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May 24, 2022 8:00am by Kokila Patel

General Debate 24 May 2022

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General Debate

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Tony Stuart

Nice to see the light being shone in the direction of Nanaia Mahuta and her whanau. There are serious probity issues at stake here that merit further investigation.

https://theplatform.kiwi/opinions/co-governance-the-crown-and-the-mahuta-dynasty
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May 24, 2022 8:03am
- graham
  
  Wholeheartedly agree Tony; but sad to say, until someone in the MSM has the moral fortitude to actually pick this up and run with it, I suspect the story is doomed to be swept under the carpet.
  
  Wouldn’t it be great to think we had a fiercely independent media; a media who (as they so loudly and proudly proclaim) are NOT beholden to the Government, have NOT been “bought off”, and WILL investigate stories like this without fear or favour?
  
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  May 24, 2022 8:10am
  - Tricati
    
    It was covered by The Daily Examiner also a few days back, but again, no MSM coverage.
    https://www.thedailyexaminer.co.nz/all-in-the-mahuta-family/
    Seems they are a heavily protected species.
    
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    May 24, 2022 10:04am
- Maggy Wassilieff
  
  I think the entire structure of Maori-led Governance is based on a framework of nepotism.
  
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  May 24, 2022 8:13am
  - kowtow
    
    That makes sense , as it ‘s all about chiefly power.
    Totally undemocratic .
    
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    May 24, 2022 8:44am
    - Old.Mickey.Blue.Eyes
      
      “as it ‘s all about chiefly power” and dont forget Koha…..
      
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      May 24, 2022 12:50pm
  - Exclamation Mark
    
    One of the key tenants of Te Ao Maori appears to be making sure your your nearest and dearest get to share the spoils by having some nice cushy spots on a couple of boards.
    
    I take my culturally appropriated cowboy hat off to Tipa Mahuta: it must be really difficult maitain the necessary competency to effectively contribute to all those organizations she’s helping run…
    
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    May 24, 2022 8:44am
  - Colville
    
    RACIST!!
    
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    May 24, 2022 9:01am
- surfing
  
  Mahuta is the real power broker in govt.
  
  Jacinda hasn’t done much, but Mahuta has changed democracy in NZ.
  
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  May 24, 2022 8:25am
  - kowtow
    
    Hasn’t done much.?
    
    She’s presided over it .
    
    “Progressives” are all on board this Cultural Revolution .
    
    Watch Albanese’s crowd ramp up race politics there . As do the newly powerful left wing of the Dems in the US.
    
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    May 24, 2022 8:41am
    - Nickc2
      
      He’s already done it. He had the Torres Strait and Aboriginal flags displayed alongside the Aust National Flag during his first speech.
      https://www.sbs.com.au/nitv/article/2022/05/23/aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander-flags-flank-prime-ministers-debut1
      
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      May 24, 2022 1:38pm
  - Colville
    
    Mahuta is the puppet…who is pulling her strings?
    
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    May 24, 2022 9:02am
    - geoff3012
      
      Apart from the obvious…she hasn’t got 2 brain cells to rub together..
      
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      May 24, 2022 10:00am
      - kowtow
        
        Yes she does come across as very dull .
        Kind of puts one i mind of the possum in headlights .
        
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        May 24, 2022 4:04pm
    - Maggy Wassilieff
      
      Possibly Tuku Morgan
      https://www.nzherald.co.nz/kahu/tuku-morgan-returns-as-chair-of-te-arataura/NPR5LGLOMGAOMUYXBTSL5UHHZI/
      
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      May 24, 2022 12:02pm
  - G the giant from Dunedin
    
    Like hell she has, they will get dumped next year unless we do stupid shit with our votes
    
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    May 24, 2022 10:57am
  - ClanMcleod
    
    What democracy?
    
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    May 24, 2022 11:19am
- Yabster
  
  Thanks for that link Tony.
  
  Can’t wait for stuffed and the Herald to lead with this story…
  National/ACT should be shining a spotlight on this and everyone here should promote that link -corrupt to the core.
  
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  May 24, 2022 8:26am
  - G the giant from Dunedin
    
    Let it sneak out publicly, death by 1000 cuts, then ask for ombudsman to look into this corrupt shit
    
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    May 24, 2022 10:58am
- Nickc2
  
  NZ’s version of the Marcos’s without all the shoes.
  
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  May 24, 2022 8:27am
  - Exclamation Mark
    
    I have seen the Mahutas described as the Māfia, heads of the Tainui Cartel.
    
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    May 24, 2022 8:59am
- artemisia
  
  Diplomats keep up to date with what happens with their opposite numbers, and especially with Foreign Affairs Ministers. It’s their day job.
  
  They might grip and grin but we can be sure the wires are busy with carefully coded missives.
  
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  May 24, 2022 8:31am
- surfing
  
  https://unidirectory.auckland.ac.nz/profile/c-charters
  
  This woman is behind He puapua and changing the constitution of NZ.
  
  Why do we let unknown people like this change democracy?
  
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  May 24, 2022 8:32am
  - fightingtemeraire
    
    Bet she has more Pakeha blood than Maori
    
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    May 24, 2022 8:45am
    - G the giant from Dunedin
      
      White man’s fire water
      
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      May 24, 2022 11:07am
  - Nickc2
    
    FFS, if we didn’t feed em, they’d die! What meaningful contribution to life in NZ do such people provide. IMO, she’ll be nothing but a lifelong trough feeder.
    
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    May 24, 2022 1:32pm
- lastmanstanding
  
  In the absence of any vision for the future from any of the political parties heres LMS.
  
  1. A country where all people are treated equally by society and the law.
  2. A country where 5% are rich 90% are doing well and 5% are poor ( alas the poor are always with us.
  3. A country with a Twenty Tax system. Let me explain.
  20% top individual tax rate/20% GST/20% company tax rate/20% trust rate.
  
  I say it can be done. If the tax rate is low enough productivity will increase and less citizens will avoid or evade tax. This was proved in 1986 when the top rate was reduced from 66% to 33% and the Lange Government collected MORE tax.
  
  I say a Government that strove for the above would go down in history as the most successful the country has ever seen. It can be done.
  
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  May 24, 2022 9:17am
  - curry4me
    
    The Twenty Tax system looks good. I’ve often wondered if it’d be feasible to abolish income tax altogether, and have GST at 30%. None on Rates. And a 2/3 maority in a binding referendum to raise it. I’m assuming every bit of fat would need to go. Along with several departments. However, I don’t have any accounting skills. I found it mind numbingly boring when I studied it briefly.
    
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    May 24, 2022 2:55pm
- Brian McDonald
  
  Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
  You cry wolf a lot Tony but not this time. What do you expect can be done to “control” families of MPs?
  
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  May 24, 2022 9:36am
  - graham
    
    I’m guessing you haven’t read the article that Tony links to, Brian. Near the bottom is an excerpt from (I presume) some form of Cabinet Handbook. The footer has the title “Ministers of the Crown: Appointment, Role and Conduct” and the excerpt covers “Interests of family, whanau and close associates”.
    
    If you read through that it should answer your question.
    
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    May 24, 2022 9:43am
    - Don Beckett
      
      Wasting your time, graham. John’s attention span can only get him through the first two lines, then —mind blank.
      
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      May 24, 2022 10:30am
    - kowtow
      
      graham
      
      Could I respectfully suggest not engaging at all .There’s no point . Downtick and move on , don’t even bother reading him.
      
      But each to their own.
      
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      May 24, 2022 11:39am
  - Tony Stuart
    
    The Cabinet Manual, if followed to the letter, should provide a pathway to manage issues of this nature Brian. It has very specific advice over the management of conflicts of interest, be they real or perceived. Essentially, the perception of a conflict of interest is as bad for a government as an actual conflict.
    
    The most obvious perceived conflict of interest came in 2020 when Mahuta, as Associate Minister of the Environment, convened an expert panel of “technical experts and thought leaders with wide experience in the sector” to develop the Waste Strategy for Aotearoa New Zealand including her partner, and two other family members.
    
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    May 24, 2022 9:50am
  - David George
    
    Conflict of interest has long been regarded as a potential problem, Brian. There are mechanism in place to address it: a requirement for admission of conflict and a stepping back from decisions among them.
    Quite how this will be implemented along side co-governance remains to be seen but the signs are not good. With iwi (particularly Ngai Tahu) having huge commercial interests and a 50/50 (plus any useful idiots) say in relation to resource use the problem is obvious and corruption and nepotism almost a certainty.
    
    Not so much co-governance as bro-governance if the Mahutu example is any guide.
    
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    May 24, 2022 10:17am
- Steve Otto(North Shore)
  
  The PM will know nothing on this. “I know nothing, NOTHING!”
  
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  May 24, 2022 10:16am
  - Yabster
    
    Jacinda Schultz…
    
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    May 24, 2022 10:39am
    - kowtow
      
      Sgt Schultz was a nice character . Whereas….
      
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      May 24, 2022 11:40am
  - Prince
    
    Operational matter…a matter for the minister and her officials to respond to…the cabinet manual is unclear on this matter…this is a more sophisticated example of managing conflicts of interest than in the past, given our shared shared governance structure…the fact these questions are being raised suggest show we are being fully open and honest…some of these questions show a racist attitude that I deplore.
    
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    May 24, 2022 12:22pm
- rangitoto
  
  Has Cindy demanded Nanaia Mahuta’s resignation yet?
  
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  May 24, 2022 10:31am
- G the giant from Dunedin
  
  Labour Party ministers have gone to jail for corruption before!
  
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  May 24, 2022 10:55am
- In Vino Veritas
  
  If that was John Key, or even Christopher Luxon, the Greens would be squealing like pigs, and the print media would have it as front page news.
  
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  May 24, 2022 12:46pm
cmm

As many will know, South Africa is currently undergoing load shedding, as well as it’s evil sibling “load reduction”. It is expected that this winter there will be times when households only get power for 50% of the day (or less).

Much of this can be laid at the feet of the wokester greenies pushing for renewable.

During the last year, South Africa has built a whole lot of renewable generation including over 800MW of wind and some amount of photovoltaic solar. Total wind generation is now over 2400MW. That’s a third of all the wind generation in Africa.

Peak electricity usage in South Africa is the period from about 6 pm to 10pm (absolute peak is around 6:30 pm). So how were these sources performing?
* Wind : 64 MW. That is 2.7% of nameplate capacity. Yes, 2.7%, not 27%.
* Solar: 0MW. That’s 0% of nameplate capacity.

What other technology only gives 2.7% (or 0%) of its purported output?
* Imaging a car that is advertised at going 180km/h only hitting 5km/h on the freeway.
* Imagine buying a litre of milk and only finding two tablespoons of milk when you get home.

This really underlines the importance of dispatchable vs nameplate generation. It is extremely unreliable and cannot be depended on for peak load (which is when output matters).

Instead of putting these resources into building and fixing the real generation that works, they have pissed the money and time away on expensive toy generation. While their Greenie mates are smiling and nodding, they’re sending the best economy in Africa down the gurgler.
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May 24, 2022 8:04am
- Nickc2
  
  For a while there, I thought you were painting a picture of NZ’s energy generation and distribution.
  Winter’s soon upon us and IMO, we too can look forward to imposed blackouts and/or energy rationing.
  
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  May 24, 2022 8:36am
  - cmm
    
    We are lucky in that most of our generation is hydro and that is dispatchable (ie. can be turned on and off on demand, according the the needs of the consumers). It is the only renewable generation that is dispatchable (depending on whether you call geothermal renewable or not).
    
    We could certainly get some form of load shedding, but it is unlikely to be much beyond a few hours a year – at least for the next few years.
    
    Better yet, it is also one of the few rapid response generation options with a fast start time (highly desirable for meeting peak demands).
    
    Pump storage and hydro can go from off to full generation in a few seconds. OCGTs need to warm up for 5 minutes or so and thereafter can change load from idle to full in a few seconds. Coal etc takes a long time to heat up (hours depending on the technology) and take a few minutes to change their output levels.
    
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    May 24, 2022 11:21am
- Hebe123
  
  NZ is different though in that we can effectively store the wind in our hydro dams.
  
  Having said that, I am a firm believer that a Huntly equivalent (or 2) is needed on our system for longer term reliability and stability. Wind does not provide voltage support or free governor action given it’s not dispatchable.
  
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  May 24, 2022 8:50am
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    We need ‘nuclear’ full stop.
    
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    May 24, 2022 10:40am
- crikey
  
  It’s happening everywhere.
  
  Blind idealism is good, practical pragmatism is bad. If you don’t get that you will be scheduled for re-education.
  
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  May 24, 2022 9:06am
- mawm
  
  What has happened to the proposed new nuclear plant? Mired in corruption?
  
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  May 24, 2022 9:44am
  - Ian Boag
    
    In principle a good idea. Who was proposing it?
    
    Of course it would have to be at least two plants to get away from the “single point of failure” problem. Each would be very small by historic standards.
    
    I know – great things are coming and all that.
    
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    May 24, 2022 11:56am
    - mawm
      
      They already have one at Koeberg. The government is tendering for several more.
      
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      May 24, 2022 5:47pm
  - MiddleclassTrash
    
    It seems like a sensible idea, but:
    If there was an incident, or even the perception of an incident, our Ag exports would suffer. Look at Wales. Chernobyl irradiated some Welsh sheep farms. The meat may be safe now, but nobody wants it.
    A similar event would kill Ag exports dead, whether the effects are mild or not.
    Also, you would be gifting some overseas concern a local monopoly. They would have their foot on our throat from day one. That’s how corporations work, sadly.
    I love the idea of nuclear power. In theory it looks great, like electric cars. I’m concerned the reality could be very different.
    
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    May 24, 2022 1:45pm
Frank the tank

Just came out of my 7-day iso. Didn’t catch the pox (so far). The only one that did wore a mask. LOL fucking LOL.

Masks – as effective as a NZ Labour party Government.
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May 24, 2022 8:06am
- Brian McDonald
  
  Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
  I suppose you also laugh when the fatality numbers are released each day. Like I’ve said before you’re an Italian tank, all piss and wind with 5 reverse gears.
  
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  May 24, 2022 9:47am
  - leoj
    
    I wonder how many deaths WITH (not from) corona were also double and triple vaxxed?
    
    Continue cowering in the basement Brian.
    
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    May 24, 2022 10:12am
  - Local Miller
    
    No, but neither do I morn! 10 people died WITH Covid on Sunday (from the ministry website), out of an average daily death rate of 90+ (from stats NZ). So these 10 deaths while tragic are not unexpected. Also they are WITH covid and not FROM, this has been stated by the Minister when he admitted they were going to fix the reporting on this to take autopsies into account – something that’s not yet been done. Current indications are that only 5% of reported Covid deaths are actually from Covid, so only 2 of these 10 were possibly from Covid. (Again, the 5% is from the ministry estimates)
    So far we have had 1017 Deaths with covid out of 1,105,317 reported cases, unknown how many have gone unreported. I know of 8 personally, so I suspect this number is very high. This is a 0.09% fatality rate, but again it’s WITH, not FROM Covid. Using the estimated 5% rate the real deaths from covid is probably about 0.005%.
    While every death is tragic, people die every day from a raft of causes but we aren’t locking the country up because of the other 88 people who may die!
    All these stats are publicly available if you care to look them up.
    
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    May 24, 2022 10:19am
    - Taieri
      
      While every death is tragic,
      ——–
      
      Not really. Death at 90 is a blessing.
      
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      May 24, 2022 11:09am
  - Frank the tank
    
    Careful Bri don’t want to catch Monkeypox.
    
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    May 24, 2022 10:44am
    - Colville
      
      So dont fuck a monkey! 🙂
      
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      May 24, 2022 1:49pm
  - G the giant from Dunedin
    
    What a nasty leftie you are . He never mentioned any this out his family having COVID deaths, he said one caught the pox with the use of a mask
    
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    May 24, 2022 11:10am
  - ClanMcleod
    
    Brian, it’s over, let it go. We’re onto monkeypox now. I’m pissed off. I haven’t even taken my Ukraine decorations down yet!
    
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    May 24, 2022 11:23am
Tomtoddy

Farmers are regularly accused of being environmental vandals ruining our landscapes and waterways.

As a former farmer I helped start the Queen Elizabeth ll National Trust so landowners could voluntarily conserve areas of high ecological value. It has been an outstanding success with over 4,900 covenanted areas around New Zealand covering nearly 200,000 hectares of land set aside by farmers for the good of the community.

A study by the University of Waikato found that people who protect land are collectively spending an estimated $25 million of their own money every year maintaining and enhancing their existing Trust covenants. These landowners have made an estimated overall financial commitment of around $1.1 – $1.3 billion to establish and protect open space covenants.

The study also found that for every $1 of Government funding used by the Trust, landowners have made an impressive private financial commitment of $14.

There you go – a positive story from down on the farm.
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May 24, 2022 8:08am
- cmm
  
  Nobody, but nobody, harvests more CO2 from the atmosphere than farmers.
  
  Agriculture is a technology that harvests CO2 from the atmosphere via photosynthesis, then converts that into food.
  
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  May 24, 2022 8:23am
  - Tomtoddy
    
    Strange thing is we pay overseas companies big money to come here and plant trees to sequester CO2 but we tax our own farmers next door doing the same thing with grass.
    
    Figure that out??
    
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    May 24, 2022 8:32am
    - cmm
      
      Never confuse the theatre with reality.
      
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      May 24, 2022 8:36am
    - Matt Long
      
      It’s because we pretend methane produced by farm animals isn’t part of a carbon cycle that adds no further warming to the atmosphere.
      (Even if methane were an effective warming gas and people like Jock Allison are wrong. )
      
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      May 24, 2022 8:50am
      - Tomtoddy
        
        Cheers Matt. Jock aint wrong. Two big differences between Jock and most of the current bunch of scientists – Jock has basic integrity and honesty and he doesn’t have his feet in any trough.
        
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        May 24, 2022 9:18am
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    That is far too much information for a rabid Greenie to comprehend. CO2 = climate change is all they know, Greenpeace told them.
    
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    May 24, 2022 10:50am
    - Steve Otto(North Shore)
      
      Add: If you had breakfast this morning, thank a farmer and a truckie.
      
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      May 24, 2022 10:52am
- kowtow
  
  Yours , cmm’s and tomt’s posts all point to the lunacy of our times .
  
  The msm have ’embraced’ so called progressive politics and push them relentlessly .Look at the coverage of the Oz election . Climate / gender . Bad guys who hate wimmin and the environment ; good guys who embrace “equality” and the weather .
  
  Farmer ; bad . What are we going to eat .
  Fossil fuel; bad. How will we cook or keep warm.
  “Equity” good ; equality before the law ( don’t mention it.) Changes the constitution by stealth.
  Race ; white bad . Brown good.Creates division , wastes scarce resourses and encourages corruption in new state favoured elites.
  
  And if you want serious analysis from any ‘senior” reporters forget it.
  
  They favour their paymaster , the govt . They favour their chosen agenda , climate catastrophe and the new cultural revolution .
  
  Take today’s Coughlan “opinion” on the Oz election in the Herald . A simplistic ,indeed childish and immature take on New Zealand first , again as always over Australia , even down to the pavlova ( give me a break) He talks of the rise of the teals . So called Independents, wimmin concerned about the climate ; but not one mention of who is behind funding that . A rich white guy with a beef against the Liberals.
  Plenty about Crosby and Textor though , how queer.
  
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  May 24, 2022 8:36am
- chukar
  
  Well done TT,
  Have a reasonably substantial QE 2 covenant ourselves .From spindly Manuka the area is returning to beech ,totara etc. Going to take hundreds of years but a start has been made.QuE2 helped with funding some of the fencing.
  They do a good worthwhile job.!
  
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  May 24, 2022 9:18am
  - Tomtoddy
    
    Well done, chukar. Kiwiblog readers salute you. Your sacrifice and contribution is acknowledged by more NZ’ers than you may realise.
    
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    May 24, 2022 10:40am
- Tauhei Notts
  
  Clients of mine put a part of their farm into a Q E II covenant. When the farm was sold to developers, the sale price was reduced by $1.5mil because of that covenant. At the time I wondered how many Green Party people would forsake that sort of coin, for the benefit of the environment.
  Well, the developer’s planners saw the covenant and have exploited it for the environmental credits that it creates.
  Everybody’s laughing.
  
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  May 24, 2022 2:29pm
artemisia

Over the last couple of days there have been reports of community opposition to high density social housing developments. New Plymouth and Millwater North Auckland.

Government housing agency Kāinga Ora has said it is sympathetic to the residents’ concerns but the question remains: if not here, then where would desperately needed public housing be built?

Nobody is asking – or answering – the real question. Why has demand for social housing risen nearly 400% since September 2017. The government used to say it’s because they made people more aware of policies. Now they just say ‘need to build more taxpayer funded and subsidised housing, just because’.

Time to ask landlords why they are – increasing rents, selling up, turning down even slightly less than ideal applicants. Because they know why.
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May 24, 2022 8:11am
- kowtow
  
  The New Zealand Labour “Poo Fingers” Party .
  
  Everything they touch turns to shit.
  
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  May 24, 2022 8:47am
- Pavel
  
  Yeah we all know why but we’re not allowed to talk about it. Renting to good tenants or bad ones the whole process is a head f#@k. Compliance, maintenance, inspections, property managers etc don’t make for an overly attractive investment anymore. Don’t tell anyone but commercial real estate is far more attractive. Rents and property values are often higher than residential and the overheads are almost zero. I like the idea of signing a commercial lease and walking away; no inspections, no maintenance, no rates or insurance, its all on the tenants and worked out in the lease terms and neither side complains. It’s bliss compared to residential.
  
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  May 24, 2022 9:04am
- Ian Boag
  
  Time to ask landlords why they are – increasing rents, selling up, turning down even slightly less than ideal applicants. Because they know why.
  
  OTOH we don’t too much hear about rentals being left empty or landlords having trouble finding tenants. If landlords are being picky it’s because they can.
  
  Looks rather like a supply issue …. and the private sector does not seem to be into “build to rent” on any sort of scale.
  
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  May 24, 2022 9:22am
  - GJM
    
    The private sector isn’t into “build to rent” or “buy to rent” because it is not financially feasible, and in fact it is actively penalised. The interest deductiblity by itself is a huge factor in financing rental property.
    There are to many horror stories of feral tenants causing a lot of damamge. The return on investment is woeful, due to high house prices and rising costs such as insurance and rates, which are paid by the landlord.
    It encourages investment elsewhere, such as commercial property, where there are enforcable contracts for non payment, tenants pay insurance and rent directly, and have better returns.
    
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    May 24, 2022 10:08am
    - kevn
      
      @GJM… In many instances you can’t insure rental property if rented to KO ‘clients’.
      You know why.
      
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      May 24, 2022 10:27am
    - Ian Boag
      
      The return on investment is woeful, due to high house prices
      
      Has always been so – property is a capital gain thing – the return required is generally just whatever it costs to keep 50% – give or take – debt finance afloat.
      
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      May 24, 2022 2:02pm
  - Hebe123
    
    Mines empty. Can’t be arsed with tenants.
    
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    May 24, 2022 1:43pm
    - artemisia
      
      The number of residential properties for sale has risen sharply this year. Some will be rentals where owners are well aware that vacant is better for a sale and, much more quietly, one of the few ways of terminating unwanted tenants these days.
      
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      May 24, 2022 2:37pm
  - artemisia
    
    There’s a taxpayer (HUD) funded study to find out why homes are empty. The contracted group says “The number of actual private empty dwellings in New Zealand on Census night 2018 was recorded at 94,197”.
    
    Lots of reasons of course, and not all rentals. Some will be.
    
    Doesn’t seem to be any urgency to complete the study, a key outcome of which is to encourage owners to bring their property back into the housing supply by finding / addressing reasons. There was a little flurry of MSM mentions of ‘ghost houses’ a while back. Mostly crickets.
    
    Emptyhomes.co.nz
    
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    May 24, 2022 2:33pm
Colville

I just wandered onto the web page of The Opportunities Party.

the webpage really should come with a mental health warning..

and in short…they are total fucking nut balls.

UBI…so free money for everyone… evidently this is going to raise productivity…yes because people sitting on their couches are more productive. This UBI is going to be paid for in part by a land tax… this land tax is going to make rent cheaper… so its a magical tax. A landlord who is taxed is going to magic some additional money out of the ether to reduce rents while still paying this tax. hasnt that idea just been totally debunked in the last couple of years in response to the meddling by Cindy?

It amazes me that people have the audacity to actually put this bullshit into the public space where people can read it …

anywho….lovely day here in the Bay… I had better get on and earn a crust… someone need to pay some taxes around here!
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May 24, 2022 8:23am
- Yabster
  
  The “leader” was on the ChCh council – chair of the Finance committee- did really well on insurance settlements….. sarc – admittedly it would have been one of the councils managers who under insured various assets like Lancaster Park – no consequences as far as I can recall.
  
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  May 24, 2022 9:03am
- Albert_Ross
  
  There are good arguments to be made against the UBI concept, and serious questions to be raised about its implementation in practice. But “everybody will just sit on their couches” isn’t one of them.
  
  Consider. We currently have a system in which you get paid a benefit if you don’t work, and that benefit then gets taken away if you do. Your total income increases by less than your earnings from working. So the rewards for moving from unemployment to employment are reduced and the incentive to work weakened.
  
  That system would be replaced by one in which you get the same income from the state in either case, so every cent you earn from working increases your total income rather than being offset by the loss of income from the state. A UBI therefore increases the rewards for working.
  
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  May 24, 2022 9:13am
  - Weetbix3ways
    
    Many of those on the benefit are there because they don’t WANT to work. So UBI wouldn’t make any difference in such cases.
    
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    May 24, 2022 10:11am
    - Albert_Ross
      
      That’s true; but that problem isn’t created by UBI, it’s a problem that’s there already. UBI doesn’t solve it, but it isn’t aimed at solving it. It’s aimed at a different problem – that of people who would like to get off benefit and go to work, but are discouraged by the fact that their benefits get cut if they do. Effectively they face a very high tax rate on their earnings. Aren’t we supposed to be against high rates of taxation here?
      
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      May 24, 2022 1:20pm
      - Ian Boag
        
        If you read the orginal UBI book – “The Big Kahuna” by Gareth Morgan – that’s pretty much how he puts it. A flat income tax of 30% and a UBI. UBI financed by a tax on capital. It obviously has to be financed from somewhere …..
        
        It does get rid of the poverty trap issue where a beneficiary who dips his/her toe into the workforce faces a very high effective marginal tax rate on the earnings from said work. A whole lot more than 39% …. FWIW I haven’t seen any other solution to this problem.
        
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        May 24, 2022 1:39pm
  - Colville
    
    LOL.
    Yes the magical money argument.
    All this money you are paying to people for not working comes from where exactly??
    For you to pay it, first you have to steal it, and you steal it from intelligent hardworking people who use it for productive purposes. Those people will leave New Zealand in droves.
    The benefit was meant as a safety net…it has become a hammock…and now you propose having a waitress deliver cocktails to the hammock!
    
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    May 24, 2022 10:20am
    - Prince
      
      A simple maths equation blows UBI out of the water.
      UBI would amount to about $6,000 annual payment – well below current benefit levels.etc.
      So in Labour’s terminology just another transfer from the most vulnerable to the super-rich.
      
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      May 24, 2022 12:38pm
    - Albert_Ross
      
      Oh dear. I will try again, more slowly.
      
      Under the present benefits system – We. Are. ALREADY. Paying. People. Who. Are. Not. Working.
      
      What is different about UBI is that it is continues to be paid just the same to people who do work – including your intelligent hardworking people who currently don’t get a thing. This addresses the worst feature of the present benefit system, which is that it actively penalises people when they start working. This reduces the reward, and the incentive, for moving off benefits and into work. UBI, in contrast, increases the reward for working.
      
      Also, by paying benefits only to people who meet particular critera, the present system creates incentives for people to cheat, lie, hide their assets in unproductive places and otherwise modify behaviour in order to qualify. This in turn requires an army of bureaucrats to assess each claim individually, check for cheating, intrude into people’s lives demanding evidence etc. And those bureaucrats all have to be paid.
      
      Just give everybody the same, regardless of circumstance, and you have at a stroke knocked out a vast and expensive layer of administration.
      
      Now the question about how much it will cost, and how to pay for it, is an important and valid one. But it is a different question from the likely impact on behaviour. The latter is actually the strongest argument in favour of UBI.
      
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      May 24, 2022 1:47pm
      - Ehlana
        
        Sadly, the how much it will cost and how to pay for it is the strongest argument against the UBI. No-one I know of has ever figured out how to afford it.
        
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        May 24, 2022 4:55pm
  - Trev
    
    Except the State would pay additional benefits on top of the UBI for all those who said they didn’t “feel” like working.
    
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    May 24, 2022 12:49pm
  - Nickc2
    
    How about making benefits indicative of the individual’s tax paid with the proviso that on becoming employed for the first time, the individual is credited with six years of tax paid at a given rate?
    
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    May 24, 2022 1:20pm
  - artemisia
    
    There was a case reported in the media a year or so ago. A solo parent was working 30 hours a week. Increased hours to 40 and was better off by only $50 a week in the hand. Because though not on a main benefit the person was receiving reduced accommodation supplement and maybe other income tested subsidies. (Don’t recall.)
    
    Thing is the person moved to the same situation as other full time workers in the same family / financial circumstances. And made the choice.
    
    The person was not complaining BTW, happy to be working full time.
    
    Maybe the subsidies are too generous. Wasn’t that the reason benefits were reduced in the MOAB? Collected, and still collects, flak but the point was that work should pay better than the sofa.
    
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    May 24, 2022 3:20pm
- G the giant from Dunedin
  
  Another reason they mumbled on about wealth tax
  
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  May 24, 2022 11:19am
Lexicon

Farmers are so often vilified, but in my experience they have done much to improve industry practice over past decades. They are mindful of their impact on the environment, and care a great deal about their land and their animals, not only because it’s in their interests to do so, but because in general they are decent people.
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May 24, 2022 8:30am
- kowtow
  
  They are the backbone of this country and the grafters who created its wealth .
  
  Now though with a dumbed down electorate always with a hand out and govts happy to oblige , “power” resides in people who couldn’t be bothered getting outta bed or going to work .
  
  But they do have a certain appreciation for the fruits of “horticultural” endeavours ( if they could think past thier latest joint.
  
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  May 24, 2022 8:52am
- krazykiwi
  
  The left’s hatred of farmers probably dates back to days of yore when large land owners where wealthy while the peasants suffered under their whip. Hard to move on from an ancient grievance when ones mind is stuck in an intellectual rut.
  
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  May 24, 2022 10:44am
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    Same with their view on nuclear generation.
    
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    May 24, 2022 11:02am
  - ClanMcleod
    
    Timely link to the kings of satire, Monty Python and the Constitutional Peasant sketch.
    
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2c-X8HiBng
    
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    May 24, 2022 11:28am
  - Matt Long
    
    I think it goes a bit deeper than that, the left would far rather the masses starved than anybody enjoy quiet ownership of land.
    The Kulaks in Russia that Molotov exterminated obviously weren’t Gentry but competent peasants, how many millions starved to death over that episode.
    The left like to pretend that people will work hard to improve anything that doesn’t belong to them where their reward is not tied to performance.
    Hence they Pat themselves on the back for spending billions while the country collapses.
    
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    May 24, 2022 12:10pm
    - kowtow
      
      Mao and his Party did much the same to the wealthy peasant class that sat just below the landlord class , while he needed their support .
      
      Promised them the landlord’s land they worked on , got them on side . Then when he was powerful enuff he smashed them too.
      
      Millions died directly , many more starved and untold numbers of women effectively became sex slaves .
      
      Here in NZ many think it is a great idea basing our properity on dealing with the same party that did that .
      
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      May 24, 2022 3:07pm
- G the giant from Dunedin
  
  Many farmers have done huge work to get them up to the great standard most farmers set, it’s utter bullshit to say they trash the land, it’s their livelihood and anyone saying other wise is an arrogant blowhard, why the he’ll would anyone trash a huge asset
  
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  May 24, 2022 11:22am
- Tom Barker
  
  If farmers are such fundamentally decent people, then why do they need to improve the practices of their industry?
  
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  May 24, 2022 11:46am
  - Don Beckett
    
    If you had half a brain Tom, you could work it out yourself. But for your edification, in all areas of human activity the people involved continually strive to improve output, quality & the environment in which the activity takes place.
    
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    May 24, 2022 12:34pm
Maggie Pie

Ma txts….

Did you hear that idiot Tim Roxborugh on IZB yesterday?
Honestly, no one gets offended faster than a white libtard on behalf of a minority who wouldn’t have been offended in the first place.
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May 24, 2022 8:57am
- graham
  
  Do tell … what was Tim offended about this time? Inquiring minds want to know …
  
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  May 24, 2022 9:44am
Maggy Wassilieff

Why, oh Why have the folks of East Christchurch supported a Labour-led Council?

https://www.newsroom.co.nz/podcast-the-detail/the-stench-invading-the-homes-of-bromley#:~:text=Residents%20in%20the%20Christchurch%20suburb,you%2C%20it%20makes%20you%20nauseous.

And it surprises me not in the slightest that the Labour MP for Christchurch East- Poto Williams has done bugga all about raising the issue of the treatment the residents of these smelly suburbs have endured.
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May 24, 2022 9:07am
- skyblue
  
  Poto is too busy trying to hide the stench of extra gang activity and ram raids.
  
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  May 24, 2022 9:25am
  - G the giant from Dunedin
    
    She hasn’t passed the sniff test Bwhshaha
    
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    May 24, 2022 11:25am
- graham
  
  Ah but Maggy, Poto Williams is far too busy ensuring our police are doing their job properly, coming down hard on criminals and locking them up.
  
  Oh … wait …
  
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  May 24, 2022 9:46am
- G the giant from Dunedin
  
  Labour taking their voters for granted for 100 years, look at the state of Long time Labour seats, look at south Dunedin FFS
  
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  May 24, 2022 11:24am
- Matt Long
  
  I think you should stop attacking her simply because she is a dark skinned woman. //
  
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  May 24, 2022 12:12pm
  - G the giant from Dunedin
    
    The post said Laobur in CHCH east, why do you smug lefties thing we are basing it on sex or colour FFS, we are saying that Labour are an absolute basket case, and always have been , perhaps you should leave your racist and diversity problem at home
    
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    May 24, 2022 9:01pm
- Steve Otto(North Shore)
  
  Do they have mail in Ballots and Dominion counting machines? //
  
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  May 24, 2022 3:07pm
MCōs

Just about all car accidents can be traced back to poor driving, even if it is the catch all, not driving to the the conditions.
When we were kids dad twice bowled over stupid sheep,calves that appeared from nowhere and ran out in front of the car. Back then the driver was guilty.
Some cameras are being installed around Auckland that can detect drivers using their cell phones. An RNZ reporter asked a couple of citizens on the street if they used their cell phones while driving. One said yes, all the time and she had no intention of changing. She added that she was terrible.
Yesterday I picked my granddaughter up from school and I noticed a mother driving away with her boy in the front seat. Neither wearing a set belt.
We have a fairly high road toll here.
Join the fucking dots.
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May 24, 2022 9:12am
- Phronesis
  
  Doesn’t fit the narrative. It was speed that killed them we hear. Not that they were unlicensed sixteen year olds, high on dope and driving an unregistered, unwarranted vehicle with bald tyres. It was still speed that killed them.
  
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  May 24, 2022 9:22am
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    Well, if they drove at 5kph, it would not happen//
    
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    May 24, 2022 3:09pm
Nickc2

Ron Mark (fmr Min of Defence) tells us that during his travels through Ukraine, his group didn’t spot one UN or Red Cross representative (Hosking’s show on Talkback ZB today).
If my memory serves me correctly, we gave money (heaps of it) to these organisations in order that they can assist those suffering during their war with Russia, or was Cindy using this money to grease her way to the UN trough?
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May 24, 2022 9:17am
- mandk
  
  It was an interesting interview with Ron Mark.
  
  He did mention that the UN had a shiny new facility, but that it didn’t seem to be manned or doing anything.
  
  By contrast, the faith-based agencies were busy getting on with the job of humanitarian support.
  
  What is the UN good for, apart from providing career opportunities for politicians past their sell by date?
  
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  May 24, 2022 10:10am
  - Paulus
    
    UN only good for a job for our Cindy – Ukraine perhaps !
    There, solved it.
    
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    May 24, 2022 10:34am
  - Tony Stuart
    
    My respect for Ron Mark has risen significantly. Good on him for going to Ukraine and helping humanitarian aid to get through.
    
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    May 24, 2022 11:16am
    - G the giant from Dunedin
      
      I still remember his smug arrogance on the government benches as he saddled up with the poorer performer at 2017 election
      
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      May 24, 2022 11:39am
    - Steve Otto(North Shore)
      
      He was a mechanic that never got his hands dirty
      
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      May 24, 2022 3:11pm
      - G the giant from Dunedin
        
        He still tries to say he was a decorated sergeant
        
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        May 24, 2022 9:03pm
  - Batman
    
    Might have something to do with Russia and China Vetoing the UN from doing anything about Ukraine. Including being involved with aid missions.
    
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    May 24, 2022 2:25pm
Maggie Pie

Just paid our ‘Genesis Energy’ account for the month.
Anyone else notice how much their Electricity & Gas costs have come down since they dropped the Prompt Payment Discount?

Not only are we ‘Working-For-Other-Peoples-Families’…..now we’re paying their f***ing power bills as well 🙁
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May 24, 2022 9:31am
- MCōs
  
  As of the start of the month we still had the aforementioned discount from Mercury.
  
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  May 24, 2022 9:45am
  - Maggie Pie
    
    You can thank us taxpayers for that then Cossie!
    
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    May 24, 2022 2:20pm
    - MCōs
      
      Thank you
      You’re a wonderful woman!
      
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      May 24, 2022 3:34pm
Libertarians are right

Hillary Clinton’s campaign manager just admitted in federal court that she’s behind the Russia hoax regarding the links to the Alpha bank.

That shouldn’t surprise anyone but probably will (and it’ll surprise no-one that our MSM isn’t reporting it).
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May 24, 2022 9:34am
- krazykiwi
  
  Is the campaign manager falling on her sword, or is she throwing spears at toxic Clinton?
  
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  May 24, 2022 10:39am
  - Libertarians are right
    
    Sorry, I wrote that badly. The campaign manager admitted that Hillary knew the Alfa Bank link was most likely BS but signed off on sending the info to the media. He said that he didn’t know who passed it to the FBI because they were only interested in the publicity.
    
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    May 24, 2022 11:01am
- Don Beckett
  
  Batman will deny it – deny, deny, deny.
  
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  May 24, 2022 10:49am
  - Batman
    
    What’s to deny?
    
    I much prefer to defer to people who know what they are talking about, like Marcy Wheeler who has been taking a scalpel to the Durham cases very effectively.
    
    This is worth a read:
    https://www.emptywheel.net/2022/05/22/john-durham-is-prosecuting-michael-sussmann-for-sharing-a-tip-on-now-sanctioned-alfa-bank/
    
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    May 24, 2022 1:59pm
    - All_on_Red
      
      Lol
      Try reading the evidence of James Baker FBI Chief Counsel. And the Tweets Sussman sent to Baker.
      And the evidence of the CIA Agents who Sussman approached.
      Then theres this.
      https://redstate.com/bonchie/2022/05/20/durham-hillary-clinton-lackey-testifies-she-signed-off-on-pushing-false-alfa-bank-story-n567468
      Durham has definitively proved that Hillary Clinton framed Donald Trump to try to win an Election.
      
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      May 24, 2022 3:13pm
- mikenmildagain
  
  You are trying hard to create a smoking gun there. It must be hard always holding out for the next definitive revelation.
  
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  May 24, 2022 11:25am
  - RightNow
    
    Not at all, popcorn doesn’t seem to be suffering from supply chain disruptions.
    It’s a good laugh this whole “Russian Collusion” business, and as usual it was projection, accusing the other side of that which you’re guilty of yourself (you know, you do it all the time).
    
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    May 24, 2022 11:58am
  - G the giant from Dunedin
    
    They guy charging them has all the evidence, they will shit on Clinton to get off
    
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    May 24, 2022 12:05pm
  - Libertarians are right
    
    It’s an interesting case because we now know she was involved in the distribution of that lie. The next step will be to find out how the FBI got hold of it because that is a crime.
    
    All this is is yet another case of her being a horrible person who actively tried to undermine democracy. Many on the Left love that though so I totally understand why you don’t see it as an issue.
    
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    May 24, 2022 1:08pm
    - G the giant from Dunedin
      
      Thats why Trump sacked Comey while he was here in NZ, he found out he was corrupt, i thought Trump said it at the time , but he did not elaborate
      
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      May 24, 2022 9:05pm
- G the giant from Dunedin
  
  She has to be very careful here now, if he dies like several Epstein aquatinted have, she may very well get charged
  
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  May 24, 2022 11:42am
- Steve Otto(North Shore)
  
  Is this why Trump is now suing her for US$100M?
  Or did I get that wrong?
  If true, Trump wind again!
  
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  May 24, 2022 3:13pm
Maggy Wassilieff

Our Dear PM has a busy 6 months ahead of her…

This is an important trip for the prime minister, who will be out of the country a lot this year.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/opinion/128724591/why-jacinda-arderns-trade-trip-to-the-united-states-is-so-important
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May 24, 2022 9:34am
- Cinematic
  
  Fantastic news. Can we make it permanent?
  
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  May 24, 2022 9:39am
  - peterwn
    
    There will be an overwhelming supply of kindergartens to visit in USA.
    
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    May 24, 2022 10:13am
- Inandout
  
  Maggy, which is why the funding has increased.
  
  ‘The Government is substantially increasing the amount of funding for public media to ensure New Zealanders can continue to access quality local content and trusted news.’
  
  This bribing is scandalous.
  
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  May 24, 2022 10:03am
  - kowtow
    
    Quality and trusted .
    
    A euphemism for corrupted , regime compliant content.
    
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    May 24, 2022 11:47am
krazykiwi

Steve Waterson, Commercial Editor of the Australian gives it both barrels: Australians Stubbornly Refuse to Learn From History – and are Therefore Doomed to Repeat It

It’s a testament to human resilience that we can push traumatic memories out of our minds and eventually carry on with life; it’s how we recover from the tragedies that can strike at any moment.

And oh my, how the wretched politicians who orchestrated the carnage of our pandemic response must be hoping that mechanism will kick in soon; but to protect them, rather than their subjects.

Judging by the silence about the coronavirus during the election campaign, you might wonder if the past two years actually happened. (You may similarly wonder if there has been proper debate about the economy, defence, foreign policy, education, productivity, health or aged care, but perhaps I haven’t been paying close enough attention.)

Yes, the most extraordinary, most ridiculous, most expensive peacetime catastrophe in this nation’s history passed unremarked upon. And this when Covid cases are soaring way beyond the numbers that saw us terrified and confined to our cages less than 12 months ago.
:::
So let’s pause briefly to remember social distancing, closed borders (I thought they’d reopened, but last week some bloke on the telly said they hadn’t), daily updates by funereal-faced health mandarins, “the science” (where have we heard that before?), sycophantic media, contact tracing, density limits (other than on politicians’ intellect), taped-off parks, golf courses and beaches, police firing on and beating the people we naively thought they were paid to protect, and the monstrous overreach of idiotic, brutal lockdowns and the byzantine rules and regulations by which they operated.
:::
The only brilliance shown in the whole fiasco was how the authorities were able to make it socially unacceptable to question the wisdom of their palpably stupid mismanagement.

Dissenters were vilified; all over the world eminent epidemiologists who questioned the orthodoxy were ridiculed and silenced; anyone who expressed concern at our near-compulsory vaccination program was made to feel as though they were cheerleaders for polio and Ebola.

Governments promoted the credo that if you didn’t embrace even their most absurd restrictions you were irresponsible: if you’re not lounging uselessly at home you’re out spreading.
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May 24, 2022 10:37am
- Alan Wilkinson
  
  I have a simple message for the useless cnuts in Wellington – get out of my life and I’ll stop hating you.
  
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  May 24, 2022 10:50am
  - MCōs
    
    That would be
    ‘useless *cunts* in Wellington’
    
    11 7
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    May 24, 2022 11:16am
    - Cinematic
      
      Something in the water supply in the Bridge?
      
      8 1
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      May 24, 2022 11:22am
    - oldfella
      
      Mcos, I’m sure someone will correct me if I’m wrong, but I think you’ve just used one of the few words that’s verboten on this site. Unless the site’s owner has relaxed that rule.
      
      9 1
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      May 24, 2022 12:29pm
      - graham
        
        Seems to depend on the context.
        
        Language
        
        There is some tolerance for swearing so long as it is not directed at someone. Calling someone a c**t is almost never acceptable, but the use of the word in other contexts may be. Telling someone to f**k off is not acceptable.
        
        https://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/comments_policy
        
        [Mod: correct, it was allowed on that basis it seems, by another Mod]
        
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        May 24, 2022 2:15pm
      - Maggy Wassilieff
        
        I thought we’d been advised to reclaim the word.
        
        “If women get called the *C* word by men who are trying to death threat us into silence and intimidation – the least we can do is disarm the word and claim it back, *C* is for Cheers :).”
        
        https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/aug/09/new-zealand-mp-uses-c-word-at-rally-in-call-to-reclaim-it-from-abusers
        
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        May 24, 2022 2:45pm
      - graham
        
        Ah yes, Maggy, one of Marama’s more bizarre little crusades.
        
        … and for a Green MP’s crusade to be bizarre, relative to what they normally go on about, is pretty damning.
        
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        May 24, 2022 3:09pm
      - MCōs
        
        Back in 1956 Peter Jones told a shocked nation he was absolutely buggered when interviewed on the radio after the 4th Test v South Africa
        That was a sensation at the time!
        Around the same time I said ‘bloody’ at St Joseph’s Primary School. One of the nuns overheard and feigned cardiac arrest. They told me next day they’d told my Aunty who was also a nun and she went into cardiac arrest too.
        I mentioned it to her a few years ago and that was the first she’d heard. (People don’t usually forget a heart attack.)
        When my son was early teens he called someone a ‘cunt’. I explained the anatomical origin of the word and ever heard him use it again.
        
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        May 24, 2022 4:06pm
- ClanMcleod
  
  KK – indeed. And the negative implications of coercing people to take part in the biggest medical experiment in history continue.
  Real world data – (not the moronic models from the “experts” with their massive conflicts of interest) – is showing clearly that the more you get jabbed, the more risk you are under.
  
  “are covid boosters causing more severe adverse events than previous doses?”
  
  “one of the potential issues posited about covid vaccines, especially mRNA vaccines, is that repeated dosing might result in greater incidence of autoimmune issues and/or uncontrolled immune over-response and cascades. this can be very dangerous.”
  
  https://boriquagato.substack.com/p/are-covid-boosters-causing-more-severe?
  
  The usual excellent analysis from Bad Cattitude.
  
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  May 24, 2022 11:37am
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    Monkeypox vax available in two to three weeks, fizzer again//
    BTW it has a silent “k”
    
    7 1
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    May 24, 2022 3:25pm
- kevn
  
  @KK… Thanks for that link. True words.
  Wait for the WHO/Gates ‘science’ solution to mon(k)ey pox next.
  The madness/fear is semi ingrained now.
  
  14 0
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  May 24, 2022 11:39am
- kowtow
  
  They couldn’t have done it without the Media Pardy .
  
  Same with climate catastrophism.
  
  19 1
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  May 24, 2022 11:44am
  - krazykiwi
    
    Agreed. It has been fascinating to watch most subscription/advertising media revenue dry up, and for it to be replaced by deep-pocketed state agencies with propaganda to disseminate. “The News” should be renamed “State Guidance Today”. That would more accurately reflect most media’s focus.
    
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    May 24, 2022 1:34pm
    - Steve Otto(North Shore)
      
      Or, “What happened today, and what you will do tomorrow”
      
      7 1
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      May 24, 2022 3:28pm
- CAKE FACE1
  
  It’s interesting.
  
  No-one admits that they were wrong about their support for the insane Covid response. Most of the former fanatics are now simply silent.
  
  New Zealand wasted over $100 billion on lockdowns et al. How many operations could have been performed with that money? How many hospitals could have been built? Or schools?
  
  My faith in humanity has been shaken. Bad decisions are one thing. Wilfully covering up the biggest policy disaster in history is quite another.
  
  This blog cheerfully advocated the 100 day plus Auckland lockdown, on the basis of one case of Covid. There has been no apology since.
  
  Where is the mea culpa?
  
  12 2
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  May 24, 2022 12:09pm
  - Maggy Wassilieff
    
    Siouxsie Wiles realises that she might have been advising a bit too much deep-cleaning (for a respiratory virus!!!!!!!) a couple of years ago.
    
    “The sort of obsession with ‘we need to spraying antiviral products everywhere’, I think it was understandable at the beginning of the pandemic when we were all very focused on surfaces.
    
    “Now we know how this virus is transmitted,
    
    https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/sunday/audio/2018842930/you-re-probably-cleaning-all-wrong-according-to-science
    
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    May 24, 2022 2:48pm
    - Steve Otto(North Shore)
      
      Yer yer. We know how the virus is transmitted, so we go to the beach for a swim/paddle.
      
      9 1
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      May 24, 2022 3:34pm
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    Cakeface, we are dealing with Socialists/Communists here. Nobody is to blame Comrade. All hail – whatever her fucking name is….
    
    11 1
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    May 24, 2022 3:32pm
- Yabster
  
  but but Cindy saved lives…..
  
  From the article:
  
  Oncologists in Britain warn of a cancer crisis that will produce a death toll several times that of Covid, and it won’t be restricted to the elderly. Martin Kulldorff, until last year a professor of medicine at Harvard, said this month that lockdowns won’t influence short-term prognoses but will cause, for example, “those who would have lived 15 to 20 years to die from cervical cancer three or four years from now”.
  
  Further afield, the World Bank says 100 million people in the developing world have been thrown into poverty through lockdowns, which were manageable for those who could work from home. The UN has estimated a quarter of a million children have starved to death in South Asia alone.
  
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  May 24, 2022 3:07pm
Yvette

Why Jacinda Ardern’s trade trip to the United States is so important
Analysis: Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is travelling to the US is for one particular reason, but it has a much broader purpose.
The reason is to give the Harvard commencement speech, something that she was asked to give many months ago. It is a significant invitation and something that is not given out lightly. Previous speakers are many and varied, including John F Kennedy, Winston Churchill, Angela Merkel and J K Rowling.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/opinion/128724591/why-jacinda-arderns-trade-trip-to-the-united-states-is-so-important

Recent Harvard Commencement speakers include Ruth Simmons, president of Prairie View A&M University; former Washington Post editor Marty Baron; German Chancellor Angela Merkel; and the late Civil Rights leader and U.S. Rep. John Lewis. Ardern will be the 17th sitting world leader to deliver the address. She will also be awarded an honorary degree.
https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2022/02/jacinda-ardern-named-class-of-2022-commencement-speaker/
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May 24, 2022 10:42am
- Cinematic
  
  I’ve never understood this honorary degree business.
  
  15 1
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  May 24, 2022 11:20am
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    I think it is a sort of ‘Importance Degree’
    Some people have letters after their name (PhD)
    Others have other letters after their name (WANKER)
    
    9 1
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    May 24, 2022 3:38pm
- cmm
  
  Yup, as many of us predicted months ago: Dr Cindy.
  
  “Why Jacinda Ardern’s trade trip to the United States is so important?” Important for whom? Very important for the person getting a PhD in Chicken Salt, but not at all important for anyone else.
  
  27 2
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  May 24, 2022 11:26am
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    Nobody says Dr David Clark, or Dr Megan Woods.
    But you will say PM, Dr Jaspinda Ardern
    
    7 1
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    May 24, 2022 3:42pm
- Paulus
  
  Still will not get her a job – she is not competent enough even for the UN !
  
  16 0
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  May 24, 2022 1:45pm
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    Savage!
    
    6 1
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    May 24, 2022 3:59pm
- nathie
  
  Anyone know what degree she will be awarded?
  
  If not, perhaps a PhD in Spinning Excellence would be appropriate (or how about a PhD in Astro Physics for the heck of it)!
  
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  May 24, 2022 2:07pm
  - fightingtemeraire
    
    Doctor of Letters DL
    
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    May 24, 2022 2:17pm
softail 1450

I don’t think I have made a comment on KB for many months possibly 12 months, could I just say to Brian Mcdonald, Brian maybe you should take up a pass time of some sort or get out more often as your never ending negativity can’t be good for your health and the time is approaching when your outlook on NZ politics will be not supportable unless your surname is Clown.
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May 24, 2022 10:47am
Frank the tank

Well, well, well…….

Anyone else hearing the rumors regarding insurance (or lack of) and transitionary housing. Imagine if you were in say an apartment block, someone else in the apartment leased out some apartments for shitkickers and now YOU can’t get insurance.

Is poor man’s Gordon Brown going to cover insurance for all the hotel/apartment owners housing NZ’s welfare class?

New “fucking” Zimbabwe indeed.
30 2
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May 24, 2022 10:50am
- Steve Otto(North Shore)
  
  If you owned the apartment and wanted to sell, shit out of luck – even negative equity.
  
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  May 24, 2022 4:03pm
Benedict Yu

This is beyond belief.

“While My Vaccine Passes are no longer legally required, some businesses can choose to keep them as a condition of entry and people are encouraged to have their pass for when it might be needed.”

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/coronavirus/300588389/covid19-updated-vaccine-pass-available-from-today-as-old-ones-expire

These people are on another planet. Any business that required a vaccine pass today would be out of business. Who is going to download a new vaccine pass? Not me.
38 1
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May 24, 2022 11:50am
- Hebe123
  
  There are still businesses in chch that won’t let you in without a mask, even with an exemption. Bellbird Bakery at the TAnnery is one I will never return to.
  
  15 1
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  May 24, 2022 1:52pm
  - curry4me
    
    Also the chippy near my place. They may just have forgotten to remove the sign though. They make excellent chips, and Chinese food. I’ll check them.
    
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    May 24, 2022 3:21pm
- Yabster
  
  yep one word “pathetic”.
  
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  May 24, 2022 2:30pm
- Pavel
  
  What I’d be keen to know is how much did it cost to revamp the pass? Take that amount and divide it by the businesses still using it; how much did it cost per business?
  
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  May 24, 2022 2:50pm
- Taieri
  
  While My Vaccine Passes are no longer legally required, some businesses can choose to keep them as a condition of entry
  ————
  
  If the Vaccine Pass is no longer LEGALLY required, why businesses are allowed to “choose to keep them”? On what grounds precisely?
  
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  May 24, 2022 3:37pm
- Steve Otto(North Shore)
  
  You will, when little Miss (without a mask) wants to see it, when you are at your favorite restaurant. Time to change – two can play that game!
  
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  May 24, 2022 4:06pm
K

Like all MSM articles on covid, “analysis” from Derek Cheng in the Herald today has a bunch of assertions based on the premise that face masks are effective at slowing the spread of covid. The objective of the “analysis” seems to be to justify the Government keeping the current covid restrictions as the rest of the world moves on.

The current covid experience of NZ (compulsory masking in shops etc.) compared with Queensland (not a mask in sight after you leave the airport) doesn’t paint a picture of masks being effective at all:
23 May –
NZ: pop ~5.1m, 7789 cases (rolling average), 14 in ICU
QLD: pop ~5.2m, 7786 cases (rolling average), 17 in ICU

Derek Cheng asks “Why would the parent of an immunocompromised student send them to a classroom where students don’t have to wear masks?”. Well why would the parent send the student to a class where students do have to wear masks? Presumably to ensure they get an education. Why would they let their child cross the road?

It is incredibly frustrating that the benefits of wearing masks in public are taken as a given in all media reporting – reports taking this stance should at least reference the studies that lead them to the conclusion so that readers can consider them and understand their strengths and weaknesses.
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May 24, 2022 11:55am
- Cinematic
  
  The good old flu has wreaked havoc within the Hurricanes super rugby squad. About 7 players have had it so far and all described it as far worse than covid.
  
  The boss virus is back in town, covid is irrelevant.
  
  11 1
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  May 24, 2022 1:51pm
- Steve Otto(North Shore)
  
  Control, K, control, and the Govt is losing it fast.
  Monkeyvax anyone? Um not yet, but we have a “working group” on standby!
  
  7 1
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  May 24, 2022 4:09pm
  - Maggy Wassilieff
    
    No, they don’t have a working group on standby…
    
    They just lie to us that they have a working group…
    
    The Ministry of Health incorrectly claimed it had set up a new innovation team to deal with shortcomings raised before the Covid-19 testing system buckled during the Omicron outbreak.
    
    https://www.newsroom.co.nz/ministry-of-health-makes-incorrect-testing-claim
    
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    May 24, 2022 4:21pm
kevn

@BY… Some employers are and still insist on the jabs. Shocking.
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May 24, 2022 11:56am
- Hebe123
  
  The military for one. Even after losing in the High Court they are mandating boosters.
  
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  May 24, 2022 1:53pm
I remember when

Breaking News: New Zealand will stay in the orange traffic light setting ahead of the Omicron winter spike.
Except that the Government are the only people that don’t realise the general public have been at “Green” for some time now.
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May 24, 2022 11:59am
- Maggy Wassilieff
  
  So The Labour Government is admitting that it can’t manage the usual Winter ills & chills without keeping the country in some form of Emergency lockdown.
  
  How the heck did we manage to survive previous flu seasons?
  
  23 1
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  May 24, 2022 1:20pm
  - Ross Campbell
    
    Stop talking nonsense.
    1.Omicron(Covid) is on top of the normal “usual winter ills and chills”.
    2.Things are pretty damn normal where I live except for mask wearing so I don’t know what form of emergency lockdown you are being subjected too apart from one that’s in your imagination.
    
    2 19
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    May 24, 2022 1:39pm
    - Maggy Wassilieff
      
      So, I take it that you are not an employer.
      
      Try running a business where your workers have to compulsory isolate for 7 days if one of their household tests positive for covid, even if they are not sick and are double vaxxed & boosted.
      
      https://covid19.govt.nz/testing-and-tracing/contact-tracing/household-contacts/
      
      10 1
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      May 24, 2022 5:43pm
  - Cinematic
    
    It’s a curious one isn’t it? I’ll be in Europe for a good chunk of Winter where the emergency settings relate to something somewhat more deadly.
    
    I simply detest this Labour control freak rabble.
    
    18 1
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    May 24, 2022 1:43pm
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    Our Defence is a fucked unit anyway.
    
    6 1
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    May 24, 2022 4:14pm
I remember when

Cameron Bagrie tells Newshub that underlying inflation on core government spending means that –
$100 in 2017 will be $154.01 in 2023.
19 2
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May 24, 2022 12:03pm
- Steve Otto(North Shore)
  
  Yeah yeah, give that man a beer//
  
  4 1
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  May 24, 2022 4:19pm
Maggie Pie

TWITTER TRENDING…

Elon Musk offers to purchase the FBI for $100 billion.

No word yet whether the Clinton’s are willing to sell.

😀 😀 😀
35 6
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May 24, 2022 12:17pm
- All_on_Red
  
  The HillBeast just got fingered bigtime for framing Donald Trump
  
  12 2
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  May 24, 2022 3:03pm
  - Maggie Pie
    
    LOCK HER UP!
    
    https://twitter.com/DonaldJTrumpJr/status/1528361418025848837
    
    6 1
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    May 24, 2022 4:31pm
- Steve Otto(North Shore)
  
  Trump is suing Killary for US$100M, so $100B so the Clintons are now in hiding. They have not even met Musk afaik.
  An honest FBI would be great without influence from left or right.
  
  7 1
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  May 24, 2022 4:23pm
surfing

Unfortunately for the bicycle loving government, the best way to lower road deaths is to build better roads…

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/bay-of-plenty-times/news/tauranga-eastern-link-data-prompts-fresh-calls-for-greater-investment-in-takitimu-north-link/ZCVKXTXZJXQ3THGV2ZCNMNTDOU/

Tauranga eastern link replaced the old main Te Puke statehighway 2.

Old SH2 (over 5 years)
9 deaths, 38 serious injuries

New Motorway (over 6 years)
1 death, 1 serious injury

In this time, traffic has significantly increased with Tauranga population growth.

Govt immediately needs to divert all road safety campaigns into road building!
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May 24, 2022 12:20pm
- Steve Otto(North Shore)
  
  Tell that to the Green American
  
  7 1
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  May 24, 2022 4:24pm
curry4me

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGYrYi3IRHM

Labour MPs Abandon Sir Keir Starmer As He Loses Control.

Partygate has wound down with few consequences. Now Sir Keir Starmer has a problem or two. [3:21]
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May 24, 2022 12:26pm
curry4me

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPcopaySmz4

How does the wheat export ban affect foreign policy?

This week the United Nations takes up global food security on a war footing. The Ukraine war has led to a slump in wheat production from a region known as the world’s bread basket. Russia and Ukraine together account for 25% of the world’s wheat exports. India is the world’s second largest wheat producer and one of its biggest consumers. Thus, when the government decided last week to ban wheat exports in the face of climbing prices, there were many protests from the international community. [16:49]
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May 24, 2022 12:27pm
Maggie Pie

You’d think Nanaia would take responsibility for her decisions…. not run and hide behind some fake ‘Chinese Wall’.

https://twitter.com/theplatform_nz/status/1528844446477045761

My partner’s mum reckons most Labor Ministers are shifty cunce 😀
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May 24, 2022 12:35pm
Niz

Let’s imagine for a minute that NZ goes all racist and brings in co-governance.
How will those 15% of the citizens who get 50% of the governance choose who represents them? Is there anything democratic about it? Are you born into leadership? Do you have to kill somebody and put their head on a spike?
Does your surname have to be Mahuta?
Serious question.
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May 24, 2022 2:05pm
- nathie
  
  These are all good questions that the media should have been asking all along (rather than cancel any criticism or those people questioning such things …. sigh another Team of $55m fail)!
  
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  May 24, 2022 2:13pm
- crikey
  
  @Niz: ‘Serious questions’
  
  No, Yes No, Yes.
  
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  May 24, 2022 3:58pm
- Steve Otto(North Shore)
  
  You can “Self identify as a Mahuta”
  Serious answer Niz. Watch the Queen dance, if she is ever ASKED!
  
  6 1
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  May 24, 2022 4:35pm
UrbanNeocolonialist

Data confirmation of what most of us already knew; Omicron in NZ ceased producing any (excess) deaths above normal 3 weeks ago:
https://ourworldindata.org/explorers/coronavirus-data-explorer?zoomToSelection=true&time=2021-12-26..latest&facet=none&pickerSort=asc&pickerMetric=location&Metric=Excess+mortality+%28count%29&Interval=7-day+rolling+average&Relative+to+Population=true&Color+by+test+positivity=false&country=~NZL
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May 24, 2022 2:07pm
kowtow

I just knew when I saw the headline that pengiuns were found washed up and dead that climate catastrophe would get the blame and sure enuf there it was ;

‘Climate change is being blamed for more than 40 little blue penguins/ kororā washing up dead over a week at a Far North Beach.’

But read on and it is not “climate change” it is the normal natural cycle of ocean patterns in the Pacific , this year it is La Nina.

But the journo has started the story with a falsehood , “climate change” .

This is deliberate , it looks foreign and is misinformatio and disinformation . And leads directly to distrust in the media , the information arm of this regime.

https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/news/upper-north-island/40-dead-blue-penguins-washed-up-on-far-north-beach/

They and all who carry these lies should be ashamed of themselves. And voters who’re being hoodwinked need to “get woke” to it.
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May 24, 2022 2:12pm
- Batman
  
  I don’t know if your reading comprehension is on the blink but that is not what was said. The DoC expert said:
  “The worry that we’ve got is that as global sea temperatures rise with the warming effect that we get from carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is that these events are going to become more frequent.
  
  “And as a result, there’s probably going to end up pushing the penguins out of the far north, the temperatures up there will not be able to be tolerated in terms of food supplies”
  
  The Department of Conservation said the little blues are the warning sign of the impacts to come from climate change.”
  
  So they say it is a worry for the future but not that it is to blame now.
  
  Don’t twist things to suit your need to rage about climate change. It readily gets found out.
  
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  May 24, 2022 2:23pm
  - kowtow
    
    Not climate change , ENSO . Normal cyclical pattern of the climate in the Pacific.
    
    Don’t panic.
    
    12 1
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    May 24, 2022 2:51pm
  - kowtow
    
    Not sure if your reading comprehension is up to it either.
    See first sentence of the story.
    
    Climate change is to blame ………can’t be clearer than that.
    
    10 1
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    May 24, 2022 2:54pm
  - All_on_Red
    
    Global Sea Surface Temperatures have only risen around .4 C over the last 50 years.
    Source;NCDC SST Global Monthly Temps.
    That’s hardly catastrophic and in line with the science which says we are experiencing ongoing modest warming.
    
    14 1
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    May 24, 2022 2:58pm
  - Maggy Wassilieff
    
    A couple of years ago Graeme Taylor from DoC was queried about little blue penguin deaths upon Northland beaches…
    
    He made it quite clear that this is just the usual pattern of life/death for Penguins in the La Nina/El Nino seesaw.
    
    there’s a strong correlation between El Nino and La Nina seasons and penguin deaths.
    
    https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/news/upper-north-island/dead-penguins-wash-up-on-northlands-east-coast-beaches/
    
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    May 24, 2022 3:19pm
  - UrbanNeocolonialist
    
    Total volume of global oceans is only increasing in temperature (from accurate ARGO ocean buoy data) by about 0.15°C per century. That ultimately clamps how fast air temperatures can increase (Currently about 1.3° per century) as increased temperature difference between air and ocean leads to increased cooling of the atmosphere. Besides which increased sea surface temperature increase rate of heat convection to upper atmosphere (which climate models can’t model accurately).
    
    Covid should have provided a great working example to the world on how Millenialist scare stories like climate change get blown up out of all rational proportion by priests who derive their income from the scare – they are always looking to top each other in their claims to draw more eyeballs, prestige and funding for themselves. And yet we still have a world full of sheep baaing along with the rest of the flock, believing the scary stories even after the problem has clearly become a minor irritant at worst.
    
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    May 24, 2022 3:25pm
    - Pineapple Lumps
      
      UN – good analysis of the religious nature of modelling, forecasting, and predicting the future evidenced markedly in climate change and Covid commentary. While modelling and predicting has a mathematical basis and gets portrayed as Science, the overall practise is more akin to astrology, soothsaying, and prophecy. Instead of crystal balls, signs in the stars, portents and omens from the entrails of slaughtered animals, our modern day augers mystical toolkit is computers and code.
      
      The reason we are led astray by this as a society is not that we are sheep, it is our dogged and determined worship of false idols.
      
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      May 24, 2022 7:41pm
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    Batman is angry.
    “Don’t twist things to suit your need to rage about climate change. It readily gets found out.”
    DoC expert? Who?
    Second sentence in your comment Batman.
    ‘X’ is the unknown quantity, and ‘spurt’ is a drip under pressure.
    
    9 1
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    May 24, 2022 4:45pm
Maggie Pie

SkyNews are reporting Peter Dutton ‘has-the-numbers’ to be the next leader.

Lucky it’s not a Beauty Contest!

https://twitter.com/PeterDutton_MP/header_photo

LOL!!
8 1
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May 24, 2022 2:16pm
- barnacle bill
  
  Dutton is an obnoxious prick.
  
  Conservatives will be out of power for a few years until he is a gone.
  
  8 1
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  May 24, 2022 3:40pm
  - kowtow
    
    Policy doesn’t count ?
    
    4 1
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    May 24, 2022 6:51pm
Show me the evidence

Finally have time to have a look at KB now we’re isolating here in South Auckland. The two youngest (13 and 15, unvaxxed) got covid after a superspreader event a few days beforehand. The youngest is immunocompromised and overweight so went downhill fast but perked up a few hours later once we got the literally lifesaving meds administered. 12 hours later he was up, eating and watching movies and doing a bit of school work. Still a bit tired after 48 hours but, hey, rotavirus landed him in hospital so it’s safe to say this is not even close to the sickest he’s ever been. But then why would it be, as this is not a dangerous illness for children, even those with comorbidities like him. The 15 year old has had a mild headache but was doing school work. I despair that they are encouraging 16 and 17 year olds to get boosted. Those booster tril were even more sketchy and devoid of real data than the original trials, but that is the state of True ScienceTM today. Oh, and just for those who haven’t seen the latest RNZ Covid stats:
7 day rolling average Case rates (per 100k):
Boosted:171 (highest, oh dear)
Double vaxxed :142
Unvaxxed (not including under 12s):54
7 day rolling average hospitalisation rates (per 100k):
Double vaxxed:2.2
Unvaxxed: 1.8
Boosted: 1.6 (no, not that much lower than the unvaxxed)
The data are definately not reliable for various reasons but let’s face it, you wouldn’t be pushing boosters or have any mandates in place at this point if you were actually following the data.
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May 24, 2022 2:53pm
- Batman
  
  “not reliable for various reasons” includes the fact you have not accounted for the very high vaccination and booster rates, right?
  
  Because otherwise, the picture looks completely different and means the unvaccinated are being hospitalised more and get sicker on average.
  
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  May 24, 2022 4:28pm
  - mawm
    
    @ Batman – He does say “per 100k”.
    
    Most countries that are still publishing their statistics are showing the same trend. Read this paper (of course you won’t) and hopefully you might have a glimmer of understanding as to why those that have been vaccinated against covid with an mRNA “vaccine” are not doing well and will have problems related to immunity in the future.
    
    https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S027869152200206X
    
    7 1
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    May 24, 2022 6:24pm
    - Pineapple Lumps
      
      Looks like a case of reading comprehension being on the blink.
      
      4 0
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      May 24, 2022 6:54pm
      - Batman
        
        Hmmmm yes, there perils of speed reading huh?
        
        Though the rampant appetite of some for clutching at anything to justify their wrong opinions (because they are opinions) is certainly persistent.
        
        Of course the effectiveness wanes against other variants. Nobody denies that. Nor were the vaccines claimed to have magical properties that could adapt to any and all new variants.
        
        The crank obsession with mRNA is amusing.
        
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        May 24, 2022 7:25pm
      - Pineapple Lumps
        
        Batman – at least you can admit your fallibility. It would be good to see our leaders showing similar humility.
        
        The data is showing that it was not worth creating massive division in our society between vaxxed and unvaxxed. At the very least the data no longer supports vaccination as a means to prevent catching and transmission of Covid, nor to protect our health system being overwhelmed. Given this is now clear I believe it is immoral that some groups of people are still required to be boosted every 6months to retain their jobs. How long until those groups get their freedom back?
        
        4 0
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        May 24, 2022 8:02pm
      - mawm
        
        So you didn’t read the scientific paper but still label science as a crank obsession.
        
        0 0
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        May 24, 2022 8:54pm
- Steve Otto(North Shore)
  
  Can you tidy that up please?
  Things called para – something
  
  5 1
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  May 24, 2022 4:52pm
- UrbanNeocolonialist
  
  Following The Science™ these days tends to always lead to a big pile of The Money™
  
  8 1
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  May 24, 2022 5:07pm
Steve Otto(North Shore)

Johnny Depp and Amber Heard Trial – Jack Sparrow testifies.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHfz1Qn-50s
4 1
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May 24, 2022 2:56pm
Maggy Wassilieff

If a 12 year-old child is out stealing 8 cars at night, then he clearly is NOT in the care of Oranga Tamariki.

According to the Otago Daily Times, the cars were taken by a 12-year-old boy who is known for such behaviour and was in the care of Oranga Tamiriki.

https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2022/05/police-hunt-12yo-who-allegedly-stole-eight-cars-overnight-in-dunedin.html

He is being NEGLECTED by O.T.
19 1
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May 24, 2022 3:02pm
- Prince
  
  Nobody cares.
  Here’s a gang member who even the judge says has “an extraordinary history for a young man for violence and threatening behaviour and use of weapons,”, however in between the violent crimes with weapons he has “ been doing well other than committing these offences and that is encouraging.”
  So it’s 120 hours for multiple offences so he could “give something back to the community”.
  Hope I’m not in the vicinity the next time he gives to the community.
  
  17 0
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  May 24, 2022 4:43pm
surfing

Ann Tolley is trying to redevelop the Tauranga CBD with her developer mates.

She gave the public consultation 2 options, spend 126 million, or spend 300 million. 92% people chose one of the two options (obviously , because those were the only options), 8% didn’t tick either box.

There was a separate feedback channel though, where 549 people gave feedback, of which 419 opposed both options. This works out to 76% opposition to both options.

To me, the second is the real feedback of the people, because it was the only open discussion. The first was biased towards making people pick one option or another.

Tolley is completely ignoring the will of the people of Tauranga, and bullying along with her pet plan, supported by Tauranga’s richest developers who stand to gain hundreds of millions of dollars.
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May 24, 2022 3:37pm
Maggie Pie

Shot up to Sephora Newmarket before to get some new makeup.
Heading home up Remuera Rd and ended up behind an old diesel Bus.
On the back was a yuge Waka-Kotahi Advertisement showing a couple of Maori kids standing either side, with the caption….. “Watch out for us around schools”

Thort to myself…. ‘that must be well out of Zone’

LOL!!
9 4
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May 24, 2022 4:02pm
Batman

Well, bugger me, 68,000 fraudulent candidate ballot signatures.

Maybe there really is an organised electoral fraud scheme!

https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/michigan-governor-fraudlent-signatures
8 0
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May 24, 2022 4:31pm
- Steve Otto(North Shore)
  
  So you know how it works, Batman?
  Dig some more, then another hole, hole, hole.
  Careful, they are watching you……
  
  8 1
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  May 24, 2022 4:57pm
- UrbanNeocolonialist
  
  All politicians who break the law should be prosecuted maximally as a deterrent to others who are tempted. (for those who have a degree of blindness in these matters “politicians” includes those on the left).
  
  5 1
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  May 24, 2022 5:10pm
- UrbanNeocolonialist
  
  And I am sure you will be pleased to hear that on the back of “true the votes” work on the 2020 election fraud Arizona state police have started arresting the coordinators and mules who worked in the 2020 election ballot fraud operation – and those arrested are ‘singing’, laying out the full breadth of the operation. Will be fun to watch that all come out.
  
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  May 24, 2022 5:22pm
Niz

Well, Jen Purdie seems like a particularly dangerous individual. She seems happy telling us all what we need, and don’t need, to do. Individual freedoms be buggered. Let’s hope she doesn’t get the ear of anybody in parliament.

She says that we have an obsession with driving big cars. Aah, no, we _choose_ to drive vehicles that suit our needs and/or desires. If she wants to walk everywhere, fine. She can f*ck right off telling me what I need to drive though.

Fricken MSM really gives me the shits. Endless disinformation/lies about climate change, endless opinion from experts who have been consistently wrong in their predictions. Never a rational voice assuring us that any warming we’ve experienced over the last century or so was only partially caused by humans, and has generally been beneficial.
Alarmists’ interference in markets is far more dangerous to people than any gentle warming we might be getting.
CO2 is not pollution.
Warmer is better.
The end.

https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2022/05/opinion-kiwis-must-get-over-obsession-with-big-cars-and-go-smaller-or-electric-to-cut-emissions.html
12 1
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May 24, 2022 5:23pm
- graham
  
  What is wrong with these people? I can only assume they don’t live in the real world, where people tow boats, caravans, and trailers; where they take kids to school and sports events; where they go to Bunnings and need to get the wood, cement, and landscape supplies home …
  
  Maybe Jen Purdie just dials up a tradie with her elegantly manicured finger to do all the work around her home, never once thinking how the tradie will get there or carry the tools of his trade. Maybe she has never had any interest in DIY, or gardening, or going out on a boat or a jetski. But if it’s not too much to ask, Ms Purdie – spare a thought for the rest of us who actually get out and live life.
  
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  May 24, 2022 7:26pm
greybeard

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/128744672/identities-of-the-artists-who-dropped-threatening-flyers-around-nelson-revealed
This is hard to read: two “pakeha” people are identified for dropping flyers.
But whenever there is a child , a baby, murdered or ordinary innocent people intimidated by gangs or neighbours or Kainga Ora “guests” then there is never any mention of the ethnicity of the criminals.
What is going on?
16 1
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May 24, 2022 5:40pm
fernglas

Still in Orange? Sad little country.
8 0
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May 24, 2022 6:33pm
Maggie Pie

This is interesting…

>> I googled ‘English-to-Maori’ translation : NEPOTISM

>>Guess what it was….NEPOTISM

So proof they were practising it way before Colonisation
9 2
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May 24, 2022 6:52pm
UrbanNeocolonialist

Elon Musk could have put that $44billion towards tackling world poverty, instead he’s used it to send millions of woke Liberal narcissists into a spiral of depression, and honestly I think it’s money well spent.
7 1
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May 24, 2022 6:56pm
- Batman
  
  He hasn’t spent any of it yet.
  
  It has also given a lot of snowflake schoolyard level conservative types a collective orgasm at the idea of Trump being back on Twitter. Then again, he seems more active ‘re-thruthing’ maniacs on his no-frills twitter platform so maybe he will stay there.
  
  So everyone has got something out of it!
  
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  May 24, 2022 7:19pm
Maggie Pie

LOL!!

One of the Asian girls from work has only just tweeted this….

Sooo had to share with the group 😀 😀 😀

https://twitter.com/JokersWildUK/status/1528998008628596736
2 3
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May 24, 2022 7:45pm
- Tauhei Notts
  
  It is brilliant.
  
  4 0
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  May 24, 2022 9:04pm
- Captain Mainwaring
  
  Doesn’t work for me. Maybe my eyes (along with the rest of me) are too old.
  cheers, The Captain
  
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  May 24, 2022 9:51pm

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