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February 14, 2022 8:00am by Kokila Patel

General Debate 14 February 2022

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General Debate

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NeverMindTheBollocks

Question: if Centennial Highway is blocked for any extended period by a big slip or a bad crash, will NZTA open Transmission Gully as emergency access?
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February 14, 2022 8:00am
- Captain Mainwaring
  
  No, they’ve already had a couple of opportunities to do that.
  
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  February 14, 2022 9:27am
mandk

I was at protest at Parliament again yesterday, and it grows ever more impressive.
The radio news was reporting early in the day that the number of people camping had dwindled to around 100 and that some folk were packing down their tents, ready to go home. Based on this I feared I might arrive to see signs of a crumbing protest.
However, I arrived to find that the whole of the lawn had been covered in straw, so eliminating the mud problem. Moreover, new gazebos with shutter sides and other shelters were being erected throughout the late morning and early afternoon. People were also bringing camping chairs and patio heaters.
The size of the attendance was initially a little lower than on Saturday, but the numbers were swelling throughout the day.
I saw no evidence of trouble among the attendees, and everyone seemed to be in good spirits, despite the fact that the rain had been joined by gusty wind. A sizeable group had gathered near to the loud speakers Mallard had ordered to be installed and were dancing to the James Blunt and other cheesy songs that were being played on loop.
Again I spoke to as many people as I could, and I met protesters who had come especially from places as far apart as Whangerei and Christchurch. I also had the opportunity to shake hands with Matt King and thank him for coming and standing against the mandates.
Everyone was happy to chat, apart from one guy who brusquely told me that he was not talking when I said hello to him. He disappeared immediately, so I guess he was a police officer monitoring what was going on.
The whole thing is extraordinarily well organised, especially when there is no obvious leadership. The food (hot and cold, including veggie, vegan and gluten free) is plentiful, free of charge and good quality. There are portaloos, which contrary to what the police Superintendent has been reported as saying, are being emptied – just as well because all the public loos around the place (including at the railway station) have been closed.
I have to work from today until Thursday, but I will be back on Friday. I am confident that the protest will still be going on then because it has such a good support infrastructure.
Again, fellow Kiwibloggers, I urge you to drop into the protest, if you can. And join the chorus of calls for an end to the mandate.
Apart from anything else, 810 new community cases clearly demonstrates that the vax is useless against omicron and that the mandates are nothing less than a spiteful measure against people who are exercising their human right not to have medical treatments forced on them.
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February 14, 2022 8:00am
- lastmanstanding
  
  The Reichstag Kommandant smiled. He would crush the protesters. He would then turn his attention to that other threat Kiwiblog. He had a list of names and addresses. They would be rounded up and waterboarded until they agreed to swear allegiance to Dear Leader and The Party from the Reichstag balcony.
  There would be no more dissent.
  
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  February 14, 2022 9:26am
  - Michael Johnston
    
    If the Reichstag Kommandant is Trevor Mallard, I think they’d do better with Colonel Klink.
    
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    February 14, 2022 9:57am
    - kowtow
      
      Then the whole cabinet is Schultzy
      
      They know nothink.
      
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      February 14, 2022 10:25am
    - Loddenthinks
      
      I know nussssink!
      
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      February 14, 2022 10:36am
    - mogg
      
      An excellent comparison, many a true word spoken in jest.
      
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      February 15, 2022 10:03am
  - Philview
    
    [deleted, aggravating and speculatory – Mod]
    
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    February 14, 2022 10:30am
  - Justitia
    
    The reason the government is smearing the protest as “imported” is because the fear the emergence of an independent working class voice that doesn’t toe the Labour Party line. And they are so immature they cannot handle people with opposing views to their own in any other way.
    
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    February 14, 2022 12:43pm
    - Trev
      
      Yes, many in Labour are clearly affronted that what they consider their natural constituency is protesting against them and not with them. Labour lost the small business people and many of the workers some years back. More and more are seeing their policies set the marginalised, downtrodden and low waged back further rather than helping them. They are us, be kind etc. only applies to those who will follow slavishly.
      
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      February 14, 2022 3:51pm
- cmm
  
  Thanks for the update. We’re never going to get it from the people who are paid to do the reporting (ie. journalists).
  
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  February 14, 2022 9:33am
  - mandk
    
    Yes, I see, hear and read things and wonder to myself whether the reporters were actually at the same protest I attended.
    
    I don’t think they bother talking to the protesters.
    
    Happy to answer any questions.
    
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    February 14, 2022 9:56am
- RRM
  
  Nice one.
  
  I try to spend time there every morning on my way to work, every evening on the way home, and during my lunch break.
  
  The protest tent city is only growing in size and strength. It is very safe, courteous and well behaved. It had been a true eye-opener for me, seeing it for myself, contrasting this with the media reports and government comments, and seeing just how much the govt lies, the media lies, and the opposition lies.
  
  Forcing people to take medicines they don’t want is wrong.
  
  I’m sure these people would go home tomorrow if an end to the enforced medicines was announced.
  
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  February 14, 2022 10:05am
- Deane Jessep
  
  This is a good watch. I have been sharing it with people who have not seen anything except legacy media “coverage”.
  https://youtu.be/qsEXHLASnYg
  
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  February 14, 2022 12:49pm
- Squeek
  
  mandk: Excellent update thanks.
  While Jacinda and other politicians are keen to characterise the protest as largely anti-vac, I get the impression that it’s actually anti-mandate, which is a much different issue. Jacinda would have very little interest in debating the mandate hence her spin.
  
  Interesting also the apparent spin that the politicians and Police are putting on the conditions at the protest – dirty, unhygienic, etc. go home before your children get sick. From the live stream and your report it sounds a much more orderly protest where people’s welfare is being taken care of.
  
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  February 14, 2022 1:16pm
  - mandk
    
    You are correct about the protest being anti-mandate. That is the only thing that applies to all the protesters. In other respects they are a fairly heterogeneous group of folk.
    
    And the talk about unhygienic conditions on the site is absurd.
    
    I have stayed at worse DoC and commercial campsites (albeit not for long).
    
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    February 14, 2022 2:38pm
  - Stellaboxer
    
    I have been truly stunned by the behaviour of Mallard and the police but actually shocked at the PM of my country resorting so naturally and so quickly to bare faced lies. Its not spin its untruths and supported by backing vocals from Luxon who to be frank may as well be in bat for Labour, what a disappointment he turned out to be, and of course Seymour whose Libertarian? classical Liberalism doesn’t extend to those members of the population standing up for they’re rights.
    
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    February 14, 2022 8:00pm
- Caine9
  
  I agree with almost everything you’ve said, except saying that the vaccine is useless simply doesn’t bear out. No one has ever claimed it will stop you catching the disease, but it is proven to minimise the affects of it.
  Blanket statement inaccuracies just serve to undermine the message and that is a shame.
  And yes, I’m expecting abuse for this!
  
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  February 14, 2022 2:16pm
  - freemark
    
    Except there are videos online a mashup of Fauci, Gates, Biden etc saying precisely that the jabs would STOP infection, transmission. hospitalisation etc. Multiple times. So you’ve been fed more lies then by them saying it, and now by people denying that it was ever the rationale for getting jabbed. Almost everything in the official lines over the last 2 years have either been optimistic falsehoods, or out & out lies. The lies in MSM today regarding the poo, the threats the verbal heckling etc made my blood boil. It’s built on lies. The whole thing.
    
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    February 14, 2022 7:58pm
  - Spongebobby
    
    Jacinda didn’t claim that the vaccine stops you catching it (at least not that I’ve heard), but she did claim that it prevented you from getting sick and from DYING – which was quite a significant claim to make, given that she had nothing but her own arrogance and perverse desire to make us do what she wanted, to base it on. (Search RNZ airport case interview) And as correctly stated above, ‘trusted’ information sources overseas, US in particular, claimed that the vaccine would stop the virus – Rachel Maddow of MSNBC being one. Lie, after lie, after lie has been told. And to be fair, I don’t believe that these were all intentional, but was probably people talking about things they didn’t actually know about. THAT is ‘misinformation’ – Unintentionally getting things wrong. Also, much of it was deliberate – from the MSM in particular = disinformation. Personally, I think Ardern leans more towards deliberate ‘disinformation’. Or if someone can coin a term for ‘willfully ignorant’, I’m sure it will be gleefully applied.
    
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    February 14, 2022 11:12pm
- Steve Otto(North Shore)
  
  Sept 2020.
  
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  February 14, 2022 2:17pm
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    What’s with the edit thing?
    
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    February 14, 2022 2:20pm
- expat
  
  You see, until you got to this fucking stupid conclusion I was leaning towards your argument.
  
  “… new community cases clearly demonstrates that the vax is useless against omicron ”
  
  JHC are you people just illiterate.
  
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  February 14, 2022 9:29pm
- Stellaboxer
  
  Ardern said it is an imported protest. Maybe that’s because New Zealanders find themselves having to fight imported politics.
  
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  February 15, 2022 10:24am
Biscuit

I watched Mattie McLean’s ‘interview’ with Jacinda Arden on Breakfast.

I really think that the Prime Minister’s PR team have decided that ‘Disinformation’ is the message she should drive home this week.

There MAY have been a sentence when she didn’t utter the word ‘Disinformation’ but if there was I missed it…
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February 14, 2022 8:01am
- Clownworld
  
  Disingenuous machiavellian Jacinda using the same word over and over?
  
  Tell a lie often enough they think it be the sole source of truth.
  
  Evil woman.
  
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  February 14, 2022 8:07am
  - Don Beckett
    
    Apartheid Ardern.
    
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    February 14, 2022 10:23am
    - coge
      
      Cindy’s summer of segregation!
      
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      February 14, 2022 10:49am
    - Jim
      
      I’ve said it before and she proves it more and more each week, deceitful Ardern is the most divisive PM in NZ history. In the global rankings for that accolade she’s level pegged with Macron and Trudeau.
      
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      February 14, 2022 11:17am
- krazykiwi
  
  From aDHS National Terrorism Advisory last week:
  
  The United States remains in a heightened threat environment fueled by several factors, including an online environment filled with false or misleading narratives and conspiracy theories, and other forms of mis- dis- and mal-information (MDM) introduced and/or amplified by foreign and domestic threat actors.…The primary terrorism-related threat to the United States continues to stem from lone offenders or small cells of individuals who are motivated by a range of foreign and/or domestic grievances often cultivated through the consumption of certain online content.
  
  It’s a move to classify anyone not towing the official live as a domestic terrorist. Ardern’s handlers will be thinking along these lines.
  
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  February 14, 2022 8:08am
  - Dougal10
    
    The only current domestic terrorist we have in NZ is Trevor Mallard.
    
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    February 14, 2022 8:19am
    - G the giant from Dunedin
      
      Water boarding, and general prisoner of war torture
      
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      February 14, 2022 10:38am
    - namron
      
      Trevor Mallard has been involved in a number of controversial disputes and Ardern appointed him to the position of Speaker and still supports him in
      spite of his ongoing misbehaviour. Just reading some of his history in Parliament since 2002 gives considerable concern about both Ardern and Mallard’s judgement.
      April 2002. Mallard made crude comments about inserting beer bottles into “uncomfortable places” of International Rugby Board chairman and Australian Rugby boss during a radio interview.
      2006 Mallard interjected in the House that Don Brash had engaged in an extra-marital affair.
      Oct 2007 Mallard punched Nat MP Tau Henare in a scuffle outside the debating chamber. Police declined to investigate. {Mallard’s current partner is Listener journalist Jane Clifton.}
      Graham McCreedy successfully took a prosecution against Mallard. Mallard pleaded guilty to fighting in a public place and was fined $500.
      2008 NZ Police did not prosecute Mallard for breaching provisions of the Electoral Finance Act. Mallards handling of the education portfolio was strongly criticised by the teacher union PPTA during a long running strike action over salaries.
      Feb 2012 Mallard ticket scalped on Trade me when he sold 4 tickets for a music festival. In 2006 he had initiated legislation prohibiting ticket scalping.
      July 2014. Mallard wanted moa to return to the bush of Rimutaka Forest Park,
      “I only want the small moa. I’d like the ones that I can pat on the head.”
      Jan 2020 Mallard was sued by a Parliamentary worker for claiming that “a rapist was working at parliament.”
      National unsuccessfully attempted to move a motion of no confidence in Mallard, who used Parliamentary priviledge.
      PM Ardern criticised Mallard’s actions, but rejected calls to dismiss from his position as speaker.
      
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      February 14, 2022 11:26am
      - Mummy
        
        And no doubt he’ll get a knighthood when he’s done.
        
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        February 14, 2022 1:58pm
  - Justitia
    
    All part of the illiberal Left’s coordinated Disinformation effort to discredit and suppress growing opposition. Events have taken a sinister turn.
    
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    February 14, 2022 8:20am
  - Odakyu-sen
    
    Who would be gullible enough to believe that anyone not towing the official line is a domestic terrorist?
    What makes the “official line” the truth?
    Where is the critical thinking?
    
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    February 14, 2022 8:31am
  - cmm
    
    “Ardern’s handlers will be thinking…”
    
    Are they really thinking or are they just copying whatever sleepy Joe and Justin Turdhole do?
    
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    February 14, 2022 8:43am
  - Loddenthinks
    
    They spelled MSM wrong
    
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    February 14, 2022 10:38am
    - Jim
      
      Nice ??
      
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      February 14, 2022 11:23am
  - Jim
    
    Ha KK saw that too this weekend.
    I thought MDM sounds similar to the politically created WMD (Weapons of Mass Destruction) spin term used to legitimise an unlawful invasion of Iraq, and we all know what a crock of shite that was proven to be.
    Will the globalist corporate elite sock puppets ever give up on their frightening TLAs?
    
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    February 14, 2022 11:23am
- Nickc2
  
  If she told the truth, there’d be no disinformation FFS.
  
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  February 14, 2022 8:10am
- Pavel
  
  “She believed the protest was anti-vaccine, not against the vaccine mandate.” How tone deaf and out of touch is our PM? The protests are clearly anti mandate not anti vaccine. If she bothered to look out her office window she would know this within seconds. Who is spreading disinformation now?
  
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  February 14, 2022 8:12am
  - Raphael
    
    Our Glorious Leader seems to be under the delusion that because people complied with the mandates and got vaccinated, they wholeheartedly support them.
    
    I didn’t get jabbed because it was mandated and I think they are a massive violation of our human rights. I don’t think Our Glorious Leader has the mental ability to understand this though.
    
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    February 14, 2022 9:47am
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    “Who is spreading disinformation now?”
    The one who struggles with the truth
    
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    February 14, 2022 2:36pm
- Warren
  
  Well when you have a Speaker of Parliament that continues to use his mouth instead of his brain and Jacinda Ardern who continues to support his many controversy’s you will always defend the undefendable with misinformation, but Jacinda Ardern our Prime Minister thinks her position allows her to twist the truth.
  
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  February 14, 2022 8:13am
- Sean OConnor
  
  It’s time to reclaim the word “misinformation”. What does it even mean, other than a narrative that the government doesn’t like? Misinformation is A-OK, as far as I’m concerned.
  
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  February 14, 2022 8:19am
- pdm
  
  `I watched Mattie McLean’s ‘interview’ with Jacinda Arden on Breakfast.’
  
  I worry about you Biscuit – you seem to be displaying masochistic tendancies.
  
  Yesterday Jack Tame and Grunter.
  Today Mattie MclEan and Jassie (as you intimately call her).
  
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  February 14, 2022 8:32am
- Maggy Wassilieff
  
  Ardern shows what a useless communicator she really is…
  She lacks the ability to understand the concerns of the poor, the disadvantaged and now the disenfranchised.
  
  Over the last 6 months, she has been subject to an increasing number of protests. Her response is to hide away as much as she can…and when she has to make an appearance, she is unable to walk and talk with concerned citizens.
  
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  February 14, 2022 8:35am
  - Russ the Muss
    
    But the objective down the middle unbias media have been saying what a great leader she is. I’m confused.
    
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    February 14, 2022 8:38am
  - Taieri
    
    She lacks the ability to understand the concerns of the poor, the disadvantaged and now the disenfranchised.
    —————————-
    
    But She makes up for that with Kindness…
    
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    February 14, 2022 8:57am
  - Master Mariner
    
    Yes fully agree.
    Her communications / optics are tone deaf.
    
    For her to be called a “Great communicator” has been a clever plan by Worlds Media and carefully crafted.
    
    And therefore a terrible Leader.
    
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    February 14, 2022 9:00am
  - kowtow
    
    Typical student agitator got lucky .
    
    Lacks the genuine common touch and is in fact a heavily packaged and mangaed PR stunt . When the wrapping comes off , the box is empty .
    
    She’s only got this far because of a very compliant and left wing media . Along with a few strokes of good luck , none of which would have come her way had it not been for Peters ‘ visceral hatred of the Gnats .
    
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    February 14, 2022 10:31am
    - oldfella
      
      Cindy is the Wizard of [Aotearoa. Learn to spell correctly – Mod].
      When the curtain is pulled back, you finally see how puny and insignificant she really is.
      
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      February 14, 2022 11:56am
      - Don Beckett
        
        Do you really think a moderation of that type displays your maturity?
        
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        February 14, 2022 1:45pm
      - kowtow
        
        DB
        
        It’s getting a bit school marmish .
        
        So much for fomenting happy mischief.
        
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        February 14, 2022 2:22pm
      - Local Miller
        
        Mods are going way beyond their mandate. I’ve sent am e-mail to complain about this sort of thing but I’m very disappointed to not have received any response.
        
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        February 14, 2022 7:12pm
      - Observer of Life
        
        “Cindy is the Wizard of [Aotearoa. Learn to spell correctly – Mod].”
        Is that you Batty?
        
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        February 14, 2022 10:11pm
- kevn
  
  @Biscuit… She would refute that.
  
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  February 14, 2022 8:41am
  - pdm
    
    Not from Biscuit she wouldn’t.
    
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    February 14, 2022 9:25am
  - namron
    
    Just checked the meaning of “refute” in my 2 dictionaries.
    Heinemann NZ Dictionary
    “to prove a statement to be false”
    Collins Dictionary & Thesaurus
    “disprove”
    Don’t these meanings show Jacinda’s frequent statement – “I refute that statement” to be meaningless as she DOES NOT prove anything!
    
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    February 14, 2022 11:53am
    - Matt Long
      
      Ms Information Ardern can refude anything because she is our sole source of truth.
      It should not be thought that she is a narcissistic sociopath with delusions of adequacy.
      
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      February 14, 2022 1:44pm
- artemisia
  
  From the Prime Minister –
  
  “We all want them to leave”.
  “What we have seen out there seems much more anti-vaccination than anything else.”
  “We’ve seen some horrific behaviour down here.”
  
  Who’s this ‘we’ ? Enquiring minds ….
  
  https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/covid-19-convoy-parliament-protest-police-diverge-from-speaker-over-celine-dion-strategy-will-negotiate-with-occupiers/DJBQPPIWRT6VOIPZFIJC6V3J7U/
  
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  February 14, 2022 8:45am
  - Loddenthinks
    
    I want them to stay until they cancel the mandates, though Ardern would never do that as it’s yet another admission of failure she’ll refuse to make.
    
    I applaud them and support them and wish them all the very best.
    
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    February 14, 2022 10:50am
    - Steve Otto(North Shore)
      
      She will prob make more mandates as punishment
      
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      February 14, 2022 2:42pm
  - hmmokrightitis
    
    No, we dont want them to leave – you want them to. Thats different.
    
    And if you did indeed look out your window you would see the majority of the signs are calling for an end to the mandate. So stop lying.
    
    Horrific? Really? Or is it just horrific to you because it keeps growing?
    
    Its time a senior opposition member went and spoke to the protestors. Yes, the media will make hay, but show some bloody leadership.
    
    Our PM is happy to make shit up about the protestors. In the time I spent on site, I saw nothing but fun, happy people with one serious intent – end the mandate.
    
    And thats from me, a middle aged, business owning taxpayer who actually just wants his PM to stop lying.
    
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    February 14, 2022 11:11am
- Simon
  
  Two shots for summer bro!
  
  Regime censorship advises:
  Disinformation is a subset of propaganda and is false information that is spread deliberately to deceive.
  
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  February 14, 2022 8:54am
- I remember when
  
  She’s a busy bee that Jacinda.
  Full of clever little buzz words.
  
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  February 14, 2022 9:07am
  - G the giant from Dunedin
    
    [deleted by Mod, personal abuse]
    
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    February 14, 2022 10:45am
    - G the giant from Dunedin
      
      [yes, we don’t debate. You know what you said – Mod]
      
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      December 14, 2021 12:27pm
      - G the giant from Dunedin
        
        Sorry, no I don’t know what I said, can’t remember saying anything personally to a poster, I might need to go to see the doc
        
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        February 14, 2022 3:21pm
- ClanMcleod
  
  What is this “disinformation” they keep talking about? I’ve written multiple emails to many MPs and journos and not one of them has responded to explain what it is I need to be looking out for.
  Strange.
  
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  February 14, 2022 9:30am
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    ‘disinformation’ is not in the Labour rules manual
    
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    February 14, 2022 2:44pm
- Prince
  
  Disinformation as in;
  The protesters are preparing to storm the building (Thursday)
  This is a far right demo (Friday)
  There are serious threats to kill MP’s and abuse of schoolkids (Saturday)
  There’s shit on the lawn (Sunday)
  The PM is unable to comment on the Speaker’s actions (Monday)
  
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  February 14, 2022 9:46am
  - G the giant from Dunedin
    
    She is unable to comment on speakers actions, because the orders probably came from her, she also said she can’t comment on Mallard or the polices decision, even though the police have stated that was not their orders, remember, BE KIND
    
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    February 14, 2022 10:47am
krazykiwi

One of the more sneering of Ohaku’s recent posts was based on a premise that, to me at least, appears valid. It is that the protest group appears to lack strong leadership. In the times I have been down to parliament’s grounds there is sense of people being in this together, and enduring hardship as evidence of that. But what I’ve not seen is evidence of a strong, united leadership team, one were level-headed strategy can be designed and communicated. I could be wrong, and indeed I hope that I am. I am interested in hearing from people at the front line on this. I know some KBers are involved. What is the current situation?
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February 14, 2022 8:01am
- cmm
  
  Does it really need strong leadership? C’mon kk aren’t you a libertarian?
  
  Dure, it needs sufficient organisation to facilitate the activities, but does it really need one or two people who say that they represent the others, can speak for them and can negotiate for them? I think not.
  
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  February 14, 2022 10:21am
  - Maggy Wassilieff
    
    This lack of leadership looks to be something that Labour doesn’t understand…
    
    The protest is a true grass-roots movement … folks coalescing together with some common aims.
    
    The problem for Labour is that there is no one person they can pick off… and that’s the main tactic they use for closing down opposition.
    
    Jacinda’s desperate smears of her fellow citizens shows she has lost contact with Team 5 million.
    
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    February 14, 2022 11:06am
  - artemisia
    
    Went down this morning. There is quite a bit of organisation – admin, food, first aid, music. People seem happy esp now the weather has cleared. While I was waiting to hand over stuff at one of the tents the person next to me was telling workers they didn’t need the generator, they have their own big gas cooker. And a chef.
    
    There were a LOT of people there. Hundreds. And mud, thanks Mr Sprinkler.
    
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    February 14, 2022 2:50pm
- info@cruzpro.com
  
  [deleted – speculation and unhelpful, Mod]
  
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  February 14, 2022 10:46am
- Fuzzysnuggleduck
  
  I saw some families with placards on Sat in Hamilton, and I could read while driving past ‘First; Do no harm’, and thought that is fine, but an adult above the kids had a sign “Unite Against Bill Gates and Tony Blair”.
  What? Oh, FFS.
  Between the conspiracy theorists, and Trump flags, some of these people are not really thinking about how they can appear moderate and sober, and win over the middle ground.
  Also can see how the media would flash selected signs like that, if Luxon or Seymour even came near the crowds.
  So not sure about leadership being needed, but some self-awareness about keeping the crazier and less relevant ideas out of the messaging would help a lot.
  It is pretty silly how Ardern can dumb the whole conversation down (or pretend it is something it is not), and so many people just think ‘Anti-Vax loonies/End of story.’
  But these fringe elements within don’t help.
  I however am increasingly supportive of the protestors in general (beyond already being anti-mandate personally), and think it is pretty weak to characterise them as crazies or imports.
  
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  February 14, 2022 10:52am
  - Mr_Blobby
    
    Want Crazy imports, look to the Greens.
    
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    February 14, 2022 3:17pm
- C-Town
  
  I don’t know if need leadership, but they do need some good PR to counter all the bad press they’re getting from the government and the mainstream media.
  
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  February 14, 2022 11:04am
  - krazykiwi
    
    Definitely agree with that
    
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    February 14, 2022 12:04pm
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    The paid off NZ media are having a field day because they know nobody will challenge them.
    The protesters may not need a Leader, but how about a Representative/ Spokesperson?
    
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    February 14, 2022 2:51pm
- Harry Knuts
  
  perhaps they don’t need a leader persay. Perhaps their unity of being there is enough. and also if there was a leader or two that would leave them open to media/politicians and all those who oppose just to dig up dirt on their past and rake that through and confuse the message. If this was the case this is a smart move. their history is irrelevant and only this protest is relevant and the point of debate.
  
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  February 14, 2022 12:20pm
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    Did not see your comment before I posted at 2.51
    
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    February 14, 2022 2:52pm
- Reid
  
  One of the speakers on Counterspin’s live feed just said that there is a leadership team but they don’t want to reveal themselves because they feel doing so would turn them into targets.
  
  I can’t really blame them for that, seems like a perfectly conclusion to draw based on current behaviour from the authorities to date.
  
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  February 14, 2022 2:23pm
- Okahu
  
  The current situation krazy is that you are missing in action. But it seems you have at last realised that your place in history beckons. The time of peak krazy has arrived. Your supporters have been primed, your cause has erupted and your people have arrived. What are you waiting for? Something good on telly this afternoon?
  
  I ask again. Name me one citizen better equiped krazy. You dazzle us daily as the voice of the resistance. But now, when it looks as if the little people, crushed mercilessly as they are under the jackboot of tyrannical god forsaking she devils, make this one last desperate stand, all your fine words, all your lofty notions, all your declarations of superior comprehension are but ashes in our mouths.
  
  But I know where your heart is krazy. You know your heart krazy. We all know your heart krazy. It is stirring as the call of your people becomes desperate. Who will be their Jefferson, their Castlereagh, their Attaturk their Havel? You sir. You.
  
  So give up this silly pretence of consideration. Hand back your certified eunuch pass. This is your time. Lead man. Pump your tyres, pack a snack and peddle to your people. Perhaps a sneaky mask? (It would be a shame to be hospitalised, hacking then isolating when your people need leading).
  
  As your campaign manager I will of course expect a plum roll at least at the level of chief of staff when the krazy revolution rolls these despicable people hating, health hating, freedom hating, god spurning fools into the harbour.
  
  Ok people. Who else knows it must be krazy! That krazy is our future? That when we want to know what to do we turn to krazy?
  
  As that hairy little sex machine Prince is believed to have said…
  
  And if the elevator tries to bring you down
  Go crazy, punch a higher floor…
  
  Let’s go crazy
  Let’s get nuts
  Let’s look for the purple banana
  ‘Til they put us in the truck, let’s go!
  
  Now that last part is a bit, you know, krazy! But what the hey? Just mumble that bit.
  
  Tell me, do you have a sequined open chested gonad hugging flared one piece with matching platforms? Pack those in your panniers. A megaphone some words a few moves and a howled let’s go krazy will get your people believing! I feel it k!
  
  Anyway. Balls in your sack as they say. And Marion from next door says she will record The Chase for you so that’s no longer getting in the way of destiny!
  
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  February 14, 2022 4:38pm
  - Maggy Wassilieff
    
    Oh how I wish you were Our Dear PM’s script writer.
    
    I’d probably try and listen to her if she could babble out some of your fine lines.
    
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    February 14, 2022 7:32pm
  - Don Beckett
    
    Okahu, you are showing what a real fuckwit you are. Keep up the good work.
    
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    February 14, 2022 8:05pm
  - krazykiwi
    
    Obsessive rant lamely disguised as B-grade satire. Get help. Get a coach. And try again.
    
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    February 14, 2022 10:11pm
Tomtoddy

Energy prices continue to go crazy in Europe and UK. Ofgem in the UK just increased their gas price to their 22 million customers from 1,277 pounds to 1,970 pounds. That’s a 54% increase in one jump. Some consumers are seeing electricity prices rise by over 100%. One client alone – a smokehouse for fish had their energy bill go from 120,000 pounds to 240,000 pounds in one jump.

Boris has his work cut out convincing Brits they are saving the planet. Huge subsidies are being offered but the “net zero” chickens are coming home to roost.
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February 14, 2022 8:04am
- Master Mariner
  
  Yep, And now got the Green light to resume drilling in North Sea.
  
  https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-56503588
  
  And how the EV “revolution” is affected by obtaining critical minerals and supply lines.
  
  https://oilprice.com/Metals/Commodities/How-Will-Chinas-Belt-And-Road-Impact-Global-Critical-Metal-Supplies.html
  
  In case anyone has’nt noticed but the world is scrambling to secure Energy Security and Natural Resources.
  
  How’s NZ “Nuclear Moment” going to end up ?
  
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  February 14, 2022 8:27am
  - Master Mariner
    
    “How’s NZ “Nuclear Moment” going to end up ?”
    
    This should give everyone a heads up.
    
    https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2022/02/climate-change-minister-james-shaw-was-warned-emissions-target-was-too-ambitious-too-expensive.html
    
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    February 14, 2022 9:03am
    - Steve Otto(North Shore)
      
      ‘Setting NZ up to fail’
      Setting the Govt up to fail. Fixed it for you Shaw.
      All the left do is fail, every fucking time
      
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      February 14, 2022 2:55pm
      - Master Mariner
        
        Hard to argue againsr logic my friend.
        Very hard.
        
        9 1
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        February 14, 2022 4:39pm
- Master Mariner
  
  Europe better hope the Ukraine / Russia situation improves sooner than latter.
  I would’nt be holding my breath.
  
  https://oilprice.com/Latest-Energy-News/World-News/Europes-Dependence-On-Natural-Gas-Imports-Hits-80.html
  
  The interesting thing for me is the amount of Gas getting diverted ” Under urgency” to Europe from US .
  https://oilprice.com/Latest-Energy-News/World-News/Shell-Ready-To-Ship-More-Gas-To-Europe-If-Russia-Ukraine-Crisis-Escalates.html
  
  They are now approaching Operators too secure Gas.
  Alarm bells should be ringing.
  
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  February 14, 2022 8:44am
  - Ra Henare
    
    It would appear that the Ukraine situation and imminent invasion, falls in to the same category as Iraq weapons of mass destruction.
    
    Something dreamt up by the swamp in Washington, DC as a distraction.
    
    A little bit of international reading and listening to people who actually understand Ukraine/Russia history and politics will allow you to sleep peacefully.
    
    A great point is made that 100,000 troops were near the border. They forget to tell you that Ukraine has 250,000 active army and a further 200,000 reservists etc etc
    
    I wonder what diversion our Gummint will employ to move focus from the growing protest movement of dissatisfaction.
    Their first response PR is an abject failure.
    
    Have they learnt nothing from history when the population turns against the ruling “”class””
    
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    February 14, 2022 2:28pm
    - Don Beckett
      
      Agreed Ra Henare.
      I think Putin is playnig mind games – at which being ex KGB, he is very good. And Biden’s minders (can’t be him, he’s non compis)are taking it hook line and sinker.
      Putin will come out looking the good guy.
      
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      February 14, 2022 8:08pm
- Jimbob
  
  High energy prices are here to stay, no matter what happens in Ukraine. The political movement worldwide with climate change has seen to that. This will not change overnight, so inflation through to at least 2030. Which will probably mean extreme volatility in well, in almost everything. As an aside, electric vehicles are more damaging to the environment than fossil fuels.
  
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  February 14, 2022 10:21am
  - Ra Henare
    
    Interesting to see that China (especially) and the US are starting to build nuclear again.
    
    Using Helium as a cooling medium not water. So location can be independant of vast amounts of water.
    
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    February 14, 2022 2:30pm
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    You mean coal powered vehicles I think
    
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    February 14, 2022 2:56pm
    - Don Beckett
      
      They had them back in WW2.
      
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      February 14, 2022 4:33pm
- Albert_Ross
  
  Ofgem aren’t a retailer, they’re the energy regulator in the UK. Do you mean British Gas?
  
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  February 14, 2022 10:23am
Yvette

Both Winston Peters and looney Trevor Mallard are just distractions.

■ Protesters’ mistrust and fear makes them easy targets for manipulation
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/opinion/300515479/protesters-mistrust-and-fear-makes-them-easy-targets-for-manipulation
If Stuff is paid off, it may loose any future funding

■ <‘Splintered realities’: How NZ convoy lost its way
Days of protesters' chats reveal the inside story of how New Zealand’s convoy was hijacked by the far-right fringe
https://www.newsroom.co.nz/hijacked-the-inside-story-of-how-nzs-convoy-lost-its-rudder [1]

[Brett] Power and others had attempted to storm the offices of the Taranaki Daily News. He joined the convoy and ended up in Wellington on Tuesday.
At 3.15pm on Wednesday, Power attempted to breach the police line at Parliament to enter the building and serve his legal papers to Little. The plan was then to citizens arrest the health minister – effectively, to kidnap him – and then put him on trial. The preordained punishment was to be execution
Power and two others were arrested.
[Sanjana Hattotuwa, who monitors extremism and misinformation in New Zealand for Te Pūnaha Matatini’s Disinformation Project] saw this as the clear point where the convoy’s original organisers lost all control. [1]

■ What is Brett Power charged with?
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February 14, 2022 8:05am
- Yvette
  
  Newsroom’s Marc Daalder is a senior political reporter based in Wellington who covers Covid-19, climate change, energy, primary industries, technology and the far-right.
  
  As quoted above –
  [Brett] Power attempted to breach the police line at Parliament to enter the building and serve his legal papers to Little. The plan was then to citizens arrest the health minister – effectively, to kidnap him – and then put him on trial. The preordained punishment was to be execution.
  https://www.newsroom.co.nz/hijacked-the-inside-story-of-how-nzs-convoy-lost-its-rudder
  
  Can Marc Daalder say this without prejudicing possible court proceedings against Power, or perhaps face defamation litigation by Power if Daalder’s statement of Power premeditating murder is not true?
  
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  February 14, 2022 9:29am
  - Tony Stuart
    
    There were suggestions at the weekend on social media from some fairly well-connected people that Marc Daalder has political ambitions. Given the tone of Saturday’s piece, it’s pretty obvious those intentions do not lie with National or Act!
    
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    February 14, 2022 9:54am
    - Batman
      
      Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
      Tony that’s spreading shit from Twitter, hardly reliable.
      
      It seems people are willing to attack anyone who pricks a hole in the reality bubble.
      
      It is clear from Power’s previous statements and posts that the punishment was/is to be hanging. That may not be a unified view of the protest but enough supporters want it in their deranged minds.
      
      As these screenshots show, it is not just Mr Power. That is why no politician will go out to meet them, it is a security risk from the extremists who are present.
      
      https://twitter.com/marcdaalder/status/1492946780299821057?t=3oFS2H5N6IQx-37dcyd6Fw&s=19
      
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      February 14, 2022 10:36am
      - Northshoredoc
        
        What do you think about the current situation Batman, kiwibloggers generally supporting the protesters right to protest and those at thestandard arguing for their removal by the police and/or army.
        
        Are we through the looking glass ?
        
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        February 14, 2022 10:58am
      - Alan Wilkinson
        
        They could invite selected ones in to talk.
        
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        February 14, 2022 10:59am
      - Fuzzysnuggleduck
        
        Why is it that on this matter, entire communities should be represented by cherry picked individuals from within them?
        
        Kind of like the Green list member that tweeted about wanting to kill white people.
        The media really shone a light on that, and the selection process for the Greens -because it was actually someone being put forward to represent an official political party, and it was also racially motivated hate.
        Oh, wait.
        No they didn’t.
        I can even look on my own friends social media feeds and find 2am posts of ‘death to all humans’ and the like.
        
        Since the media is making a point of this, you would almost think “kill a pakeha’ Harawira wouldn’t be allowed to walk arm in arm with multiple NZ Prime Ministers, since such statements MUST be assumed to be made with criminal intent & certainly they will kill the moment the opportunity presents itself.
        
        And ironically, if politicians and media are truly concerned about the risks here, perhaps the treatment of the folk outside the beehive at the moment isn’t going to help much either, if there really are hot heads in the crowd.
        
        I don’t think any sitting politician should meet the protestors on site, but they could always meet some nominees nearby, and have some pat downs if they really think this is real and are looking for lengths of rope or thermo-nuclear devices.
        It might even mean some people drift away, if they feel their protest achieved something.
        
        I think the pollies and MSM narrative are treating theatrics and hyperbole as a credible threat, because it is convenient.
        
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        February 14, 2022 11:18am
  - Jimbob
    
    So basically a loony.
    
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    February 14, 2022 10:24am
- G the giant from Dunedin
  
  Peters has done nothing but mumble a couple of words, he has virtually been silent since since Wednesday, he is never going to show up now at Wellington, snd if he did then he has failed , good to see Matt King telling people if he goes to another party, or it starts up, it will be no wheee near the Charlatan Peters, that’s a very good guide to what a POS Peters is
  
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  February 14, 2022 10:58am
Maggy Wassilieff

Luxon wants to work with Ardern & Labour to end the mandate

https://www.newsroom.co.nz/luxon-extends-helping-hand-to-pm-on-vaccine-mandates

But Our Dear PM isn’t in contact, it seems.
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February 14, 2022 8:05am
- RockyJ
  
  Impressive. Use real kindness to kill fake kindness.
  
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  February 14, 2022 8:10am
- krazykiwi
  
  Of course Luxon wants to ‘work with Labour’. National have carried Labour’s putrid water throughout this entire fiasco.
  
  Here an idea. How about Luxon finds a spine and takes non-negotiable position on this, such as:
  
  “Mandating a medical procedure is contrary to the principles outlined in the 1947 Nuremberg Code, and contrary Article 6 (Section 1) and Article 6(Section 3) of the UN Universal Declaration on Bioethics and Human Rights of which New Zealand is a signatory. National demands an immediate repeal of all legislation that impinges the rights of New Zealanders in this regard, and promises to establish a process for compensating those who have lost jobs, careers and homes due to the mandates”
  
  But no. He want to ‘work with Labour’.
  
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  February 14, 2022 8:15am
  - Sean OConnor
    
    The National Party really is determined to be the most left wing “conservative” party in the world.
    
    Even the Conservative Party of Canada, a benightedly wimpy liberal imitation of a right wing party if ever there was one, is demanding and end date or metric for the COVID restrictions.
    
    This is the elephant in the room. It’s NOT NORMAL to have these sort of restrictions and it’s National’s fault – not Labour’s, National’s* – that the burden of justification has switched entirely to the removal side.
    
    *And ACT, they’re no better.
    
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    February 14, 2022 8:23am
  - Odakyu-sen
    
    Luxon cannot appear to be to “extreme” if he wants to capture the center.
    //
    
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    February 14, 2022 8:32am
    - Clownworld
      
      Optics = Compromises made in name of politics.
      
      However people see past the optics.
      
      Show us action, commitment, be prepared to stand up for something.
      
      Be a leader
      
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      February 14, 2022 12:41pm
    - Sean OConnor
      
      Many swing voters don’t actually vote on ideological proximity, they just vote for whoever their gut likes. Authenticity is appealing, obvious cuck wonkiness doesn’t.
      
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      February 14, 2022 10:35pm
  - Thought Criminal
    
    Luton is being cowardly as he doesn’t want to lose votes.
    
    He knows Labour don’t work with people. A small number at the top make the decisions and then tell everyone what to do.
    
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    February 14, 2022 9:03am
    - G the giant from Dunedin
      
      He is calling the dictator out by saying let’s work on fixing it, he knows she won’t budge, but has offered, he and the rest of the Nats gave called out Mallard, and Nats still remain the only party that in December said mandates must finish at 90% vaxed, but that’s fine, so something stupid and let Cindy squeak in for a third term
      
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      February 14, 2022 12:32pm
  - nathie
    
    “He want to ‘work with Labour’.”
    
    It’s actually a very astute move – not only does it show he is willing to work constructively (which the media will report positively as such), it also shows up Labour as lightweights who don’t have a clue … so for that reason expect Labour to reject this, and carry on bumbling their way through things … allowing National and ACT to hammer them.
    
    Labour are screwed no matter what they do.
    
    (I’d also go so far as to say, Labour made a strategic mistake (as they scored a short-sighted tactical win at the time) by rejecting Simon Bridges offer in 2020 to work with Labour on NZ’s Covid response.
    
    I would envisage if Labour accepted National’s offer at the time, then issues like re-opening borders and border exemptions, MIQ, RAT tests, “non-fascist” mandates etc, would have been sorted alot sooner.
    
    I’d also go far as to say if Labour had accepted National’s offer at the time, they would not be where they are today with thousands of protesters marching on Parliament and holding out there for days …. weeks …. months …. until Labour halt or modify their draconian vaccine mandate policies)!
    
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    February 14, 2022 9:12am
    - Tony Stuart
      
      Absolutely agree. Luxon should suggest to Ardern that Parliament’s resident clinicians, Dr Ayesha Verrall and Dr Shane Reti work together and develop a timetable to end mandates, and remove the need for vaccine passports. Both bring significant healthcare experience, and Reti has the benefit of the work he did at Harvard Medical School.
      
      Doing this in a bipartisan way, with clinical imperatives replacing political considerations. would offer a much better chance of a robust and sensible outcome.
      
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      February 14, 2022 9:28am
      - Colville
        
        Clever move by Luxon. White ants Jacinda and niggles at her.
        She knows mandates have to go, so this will be like most of the Covid response, Labour will announce it as their idea 4 weeks after National have made it policy.
        Luxon playing a long game, 20 months before the election and that is the only opinion poll that counts.
        
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        February 14, 2022 9:46am
      - bronny1
        
        “work together to develop a timetable”
        
        ????
        
        How about THE MANDATES END NOW. And not just the government ones, but all the private companies.
        
        I’m failing to see what work needs to be done to develop a timetable.
        
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        February 14, 2022 10:49am
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    He may as well join Labour seeing as National is Labout Lite. Luxon could be the new Leader when Jaspinda spits the binky
    
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    February 14, 2022 3:02pm
  - Magnus Forteman
    
    Seems New Conservatives are running policies that make a start towards that: https://www.newconservative.org.nz/covid/
    Sounds good…
    
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    February 14, 2022 7:44pm
- emmess
  
  Clever move by Luxon
  
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  February 14, 2022 8:16am
  - leoj
    
    ..a day late and a dollar short….
    
    17 2
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    February 14, 2022 1:07pm
    - Don Beckett
      
      Better late than never.
      
      6 4
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      February 14, 2022 1:48pm
- Nickc2
  
  Luxon should have told the protestors that on day one of the protest. Now is too late. His reputation for being decisive and forward-thinking is fucked.
  
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  February 14, 2022 8:16am
  - Prince
    
    And his reputation for being thoughtful and working with people is growing.
    
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    February 14, 2022 9:48am
  - G the giant from Dunedin
    
    He was never interviewed apart from last Monday, but that’s fine , we know you lot want Nats out, enjoy ya Cindy
    
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    February 14, 2022 12:35pm
    - Nickc2
      
      Not so!!!!!
      I’m a signed-up and financial member of the National Party. Don’t jump to conclusions!
      I haven’t ever been a Luxon fan. I’ve written words to that effect many times on KB and his actions (and lack thereof) only serve to further cement my perception of him.
      
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      February 14, 2022 2:24pm
- pdm
  
  Luxon should get out there and walk among the protestors.
  
  I emailed David Seymour the same message yesterday.
  
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  February 14, 2022 8:34am
  - Russ the Muss
    
    Yeah, i hate to say this but they are all gutless cowards in my humble opinion. Even the Greens who i dont support normally stand on principle and support the powerless un society unconditionally are missing in action. A real leader stands up for all and isn’t afraid of going against the prevailing wind when it’s the right thing to to. All our MPs have failed us. How hard is it to listen to a group of people who are so desperate and want to be heard. I’ve never been so disappointed in ALL of our elected officials.
    
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    February 14, 2022 8:43am
    - Steve Otto(North Shore)
      
      They are all chicken arsed
      
      10 1
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      February 14, 2022 3:04pm
  - Random T Person
    
    Yes I emailed David last week. He was as dismissive of me as he is of the protesters. I will never vote again. Screw all the politicians, none of them want to listen to the ordinary people.
    
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    February 14, 2022 9:17am
    - Batman
      
      No, they don’t want to listen to suggestions that they should put themselves at risk of physical harm.
      
      7 35
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      February 14, 2022 10:39am
      - kowtow
        
        The vaccine mandates put young men particularly in harms way from myocarditis.
        
        And those young men have nothing to fear from the batflu , so why are they forced to take a health risk in order not to jeopordise their livelihoods .
        
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        February 14, 2022 10:46am
      - Batman
        
        Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
        More lies from you kowtow.
        
        Yes there is a risk of myocarditis, it was flagged with me when I got my booster. The danger being that if you ignore it, it becomes a problem.
        
        The risk is significantly lower than getting it from the virus.
        
        The virus itself can cause long term health issues for young men (and everyone else), such as myocarditis, respiratory issues, fatigue issues, even limb loss in rare cases.
        
        It’s going to be interesting watching the virus sweep across the unvaccinated vs the vaccinated. There will be nowhere to hide unless you pick fantasy over reality, which you’ve already done clearly.
        
        7 38
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        February 14, 2022 11:06am
      - Random T Person
        
        Yes we’ve all seen how cowardly they are. They won’t hesitate to send young men and women in the army in, though, now would they.
        
        15 1
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        February 14, 2022 10:57am
      - Taieri
        
        No, they don’t want to listen to suggestions that they should put themselves at risk of physical harm.
        ———
        
        Someone might throw a tomato at them? Oh, dear, but tomatoes are a bit expensive this year. An egg perhaps then?
        
        14 1
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        February 14, 2022 12:32pm
      - Batman
        
        The consistent talk of gallow, hangings, and decapitation is enough to justify staying away.
        
        Ignoring it doesn’t do anything useful.
        
        3 20
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        February 14, 2022 12:46pm
      - leoj
        
        Not moderating today?
        Mmmmmmm. Smells weird…..
        
        12 3
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        February 14, 2022 1:13pm
      - Batman
        
        Thanks Leoj, I’ll note the personal hygiene advice.
        
        No moderation of the comment thread here as far as I can see. I’m commenting from GD as a regular user.
        
        2 12
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        February 14, 2022 1:18pm
      - Steve Otto(North Shore)
        
        Sorry Batman, your next post I hit report. Unintentional. It was meant to be a reply:
        https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2020/09/coronavirus-jacinda-ardern-confident-enough-kiwis-will-get-covid-19-vaccine-for-herd-immunity-without-being-forced-to.html
        
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        February 14, 2022 3:20pm
      - Show me the evidence
        
        Sorry Batman I meant to hit reply and hit report on your reply about myocarditis from the vax:
        “The risk is significantly lower than getting it from the virus.”
        You need to keep up with the research coming out as you are wrong!!
        For Males under 40 years the risk after 2nd dose (Astra and Pf) is higher than infection itself https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.12.23.21268276v1 see figure 1. There’s more studies showing that rates can be even higher than this post vax for young males……like 20 times even the rate used here for post vax…..try 1 in 2700 for teenage boys. They should never have mandated this for teenage boys. And they have mandated it, none of mine can do any sport etc without a vax pass, even though all they will get is a cold, if they ever do succumb to covid.
        
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        February 14, 2022 5:39pm
    - bronny1
      
      at least you got a response! All 8 of my (unvaxxed) family emailed him….crickets. That’s 8 votes gone and not coming back.
      
      18 2
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      February 14, 2022 10:50am
    - Frank the tank
      
      Aaaand that is how the left win. They want right leaning people despondent and unwilling to vote
      
      12 1
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      February 14, 2022 11:01am
      - Random T Person
        
        Sorry but I vote on principle, first. When a party claims freedom then mandates, then ignores and scorns protesters with legitimate grievances over freedom itself, then principle is gone. ACT was my home, I was a member, now they will see neither my money nor my vote.
        
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        February 14, 2022 12:32pm
      - Matt Long
        
        The left win by infiltrating institutions like universities, schools, unions, media and political parties with their own people.
        
        13 0
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        February 14, 2022 1:56pm
  - curry4me
    
    That’d be a waste of bits and bytes.
    
    5 1
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    February 14, 2022 10:31am
  - G the giant from Dunedin
    
    Why FFS, he is in Auckland, as he was on Thursday when rotten media tried to suggest he was peering out the window at parliament
    
    9 2
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    February 14, 2022 12:36pm
- G the giant from Dunedin
  
  Luxon would be better off working with King on ending the lockdown, Ardern should be left to tit, from the water boarding applied by Mallard duck
  
  11 1
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  February 14, 2022 10:59am
- Northshoredoc
  
  Very clever, Jacinda and her minders will be apologetic with rage.
  
  12 1
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  February 14, 2022 10:59am
  - Northshoredoc
    
    or apoplectic …
    
    8 1
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    February 14, 2022 11:49am
Maggy Wassilieff

Not a bad forecast for Wellington for the rest of the week.
https://www.metservice.com/towns-cities/locations/wellington/7-days

If the protestors weathered one of Wn’s rainiest days ever, then this week will be a breeze.
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February 14, 2022 8:09am
- mandk
  
  It will.
  
  The infrastructure is now in place to enable the protesters to be in for a long haul.
  
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  February 14, 2022 8:13am
  - coge
    
    The protest area is the only place in NZ where there is freedom. Where all restrictions have been cast aside. It was clear all along, the NZ people would take back their freedoms.
    
    18 1
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    February 14, 2022 10:55am
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    The Sprinkler of the House will be getting more sprinklers installed
    
    9 1
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    February 14, 2022 3:22pm
- Master Mariner
  
  Hopefully hot enough to resume the Sprinklers to cool off the protestors.
  Perhaps the PM could DJ on the front lawn for the “Mosh Pit” in the coming days.
  
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  February 14, 2022 8:50am
- G the giant from Dunedin
  
  Just think, all their clothes will be washed too ?
  
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  February 14, 2022 10:59am
Gravelroad

Another lazy, irrelevant cartoon by Emma Cook on $tuff this morning.
I get it that all cartoons have to be politically unflattering to the National Party but at least some attempt could be made to be funny.
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February 14, 2022 8:13am
- Swifty
  
  Yes Gravelroad and I’ve yet to see a cartoon from Cook of Jacinda with “I used to wrap fish and chips” in the background.
  
  Why would that be?
  
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  February 14, 2022 8:21am
- Frank the tank
  
  Comedy isn’t funny anymore since the woke took over. Outside of a few comedy (including cartoons) is now used as a political tool. Nothing else.
  
  33 1
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  February 14, 2022 8:30am
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    The left are born without a sense of humour and you can’t install one in a vacuum
    
    13 1
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    February 14, 2022 3:24pm
  - Mr_Blobby
    
    Whatever happened to the likes of spitting images etc
    
    6 0
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    February 14, 2022 3:38pm
    - Sponge
      
      https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/entertainment/2021/09/satirical-show-spitting-image-lampoons-ardern-new-zealand-s-latest-lockdown.html
      
      Its still a thing…
      
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      February 14, 2022 6:37pm
- Jade Warrior
  
  Or at least make a valid point, which is what so few of her cartoons manage to do. Still – Emma is doing her bit, ensuring that those taxpayer dollars keep rolling in to prop up that sputtering engine known as Stuff.
  
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  February 14, 2022 9:02am
- I remember when
  
  Is this the reason why politics have become so tribal in many countries.
  The left’s constant portrayal of anyone who opposes their manifesto as right or hard right wing.
  It is the constant drip of the leaking tap.
  As social media has taken over the drip has become a flood.
  It prevents discussion. or at least limits it, and narrows the ‘acceptable.’
  The Labour government under Jacinda has become a PR department.
  Nothing escapes the PR spin.
  Wikipedia: Public relations is the practice of managing and disseminating information in order to affect their public perception.
  
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  February 14, 2022 9:34am
- kowtow
  
  Had a look at that . There’s another article on stiffed saying the prime Mangler says the protest has an imported look toit.
  Very odd as the other lazy political cartoon today is the Ferald , against the protest showing a portaloo and the door says ” US far right ideology”
  
  A very definite pattern , it’s as if the media and the pm are all singing off the same song sheet .How very odd.
  
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  February 14, 2022 9:56am
  - bronny1
    
    how can it be imported? Those people would never have made it through MIQ, except perhaps whoever is running the music.
    
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    February 14, 2022 10:51am
  - ClanMcleod
    
    That’s exactly how it works. Coordinated attack messages. It was the same with “build back better” and “just 3 weeks to flatten the curve”. It’s all PR tactics to sell a narrative.
    The mistake they are making is doing it over and over again. It can work as a one off in an advertising campaign, but people are seeing through it and identifying it much more quickly. When enough people see through the sham it’s game over and that point is approaching rapidly.
    
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    February 14, 2022 10:53am
Simon

David Seymour said obsolete gubermint departments should be closed down. Luxon wants to import low wage third world into NZ. Close down gubermint departments and the labour can shift into the low wage economy cancelling the need of importing the third word.

Over staffed useless gubermint departments have surplus labour that minimum wage employers need.
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February 14, 2022 8:15am
- Flossie
  
  What’s with the childish “gubermint”?
  
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  February 14, 2022 9:39am
  - Tony Stuart
    
    You answered your own question Flossie…
    
    19 0
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    February 14, 2022 9:55am
  - kowtow
    
    I prefer “gurnermunt”
    
    A bunch of munters led by a gurner .
    
    12 1
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    February 14, 2022 9:58am
- Steve Otto(North Shore)
  
  You missed the 4 letter word, ‘work’
  Labour will not shift into low wage economy – they will go on the Dole. They have been teaching this for decades
  
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  February 14, 2022 3:29pm
Justitia

Has there ever been a sadder display of spiteful, immature, adolescent behaviour by any government than that which we have witnessed over the past few days? These clowns are clearly unfit to govern; they are doing much damage to the fabric of this country from which it will take years to recover.
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February 14, 2022 8:17am
curry4me

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=osEGbZMJdZ4

The Story That No One Knows. [6:19. New Zealand’s finest at their best /sarc]
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February 14, 2022 8:18am
- rjay
  
  Incredible that NZ police would so that to a kid.
  
  14 0
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  February 14, 2022 11:18am
  - curry4me
    
    I agree. And he’s not holding a grudge. I guess there will be a complaint though.
    
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    February 14, 2022 4:47pm
curry4me

https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2022/02/12/nevada-county-renames-justice-complex-in-honor-of-donald-trump/

Nevada County renames Justice Complex in Honour of Donald Trump.

The Lyon County Justice Complex in western Nevada was recently renamed in honor of former President Donald J. Trump.
Some 50 spectators attended a formal ceremony dedicating the Donald J. Trump Justice Complex in Yerington on February 5, according to the Associated Press. A plaque funded by private donations was to be unveiled during the ceremony, KOLO reports. [Next project, the WH.]
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February 14, 2022 8:19am
- Batman
  
  C. U. L. T.
  
  1 28
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  February 14, 2022 10:39am
  - ClanMcleod
    
    Great description of the Jancindanistas and Branch Covidians. Cheers.
    
    22 1
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    February 14, 2022 10:54am
    - Steve Otto(North Shore)
      
      G.A.N.G also fits
      
      9 1
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      February 14, 2022 3:34pm
  - Frank the tank
    
    Oh Bats. Dear oh Dear.
    
    At least you have the midterms to look forward to this year.
    
    19 1
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    February 14, 2022 11:03am
  - Sean OConnor
    
    Wait until you read about the Obama Library, pal.
    
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    February 14, 2022 10:38pm
cjn

The mandates have made me into what I always feared: the wealthiest man in the graveyard. No club, no sub, no church, no tithe, no concerts, films or ballet, no cafes, no restaurants and no donation to National and ACT. So it was with great pleasure that I sent a donation to those sitting on my behalf outside the House of Representatives. Representatives!! There are at least 120 people who have forgotten the meaning of the word.
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February 14, 2022 8:21am
- curry4me
  
  I sent donations too.
  
  14 1
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  February 14, 2022 10:34am
I remember when

Fox and Ko both go wire to wire in two weeks.
Something that we are unlikely to see again in our lifetimes.
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February 14, 2022 8:24am
- Tony Stuart
  
  I stayed with Ryan Fox until the tenth hole, where he sunk a clutch par putt to retain what was at that stage a three-shot lead. Had I not had an early start this morning, I would have watched until the bitter end.
  
  It’s hard not to like Ryan Fox. He’s the quintessential Kiwi battler, carries a few extra pounds, and hits the golf ball further than many people go on holiday. But he’s had a tough time of it in the last two years, with the ability to come back to New Zealand severely restricted. Last night’s win not only gives his bank balance a nice boost, but gives him a two-year exemption on the DT Tour, so his playing future is secure for a while, and he can play with a degree of freedom. And that’s when we will see the best of him.
  
  Well done Foxy!
  
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  February 14, 2022 9:38am
  - alex Masterley
    
    A very good result for Ryan.
    I decided that my watching him was bad luck when he missed the short put on the 4th so went to bed confident in the knowledge that he would prevail, and he did.
    I didnt realise the win gave him a two year exemption (I thought it was one) so not having to worry about qualification will make life easier.
    I suspect from the comment he made in the post round interview he may sleep through MIQ as ge recovers from the celebrations…
    
    13 0
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    February 14, 2022 9:43am
Zero Kindness

Dear Jacinda,
Happy valentines day, I would send you flowers but I have no income.
Take you out for dinner, but I’m not allowed in a Restaurant.
Coffee, um, not allowed in a cafe.
A chardonnay at the local, oops, not allowed.
Oh well, guess I’m the lucky one today!
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February 14, 2022 8:30am
- Biscuit
  
  Zero, I doubt she’ll get many roses from her ‘cancelled’ hubby-to-be, either…
  
  38 1
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  February 14, 2022 9:42am
  - cmm
    
    Speaking of He Who May Not Be Spoken Of, he seems to have been airbrushed out of the news like what happened to Stalin’s ex-mates.
    
    34 1
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    February 14, 2022 10:46am
    - Steve Otto(North Shore)
      
      Worst kept secret in NZ
      
      12 1
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      February 14, 2022 3:43pm
  - G the giant from Dunedin
    
    Funny you should mention that, he was scheduled to do a house removal got the show in Dunedin on Friday, my mate was sent to do something with the power, he asked where is Gayford, they see he is a no show, snd neither is the camera crew, he also said that no one had got in touch to say it was canceled, they waited 4 hours snd said that’s it we are out of here, I we infer what’s going on there ?
    
    26 0
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    February 14, 2022 11:11am
- Yabster
  
  Roses are Red
  Violets are Blue
  The governents a mess and
  JaXInda’s neck deep in poo
  
  21 0
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  February 14, 2022 10:33am
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    Watch FB fact checkers pounce on this and say ‘missing context’ LOL
    
    8 2
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    February 14, 2022 3:47pm
Warren

Covid -19 All New Zealander’s likely to encounter virus in coming weeks, expert says.
So how are all the lovies out their that have put their faith in Jacinda Ardern our Prime Minister to save them going to handle this especially when they put their vote of confidence in the self appointed savior to stop the virus infecting most of the team of 5 Million.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/461432/covid-19-all-new-zealanders-likely-to-encounter-virus-in-coming-weeks-expert
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February 14, 2022 8:34am
- Steve Otto(North Shore)
  
  The team of 5 million is no more. The mind control is gone – many have ‘unsubscribed’
  The new Covid variant is ‘Deltacron?’
  
  12 1
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  February 14, 2022 3:51pm
emmess

The brother of a victim of the terrible police brutality on Thursday tells his story
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=osEGbZMJdZ4

Take particular note of what he says at 1:50 about a social worker from Oranga Tamariki being brought in to threaten him
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February 14, 2022 8:34am
- Maggy Wassilieff
  
  This is nasty stuff
  
  Why was this 17 year-old lad dragged out of the protest crowd?…. An easy target for the cops?
  Has any MSM reporter followed up on this issue?
  
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  February 14, 2022 10:07am
  - emmess
    
    Has any MSM reporter followed up on this issue?
    
    Is the Pope marxist?
    
    14 0
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    February 14, 2022 11:37am
    - emmess
      
      Oops that would be a yes
      I meant not marxist
      
      12 0
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      February 14, 2022 1:29pm
      - NeverMindTheBollocks
        
        Ho ho
        
        2 0
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        February 14, 2022 8:38pm
- Steve Otto(North Shore)
  
  These cops are fantastic and they are good at their job. Get them in the SAS and get them to Afghanistan or Ukraine, or somewhere
  
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  February 14, 2022 3:54pm
greybeard

There has been a lot of criticism of Luxon and Seymour for not engaging with the Beehive protestors.
I agree with Luxon and Seymour: the protestors are asking questions of the Government, not of the Opposition.
It is Labour and the Greens who have caused all the problems, it is they who have to account for their actions.
For Luxon and Seymour to intervene before the protest has come to its conclusion would be to deflect the attention from the Government.
Anyway, that is how I see it.
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February 14, 2022 8:37am
- kevn
  
  @grey…. Newsroom has Luxon talking of a plan.
  
  20 1
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  February 14, 2022 8:44am
  - Simon
    
    Luxon has a plan. Well Labo’s sprinklers cant work against what is already dripping wet.
    
    15 6
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    February 14, 2022 8:59am
- westernScientest
  
  I think its more denouncing of the protesters as ‘extremists’, ‘fringe minority’ etc. rather than the not talking to them. Nats and ACT could be urging labour to go out and talk to them, saying its not their place to do so as they have no power. Plus, it would be really funny to watch chippy down there
  
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  February 14, 2022 8:48am
- cmm
  
  I disagree.
  
  The opposition are there for asking questions of the government. Agreed? Or are they just there to pick up a pay cheque?
  
  If there are questions out there, then it is their job to find out what they are and make sure that they are both asked and answered.
  
  If the opposition was asking the right questions then the people could all be home in their warm houses.
  
  That people have had to come from across the country to stand in the rain to try to get their questions asked means that the opposition is not asking those questions.
  
  That people are having to resort to this is more a failing of the opposition than the government.
  
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  February 14, 2022 8:48am
  - Gravelroad
    
    @cmm
    Well said.
    We are in danger of heading to a one party government.
    Is that what we want?
    
    32 5
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    February 14, 2022 8:53am
    - chukar
      
      GR,
      Too late We are now there.
      One party bureaucracy ls here.
      And MMP ensures the same same politicians will be running the country in 2023 albeit perhaps in different positions.
      
      19 4
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      February 14, 2022 9:05am
    - kowtow
      
      Isn’t that what the Great Reset is all about .
      
      15 2
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      February 14, 2022 10:01am
    - ClanMcleod
      
      We’re back to the 60s aren’t we. When the way to “succeed” in life was to get a government “job for life” pushing paper round the place and never actually achieving anything. Now it’s politics, or one of the associated positions supporting them in Wellington. Mostly non productive, shiny arsed chair polishing, lap top warriors. More than happy with the situation and they drink their latte in the burbs on full pay and watching Netflix.
      
      20 2
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      February 14, 2022 11:00am
  - curry4me
    
    I remember Helen Clark saying the oppositions job was to “oppose, propose, and depose”. I agree with her. National, and ACT seem to have forgotten.
    
    20 3
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    February 14, 2022 10:37am
- bronny1
  
  I disagree.
  These people – who represent me – want to be heard by any politician. Anyone who will step up and say, we agree this is not right, the mandates need to go.
  Instead we are told that nobody represents us, or to paraphrase Seymour “we represent a few hundred votes that nobody wants.”
  
  So no, it’s not jacinda they want to speak to specifically. They want to be heard and represented, whoever that be by.
  
  The opposition need to be an opposition, and they are simply not.
  
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  February 14, 2022 9:03am
- Yvette
  
  Greybeard – There has been a lot of criticism of Luxon and Seymour for not engaging with the Beehive protestors.
  
  Engagement – “proactive initiative” advance beyond Ardern as that would be
  Who would they engage with?
  Police arrested Brett Power and two others back on Wednesday afternoon.
  Who else will identify themselves as “protest leaders”
  One reason for the “standoff”? Checkmate
  Or mindless mob milling about in Mallard’s mud
  
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  February 14, 2022 9:05am
  - G the giant from Dunedin
    
    Well, the only places I have seen criticism of Luxon is on Slaters Shithole, a few who gets on here, who are probably infiltrating from Slaters shithole, and personal organised attacks on MPs FB pages, I can confer over the last few days, in my local, at my work, in cafes, I have not seen or heard one person blame the Nats, I have heard people say Ardern is done, I have heard that bloody Peters better not get support, I think it’s an organised load of bulkshit , the same monkeys that tried to nobble Bridges, snd posted lies and were organised on his FB page in the past
    
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    February 14, 2022 11:23am
- Nickc2
  
  If Luxon and Seymour had announced that from the beginning, it would have merit. However, they didn’t and the rest is what will be recorded as history.
  Not a good Look
  
  24 1
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  February 14, 2022 9:13am
  - G the giant from Dunedin
    
    Hod f dad is they know what was going to eventuate, Cindy snd her cabinet have forced these lock downs snd mandates on us, Luxon was not even in parliament when the lock downs weee forced soon us, they have made a move today, which is encouraging, what does Cindy do? That’s right , doubles down and refuses to answer the phone
    
    12 3
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    February 14, 2022 11:25am
- Steve Otto(North Shore)
  
  Yup, it is not the Opposition’s responsibility to intervene. Labour have no balls – and they Govern NZ.
  Come on Mr Sprinkler, address the taxpayers on your ‘front lawn’
  Or play them some music or vids Trev. Rerun of ‘What now’ would be fitting
  
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  February 14, 2022 3:59pm
RRM

Mallard turned the sprinklers on the protestors.

The new rules of engagement with Labour Party door knockers at your house are now clear.

Turn your hose on them.
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February 14, 2022 8:37am
- Gravelroad
  
  We wouldn’t turn a hose on our working farm dogs.
  It just wouldn’t work as a training or disciplinary tool.
  Added to which it is unnecessarily cruel.
  Ok for a politician to try it out on constituents though – with no consequences.
  
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  February 14, 2022 9:41am
- Maggy Wassilieff
  
  Were children and elderly folk present when the sprinklers were turned on?
  
  29 1
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  February 14, 2022 9:48am
  - oldfella
    
    Maggy, that’s a VERY good question. An MSM investigation will follow in 3, 2, …
    
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    February 14, 2022 12:28pm
    - Steve Otto(North Shore)
      
      The Leftist MSM investigation will delete all video showing children. Kids are there, I have seen photos from my brother who lives in ‘windy city’
      
      9 1
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      February 14, 2022 4:05pm
- kowtow
  
  When he loses his current job he can always be the new front man for that cleaning stuff :
  
  Ah ha , I spray and walk away …….
  
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  February 14, 2022 10:04am
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    Who writes your material?
    Good though!
    
    8 1
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    February 14, 2022 4:06pm
cmm

It astounds me that in 2022, the NZ banking system is still so primitive that transfering money to an account in a different bank:
A) Can only happen in bankers’ office hours (9am..4pm)
B) Doesn’t happen on week ends.

Haven’t they heard of computers that can send transactions around the world in less than a second?

This was something that annoyed me about NZ banks when I moved here 29.5 years ago, and you’d think they’d have fixed it in the last 30 years.

Perhaps a bit less spending on their woke ads/web pages and a bit more on their core banking infrastructure?
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February 14, 2022 8:41am
- Pavel
  
  My brother is in I.T and has done a few stints for banks. Remember when the money wouldn’t transfer until the next day? They have always been able to pay instantly (think of property settlements) but instead the money goes into an account that off sets their interest payments while it’s there. While it may only be a few cents overall, when you add up all the payments in purgatory, it saves them millions.
  
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  February 14, 2022 9:06am
  - PeeJay
    
    I know a few people that work in finance and they tell me similar stories. I remember one of the big construction companies were famous (allegedly!) for holding onto subcontractor payments and putting the money into some fund earning minor interest. Amounts gained on the dollar were minimal but when you consider the amount of dollars, they sure added up!
    
    Seem to recall hearing that NZ banks and institutions are an ‘overnight parking spot’ for European and US money for similar reasons – reasonably stable banking system and a little bit of interest overnight (their time) and make good coin for low risk.
    
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    February 14, 2022 10:14am
- peterwn
  
  It is better than in the 1970’s. The banks couriered cheques and other documents to various data centres each evening and received back printouts of transactions and balances each morning. Then reels of mag tape were couriered between the data centres to handle inter regional transactions. NZ’s telecommunications infrastructure and computer technology was not up to handling bank transaction data.
  
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  February 14, 2022 9:15am
  - rangitoto
    
    The MICR encoding along the bottom of cheques was considered to be an amazing new tech in those days LOL. Imagine a big ol’ computer being able to read cheques and copy the data onto a spool of magnetic tape.
    
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    February 14, 2022 10:15am
- Steve Otto(North Shore)
  
  I can send instant money to Alaska for birthday gifts (freight is ridiculous), sent almost immediate online.
  Internet Banking in NZ is ridiculous.
  eg: Internet banking payment to Watercare in Auckland. Takes 2 days to clear. WTF? Must have to be internal email from the idiots to the other idiots, to the other idiots who collect a payment for being there. Employees are paid on payday, not 2 days after payday.
  That is WATERCARE AUCKLAND.
  End of rant
  
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  February 14, 2022 4:17pm
Maggie Pie

RANDOM IMPERTINENT QUESTIONS

Why would TVOne get the Weatherman (of all people) to interview the PM?

And why is Matty McClean sprouting a 5 o’clock shadow? My partner always reckoned ……. oh never mind
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February 14, 2022 8:44am
- Batman
  
  Breakfast TV is not serious news, as much as it pretends to be.
  
  Once you take it as light entertainment for getting ready in the morning, you’ll be far less annoyed by it (if annoyance is your current feeling).
  
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  February 14, 2022 10:43am
  - cmm
    
    Let’s face it. There is no “serious news” at any time.
    
    22 1
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    February 14, 2022 10:49am
  - Frank the tank
    
    Or not watch it at all. Jean Claude Van Damme movies have more intellectual clout.
    
    16 1
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    February 14, 2022 10:50am
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    Uptick Batman! It is comedy.
    The 5 o’clock shadow is for ego – just for fun. Makes him more mature
    
    6 1
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    February 14, 2022 4:21pm
- G the giant from Dunedin
  
  Is M,clean not the new head of that show mom , or did he not get promoted?
  
  8 1
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  February 14, 2022 11:27am
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    Johnboy is the head knowall.
    I only see it from 6.30 to 7am. The speaker of the house insists and hides the remote
    
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    February 14, 2022 4:25pm
Cinematic

Is today the day when either National or Act will stop being bag carriers for Labour and the Greens?
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February 14, 2022 8:44am
- curry4me
  
  I doubt it. No more ACT for me regardless.
  
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  February 14, 2022 10:41am
- G the giant from Dunedin
  
  Nats already have started coming up with ideas
  
  10 3
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  February 14, 2022 11:27am
  - Matt Long
    
    Already, as in the had no ideas before.
    
    9 1
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    February 14, 2022 2:25pm
    - G the giant from Dunedin
      
      Tell me FFS, what other party has given any plan or idea? Peters waffling bullshit, but did not even go to Wellington, Labour dealing out torture on their own people like a fascist regime, they are not in government, and the protest is compromised by other agendas, don’t say they are not because they are, tamiki types did not leave and travel with the party , but they are there now
      
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      February 14, 2022 8:30pm
      - Sean OConnor
        
        Who cares if there are some fringe elements? The core complaint is entirely sound – mandates should have an end date. End of story, unless there’s serious violence. National ought to understand this; they’re both cowardly and out of touch.
        
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        February 14, 2022 10:40pm
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    Show us – just one.
    The idea would be National and Labour becoming one party – the we got real socialism
    
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    February 14, 2022 4:27pm
G152

In this day and age we can go on the Net and search for anything we desire.
This sits badly with the lying media and their masters in Parliament who decree anything they say is to be the truth.
The mallard attempts to shut the peoples voices down with a form of music, attempts to use garden sprinklers to drive his conscience away.
The man, the politicians , the parliament are failures
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February 14, 2022 8:44am
Maggy Wassilieff

Our Dear PM is off to Harvard in May

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/127756386/ardern-set-to-give-harvards-coveted-graduation-speech-in-may
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February 14, 2022 8:45am
- alex Masterley
  
  It would be nice if once she got there she stayed there.
  
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  February 14, 2022 8:50am
  - Don Beckett
    
    It would be good if she found the other half of her brain there.
    
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    February 14, 2022 10:56am
  - Fuzzysnuggleduck
    
    While it would be nice to think that she could be shut out, if there was a new COv-19 variation for the media to peddle/new wave of panic and measures, she of course will be given an MIQ spot, or ala-James Shaw, allowed to isolate at home.
    
    The next variant due for assignment would be ‘Pi’.
    “The Deadly Pi.”
    I like it.
    Like the rhyme, inspired by re-warmed corner dairy pies.
    “Never buy
    A chicken pie”.
    
    Also interesting to note there should have been a ‘Xi’ variant too, which precedes ‘Omicron’, but they kind of dropped that one from the Greek alphabet this time.
    Hmm.
    Heh, the Xi variant of Kung flu.
    
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    February 14, 2022 12:01pm
    - Don Beckett
      
      You forgot to include “the Maggie Pie” 😉
      
      7 1
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      February 14, 2022 2:00pm
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    She needs that ‘Title’ Professor of Comms, Dr Jaspinda Ardern.
    Oh wait, Harvard is part if the stepping stone to UN?
    
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    February 14, 2022 4:30pm
- Cinematic
  
  She may find she’s uninvited before then.
  
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  February 14, 2022 8:51am
  - Maggy Wassilieff
    
    You think she might be forced to cancel her overseas trip?
    
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    February 14, 2022 1:28pm
    - Steve Otto(North Shore)
      
      Baaa!
      
      6 0
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      February 14, 2022 4:30pm
- krazykiwi
  
  How nauseating. Bright minds to be lashed with woke, platitudinous piffle.
  
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  February 14, 2022 8:54am
  - pdm
    
    A chance to use the `comrades’ speech again.
    
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    February 14, 2022 9:31am
  - cmm
    
    You need to completely submit to wokeness to survive a year or three at Harvard.
    
    I wonder whether she’ll be able to get an MIQ slot? Silly me – the rules will change just in time!
    
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    February 14, 2022 10:52am
    - Don Beckett
      
      Yes, just like the TV pre-run for Waitangi Day – notice how Northland went from red to orange, thry had their little televised ceremony,( caught Covid ? ) then everyone went back into red.
      
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      February 14, 2022 10:59am
      - Steve Otto(North Shore)
        
        Must be colourblind
        
        7 1
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        February 14, 2022 4:32pm
  - John Pakes
    
    So New Zealand gains some worthwhile international attention, and all Krazy can do is hurl abuse from deep down in its anonymous rabbit hole.
    
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    February 14, 2022 2:42pm
    - In Vino Veritas
      
      John, it remains to be seen whether the attention will be worthwhile. Given that the Governments of some countries, and many news outlets around the world are laughing at Ardern and her Government, I wouldn’t be so sure it will be.
      As a footnote, still having contacts at Harvard, there are a good few that believe Ardern is a light-weight selection for the graduation speech. But hey-ho, best of luck to her. I’m sure first man Gayford will be with her, Harvard is a very interesting place.
      
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      February 14, 2022 5:01pm
      - mawm
        
        Uptick for the International news sites laughing at her. It has become an embarrassment what is being said about her and by default NZ.
        
        6 0
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        February 14, 2022 8:08pm
    - ClanMcleod
      
      What worthwhile international attention? We’re a laughing stock around the planet!
      
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      February 14, 2022 8:18pm
    - Sean OConnor
      
      Politicians on junkets getting honorary degrees doesn’t raise their home countries’ national profiles in any way, that’s ludicrous.
      
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      February 14, 2022 10:42pm
- Debsta
  
  Oh ffs…just threw up my weetbix!
  
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  February 14, 2022 8:55am
  - cmm
    
    So what? It’s weetbix. Can’t tell the difference.
    
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    February 14, 2022 10:53am
- cmm
  
  Honourary doctorate I wonder?
  
  Dr Jacinda Ardern.
  
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  February 14, 2022 9:02am
  - oldfella
    
    cmm, perhaps her doctorate could be awarded by ‘Dr’ Jill Biden. A couple of fraudulent lefty bookends.
    
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    February 14, 2022 12:32pm
- Inandout
  
  Maggy, I think May will be too late for her to see Biden.
  
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  February 14, 2022 9:13am
- Ruahine
  
  Ooh. I do hope a spot in MIQ “magically” opens up for her when she wants to return to New Zealand.
  
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  February 14, 2022 9:13am
  - oldfella
    
    She’ll get a guaranteed spot in MIQ by putting DJ on the form, instead of PM.
    
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    February 14, 2022 12:33pm
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    System of MIQ works, and she is the rulemaker at number one to travel anywhere she wishes.
    Now, flightradar24 is not showing where NZ planes are traveling to and from.
    Who instructed this transponder turn off?
    
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    February 14, 2022 4:38pm
- fightingtemeraire
  
  She can then say that “She went to Harvard”
  
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  February 14, 2022 10:34am
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    I think silent ‘T’ went there
    
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    February 14, 2022 4:39pm
- coge
  
  Wow. International departures!! The perfect solution!
  
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  February 14, 2022 11:02am
- G the giant from Dunedin
  
  Anything but do her bloody job
  
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  February 14, 2022 11:28am
- cjn
  
  Maggy, I hope this is not one of Shane Reti’s great ideas.
  
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  February 15, 2022 8:19am
I remember when

Social cohesion: DPF:
“I regard those who are anti vax as basically deluded.”
A view shared by many, often using the 96+% vaccinated as evidence.
If 96+% believe in the vaccination why is there any need for the vaccination passports.
Israel started vaccination campaign on 19 December 2020: Wikipedia:
Israel’s booster vaccination – offering third doses to over 40s beginning to show signs of success: BBC 3 September 2021:
The health ministry began offering fourth vaccine to Israelis 60 and over, the immunocompromised and medical workers last month: The Times of Israel 17 January 2022:
So how many pro vax expected vaccination and two boosters within one year.
If success is infection, hospitalisation and potential death (given at a greatly reduced rate) after vaccination and two boosters, can the anti vax be called totally deluded.
It is very easy to be right when you only have discussions with like-minded people.
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February 14, 2022 8:50am
- UrbanNeocolonialist
  
  Amazingly people tend to do whatever you tell them when you put a gun to their heads and threaten their financial survival.
  
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  February 14, 2022 9:35am
JJ56

Useful push back on the current love affair with rail from Transporting NZ today https://www.transporting.nz/our-news/nicks-blog/detail/report-questions-investment-in-rail-over-roads.

The future will be greater flexibility.
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February 14, 2022 8:51am
- virtualmark
  
  News at 10: Trucking lobby says trucks are better than trains. Dog bites man. Water is wet.
  
  11 6
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  February 14, 2022 9:46am
  - cmm
    
    NZ is a crap place for trains due to earthquakes.
    
    Look what happened at Kaikoura. One wee shake and the whole rail line was out of operation for over 6 months. That is not a transport system. The same could easily happen in North Island too.
    
    Trucks (and buses for human transport) can easily be routed around these problems.
    
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    February 14, 2022 10:59am
    - Benedict Yu
      
      New Zealand is a crap place for trains but it has nothing to do with earthquakes. See Japan.
      
      18 0
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      February 14, 2022 11:27am
      - cmm
        
        BY: You are correct.
        Terrain also matters, as does population density. These all come together the determine how easy it is to engineer resilient tracks and how much can be spent on them.
        
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        February 14, 2022 11:32am
nathie

Had a look around last night and found people had posted some very interesting photos on their social media feeds from the protest at Parliament over the weekend.

For example this person posted a photo of what appears to be guys “from the farm” that brought hay bails along to help protesters deal with the soaked lawns.
https://twitter.com/tibouchina47/status/1492606456536858624
Look at the smiles on their faces and the crowd applauding their good deeds!
Pity the MSM wasn’t on hand to interview them as it would have made a fascinating story – like apart from “who are they” and “where are you from etc”, what was their motivation?

I can only assume their motivation was something like this:
“Strewth, check this out guys, that Speaker Mallard is flooding out the protesters with sprinklers – what a flaming a(beep)hole! C’mon lads lets load up the Utes with hail bails and hit the road at 5am, we should reach Welly town by 8am and drop these off for those poor, soaked good-buggas”????!!!!

Then check out this photo – does nothing show better the “Kiwi battler spirit” than this? Even in the face of a Mad Duck playing with his ~~hose~~ sprinklers, heavy rain and a cyclone, these guys continue to “fight” for NZ values and way of life!
https://twitter.com/NbrewerNeil/status/1492627169683521538/photo/1

Finally, noticed Sean Plunket was reporting from the protest! Oh how he is sorely needed and missed on MagicTalk – imagine his shows if he was still on air – the Duck would be blasted and Labour shamed by a journalist who is not afraid to “tell it like it is”! Hopefully Sean’s “The Platform” will be an excellent “replacement”!
https://twitter.com/theplatform_nz
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February 14, 2022 8:59am
- Matt Long
  
  I’m not sending support to the protesters because Mallard is a Munter, that’s old news.
  It’s fair to say their resilience has helped their case, but primarily because they are standing for freedom against the creeping fascism that started with Klark, accelerated under the Key government and has gone off the charts with the Klowns now in place.
  
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  February 14, 2022 2:34pm
Maggie Pie

You’ll find these stats interesting….

Jacinda has more than 789.3K Twitter followers.

Yet she hasn’t tweeted anything for more than 6 months!!

What’s going on?
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February 14, 2022 9:00am
- dubya
  
  Forgot her password.
  
  42 0
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  February 14, 2022 9:05am
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    Password is “LABOURME”
    All uppercase – simple
    
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    February 14, 2022 4:51pm
- westernScientest
  
  you can just buy them, https://www.reviewsxp.com/blog/buy-twitter-followers/
  quite a big industry, if your playing with someone elses money.
  
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  February 14, 2022 9:08am
- Inandout
  
  Maggie, Dorsey works in mysterious ways.
  
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  February 14, 2022 9:14am
- Random T Person
  
  World class communication is going on, do keep up Ms Pie!
  
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  February 14, 2022 9:19am
- krazykiwi
  
  Any tweet is an invitation to engage. The engagement would see a tsunami of vitriol which could problematic for a couple of reasons:
  1. Her weapons-grade narcissism wouldn’t cope.
  2. Her minders would be tied up blocking followers.
  
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  February 14, 2022 9:24am
- pdm
  
  `Yet she hasn’t tweeted anything for more than 6 months!!’
  
  Is it that long since Jethro vanished?
  
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  February 14, 2022 9:35am
  - Captain Mainwaring
    
    Careful pdm. I got disappeared yesterday for mentioning that.
    
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    February 14, 2022 9:41am
    - Inandout
      
      CM, the internet is awash with blogs and like BFD this site doesn’t want law suits, but others don’t seem to care. Anyway rumours tend to get out of hand but we shall eventually learn the truth.
      
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      February 14, 2022 10:50am
- Suze Wainwright
  
  I think she only tweets messages of thanks to overseas celebrities for their support…
  
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  February 14, 2022 9:38am
- tf78
  
  Maggie, Busy Bots.
  
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  February 14, 2022 10:41am
- Paulus
  
  All Tweets on her page are done by her employees and the Labour Party HQ flunkies.
  Full time jobs.
  
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  February 14, 2022 10:51am
- Frank the tank
  
  Probably fearing a response such as this
  
  https://www.foxnews.com/politics/boston-mayor-michelle-wu-instagram-live-vaccine-mandate-covid-restrictions
  
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  February 14, 2022 11:12am
- G the giant from Dunedin
  
  Organised foreign bots
  
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  February 14, 2022 11:29am
- Steve Otto(North Shore)
  
  Ah that is the old account, she has a new one with different followers. You know, (the team if 5 million) followers.
  Wonder if Gayford follows, or he is not allowed at the present – indisposed?
  
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  February 14, 2022 4:49pm
I remember when

A lot of talk about the need for diversity by the media.
When I look at the TV I wonder where is this demonstration of said diversity.
Shut your eyes and a procession of female pundits, of a similar age and middle class pass before you.
Whoops, do I see the slightest tinge of brown.
Are the only people expert in politics at present thirty/fortyish and female.
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February 14, 2022 9:04am
- Random T Person
  
  You want to see diversity? Go take a look at Parliament’s lawn. All of a sudden they don’t like that diversity so much after all.
  
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  February 14, 2022 11:00am
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    Diverts the water downhill – a gravity thing.
    Not the Parliament’s lawn, the Net Taxpayer’s lawn
    
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    February 14, 2022 4:56pm
waituna

Current Parliament Protest

This is written by Bryce, and is a feeling the rest of us in Groundswell NZ share.

Groundswell NZs main focus continues to be on the unworkable regulations impacting the rural sector. Like increasing numbers of New Zealanders, farmers have felt badly maligned by this current government and its policies. Like the protestors in Wellington we also have been ignored by the Government and called denigrating names. We can empathize with their frustration.

Whether you agree or not with the people protesting on parliament grounds is not the debate anymore. What this government, that proclaimed it would govern for all New Zealanders, has done is turn its back on a good number of its people.

How hard can it be to at least front up and talk to the people assembled on parliament grounds?

The final straw for me and what prompted me to go public, is the way government is treating these people – turning the sprinklers on them knowing there was a storm coming, and playing loud music at night so as to not let them sleep and make them feel miserable, no farmer would treat animals like that!

Although this protest has a different focus to Groundswell NZ, we support their right to be heard and cannot understand or agree with the Governments actions. What is becoming of our once united and proud country?

Kind regards, Bryce & Laurie Groundswell NZ
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February 14, 2022 9:05am
- Suze Wainwright
  
  Unfortunately these correspondents don’t understand. The protesters at Parlt are just NZ’s flotsam & jetsam and a bunch of anti-vax nutcases. They don’t seriously represent anyone in aotearoa – in fact most of them have probably just been brought in by the National/ACT parties to be a trouble-making rent a crowd. I know this to be true because Jacinda has implied it.
  
  Please leave her and Grant alone to get on with the real task of showing fellowship with aotearoa’s true disengaged and hard to reach (many of them still haven’t been vaccinated and Jacinda finds it tiresome)
  
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  February 14, 2022 10:10am
- kowtow
  
  This govt has made a virtue of villification.
  
  Think back to gun owners .
  
  And they have willing accomplices in academia and the media to promote same .
  
  It’s a bit tired but the Niemoller prayer is pertinent.
  
  First they came for ……and I stayed silent .
  
  That’s a long list of classes of people this regime and its enablers came for.
  
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  February 14, 2022 10:12am
  - Maggy Wassilieff
    
    And what people may not know about Niemöller is that he was a true believer in Hitler for years.
    
    https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/martin-niemoeller-biography
    
    Some folks are very slow learners and readily make excuses for foul behaviour that is apparent to others.
    
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    February 14, 2022 11:23am
    - curry4me
      
      I didn’t know that.
      
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      February 14, 2022 4:58pm
- westernScientest
  
  Is groundswell still planning another protest this month?
  
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  February 14, 2022 10:20am
  - ClanMcleod
    
    A protest to parliament would be a great idea I believe.
    
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    February 14, 2022 8:42pm
thetiedarch

Can someone explain please why the anti-mandate protest is being labelled as ‘unlawful’ by the PM, police and media?

As I understand, it’s public land they’re on.
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February 14, 2022 9:05am
- kowtow
  
  Only one media outlet , as far as I can see , has pointed out that Mallard’s arrest and acquital for protest there in 1977 forms at least some of the case law that gives protesters a right to be on that lawn.
  
  There does appear to be some right in law to be there .
  
  But I’m no lawyer .
  
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  February 14, 2022 10:14am
- G the giant from Dunedin
  
  The only thing illegal is building structures snd the tents, never have the moved protesters for this reason but have always said it was illegal
  
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  February 14, 2022 11:31am
- John Pakes
  
  As I understand, they can stand there, it is their tents and bits and pieces that are unlawful
  
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  February 14, 2022 2:53pm
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    Diverts the water downhill – a gravity thing.
    Not the Parliament’s lawn, the Net Taxpayer’s lawn
    
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    February 14, 2022 4:58pm
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    Pakes. a tent is just like an umbrella – keeps the rain off.
    Not very thoughtful are you?
    Umbrella is a shelter, a tent is shelter, so is a bivouac.
    Not been out much in NZ huh?
    
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    February 14, 2022 5:02pm
Rusty

TV One news had an item on a group who research misinformation which was a response to the protests in Wellington.

10 dollar bet they are a woke/left wing group who are pro-labour/ pro-mandates.

Doesn’t these researches into misinformation depend on what their own position is?

e.g We (research group) think vaccines should be mandatory and anyone who disagrees is spreading misinformation.

Did this group research our PM’s claim on 80,000 Kiwis dying of covid in 2020 or Hendys claim of 5000 dying of delta last year — isn’t that misinformation?
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February 14, 2022 9:13am
Surely Knott

The tide is changing. When this first started fashion and celebrities couldn’t wait to put pictures of themselves receiving the vaccination, wearing masks, and putting strict rules on your shop showed you care.
.
Yesterday, top designer Australian fashion brand launched its new collection. It’s called Liberte’ and the tag line on the website. “A moment to breathe, to live to start again.”

The anti-mandate movement is now in fashion. It is not just publicly acceptable – companies are willing to put their brand on it. A true sign that change has happened. Liberte and Democracy is being valued and celebrated again. We’ve had enough.

https://nz.camillaandmarc.com/
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February 14, 2022 9:14am
Ruahine

Herald reports that Ardern says that the Freedom Campers are ‘Imports’.
Where the hell does she think they are ‘imported from. They are Kiwis.
But I can see the new Media narrative for the week.

These disgusting people who do not do as they are told have come here to mess up our wonderful City.
How Dare They.
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February 14, 2022 9:16am
- kowtow
  
  Someone should have the balls to ask her exactly where international socialism lies in terms of imported ideologies, Comrade.
  
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  February 14, 2022 10:16am
- Random T Person
  
  How’d they get imported through a closed border?
  
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  February 14, 2022 11:02am
- MCōs
  
  What she said on RNZ morning report was
  “But what I’m seeing, it is some kind of imported form of protest.“
  It’s a copy of the truck protest in Canada even down to people waving Canadian flags.
  
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  February 14, 2022 11:07am
  - Fuzzysnuggleduck
    
    Even if an idea was adopted, or copied, this is being willfully blind that the protest are about NZ domestically, and by NZers.
    
    I am glad to see people getting proactive, since kiwis are generally too laid back around what the government is doing. If the only ‘import’ is to adopt the tactics of placards, and taking to the street, then good.
    
    But shame on you to think ‘import’ (as a dismissive) is at all appropriate as a comment of response from our PM.
    The people are not a far right-wing, or white supremacist collective either.
    Tell it to the great numbers of Maori I see there.
    The mix of ages, genders and races is really pleasing to see.
    Many more United Tribes flags or NZ flags (upside down or not) than any of the other cherry picked flags.
    
    MCos, kind of surprised that you haven’t actually followed any of the Twitter links (even just a few) and gained an impression of the make up of the crowd.
    You are here every day it seems, and give the appearance of reading and engaging on some level.
    But as the saying goes ‘….you can fool some of the people all of the time…’.
    
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    February 14, 2022 12:20pm
    - Batman
      
      Any comment on the vans with “WWG1WGA” and “Q” on them, and Trump flags in the first day or so? Or the various other references to global conspiracy and new world order shit from overseas?
      
      Then again, whoever had the Trump flags was clearly sensible enough to go home after day 1 as I don’t think we’ve seen them since.
      
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      February 14, 2022 12:24pm
      - Frank the tank
        
        Is it any different from the Hammer and Sickle banners and the Che Guevara shirts we see when a BLM (or it’s like) protest goes down. Or do we conveniently ignore than Communism has killed more lives than Fascism/Far Right ideology ever will?
        
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        February 14, 2022 1:22pm
      - Batman
        
        So that allows this group to behave like LARPing revolutionaries and punch cops, shit in the garden, and destroy public property while interfering with businesses and individuals.
        
        The “they do bad things too!” Argument is a choice that any school age child might be wary of using.
        
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        February 14, 2022 1:41pm
      - Fuzzysnuggleduck
        
        My comment would be that it is about as relevant as focusing on selected Maori at a protest, when some welcome pakeha on site as allies, or want to be implying they do something for all NZ (like S.O.U.L), but some others will say ‘drive the pakeha into the sea’.
        It might not reflect well on the collective group, but it also doesn’t really help anyone understand why they are there, or what events led up to a protest or occupation.
        
        I posted my own evidence that there are weirdos in the mix, and the 5G=genocide crowd will be there too – but that is not the first or the last word on what is happening here.
        
        Any more than some supposed poos on the grounds (after all the public toilets are shut by the authorities) is somehow a moral insight into the character or aims of the protest.
        Kind of weak.
        Kind of what Ardern and some people are trying to do.
        Even the police aren’t trying to sell the crowd as being infiltrated by the far right or white-nationalists. I wouldn’t dwell on that so much, if I were you.
        
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        February 14, 2022 1:57pm
      - Don Beckett
        
        Do you have evidence that that has happened? Or are you just following you pro-Jacinda, pro vaccine mandates, pro vax passport line that you have constantly shown in your scorn for those of us who support the Anti Mandate & Passport protest ?
        
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        February 14, 2022 2:08pm
      - Ian Boag
        
        @Frank
        do we conveniently ignore than Communism has killed more lives than Fascism
        
        They have both done fairly well. Hitler et al in WWII killed about 6m Jews and 10m Sovs I believe. Not that it’s an accolade worth pursuing.
        
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        February 14, 2022 2:38pm
      - I remember when
        
        Ballance beheaded.
        Thought it was time to bring some balance to the subject.
        
        Another Reply/Report error Batman.
        
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        February 14, 2022 2:50pm
      - alloytoo
        
        Ian said..”They have both done fairly well. Hitler et al in WWII killed about 6m Jews and 10m Sovs I believe. Not that it’s an accolade worth pursuing”
        
        A socialist is a communist by any other name.
        
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        February 14, 2022 6:12pm
      - Pineapple Lumps
        
        It seems the best weapon in the Labour armament is to accuse ones enemy of the very thing that you are guilty of yourself.
        
        Let’s accuse the protesters of belonging to global organisations of evil. Like the plot from an Avengers movie.
        
        It is our PM that is the disciple of the globalist WEF movement. Comrade, it is our PM who was the head of the International Young Socialists.
        
        I have been trying to understand why our PM and Deputy PM have been destroying our country over the past 2 years. The only thing that makes sense to me now is that they believe they belong to something bigger and better than our National interest. They are globalists. So that justifies them destroying us Patriots.
        
        Long live the resistance!
        
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        February 14, 2022 9:55pm
  - oldfella
    
    mcos, unlike the Black Live Matters local protests which weren’t imported. Not in the slightest. Eh?
    
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    February 14, 2022 12:42pm
  - Nickc2
    
    It’s a copy of the truck protest in Canada even down to people waving Canadian flags.
    Even if it is, so effin what? Isn’t her intended utopia for NZ a copy of what the UN and WEF want (open borders (well, not yet), Universal Currency and One World Govt)?
    
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    February 14, 2022 1:41pm
    - Yabster
      
      Great point- Princess has copied WEF and Daddy Schwab not to mention a sprinkle of XI -Cindy is fully imported….
      
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      February 14, 2022 2:14pm
- ClanMcleod
  
  It’s more psyops. More divide and rule. Hence the bullshit stories about these “evil” people threatening to “kill” and “spitting” on innocent workers.
  It’s narrative control and creation. It’s complete bullshit, but it is dangerous bullshit.
  Ardern and co are completely out of control.
  
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  February 14, 2022 9:09pm
UrbanNeocolonialist

The big problem we have in NZ is that the public don’t understand the miniscule risk that they face from omicron. They hear big numbers being bandied about and don’t ‘get’ what that really means on a personal level. Australian data paints a very clear picture of how things will proceed (now that cases and deaths there are in steep decline), and will be, in total, somewhere around 0.01% of their population, ie just 1-2% of the normal 0.7% of population annual deaths. So to lay that out in a way that is more emotionally comprehensible for people to understand:
-For NZ that means somewhere around 500 likely dead, almost all elderly and sick, following pretty closely the normal increasing risk of death with age.
–Omicron will likely only be about about half to a third of what we now know is a normal 1000-1500 winter respiratory illness linked deaths that we have in NZ (we can clearly quantify that courtesy of the big dip seen during cold months of 2020 when flus and colds were absent)
-With most deaths in 80+ age group anyone younger than that has more chance of dying in a car crash this year than from omicron (should we ban all driving then?)
-Average NZer who catches Omicron (which we nearly all will given very high transmissibility) has something like 70x more chance of dying of something other than omicron this year, and perhaps an order of magnitude less than that if you are healthy.
-That Omicron has swept through NZ will in the long term be statistically undetectable in the series of annual deaths recorded in NZ.

In light of this does anyone think that covid restrictions are still worth it? Australian hospitals weren’t overwhelmed and nor will ours be. Borders should be opened and all restrictions should be ended immediately as pointless and unnecessarily damaging. They aren’t going to save anyone, just impose more economic pain on NZ.
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February 14, 2022 9:30am
- UrbanNeocolonialist
  
  Nearly 981 new cases today, but more than 5% of tests have come back positive (that key indicator is climbing rapidly, was only 0.5% a few weeks back, so we are only seeing the tip of the omicron iceberg). Only 39 in hospital, and none in ICU. Australia peaked at 5200 in hospital and 420 in ICU, but are 5x our population, so scaled NZ would be about 1000 in hospital peak and 80 in ICU peak).
  
  If we follow Australian trajectory we are 4-6weeks from peak.
  
  Clearly no point in MIQ anymore. Open the borders now. Also dump the all the other pointless restrictions and mandates, there is no avoiding omicron, and all we are doing is prolonging the pain.
  
  To allay fears; NZ has 13000 hospital beds but incredibly only about 175 ICU beds available due to our apocalyptically useless govt:
  https://twitter.com/psirides/status/1492801261112270851
  
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  February 14, 2022 1:42pm
Maggy Wassilieff

Wow,
The disinformation brigade is out in force on RNZ.

Corin Dann interviewed Dr Bryan Edwards, who has been out and about talking to the protestors (and reports them as being predominantly from the lower echelons of NZ society) and Morgan Godfrey.

Godfrey tried to dispute everything Edwards was saying and just kept repeating Ardern’s line that the protestors were disinformed folk intent on threatening others.

https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2018830422/covid-19-differing-opinions-on-how-to-handle-protest
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February 14, 2022 9:33am
- Tony Stuart
  
  I think you mean Dr Bryce Edwards, who although he is solidly Left-leaning, has at least been present at the protest at the weekend, and reasonably balanced in his coverage. So has Sean Plunket and his new digital guru Ani O’Brien, ahead of the launch of The Platform in a few weeks.
  
  Speaking of The Platform, it’s great to see Plunket has recruited Martin Devlin to the 3pm-6pm Drive slot, where he will focus primarily (but not exclusively) on sport. There was a video interview with Plunket and Devlin on FB the other night, and it’s great to see Martin has recovered from his near-suicide last year, and has something now to energise him.
  
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  February 14, 2022 9:45am
  - Maggy Wassilieff
    
    Sorry..
    I did mean Bryce Edwards.
    
    Yes, he sounded very sensible.
    
    Morgan Godfrey, by contrast, was not interested in connecting with the views of folks who have lost their jobs and have concerns for their future.
    
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    February 14, 2022 9:53am
    - Suze Wainwright
      
      Wouldn’t Morgan be looking for a place on Labour’s list…?
      
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      February 14, 2022 10:02am
      - UrbanNeocolonialist
        
        2023 is not going to be a good election to be on the Labour list. And another loquacious marxist unionist with no ability to get things done is clearly not what their caucus needs.
        
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        February 14, 2022 10:42am
      - Paulus
        
        Are you sure there will be nough votes to have Labour List seats ?
        Getting progresively less by the week.
        
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        February 14, 2022 10:54am
    - pdm
      
      Far too cold and wet for Bryan Edwards to go outdoors by the sound of what the weather has been like.
      
      He will be inside coaching Ardern on what to say and how to say it – as he did for Helen Clark.
      
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      February 14, 2022 10:07am
    - Jack5
      
      Morgan Godfery a Leftist Maori activist, trade unionist, and former Parliamentary staffer, is Maori Partnerships Project Manager at Otago University.
      
      [deleted by Mod, irrelevant and inflammatory]
      
      Godfery wrote an article in the Guardian headlined “Nanaia Mahuta, New Zealand’s Maori foreign minister, is the perfect diplomat”.
      
      Contrast Godfery’s views on the Parliamentary protest with his stance on the Ihumatao occupation (from No Right Turn):
      
      If the government wants to maintain that goodwill, and not reopen everything, then returning Ihumatao and/or protecting it would seem to be a good way to do that. On the flip side, the longer they refuse to do so, the more this builds, the more likely it is that Maori will start to demand actual compensation, rather than the modern-day beads and blankets they have been given.
      
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      February 14, 2022 10:28am
      - Jack5
        
        [we don’t debate. Contact DPF if you wish to discuss it – Mod]
        
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        February 14, 2022 12:37pm
  - kowtow
    
    3 till 6 .
    
    That puts him contesting 2 hours of that slot against HDPA .She starts at 4 , and while she’s quite woke her slot is varied and contains Soper just before 5 , that’s why I tune in there . A bit of genuine reporting from Barry on the political shenanigans of the day .
    
    I don’t think sports will cut it in that time frame .
    
    I wish them all the best though .
    
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    February 14, 2022 10:21am
    - alloytoo
      
      I suspect sport will find its own niche, it’s not a head to head with HDPA, which would be a fools errand.
      
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      February 14, 2022 8:44pm
    - Pineapple Lumps
      
      Not so much head to head when HDPA goes on mat leave.
      
      Wonder who ZB will put in that slot?
      
      Any news of Peter Williams?
      
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      February 14, 2022 10:23pm
- alex Masterley
  
  Bryce Edwards? Bryan Edwards is in his dotage now?
  
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  February 14, 2022 9:47am
- nathie
  
  Yep and as the likes of Morgan Godfrey “grows up”, he becomes more partisan and extreme (frankly I don’t know why the MSM bother to include him anymore as you’ll get nothing of value from him, apart from Labour/Green/MP talking points).
  
  Caught a bit of NewstalkZB yesterday afternoon and “Cindy fan-boi” Tim Roxborough basically called the protests as being led by the extreme “far-right”” …. so more disinformation as someone here last night (“Jimmy Brown”) posted a link to Wellington Police Commander Parnell denying there is a “far right” influence!
  https://twitter.com/ZeitgeistNZ/status/1492623515618398209
  
  Anyhoo talking of Tim Roxborough, people should check out Newstalk ZB’s on-demand audio before it disappears in a few days. He had Matthew Hooten on the panel, Hooten went “full-fascist” wanting the protesters removed asap including by force …. then afterwards went “full-nuclear” blowing up Jacinda Ardern’s reputation to bits with blow-after-blow inflicted on her (lack of) leadership abilities, it was incredibly interesting and damning, so much so Tim Roxborough cut Hooten off! Crikey can’t have that, must protect the Queen Bee presumably Roxborough thought!
  
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  February 14, 2022 9:50am
  - I remember when
    
    What is the Government doing about all these extreme far right leaders of the convoy protest.
    Did they miss out on an opportunity to call in the SAS and defuse this obviously growing future ‘timebomb.’
    Is there a difference between a ‘kilo of salt’ and a ‘pinch of salt.’
    Yes they have the potential to be dangerous, but is it time for someone to quantify the amount of danger.
    Are the media and government in fact their best promoters.
    Is it like ‘anti vax’ conspiracy theory danger.
    
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    February 14, 2022 3:12pm
- Gravelroad
  
  Dr Bryan Edwards is a lifetime Labour Party supporter and an expert in the art of counter assertions and argument.
  He was one of the tutors at my journalism school many years ago. It’s his way or no way.
  Looks like the Party is bringing in the big guns to provide some authoritarian instruction.
  Can’t have followers starting to disbelieve the narrative due to current political shambles.
  
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  February 14, 2022 9:53am
  - Alan Wilkinson
    
    Actually Dr Brian Edwards. Was briefly a lecturer at Uni of Canterbury and rather popular with the female students I was told then. A long time ago.
    
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    February 14, 2022 1:39pm
- mandk
  
  OMG, the govt is importing people to smear the protesters now!
  
  Ardern and co are getting desperate.
  
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  February 14, 2022 10:05am
vt

The School of Economics and Finance invites you to attend a seminar by Martin Lally

Title: A cost-benefit analysis of Covid-19 vaccine mandates

Abstract
Covid-19 vaccine mandates for the general population must trade off the rights of those who object to being vaccinated against the costs that the unvaccinated impose upon the vaccinated, most particularly the increased risk to vaccinated people of death by covid-19. This paper provides a methodology for doing so. It is then applied to the case of New Zealand. It reveals that even if the adverse impact of penalties on vaccine objectors (many of whom may have rational grounds for objecting) were as small as a reduction in their quality of life of 1% per year for a period of five years and the existence of unvaccinated people were entirely responsible for covid-19 infections amongst the vaccinated, the number of additional deaths amongst the vaccinated resulting from not adopting a vaccine mandate would be too few to justify a policy of mandating. However, unlike the general population, health workers come into frequent and close contact with large numbers of sick people, who are prime targets for covid-19, and therefore the vaccine mandate *may* be justified for these workers. This rationale does not apply to education workers, who are even less likely than the general population to come into frequent and close contact with people at high risk from covid-19.

When: 12.30 – 1.30 pm, Friday 11 February 2022
Where: TBC
Zoom Link: https://vuw.zoom.us/j/95264457360

About Martin Lally Martin Lally is a former Associate Professor in SEF. He is currently Director of Capital Financial Consultants Ltd, which provides consulting advice to a wide range of clients in New Zealand and Australia, most particularly regulators engaged in price capping natural monopolies.
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February 14, 2022 9:37am
- vt
  
  Rescheduled time
  When: 12.30 – 1.30 pm, Friday 18 February 2022
  Where: RH105 (1st floor). RH105 has a capacity of 25 under the red traffic light system
  Zoom Link: https://vuw.zoom.us/j/95264457360
  
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  February 14, 2022 9:58am
Maggy Wassilieff

Anyone heading down to the High Court today?

It’s the Grounded Kiwis case
https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2018830430/grounded-kiwis-case-heads-to-high-court
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February 14, 2022 9:44am
Lee C

Only Ardern could have the front to lock down borders for two years then claim protesters are ‘imported’.

Did the stork bring them, Cindy?
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February 14, 2022 9:44am
Maggie Pie

And what about that Nigerian born New Zealand guy (whose name escapes me) …the one who does the UFC fighting stuff.

I see in the Herald this morning, he’s quoted as calling the Government “…..a pack of f***ing c**ts” and says, “he doesn’t need them anyway”

Don’t like his chances of getting an MIQ spot 🙁
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February 14, 2022 9:46am
- Maggy Wassilieff
  
  Israel Adesanya UFC-Middleweight champ.
  
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  February 14, 2022 9:55am
  - Maggie Pie
    
    Jewish? For some reason I thought he was Nigerian.
    
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    February 14, 2022 10:01am
    - cmm
      
      He is Nigerian born.
      
      There are a lot of Christian Zionists in Africa, especially in Nigeria and South Africa.
      
      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cherubim_and_Seraphim_(Nigerian_church)
      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zion_Christian_Church
      
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      February 14, 2022 10:17am
      - Jack5
        
        Many of the most popular names in Christian or former-Christian countries come from the Bible, and are Jewish: Mary, John, James, Simon, Martha, Joanna, Sarah, Joseph …
        
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        February 14, 2022 12:28pm
      - Jack5
        
        Or …. Ishmael, Abraham’s first son, whose name resurfaces as the American narrator in Moby Dick.
        
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        February 14, 2022 12:50pm
- Frank the tank
  
  Oh Mags he fell out of love with our PM a LOOOOONG time ago. Not that he gives a shit – he’ll be our highest paid sportsman within the next 5 years.
  
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  February 14, 2022 10:41am
  - Maggie Pie
    
    My partner is concerned he may suffer serious Brain damage.
    
    Although having just seen him being interviewed on twitter, I don’t think he’ll need to worry too much.
    
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    February 14, 2022 11:43am
    - Frank the tank
      
      Look at Tyson sometimes they become better humans the more punches they take.
      
      On a serious note – I’ve heard the boy is all class from those that knew him pre-UFC. Quite left leaning but a gentleman with impeccable manners that always cleans the table after dinner.
      
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      February 14, 2022 1:25pm
      - Fuzzysnuggleduck
        
        I don’t like everything about Israel’s public persona, or some of his sheenanigans one he was champ (i.e. pretending to hump a defeated opponent in the octagon a couple years back) but he is a world class athlete, is an extremely demanding a massively popular international combat sport.
        So can only respect him as an elite sportsman at the highest level.
        
        Not sure he ever got any congrats from the beehive like our recent Winter Olympics female medalist did……but I do know that he is much more known and higher profile overseas than those sportsmen we celebrate in little ‘ol parochial NZ.
        
        NZ has actually treated our UFC & MMA fighters and team pretty poorly in terms of MIQ and such, and they have slammed the authorities many times for restrictions in place.
        The low-class status as a sport is very clear.
        NZ MMA folk travelling to Dubai a few weeks back onto got an got MIQ space from a chance & last minute change around the person with the rubber stamp, as MBIE didn’t hold allotments like they do with other ‘popular’ sports.
        These sorts of fighters and combat sport athletes are naturally risk takers, and willing to put bodies on the line.
        I know at the fighting gyms I am involved with all that ‘mask and distance’ crap is long gone out the window.
        So chances are, you might find a low level of patience for restrictions and ‘fear narrative’ if you ask people in this sport/martial arts.
        
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        February 14, 2022 2:21pm
      - Maggie Pie
        
        Yes, they can be quite charming I believe.
        One of the girls from tennis became involved with an uber-wealthy Nigerian Prince once……very nearly married him!
        Sent him 30k for his airfare out to NZ, then got an email from his sister that he’d passed away. She even paid for his funeral. Left her heartbroken.
        
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        February 14, 2022 2:21pm
beautox

Interesting : Current “locations of interest” are almost exclusively locations that use the Vax Pass system, like restaurants, gyms, bars, cafes.

So as expected from the data, being vaxxed makes no difference to transmission.

So tell me again the point of this stupid system?
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February 14, 2022 9:58am
- Benedict Yu
  
  There is no point to the system. I think we have established that.
  
  Also the system is easy to rort. My friend with the fake vaccine pass triples down. She refuses to scan in. Does not have the tracer app. Has a fake mask exemption pass. And will never get tested. If she gets covid she will infect many people and she will be untraceable.
  
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  February 14, 2022 10:44am
  - Inandout
    
    BY, we are dealing here with kiwi No8 wire ingenuity. In this case systems exist to be rorted.
    
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    February 14, 2022 11:22am
  - krazykiwi
    
    To rort the system is to accept its legitimacy.
    
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    February 14, 2022 12:36pm
  - alloytoo
    
    By the time anybody’s been traced, they’ve probably recovered.
    
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    February 14, 2022 6:18pm
  - ClanMcleod
    
    If she gets covid her vax status is irrelevant. The double and triple jabbed will pass it as much as the unjabbed. The test and trace system is unworkable.
    There really is no such thing as a “fake” exemption pass. You don’t need to go to a doctor to be exempt. Basically you just declare it. They did make it a little harder to actually get your hands on them, but not that difficult.
    
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    February 14, 2022 9:38pm
- kowtow
  
  We wear masks , we socially distance , done everything they’ve ordered us to and ……….
  
  ……..there’s a massive uncontrollable outbreak.
  
  What was the point of these last two years of misery and destruction of social and economic values .
  
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  February 14, 2022 12:20pm
  - Batman
    
    Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
    Yes, there’s another variant which is trickier to handle. That’s not because masks and social distancing failed us during the original variants.
    
    Linking them together is disingenuous.
    
    We’re all frustrated but thanks to the anti-mask and anti-vax crowd overseas, new variants continue to appear as the virus seeks new hosts and finds it more difficult.
    
    I know you’re not so intellectually stunted that you don’t see the wider context.
    
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    February 14, 2022 12:28pm
    - Random T Person
      
      Tricky, huh?
      
      10 2
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      February 14, 2022 12:48pm
      - Batman
        
        Well each time a new one arrives you have to figure out its features, ability to spread, virality etc. Then there’s the effectiveness of current vaccines and at what stage of 1, W, booster the effectiveness continues or reduces.
        
        So yes, tricky.
        
        Remember version one was all droplets and surfaces. Version two was more airborne and more toxic. Version three is highly airborne but less toxic.
        
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        February 14, 2022 12:54pm
      - kowtow
        
        And clever , remember the “experts” told us ; it seeks out the unvaccinaded.
        
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        February 14, 2022 1:28pm
      - Maggy Wassilieff
        
        Remember version one was all droplets and surfaces.
        
        It never was.
        
        This coronovirus has always been a respiratory virus transmitted by aerosols.
        
        It’s just that NZ lacked all the PPE gear and correctly ventilated hospitals/schools etc to cope with a virus readily transmitted through air currents…
        so we were fed a garbage story and forced into lockdowns until it became clear that folks didn’t need to deep clean every 5 minutes.
        
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        February 14, 2022 1:39pm
    - Taieri
      
      Ever thought of having your own show? You are simply amazing!
      
      11 1
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      February 14, 2022 12:50pm
      - Batman
        
        Unfortunately I’m not sociopathic enough to start a podcast. Or a cranky live stream channel.
        
        2 18
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        February 14, 2022 1:29pm
      - Matt Long
        
        Don’t underated yourself Batty, after following your comments for some time it’s obvious you have all the necessary qualifications.
        
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        February 14, 2022 4:01pm
    - kowtow
      
      You’ve already called me a liar today and now serve a cheeky little number on my intellect , so i’ll bite .
      
      There is indeed a much wider context to wuflu , well beyond health mandates and ‘protecting’ health systems .
      
      Today is a great example from Ardern , doesn’t know shit about nothing happening on parliament lawn as she’s solely focussed on beating the unbeatable .
      
      Well duh , and same to the myopic experts and modellers , there’s more to life than shutting down the whole of society ie the Swedish approach .
      
      But this has been hashed over so many times it’s pointless .
      
      Just give over , and let life get back to normal.
      
      There’s more to life and living than cowering under a blanket in fear of a bad case of the snots which the experts have told us is a “harvester” , something that takes people who’re shortly to be taken anyway .
      
      But yes , let’s destroy the world’s economy and our freedoms for a couple of weeks more in a geriatric or palliative care ward .
      
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      February 14, 2022 1:21pm
      - Batman
        
        Well you did expouse a number of lies.
        
        Have you not noticed that we have adopted the Swedish model? That’s what the traffic light setting is.
        
        You are welcome to your view but that doesn’t make you right or in the majority. 90% of us aren’t cowering under a blanket, we’re out and about living our lives with some minor changes to ensure we can keep working and being social.
        
        No “expert” who isn’t a hack has called human beings dying a ‘harvest’. That shows the inhumanity of your view.
        
        Covid has killed plenty of people below rest home age who were previously living perfectly well.
        
        I hope your friends and relatives are all 100% healthy, lest they find out you’re more than happy to have them harvested for the greater good because they have any sort of condition. How very 1984 of you.
        
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        February 14, 2022 1:47pm
      - kowtow
        
        ‘No “expert” who isn’t a hack has called human beings dying a ‘harvest’. That shows the inhumanity of your view.’
        
        No , not a ‘harvest’ , that’s a lie . A ‘harvester’. And in context is not at all inhumane .
        
        And I don’t recall ever claiming to be in a majority . In fact i believe i am part of a small minority , of thinking ,critical folk .
        
        Keep digging.
        
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        February 14, 2022 2:00pm
      - Don Beckett
        
        @batman.
        “Have you not noticed that we have adopted the Swedish model? That’s what the traffic light setting is.”
        That is pure & utter bullshit. Where do you get your information?
        
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        February 14, 2022 2:16pm
      - kowtow
        
        “We have adopted the Swedish model ”
        
        No , the Swedish model was based on trusting the people .
        
        Ours on mandates , fear and exagerated claims to force compliance. Still is.
        
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        February 14, 2022 4:38pm
    - Frank the tank
      
      So not wearing masks created covid variants?
      
      Time to climb out of the rabbit hole Bat
      
      25 1
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      February 14, 2022 1:29pm
      - Batman
        
        Allowing continued spread thanks to non- and ineffective mask use, vaccine refusal, lack of availability of those two things along with a lack of policy coordination on a global scale means that the virus lives on. A consequence of that means it evolves into new variants.
        
        But that’s a nice little trick you’ve tried there Frankie.
        
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        February 14, 2022 1:32pm
    - Maggy Wassilieff
      
      The way this virus is transmitted hasn’t changed.
      
      What has changed is the WHO, CDC and Min of Health thinking – they have had to accept aerosols are the primary transmission route of the virus.
      
      https://www.health.govt.nz/system/files/documents/pages/csu_14_may_2021_aerosol_transmission.pdf
      
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      February 14, 2022 2:03pm
      - cmm
        
        A slight correction Maggy, but only slight.
        
        With Omicron, the virus tends to lurk in the upper airway rather than in the lungs (which previous variants did). This means there is a higher volume of higher-speed air is air passing over the infected area where the little buggers are replicating – hence more aerosols being generated.
        
        You are correct though that aerosols are really important but were completely discounted from the start in favour of the “large droplet” theory.
        
        Large droplets are behind the social distancing idea (big droplet will not travel far and will fall on the ground) and masks (big droplets will get stuck in masks).
        
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        February 14, 2022 3:37pm
      - Maggy Wassilieff
        
        @cmm
        
        yes, of course…
        but really I was flabbergasted by batman’s contention that somehow the virus has so changed its nature (?mass) that the physics of its spread through the atmosphere had changed and the virus was becoming more airborne with time.
        
        How can I explain that a few point substitutions of nucleotide bases are not going to make a blind bit of difference to the aerodynamics of a virus with a mass of 1fg?
        
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        February 14, 2022 4:07pm
      - ClanMcleod
        
        Maggy – whatever you do, don’t prick the bubbles of the Ardern supporters with inconvenient facts. They don’t like those.
        
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        February 15, 2022 9:49am
    - Ra Henare
      
      Batman. I suggest that one day you talk to a first year medical student as to the “”life”” of a Virus.
      
      History (and they) will tell you that ALL Viruses mutate. ALL.
      
      Also that mutated viruses are less Leathal than the original.
      
      But hey, you knew that already.
      
      A “”tricky virus”” is a concept dreamt up by a certain great communicator to deflect from some bad decisions. Nope Viruses are not tricky, rather predictable actually.
      
      15 1
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      February 14, 2022 2:56pm
    - ClanMcleod
      
      Batman – don’t spread misinformation. The new variants are driven by the jabbed, research Original Antigenic Sin. I’ve posted about it a number of times. The latest post was from the NIH in the US. This is the US government Dept of Health.
      
      https://bartram.substack.com/p/the-us-nih-state-that-oas-is-a-likely?
      
      Fact – the vaccine moves into negative territory very quickly. Negative efficacy means the jab makes you more likely to get covid.
      These things were all predicted by experts over a year ago.
      Fact – Masks do almost nothing to prevent covid.
      
      5 2
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      February 14, 2022 9:44pm
    - Sean OConnor
      
      Then you owe the unvaccinated a big thank you. Making COVID 90% less deadly but more virulent is a huge improvement. May more such variants be forthcoming.
      
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      February 14, 2022 10:49pm
- krazykiwi
  
  The point of this stupid system as you accurately call it is to punish non-compliance with an arbitrary, unsupported by science state diktat.
  
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  February 14, 2022 12:34pm
Andrew Worth

Sometimes you get a horse that refuses to do what you need it to do, when that happens a couple of quick flicks with a whip can make the difference, get the job done, without causing any long term harm.
But to continue to thrash the horse after it’s made up it’s mind that what you want ain’t gonna happen is just immature thuggery.

I am of course referring to the continuation of the mandates against those that have decided vaccination ain’t gonna happen to their bodies and the governments thuggish response.
That’s from someone who’s had two jabs and will get the booster in the next week.
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February 14, 2022 10:04am
- Maggie Pie
  
  It’s a curly one.
  
  😛 😛
  
  14 1
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  February 14, 2022 10:08am
- Andrew Worth
  
  I better add that I’m Andrew Worth the farmer, not the Andrew Worth who’s a vet at Massey University. (Don’t want the poor sod getting cancelled for advocating whipping horses). ?
  
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  February 14, 2022 10:36am
  - Random T Person
    
    Farmers are worth their weight in gold Andrew. Good onya mate.
    
    18 1
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    February 14, 2022 12:49pm
    - mikenmildagain
      
      Hmm
      The average NZ farmer (assuming they are all men), weighs about 90kg. The current gold price is about $90,000 per kg. The average farm size is about 270 ha, with the current median price per hectare about $30,000.
      So to be worth his weight in gold, a farmer of average weight needs land worth $8.1 million, which coincidentally works out to be about 270 hectares worth at the median price.
      So yes, a NZ farmer is worth his weight in gold.
      The next question would to be consider whether the price of NZ agricultural land is rising faster than the price of gold, so as to estimate when the average NZ farmer will be worth his weight in diamonds.
      
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      February 14, 2022 1:09pm
      - UrbanNeocolonialist
        
        Sterling effort on a weak premise.
        
        18 2
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        February 14, 2022 1:47pm
      - mikenmildagain
        
        Sterling effort
        
        I’m not going to redo the calculation for silver.
        
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        February 14, 2022 3:53pm
nathie

Jacinda Ardern (as reported by NewstalkZB just now) says “take the children home” (away from the protest).

Say what Prime Minister? Hypocrisy much?

How come you encourage children to attend “climate change” protests?

How come you don’t tell the “activist left” like Greenpeace when they protest against oil and gas or anti-mining protests in the Coromandel and have children marching with the adults, even holding placards?

How come the MSM don’t call her out on her double-standards?
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February 14, 2022 10:05am
- Blog-aholic
  
  Public Interest Journalism Fund. Thats why.
  
  36 2
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  February 14, 2022 10:28am
  - rjay
    
    Team of $55 million
    
    21 1
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    February 14, 2022 11:52am
    - Paulus
      
      Actually I believe it was $5o million first, the then the next $55 million = $105million, and looks as though more required soon.
      
      18 1
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      February 14, 2022 1:12pm
- Frank the tank
  
  “How come the MSM don’t call her out on her double-standards?”
  
  Surely you jest
  
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  February 14, 2022 10:42am
- Swifty
  
  It’s the blatant hypocrisy that gets me too, by the politicians and the news media.
  
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  February 14, 2022 10:43am
- Swifty
  
  And I see today that Ardern is reported as saying the protest ”looks imported….”
  
  Funny, I didn’t see her saying that about BLM, or Occupy, or extinction rebellion protests – all of which had foreign origins.
  
  Nor, as others have pointed out, have I ever heard her saying “take the kids home” about these or any other protests which Labour support where kids have been openly and brazenly co-opted into participation.
  
  The hypocrisy just reeks.
  
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  February 14, 2022 10:51am
- Rich Prick
  
  The protest must be really getting under Cindy’s skin. Good, long may it last.
  
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  February 14, 2022 12:08pm
- kowtow
  
  There’s got to be an upside ,
  
  at least we’ll no longer be traumatised by images of the Swedish child telling us of her shattered dreams .
  
  That’s a heavy import .
  
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  February 14, 2022 12:17pm
- Nickc2
  
  The term ‘lying hypocrite’ crossed my mind when I heard that.
  I think Cindy’s suffering from Biden Disease, also referred to as ‘cognitive dissonance’.
  It becomes increasingly obvious when she’s under stress and her scriptwriters have run out of lies to tell.
  
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  February 14, 2022 2:07pm
- Vory v zakone
  
  “Take the children home…”
  Or else I’ll order Trevor to give them the (water) hose again. ?
  
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  February 14, 2022 8:28pm
Warren

Has this story on Quest for certainty Undercuts Omicron Analysis.
I got a phone call 30 minutes before I was scheduled to walk down the aisle.
The MIQ Debacle all been orchestrated to bring sympathy from the voter and help her recover the ground she has lost the Government and herself in polls that have turned against her this month.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/mediawatch/audio/2018830018/quest-for-certainty-undercuts-omicron-analysis
Our Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has no shame in her quest for votes.
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February 14, 2022 10:19am
Frank the tank

First employee being “RATed” as we speak. They seem almost dejected that the 3-day holiday isn’t in play anymore.
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February 14, 2022 10:43am
Frank the tank

https://www.breitbart.com/entertainment/2022/02/13/wheres-trudo-comic-brutally-mocks-justin-trudeau-for-hiding-during-freedom-convoy-protests/

Can we have a where’s Brenda edition.
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February 14, 2022 10:46am
- Joely Doe
  
  No chance
  1. We don’t have cartoonists in NZ that are clever enough to come up with this
  2. All cartoonists in NZ appear infatuated with the Opposition, so much so that they feel the need to draw them EVERY day, despite all that is currently happening in NZ
  3. Has it really come to this? That media in NZ is paid off to ignore what is right in front of them?
  
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  February 14, 2022 1:36pm
  - bythesea
    
    Tremain has been putting out great cartoons again for a while now.
    You can see them over here:
    https://www.bassettbrashandhide.com/post/cartoon-of-the-day-83
    
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    February 14, 2022 2:08pm
  - Taieri
    
    We don’t have cartoonists in NZ that are clever enough to come up with this
    ———————–
    
    Never heard of Garrick Tremain?
    
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    February 14, 2022 3:07pm
kowtow

Took one for the team and just watched the Ministry of Truth mid day tv 1 “news”

Ardern ; think of the children and it has the look of import “Trump flags ”

Ok , how’s that full term abortiion thing goin’ and I expect never to see Che or marx or indeed any talk of a “republic” here ever again , at any lefty shindig.

Cop also concerned about children ; why the heavy boy tactics then.

Willis likewise , where does this progressive nat stand on abortion.

Clearly the 9 th floor media messager is onto “think of the children”

I’d suggetss if they’re so concerned about children then they need tothink about not jabbing them or forcing them to wear masks in schools .
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February 14, 2022 12:09pm
UrbanNeocolonialist

I read somewhere in last few days that Philip Arps is part Maori. Is that correct? Would throw a bit of a spanner in the white supremacist labelling it true.
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February 14, 2022 12:13pm
- Batman
  
  You can still be a white supremacist despite having a bit of Jewish, Mexican, Maori, Muslim, or Inuit heritage.
  
  Likewise, you can be a racist no matter what your genealogy.
  
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  February 14, 2022 12:29pm
  - Suze Wainwright
    
    Actually Batman, there are some (and their helpers) who insist you can’t possibly be a racist if you belong to certain racial groups.
    
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    February 14, 2022 1:38pm
    - Batman
      
      Those people are stupid, Suze.
      
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      February 14, 2022 1:54pm
      - Don Beckett
        
        The first correct thing you’ve said all day.
        
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        February 14, 2022 2:22pm
  - cmm
    
    “Drop of blood” doctrine. You can’t be “part Maori”. You’re either a Maori or you are not.
    
    PS: Muslim is not a race.
    
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    February 14, 2022 1:46pm
    - Yabster
      
      bats has just offended all Muslims – off to the naughty boys corner…
      
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      February 14, 2022 2:23pm
- tf78
  
  He does have Maori relatives and I think he is somehow related to Kiri Te Kanawa (I think I heard him correctly) He seems a really decent bloke who, like all of us, loves our country. I have been watching the Counterspin team who give really good coverage and interviews of what is going on. Good people and very well organized.
  
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  February 14, 2022 8:14pm
westernScientest

well that didnt take long:

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/coronavirus/127764794/covid19-crisis-in-queenstown-as-staff-isolation-rules-cause-mass-closures
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February 14, 2022 12:31pm
- Alan Wilkinson
  
  A stupid tragedy perpetrated by tragic stupids. It has to stop.
  
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  February 14, 2022 1:25pm
Alan Wilkinson

There is a spectacular chart in this article showing the decline in the UK fatality rate per infection from about 1.4% with Alpha to 0.04% currently with Omicron.
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/five-steps-to-freedom-how-britain-beat-covid-gcr3f6q67
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February 14, 2022 12:32pm
- emmess
  
  Archived copy of the same article
  https://archive.fo/VwXWe
  
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  February 14, 2022 1:33pm
- Suze Wainwright
  
  Can you send it to Cindy before today’s Cabinet meeting?
  
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  February 14, 2022 1:33pm
- Alan Wilkinson
  
  Chart is here since the article is paywalled: https://cutt.ly/8PyhUVz
  
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  February 14, 2022 1:34pm
- Ian Boag
  
  And the article says that the rapid rise of boosters had a lot to do with it …. go figure
  
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  February 14, 2022 3:05pm
  - Alan Wilkinson
    
    That doesn’t seem to be supported by the chart. After the first Alpha variant which does show a vaccination impact the subsequent variants just seem to find their own level. The Omicron drop is probably more to do with its takeover from Delta and its much greater spread through both youth and vaxed.
    
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    February 14, 2022 4:18pm
Maggie Pie

A bit off topic….but one of the girls from tennis just re-tweeted 😀

Half way thru my donut and very nearly spat it out!!

https://twitter.com/guldurbakalim/status/1492985357301866504
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February 14, 2022 12:55pm
- cmm
  
  According to (inaudible), just wading ankle deep?
  
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  February 14, 2022 1:43pm
  - skyblue
    
    Suzie Whiles goes for a dip.
    
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    February 14, 2022 5:27pm
    - cmm
      
      I was trying to be a bit more subtle, but if you must yell it out loud…
      
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      February 14, 2022 8:15pm
westernScientest

Seriously, fringe minority? 49% and they closed it.

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/covid-19-convoy-parliament-protest-police-diverge-from-speaker-over-celine-dion-strategy-will-negotiate-with-occupiers/DJBQPPIWRT6VOIPZFIJC6V3J7U/
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February 14, 2022 1:23pm
- emmess
  
  Wow 49%, that is awesome
  Given that to our side generally despises the MSM, and barely ever goes there except when clicking on a link provided like the one above
  It is probably more likely in the 70-80% range
  
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  February 14, 2022 5:40pm
andretti

The minute the govt told us its mandatory to have a medical procedure (yeah i know some are going to say it wasnt mandatory but its a play on words)is the very minute that I turned into an activist that now doesn’t believe any govt dept or person who works for it.This includes compliant Doctors.
My trust in govt has now dissolved completely and forever i will not comply.
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February 14, 2022 1:35pm
Surely Knott

Media snobbery on the protests.

Mike Hosking “Although the protestors aren’t necessarily many people’s cup of tea in terms of approach, demeanour and attitude”.. Mike Hosking (Who is a more realistic cross section of everyday NZ: the Protestors or Mike Hosking’s family and associates?? To be fair he then went on to write a decent article )

And Frances Cook “Now is the summer of the discount tent” (Seriously that is her key observation as a professional journalist. Sneering that no one brought their canvas glamping bell tent and hand crafted bunting. Gosh not our type of people darling. Mwah)

The media set’s main objection to the protest seems to be that they are not the right type of people.
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February 14, 2022 1:46pm
- emmess
  
  I think Mike is slowly coming around
  Far too slow though, mind you
  
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  February 14, 2022 5:42pm
- NeverMindTheBollocks
  
  “Now is the summer of the discount tent”
  
  Now is the winter of our discontent made glorious summer by this sun of York … W. Shakespeare – Richard the Third
  
  With reference to a previous Duke of York (obviously)
  
  Frances is showing off her BA in Eng. Lit.
  
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  February 14, 2022 9:20pm
Maggy Wassilieff

So here we are at nearly 1000 new cases/day
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/coronavirus/300517031/covid19-981-new-community-cases-39-in-hospital
(and considering that fewer swabs get processed in weekends)..

Any predictions for what Our Dear PM will be announcing at 4pm?
Will we be heading into the orange-zone, or will we all have to be boosted by the end of the month?
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February 14, 2022 1:48pm
- cmm
  
  … and not to forget that they have also asked asymptomatic people to stop getting tested. That is going to have a massive impact on testing numbers.
  
  Numbers of tests will be down, number of positives will be down, but positivity rate will be up.
  
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  February 14, 2022 1:51pm
  - tf78
    
    cmm, The testing numbers are all a bit weird; we went down for blood tests this morning about 9:30 and our results were emailed to us by 3:15 this afternoon. That’s never happened before. I wonder if they’ve been making the high numbers up to match the “modeler’s”.
    
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    February 14, 2022 8:23pm
- Surely Knott
  
  If the Wellington protestors are “anti – vax” and and omicron “seeks out the unvaccinated” then why are there 768 cases in Auckland and only 6 cases in Wellington?
  
  Today’s community cases are in Northland (21), Auckland (768), Waikato (82), Bay of Plenty (23), Lakes (12), Hawke’s Bay (5), MidCentral (5), Taranaki (1), Tairawhiti (6), Wairarapa (12), Wellington (6), Hutt Valley (14), Nelson Marlborough (2), Canterbury (4), South Canterbury (1) and Southern (19
  
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  February 14, 2022 2:32pm
In Vino Veritas

And it was nice to see the 66 year old Leo Molloy (of Auckland Mayoral candidate fame) flatten 34 year old Guy Williams (of Golriz Ghahraman fame) in a boxing match yesterday. As well as being significantly younger, Williams outweighed Molloy and had over a foot in reach advantage. All in all, the funniest thing that Williams has ever done!
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February 14, 2022 1:56pm
- Loddenthinks
  
  All in all, the only remotely funny thing Williams has ever done, or is likely to do.
  
  Good work Leo, you can take the boy out of the West Coast….
  
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  February 14, 2022 5:01pm
Maggie Pie

Bit of a strange headline in the Horrid….

Or is it just a cryptic way of letting Cindy know the 110mil is fast running out?

https://twitter.com/nzherald/status/1492924144035450890
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February 14, 2022 1:59pm
Maggy Wassilieff

A disturbing image of an elderly gentleman with his arm at a nasty angle…being escorted by 2 burly cops.

The old chap looks in agony

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/Io5vgTVQGH7Oh6hEdNo7ytnUjls=/1440×1113/smart/filters:quality(70)/cloudfront-ap-southeast-2.images.arcpublishing.com/nzme/XZ3KGIMOKPJ4TEIOPXT73T6YBY.jpg
26 1
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February 14, 2022 2:14pm
- kowtow
  
  There are many ways to skin a cat .
  
  Even if that old boy is released without charge how likely is it that he’d go back there for another dose of extrajudicial pain.
  
  14 1
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  February 14, 2022 2:19pm
- Fuzzysnuggleduck
  
  Flexibility gets less and less over the years/aging, so a restraint that might be OK & comfortable for some could be a major wrenching outside of range of motion for another.
  Hard to tell if he is screaming in pain, or perhaps he is an evil white supremacist yelling ‘Heil Hitler’ at the top of his lungs, depending on which lens you use to look at it.
  
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  February 14, 2022 2:45pm
kowtow

You had one job.

‘A top immunologist is urging vaccination providers to be extremely cautious after 27 instances of incorrect dose levels being administered to adults and children.’

https://www.odt.co.nz/news/national/warning-vaccinators-after-dose-errors
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February 14, 2022 2:16pm
bythesea

A new independent media site starting up with Sean Plunket and some others.
https://theplatform.kiwi/opinions
I have read 2 or 3 of these articles and it was a refreshing change.

https://www.twitter.com/theplatform_nz
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February 14, 2022 2:32pm
Tom Barker

‘Summer of our discount tent” – it’s a play on a quote from Shakespeare’s “Richard III’, you moron.
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February 14, 2022 2:42pm
- Alan Wilkinson
  
  Obviously, but was it also a sneer?
  
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  February 14, 2022 6:26pm
Maggie Pie

TRENDING

NZ Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern labels protestors…. “Violent Imports”

https://twitter.com/RadioGenova/status/1492776449895546885
24 2
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February 14, 2022 3:32pm
- mandk
  
  That’s hilarious.
  
  Ardern is really not helping her argument by making stupid, uninformed comments about the protesters.
  
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  February 14, 2022 3:40pm
- cmm
  
  Imports? HTF did they all get through MIQ?
  
  … also, no doubt, foreign funded.
  
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  February 14, 2022 4:00pm
  - rangitoto
    
    They must be all DJ’s.
    
    18 0
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    February 14, 2022 4:54pm
    - UrbanNeocolonialist
      
      And govt MPs (Marja Lubeck got to go on a summer holiday jaunt overseas while tens of thousands of kiwis, in contravention of international law, are denied the ability to return to NZ due to Labour mismanagement/incompetence
      
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      February 14, 2022 6:55pm
lifesgood

It’s kind of strange. Anyone else have comments disappeared with no explanation? I merely said that I had no sympathy for the Wellington people complaining about the protests since Aucklanders had to suffer from a long lock down. No names used no personal attacks. Strange.
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February 14, 2022 4:20pm
cmm

I just had a call from an extremely Indian voice saying he’s Ryan Matthews from Spark.

He hung up when I started laughing.

Sorry Ryan, perhaps you had some important IT advice for me.
16 1
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February 14, 2022 4:29pm
- rangitoto
  
  Just go to this link, install this software and I will sort out your PC, which is infected with all sorts of baddies that only I can fix. Something like that I guess.
  
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  February 14, 2022 4:54pm
Maggy Wassilieff

Oh Dear,
Our Dear PM and Foreign Minister seem to have been snubbed by the USA.

US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken has completed a mission in the Pacific that included visits to Melbourne, Fiji and Hawaii, and high-level talks with ministers from Australia, India, Japan, and South Korea, primarily on security issues.

https://pointofordernz.wordpress.com/2022/02/14/nz-was-not-part-of-quad-talks-in-melbourne-but-dont-we-share-the-same-concerns-and-values/
23 0
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February 14, 2022 4:34pm
- cmm
  
  Four-and-a-half-eyes doesn’t need our lot involved in any security stuff…
  
  15 1
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  February 14, 2022 4:45pm
- alloytoo
  
  Wasn’t Blinkin the blind lackey in Robin Hood Men in Tights?
  
  7 0
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  February 14, 2022 6:26pm
70andstilllearning

So the Courts are having a problem with the processing of the arrested protesters.

https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/news/covid-19/covid-19-convoy-parliament-protest-arrested-members-appear-in-court-refuse-to-wear-masks-show-vaccine-pass/

I guess when Cindy and mates thought they had been real smart by making “businesses” responsible for policing participants “mandate”compliance it never occurred to them that some participants might not wish to participate in event /activities. 🙂

Seems that the law of unintended consequences has come around to bite them on the bum (again) through one of their own “businesses”.
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February 14, 2022 4:39pm
- curry4me
  
  Well done, protestors.
  
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  February 14, 2022 5:26pm
- Rich Prick
  
  This is interesting. Justice delayed is justice denied. Good on these folk using Cindy’s rules to the full extent. I hope the continue to deny her her crown.
  
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  February 15, 2022 12:22am
Alan Wilkinson

Press gallery journalists self-isolating. Gulag rules tweaked from tomorrow night. Wellington is losing control.
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February 14, 2022 4:52pm
kowtow

We’ve been told the protesters are shitting all over and think of the children .

Barry Soper who’s been down there has said , No , no shit there , they have portaloos .

Clearly mis and dis information campaign being waged against them.

Any news org that carried those faeces stories are engaging in what Mr Trump would call “Fake news”

But then we no longer live in an age of independent media holding truth to account . We have a bought and paid for complicit media ,no longer deserving the description of “the fourth estate ” ,bar a number of very exceptional individuals.
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February 14, 2022 5:04pm
chiz

It’s that time of year when all the owl-fanciers start doing their google searches.
7 0
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February 14, 2022 5:18pm
Maggie Pie

So not just my partner then….

https://twitter.com/nypost/status/1493077809908092932
5 7
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February 14, 2022 5:32pm
- Don Beckett
  
  Not nice Maggie.
  
  4 4
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  February 14, 2022 5:58pm
  - Maggie Pie
    
    Feel free to follow me here for Relationship Advice.
    
    4 2
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    February 14, 2022 7:01pm
    - Don Beckett
      
      If I was 30 years younger, you might have a client 🙂
      
      5 2
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      February 14, 2022 8:24pm
- Alan Wilkinson
  
  Tempting to respond but no.
  
  6 0
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  February 14, 2022 6:17pm
Maggy Wassilieff

I expect Jacinda Ardern & Cabinet will have to listen to the protestor sat some time this week… the protestors aren’t going to be fobbed off by dealing with the police.

but in usual Jacinda manner… she’ll be late to the party, expecting everyone else to do her dirty work before she does the bleeding obvious.

The protest could have all been over last Monday, if Ardern had shown a bit of leadership.
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February 14, 2022 5:39pm
- Inandout
  
  Maggy, she has lost interest in the job.
  
  22 1
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  February 14, 2022 5:54pm
Maggy Wassilieff

Who is on top of this Omicron phase change?

Are we still going to be in Traffic light Red… or do we go into Orange when we go into Omicron phase 2?

Has anyone got a flow diagram chart/plan of which phase/stage goes with Traffic light levels?
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February 14, 2022 5:47pm
- septic skeptic
  
  The 3 phases are colored red white and blue. If anyone needs further illumination then hold onto the black wire and stick the red one in a convenient orifice.
  
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  February 14, 2022 6:38pm
- Rich Prick
  
  This is more confusing than wiring a switchboard, are we at red 2.0 or 2.1 and hopping on our left feet, what are the rules? Fuck it, I’ll just ignore them all.
  
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  February 15, 2022 12:15am
Don Beckett

This is a video by Michael Matt, a traditional Catholic who lives in Mineapolis, and who is speaking about the Canadian Truckers Convoy for Freedom, and what they are achieving. It bears identical reference to what we are experiencing here. He is very good in presenting the issues involved.
He sticks to the actual issue for the first 25 minutes, then references the association with the growth of Godlessness in our society. If you don’t wish to see that, at least stick to the first 25 mins. It has a total parallel with our Freedom Protest in Wellington.
https://remnantnewspaper.com/web/index.php/articles/item/5847-the-godless-delusion-truckers-bring-god-back-to-canada
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February 14, 2022 5:57pm
Gravelroad

Boohoo, boohoo- so the poor students at Victoria Uni don’t like the protest.
Course they don’t.
I’m sure all the cabinet ministers and Labour MP’s who went there have been on to the students association asking them to speak up against it.
Be a different matter if the protest was for climate change action, or BLM, or legalise cannabis, or some other first world left wing problem – then they would be out there helping the people find car parks and offering them a joint to smoke.
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February 14, 2022 7:29pm
- NeverMindTheBollocks
  
  Once upon a time, student summer jobs were in freezing works or fruit picking. That got them out into the world, mixing with working class people. Nowadays the universities encourage students to take a summer semester course, enabling on-going receipt of the student loan. Not only do students go more deeply into debt, they miss out on the benefits of broadened horizons.
  
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  February 14, 2022 9:31pm
  - Tauhei Notts
    
    “They miss out on the benefits of broadened horizons”
    Speak to university graduates from 1960-85. Those lawyers, engineers, dentists, physiotherapists and accountants will tell you that they learned so much from their time in the wool stores or on the chain at Southdown etc. Those who could not stand the killing chain or the real hard work in the wool stores became school teachers or union officials.
    
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    February 14, 2022 10:10pm
Maggie Pie

“Trevor Mallard is a knob socket”

– Ryan Bridge

😀
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February 14, 2022 7:39pm
freemark

Why wouldn’t they want a control group of vax-free people? I mean surely then they could show with data that this group would be sicker, transmit more, maybe even die more? It would be the perfect proof that the jabs were safe, effective, and worthy of world-wide roll out.
But just imagine the opposite happened, & the filthy pureblood swine lived longer, healthier, less susceptible to other ailments, & this became widely known. That would be rather “inconvenient” wouldn’t it.
Hence the mandates. There is no other logical reason.
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February 14, 2022 8:07pm
- Maggy Wassilieff
  
  There’s still millions (billions) of folks who haven’t been vaccinated.
  
  The 1st world commandeered the vax supply…..
  old and vulnerable folks in Asia, Africa, S.America, have missed out..
  
  https://thediplomat.com/2022/01/without-vaccine-equity-the-world-could-remain-stuck-in-pandemic-limbo/
  
  https://www.usnews.com/news/best-countries/articles/2022-01-04/vaccine-apartheid-risks-rising-global-shortages-in-2022
  
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  February 14, 2022 8:58pm

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