing Center, to see how much abuse SHE can endure from long queues of disgruntled locals having to wait for up to 9 hours in their cars for a Covid test.
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August 20, 2021 8:54am
- Inandout
  
  Maggie, a nine hour wait must do wonders for the human body while entombed in a motor vehicle. Developing hypertension, stomach churning leading to the onset of ulcers, heart palpitations; oh but covid is soooo deadly.
  
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  August 20, 2021 9:01am
  - MCos
    
    Nine hours sitting in a car isn’t as bad as fifteen hours in a plane, fourteen days in MIQ or LWOP.
    At least you can change your mind & go home.
    
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    August 20, 2021 10:51am
    - Flossie
      
      On the plane you can get up and walk to the toilet.
      
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      August 20, 2021 11:17am
  - lifesgood
    
    How do you have a wee?
    
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    August 20, 2021 11:17am
    - Flossie
      
      Depends!!!
      
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      August 20, 2021 12:09pm
  - Close Hen Counters
    
    Blood clots from prolonged inactivity can be deadly – I heard some poor bugger waited in their car for 12 hours yesterday before being turned away no swab ( that is one long haul trip ) … not to mention the logic of having portaloos at these testing stations …. Bursting bubble stuff having to share a bog with someone else ….. triage every person arriving at station, people who have waited hours then turned away get front of line chit for tomorrow maybe?
    
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    August 20, 2021 12:07pm
- KevO'Brien
  
  I hope the tests all meet the PCR 25x criteria.
  
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  August 20, 2021 9:38am
- Surely Knott
  
  Agree. The queues are unhealthy (your sick and should be in bed) and a covid risk (you have to get out of car and go to the loo) and impossible for single parents with young kids. How hard is it to get a number system app. Take a number for the queue from an online system, like at a fast food number system. And the app simply shows what number they are up to so you can come down when your block of numbers is up.
  
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  August 20, 2021 9:54am
  - Hollyfield
    
    Our local PaknSave had this system last year, no idea about this year. It was fantastic – sent them a text, waited in the comfort of my home, received a text when it was my turn and I had 10 minutes to get there before my place was given to someone else. Since it’s 2 minutes down the road this was enough time for me. Testing could be done the same way, with perhaps a 30 minute lead time.
    
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    August 20, 2021 11:21am
    - Ehlana
      
      Pak’n’Save of course is a private enterprise that understands that you have a choice and would like you to choose them, as they only make money if you voluntarily enter their store and buy from them.
      Hence, system to make that easier and more pleasant for you.
      
      Let us consider how this contrasts with the Covid testing places…
      
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      August 20, 2021 1:17pm
- oldfella
  
  Maggie, Garrick Tremain right on point again.
  https://www.bassettbrashandhide.com/post/cartoon-of-the-day-47
  Remember when NZ had a bunch of good political cartoonists? Now…
  
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  August 20, 2021 12:41pm
I remember when

What’s not to understand.
Using 0-29 as the benchmark and CDC stats.
Infection same for all ages.
40-49 Hospitalisation 2X Death 10X.
50-64 Hospitalisation 4X Death 35X as likely.
65-74 Hospitalisation 6X Death 95X
75-84 Hospitalisation 9X Death 230X
85+ Hospitalisation 15X Death 600X
ANSWER – vaccinate everyone over 40 and open up the country.
Most cases of covid will not even know they have it and will still be able to work normally.
Set up special facilities for any serious cases that develop.
No need to do endless testing of everybody, just set up a sizable group that is tested regularly, so that need for things like extra vaccination can be identified.
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August 20, 2021 8:56am
- Stu2
  
  Don’t think so
  
  The key metrics in NZ are hospitalisations and ICU numbers
  
  Your recipe would overload the ICUs quickly in an outbreak like the currrent one, as there would be far too many unvaccinated 0-39 year olds. Even at low rates of serious illness the health system would struggle. There isn’t much spare ICU capacity at the moment, which is typical of our winters.
  
  The original reason for lockdowns was to protect our health system, but that focus on that has been diluted by the ridiculous attempt for eradication.
  
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  August 20, 2021 10:41am
Brian McDonald

Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
Well so far nobody offering criticism of the tracing in the Delta outbreak which is impressive by any standard.
I note that one of the descriptions of Delta was describing its perils in a short period before showing symptoms. I think that will be soon considered an advantage in fighting it if it isn’t already in the circles where it matters.
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August 20, 2021 9:09am
- Inandout
  
  BM, is the Kabul variety next on the vaccine list?
  
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  August 20, 2021 9:16am
  - Paulus
    
    Understand that Gaza is getting close to nothing with the Virus exploding – only the small elite have and can get vaccinated.
    
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    August 20, 2021 2:08pm
BananaLlama

I against suggest that DPF should offer to sell the first post slot of each GD. It would be a good way to help finance his blog.
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August 20, 2021 9:11am
- Okahu
  
  Happy chappy (is he, really?) will be off to see the bank manager about a new mortgage if that occurs.
  
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  August 20, 2021 10:22am
  - Happychappy
    
    Well get up early in the morning I am up at 5am most mornings and need something to do so so hence the early posts. So it’s easy if you don’t like the posts don’t read them a easy fix.
    
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    August 20, 2021 1:44pm
    - Okahu
      
      Don’t be sensitive happy chap. I’ve seen a couple I could agree with. I was more commenting on the inevitability of your first posts than their content. Though if you take a look at some you can’t help but agree you don’t paint a universally happy picture. In fact mostly quite the contrary. Perhaps a glance at the sunrise might lift your mood?
      
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      August 20, 2021 2:19pm
      - Happychappy
        
        So your quite happy for our Finance Minister with the blessing of the Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern to use Covid- 19 funds to be used for things that the budget should be paying for, I would call it misappropriation of funds and object that this is the case and future Generations will be saddled with paying it back.
        
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        August 20, 2021 6:16pm
Inandout

I was given this book as a young man and it has been my ‘go to’ throughout my business life.
https://www.penguin.co.nz/books/feel-the-fear-and-do-it-anyway-9781785042652
Some will say fear is how governments control the population and it is rolled out on time. I discard fear at will.
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August 20, 2021 9:15am
- doggone7
  
  The fear factor indeed. It’s great when you get a double whammy out of it too.
  Trump says Mexicans are going to kill rape and drug. Fear. He’s going to build a wall, keep them out. People in palm of hand.
  
  Then the construction and the second hit as all the killers, rapists and drug runners are kept out. Is that how it works?
  
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  August 20, 2021 11:28am
Maggie Pie

BREAKING….

For those finding it difficult having to cope with a 7 day lockdown in Auckland….spare a thought for Sir Ron.

He appears in Sydney’s Downing Center Court today for sentencing.
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August 20, 2021 9:19am
- Adroit
  
  My only thought is one of damnation and cursing. I pray that he receives his just desserts in this life and the next. Truly, a despicable and evil man.
  
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  August 20, 2021 9:45am
  - MCos
    
    Ron Brierley is 84. For most of those years a lot of people thought he was the bees knees even though it seems his unusual behaviour appears to have been know about for quite some time.
    
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    August 20, 2021 9:59am
    - Adroit
      
      And? I couldn’t care if he was 184. Any good work that he has done in his life is undone in the light of this evil. Also, unusual behaviour? That seems life disgusting apologetic weasel words. Call it what it is: pedophilia. He had photos of explicits sex acts with children, FFS.
      
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      August 20, 2021 11:01am
      - MCos
        
        Call it whatever you like.
        The point is people seem to have known about it many years ago and glossed over it, no doubt because it wasn’t to their advantage.
        Amazing what you can get away with if you have money and/or influence.
        
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        August 20, 2021 12:38pm
    - Maggie Pie
      
      My partner’s mum met him a few times socially when she was a student at Vic back in the early 70’s.
      Hard to get to know she reckoned. Right into his stamp collecting. Great mate of BJ’s apparently 😀
      
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      August 20, 2021 11:04am
- Libertarians are right
  
  I hope he shows up without a mask so they give him the harsh sentence he deserves.
  
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  August 20, 2021 10:29am
Opie

I see this morning the scare mongering professor Baker has said that many people getting delta are young and many have very few symptoms. So what exactly are we hiding from?

Then he goes on to say that an idea put forward by mark Richardson to vaccinate everyone on arrival was a good idea. Wait, you want to force people to take something that reduces your natural immune response for two weeks and then during those 2 weeks you have to stay in a hotel with people from all around the world with shared air con.

If that comes in, you watch the MIQ cases sky rocket.

You would have to try hard to come up with ideas as stupid as these experts
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August 20, 2021 9:24am
- krazykiwi
  
  His comment on young people is spot on. What he omitted is that everyone infected will now have a strong “memory T cell” immune response. There are people who recovered from the original SARs virus who still, 17 years later, have mounted a successful defense against Covid-19
  
  Mark Richardson ‘idea’ could be most charitably described as a brain fart. That Baker endorsed it is weapons grade stupidity on his part.
  
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  August 20, 2021 10:30am
  - Bob
    
    Mark Richardson’s comment achieved the desired ‘knee jerk reaction’ from Baker didn’t it!
    
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    August 20, 2021 11:17am
thirteenstars

Excellent article from Spiked about New Zealand’s insane Zero COVID mindset:

Here is the reality of Zero Covid laid bare. There is no escape. If eliminating Covid is the goal, there is no end to lockdowns, no end to restrictions and no end to the constant fear that, at any time, your freedoms will be taken away and your life will be put on hold. Your country can be largely free of the virus for six months, but when one person in a city you have never been to tests positive, lockdown returns. New Zealand will leave this lockdown, but the fear of the next one will remain until the government and the people shake themselves out of this Zero Covid fantasy.

It really does take a foreign perspective sometimes to see the forest for the trees. Zero COVID is obviously nuts. Completely untenable. The irony is that the circumstances that initially led NZ to be so successful at avoiding the worst consequences of the virus have now led us to believe that all we have to do is rinse and repeat. In fact, the initial luck we had–the blessings of isolation–gave us time to develop a sane strategy. But we squandered it and now all we know how to do is shelter in place and look slavishly to the government for safety.

In a weird way this kind of feels like the shock that many US citizens are experiencing with Biden’s debacle in Afghanistan. It shatters illusions about infallibility and superiority. It exposes the folly of poor planning and the wasting of precious time. Here we now sit, locked down (and locked up), breathing heavily through masks, controlled like little automatons by a bureaucracy totally seduced by the wrong strategy.

The full article is excellent:

https://www.spiked-online.com/2021/08/19/new-zealands-zero-covid-trap/
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August 20, 2021 9:33am
JibberJabber

Welcome to Karenstani utopia…

https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2021/08/covid-19-over-600-lockdown-restriction-breaches-reported-to-police.html

0800Narkline
Coster is having a Stasi thrashwank as we speak…
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August 20, 2021 9:35am
- rockape
  
  Funny how so many police are available to police COVID but try reporting a stolen car and you get crickets!
  
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  August 20, 2021 10:12am
- thirteenstars
  
  Wait for the hate speech dobbing in. It’ll make COVID narking look like the good old days.
  
  Check out the UK Police site for dobbing in:
  
  https://www.met.police.uk/tv/true-vision-report-hate-crime/
  
  With its comforting advice that you can be an anonymous nark:
  
  The police take hate crime very seriously and will record and investigate this offence even if you do not want to give your details.
  
  And on their What is Hate Crime page, they offer this chilling advice:
  
  A hate incident is any incident which the victim, or anyone else, thinks is based on someone’s prejudice towards them because of their race, religion, sexual orientation, disability or because they are transgender.
  
  Not all hate incidents will amount to criminal offences, but it is equally important that these are reported and recorded by the police.
  
  Evidence of the hate element is not a requirement. You do not need to personally perceive the incident to be hate related. It would be enough if another person, a witness or even a police officer thought that the incident was hate related.
  
  Totally subjective, based in nothing more than hurt feelings or the desire to maliciously dob in someone who has political or other beliefs you disagree with. It doesn’t have to happen to you, you merely have to “perceive” it happening.
  
  No criminal act, no actual law breaking is required for the police to investigate and permanently record the complaint against YOU. You have no right of appeal since no crime has been committed yet your details are recorded against the complaint as if you had been convicted.
  
  This is sanitised narking at its worst. Coming to NZ soon.
  
  30 1
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  August 20, 2021 10:20am
  - cmm
    
    Their very definition of hate speech is hurtful.
    
    I’ve been picked on for being tall, having red hair, being clever, having a South African accent. None of those qualify.
    
    How is it any less hurtful to call someone Towering Inferno than to call them a fuzzy-wuzzy?
    
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    August 20, 2021 11:12am
  - 70andstilllearning
    
    “This is sanitised narking at its worst. Coming to NZ soon.”
    
    Isn’t it here already but just in a different way? If my recall is correct Nick Smith’s ultimate downfall was a result of an unrelated party using undisclosed/non consented phone video footage to “nark” on him.
    
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    August 20, 2021 11:35am
Rusty

Since this virus started it has been revealed through covid tracing that people who have caught it generally like going to KFC, pubs, liquor stores, Sky city, and sight seeing around the North Island.

Maybe this covid delta strain prefers these peoples lifestyles.
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August 20, 2021 9:36am
- alloytoo
  
  I’m safe then.
  
  7 0
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  August 20, 2021 10:29am
  - Close Hen Counters
    
    I need to get out more ?
    
    4 0
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    August 20, 2021 12:10pm
- MrTips
  
  It seems pretty clear that Denny’s and TacoBell are virus repelling venues, even when listed as sites of interest.
  
  For obvious reasons.
  
  9 1
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  August 20, 2021 10:30am
  - Sacha
    
    My favourite Maccas in Palmy hasn’t made the list either – on my rare trips to town, it’s a highlight.
    A medium choc shake, small fries, and whatever the new burger happens to be that week makes the trip home enjoyable.
    
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    August 20, 2021 11:51am
- lifesgood
  
  Yeah, I don’t think I’m a miserable git. I do go to cafes and buy liquor etc, etc, but it really amazes my the amount of money some people spend going from cafe to cafe, bar to bar, liquor store to liquor store. I honestly don’t know how they have time to earn the money to do it.
  
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  August 20, 2021 11:23am
JibberJabber

https://babylonbee.com/news/trump-allowed-back-on-twitter-after-being-hired-as-taliban-spokesman

Make Afghanistan Great Again
Allah be praised. Allah is pretty great, maybe the best ever.
Donhammed Trumpistan
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August 20, 2021 9:41am
KevO'Brien

A bit of cheer for our many a little older ones here:
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-9909035/Key-mental-abilities-including-concentration-better-age-study-finds.html
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August 20, 2021 9:42am
- MCos
  
  That’s an awfully long headline to take in.
  
  6 1
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  August 20, 2021 10:40am
  - KevO'Brien
    
    Unfortunately I cannot change the urls readily.
    The article points out awareness is a risk from aging but other faculties can be enhanced.
    
    I’ll take what’s available.
    
    2 0
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    August 20, 2021 12:03pm
Maggie Pie

The property market appears to be cooling.

I see the Remmers bungalow on Kenney Rd sold yesterday for $5.2 mill….only 2m above CV.

LOL!!!
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August 20, 2021 9:47am
dave_c_

Looks very much like things are starting to fall apart, and our crazy govt is going to receive it’s cumuppance very soon.
The covid related issues seem to be getting more and more out of control every day !
The worst part of all this, is that it’s us folks who suffer every time – never our masters !
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August 20, 2021 9:48am
- DeepBlue
  
  Three schools and growing. Good luck keeping teenagers at home, especially if their only symptoms are cold like, a cough and a bit of a sore throat.
  
  Anyone hazard a guess how many Avondale College students have afterhours jobs as essential workers? At supermarkets and petrol stations, delivery jobs in the last week.
  
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  August 20, 2021 10:18am
- krazykiwi
  
  Perhaps, but the tragic thing is National, and to a lessor extent ACT, simply don’t get it.
  
  They are applying last century political maneuvering, looking for opportunities to pick off shortcomings of the Labour-defined narrative. Bishop’s comments on the boosters are today’s example.
  
  Where are the next generation of leaders who are prepared to tackle the indefensible zero Covid narrative, and speak clearly to the path forward being one of personal risk management rather than destructive, overbearing state intervention?
  
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  August 20, 2021 10:19am
  - DeepBlue
    
    The pile-on with Simon Bridges last year put paid to that. They are all scared of a repeat.
    
    It will take someone with nothing to lose to change the record. Probably Winston Peters or the new leader of NZF.
    
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    August 20, 2021 10:24am
    - Philview
      
      Now that we have State financed heavily armed gangs threatening to kill Opposition MPs who criticise the Government it takes a brave man or woman to stand up as Simon Bridges does.
      
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      August 20, 2021 12:27pm
  - Harriet
    
    Nailed it KK.
    
    Seymore is better off standing up and saying that all and any drugs and ventilators should be available to stop people dying from covid, cancer, suicide and domestic violence. The aged and ill can remain at home. All others can take general precautions.
    
    As you suggest with personal responsibility, voluntary assisted suicide was all they talked about just before covid, but now no-one is allowed to even think of living or dying, just obeying.
    
    Seymore will easily get 20 seats. 😎
    
    17 4
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    August 20, 2021 10:27am
  - westernScientest
    
    This extended way out of covid as well, National (less so act, but in the same line) are fighting over deck chairs on the titanic. They keep arguing they can make the decent into disaster more efficient, not that we need to turn around and climb back up the hill to freedom.
    Act try and do it a little but then undermine themselves trying not to upset too many groups. A strong push for personal responsibility needs to be made, but I dont see any one who can do it effectively in the ranks anywhere.
    
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    August 20, 2021 10:37am
  - Bob
    
    Where are the Media who will accurately report comments from National and ACT Pollies, and on the front page, or as the Opening News on TV and Radio.
    
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    August 20, 2021 11:20am
103PapPap

All your life you have been eating sausages, hamburgers, chicken nuggets, hot dogs and recently imitation meat.
And you won’t take a vaccine because you don’t know what’s in it?
Give me a break!
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August 20, 2021 9:59am
- Sacha
  
  Some passes through and the body can reject or absorb it.
  No choice with a vaccine –
  
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  August 20, 2021 11:55am
Surely Knott

Better info needed: When can we expect our countries provisional mortality statistics. (Australia is current to April 2020 ours 2018) And ours has no summary of the major causes. The only stat they give is maori vs other deaths. Sigh.

When can we expect the details on the 20 deaths that occurred after the vaccine (eg what did they die of if not covid) . Particularly the 3 that are under investigation.

Can we add another column to the ministry of healths published records so the number of cases is shown as unvax, 1 vax, 2 vax. especially for those hospitalised and dead.
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August 20, 2021 10:06am
Cinematic

Subterfuge and lies have got us to 18 months of open air prison time. If the unhinged academics leading this approach had told us to expect lockdowns until even the children were vaccinated there would have been push back.

They have hidden the full extent of the elimination madness until now; the populace has no fight left in it. Highlighted by National’s weak kneed covid collaboration.
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August 20, 2021 10:08am
Happychappy

Anyone betting that our Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern won’t lockdown the whole Country for another week this afternoon as a new case of COVID-19 has turned up in Wellington.
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August 20, 2021 10:11am
- Happychappy
  
  https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/covid-19-coronavirus-delta-outbreak-virus-detected-in-wellington-north-shore-hospital-patient-nz-post-worker-infections-lockdown-decision-today/SZ5VFH36WYHKCGOQFH5NC5VC54/
  
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  August 20, 2021 10:15am
- cmm
  
  There will be no way she will keep Auckland locked down for the full week and not also lock down Wellington. To keep only AKL locked down would make for some very grump citizens.
  
  Maybe split it South Island/North Island but that’s unlikely too.
  
  Besides: not much productivity happens in Wellington so they can all binge Netflix for week and not much damage done.
  
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  August 20, 2021 11:05am
  - Bob
    
    Adern knows that Auckland, which is basically the Labour Party voting base, will always support Labour; not so much for the rest of NZ; and the RURAL voters have learnt their lesson as their mothers and fathers did after the Lange election.
    
    10 2
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    August 20, 2021 11:23am
- Tony Stuart
  
  Parliament is due back from a one-week recess on Tuesday, so I’m sure the PM will be happy to delay any scrutiny of her government’s actions.
  
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  August 20, 2021 11:31am
virtualmark

I see the chap with the “bomb” in his car outside the Library of Congress was (a) fighting against socialism but (b) wanted free healthcare.

Mah freedumbs!
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August 20, 2021 10:11am
Bill Felt

“New Zealand’s zero Covid strategy has had frightening consequences. A once-welcoming nation is turning into an isolated dystopia, where liberties are taken away in a heartbeat and outsiders are shunned. Living under the constant threat of disruptive and psychologically crushing lockdowns. Being closed off to the world, with citizens’ ability to travel curtailed and foreigners largely prevented from entering. So much for the open, welcoming liberal nation projected by Ms Ardern.”

The Telegraph
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/08/19/poor-jacinda-ardern-trapped-arrogant-zero-covid-policy/?utm_content=telegraph&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=Echobox&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwAR1RLKYNmoxhNs4T4izcMO_T95J67rljDCnXwL3d7xS7xfLmvpc5USNL4Kw#Echobox=1629402172-1
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August 20, 2021 10:13am
Okahu

Afghanistan is a tragedy playing out in front of us. Unlike natural disasters we are able to find villains amongst the actors and here on the right we have been delighted to forget history and lay the blame solely at the incompetence of President Biden. So be it.

If I might suggest a glimmer of positivity in the horror. There is a considerable percentage of the population that has grown to adulthood in the period since the Taliban savages last held power. There has also been a flowering, to some extent, of an inclusive liberal culture particularly amongst urban Afghanis. This is evidenced by the opening of schools and universities that welcomed all. Also in the removal of religiously compliant clothing and the appearance of women in civic life. Commerce and communications are now a world beyond what had ever been experienced prior to the arrival of the Americans and their co-opted allies.

I do not doubt that the Taliban will happily devolve into medieval savagery if they feel their power is threatened. But violence begets violence. And there is a considerable number of Afghanis who have tasted a previously unknown modernity which ether will be reluctant to yield. There is an educated and internationally connected class.

There are also many highly trained and equipped soldiers who have indeed ‘melted away’. That is not to say they have surrendered their weapons or their enmity toward the barbarism of their new rulers.

Much as the American coalition in Iraq discovered, these are the conditions of a sapping resistance. Should that transpire, and a few decapitating drone/cruise missile strikes make Taliban governance impossible their reign may be limited.

They are not well funded even though they have much of the Pakistani security system as supporters. They may well find this time , despite the retreat of the third super power, they are not the only players in the field.

Still, pity the poor populace that endures decades of war with the promise of a government that endorses child suicide bombers, the murder of dissidents and ‘collaborators’ and the promotion of religious bigotry as their immediate future.
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August 20, 2021 10:17am
surfing

Today will be interesting to see whether covid has spread outside of Auckland.

Many people flooded out of auckland on tuesday night. My son for example.

Many new places of interest around Auckland were announced on Wed arvo/evening.

People who left auckland who had visited places of interest will have tested on Thursday…. results back in today and tomorrow (i guess).
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August 20, 2021 10:20am
rangitoto

I see Michael Cullen has kicked the bucket.
26 1
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August 20, 2021 10:20am
- Maggy Wassilieff
  
  https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/449585/former-labour-deputy-prime-minister-sir-michael-cullen-dies
  
  10 1
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  August 20, 2021 11:19am
- Captain Mainwaring
  
  I don’t normally speak ill of the dead but in his case I’m happy to make an exception.
  
  25 13
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  August 20, 2021 11:20am
  - Ian Boag
    
    Some of Cullen’s achievements. Kiwisaver. Super Fund. WFF.
    
    Some of Captain Mainwaring’s achievements
    – regular KB poster ….
    
    10 25
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    August 20, 2021 12:13pm
    - Inandout
      
      IB, he was a man of his time. Some of Jacinda’s achievements – regular disasters.
      
      10 1
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      August 20, 2021 12:28pm
    - Okahu
      
      Thank you Mr Boag. That was the appropriate response to the despicable and cowardly comment to which it replied.
      
      I note that both sides of the house have rushed to voice their expressions of loss and respect for a man who was a champion for New Zealanders and an outstanding contributor to and proponent of our Parliament and our parliamentary process.
      
      I suppose on a forum where followers of the howling shit gibbon of Mar-a-Lago, a parliamentary vandal congregate, that’s what you get. Contemptible ignorance.
      
      4 16
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      August 20, 2021 12:58pm
      - Charmaine Hawke
        
        Okhau you started well but in the end were no better than Captain M.
        I had no love for what Michael Cullen did to the country but he was a husband and father and most of all a human being who was loved and will be mourned by many, I note his passing in this respect.
        
        7 2
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        August 20, 2021 1:08pm
DeepBlue

I just wish the Government had had one goal in the past 1800 months.. to fix the health service.

They could have left a great legacy had they spent the Covid fund wisely.
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August 20, 2021 10:21am
- kowtow
  
  Spend wisely and Labour is an oxymoron.
  
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  August 20, 2021 10:42am
- Sacha
  
  It only SEEMS like 1800 months – but I know how you feel.
  
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  August 20, 2021 11:57am
  - DeepBlue
    
    150 years could well have been the time to start focusing on health with this lot. (Thanks.)
    
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    August 20, 2021 1:32pm
slightlyrighty

Positive cases now in Wellington.

I’ve heard confirmation through sources in the DHB.
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August 20, 2021 10:22am
- surfing
  
  As I said above, today will show cases spread outside auckland.
  
  I think there could be cases around Hamilton/Tauranga too.
  
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  August 20, 2021 11:09am
Paulus

Reported that Michael Cullen has died.
May he rest in peace, as I will not comment upon his skill – sic or competence.
Dreadful arrogant man but that’s Labour all over.
41 4
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August 20, 2021 10:33am
- Libertarians are right
  
  My condolences to his family and I hope they can grieve properly given the restrictions in place.
  
  24 1
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  August 20, 2021 10:42am
- UrbanNeocolonialist
  
  Did a lot of damage to NZ by growing welfare state in wasteful unnecessary ways and general low quality ideologically driven spending, but partially balanced it with paying down debt. Far better than the economic wrecking machine that is the current govt.
  
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  August 20, 2021 10:50am
- Maggie Pie
  
  Was that the same guy that called us ‘rich pricks’?
  
  37 3
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  August 20, 2021 10:50am
  - Chuck Bird
    
    Yes.
    
    23 1
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    August 20, 2021 10:54am
    - Maggie Pie
      
      I mean we never took it personally. But that sort of thing doesn’t help when you find yourself having to drive through burbs like Mt Roskill.
      
      19 3
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      August 20, 2021 11:16am
  - kevn
    
    @Maggie… You as well? John copped it to.
    
    7 1
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    August 20, 2021 11:06am
  - David Garrett
    
    Yes…this was also the proud socialist who was opposed to knighthoods…until he was offered one.
    
    At least old Spud Bolger stuck to his principles and never accepted one. And Clark for that matter…(that last sentence typed while gritting my teeth…dreadful woman…far worse than Cullen).
    
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    August 20, 2021 11:23am
    - Bob
      
      DG
      Weren’t Clark and Cullen joined at the hip?
      
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      August 20, 2021 2:30pm
  - rangitoto
    
    Yep. Anyone on more that $60k /year.
    
    6 1
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    August 20, 2021 11:27am
  - lifesgood
    
    Maggie Pie and got rid of knighthoods only to accept one himself when John Key reinstated them. First class hypocrite and he absolutely destroyed NZ Post which is now a disgraceful outfit. No time for the man as Shakespeare said ” The evil men do lives on after them, the good is often interred with their bones.”
    
    27 1
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    August 20, 2021 11:32am
    - Okahu
      
      You do know that there is a retirement investment industry of previously unimaginable size and scope in place today because of his efforts and despite his passing?
      
      Maybe you are aware but rather it didn’t exist (and the populace remained supplicants of the government in their dotage)?
      
      Perhaps Shakespeare had something else more fitting you might recall than what you offered.
      
      0 11
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      August 20, 2021 1:09pm
      - Bob
        
        The Retirement Investment industry had nothing to do with Culens mismanagement of the Treasury; Retirement investment grew despite him.
        
        6 0
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        August 20, 2021 2:32pm
      - Okahu
        
        In a new post this afternoon our host has just posted 107 billion reasons you are wrong about his contribution to our retirement investment industry. That ain’t chump change.
        
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        August 20, 2021 4:14pm
      - doggone7
        
        So Cullen who created schemes for retirement is the devil.
        
        No doubt considered as such by those who sank what would’ve been a $600 billion fund. Those who wanted Muldoon to not let such develop. Mind you we don’t need a massive fund for things infrastructural do we. And with an ageing population the present super scheme is easily affordable. Isn’t it.
        
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        August 20, 2021 4:32pm
Critical Thinker

The “Delta Terror” mass psychosis in perspective:

UK’s Official VoC Report:

147,612 Delta infections in unvaccinated people < age 50

48 deaths

99.97% survival IF infected.

So we are now being forced to inject EVERYONE (including our children) with experimental “vaccines”… ?
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1009243/Technical_Briefing_20.pdf
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August 20, 2021 10:33am
- Critical Thinker
  
  VIDEO: Former Pfizer Vice President and Chief Scientist Dr Michael Yeadon Once Again Warns Public to Avoid the Experimental “Vaccines”
  
  https://www.bitchute.com/video/BS8ksAotP47t/
  
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  August 20, 2021 10:38am
colina

Yes vaccinate everybody over 40 and open up the country. Has the question been asked how much vaccine do we have in the country and when are new shipments due ?
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August 20, 2021 10:34am
- Libertarians are right
  
  We must surely have plenty as why else would they open it up to the kids at the same time they offer it to the rest of us? That is the height of stupidity if you ask me.
  
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  August 20, 2021 10:44am
Maggy Wassilieff

I’m taking bets on how many minutes after 3pm before the Lesson is read from the podium.

And for the Double, the length of the preamble.
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August 20, 2021 10:37am
- Opie
  
  Actual start time 3:09
  Preamble 7 minutes
  
  Result: north island level 4 till end of next week. South island level 3 from Wednesday assuming no cases.
  
  My second guess is 4 weeks level 4 for all but I think they would rather drip feed it
  
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  August 20, 2021 11:02am
  - Tall Man
    
    “Drip feed”
    
    Very apt considering the feeder ……
    
    13 1
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    August 20, 2021 11:56am
  - Inandout
    
    Opie, if that is the case we can expect business closures despite the handouts from Robbo. The building materials shortage will just get worse as no ships can berth in case they have the bug. We will wither and die in our bubble, rather like an indoor plant that is left unwatered.
    
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    August 20, 2021 12:36pm
- Bob
  
  expect the ‘guts of the address’ in the short minute after 4.pm; just leaves time to catch the Parliamentary express flight back to Auckland.
  
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  August 20, 2021 11:27am
- westernScientest
  
  Ill take 12 min late, with a further 8 of preamble, for a total of 3 20 when the creature gets to the point and confines us all to house arrest for a further 4 days to come in line with Auckland. The start of the drip feeding.
  
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  August 20, 2021 11:50am
  - westernScientest
    
    also, from GD yesterday, 14-23 new cases, with a confidence interval of [0, 5000000]
    
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    August 20, 2021 11:54am
    - westernScientest
      
      only 11, overcooked it. oh well, garbage in garbage out
      
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      August 20, 2021 1:45pm
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    Only fair. Socialism 101, we ALL have to be equally miserable. Vote Labour
    
    11 0
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    August 20, 2021 1:49pm
- fredonas
  
  There’s a rumour that St. Cindy has a strange looking telephone on her desk. It has a receiver but no mouthpiece. It’s a direct line to Aunty Helen. (Old Soviet era joke) 🙂
  
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  August 20, 2021 1:57pm
- Opie
  
  Results are in… 7 minutes late (pretty good for her) with the money shot at 3:18.
  I stand by the drip comment, this has a few weeks in it easy, especially the north island.
  
  Agree with the drip reference and also the one about businesses closing. If only someone in the labour party knew what it actually means to have to throw out a weeks worth of stock, keep paying your staff and getting no income.
  
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  August 20, 2021 3:46pm
  - Tauhei Notts
    
    Look at the silver lining. My mate has access to all the food outlets in town and his pigs will enjoy their throw outs. The pigs are fed on milk, meal and scraps. His pork is to die for. None of that Canadian crap that is solely grain fed.
    $125 for half a pig. Charles Ash is his favourite currency.
    
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    August 20, 2021 8:37pm
Maggie Pie

Things that make you go hmmm…

Why is it that only a few vaccination stations are open today yet a number of others closed?

Is it a shortage of staff…..or Vaccine??
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August 20, 2021 10:37am
- Steve Otto(North Shore)
  
  Don’t ask difficult questions – the media will do that //
  
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  August 20, 2021 10:48am
- kevn
  
  @Maggie…. Vac or testing stations? I read that vac are closed for lockdown.
  
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  August 20, 2021 11:03am
  - Maggie Pie
    
    No no Kev….there are a few Vaccination Centers open today.
    
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    August 20, 2021 11:34am
- westernScientest
  
  most of the vaccinators probably have kids they cant send to school so cant go to work. Not saying its not a lack of vac or anything, just another part of the explanation I suspect
  
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  August 20, 2021 11:46am
- DeepBlue
  
  Getting the PPE out? Another cluster of contingency planning.
  
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  August 20, 2021 1:36pm
CAKE FACE1

Lefties are super stubborn people.

They would prefer to bankrupt NZ, than admit that they were wrong.

The task ahead is to mercilessly ridicule the Zero Covid nut jobs.

The future of this country is on the line.

Continuous lockdowns and closed borders to achieve Zero Covid is not sustainable at any level.

If we lose this battle, our country may be vandalised beyond proper repair.
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August 20, 2021 10:38am
- westernScientest
  
  You are giving them to much credit CAKE, they dont understand the concept of bankruptcy, or revenue. Leftists dont tax to get income for their spending, they tax to punish the class they dont like, and spend to reward the class they like. They only pay a bit of lip service to budgets etc. they dont understand them, they literally think that money is endless and that government can just spend spend spend.
  
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  August 20, 2021 10:51am
kowtow

KK

Fame at last .

Your top rated post from yesterday is being read out right now on Pete Williams show !
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August 20, 2021 10:49am
- krazykiwi
  
  Cool. Thanks for letting me know. Anyone have a link? I can’t seem to locate it.
  
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  August 20, 2021 11:58am
  - Critical Thinker
    
    https://www.magic.co.nz/home/shows/talk/magic-mornings.html
    
    At 1:46:00
    
    It’s really great to see your very well researched work getting out there to the NZ public KK ??
    
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    August 20, 2021 1:32pm
    - krazykiwi
      
      Many thanks CT
      
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      August 20, 2021 1:57pm
      - Biscuit
        
        I see today was the fourth anniversary of (Sir) Colin Meads’ death.
        
        Colin – a very distant relative, brag, brag – famously said after being knighted, ‘Call me Colin’.
        
        What can we call you, krazykiwi? Lord? Sir? Or, at the very least, should we insert appropriate caps and refer to you as KrazyKiwi?
        
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        August 20, 2021 5:30pm
      - krazykiwi
        
        Let me chew that one over, Biscuit …
        :
        :
        :
        :
        Actually, on reflection I respond well to “Hey, you!” from the general population, and “Why the hell have you turned my lounge into a bike repair shop?!?!?” from mrs kk 🙂
        
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        August 20, 2021 6:00pm
- skyblue
  
  What was the post?
  
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  August 20, 2021 12:15pm
  - Maggy Wassilieff
    
    The first one up yesterday..
    https://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/2021/08/general_debate_19_august_2021.html/comment-page-1#comment-2995622
    
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    August 20, 2021 2:11pm
krazykiwi

From Medsafe in respect of adverse reactions to Pfizer this week:

There were 641 non-serious and 26 serious reports this week. Sadly, two of these serious reports reported on deaths.
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August 20, 2021 10:50am
- krazykiwi
  
  And remember, when a 94 year old dementia patient dies it’s definitely due to Covid-19, but when someone dies after an adverse reaction to a vaccine they died of some pre-existing condition. Book 3, verse 15 of The Gospel of Covid Compliance.
  
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  August 20, 2021 10:53am
- kevn
  
  @kkk. Those stats look like last week in July. I wonder how it looks now the jab rate has really ratcheted up?
  
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  August 20, 2021 11:01am
- Northshoredoc
  
  Summary of reported deaths
  Up to and including 31 July 2021, a total of 22 deaths were reported to CARM after the administration of the Comirnaty vaccine. Following medical assessments by CARM and Medsafe it has been determined that:
  
  15 of these deaths are unlikely related to the COVID-19 vaccine
  2 deaths could not be assessed due to insufficient information
  5 cases are still under investigation.
  By chance, some people will experience new illnesses or die from a pre-existing condition shortly after vaccination, especially if they are elderly. Therefore, part of our review process includes comparing natural death rates to observed death rates following vaccination, to determine if there are any specific trends or patterns that might indicate a vaccine safety concern. There are currently no indications to suggest that the vaccine caused the deaths.
  
  To date, the observed number of deaths reported after vaccination is actually less than the expected number of deaths.
  
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  August 20, 2021 12:44pm
  - dcrane
    
    That last stat especially is a good sign. (I assume you mean the observed number of 22.)
    
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    August 20, 2021 11:02pm
dcrane

Quite the pickle the government has got itself into. Can’t vaccinate because we’re locked down and have to test and contact trace because we haven’t vaccinated enough…

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/covid-19-coronavirus-delta-outbreak-auckland-vaccination-centres-close-as-staff-rediverted-to-testing-stations/Z3CTF4HJXENWVX5QMKRSSYCTWM/
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August 20, 2021 10:58am
kevn

@kk… What rate are flu deaths in NZ now?
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August 20, 2021 10:59am
- krazykiwi
  
  Unsure. If we’re the same as many countries influenza will have vanished. Statistical slight-of-hand of course, but gone nevertheless.
  
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  August 20, 2021 11:54am
Bob

No body is dying of Flu, or Old Age in NZ at present; its prevented by combination of Lockdowns, hugs and being kind, dontcha no.
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August 20, 2021 11:29am
- dcrane
  
  90 people die in New Zealand every day from all of the other causes, and for the most part their names never appear in the national news…
  
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  August 20, 2021 11:47am
Southern Raider

Low vaccinations rates. What do we do? Close vaccination centres of course

In conjunction with no clear guidelines on who actually needs a COVID test and the 1pm standup advice and MoH website seems to conflict each other around close contacts and their family members

Circus anyone
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August 20, 2021 11:29am
dcrane

Interesting factoid: Three more vaccinated U.S. Senators (for a total of 4) now have breakthrough covid infections. Supposedly nearly all are vaccinated. They seem to be doing OK.

https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/568637-three-us-senators-announce-positive-covid-19-tests-in-single-day
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August 20, 2021 11:31am
- Tall Man
  
  Aged 70, 78 and 69.
  
  All outside the critical age group but will be interesting to see what happens. All look pretty healthy though.
  
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  August 20, 2021 11:53am
BananaLlama

Why are these BLOODY IDIOTS Closing the vaccination centers when everyone that potentially has the kungflu is locked in their homes under level 4.
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August 20, 2021 11:45am
kujira

I have to ask:

All those fact checkers that had full details posted 2 min after Trump spoke – where are you now? Any fact checking going on with Uncle Joe??

All those die hard Hollywood pervert Trump haters who were very vocal, incessantly vocal – have your voices dried up??

The media criticism of Trump for everything from his hair to his wife & kids – yet nothing for a president that can’t even form an idea let alone a sentence?

Reap what you sow
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August 20, 2021 11:46am
krazykiwi

This is not what we want to see:
16 of 20 Most Vaccinated Countries Very High or High Risk for Travel, Says CDC

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated its list of the riskiest countries to travel to during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on Aug. 9. Notably, 16 of the 20 most vaccinated countries in the world have had Level 3 (high) or Level 4 (very high) incidence rates of COVID-19 cases in the past month.
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August 20, 2021 11:52am
- CAKE FACE1
  
  Covid is endemic everywhere except NZ and OZ…
  
  OZ will be endemic next, leaving only one fortress island left, slowly going bankrupt…
  
  The rest of the world is not living in a Zero Covid fantasy world.
  
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  August 20, 2021 12:04pm
Biscuit

WHAT TIME WILL JACINDA UTTER HER FIRST INANITY AT THE 3PM PRESSER THIS ARVO?:

Before 3pm?
Bang-on 3pm?
Between 3pm and 3.05pm?
Between 3.05pm and 3.10pm
Between 3.10m and 3.15pm?
After 3.15pm?

Bonus points available if you state the time (hour and minute) she actually deigns to tell us what we already know: that Lockdown is extended nationwide.
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August 20, 2021 11:57am
- bc
  
  I’m going with 3:17
  
  5 minutes late as per usual
  
  Then 7 minutes worshipping Michael Cullen and general party political broadcast stuff (got to get this out of the way first while we are all listening)
  
  At 3:12, Ashley finally gets to speak, but only briefly to give us the covid numbers and locations
  
  At 3:15 it’s back to Jacinda where she gives us the warm up to the big announcement – team of 5 million, go hard and early, delta has changed the game etc, leading to…
  
  The big announcement (which we have all guessed anyway) at 3:17
  
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  August 20, 2021 1:28pm
  - Bob
    
    The Party Political Broadcast takes a lot longer than 7 minutes; falling poll results require a lot of hollow reassuring platitudes from the great leader; and that will be despite the Cullen obituary.
    
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    August 20, 2021 2:37pm
- westernScientest
  
  maggie is already taking bets on it further up the page, they are all after 315
  
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  August 20, 2021 1:36pm
  - Biscuit
    
    Oops, I missed that.
    
    Soz, Maggie, for (unintentionally) peeing on your parade, heh.
    
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    August 20, 2021 5:26pm
- R
  
  We’re running an office sweepstake – I’ve bet $10 that she will begin speaking at 3.07.
  
  If she worked in the private sector and was consistently late, wouldn’t her employer have a word with her?
  
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  August 20, 2021 1:36pm
KevO'Brien

Michael Cullen has died.
He was a thinking person.
RIP
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August 20, 2021 12:05pm
- kevn
  
  @Kev… He was quite critical of the incumbents. Which was a good thing. Showed he was thinking still.
  
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  August 20, 2021 12:21pm
- Tony Stuart
  
  My politics were poles apart from those of Sir Michael, but I admired his sharp wit, and he certainly deserves credit for establishing Kiwisaver.
  
  My sincere condolences to his family.
  
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  August 20, 2021 1:06pm
  - chiz
    
    I still remember his quip about finding it ironic that the Greens cared so much about the planet given that they spent so little time on it.
    
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    August 20, 2021 2:07pm
Critical Thinker

Plastic anti-Covid barriers now common in public places have little effect on the virus, and in some cases could help it spread ?

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/19/well/live/coronavirus-restaurants-classrooms-salons.html
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August 20, 2021 12:13pm
CAKE FACE1

My mother, in her mid 80s, gets vaccinated today.

She has taken the earliest appointment that she was offered.

I hold this government in complete contempt.

Each and every death will be Cindy’s fault, because of her negligent vaccine roll-out.

This government is a disgrace.
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August 20, 2021 12:21pm
oldfella

Anyone else curious about the sudden absence of Duncan Garner from TV3’s breakfast show?
Seems to have fallen down a black hole.
Even more mysterious than the covid vaccine tracker vanishing from the Horrid.
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August 20, 2021 12:24pm
- Flossie
  
  I wondered too.
  
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  August 20, 2021 3:40pm
  - sooty
    
    Might be on a tv show!
    Hillary disappeared aswell, turned up on a show!
    
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    August 20, 2021 5:35pm
- wilderbeast
  
  Yeah…used to find him arrogant but have taken a shine to him. He’s prepared to give Cindy the run around from time to time
  
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  August 20, 2021 7:41pm
surfing

https://www.stuff.co.nz/pou-tiaki/300386818/health-experts-say-the-government-has-failed-to-protect-mori-and-pasifika-from-the-latest-outbreak-calling-it-our-worst-nightmare

Government bends over backward to help out maori, and they still whine like little babies.

If maori don’t want to be more susceptible to covid, they need to stop eating the pies. They know that too.
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August 20, 2021 12:24pm
- artemisia
  
  Every adult in New Zealand has heard of covid and even of vaccination. Very sad when ‘health experts’ opine that the only remedy for some not getting the jab is not enough money to let people know.
  
  We used to have #8 wire.
  
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  August 20, 2021 2:06pm
- Libertarians are right
  
  A rational person reading this article would get the impression that those “experts” are disgusting racists that don’t think Maori and Pasifika people are capable of looking after themselves.
  
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  August 20, 2021 2:34pm
cmm

According to the CV19 level policies we should only be at Level 2, Level 3 at worst.

In fact NZ has never been at Level 4 at any time – and only Level 3 for a short time.

We have never been in a situation where “Sustained and intensive transmission or Widespread outbreaks” are occurring – the conditions required for Level 4.

But having left the door open too long with the 15 March party that Jacinda wanted to throw last year, she’s now trying to sell us on the “go hard, go early” bullshit – so we’re getting the Level 4 treatment when only 2 or 3 are warranted.

https://static3.stuff.co.nz/new-zealand-covid-19-alert-level-49b3bcc9.pdf
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August 20, 2021 12:29pm
- R
  
  The problem is that because we’re in L4 on the back of one case, does that mean we’re going to remain there until there are no cases? I’d expect so. What damage will that do to the economy?
  
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  August 20, 2021 1:42pm
  - cmm
    
    It’s really hard to know what it means.
    
    Either:
    a) It’s a massive overreaction to keep the “Go hard, go early” myth going and we should really be on Level 2.
    – or-
    b) It’s the correct response – in which case we have far too few levels. If it ever gets to, say, what happened in NY City then if we’re on Level 4 now we’ll need Level 17 or such, but there’s only a plan to Level 4.
    – or –
    c) Both. Level 4 is a massive overreaction AND they have no plan for a serious outbreak. Where’s the plan for a “Bring out your dead” scenario: Spanish Flu or Black Death? We don’t need such a plan for CV19, but we should have one in place for a serious pandemic which is likely in the next 20 years or so.
    
    IMHO it is (c):
    
    Basically what we’re seeing now is all bullshit window dressing. We’re on Level 4 because she doesn’t want to get blame for not taking it seriously.
    
    Equally we have absolutely no real plan for handling a serious pandemic (Spanish Flu etc) which are arguably 300x as bad as Covid19.
    
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    August 20, 2021 1:59pm
- Ehlana
  
  Ahhh, cmm, that is what they say, not what they do. You know, like the houses built, trees planted, child poverty eliminated, openness and transparency, kindness and that light rail down Dominion Road.
  
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  August 20, 2021 1:50pm
Maggy Wassilieff

Roadblock has just gone up on Kaiti Hill..

Looks like our Council has been given a heads up.
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August 20, 2021 12:46pm
cmm

I see the Herald is outing an Adult Store for being open during the lockdown.

Of course they are providing an essential service.

If I’m going to be (inaudibled) in the (inaudible) by PRiNZess I want some lube!
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August 20, 2021 12:53pm
- Inandout
  
  cmm, on that thorny subject of sex for sale, how do hookers fare in C19 spreading? Nothing seems to mentioned of them, nor drug houses for that matter even though the latter did a roaring trade last L4.
  
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  August 20, 2021 1:28pm
  - hilaryt
    
    (t)horny subject from Inandout??!!
    
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    August 20, 2021 4:51pm
- Steve Otto(North Shore)
  
  Supermarket has it. Always amuses me when the checkout girl scans it and looks me in the eye. I know what she is thinking – a old guy still gets his rocks off?
  
  10 1
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  August 20, 2021 1:41pm
  - Bob
    
    Can always use the self checkout if you don’t like the
    checkout girls envious attention. Self check out screen can’t be read by the Blue Rinse beheld you in the que either!
    Mind you such a situation could lead to a satisfying relationship.
    
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    August 20, 2021 2:43pm
  - cmm
    
    But do they have my favourite choc-mint lube?
    
    2 0
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    August 20, 2021 4:24pm
    - Steve Otto(North Shore)
      
      have a look – right next to the ribbed condoms and strange shaped deoderant things
      
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      August 20, 2021 4:31pm
wilderbeast

Consigned to more time in lockdown.

Given Robertson has advised a L4 lockdown costs NZ $1.5b per week, why was Hipkins so reluctant (“unethical”) to spend $40m to expedite our vaccine rollout. What’s ethical about failing to spend $40m to save billions?

IMO this whole situation is nothing short of a scandal. The rationale given by Ardern & co on numerous matters going back to last lockdown demonstrate to me that they operate to a completely different belief system. I don’t know how it works but it makes no sense to me and it’s completely different to how things used to work five years or so ago.
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August 20, 2021 12:57pm
- Cinematic
  
  It is criminal negligence in my opinion. Currently NZ is experiencing the worst of all worlds.
  
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  August 20, 2021 1:08pm
- cmm
  
  No it was unethical for us to spend $40M when we’d be bidding against 3rd world countries which can only pay $25 and a box of rotten bananas.
  
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  August 20, 2021 4:25pm
I remember when

Oxford Dictionary: Sacrifice – The fact of giving up something important or valuable to you in order to get or do something that seems more important to you.
Surely with covid we are sacrificing New Zealanders whichever course we take.
The difference is that we have a suggested saving of life on one side against an unknown, and largely unexplored, outcome on the other.
Lives saved against lives that will be lost.
Future early deaths because of actions taken now.
Course taken against future financial outcomes and standards of living.
Should we add Police suggesting opposing bail for people that could re-offend.
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August 20, 2021 1:00pm
- kowtow
  
  There are less hospital and ICU beds now than some years ago when the population was smaller .
  
  That’s a decision taken at very high levels and a decision that does cost lives.
  
  Now they ask us to give up our freedoms and to get an experimental vaccine to “protect” the health service , something they themselves refuse to invest in .
  
  As to go hard and early , where’s the close monitoring of sewerage which would have alerted them to this much earlier ?
  
  Total incompetents .
  
  Worse , they have an agenda to smash our productive sector , to inflate energy costs and to divide us by race.(that’s just for starters)
  
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  August 20, 2021 1:27pm
Nickc2

UK Govt holds Biden in contempt for the Afghanistan catastrophe. Crickets from our mob.
https://www.michaelsmithnews.com/2021/08/uk-parliament-condemns-biden-over-afghanistan-catastrophe.html
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August 20, 2021 1:03pm
- herb1
  
  I suspect for all Arderns faults , even she can see the hypocracy of accusing another Government of incompetence
  
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  August 20, 2021 1:44pm
  - Nickc2
    
    I seriously doubt Cindy could find Afghanistan on a World map on a Fish & Chip shop wall FFS.
    
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    August 20, 2021 2:15pm
lifesgood

I suspect the delta variant of Covid has been in the community for several weeks and has only now come to light because someone got a bit sick with it. Testing is showing up cases which no one would have ever known about.
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August 20, 2021 1:10pm
- krazykiwi
  
  Yes, I agree. Current estimates suggest that 100 million people in the US have been infected, with the vast majority not noticing, or barely noticing. It will be the similar here.
  
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  August 20, 2021 1:24pm
- alloytoo
  
  I had an evil suspicion that covid was detected in the waste water 2-3 weeks ago, hence the sudden change in messaging.
  
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  August 20, 2021 1:46pm
- R
  
  I suspect the delta variant of Covid has been in the community for several weeks and has only now come to light because someone got a bit sick with it.
  
  Remember that Iceland was testing people at random in early 2020. The authorities there found that half of all cases of Covid were asymptomatic. That message has yet to arrive in Wellington.
  
  https://edition.cnn.com/2020/04/01/europe/iceland-testing-coronavirus-intl/index.html
  
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  August 20, 2021 1:49pm
Cinematic

Imagine for a second this was a severe disease. The news would have been Hospitals Flood with Covid Patients! Instead hundreds are infected without knowing it. Perspective?

Soon people will start contracting it in hospital after being admitted in their final days. When they die the headlines will scream Covid Death!
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August 20, 2021 1:16pm
- Tall Man
  
  That’s pretty much how I see it as well.
  
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  August 20, 2021 3:33pm
Maggie Pie

Tuned into BBC earlier. I mean how ANYONE could listen to those wokesters on ZB is beyond me!

Anyways….BBC reporting that German police have arrested three ‘Afghan asylum-seekers’ in Austria for the rape and murder of a 13 yo girl 🙁

Chancellor Kurz was saying… “I find it intolerable for people coming to us seeking protection, then committing cruel barbaric crimes!”

No regerts then?
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August 20, 2021 1:20pm
kevn

@life… Yes, hipkins alluded to lockdowns recently. Just had to be timed to take Afghanistan of the front page.
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August 20, 2021 1:21pm
MrTips

Well, this lockdown has really messed things up.

First, the speed of it left the DHBs in its wake. The CDHB and hospital was not a nice place to be on Wed – no guidance, no plan and no leadership from the MoH down to clinicians or management. Again, our health professionals are left to “just make it work”, and bear the brunt of disgruntled patients, the public and confused managers.

Second, our hospitals are stretched already. When we get enough COVID cases, even if 80% of us are vaccinated, our system won’t cope. 4 years of neglect, failed promises and complete ignorance on the part of this govt will mean people will die un-necessarily because Cindy, Chippy, Angry and Grunt are too useless to do anything. That is reality – National/ACT need to hammer this NOW and make us wake up – it’s bigger than politics – it’s REALLY serious how ill equipped and neglected our hospitals have become, even with 18 months to prepare.
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August 20, 2021 1:21pm
- Prince
  
  Ohh, I know, let’s make a couple more deputy ministers, or ministers of Health Delivery and Health Planning. That’ll do it.
  
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  August 20, 2021 1:55pm
  - nathie
    
    Sounds like more (taxpayer) $$$ ~~wasted~~ spent setting up yet more extra new bureaucracies!
    
    Hmm did the costs come out of Robbo’s $50B covid war-chest (if so how much)?
    
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    August 20, 2021 4:34pm
- nathie
  
  Apparently Des Gorman told Peter Williams this morning that NZ only has 1/3 ICU wards or beds relative to GDP and compared to other countries(?).
  
  If so, Labour had 18 months and $50 billion to rectify that … but Robbo spent alot of the $50 billion on “feelz good projects/bribes”…
  
  (Didn’t hear the interview but it will be here:
  https://omny.fm/shows/magic-mornings-with-peter-williams-catchup/playlists/podcast/embed?style=cover )
  
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  August 20, 2021 2:10pm
kevn

@Mr Tips… and this lockdown gets the Nurses long awaited wage increase story off the page as well. little spouted some rubbish the other day, all rot. Nothing has happened for the seriously stretched nurses at the coal face, watching their colleagues leaving for Aussie. They are just picking up the pieces.
Worst gummint ever.
Rooting NZ.
20 0
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August 20, 2021 1:32pm
Tony Stuart

The 1pm press statement from the Ministry of Health is now 35 minutes overdue. Read into that whatever you want.
20 0
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August 20, 2021 1:35pm
- 70andstilllearning
  
  Two little gems from newshub:
  
  “12:45pm – A reminder from the Prime Minister that the Ministry of Health will release a statement at 1pm with the latest on case numbers. At 3pm, there will be a press conference with Cabinet’s decision on whether to extend the lockdown.”
  
  “1:30pm – It has now been 30 minutes (or 1800 seconds) since 1pm, when the Ministry of Health was meant to inform New Zealanders how many cases of the highly infectious virus have been detected here over the last 24 hours.
  
  In the meanwhile, police have just sent out a release about a new magazine titled: Cats of New Zealand Police”
  
  https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2021/08/latest-on-auckland-covid-19-community-outbreak-friday-august-20.html
  
  Looks like the MSM are finally starting to see the tarnish!
  
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  August 20, 2021 1:40pm
- rangitoto
  
  Maybe Cindy’s got the wuflu.
  
  12 1
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  August 20, 2021 1:45pm
- 70andstilllearning
  
  In the overdue update:
  “Nineteen cases are now confirmed as part of the Auckland outbreak, with the remaining 12 under investigation to confirm the linkage to the outbreak. Initial assessment shows in most cases there is a plausible link.”
  
  19 sourced
  12 not sure but ” plausible ” (maybe)
  So damn near 40% of cases can’t be definitively sourced.
  These guys are really struggling.
  
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  August 20, 2021 1:51pm
- kevn
  
  @Tony… Clearly something unpalatable coming.
  
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  August 20, 2021 2:13pm
curry4me

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAfnXIm9xWA

Tucker reacts to new evidence FBI knew about Ilhan Omar’s marriage to brother.

I bet they’ll pounce any day, and arrest her / sarc.
11 1
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August 20, 2021 1:36pm
- Inandout
  
  curry, isn’t that permitted in her religion, you sleep with anyone so long as they are also in the club and can get things? But yes you are correct, the FBI will ignore how the brother sneaked into the US. I can only imagine what an Islamic mess the US would be in now if Hillary had won and her (very) close friend Huma Abedin was given free rein.
  
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  August 20, 2021 3:48pm
curry4me

https://www.bitchute.com/video/1qhIVysUL5c/

Kabul Joe is Falling Apart.

Joe Biden is falling apart This fabrication is finally unraveling! In this video, we’re going to look at the disastrous interview on ABC news, we’re going to see how more and more pundits are questioning his cognitive health, and stick with me to the very end of the video because we’re going to see why those rumors about Kamala and the 25th are getting louder by the minute.
12 1
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August 20, 2021 1:37pm
- krazykiwi
  
  It has always been Kamala and the 25th.
  
  2 1
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  August 20, 2021 2:31pm
lazza

Call me a pedant I don’t care … but if you are to be No 1 on KB GD please spend even a minute on proof reading

A chocolate fish to the K’Ber who finds the most primary school level spelling and grammatical errors (below).

I got ten.

Quote:

Borrowing not on Grant Robertsons agenda, dispute millions spent on non- Covid issues from Coroavirus fund.
So this is the problem pure and simple it corruption and we don’t have media or honest people running Parliamentary Services in Wellington to police it as Labour the Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern with Finance Minister Grant Robertson have to much power and no one wants to hold them to account.
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August 20, 2021 1:51pm
- kevn
  
  @iaz…. lower case yawn.
  
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  August 20, 2021 3:55pm
Nickc2

California Democrats are at it again. Rigging a Recall Election that is. The proof is Filmed evidence.
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2021/08/19/watch-voter-claims-california-recall-envelopes-can-reveal-vote/
4 2
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August 20, 2021 1:56pm
- Steve Otto(North Shore)
  
  Low life pond dwellers. Why the two holes in the envelope?
  Incoming leftie defenders in 3, 2, 1, duck
  
  2 2
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  August 20, 2021 3:44pm
  - Nickc2
    
    No worries Steve. I’m getting used to it. I might even invent a vaccine for such occasions. That vaccine will be known as Batman’s Revenge.
    
    4 1
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    August 20, 2021 3:52pm
    - Steve Otto(North Shore)
      
      100 upticks
      
      4 1
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      August 20, 2021 4:35pm
      - Nickc2
        
        TKS Steve, the reason it’ll be called Batmans Revenge is because it’s only a small prick in the scheme of things.
        
        3 1
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        August 20, 2021 4:43pm
Steve Otto(North Shore)

Donald Trump says NZ is having a surge in cases. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern denies it and then says she has a plan to deal with the surge. LOL.
Fake news, but she has a plan to deal with it? //
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August 20, 2021 1:56pm
- Nickc2
  
  I bet the plan doesn’t include calling an election. She’s shit scared of the adults taking over and sorting out the mess she’s created.
  
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  August 20, 2021 2:25pm
Fisiani2

From Twitter

lesleycubawelly
@Lesleycubawelly
·
2h
I am hearing Delta is out in Christchurch as well as Wellington

Anyone know if this true?
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August 20, 2021 1:59pm
- krazykiwi
  
  Yes. Wellington Miramar and Johnsonville so far.
  
  Watch as a billion years of evolution does what it does despite us attempting to conjure up a little omnipotence
  
  13 1
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  August 20, 2021 2:29pm
  - Tall Man
    
    So it was in your briefcase 😉
    
    5 1
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    August 20, 2021 3:03pm
Maggie Pie

So, Sydney has extended its lockdown for another 6 weeks!

My partner was saying…the amazing thing is that Chynaa hasn’t had to fire a shot.
26 2
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August 20, 2021 2:09pm
- MrTips
  
  Gladys has got her serious face on eh?
  
  On a more relevant note….the 3pm CindySermon™ is going to be very instructive. Either she condemns us all to several more weeks of Baker-HendyDisease® or she reveals evidence of functioning neurons somewhere in govt that got through to her. If she mentions nothing about treatments, DHB support and forward planning, we’re screwed.
  
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  August 20, 2021 2:17pm
  - krazykiwi
    
    Watching that charade is net detrimental to my health. So I’ll pass thanks, and read the analysis sometime later.
    
    19 1
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    August 20, 2021 2:26pm
- krazykiwi
  
  A budding bio-dictatorship.
  
  This will not end well. Think military vs a very, very pissed-off population
  
  13 1
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  August 20, 2021 2:24pm
- Odakyu-sen
  
  They won’t need to, at this rate…
  
  2 0
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  August 20, 2021 6:23pm
Steve Otto(North Shore)

Someone (no name) said this was fake the other day, not funny anymore is it?
https://uniteamericafirst.com/biden-regime-canceled-trump-program-to-oversee-evacuation-of-us-citizens-stationed-overseas-in-june/?
12 2
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August 20, 2021 2:10pm
- Libertarians are right
  
  Mike Pence does not treat Biden well about this in his article in the Wall Street Journal.
  
  Basically, he believes that Biden made this huge mess simply because he didn’t want to be seen enacting a plan that Trump’s administration had created.
  
  Sounds about right.
  
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  August 20, 2021 2:26pm
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    If Trump was the Pilot of the plane with the Democrats leaving Texas, those Dems onboard would hope Trump crashed the plane – such is the mindset of them
    
    9 2
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    August 20, 2021 2:49pm
  - dcrane
    
    Could be. Does anyone know if Trump’s withdrawal deal involved the US remaining in one stronghold like Kabul? I assume not, in which case Biden’s (failed) plan might have been about trying to keep a fig leaf like that going to mask the massive failure of the Defense Department’s 20-year plan.
    
    Extra tinfoil alternative: This is about creating the context/excuse for allowing huge caches of abandoned weapons to reach the hands of local radical groups who will route most of them elsehere for CIA-driven regime change and destabilization efforts elsewhere in Asia.
    
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    August 20, 2021 2:53pm
    - Steve Otto(North Shore)
      
      Pallets of cash will be going to the Taliban c/- Joe
      
      4 1
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      August 20, 2021 4:26pm
  - kevn
    
    @Liber… Sounds familiar. Locally.
    How many of the Nats policies got dumped?
    Lots of great stuff.
    
    3 0
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    August 20, 2021 3:01pm
  - doggone7
    
    Mike Pence? He still alive?
    Must’ve made it out of Congress on the day Trump was prepared to let invaders deal to him. Encouraged invaders, sorry I mean patriots, to deal to him?
    
    2 2
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    August 20, 2021 4:22pm
fredonas

Sir Michael Cullen goes to heaven and as a lifelong atheist, he has to alternate between spending one year in Hell and one year in Heaven. At the end of the first year, Satan says to God: “Get this man out of here. He’s turned everybody into socialists and I have to restore some order.” Another year passed, Satan meets God again and tells him: “OK, God, it’s my turn again.” God replied: “First of all, don’t call me God, it’s Comrade God; second, there is no God; and one more thing – don’t distract me or I’ll be late to the Party meeting.” (Old Soviet era joke) #TooSoon 🙂
12 3
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August 20, 2021 2:34pm
rangitoto

Delta not a problem for Indian states using Ivermectin.

https://www.zerohedge.com/covid-19/indias-ivermectin-blackout
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August 20, 2021 2:34pm
- dcrane
  
  This may well be true, and pressure should be put on the NZ government to consider ivermectin prophylaxis here as part of a reopening strategy. Still, some of that massive decrease in the Indian wave has to be attributed to changes/reductions in people’s movements that go with a wave of fear due to a huge spike in cases. Don’t think we can say for sure yet how much. I’m hoping that a lot of it was ivermectin prophylaxis though.
  
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  August 20, 2021 2:48pm
  - fernglas
    
    The decrease is due to the virus running its course.
    
    3 0
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    August 20, 2021 3:24pm
    - Ed Snack
      
      Have to say it is a bit unclear, however the fact that the reduction is far more evident in the states that used Ivermectin could be a clue !
      
      Can’t work out why so many are opposed to the thought that Ivermectin may be an effective anti-viral. It was tested with the original SARS and apparently worked (clinical tests impossible because SARS burnt itself out too quickly) – just like HCQ. It was then identified on that and other factors to try with Covid-19.
      
      The scientific evidence is not absolutely solid but statistically very strong. It is dirt cheap and as drugs go, pretty safe although as always there are some restrictions. Why not allow it to be used, and also run more trials ? Even running trials appears to be basically banned in some places.
      
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      August 20, 2021 8:49pm
lazza

A bit rich blaming Biden for Afgh … when Trump delivered him a cynical hospital pass by announcing troop withdrawals 6? months in advance of their exit.

What a gimme for the Taliban.
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August 20, 2021 2:35pm
- dcrane
  
  Trump negotiated a coordinated exit, with a May deadline and a ceasefire until then, which the Taliban were honoring. Under those conditions, withdrawal would have been much better. And our allies in the country would have known when we were leaving, rather than be effectively lied to by mixed signals until the final hour.
  
  Instead, Biden’s administration broke the deal, infuriating the Taliban who resumed the war, which they have been fighting since, gaining territories daily over the past several weeks.
  
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  August 20, 2021 2:44pm
- kowtow
  
  The world’s media covered all the great and the good at some gab fest in Cornwall not so long ago ,talking about the weather etc
  
  A half hour chat with Boris , Merks , the Frog etc and between them they could have come up with a couple of thousand soldiers ( cos that’s all that was involved) and a few bombers ……..
  
  Biden declared “America’s back” and I’ll sort shit through with diplomacy , so where was it , and the NATO wonks .
  
  Sorry , this is on Biden trying to look good for the domestic audience come 20 th 9 /11 .
  
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  August 20, 2021 4:22pm
- Ed Snack
  
  Balls Iazza, typical deflection.
  
  Support for a withdrawal was bipartisan. But nobody expected that even Biden could impose such a clusterfuck of a operation.
  
  He didn’t even tell the other NATO participants in time, and when Boris Johnson tried to call him to get confirmation, Joe was incapable of responding for 36 hours while the shit went down.
  
  Only three groups are really happy with this, the Taliban (obviously, though it seems that they would have been in Kabul even earlier but thought that even Biden couldn’t fuck things up so badly so they suspected a trap); Xi (again obviously); and the diehard supporters of Carter – no chance that he will now be thought of as the worst and most incompetent POTUS ever.
  
  Keep telling yourself though, Joe got this, he’s in charge.
  
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  August 20, 2021 8:54pm
Steve Otto(North Shore)

Repeat from the other day. Biden is doing great my left tit. The lucky Americans will be killed – Bridgette Gabriel.
https://rumble.com/vlclci-the-greatest-embarrassment-in-u.s.-history-trump-blasts-bidens-afghan-disas.html?
7 3
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August 20, 2021 2:40pm
- doggone7
  
  Is that why Trump didn’t mind so many dying last year? The lucky Americans will be dead scenario?
  
  2 8
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  August 20, 2021 3:04pm
Maggie Pie

ODT reporting Australian gang, Finks, is establishing itself in the south.

My partner fort they might.

😀 😀 😀
9 1
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August 20, 2021 2:59pm
westernScientest

we have bobble at 1506, who had 7 min start time?
it sounds like they are going to draw the actual announcement out though
11 1
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August 20, 2021 3:07pm
- Sponge
  
  My son just sent me a txt “I don’t give a fuck about them digging through my shit just make the announcement” ?
  
  14 1
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  August 20, 2021 3:12pm
- Prince
  
  Misery loves an audience.
  
  8 0
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  August 20, 2021 3:16pm
- westernScientest
  
  FFS 19 min to get to the point. House arrest for all
  
  16 2
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  August 20, 2021 3:19pm
- Suze Wainwright
  
  Good on Cindy – she’s back in her happy place.
  
  I’ll bet her Comms consultants will be going over every second she utters to see if Team of 5 million still resonates…
  
  9 1
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  August 20, 2021 3:49pm
krazykiwi

This from The Telegraph:
Poor Jacinda Ardern, trapped in her arrogant Zero Covid policy

Poetic justice is beautiful. Last week, Jacinda Ardern, the prime minister of New Zealand, announced that the antipodean nation would indefinitely pursue a zero Covid strategy. This week, it entered a stringent nationwide lockdown after the emergence of a single Covid-19 case. The pandemic giveth, the pandemic taketh away.

Since the lockdown announcement, a further 20 cases have emerged. The virus had been circulating for a few weeks, in a largely unvaccinated population. Turns out the Covid risk has not disappeared.
:::
New Zealand’s Covid-19 response was idealised last year. The small island nation eliminated the virus – with short lockdowns, closed borders and effective contact tracing – and largely lived without restrictions. Economic growth has been high and mortality has been low. But what worked in 2020 is not the same as what makes sense in 2021.

We now have vaccines. The ingenious jabs substantially reduce the risk of hospitalisation and death from the virus. They do not mean zero risk or, for that matter, zero cases. But they change the calculation: elimination becomes a costly strategy with very limited benefit. What’s the point of lockdowns and maintaining closed borders for a virus that, with vaccines in the mix, no longer causes much harm to individual people?

New Zealand has not come to this realisation. It has fetishised “zero risk” for the past 17 months and show little interest in updating its strategy. Last week, Ms Ardern announced that New Zealand would maintain an “elimination, or ‘stamp it out’, strategy” into the next stage of the pandemic, even when more people are vaccinated.

It’s not really ‘poor Jacinda’ though, is it? It’s poor NZers who will miss cancer and other critical diagnoses, lose their businesses and futures … while the PM has her job, her salary, her staff, and her 757 to flit around in until the call from Geneva or NYC comes.
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August 20, 2021 3:17pm
- kevn
  
  covid queen… ‘Stamp it Out’.
  
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  August 20, 2021 4:31pm
skyblue

A case was found in Chch this morning. Is a relative of a border health worker who we know. Will be used tomorrow to reinforce imprisonment.
21 2
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August 20, 2021 3:26pm
- Suze Wainwright
  
  It seems at least one of the journos is persistent in asking questions about the South Island…
  
  12 0
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  August 20, 2021 3:46pm
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    South Island is in that ah tea rower place?
    
    5 1
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    August 20, 2021 4:39pm
Wired-one

South Island in level 4 lockdown? It’s fucking ridiculous. We haven’t had a case down here for over a year. Ardern talks as if this delta variant has a mortality rate of 50% it doesn’t, it’s less than 1%. Eighteen months after the initial breakout and we still haven’t got a credible plan going forward and we are unable to be flexible in our approach. Come on NZ, FFs wake up!
26 3
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August 20, 2021 3:28pm
- cmm
  
  How is she going to keep the North Island compliant if they hear South Island are out and about doing what they want?
  
  Team of 5 million and all that. If NI does push ups, we all do push ups!
  
  8 0
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  August 20, 2021 4:33pm
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    Yup, equal for ah tea rower.
    Equally fucked by Jaspinda
    
    6 2
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    August 20, 2021 4:41pm
  - Nickc2
    
    I don’t mind the South Island being Covid State 1 so long as the ABs get to play out the rest of their season there and in the UK. That includes the last game of the Bledisloe Cup, Springbok and Puma series.
    Then, they can foxtrot oscar to the Northern Hemisphere and take on all-comers that Poms choose to throw at em.
    
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    August 20, 2021 4:50pm
MrTips

The news is NOT that lockdown is extended.

The REAL news is that the Herald got hold of 1) increased case numbers and 2) the lockdown extension, both before they were made public.

The govt finally has a problem with leaks. People in the tent are not happy.
33 1
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August 20, 2021 3:29pm
- Maggie Pie
  
  YUP…Claire sure rattled Cindy and Bloomers with her question about extending the Auckland lockdown till the 31st!
  
  Could end up getting a small fortune for those loo rolls 😀
  
  18 1
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  August 20, 2021 3:58pm
- kowtow
  
  MIQ leaks and what questions are the Media Pardy asking re dat.
  
  2 2
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  August 20, 2021 4:14pm
I remember when

Who would be in the entertainment industry at the moment.
I have received notification that the show we put on the card on 22 Dec 2020 for performance on 2o April 2021, then moved to 1 November, 2021, is now booked for 27 June 2022.
Our night out at the theatre 0n 2 September is looking very, very shaky.
Why would anyone want to pre-book unless it was as a form 0f compulsory saving.
The whole situation means that looking at pre-bookings for an indication of interest, is now nearly non-existent.
A promoter’s nightmare.
What about a trip to the Taupo gallops meeting on the 25th August.
Book a float. Anyone there?
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August 20, 2021 3:43pm

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