General Debate 28 June 2022

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Nukuleka

I received an ill-considered and inappropriate rant of an email from ACT yesterday on the subject of the USA Supreme Court’s abortion ruling. Not only does ACT not have a clue about the purpose of the ruling, that is returning a matter not covered by the Constitution to the people via State legislatures, but the party sets itself up as intransigent and intolerant as the Greens. Ok, so all ACT members must support NZ’s policy of permitting abortion up till birth – and noone will have a contrary view. What ever happened to diversity of viewpoints on moral issues, ACT and David Seymour?
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June 28, 2022 8:11am
- David Garrett
  
  Nuku: I agree with most of what you say. The central point surely is it is none of our damn business what the US does internally? Or at least if it’s an issue that doesn’t affect us at all. And whatever the US law is on abortion – at either state or federal level – doesn’t affect us in the least. ACT and every other NZ political party should stay the fuck out of this debate.
  
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  June 28, 2022 8:23am
  - Souvlaki
    
    One thing that especially pisses me off, is the Labour Party trying to spread profound misinformation about Luxon as result of US decision.The law here is NOT going to change
    Robertson clearly VERY rattled by polls & will try any diversionary tactic which springs to mind.🤪
    
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    June 28, 2022 8:28am
    - kowtow
      
      It’s the Labour Party’s job to do that .
      The major problem here is that the media Pardy are happily doing the labour Party’s job for them.
      
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      June 28, 2022 8:33am
    - graham
      
      Not just Labour. Our mainstream media (surprise, surprise) have been gleefully leaping on the bandwagon to see just where they can drive it to.
      
      I saw someone on the news last night lamenting how abortion should not be used for political point-scoring. Maybe she would be better off directing that statement DIRECTLY AT the media.
      
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      June 28, 2022 8:33am
      - kowtow
        
        HDPA was having a go about OConnor’s tweet .
        I think she even said he was dick head who should apologise , or words to that effect.
        
        Good to know where these people stand on the vital issue of freedom of expression , personal conscience etc.
        
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        June 28, 2022 9:15am
      - Philview
        
        At least we know the media is mostly corrupt and entirely predictable they would come at the National Party. What bothers me is free speech as it now appears that any public discussion in support of pro life is now gone and has been added to the list of taboo topics that offend liberals in New Zealand.
        
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        June 28, 2022 10:54am
      - Ian Boag
        
        @Philview
        
        “Discussion” of abortion laws is not something that goes anywhere much. “Murder”/”My body” endlessly repeated. I invite anyone whose views have changed as a result of KB posts to put up his hand …. 🙂
        
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        June 28, 2022 11:23am
    - All_on_Red
      
      Its probably not going to change much, if at all.
      In the US, the Term up to which an on demand Abortion can be done, varies by State.
      There is one State (Texas, quelle surprise) where its up to 10 weeks.
      There are six States where its up to 40 weeks (full Term)
      The rest of the States its 21-30 weeks- which is much the same here and in fact is more permissive than most of Europe which is 12-15 weeks.
      You would think the Media and Act could do some research- just perhaps not on Twitter.
      
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      June 28, 2022 9:00am
      - Tom Hunter
        
        You would think the Media and Act could do some research- just perhaps not on Twitter.
        
        Sure, but you know as well as I do that this is not the point of such hysterical, blanket coverage here in NZ.
        
        Incidentally it’s been amusing to see DPF not covering such a huge story out of the USA. The reason I’m sure is that he doesn’t want to give it any oxygen in burning his beloved Nats – exactly the opposite reason to why “Bomber” Bradbury and company are going apeshit about the story over at The Daily Blog. I think he’s written four or five stories on it now – all of them also trying to make it stick to Luxon. Labour must really be shitting themselves over the polls. 🙂
        
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        June 28, 2022 11:23am
      - Clownworld
        
        NZ is up to 40 weeks, decriminalised and now a health issue passed under urgency during lockdown.. NZ is among the most liberal around abortion in the world.
        
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        June 28, 2022 2:53pm
    - Brian McDonald
      
      Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
      Does that “profound” information include his statement that abortion is murder?
      
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      June 28, 2022 9:22am
      - rouppe
        
        No, the profound misinformation is that Luxon will change abortion laws if be became PM.
        
        Luxon is allowed to have a personal opinion on abortion. That doesn’t mean he’s going to force it on anyone.
        
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        June 28, 2022 3:45pm
  - My
    
    Yeah, it is only the breathless coverage this has received from our media that makes it, in the mind of many, our business.
    In the end it is about democracy. Giving the decision about significant social, moral issue back to the people.
    Surely following the Euthanasia debate and conclusion David Seymour should get that.
    
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    June 28, 2022 8:33am
  - Simon
    
    “The central point surely is it is none of our damn business what the US does internally?”
    
    NZ is a satellite of America. You can tell all the satellites around the world who took this seriously. A ruling from the heart of the Empire and all the provincial governors, all the satraps like Ardern, Johnson & Truedeu have to chime in. They have to let the proles know despite this ruling from Empire we are allowed to make our own local rules.
    
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    June 28, 2022 8:50am
    - crikey
      
      Simon: Love your use of ‘satrap’, particularly as it relates to modern usage.
      
      Satrap was a governor of the provinces of the ancient Median and Achaemenid Empires and in several of their successors, such as in the Sasanian Empire and the Hellenistic empires.
      
      The satrap served as viceroy to the king, though with considerable autonomy. The word came to suggest tyranny or ostentatious splendour, and in modern usage refers to any subordinate or local ruler, usually with unfavourable connotations of corruption.
      
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      June 28, 2022 9:32am
    - Rodion Raskolnikov
      
      You are 100% right Simon. The United States remains, for the time being, the global hegemon and the leader of the formerly “free world.” In effect, New Zealand is a vassal of the United States, so by association, any significant policy debate affects us either immediately or eventually. Think about the majority of social issues at the fore in New Zealand: all of them have been imported from America, or mirror events in America. Besides, the question of the moral value of abortion transcends national borders even absent a globalised world. We should be talking about it.
      
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      June 28, 2022 11:43am
    - ClanMcleod
      
      Correct. We must always show our subservience to the “great empire”. Though not so great as it once was and looking increasingly like not for much longer.
      You can tell who isn’t a US satellite by the amount of sanctions imposed on them.
      
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      June 28, 2022 12:39pm
  - sgthree
    
    DG: – especially when the right to an abortion in NZ is no more enshrined in law than it is in all 50 US states. 61 NZ MPs could repeal the Abortion Legislation Act 2020 tomorrow if they wanted to – this puts NZ on equal footing with all US states, arguably less so given that all states but Nebraska have a two house legislative system making the legislative process more robust. NZ politicians are in no position to pontificate on the issue of abortion in the US.
    
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    June 28, 2022 9:47am
    - cmm
      
      Quite
      
      On top of that, people in the US can cross state boundaries on a whim and go “state shopping”. Here it’s much more of an issue to change to a different laws – you have to move country.
      
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      June 28, 2022 11:31am
  - Lenticular
    
    Bugger that, them opining is wonderful, it shows us how they think. This is such an egregious tweet by ACT that it might finally disabuse a few of its voters of the lie that they are a meaningful opposition to wokeness.
    
    PS Simon OConnor was right.
    
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    June 28, 2022 12:01pm
  - John Pakes
    
    David, of course it is our business, or at least our concern.
    That the nation that is described as the leader of the democratic world, the US of A, has descended into a state of insanity should be of concern to us all.
    
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    June 28, 2022 1:33pm
    - Don Beckett
      
      Pot. Kettle. Black
      
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      June 28, 2022 3:13pm
- Matt Long
  
  ACT, the party of if we can’t abort them jab them with ineffective RNA ASAP, great Brandon, Seymour.
  
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  June 28, 2022 8:27am
- slightlyrighty
  
  Nukuleka.
  
  ACT is, by definition, a libertarian party. It’s stand on Abortion, being Pro Choice, is appropriate, and I’m sure that ACT will allow an individual to be Pro Life.
  
  Where the line is, regards the imposition of that view on those who believe otherwise, and ACT will not infringe on that freedom.
  
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  June 28, 2022 8:27am
  - kowtow
    
    Seymour is a politician.
    He sees a chance here to boost his polling.
    
    As per comments above , how is this the big deal that the NZ media is making this.
    
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    June 28, 2022 8:45am
    - Loddenthinks
      
      You really think they’d pass up a chance to signal their virtue? Even that one-hit-wonder, washed-up, fake hair colour, afternoon-Glastonbury-set-on-a-back-stage wannabe Yelich-O’Connor couldn’t pass up the opportunity to comment on something she knows nothing about.
      
      Expect a long opinion piece by Lizzie Marvelly any tick of the clock.
      
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      June 28, 2022 10:05am
    - mawm
      
      kowtow – Seymour is showing that he has no more integrity than any of the others.
      
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      June 28, 2022 11:04am
  - WaynelSexton
    
    Act is the party of economic efficiency.
    Of course they are pro abortion.
    It’s far better for the economy if New Zealanders stay childless and we just import immigrants.
    Children cost the country money and money is all that’s important to Act voters.
    
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    June 28, 2022 8:47am
    - Loddenthinks
      
      Come on, you can do better than that. Shouldn’t you be adding “looking after their rich prick mates at the big end of town” and “trampling on the futures of our rangatahi, wahine and tamariki”?
      
      Troll rating – a generous 4. Out of 20.
      
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      June 28, 2022 10:07am
    - Tom Hunter
      
      I’ll keep your comment in mind when reading of the strong Leftist approval of US corporations fully expensing abortions. 😉
      
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      June 28, 2022 11:32am
  - Rodney Hide
    
    Slightlyrighty
    
    That ACT is libertarian should mean whole-hearted support for the greatest libertarian document in force: The Constitution of the United States.
    
    That ACT is libertarian should mean respect for the greatest body defending individual freedom: The Surpreme Court of the United States.
    
    19-1392 Dobbs v Jackson Women’s Health Organization is much deeper than policy being about what the Constitution does and does not say and the role of the Supreme Court in interpreting the Constitution.
    
    I wonder how many of those jumping on the bandwagon to signal their credentials have read the decision or could explain the role and history of the Constitution of the United States of America and why legal scholars — whatever their view on abortion or their politics — regard Roe v Wade as wrong in law including feminist and pro-abortion Supreme Court Justice RBG.
    
    Rodney Hide
    
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    June 28, 2022 8:56am
    - Cassandra
      
      And Seymour should say nothing about Roe nless it’s entitled My Personal Opinion. ACT does not have a policy on this and neither it should have.
      
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      June 28, 2022 9:45am
      - Jack5
        
        Cassandra: good point.
        
        Besides this being a diversion being pushed by the Ardern-bought media, hasn’t any voting on this in NZ always been a conscience issue with MPs making their own decisions?
        
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        June 28, 2022 10:47am
    - leoj
      
      That’s not all….
      
      Since when is it a crime to admit to being pro-life.
      
      These pro-choice rabble seem to think that their opinion is the only one that counts.
      
      Then there is hypocrite te reo Luxon who took down a pro-life tweet because it caused stress but is pro-life himself.
      
      A plonker, chief fence-sitter and all-round gutless, so-called leader.
      
      Politicians make me puke.
      
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      June 28, 2022 10:13am
      - ClanMcleod
        
        It was and (still is in many areas) exactly the same for anyone opposed to the experimental vaccine Ardern attempted to force on them. Exactly the same.
        National and ACT responses also as gutless around that assault on freedom and bodily autonomy.
        
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        June 28, 2022 12:45pm
    - slightlyrighty
      
      I do not count myself as a constitutional scholar, however, I am of the understanding that the US Constitution does not expressly prohibit Abortion.
      
      I do however, believe that the constitution of the US is a living document that cannot be regarded in isolation, but must be viewed with the Bill Of Rights.
      
      Amendments to that bill have included limits on sufferage, allowing Slavery and of course, prohibition. While the Constitution may be viewed as a libertarian document, Amendments have been used as a rather brutal cudgel against it’s own citizens.
      
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      June 28, 2022 12:14pm
      - Alwynn
        
        Slavery was allowed in the Constitution from the beginning. It was only the abolishment of Slavery that was an amendment.
        Prohibition, on the other hand, was both introduced by an amendment (the 18th) and abolished by one (the 21st)
        
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        June 28, 2022 6:58pm
    - In Vino Veritas
      
      Thomas’s argument against Roe is the argument against substantive due process, which is a legal theory used to justify finding new rights in the Constitution. “Substantive rights” allows application of rights outside of legal process and allows rights not given in the Constitution.
      
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      June 28, 2022 8:53pm
  - Matt Long
    
    Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
    And yet ACT, at least when David Garrett was a MP, was intent on restricting the liberty of people who were making the choice to use their bodies to hurt or kill other humans.
    Is Seymour going to speak out in opposition to 3 Strikes next?
    
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    June 28, 2022 8:58am
    - peterwn
      
      So on this basis a certain mass murderer should be let out of jail after serving a token sentence and not be locked up for life.
      
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      June 28, 2022 9:32am
      - westernScientist
        
        sounds more like a labour policy….
        
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        June 28, 2022 9:45am
      - Matt Long
        
        I’m unsure of whether Tarrant was practicing late term abortion or euthanasia, he was certainly exercising his free choice as an eco-fascist.
        
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        June 28, 2022 12:01pm
    - Matt Long
      
      Let me put that another way, if you saw a woman in the privacy of her back garden slicing up a baby would you intervene?
      What if the baby had had been born prematurely at 5 months? Does she then have the right to kill that baby? Would that action be evil?
      What kind of magical effect does proceeding through the birth canel or a ceasarean incision that confers personhood on a baby? How does the decision to abort that baby remove the magical effect so that a viable baby born alive through a botched abortion is left to die without pain relief?
      
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      June 28, 2022 9:57am
      - dh
        
        “I have noticed that everyone who is for abortion has already been born.” – Ronald Reagan
        If my mother aborted me I wouldn’t be here. Doesn’t matter how early.
        
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        June 28, 2022 9:11pm
  - westernScientist
    
    An argument could also be made that a libertarian party should be supportive of the supreme court decision on the basis that centralisation should be minimised, and laws should be made as local as possible rather than by a large central power structure, particularly an un-elected one like a court.
    
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    June 28, 2022 9:07am
    - cmm
      
      That is the crux of this whole issue.
      
      Moving centralised law making out to states is a move towards libertarianism.
      
      Having different laws in different states allows people to pick and choose the state (and thus the laws) they want to live under – a far more libertarian construct.
      
      Those that love centralised power would prefer that state powers (and even national power) get trampled on – replacing it all with once, centralised, UN “government” to rule us all whether we like it or not.
      
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      June 28, 2022 11:37am
  - Rodion Raskolnikov
    
    While libertarians are basically people whose only value is having no firm set of values, I wouldn’t call Seymour a libertarian (i.e. a champion of personal agency) anyway. If he was, he would have propounded free choice over Covid policy. He’s a politician who will adapt to what he thinks is the public mood.
    
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    June 28, 2022 11:49am
    - Clownworld
      
      Seymour is simply a self-referentially incoherent post modern existentialist. Trust him with your life? No.
      
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      June 28, 2022 3:02pm
  - Lenticular
    
    So libertarian they single out pro life points of view as banned for protesting.
    
    PS The treatment of abortion under libertarianism, like any other ideology, should depend on fetal personhood. If an unborn baby is a person, they should be protected from bring dismembered, just like you and I. Libertarians believe in preventing murder.
    ACT (and you) have confused their blinkered view of fetal personhood with some unconditional outworking of their ideology.
    
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    June 28, 2022 12:08pm
- Nukuleka
  
  We even have a law in NZ, don’t we, that if the fetus is still alive after the abortion is performed – thus an unsuccessful abortion- then you can’t have another go at killing it. This is the mark of a truly civilized country. Sick.
  
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  June 28, 2022 9:41am
  - MCōs
    
    What exactly is the law?
    What is the law regarding a person kept alive on life support?
    There’s also many hypothetical scenarios one could dream up that never occur to justify one’s theoretical point of view.
    
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    June 28, 2022 10:29am
    - NeverMindTheBollocks
      
      New born babies cannot request DNR
      
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      June 28, 2022 6:17pm
- Tom Hunter
  
  Since all the “right wing” parties in this nation seem to endlessly soil themselves over the gender gap – meaning the higher proportion of woman who vote Left than men – I can’t help thinking that perhaps it’s time that men started making them worry about the gender gap in the opposite direction by not voting for the useless cucks.
  
  I don’t think any group of voters likes being constantly taken for granted, but then I know only a few tribal Nats and Lab people, and most of them via blogs and such.
  
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  June 28, 2022 11:10am
  - Rodion Raskolnikov
    
    Imagine a party that ran on a male chauvinism, anti-feminism platform. It would be such a breath of fresh air. Men across New Zealand would be like prisoners making a break for the fence across the compound, attempting to avoid the spotlights of the female in their life. The secret ballot principle would be a life saver for the embattled men of the nation.
    
    Come the election night victory speech of the Chauvinists: “Oh, how disappointing. I voted for Jacinda too, dear, but oh well, we must respect the will of the nation.”
    
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    June 28, 2022 11:56am
    - Ross Campbell
      
      You have previously signalled your antipathy and disdain for women in general RR.
      Now would be a good time to address these feelings of inadequacy before they manifest into something bigger.
      
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      June 28, 2022 1:00pm
      - Rodion Raskolnikov
        
        I love women. Why do you liberals always equate advocacy for one group as being equivalent to hatred for another group? A rhetorical question of course, because the answer is that in so doing, you can avoid defending your own tenuous position that rests on a foundation of ideology over empiricism. I’d love it if the application of feminist ideology had translated into a better society with better off females, but I cannot ignore decades of observable reality.
        
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        June 28, 2022 2:02pm
- NK
  
  Yes, and said communication said this,”Whichever view you take, it is now an enormous problem that former President Trump is trying to take credit for the Ruling by appointing the judges. The judges are not supposed to be appointed to undertake political missions, they are supposed to interpret the constitution as intended by the Founders”.
  
  Which is what the Judges did the other day, in a decision which Act appears to be complaining about.
  
  Go figure.
  
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  June 28, 2022 11:20am
  - Rodion Raskolnikov
    
    “The judges are not supposed to be appointed to undertake political missions, they are supposed to interpret the constitution as intended by the Founders”
    
    What a joke. This attitude is why the so-called right are always behind the eight ball: they have no idea how power works and so don’t use it. While that statement is technically correct, it is also naive beyond belief. Someone like the late RBG, for instance, dedicated her life to judicial activism, and the initial Roe v Wade was one such prominent instance of liberal political ideology informing judicial interpretation.
    
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    June 28, 2022 12:04pm
    - cjn
      
      RBG disapproved of Roe v Wade.
      
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      June 28, 2022 6:27pm
  - Matt Long
    
    Trump appointed judges that regard the constitution as a binding document to be correctly interpreted, so we can take him as responsible for this decision, the regressives appoint judges that regard the constitution as a living document to be interpreted according to regressive doctrines that set aside the intent of America’s founding fathers, just like the treaty partnership here.
    
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    June 28, 2022 12:14pm
  - Nickc2
    
    The Democrats have stated they will stack the SCOTUS as vacancies become available. IMO, they’re fast running out of time and if I was an American, I would be pleased about that.
    
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    June 28, 2022 1:43pm
- G the giant from Dunedin
  
  They are hollow when you look at them , why is he so woke over abortion, it was a personal choice the vote in 2019, why is he like a leftie and bitterly opposed to others opinions that differ from his, time he woke up and stopped thinking he is god before he loses all his support
  
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  June 28, 2022 2:53pm
Warren

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/469822/call-it-out-deputy-pm-says-bigotry-must-not-be-toleratedGrant Robertson uses Queer politics to try and swing the voter Labours way , but forgets about how he reacted when he blamed the National Party for the hack on the Budget a couple of years ago.
Then there is the name calling and derogatory comments, made by Labours Speaker, MP’S and supporters like people are the scummy the earth and the river of filthcomments on people that didn’t and don’t deserve that sorts of comment directed at them.
Don’t people think this is a bit low and totally childish that they send the Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern off to Nato and then pull out this sort of politics in my words Dirty Politics to blacken Chris Luxon name and view on abortion and are not getting the Traction they hoped.
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June 28, 2022 8:16am
- Loddenthinks
  
  I’m not sure you understand how this works, Warren.
  
  When Robertson whinges and deflects, and name-calls and rants, that’s standing up to National’s bullies.
  
  When Luxon offers a reasoned and (the only such I’ve heard so far) sensible opinion on what the decision means for New Zealand (nothing), that’s bigotry of the worst kind and must be called out.
  
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  June 28, 2022 9:06am
  - Tricati
    
    And given 8 members of Labour’s caucus voted against the recent abortion legislation (Conscience Vote), there’s a high degree of hypocrisy in Robertson’s comments towards Luxon.
    One gets the impression the polls are starting to get a Robertson, and there’s worse economic damage to come.
    
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    June 28, 2022 10:03am
    - mawm
      
      When you have fucked up the economy as much as he has there has to be a glimmering of understanding that his policies, a lifetime belief in throwing money at the unfortunate and the work shy, might have had something to do with it.
      
      Hmm… apologies, my error, he’s a lefty and they are never responsible for anything they have done.
      
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      June 28, 2022 11:13am
    - slightlyrighty
      
      It was 9, actually.
      
      Including Greg O’Connor and Damien O’Connor.
      
      What is it about the O’Connors? must be an Irish thing?
      
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      June 28, 2022 12:32pm
      - JohnRidd
        
        West Coast Catholics.
        
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        June 28, 2022 1:31pm
      - Nickc2
        
        ….and the O’Mallards.
        
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        June 28, 2022 1:37pm
      - Paulus
        
        I think you may well find that they and others in Parliament have similar and practicing religeous beliefs.
        
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        June 28, 2022 1:50pm
      - G the giant from Dunedin
        
        Many Irish are catholic, they go on about the abortion vote, so Labour have 9, the media tried to say that nearly all nats voted against , but i read today that only 19 Nats voted against out off 55, to me that means they are roughly the same as a %age
        
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        June 28, 2022 3:04pm
      - fisho
        
        Not to mention William Fitzpatrick and Patrick Fitzwilliam.
        
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        June 28, 2022 5:44pm
    - G the giant from Dunedin
      
      The next cycle of polls must have started this week, getting near the end of the month, if this doesn’t work nothing will , but as i say, once you lose the people , you have lost them for good, the smear at Luxon by the bombastic goof Robertson may well be losing him support not Luxon. i think Luxon has recovered this very well, and today it even appears better. remembering of course Robertson is clearly not liked , he has never once shown up on PM ratings , so he goes down as a cup load of cold vomit
      
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      June 28, 2022 3:01pm
- Yvette
  
  Warren, all of what you say also explains why Ardern and Little, then Faafoi and now Allen are having some difficulty in defining “hate speech”.
  Jacinda says “When you see it, you will recognise it” and I am seeing and recognising it all the time – often from Labour.
  Ironically it often a deep dislike for the people who utter “hate speech”
  
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  June 28, 2022 9:12am
- Maggy Wassilieff
  
  I agree with Grant Robertson that we should call out bigotry.
  
  However he very carefully neglects to mention that the Oslo shooting of folks in a gay bar was carried out by someone known to the Norwegian police for his Islamist extremism (and mental health issues).
  
  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2022_Oslo_shooting
  
  Exactly three years ago I was in Oslo and we visited the markets set up during the Pride parade.
  
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  June 28, 2022 10:08am
- G the giant from Dunedin
  
  You would think the hitjob and the vulgarity of Robertsons timing over R v W was planned , if so that is utterly disgusating
  
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  June 28, 2022 2:57pm
Frank the tank

The pile on onto Te Reo is fascinating. It reeks of desperation and co-ordination within the feckless.

Clearly it was a planned strategy when Roe vs Wade was released. Grunter was sounding desperate last night as he realizes his Gordon Brown moment is slipping away.

Te Reo needs to keep playing a dead bat. The collective attention span of the feckless is less than your average cat so at some stage they will get bored and move on.

The next leg of the Woke World Tour kicks off today. Which world leaders will whisper sweet nothings into the ear of “Our Glorious Leader” this trip. She should have sent BMW Jimmy instead – at least he would try to come back with some magic beans…..
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June 28, 2022 8:17am
- westernScientist
  
  he would trade the family cow to get them though
  
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  June 28, 2022 9:09am
- Loddenthinks
  
  I note that one of the appalling “Road to Zero” advertisements now has Maori subtitles! As if there are people in the target demographic who only speak Maori, don’t speak English, and are likely to pay attention to that advert.
  
  Goodness only where they invented the Maori words for “road toll” “seatbelts” “air-bag” and “warrant of fitness”.
  
  Expect to see more of this forcing a dying language into mainstream use. Why would they stop now?
  
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  June 28, 2022 9:09am
  - riffer
    
    Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
    Here’s a thought.
    
    Languages which are growing are constantly adding new words and ways to interpret the modern world around you. By your own words you show the falsity that te reo is a dying language. In my lifetime I may see te reo become a widely used an acceptable mainstream language in this country. And you dinosaurs are going to miss out so much.
    
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    June 28, 2022 9:36am
    - Nickc2
      
      Are you a Maori Caucus staffer? If so, I hope you’ve got another job to go to after the next election.
      
      39 2
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      June 28, 2022 9:42am
      - Tom Hunter
        
        Nah! “Riffer” is a long time troll, and we dinosaurs have been watching myriad sad attempts to save the Maori language for at least four decades now, always with the same mix of passive-aggressive whinging and outright abuse.
        
        All failures.
        
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        June 28, 2022 11:56am
      - riffer
        
        Oh good grief. Having an opinion different to yours doesn’t make me a troll any more than your asking it makes you a moron.
        
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        June 28, 2022 12:27pm
      - pdm
        
        No worry for Maori Caucus members – Willie has already arranged top 15 List Places for them all.
        
        He is a `Willie’ with real clout.
        
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        June 28, 2022 8:00pm
      - Jack5
        
        Riffer’s …Languages which are growing are constantly adding new words …
        
        Over two billion people speak English. People who speak Maori account for about 0.01 per cent of English speakers.
        
        Maori language will have virtually no effect on world English.
        
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        June 28, 2022 8:48pm
    - westernScientist
      
      remove the troughs for all the people making millions off the tax payer to put it everywhere and anywhere and see if it sticks. It is on life support, very expensive tax payer funded life support. It is no wonder productivity is so low. And I strongly suspect this dinosaur is younger than you, i.e. the generation who has to pay for all of it.
      
      And to be clear, i dont care if people want to use it, i just shouldn’t be forced to pay for it
      
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      June 28, 2022 9:54am
      - Stellaboxer
        
        I wonder if anyone else has noticed the racist power company ad in which the “ Mother Nature” figure is Polynesian/ Māori all the sympathetic characters are female the anti social polluters white males and the only male who is given a positive presence is Māori. How does this shite pass any standards ? It’s literally race baiting. All that’s wrong in the world is down to white males.
        
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        June 28, 2022 1:08pm
    - graham
      
      Here’s another thought, riffer.
      
      I was wandering around some shops in Albany yesterday, and heard several Chinese families speaking fluent Chinese. If I am working at my office in the evening, I will listen to the cleaners chatting away to each other in Samoan.
      
      Both these communities manage to keep their language alive and use it constantly. And – weirdly – they manage to do this without millions of dollars being pumped into promoting it, newsreaders and media using it in programs that are primarily consumed by English speakers, Government strategies, advertising campaigns exhorting ALL New Zealanders to learn and use the language, virtue-signalling companies promoting the language …
      
      I personally have no particular interest one way or the other. If the Maori language does actually survive and even thrive in New Zealand, that’s great. But I can’t help thinking that if it requires such a huge, multi-faceted, concerted effort to keep it on life-support when other languages are effortlessly kept alive by the people who actually have an interest in it, then how much of a chance does it stand?
      
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      June 28, 2022 9:58am
      - Mummy
        
        At least 20 years ago I was in a supermarket in Turangi and overhead a family talking amongst each other in te reo. Fantastic.
        
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        June 28, 2022 11:10am
      - riffer
        
        Here’s another thought. Despite the majority here’s colonialist views, slowly but surely, te reo is growing. Eventually the pakeha view will become increasingly less the majority in this country. You better hope the majority doesn’t treat you like they were treated when that day comes. It would be a shame to see the English language repressed in NZ.
        
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        June 28, 2022 12:30pm
      - Loddenthinks
        
        @ riffer: By “colonialists” I take it you mean the early Maori who came here after the Moriori and then set about conquering them, eating quite a few and chasing the rest to the Chatham Islands?
        
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        June 28, 2022 12:47pm
      - graham
        
        “It would be a shame to see the English language repressed in NZ.”
        
        Seriously? You honestly think there is a chance of that happening?
        
        Righto …
        
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        June 28, 2022 3:27pm
    - David George
      
      I’m in Rarotonga at the moment and surprisingly the local language (Cook Islands Maori) seems to be falling into disuse. There is an election coming up, obviously not of interest to tourists but all of the signs are in English. As are all the other signs.
      I suspect the immeasurably better utility of English will lead to further disuse here and that the promotion of Maori in NZ, being largely a politically driven affectation, will fade for similar reasons.
      I heard Ashley B announce the new covid cases as affecting “one hundred and twenty whanau across the motu”. The purpose, of that highly ambiguous and therefore virtually useless piece of information?
      
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      June 28, 2022 10:04am
      - Ra Henare
        
        Thank goodness Ashley ceases to appear or be quoted from 1st july, when he becomes unemployed and irrelevant.
        
        History will not look kindly on him and his ineptitude.
        
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        June 28, 2022 10:10am
      - cjn
        
        Language: at the NATO summit the leaders of France, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, the EU, the USA, and the UK speak to each other in English. At the Surrealist exhibition at Te Papa last year somebody had spent time writing the captions to explain the surrealists to Maori speaking art lovers. In Ukraine after months of banning the letter Z, closing Russian speaking media and schools in the east of the country, the Kiev government is taking the next logical step and banning all Russian literature and music. Take that Tolstoy!
        
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        June 28, 2022 6:52pm
    - Frank the tank
      
      lol. No. Our English will just become like South African Dutch and become a sub-dialogue of English.
      
      English-speaking people from other parts of the world will understand our future selves like we now understand someone that is ESL.
      
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      June 28, 2022 10:06am
      - Jack5
        
        …Our English will just become like South African Dutch ..
        
        Don’t think so Frank. English is the world lingua franca of business, of science, of learning, of diplomacy, but most influentially, of entertainment.
        
        With the internet and internationalisation of entertainment, Maori is an island lagoon in an ocean.
        
        Incidentally, one of the language specialists who thrive on YouTube reckons Afrikaans is the easiest language for English speakers to learn.
        
        English and Dutch are closely related.
        
        Scots English (as opposed to Gaelic), from the Northumbrian version of Old English and thus less influenced by Norman French than standard English was, is even closer to Dutch.
        
        For example, “kirk” and “kerk” for church, and “dochter”, daughter in both Dutch and Scots.
        
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        June 28, 2022 9:00pm
    - leoj
      
      Not by force and coercion. Voluntary – great. Compulsory – get lost.
      
      Don’t expect my tax dollars to promote it. Use yours.
      
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      June 28, 2022 10:24am
    - JimBobJoe
      
      Te Reo was about dead in NZ – because it wasn’t fit for a modern life. It has only survived through massive state intervention and funding.
      
      The current shove Te Reo down peoples throats shows how poorly it is regarded by the vast majority of Kiwis including most Maori – even after decades of promoting and funding Te Reo by the State, Te Reo has achieved no meaningful traction with the vast NZ public….
      
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      June 28, 2022 10:36am
      - Ra Henare
        
        Of course you will have noted that the New Minister of Broadcasting is pushing for more English programs on Maori TV and Radio?
        
        DuH!
        
        So he thinks Maori need more English and to hell with Maori.
        
        But then he is a dumshit shock jock
        
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        June 28, 2022 11:10am
    - NK
      
      I don’t care. My body, my choice. Right?
      
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      June 28, 2022 11:54am
    - Rodion Raskolnikov
      
      The Te Reo indoctrination project is wholly inorganic and is instead a top-down imposition of an irrelevant language. It is purely political propaganda, not a useful addition to the existing linguistic communication vehicle.
      
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      June 28, 2022 12:08pm
    - kowtow
      
      I have news for you riffer.
      
      If you take the Republic of Ireland as an example, from the 20’s , one hundred years ago they’ve spent a king’s ransom on reviving the language .
      And that’s from a far stronger starting position than Maori has here .
      It is compulsory through primary and secondary . It has full official status .It is the heritage historical lang of the majority .
      But very very few people speak it daily .
      
      It hasn’t and will never become a daily thing there.
      It won’t here either. Not with the majority of Maoris and it certainly won’t with the majority non Maoris . It hasn’t a shit show . So we should stop wasting money on it.
      
      If people want to do it then they can do their own thing , like line dancing or whatever.
      
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      June 28, 2022 1:37pm
    - Dave
      
      While Maori is growing in the sense that more vocabulary is being added to it, is it growing in the sense that a higher percentage of NZers are using it as a language of everyday communication? My impression is that it’s barely holding steady at about 4% able to speak it.
      
      I’m not sure what you mean by ‘widely used… acceptable mainstream language’ or how credible this aspiration is. When 95% of NZers can communicate in other languages, what is their incentive to use Maori? It would be helpful if you explicitly stated those things we dinosaurs will miss out on.
      
      Since independence in the 1920s, Erse has been the officially preferred language of Ireland, ahead of English, and supported by both inducement and coercion. Yet, according to the 2016 census, only 40% speak the language – I don’t know how rigorously ‘speak the language’ is defined in the census; 4% use it daily outside education; 2% use it as their main domestic language. Must be all those racist Irish dinosaurs sabotaging the language.
      
      Will Maori do better or worse than Irish? I have no idea, but the Irish results raise awkward questions about educational priorities and the value of coerced second language learning. When and what exactly are Maori language’s expected outcomes? What evidence is there that they are achievable? What happens if they are not achieved? What do students miss out learning in order to achieve those outcomes?
      
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      June 28, 2022 3:20pm
      - NeverMindTheBollocks
        
        Don’t be expecting Labour to measure the outcomes of their Te Reo policy. They don’t measure the outcomes of anything else they do.
        
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        June 28, 2022 6:24pm
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    Car pie
    
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    June 28, 2022 10:03am
  - greybeard
    
    Do not drive te ka up te motowei to go to te pati.
    
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    June 28, 2022 11:04am
    - riffer
      
      What a fucking racist moron. Grow up
      
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      June 28, 2022 12:31pm
      - Loddenthinks
        
        You seem to have a good grasp of some useful anglo-saxon words there, riffy. Shouldn’t you be swearing at us in your native tongue? Bit of a hypocrite to promote something so earnestly but fail to use it yourself. What a piece of tutae kuri.
        
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        June 28, 2022 12:51pm
G152

Welcome to the world of party politics
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June 28, 2022 8:19am
RockyJ

Does anyone out there in Kiwiblog land know what is happening with Andrew Little’s health reforms? You remember, on 1 July, this Friday, all hospital boards cease to exist and two seperate health systems are going to be run from a ministry in Wellington. The same ministry that has lost three of its most senior and competent managers.
In the meantime kiwis are still dying in hospitals because the hospitals cannot treat them
Just asking for a friend who died last Thursday because the hospital delayed his heart surgery due to lack of capacity.
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June 28, 2022 8:21am
- kowtow
  
  New Zealanders are dying in the streets ,cos of mental health calamity .
  
  Oh but the Media wants us to talk Handmaid’s Tale shite.
  
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  June 28, 2022 8:50am
  - Nickc2
    
    Why isn’t angry Andy being held to account for the actions of the person who committed the stabbings in Murrays Bay? The stabber was allegedly a mental health patient roaming the streets.
    How much money did Little commit to mental health recently?
    Another minister totally out of his depth.
    
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    June 28, 2022 9:38am
    - Steve Otto(North Shore)
      
      Murray’s Bay. I suspect all that will happen is those who apprehended the guy with a knife, will e charged with assault.
      Watching the Police Officer explaining on TV was painful. She got the whole process of which Bay the guy was on first, and where he was stopped. Total shambles.
      
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      June 28, 2022 10:11am
  - riffer
    
    Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
    Kind of a straw man argument there kowtow. But since you started it, let’s talk about Handmaids Tale.
    
    Nats have introduce SOPs attempting the following:
    
    – Make it harder to get approval for an Abortion.
    – Require those providing abortions to consider religious considerations to abortion.
    – Require those providing abortions to consider conservative Māori views on abortion.
    – Remove requirement that health practitioners who don’t want to support an abortion must tell the woman the details of another provider who will.
    – Making it illegal to not hire anti-abortion drs.
    – Making it illegal to terminate a pregnancy for genetic abnormalities.
    – Force women to tell the State how many abortions they have.
    – Banning abortion for under 16 year olds.
    
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    June 28, 2022 9:42am
    - Frank the tank
      
      Most of those seem entirely reasonable and inclusive. Some are out there such as the number of abortions someone has had but certainty not Gloriavale-like.
      
      Why would you discriminate against someone for a job because of their beliefs on abortion – last time I checked that was not in line with our Bill of Rights. And I thought the whole point of the separatist Health system was to align with Maori views?
      
      Nice try Clint – keep trying.
      
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      June 28, 2022 10:15am
      - Loddenthinks
        
        It was a very poor try.
        
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        June 28, 2022 11:26am
      - riffer
        
        Yeah, I’m not Clint. I have read some of his stuff on twitter though.
        
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        June 28, 2022 12:32pm
    - Ehlana
      
      What’s an SOP? And can you provide links to any of this?
      
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      June 28, 2022 10:17am
      - grumpy
        
        You would know if you were a Labour political staffer…………..
        
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        June 28, 2022 10:29am
      - Matt Long
        
        supplementary order paper, proposed amendments to proposed laws.
        
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        June 28, 2022 10:38am
    - Matt Long
      
      These are all SOPs put up by individual pro life MPs and I expect Luxon will prevent any of his MPs attempting to make abortion laws more humane while he leads National.
      
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      June 28, 2022 10:36am
      - Loddenthinks
        
        The only possible way to “make abortion laws more humane” is to do ban abortions unless under extremely restrictive criteria.
        
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        June 28, 2022 11:27am
    - Tom Hunter
      
      Hey! That’s the Bradbury list over on TDB. You guys acting collectively again. Hive mind and all that.
      
      Just one problem (of many) with your argument; people who are anti-abortion know from his other stances on things like Te Reo and Global Warming, that he is a Wet, Woke drip who will do nothing tom restrict abortion, even if he hadn’t made a statement to that effect.
      
      The scare-mongering of you and your MSM mates on this issue is simply a reflection of how terrified you are by the polls, the slow deflation of Princess, and the knowledge that worse is to come. 🙂
      
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      June 28, 2022 12:08pm
    - Rodion Raskolnikov
      
      Your huffing and puffing over your little “Handmaids Tale” laundry list simply reflects the existence of political disagreement on social issues. Here’s a news flash: not everyone agrees with your view, and nor are they required to. You need to learn some tolerance and start to appreciate some diversity of thought.
      
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      June 28, 2022 12:12pm
- RoboRob
  
  The same ministry that poorly handled every aspect of the Covid response, be it vaccine rollout, protective equipment, MIQ, vax ordering, vax passports, reporting and border control. Thame ministry that failed all of this with those supposed ‘senior and competant managers’.
  
  This new ministry is going to be a colosal fuck up.
  
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  June 28, 2022 9:18am
- Yvette
  
  DHBs gone by end of week – what it means for you
  https://www.1news.co.nz/2022/06/26/dhbs-gone-by-end-of-week-what-it-means-for-you/
  
  … It will be business as usual for patients – though we can expect some political fanfare to usher in the biggest health reforms in two decades.
  
  I just hope they don’t mis-spend as much taxpayer funds as they did opening the Transmission Gully motorway north of Wellington
  
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  June 28, 2022 9:22am
  - Paulus
    
    At least the new Health system coming on Friday will start with hundreds of Maori Karakia to let everybody know whois in charge and who gets overall first priority.
    
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    June 28, 2022 10:58am
    - NeverMindTheBollocks
      
      Hopefully not Health NZ. That’s for non Maoris. Māoris have their own Health Authority, & they welcome it into existence any way they like.
      
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      June 28, 2022 6:42pm
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    I am waiting for specialist appointments for 3 surgeries. Shoulder rotor cuff tear and cubital tunnel in both elbows. Cubital tunnel is the Ulnar nerve being pinched or restricted. Plays havoc with palm and fingers – not good.
    Those are just to see specialists, not surgery. Meanwhile stoked up on painkillers. Can’t see much happening this year.
    
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    June 28, 2022 11:38am
- Observer of Life
  
  Rocky: Really sorry to hear that. Thoughts are with you and his family. I don’t think things are going to get any better anytime soon… sadly.
  
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  June 28, 2022 10:41am
- Steve Otto(North Shore)
  
  Rocky, condolences for your friend and his family. Many are not getting the attention they need. Cancer is another big thing, both male and female. Prostate is a big thing, some guys don’t even know they have it until too late. I have it, but low level. Active surveillance.
  We will see what happens after Friday.
  
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  June 28, 2022 11:49am
- pdm
  
  Sister in Law visited her GP yesterday and asked hime what affect the new Healthchanges would have on her.
  
  His reply – NONE.
  
  It is purely administrative.
  
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  June 28, 2022 8:16pm
slightlyrighty

We are seeing a lot of social media chatter about National being an anti abortion party, and attempting to ideologically link the Nats to the SCOTUS decision on Roe v Wade.

National, as I understand it, has no set policy on Abortion, referring to it as a conscience issue.

In fact, if it wasn’t for the support of 19 National MPs, the bill would have failed, as all but 2 NZ first MPs voted against, as did 9 Labour MPS.

If not for those 19 votes, the bill would have failed by 1 vote.
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June 28, 2022 8:24am
- riffer
  
  Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
  So, if I am hearing you right, it only takes one vote to change National’s stance on abortion, and if National picks up support and wins the next election, one should expect a change in law in this country then? Because it only takes one person to introduce a bill and then if National MPs vote on conscience it will happen. I’ll bear that in mind then.
  
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  June 28, 2022 9:44am
  - Ra Henare
    
    Did you fail comprehension 101 at school???
    
    Or are you hearing impaired?
    
    It was the parliament of the day with MP’s of teh day. Many who are no longer in parliament.
    
    So no it would not take one National MP to change the law as it was not a party whipped vote for last law change.
    
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    June 28, 2022 10:16am
  - Frank the tank
    
    Worst, most illogical post of the day. Congratulations Riffy – I don’t think even Cosy or Mikey could perform that many backflips of logic in 3 sentences.
    
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    June 28, 2022 10:20am
  - Don Beckett
    
    Are you deaf as well as stupid. Luxon came out quite clearly the other day stating that National will not make any changes to the abortion law.
    
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    June 28, 2022 10:29am
    - riffer
      
      using almost exactly the same words as the three recently appointed Supreme Court of USA judges who backflipped on those words. National MPs vote on conscience on these matters. That’s why so many voted NO last time.
      
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      June 28, 2022 12:34pm
    - G the giant from Dunedin
      
      Not only that, he said it will always be a conscience vote. so there is no way they would flip 18 back to even get it too even
      
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      June 28, 2022 3:18pm
  - JimBobJoe
    
    What a blatant attempt to plant a the LEfts talking points.
    
    Could have easily have said one Labour MP change their vote as well….
    
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    June 28, 2022 10:32am
  - Media hater
    
    What are you even talking about? Do you know yourself?
    
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    June 28, 2022 11:47am
  - NK
    
    You won’t be bearing any such thing in mind dickhead, because you won’t be voting for National.
    
    Haven’t you got a report to write?
    
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    June 28, 2022 11:57am
    - riffer
      
      I’ve written a number today. Unlike some, I can multitask.
      
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      June 28, 2022 12:34pm
      - fisho
        
        Posting while sitting on the crapper doesn’t really count as multitasking.
        
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        June 28, 2022 5:49pm
  - Tony Stuart
    
    For a National MP to be able to put a Member’s Bill in the ballot riffer, they have to have the support of caucus. A random MP can’t just lodge a Bill for the good of their health.
    
    Perhaps that’s how it works in Labour and the Greens. Given the appalling quality of some of their Member’s Bills, they appear to have been drafted on the back of a beer coaster later at night.
    
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    June 28, 2022 1:33pm
- MCōs
  
  In America abortion seems to be a political issue whereas here MPs vote with their conscience, except NZ first who voted no because they wanted a referendum.
  Anyone can check the voting record and see who voted which way last time. A lot has been made of Luxon’s hard line view, but his deputy is just as adamantly pro choice.
  
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  June 28, 2022 10:42am
  - Loddenthinks
    
    And Mahuta and Damien O’Connor (and many other Labour MPs) voted against. Expect widespread hounding and canceling of Mahuta for this.
    
    Tui ad.
    
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    June 28, 2022 11:32am
    - G the giant from Dunedin
      
      The only thing that should have been frowned on was Mahuta playing filthy politics saying the R v W was shocking or something to that effect, yet she is anti abortion, Labour meddling in other countries politics again
      
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      June 28, 2022 3:21pm
Stellaboxer

This is all a distraction orchestrated by the Labour Party . Don’t play and it will go away engage and it stays. It’s only relevant when people engage.
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June 28, 2022 8:26am
- Nickc2
  
  If one of the Kardashians breaks a fingernail, abortion will no longer headline in international news and our political parties can create a new drama to be used as a sniping tool.
  
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  June 28, 2022 9:08am
R

DG

I agree. It’s an issue for the US. Just as we shouldn’t get involved with the US policy on guns, there is no need for politicians here to opine about abortion.
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June 28, 2022 8:29am
- kowtow
  
  Funny innit , our Media Pardy dedicates more time and certainly much more heat to US constitutional issues than it does to ours .
  So called co governance , water and health radicalism are all efforts to undermine our democracy but here the Media plays distraction and misinformation.
  
  As Mr Trump would say ;
  
  Corrupt news.
  
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  June 28, 2022 8:56am
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    “Fake News” DJT
    
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    June 28, 2022 11:55am
  - Tom Hunter
    
    What’s really funny is when they start whining about people paying too much attention to things in the USA – like teaching weird shit in public schools, the same sort of academic wank that will, sooner or later, make it to New Zealand. On those issues mum’s the word lest it frighten the prolls into running away from Labour.
    
    Same with the catastrophe of the Unreliable Energy sources in Germany, South Australia, California and other such places. Might hurt the Greens here so… crickets…
    
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    June 28, 2022 12:22pm
    - Steve Otto(North Shore)
      
      “Running away from Labour” Like it!
      The Maori fullas are waking up that Labour will promise all this free shit – but it does not happen. They are leaving the ‘Plantation’ All Labour want is your vote full stop.
      Welcome to NZ political Parties you Maori people. I don’t care what you vote, as long as the socialists are gone.
      
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      June 28, 2022 4:47pm
  - Dave
    
    Corrupt news? Surely not! Just this morning, following a link to stuff, I read (my italics):
    
    Help maintain healthy debate
    
    New Zealand would be a boring place if we all agreed on everything, right? We’re better off when a diverse range of perspectives are given equal footing.
    
    The column you’ve just read is a small part of that. Stuff is committed to representing all angles of Aotearoa, and fostering smart, informed conversations.
    
    Can’t say fairer than that.
    
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    June 28, 2022 1:37pm
- Brian McDonald
  
  Should they shut up about Ukraine and the Uyghurs as well?
  
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  June 28, 2022 9:27am
  - Rodion Raskolnikov
    
    Yes.
    
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    June 28, 2022 12:21pm
  - Loddenthinks
    
    Certainly not, because everyone knows the US, Russia and China are desperate for NZ’s approval and will immediately alter their policy when told to by Mahuta or Ardern.
    
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    June 28, 2022 12:54pm
Ruahine

When the Supreme Court of the United States makes a ruling in favour of 3Waters ‘we’ will all be able to give a sigh of relief.

‘Give me strength’.

The abysmal ignorance of people in New Zealand as to how the Federal and State Gov’ts in the US work is almost laughable.
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June 28, 2022 8:38am
- Blog-aholic
  
  Ignorance is bliss they say. New Zealanders must be very blissfull people…..
  
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  June 28, 2022 8:49am
  - Benedict Yu
    
    The problem is that politicians will not understand what you just wrote. I don’t understand some of what you wrote. I am not saying you are wrong. I’m saying that you will need to explain your thesis in a way that a lay person can understand. You would also need to explain in similar terms why the ‘farm methane emissions are bad’ orthodoxy is so wrong.
    
    The ‘rules’ to measure greenhouse gases, including methane from farms have been developed over the last 30 years.
    
    https://unfccc.int/resource/docs/2013/cop19/eng/10a03.pdf#page=2
    
    New Zealand has been an important player in writing those rules, including under the last National Government.
    
    To reiterate, I am not saying you are incorrect. I am saying that there is a tremendous inertia around the orthodoxy that New Zealand’s on farm methane emissions are a problem.
    
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    June 28, 2022 11:40am
    - Matt Long
      
      Hi Benedict, I tried to do a summary of points that would avoid TLDR, the papers that cover these topic are many and easily available.
      The MSM and Regressives have obvious reasons to keep pushing their anti-farming narrative but I’m genuinely puzzled that National is not interested.
      I asked Tim Grosser when he was Trade Minister under Key what actual market research had been done to back up his assertion NZ needed a carbon tax on agriculture for market access, his answer was a word soup of waffle that clearly showed there was none.
      National appears to aspire to being managerial rather than vision and leadership.
      
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      June 28, 2022 4:40pm
      - Steve Otto(North Shore)
        
        Last sentence.
        Luxon is a manager, and a good one I think. Sadly he is not a great ‘leader’
        A manager deals with what he has. A leader puts pressure on the non performers. They perform or get the DCM.
        
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        June 28, 2022 5:03pm
- Steve Otto(North Shore)
  
  Ignorance because our system is all they have known – and some just hate Americans.
  
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  June 28, 2022 11:58am
Matt Long

This article in Stuff again promotes mythology around animal methane emissions being an existential threat to New Zealand,vwhile admitting the high carbon footprint of harvesting and transporting fruit and veggies https://i.stuff.co.nz/environment/climate-news/300620502/for-new-zealand-farm-emissions-are-worse-than-food-miles
Seeing Kiwiblog is largely a National Party stronghold I’m interested to know why National is silent on the issue of Methane being 1, no further warming if methane emissions are not increased which they are not. 2. The wavelength absorption of CH⁴ being similar to H²O meaning that methane is ineffective as a greenhouse gas being “overwhelmed” by the considerably more abundant water vapour. 3. The production of hydroxyl ions which break down methane and other pollutants in growing pasture far exceeds any methane produced by animals grazed on that pasture.
Does National not care about our most important export industry being gutted for the sake of bad science and appealing to progressives?
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June 28, 2022 8:48am
- rockape
  
  I hate to be the bearer of bad news. The deal with the EU is going to hurt the meat and dairy industry big time. Both those “ polo ting industries” are being soled down the river and the beneficiaries will be the fruit industry. Particularly Kiwifruit that will be licensed to produce in Europe.
  The days of the cow cockie are numbered.
  
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  June 28, 2022 10:42am
  - Matt Long
    
    The EU while not insignificant is not a leading export market for us, the regulations the current clownshow 🤡🤡🤡 is attempting to bring in are a greater danger to agriculture and the wider economy.
    What I’m asking is; are National simply ignoring this or are they complicit?
    
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    June 28, 2022 10:52am
    - Paulus
      
      Understand we have been negotiating with the EC for eleven years so far, and if you think that France will acceed dream on.
      All Members have to agree and about eight have not and will not have their agruculture affected, as they are great vote earners.
      
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      June 28, 2022 2:00pm
      - G the giant from Dunedin
        
        We have had a deal with EU for decades, its only splitting the british and the rest of Europe into two, why do you say we have been negotiating with the EU for 11 years?
        
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        June 28, 2022 3:31pm
    - G the giant from Dunedin
      
      Dont talk utter bullshit, EU not so much, but Britain were in the EU remember , we sold a huge amount of meat wool and dairy , and wine and other smaller commodities like specialist cheeses
      
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      June 28, 2022 3:29pm
  - G the giant from Dunedin
    
    Yes , agreed Rocky. when Britain pulled out of the EU, both Britain and the EU were going to favour their farmers over ours, we will lose , thats why its so important these muppets do not cost us the China free trade deal as they buy 50% of our agri products
    
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    June 28, 2022 3:26pm
- Raphael
  
  The problem is that the research debunking the “animal farming is bad for the environment” does not fit the narrative that pushes for vegan only. so those who cry “follow the science” on climate change willfully ignore the science as soon as it disagrees with them.
  Dairy farming has its issues, but research has shown that it is largely carbon neutral
  
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  June 28, 2022 11:05am
- Steve Otto(North Shore)
  
  Peter Griffin must have been talking with AOC. She rabbits on about cow farts and the green new deal.
  
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  June 28, 2022 12:02pm
- Tom Hunter
  
  Think of it like this Matt. National treats farmers the way Labour treats South Aucklanders. Both parties know the proles will keep voting for them even as they implement polices that will hurt them.
  
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  June 28, 2022 12:25pm
  - G the giant from Dunedin
    
    Yes, and the farming catch phrase has already started, vote Nats to keep the greens out , opposite to last time , but they know this idiot government have not helped and are determined to fix the mess . 3 waters is the final straw
    
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    June 28, 2022 3:33pm
- G the giant from Dunedin
  
  Nats policy on emissions is clear, no further costs to farmers or the people of this country, science and only science will drag the emissions down
  
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  June 28, 2022 3:24pm
cas

Three random thoughts.
1 What a nasty man Robertson is deep down
2 The standard of journalism continues to plummet. One reporter on 3 news last night was trying to tell us the stadium wouldn’t front for an interview.
3 Our unemployment rate is supposed to be low. Talking to someone in the hospo sector the other night who is looking for staff, they said someone came in looking for work in their pyjamas and gumboots. Do we think this is because they can say to WINZ they were looking for work, were turned down and can continue on the job seeker benefit?
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June 28, 2022 9:06am
- Prince
  
  Yes, Robertson is nasty, but what to make of Stuff journalists who are now off doing his bidding and beating up the ‘Luxon wants to ban abortions’ message ?
  Something is very wrong in the Stuff office – who is sending them off on these campaigns ?
  
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  June 28, 2022 10:45am
  - Loddenthinks
    
    The government that is paying them, obviously.
    
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    June 28, 2022 12:56pm
  - G the giant from Dunedin
    
    Your tax dollars !
    
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    June 28, 2022 3:35pm
- GJM
  
  This is not new. I remember back in the 1990s looking for factory staff. It was a job where the only requirement was the ability to follow very simple instructions. Having a pulse was optional – we did not discriminate against the vitality challenged.
  We learnt that those referred by the then version of WINZ were a waste of time and if you made the mistake of giving them a job, they would do anything to avoid it.
  When you have public servants whose job depends on having large numbers of unemployables to maintian their empire, there is no chance they will be enforcing any sanctions or make any real effort to reduce the numbers.
  You get more of what you reward. We need time limits on the dole and other benefits.
  
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  June 28, 2022 11:03am
- Steve Otto(North Shore)
  
  The person in PJs and gumboots may have been a patient//
  
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  June 28, 2022 12:05pm
infused

Waiting for david to object to the court hearing over vaccines to children for covid19. No evidence backs this up.

Info on it is here: https://www.newsweek.com/why-america-doesnt-trust-cdc-opinion-1713145
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June 28, 2022 9:08am
- Steve Otto(North Shore)
  
  I had a link the other day about Pfizer knowing the vaccine and boosters were partly experimental.
  Lost, gone, bummer
  
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  June 28, 2022 12:09pm
- Rodion Raskolnikov
  
  In other vaccine-related news, while more investigation is needed, there is an emerging prima face correlation between vaccine rollout and significantly decreased fertility:
  
  https://swprs.org/covid-vaccines-and-fertility/
  
  “[N]ew birth data out of Germany and Switzerland raises some serious questions. Specifically, both countries recorded a consistent 10% to 15% decrease (compared to expectations) in monthly births from January to March/April 2022 (the latest available data) – that is, precisely nine months after the beginning of covid mass vaccination in the general population in April/May 2021.”
  
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  June 28, 2022 12:26pm
Tauhei Notts

Monday afternoon sees me enjoying a beer or three with a group of cow cockies.
About 12 – 18 months ago there was a post on Kiwiblog showing the achievements of the Trump Regime. It listed them, about 18 I think.
Can anybody link me to that list. I want to print it out to show those fans of Biden.
Looking through 18 months of archives is just a bit too much.
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June 28, 2022 9:13am
- kowtow
  
  If they’re cow cockies and Biden fans then they’re turkeys or just chicken shit.
  
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  June 28, 2022 9:23am
- Nickc2
  
  Cow cockies and Biden should have nothing in common, Biden’s been hit with the Climate Change Wand just like our Cindy and wants to get rid of cows.
  
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  June 28, 2022 9:23am
- westernScientist
  
  you can search for trump in the search box in the top right. I am surprised DPF has actually published quite a bit favourably of trump over the years.
  
  https://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/2020/10/the_ten_best_things_about_trump.html
  https://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/2020/01/trumps_top_10_achievements_for_2019.html
  https://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/2020/01/trumps_most_under-reported_achievement.html
  https://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/2019/01/the_10_best_things_trump_did_2018.html
  
  and the 10 worst things
  https://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/2019/01/the_10_worst_things_trump_did_in_2018.html
  
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  June 28, 2022 9:25am
- Phronesis
  
  He predicted that German reliance on Russian natural gas was going to cause problems for them and NATO. Oh how the left laughed at silly ignorant Trump. Yet here we are 18 months later, a war in Europe and Putin has them by the balls as he moves to cut off their energy next winter.
  
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  June 28, 2022 9:54am
  - All_on_Red
    
    Meanwhile Biden stopped a pipeline from Israel which would have competed with Russias Nordstream.
    ttps://www.nbcnews.com/politics/supreme-court/democrats-introduce-bill-expand-supreme-court-9-13-justices-n1264132
    
    Gee, Putin must have been pleased he did that. Its almost like Biden works for Putin.
    His son Hunter certainly seems to have a thing for Russian hookers. Say, you dont think it was Hunter who got peed on by whores?
    https://redstate.com/nick-arama/2022/06/27/hunter-biden-responds-to-russian-escort-story-n585112
    He certainly has spent time in Russia
    https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10952609/Grasping-Hunter-Biden-met-oligarch-pal-Putin-wanted-MURDER-two-entrepreneurs.html
    
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    June 28, 2022 11:27am
- Steve Otto(North Shore)
  
  How is this?
  https://www.nationandstate.com/2021/01/20/25-top-accomplishments-of-president-donald-j-trump/
  1. Executive order enacted Jan. 1, 2021 requiring hospitals to provide medical prices to patients upfront so they can shop around.
  
  2. Reversing the ascent of the Islamic extremist terrorist group ISIS.
  
  3. “Most Favored Nation” executive order so that the U.S. (through Medicare) would pay no more for a drug than what’s offered to foreign countries, saving the U.S. an estimated “$85 billion in savings over seven years and $30 billion in out-of-pocket costs.”
  
  4. Moving the U.S. embassy in Israel to the capital of Jerusalem.
  
  5. Building more than 450 miles of new and replacement border wall.
  
  6. Leading U.S. to a level of energy independence (exporting more oil than importing for the first time in 70 years), allowing international policy decisions to be made with less regard to how an oil nation we once relied on would respond.
  
  7. No new wars.
  
  8. Drastic reduction in regulations, opening the door for entrepreneurs and businesses to succeed, expand, and hire more people. According to the Trump administration, they promised to eliminate two regulations for every new one, but actually wound up eliminating 8 old regulations for every 1 new regulation adopted, equating into an extra $3,100 a year for the average American household.
  
  9. Expanding Republican reach among African Americans and other constituents who traditionally lean Democrat.
  
  10. Cutting taxes in an initiative that benefitted every tax bracket.
  
  11. Doubled the child tax credit.
  
  12. Operation Warp Speed: accelerated development of coronavirus vaccines.
  
  13. Eliminated the Obamacare penalty.
  
  14. A series of trade agreements and changes seen as beneficial to Americans, including replacing NAFTA with USMCA.
  
  15. Instead of 2-for-1, we eliminated 8 old regulations for every 1 new regulation adopted.
  
  16. Provided the average American household an extra $3,100 every year.
  
  17. Started the Space Force.
  
  18. Instituted “Right to Try,” allowing terminally ill patients to use potentially lifesaving, unproven treatments.
  
  19. Prioritized and made permanent funding for historically black colleges.
  
  20. Brokered peace deals or normalization agreements between Israel and five Muslim and Arab-Muslim countries.
  
  21. Banned the teaching of “Critical Race Theory” in the federal government.
  
  22. Withdrew from Iran nuclear deal.
  
  23. Withdrew from the Paris Climate Accord.
  
  24. Instituted a Buy American policy within federal agencies.
  
  25. Achieved a $400 billion increase in contributions by NATO allies by 2024 with the number of members meeting their minimum obligations doubling.
  
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  June 28, 2022 12:17pm
- OTGO
  
  https://frankreport.com/2020/04/18/one-hundred-twenty-five-amazing-accomplishments-of-president-donald-j-trump/
  
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  June 28, 2022 1:45pm
kevn

@Tau… google Trumps achievements.
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June 28, 2022 9:20am
kowtow

“No government, politician, or man should tell a woman what she can and cannot do with her body.”

That’s Trudeau who was happy to preside over draconian Batflu legislation.
The hypocrisy is astounding.
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June 28, 2022 9:22am
- Phronesis
  
  I think it needs to be made explicit. It’s entirely your choice whether to have an abortion or not. Completely up to you, but if you do have an abortion you will lose your job and won’t be allowed into shops restaurants and bars, or to travel to other countries, or receive timely medical care. But it’s entirely your body, your choice.
  
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  June 28, 2022 10:00am
  - mawm
    
    And it is your private medical information that nobody needs to know about unless you want to have a haircut, eat in a restaurant or go to a public library.
    
    Trudeau is a nasty little man, a left-wing puppet.
    
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    June 28, 2022 11:30am
- the deity formerly known as nigel6888
  
  “Your bodily autonomy is sacrosanct. Now take this experimental vaccine or get fired and become a second-class citizen….. yip yip”.
  
  Hmm. OK, got that. Oh, well, back to the rivers of filth for this heretic.
  
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  June 28, 2022 10:55am
Warren

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/kahu/fallout-between-the-maori-king-and-his-son-grows-wider-after-the-public-condemnation-of-the-marriage-hits-the-headlines/U6KCFYEZ7KZM32BUUXE3KIJ5AE/
Surely someone from the Labour Maori Caucus or someone high up in Maori will find a way to blame the National Party and there Leader Chris Luxon for this.
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June 28, 2022 9:35am
- Paulus
  
  Mahuta Whanau clearing the way for ………………..!
  
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  June 28, 2022 2:04pm
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    Yeah yeah yeah!
    Moari Queen
    
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    June 28, 2022 5:20pm
Libertarians are right

The US Supreme Court has a very major issue with Ideological Bigotry.

Last week, the Court voted 6-3 against the Maine School board for not offering subsidies for kids going to private religious schools in areas where no public school exists despite doing so for non-religious schools. They can’t force religion but they also can’t discriminate against religion – this was clear discrimination.

Yesterday, the Court voted 6-3 against a school district in Washington that fired a football coach for praying after games. He would step aside to pray but half the team went with him. There was zero evidence of compelling them or anything. Again, the Coach isn’t allowed to force kids to pray as part of his job but there was zero evidence of this.

Why aren’t people demanding Breyer, Sotomayor and Kagan be forced to step down? They are clearly not fit for purpose, pushing their religious beliefs on others against the explicit protections of the Constitution?

It’s also very scary that these obviously clear cut cases even get this far.
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June 28, 2022 9:40am
- Phronesis
  
  The current court are simply applying the law as it is written and as it was intended by those who wrote it. If some people don’t like it they can change the constitution through the prescribed process.
  
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  June 28, 2022 10:03am
  - Libertarians are right
    
    That’s too hard.
    I had a look the other day and the Californian State Constitution doesn’t mention abortion rights but does state that marriage is between a man and a woman (from 2008 which was deemed unconstitutional by the Supreme Court but hasn’t been repealed).
    
    If Californian Democrats who run the State completely can’t be bothered changing their Constitution, it’s unlikely the others do either.
    
    As I said yesterday, any issues with loss of abortion rights fall squarely on the shoulders of Democrat lawmakers.
    
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    June 28, 2022 12:45pm
- Ross Campbell
  
  “Why aren’t people demanding Breyer, Sotomayor and Kagan be forced to step down”.
  So three liberal justices out of nine is still too much for you to tolerate?.
  Why not go the whole way and fix this problem once and for all and make it law that only conservatives are allowed to serve on the Supreme Court then hopefully you will not hear any opinions which might upset you.
  
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  June 28, 2022 10:24am
  - All_on_Red
    
    What a dumb comment.
    And then there’s this;
    ttps://www.nbcnews.com/politics/supreme-court/democrats-introduce-bill-expand-supreme-court-9-13-justices-n1264132
    The left are such nasty sore losers.
    Hypocrisy much?
    
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    June 28, 2022 11:17am
    - All_on_Red
      
      But of course, its ok when the left does it.
      https://justthenews.com/nation/states/center-square/individuals-call-assassination-justice-clarence-thomas-after-roe-v-wade
      Perhaps the Left just don’t like Blacks having opinions they shouldn’t be allowed to have, huh.
      
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      June 28, 2022 11:30am
    - Ross Campbell
      
      “What a dumb comment”.
      I try and customise my comments to fit the target audience and it seems like it’s successful.
      
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      June 28, 2022 11:59am
      - All_on_Red
        
        Yeah. nah.
        That’s certainly true at The Standard but here, you are the dummy showing us how ignorant you are with such pitiful trolling.
        Its quite funny watch. You are like a Parody.
        Lol
        
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        June 28, 2022 12:25pm
      - Steve Otto(North Shore)
        
        Yes Mike.
        
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        June 28, 2022 12:33pm
      - Libertarians are right
        
        Ah, so you were talking to yourself. Fair enough. Have fun.
        
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        June 28, 2022 12:46pm
      - Steve Otto(North Shore)
        
        @Libertarians are right.
        Just so blatant, we all know. A comment, then another sentence disguised as another comment.
        
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        June 28, 2022 5:27pm
  - Libertarians are right
    
    Sorry Ross, you seem to have no idea what happened.
    
    Those three Justices took a position that had absolutely no Constitutional basis in both of those cases. There was no LEGAL basis for their dissent. It was entirely ideological. Do you understand why that’s a bad thing?
    
    I am Pro abortion and despise organised religion. I am against the “Liberal” Justices because they aren’t doing their job.
    
    My issue isn’t the Justices ideology, it’s their championing that ideology over the law.
    
    Their job is not to make moral choices, it is to apply the Constitution against the cases in front of them. It is literally their job to tell Maine and Washington that they can’t discriminate based on religion, as per the Constitution.
    
    If the Supreme Court were to ban abortion/gay rights etc I would call for the resignations of anyone involved because again, they don’t have that power. Of course, those calls happen anyway because the Leftist activists don’t like debating issues and prefer to simply silence their enemies.
    
    TLDR: 1 Justice that doesn’t apply the Constitution to the cases in front of them is too many in my opinion.
    
    Also – you do realise that many on the Left in the US want to pack the Court for the explicit purpose of taking control of it? Basically, what you’re accusing me of wanting.
    
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    June 28, 2022 11:21am
    - Ross Campbell
      
      No what I’m trying to convey is that the US Supreme Court and all it’s nine judges are entirely political and lost the ability to interpret the law without personal bias a long time ago.
      Unfortunately this is a by product of having judges appointed on the basis of the ideology of the sitting president and not on their ability to impartially interpret the law.
      
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      June 28, 2022 12:09pm
      - Libertarians are right
        
        And my point is that if the Conservative judges make a call the Left doesn’t like they are pilloried for it yet the same is not true of the “Liberal” judges.
        
        Also, there’s a very big difference between allowing personal bias while interpreting the law (which is what the Conservatives often do) and straight up ignoring the law and siding with your ideological beliefs.
        
        The two cases I mentioned were clear cut. The dissenting opinions weren’t a case of the law interpreted with bias, the law was ignored entirely.
        
        That is not actually normal at all. Usually, Justices at least pretend to pair their dissent with the Constitution.
        
        An example:
        In the overturning of Roe vs Wade the dissenters had two main defences:
        
        1) Since Roe vs Wade, abortion rights have become part of the American landscape and therefore, despite the fact that they weren’t really originally, they are now and are therefore covered by the 9th Amendment.
        
        While this doesn’t really hold up as an argument, it does at least directly reference the Constitution in the correct context.
        
        2) The Court has to balance the rights of the individuals with the moral beliefs of the people.
        
        Again, this at least grazes rights per the Constitution but obviously the Court aren’t the best people to judge the morals of the people (the people are the best judges of that, i.e. democratic votes etc).
        
        Do you see the difference?
        
        In the Maine case they said that Government can’t force religious schooling. It clearly wasn’t. It was funding that choice in the same way it was funding other private schools.
        
        In the Washington case they said that the teacher can’t pray as part of his job but again, that was never in question.
        
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        June 28, 2022 1:56pm
  - Libertarians are right
    
    Also – those Justices aren’t “Liberal”. That’s a disgraceful theft of that word. They are actively trying to remove people’s religious rights, that is very illiberal.
    
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    June 28, 2022 11:57am
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    Yes Mike.
    
    3 3
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    June 28, 2022 12:31pm
    - Steve Otto(North Shore)
      
      This is what a troll does!! Look at all the replies to Ross/Mike.
      Come on Mike, you can do much better.
      
      1 4
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      June 28, 2022 5:30pm
      - mikenmildagain
        
        Oh Steve, you are writing ‘troll’ as if it were a bad thing.
        
        2 2
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        June 28, 2022 5:48pm
- Raphael
  
  Last week they also struck down New York’s gun restrictions as being a violation of 2A. Clarence Thomas wrote the majority opinion.
  
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  June 28, 2022 11:09am
curry4me

https://www.nationalreview.com/news/new-york-supreme-court-strikes-down-law-allowing-non-citizens-to-vote-in-local-elections/

New York Supreme Court Strikes Down Law Allowing Non-Citizens to Vote in Local Elections.
The New York Supreme Court on Monday struck down a recently passed law that allows non-citizens to vote in local elections.
The New York City council passed a bill in December allowing legal residents, including those with green cards to vote in local elections beginning in 2023. The “Our City, Our Vote” bill became law in January.
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June 28, 2022 9:58am
curry4me

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10955933/More-1-million-voters-switch-GOP-warning-Dems.html
One or two Voters Switch Registration to Republican.

More than 1 million voters switched their party affiliation to Republican in what could spell more bad news for Democrats in November’s midterms.
Most notable is the demographic of the shift – highly educated suburban swing voters who peddled Joe Biden into the White House are now snatching back their support, according to a data analysis by The Associated Press.
Voters in suburban enclaves in areas like Denver, Atlanta, Pittsburgh and Cleveland are switching to the GOP after a year marked by record inflation, gas prices breaching $5 for the first time and a widely unpopular president.
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June 28, 2022 9:58am
- the deity formerly known as nigel6888
  
  Yeah, except that Democrats have been urging members to switch party so they can vote in GOP primaries against conservative candidates.
  
  So what’s going on? Who knows? Nothing in mainstream media should ever be taken at face value.
  
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  June 28, 2022 10:58am
  - Lenticular
    
    Joe Biden’s net approval ratings are now a full 7 points lower than Trump’s at the same point, according to left leaning 538 (and centre right RCP).
    And the registration gap is huge in states with all sorts of primary rules – see Florida.
    The Dems are in trouble.
    
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    June 28, 2022 12:13pm
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    As long as RINO Liz Cheney does not get in. She asked for help from Wyoming Democrats.
    She is an absolute head case.
    
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    June 28, 2022 12:46pm
    - RichardX
      
      Have you checked her voting record or do you count anyone who opposes your favourite ex President as a RINO just for opposing your favourite ex President?
      
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      June 28, 2022 6:27pm
      - Steve Otto(North Shore)
        
        There are about 14 RINOs
        
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        June 29, 2022 10:11am
Durden

Trust Stuff ? Sure can’t.
Stuff can’t even fact-check the credentials of its own authors or is peddling mis-information or dis-information.

In an insult to all genuine small business owners of NZ, an opinion article on Stuff today claims the author of the article “America is no longer our shining city on a hill” has a byline which says:

“Verity Johnson is an Auckland-based writer and business owner”

Being curious I checked the companies.govt.nz website using the directors and shareholders search. I found one company and it says:
_____________________
Additional NZBN Information
Trading Name(s): No trading name
Phone Number(s):
Email Address(es):
Website(s): No website
Industry Classification(s): R900210 Author
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June 28, 2022 10:33am
- Raphael
  
  They also published unverified accusations against Bethlehem College, and when BC presented evidence showing that the accusations were false refused to print a correction.
  Stuff has zero integrity.
  
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  June 28, 2022 11:10am
  - peterwn
    
    Stuff has 55 million reasons not to print a correction. Time for education vouchers so parents can have a choice of education for their children.
    
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    June 28, 2022 12:47pm
Loddenthinks

If any more proof were needed that the UK is becoming the capital of Wokeism, one of the funniest comedians going round – Joe Lycett – was investigated by the Police about one of the jokes in his stand-up routine, after one Karen made a complaint. Just one Karen.

Imagine being such a saddo that you pay money to go to a stand-up comedy show by one of the funniest and most irreverent comedians since Ricky Gervais, and choosing to become offended by a joke, and then deciding the most appropriate course of action is to call the Police and lay a formal complaint. I genuinely can’t imagine being like that, but then I’m Irish so I guess we get a sense of humour by right.

https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/entertainment/revealed-joe-lycett-joke-at-centre-of-psni-investigation-after-attendee-reports-clip-from-comedians-belfast-show-41779403.html
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June 28, 2022 10:33am
- Ra Henare
  
  Did you actually read the article?
  The complaint was not followed up after Police explained the joke to Karen.
  
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  June 28, 2022 11:14am
  - Fuzzysnuggleduck
    
    Did you read the article?
    The comedian had to explain himself to a Detective, which ‘he particularly enjoyed’ so the complaint was being looked at, obviously, even if he wasn’t dragged away in chains.
    
    “PSNI investigated the incident and have now confirmed: “Enquiries were made and no offences were detected.”
    
    Not sure where you deduced ‘the police explained the joke to the complainant’ either.
    The set up & joke sounds pretty funny though, in a cringe sort of way.
    
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    June 28, 2022 12:49pm
  - Loddenthinks
    
    Well, yes, obviously but it’s clear you didn’t. The Police didn’t explain the joke to the complainant; Joe Lycett explained the joke to the Police and they said it was fine. What the Police said to the Karen is anyone’s guess.
    
    The point of the post was that someone would pay money to attend a show from someone they presumably knew a little about, then got all bent out of shape and chose to become offended by a joke they didn’t like. That’s all well and good, you pays your money and you takes your chances. It’s what happened next that shows how woke Britain has become.
    
    They decided the most appropriate course of action, after choosing to take offence, was to report it to the Police as a criminal matter for then to investigate – and they did! The fact that Lycett managed to “get off” is not the point, the point is that they even investigated it in the first place. Mind you, one of their own is currently in jail for making a joke on What’s App that one of his wokester colleagues dobbed him in for, which strengthens my point.
    
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    June 28, 2022 4:21pm
rockape

15 million given from the tourism fund to Maori to enhance the celebration of Matariki ! The trough that is Maori never sleeps.
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June 28, 2022 10:45am
- mawm
  
  And there is never any accounting of how it was spent!
  
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  June 28, 2022 11:37am
Maggie Pie

TRENDING….

The Devine-Miss-M unloads bigly on ol’ Uncle Clarence 😀 😀 😀

https://twitter.com/BetteMidler/status/1541147082488250368
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June 28, 2022 10:46am
- Ra Henare
  
  She should stick to acting/singing and not show her ignorance on twitter
  
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  June 28, 2022 11:15am
Ehlana

So, meanwhile in NZ, the Greens would like us to believe that democracy is threatened if the public don’t know the names of people who give $5,000 to a political party.

That’s half a percent of the average house price.

Probably an overpayment for a Green policy though.
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June 28, 2022 10:53am
- Matt Long
  
  TBH, I agree with them, I like to know which businesses donate to Labour or the Greens to ensure they are not people I do business with.
  
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  June 28, 2022 11:00am
- Surely Knott
  
  Unless it is an artefact or piece of art bought anonymously at an auction?
  
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  June 28, 2022 11:44am
  - Libertarians are right
    
    Or an in kind donation of time by the Unions which is of a far higher value than all other political donations put together.
    
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    June 28, 2022 12:58pm
oldfella

The NY Times finally realises that maybe Cindy’s feet really are made of clay…
Abroad, Jacinda Ardern is a star. At home, she is losing her shine
Abroad, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern of New Zealand remains a leading liberal light. During a recent trip to the United States, she delivered the commencement address at Harvard University, cracked jokes with Stephen Colbert and met in the Oval Office with President Joe Biden. At each stop, she highlighted her successes in passing gun restrictions and handling the pandemic.
At home, Ardern’s star is fading. Rising prices for food, fuel and rent are making life increasingly difficult for many New Zealanders, and an explosion of gang violence has shocked suburbanites not used to worrying much about their safety.
More fundamentally, there are deepening doubts that Ardern can deliver the “transformational” change she promised on systemic problems, as housing prices reach stratospheric levels, the country’s carbon emissions increase despite her Government’s pledges, and child poverty rates stay stubbornly high.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/abroad-jacinda-ardern-is-a-star-at-home-she-is-losing-her-shine/WS5FGGJPJDKCL355ZVTUMCW7N4/
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June 28, 2022 10:55am
- mawm
  
  Pfft… another puff piece on her. They need to tell it like it really is.
  
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  June 28, 2022 11:41am
- mandk
  
  Yes, she’s pretty much an empty vessel.
  
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  June 28, 2022 11:53am
greybeard

Stuff food article today about Rotorua restaurants:
Apparently one food outlet sells “locally sourced seafood that ranges from mussels to calamari and prawns”.
I didn’t realise that Rotorua had moved to the seaside !
19 1
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June 28, 2022 11:11am
- Cassandra
  
  Stupid and Stuff, but then I’m repeating myself.
  
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  June 28, 2022 11:28am
- Nickc2
  
  Rotorua? It probably fell off the back of a truck eh?
  
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  June 28, 2022 11:54am
- Steve Otto(North Shore)
  
  I once saw a news item and a photo of a hammerhead shark being dragged up the boat ramp. It was April 1
  
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  June 28, 2022 12:57pm
- MCōs
  
  That depends on your definition of local, doesn’t it?
  Mussels are farmed around the Coromandel, which is hardly a million miles away.
  
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  June 28, 2022 1:20pm
  - greybeard
    
    Rotorua to Coromandel: 208km
    Not exactly “local”.
    
    7 1
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    June 28, 2022 2:13pm
- Steve Otto(North Shore)
  
  Locally is a trick. It really means New Zealand, and not imported.
  Not sure where those R. T. Rower get seafood from? Antarctica?
  
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  June 28, 2022 5:51pm
logan0312

There has been a lot of talk in the past few days about the matter of the US Supreme Court rescinding the Roe V Wade decision of the 1970’s and what that means.
We have heard the claims of the so-called Pro-choice side saying that the decision is a violation of the ‘rights’ of women to bodily autonomy and supposedly an expression of some ancient misogamy against their civil rights. I believe it is none of those things. It is however very much an issue of basic human rights.
There are various rights we all have, or should have, simply because we are human. In a properly constituted society it is not only issue of being entitled to have and exercise those rights, it is a duty we have to one another to protect them for our fellow citizens. If one is denied their proper rights we are all in danger of losing the enjoyment of those rights ourselves.
So we have claims that the court’s decision erodes women’s rights. This is wrongheaded at best and it is not hard to see why.
All our rights are not equal. Some are dependent on other rights. We would not have some without others existing as a foundation for them. The most fundamental right can only be the right to life itself. Without that right, and respect for it in our political expression, none other of our rights can properly exist. It trumps them all, for the obvious reason that a person must exist and their life being respected if they are to have meaningful rights in any other facet of their existence.
There is no other reasonable way to view this. The need to safeguard the right to life cannot be disregarded and have any hope that any of us are safe to enjoy personal life or liberty. We fail at this and the entire social structure we depend on will fail. Completely fail.
I know the arguments about children being unwanted, quality-of-life etc. that are made and those can be discussed downstream of this basic decision about whether life itself is to regarded as ‘sacred’. My argument is that they are extraneous to the core issue about whether there is a right to life. We have to decide this first and foremost. Once that is decided there is room for discussion for ancillary issues.
So that’s it at this stage. It is not primarily a ‘woman’s issue’ ; it concerns every one of us. Without resolving that we have a primary and compelling duty to one another to preserve and enhance the lives of others then we have no other human rights at all. They all depend on the ‘right to life’.
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June 28, 2022 11:24am
- RichardX
  
  So you would have no problem with the state compelling you to donate an organ. Someone will die if you don’t so you are infringing on their right to life.
  A simplistic response to a simplistic argument.
  
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  June 28, 2022 6:37pm
  - logan0312
    
    To put it simply, I don’t agree that the state ever has the right to demand an individual hazard their own health by requiring an organ. The state does not have that authority. As individuals we properly have some autonomy in such issues. Conscience may direct us too, but not the state. We have free choice in the matter.
    But what do you want to argue? That this insistence on individual bodily automony means a woman has authority to actively seek the death of an unborn child? That is a specious argument. We never have a moral right to seek the death of an innocent life. And yes, the state has a proper role in prohibiting that. No-one is safe if they abrogate that duty.
    
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    June 28, 2022 10:41pm
Libertarians are right

Republican Mayra Flores was just sworn in the other day.

Nancy Pelosi was there as the Speaker of the House. She stood up in front of the camera for a photo with Flores entire family and then proceeded to elbow the (maybe 10 year old?) daughter of Flores away from her. The daughter handled it really well.

Pelosi’s representative said that she was simply moving the young girl (with her elbow and without speaking to her) so that she would be better framed for the photo.

Instead of going after Pelosi for elbowing her daughter she stated how proud she was of her daughter for handling it like a Queen.

I can see why the people chose Flores.
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June 28, 2022 11:31am
- Frank the tank
  
  The Latin catholic wave is about hit the democrats who for so many years took them for granted.
  
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  June 28, 2022 1:11pm
  - Libertarians are right
    
    Pelosi’s look of contempt as she shoved the Latina child with her elbow is definitely not going to help the Democrats.
    
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    June 28, 2022 2:00pm
Surely Knott

Family first not a charity according to supreme court because they don’t promote plurality of viewpoints and are “self-referential”. What charity does advocate for a plurality of viewpoints – none i would offer. The local Maori health provider exclusively advocating co-governance and using a Maori mp on their promotional material is this a plurality of ideas? Is it self referential? Or Green charities promoting removing cows without telling the other side of the story. Is that a plurality of ideas? Local Green charities using the Green party heart logo and font is that self referential?

Furthermore they said “Family First’s advocacy is not fair, balanced or respectful, so its advocacy is not charitable.” So what is fair? And what is respectful. And when does that stop it from being a charity. What about health authorities advocating for co-governance who say the other side are racist or mean spirited is that charitable? Or climate protestors blocking streets? Or taking days off school. Balanced – no they are advocating for their idea.
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June 28, 2022 11:43am
- Blog-aholic
  
  I would imagine you could put that decision ‘yard stick’ across almost every charity in NZ right this moment and find them all wanting.
  
  What a crock.
  
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  June 28, 2022 12:22pm
Nickc2

Geez, the Frazer House trolls are out today eh?
15 3
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June 28, 2022 11:53am
- Steve Otto(North Shore)
  
  Mike is not here, but Ross is.
  
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  June 28, 2022 1:03pm
krazykiwi

I see the Government and the Charities Board have won the right to deregister Family First as a registered charity.

“This decision is a sad day for the freedom of speech and belief in New Zealand, and sets a disturbing precedent. The attempt – some would label it a ‘witch hunt’ – by the Charities Board to deregister Family First is a watershed decision, not just for Family First, but for the whole country,” says Bob McCoskrie, Chief Executive of Family First NZ.

“Family First has fought this attempt to deregister us through four court cases (2015, 2018, 2020 & 2022). It has cost hundreds of thousands of dollars for both the charity and the taxpayer because of the threat it placed on us and other charities and our collective freedom to speak on behalf of our supporters in a civil society.”

“An overly restrictive or narrow view of what is in the ‘public benefit’ is likely to be of concern to all charities, many of which have a certain emphasis or point of view. The importance of freedom of expression and open debate in a civil society are ideals every New Zealander should be defending.”

I doubt this would have been attempted had they been advocating for LGBT+whatever, or Climate Change etc.
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June 28, 2022 11:55am
- NK
  
  Of course not. Greenpeace were successful. This is simply an authoritarian action by our communist government. Destroy the family. Destroy religion. Gain control.
  
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  June 28, 2022 11:59am
  - Ross Campbell
    
    For your statement to be even remotely true then we have to now say the Supreme Court is under the control of the government and judicial independence is now dead in NZ as the court was the one who has confirmed the deregistration, not our apparent communist government.
    As a side issue I fully support this decision but personally I would like to see hundreds more so called charities deregistered as well as there are far too many ideological based nutters masquerading as charities and getting tax payer support to do it.
    
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    June 28, 2022 12:31pm
    - MCōs
      
      It seems odd that an organization called Family First should be opposed to same sex families.
      Clearly it’s families as defined by themselves.
      I don’t know what they do, but one imagines they help families in need. Otherwise they’re just a political pressure group.
      
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      June 28, 2022 1:47pm
    - I remember when
      
      Looking at their aims it would appear that most, if not all, churches are likely to support at least a number of their objectives.
      Where will it stop?
      
      4 2
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      June 28, 2022 2:10pm
      - peterwn
        
        The four fundamental objectives of charity are – The relief of poverty; The advancement of education; The advancement of religion; or Any other purpose beneficial to the community. This was established many, many years ago in the UK and imported to NZ via the First Four Ships and other immigrants. This was at a time when many ‘things’ we take or granted now only existed through the foresight and perseverance of individuals and communities. For example the Nelson community set up a whole school system because they believed in education before there was state education and this formed the nucleus of state education in Nelson province. Infrastructure such as water supply and sewage were originally established by charitable organisations. Similarly for public hospitals – doctors in private practice considered they had a duty to work some hours in charity hospitals (the precursor to the modern health system) at no cost. Arguably the most ‘marginal’ charitable objective is furtherance of religion, but church communities are deeply involved in the furtherance of the other three objectives (eg they support refugees who arrive in NZ).
        
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        June 28, 2022 6:47pm
    - fernglas
      
      Let’s start with all religion. Why anybody should be able to avoid paying tax on income acquired on the pretext that it will somehow please a non-existent being is beyond me.
      
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      June 28, 2022 6:16pm
- peterwn
  
  Not a Government decision, but a Charities Board and judicial decision. They have concluded Families First is a lobby group, not a charity.
  I do not consider Greenpeace is a charity but they have unfortunately made out their case that they are a charity.
  
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  June 28, 2022 12:41pm
Maggie Pie

Greenies here need to take note….

‘Play Stupid Games – Win Stupid Prizes’

https://twitter.com/TradBritGroup/status/1540655665382817792
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June 28, 2022 12:29pm
- Steve Otto(North Shore)
  
  Comments: The last one could have been a professional footballer by his overreaction.
  Very similar LOL
  
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  June 28, 2022 1:08pm
  - Nickc2
    
    A pity he didn’t glue his arse to the road.
    
    7 3
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    June 28, 2022 1:28pm
    - Steve Otto(North Shore)
      
      No, they like arse, can’t damage that.
      
      2 3
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      June 28, 2022 6:01pm
Gravelroad

Anyone know what the go is at Waka Kotahi HQ?
One of the inmates here (son) has an enquiry about an outstanding RUC bill which he disputes as he has already paid.
The local Automobile Assn gave him a Waka Kotahi number to ring.
He rang it yesterday – 45 minute wait – gave up.
Trying again now – 57 minute wait.
Tried making an email on website enquiry – will get back to you within 15 days.
Is this normal business practice for WK?
Too many parties, office refurbishing and statues to organise perhaps?
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June 28, 2022 1:07pm
- Steve Otto(North Shore)
  
  The actual plan is to flatten your battery.
  
  10 2
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  June 28, 2022 1:11pm
- Frank the tank
  
  At their Maori prayer group probably…..
  
  20 1
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  June 28, 2022 1:12pm
- Blog-aholic
  
  IRD the same 15 working day turn around (translated that is three weeks).
  
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  June 28, 2022 1:29pm
- Nickc2
  
  There must be a Tangi somewhere. This is something we need to get used to eh? //
  
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  June 28, 2022 1:30pm
- surfing
  
  I waited 6 months for a simple reply from companies house.
  
  I’d say you are doing pretty well so far.
  
  6 0
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  June 28, 2022 1:42pm
- kowtow
  
  Road to zero . Zero service to the Plebs.
  
  7 1
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  June 28, 2022 1:57pm
- Gravelroad
  
  Update:
  After more than an hour, call got answered and then disconnected before issue addressed.
  Rang back – now 94 to 98 minute wait.
  Ridiculous. It’s an enquiry about Road user charges FFS.
  
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  June 28, 2022 1:57pm
- I remember when
  
  Perhaps the engineers were the ones answering the phones.
  
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  June 28, 2022 1:58pm
- MCōs
  
  It may well be that they can’t get people to answer the phones. It’s probably a poorly paid, thankless job dealing with a lot of angry people.
  Last week I rang Sky and it was a 1-1/2hr wait so I left a message and they rang back. (I was endlessly polite, but couldn’t get a discount)
  
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  June 28, 2022 2:01pm
blue collar

I don’t care about roe v wade
More concerned if I’ve got fresh socks for tomorrow to be honest 😁
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June 28, 2022 1:29pm
- Steve Otto(North Shore)
  
  Go barefoot to the Whare house and buy some on the way to work.
  What’s that? you work from home? Uber it!!!
  
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  June 28, 2022 6:07pm
Swifty

Several times now I’ve seen Megan Woods grossly mislead NZers about current events, some would say outright lie to us.

After decades of local and central governments meddling in the housing market for political benefit and making it more complex, onerous and costly to build housing she turns around and says ‘the market has failed to deliver affordable housing’ as reasoning to support Kiwibuild.

Now the Electricity Authority confirms that Woods mislead, some would say lied, to us about the cause of the power blackouts last year when she said again it was market failures:

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/business/469930/electricity-authority-rules-contact-energy-and-genesis-played-no-part-in-power-blackouts

This is a symptom of a deep sickness in our political system; that our so-called representatives mislead us, some would say lie to us, with almost total impunity.

Kirk Allan has just launched a new assault on NZers donating to political parties, in my view done totally and solely to screw the scrum towards Labour and the Greens and attempt to turn down the donation taps to their political opponents.

If she really wanted to improve our system and deliver benefits to us vastly greater she would be looking at moves to sanction and punish her fellow MPs who openly mislead us for political gain.

It is a cancer and gets worse with every passing year.
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June 28, 2022 1:48pm
- Swifty
  
  *Sorry, Kiri Allan
  
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  June 28, 2022 2:07pm
surfing

https://gizmodo.com/flu-vaccine-alzheimers-disease-prevention-texas-study-1849113499

I encourage anti-vaxxers to get checked for alzheimers. It makes perfect sense now.
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June 28, 2022 1:49pm
Tony Stuart

Just when you thought we were at rock bottom with regard to the appalling rate of child abuse in this country, we find we have a way to fall yet:

Family members of a baby who died after suffering catastrophic injuries met shortly after his tangi to discuss who would “take the fall” for his death, a court has heard.

In the recording played to the court, the mother and father of Poseidyn Pickering are told by another family member they need to change their police statements to “clear this all up”.

Poseidyn died in hospital in September 2020 after being rushed there from the family home in Manurewa, south Auckland. The 10-month-old had “catastrophic” head injuries.

Under cross-examination by defence lawyer Ina Stewart, Huakau said she wasn’t aware a meeting they had with family members in a garage after Poseidyn’s tangi, was being recorded.

The recording was played to the court, in which a family member can be heard saying someone needs to “take the fall” for Poseidyn’s death, and it can’t be “Si”.

“This is your son that’s gone. Someone has to pay for his death.”

Huakau says: “It’s not fair, one of us has to take the rap for something we didn’t do.”

Family members talk about moving the limelight away from Huakau and Pickering as the public won’t believe they are innocent.

”We need one person to take the fall.

”I’ve got the police in my court…I need them to stay out of jail,” the family member says.

“Yous know the truth…and that’s going to be enough for you to carry,” she says.

The family member says they need to protect Huakau and Pickering.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/129088713/family-members-met-after-babys-tangi-to-discuss-who-would-take-fall-court-hears

This literally sickened me when I read it. Rather than someone actually doing the decent thing and accepting responsibility for the death of the 10-month-old, the family are indulging in horse-trading to see whose name is going to be given to the Police.

My heart breaks for little Poseidyn, whose only “crime” was to be born into a family where he was a mere commodity, not a loved, cherished and protected child. How many more children will die in similar circumstances before someone says “Enough!”?
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June 28, 2022 1:50pm
- Gravelroad
  
  Primitive people.
  Life is cheap.
  Protecting each other more important.
  Aunty will still provide.
  Have another kid.
  
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  June 28, 2022 2:03pm
- Swifty
  
  What’s also sickening is the attempt by some to absolve these people, and shift the responsibility for this behaviour on to people or events that occurred two centuries ago.
  
  Until some Maori (remembering that the majority of Maori don’t live this way and indeed live just as well as the rest of the population) reject this lifestyle and adopt better outlooks and behaviours they will continue to be at the bottom of the heap and no amount of taxpayer money thrown at ‘Maori service providers’ will change that. And those who say that it will are invariably those making a fortune off this charade.
  
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  June 28, 2022 2:21pm
- Suze Wainwright
  
  When you think about it logically and rationally, the only solution to these tragedies is co-governance
  
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  June 28, 2022 3:06pm
- Bobba Fret
  
  Neuter them and sterilise them. They should not be allowed to breed. They have proven they cannot look after a baby. No pets allowed either.
  
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  June 28, 2022 3:38pm
I remember when

So is it just a coincidence that the living cities’ list looks suspiciously like a covid elimination actions chart.
And the effect of that action on future tourism, at least short term..
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June 28, 2022 1:54pm
OTGO

https://www.stuff.co.nz/pou-tiaki/300622731/act-of-the-coloniser-iwi-dissatisified-with-xero-cofounders-engagement-on-golf-course-plan

Oh spare me the angst and just tell the “colonisers” what the dollar figure is.
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June 28, 2022 1:58pm
- Loddenthinks
  
  “Kaitiaki have spoken about the consequences people suffered for ignoring the tapu nature of the whenua, including sickness and death.”
  
  More BS from the cry-bullies seeking ca$h to appease the taniwha. Those of us here in Tauranga with a decent memory well recall the exact same threats when they built Baypark at Te Maunga. Local iwi said the whole area was “spook central” and that there was a curse on the land and that anybody who even thought about building there (without paying ca$h to appease the taniwha) would surely meet an untimely demise.
  
  Apparently it would’ve made the Curse of King Tut look like, well, Omicron by comparison. Unfortunately it was Bob Clarkson that did the building and he likes driving a bulldozer, which he did right through their bullshit. All still alive and well, and Bob’s in pretty good nick for a 92 year old.
  
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  June 28, 2022 4:45pm
Swifty

First pay gap reporting was to be voluntary but, totally predictably, the same people now call for it to be compulsory.

They claim pay gaps are solely caused ‘bias and discrimination’ without offering a shred of evidence.

More bullying of New Zealanders by the left, using state coercion to force them to bend to their whim.

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/business/469895/new-zealand-behind-world-on-gender-pay-gap-reporting-survey

I see too that, for the millionth time, RNZ goes happily along and not even attempting to put the other side.

I pity the no or low-skilled women or brown folk who can’t find work because their low paid roles are now reserved for men only – as employers and business owners scramble to close their pay gaps in the face of public anger at them for having any sort of gaps.
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June 28, 2022 2:06pm
- blue collar
  
  Totally .
  Come and be a drainlayer in my crew , or a brickie …. No ? ….. I thought not , too hard n dirty , they just want cushy boss jobs
  My mates missus is a senior art teacher , not hod , a teacher …. , $90,000 year …… 12 weeks holiday , 8 hour days and no profit or loss …. Wtf ?
  
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  June 28, 2022 6:19pm
Maggie Pie

TRENDING – NYT

A bestie retweets….

‘Abroad, Jacinda Is A Star. At Home, She Is More A Black-Hole’

https://twitter.com/jeffreyatucker/status/1541508943465398274
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June 28, 2022 2:20pm
Swifty

An excellent doco on Homo Naledi and their impact on our understanding of human evolution:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLJVHgCZmzI
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June 28, 2022 2:45pm
Swifty

Sowell lands hammer blows:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5csE8q9mho

Swap ‘black’ and ‘Maori’ and see the similarities…..
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June 28, 2022 3:04pm
Hugh Jarse

What’s with the sudden penchant of the PM to use the RNZAF 757 for her long haul off shore trips now ?. It can’t be economics or comfort because to go to Spain has apparently meant about four or five refuelling stops each way and it burns about 2770 litres of fuel per hour, so around 65000 litres of gas one way. Is it taking the team of $55 M with her and being able to capture them with her insider stories en route, scared of the public on commercial flights or using the opportunity to move military guys and girls or kit around ?. Fair enough if it’s the later but surely not worth it from a cost or carbon burn perspective if it’s only moving her and her media around. They would have been better to be on a commercial flight or hired a decent biz jet.
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June 28, 2022 3:22pm
- mikenmildagain
  
  Please report back when you have found out the reason. I recommend fyi.org if you want your OIA request to be anonymous.
  
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  June 28, 2022 5:28pm
  - Hugh Jarse
    
    Asking the question on here is more likely to get a quicker and more knowledgeable response than waiting for an answer via an OIA. And to be fair it was more of a rhetorical question anyway. But thanks for the advice anyway Mike, you are a true asset to Kiwiblog.
    
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    June 28, 2022 6:41pm
- krazykiwi
  
  She doesn’t want to wear a mask for all that distance, like to commercial airlines would demand of her. She is special.
  
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  June 28, 2022 8:36pm
greybeard

https://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/wellington/129106874/wellington-mayoral-hopeful-eagle-told-to-remove-early-election-billboards

They just can’t help it, can they?
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June 28, 2022 3:27pm
- Gravelroad
  
  Electoral laws do not apply to candidates from the Labour Party.
  They are special, you see.
  
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  June 28, 2022 5:27pm
greybeard

https://www.stuff.co.nz/science/300624007/mystery-rocket-crashes-into-the-moon–and-noone-on-earth-is-owning-up
Without doubt this is something to do with “Matariki”.
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June 28, 2022 5:35pm
Maggie Pie

Just enjoying a cheeky little Chablis and thinking to myself…
“I wonder if anyones been to check on Ghislaine this arvo?”
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June 28, 2022 5:48pm
- greybeard
  
  Chablis? With oysters or scallops? Perfect.
  
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  June 28, 2022 6:20pm
  - Maggie Pie
    
    Always thort it strange Jeff never left a suicide-note 🙁
    
    https://twitter.com/dusty_dweller/status/1541464147220697093
    
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    June 28, 2022 7:04pm
- blue collar
  
  I hope she survives and does a tell all .how good ?
  
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  June 28, 2022 6:33pm
Swifty

Large, organised and systemic fraud of our nation’s goodwill:

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/469946/interpreter-accused-of-150-false-asylum-claims-pleads-not-guilty

Lengthy imprisonment followed by immediate deportation is required.
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June 28, 2022 6:45pm
surfing

So the government had warnings the DHB’s were going to be in crisis.

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/winter-health-pressures-dhbs-warned-govt-of-critical-workforce-issues-a-year-ago/IPNQPUN2PS2JWDCKAGT7Z5G2G4/

The end result, is nurses and doctors are breaking, some suicidal. Andrew Little has a lot to answer for.

What could they have done? Maybe not much immediately, but they could have owned up to it. They could promise new hospitals and maybe the long awaited Waikato medical school?
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June 28, 2022 6:54pm
info@cruzpro.com

Just received an email from NZ police with a 32 page PDF attachment detailing the new laws concerning gun ownership and proper gun storage requirements. Apparently the laws changed significantly in February but it took a while to get the news out. I’m guessing this is due to the news about new USA gun laws.

We live on a rural property with pests such as possums, etc. that damage the bird life. The current requirements for proper gun storage meant that when the wife discovered a possum in one of our peach trees I had do get a 22 rifle to deal with it.

She held a torch on the critter while I ran to get the rifle. Had to unlock the shed, unlock the approved gun locker, unlock the approved ammunition locker, load the gun and hussle back to the tree where the possum was awaiting it’s execution.

This took about ten minutes during which time the wife and the possum had become well acquainted and now on a first name basis.

It almost landed on her on its way down. Just missing her by a few feet.
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June 28, 2022 8:31pm
krazykiwi

Congrats to Chris Bishop and his wife Jenna who became parents today.
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June 28, 2022 8:33pm
Jethrod

Just saw the latest Rocketlab launch. 20 kilometers South of Hastings but still able to see the tail of fire about 115 kilometers away!
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June 28, 2022 10:17pm

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