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July 15, 2022 8:00am by Kokila Patel

General Debate 15 July 2022

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General Debate

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Scott

Mike Hosking on the radio this morning wondered whether, is this government incompetent, or is it something else?
They came into office promising 100,000 homes under Kiwi build. Perhaps that was the naïveté of office? A new government that would get better over time?
Now we find out that $1.2 billion has been spent on social housing. People living in social housing seemingly forever.

Mike asked the question – could they conceivably be that incompetent? Or is their vision that we become a little socialist state at the bottom of the world where everybody is renting and everybody is dependent on the government? What a great question! It is no wonder that Mike Hosking gets great ratings because he is the only person in the media that will ask the hard questions of this labour government.

The rest of the media treat as normal what is happening in New Zealand today. There appears to be no urgency for instance on Ram raids and shootings that occur almost on a daily basis. The last time the media got exercised was when Roe versus Wade was overturned and the media mob harassed Chris Luxon demanding to know whether he was a Christian and whether he was going to overturn abortion rights if National became the government?

I wasn’t going to say this because it is a rude saying. But I am today because it is totally true. When National is in power the media want to be fearless investigative reporters like Woodward and Bernstein investigating Watergate. However when Labour is in power the media want to be Monica Lewinsky.
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July 15, 2022 8:04am
- Simon
  
  Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
  Due to open door immigration during the Key govt there are now massive shortfalls in infrastructure.
  
  It takes decades to build up infrastructure to match the natural increase in population but its been overwhelmed by mass immigration. The problem now is the current govt are too incompetent to handle the wide ranging issues.
  
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  July 15, 2022 8:30am
  - In Vino Veritas
    
    The old “blame John Key” for everything Simon. I don’t recall there being infrastructure issues under National. From memory, it is Labour who have shouted from the rooftops about this issue. Maybe it wasn’t there and they made it up (which by the way, is their standard MO). Could this be why they can’t fix it? Ever thought about that?
    
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    July 15, 2022 9:24am
    - G the giant from Dunedin
      
      Exactly, the same crap that says it’s all Nats fault that health is close to collapsing, that is utter bullshit, there was a marked improvement under Nats, I can tell that health system has dropped off over the last 3 years, the treatment my father received with a stroke a few years ago was far poorer than it was when my partners relationship had health issues, my mother had a stroke 5 weeks ago and the system has deteriorated since my fathers time, it’s utterly ludicrous for the shambles in health now to blame the previous government who improved health outcomes.
      The same goes for emergency health wait lists and child poverty, many 1000 of the emergency housing stock that came on line a few years back was work done by Paula Bennett who started 4000 and had more on the books ready to start
      
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      July 15, 2022 12:37pm
    - Rodion Raskolnikov
      
      It’s not “blame John Key for everything” rather “give John Key the blame he deserves.” If you think the country’s problems began in late 2017, then you are clueless. He and his government had 9 years years to walk-back Clarkism, but they didn’t bother to take the opportunity.
      
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      July 15, 2022 12:53pm
      - Tony Stuart
        
        Had National walked back Clarkism in 2008, in the form of Working for Families, Phil Goff would have been Prime Minister in 2011.
        
        The depth to which Clark and Cullen embedded WfF has made it almost impossible to overturn.
        
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        July 15, 2022 2:06pm
      - amospicton
        
        That National govt was dependent on the support of minor parties – much of what they’d have liked to do they couldn’t.
        
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        July 15, 2022 2:41pm
      - kiwikidsnz
        
        National kept WFF because its effectively business welfare – a wage/salary subsidy funded by all net taxpayers
        
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        July 15, 2022 5:07pm
  - UrbanNeocolonialist
    
    We have an infrastructure shortfall because of excessive regulatory costs – Health and safety, environmental and HR stuff. Armies of clipboard warriors, cone-monkeys and various safety wallahs and purity laws (no mud or dust or temporary contamination of anything anywhere) almost noone actually building anything. Roll regulation back 30 years and it would be a small fraction of cost to sort it out.
    
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    July 15, 2022 9:25am
    - Taieri
      
      We have an infrastructure shortfall because of excessive regulatory costs – Health and safety, environmental and HR stuff.
      ———–
      
      NZ population increase over 30 years:
      
      Estimated population as of 31 December: 3,552,200
      Estimated population as of 31 March 2022
      5,127,100
      
      Population increase: 44.33%
      
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      July 15, 2022 12:15pm
      - UrbanNeocolonialist
        
        That rate of population increase is actually slower than it has been through most of NZ’s history. NZ used to be a country of practical people who could build and fix stuff quickly and cheaply. Now it is a Karenocracy of laws and regulations lobbied for and exploited by people who get rich off of creating more laws and regulations – never considering the negative economic impacts of their safety and impact-nothing approach. It’s a near-terminal western problem (compare and contrast to how quickly and cheaply China has managed to modernise it’s infrastructure, from nothing to world class in 30 years)
        
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        July 15, 2022 2:28pm
      - ISeeRed
        
        No Taieri! You’re blaming Key and National for ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING FOR ALL TIME!
        
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        July 15, 2022 4:50pm
      - Taieri
        
        No Taieri! You’re blaming Key and National for ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING FOR ALL TIME!
        ————-
        
        I’m not into blaming-anyone-game. Merely stating the facts. An increase in population of 44% needs to be catered for in terms of similar expansion of infrastructure. Otherwise shortages will occur. And this is exactly what is happening.
        
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        July 15, 2022 9:16pm
      - ISeeRed
        
        Was it really not obvious I was being sarcastic? Follow the thread again where someone makes one valid criticism and In Vino and G in Dunners get all defensive and precious about poor Key and innocent National.
        
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        July 16, 2022 4:45am
  - quarterpack
    
    I remember travelling north to my job during the Key years and seeing the traffic heading south getting worse and worse every year, sometimes forming jams of biblical proportions 15km + And throughout those 5 years the population of Auckland had grown 75k pa. most part though migration So if the roading was indicative of their approach to all other infrastructure I would say your correct
    
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    July 15, 2022 12:21pm
- Chris Nisbet
  
  “everybody is dependent on the government”.
  I thought that it was pretty obvious that this is the plan. The sad thing is that many people seem to have bought into that plan – hook, line and sinker.
  Tough times ahead, people.
  
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  July 15, 2022 8:33am
  - Warren
    
    Well it seems the slogan has changed from the team of five million that Jacinda Ardern got the public to defend her policy to now the army of five million that Three News came up with last night to inform people to get there jab, wear masks and stay at home if you have symptoms.
    
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    July 15, 2022 9:32am
  - Bluegrass
    
    A government’s job is to provide a basic safety net and to facilitate a society where people can change their own lives/culture if they want to.
    
    Anything more than this creates a captive, mendicant breed of citizen dependent on the State’s largesse – whereby the State confers and grants rights to its citizens and the citizens end up being owned by the State.
    
    This is totalitarianism.
    
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    July 15, 2022 10:57pm
- emmess
  
  Mike is slowly starting to get it
  
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  July 15, 2022 8:37am
  - Inandout
    
    emm, or more likely Mike is slowly being allowed to to get it because his station is so popular and he has a bit of influence. You don’t get popular unless you say things listeners agree with.
    
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    July 15, 2022 9:25am
  - rockape
    
    I thought for a minute you meant our own pet mike. He will never get it!
    
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    July 15, 2022 10:46am
  - leoj
    
    No, he has always had it.
    
    His occasional pause is due to RNZ.
    
    So, it’s RNZ who are slowly (too slowly) getting it.
    
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    July 15, 2022 10:55am
- surfing
  
  Tremain concurs …
  
  https://breakingviewsnz.blogspot.com/2022/07/garrick-tremain-watchdogs.html
  
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  July 15, 2022 8:46am
  - kiwikidsnz
    
    even better:
    https://breakingviewsnz.blogspot.com/2022/07/garrick-tremain-treaty-of-waitangi.html
    
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    July 15, 2022 4:20pm
- Steve Otto(North Shore)
  
  Monica Lewinsky was only doing a job that someone else wouldn’t/couldn’t do
  
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  July 15, 2022 9:24am
  - Bluegrass
    
    You win the cigar…
    
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    July 15, 2022 10:58pm
- tedbear
  
  “People living in social housing seemingly forever.”
  Correct.
  You seem surprised at that Scott.
  It’s always been Labour policy that people living in state houses have them for life.
  
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  July 15, 2022 9:33am
  - Loddenthinks
    
    State houses and social housing are not the exact same thing. The $1.2 b that Scott alluded to was not on social housing at all – it was on emergency accommodation which is supposed to be a short step on the way to social or affordable housing.
    
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    July 15, 2022 10:30am
  - Pineapple Lumps
    
    Another example of Labour killing people and our society with kindness. Nice to stay in a motel when you go on vacation, another thing entirely to live in one indefinitely.
    
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    July 15, 2022 1:32pm
    - amospicton
      
      It’s not the government’s job to house people. It’s their job to get out of the way and allow the economy to create the ability for people to house themselves.
      
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      July 15, 2022 2:44pm
    - Steve Otto(North Shore)
      
      Motels are not good for living in. Partner’s Mother had a six month stay after a house fire was being repaired. Too cramped, and she was 81.
      
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      July 15, 2022 3:29pm
- lastmanstanding
  
  The polls appear to be stuck with Nats/ACT on 62 seats allbeit this is good. I suspect this will increase as more have to reset their mortgages and find their interest rate doubles.
  Even the Karens will desert Cindy when hubby cancels their golf and tennis subscription and tells them their new car and overseas holdidays are off.
  
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  July 15, 2022 9:34am
  - alloytoo
    
    I suspect the Karens are currently “Shy-Nats”
    
    It might not be cool to admit it yet.
    
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    July 15, 2022 9:59am
  - rockape
    
    I suspect the current rise in basic living costs will Hurd the lower paid. They may not turn blue but I can guarantee you they are dissolutioned and will probably just not bother to vote for the party that has so badly let them down.
    
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    July 15, 2022 10:49am
  - leoj
    
    The only way the Nats will exhibit any balls is if ACT has more seats and drags them kicking and screaming to the middle.
    
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    July 15, 2022 10:57am
  - Rodion Raskolnikov
    
    What exactly do you think a National government under Luxon, or anyone else for that matter, can or will do to fix the mess? We’re looking at a decade or more of pain.
    
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    July 15, 2022 12:56pm
    - krazykiwi
      
      Agreed. A decade at least, probably much longer. Where is the visionary leader to chart this course? Nope, I can’t see him/her either.
      
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      July 15, 2022 2:28pm
      - ISeeRed
        
        It’s sad that the period of pain could be a lot shorter if only the right people were in charge.
        
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        July 16, 2022 4:49am
- My
  
  Retired Judge Anthony Willy on the Leighton Smith podcast this week pointed out that you don’t get to be president of the International Union of Socialist Youth unless you are a pretty hard core socialists.
  Their vision that we become a little socialist state at the bottom of the world is their reality, and our misery.
  
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  July 15, 2022 9:37am
  - Rodion Raskolnikov
    
    While true, I think we’ve all long ago accepted that Ardern is a hardcore socialist, which is why it is so disturbing that the opposition are so close to Labour for the most part in all but minor details. We can tack in this or that direction under a new government, but the destination seems fixed not matter who is at the helm. Root and branch measures are needed to reverse things.
    
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    July 15, 2022 12:59pm
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    Do you think it is possible that Jaspinda lied to become President? Nah – no way.
    Even though her biggest lie was to say she does not tell lies….
    
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    July 15, 2022 3:32pm
- ClanMcleod
  
  Scott – “we become a little socialist state at the bottom of the world where everybody is renting and everybody is dependent on the government?”
  
  That’s exactly what is happening. It’s also called the “great reset” and it’s directed by the WEF and UN.
  
  https://www.forbes.com/sites/worldeconomicforum/2016/11/10/shopping-i-cant-really-remember-what-that-is-or-how-differently-well-live-in-2030/?sh=588b4f3e1735
  
  Our democracy is being taken away one piece at a time. It’s becoming apparent that our politicians are becoming little more than overpaid administrators who do not act in the interests of their citizens.
  
  The WEF is an unelected who have published their intentions. It is not a “conspiracy theory”.
  
  https://www.weforum.org/great-reset/
  
  We know for a fact that Ardern, Trudeau, Macron and many other political leaders around the world are former pupils of Schwab as part of the global young leaders programme. They don’t work for us even though we pay their wages.
  
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  July 15, 2022 10:49am
  - mawm
    
    If we get a change in government nothing will change. Neither Luxon nor Seymour are signalling that they will abandon this headlong rush into communism. In fact they seem to want to usher it in.
    
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    July 15, 2022 11:41am
    - Batman
      
      Which for anyone not afflicted by brain worms, would seem to indicate that it is not communism.
      
      But alas, some are unable to not see communists under ever bed, chair, or idea.
      
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      July 15, 2022 1:26pm
  - Rodion Raskolnikov
    
    “Our democracy is being taken away one piece at a time.”
    
    I’d go even further and say that democracy is already gone. “Western democracy” has, as Aristotle and many other thinkers predicted, long ago degenerated into an oligarchy with only the formal trappings of true popular sovereignty intact. It’s just more difficult to hide this fact now, particularly over the last 5 or 6 years, and specifically the last 2.
    
    Aside from the periodic performative spectacle of placing our votes, the public effectively has no say at all in the direction of their countries. Contemporary “democracy” has become just a euphemism for an aggressive financial oligarchy that seeks to impose itself globally by predatory financial, economic and political control, ultimately backed by military force.
    
    Any country seeking to maintain its economic independence and self-reliance is accused of being “autocratic.” The rhetorical sleight of hand juxtaposes democracy to autocracy. What is today called “autocracy” is simply any government strong enough to prevent a Western-oriented financial oligarchy from indebting the population to itself.
    
    The oft-repeated characterisations by the ostensible leaders of Western countries of their “sacred democracies” is merely for public-relations purposes, while they pretend that the increasingly top-heavy concentration of wealth and power is all for the best. When we hear of grave “threats to democracy” what they actually mean is threats to the system that outwardly only presents itself as a democracy.
    
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    July 15, 2022 1:15pm
    - Batman
      
      I have long posited that politics is a circle, and eventually people end up on the other side of the spectrum.
      
      Nice to see you confirm my theory by going full circle to become a revolutionary radical marxist/communist.
      
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      July 15, 2022 1:33pm
      - Bluegrass
        
        Born Left – die Right.
        
        PS not a full circle, but 180′ – o/wise you would end up where you started from.
        
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        July 15, 2022 11:01pm
  - Kurious Kiwi
    
    What Ive never understood is why a massive power transfer to the Iwi Elite is part of the great reset. If the so called global power brokers behind this project think they can buy off Iwi leaders as easily as they buy pacific islands then they are badly mistaken.
    I also just dont get why Labour is putting all of its political eggs in the co-governance basket. They are gambling on forcing it through before the voters wake up, its a silent coup attempt, but if they fail they face political oblivion for another three terms at least.
    Welcome to AoIwiroa. It looks like a bumpy ride ahead.
    
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    July 15, 2022 3:35pm
2ic

Oh dear. Remember the calls for the Olympics to be cancelled last year when Japan was going through a Covid wave? Or how dire things were in India when they were going through their Covid surge?

We were all told how lucky we were to be in New Zealand with our government’s effective Covid response.

Thing not looking so good now. If you compare on a per population basis, we are looking much worse than both countries:
https://yerl.org/Q7JG4

Surely for consistency we will see calls for that super-spreader event at the Wellington stadium over the weekend to be played spectator-free?
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July 15, 2022 8:04am
- alex Masterley
  
  Piss off. I am going to the super spreader event. Looking forward to it.
  
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  July 15, 2022 8:10am
  - Opie
    
    Don’t worry, the game will be ruined when someone gets sent off for an accidental head clash.
    
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    July 15, 2022 11:29am
- UrbanNeocolonialist
  
  Probably 70% of kiwis (particularly younger) have had Omicron, and for 99 out of 100 of them BA5 and other variants are a complete non-issue with their superior natural immunity. Most kiwis should be just ignoring covid
  
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  July 15, 2022 8:21am
  - krazykiwi
    
    No one who has been vaxxed and subsequently infected/recovered will have superior natural immunity. Sorry, I truly wish there were the case but it is not. We have millions of immune systems narrowly fixated on the long-gone Wuhan spike. After adjusting for confounders, the strongest immune systems will currently be possessed by those unvaccinated individuals who have recovered from an Omi strain.
    
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    July 15, 2022 2:35pm
    - Hebe123
      
      yay! Super pleased to be one of the few with an unadulterated immune response!
      
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      July 15, 2022 2:53pm
- rouppe
  
  From Our World In Data.
  
  New cases per million: we are second highest in the world
  
  Jacinda totally saved us. Not.
  
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  July 15, 2022 8:27am
  - Benedict Yu
    
    All she did was delay by 2 years at astonishing cost.
    
    That ‘elimination’ strategy looks more idiotic as time goes on.
    
    I’ll still never forget her saying we will use the vaccine to ‘stamp it out like measles.’
    
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    July 15, 2022 9:19am
    - Steve Otto(North Shore)
      
      That was another Jaspinda lie LOL!
      
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      July 15, 2022 9:31am
    - Harry Knuts
      
      exactly – the elimination strategy was a illusion, false promise, you can’t hold off people naturally dying in the natural order of nature. All that was done was prolonged the inevitable.
      
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      July 15, 2022 10:34am
    - septic skeptic
      
      BY, you do realize that Omicron is more infectious but considerably less lethal than any of the previous variants?
      
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      July 15, 2022 11:13am
      - Benedict Yu
        
        Yes I am aware and you have a point, but I would make two in response:
        
        1. When Delta was the dominant variant, nobody knew that Omicron was around the corner. What was the plan? It quickly became apparent that the vaccines did not stop transmission. Jacinda just shut the borders but with no end game in mind.
        
        2. When Omicron became the dominant variant, she STILL kept the borders closed and her stupid elimination strategy in place. Bu then it was REALLY clear that the vaccines were useless at stopping transmission.
        
        Then, finally there was a case of Omicron at the border and we had ANOTHER Level 4 lockdown.
        
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        July 15, 2022 2:07pm
      - krazykiwi
        
        “When Delta was the dominant variant, nobody knew that Omicron was around the corner”
        
        Omicron was predicted by many, as it was expected to follow the evolutionary pattern of coronavirus’ for increasing transmissibility and decreasing virulence.
        
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        July 15, 2022 2:41pm
    - Cinematic
      
      The strategy looked idiotic to me at day 1. Basic logic.
      
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      July 15, 2022 11:33am
    - amospicton
      
      Interesting isn’t it that when we were leading the world it was headline news. Now, crickets. Enough to make you wonder about the impartiality of the media (if you had any doubts at all).
      
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      July 15, 2022 2:47pm
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    Saying she saved us and actually saving us are opposites – another disguised lie.
    
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    July 15, 2022 9:30am
- Simon
  
  Zero covid were always nut jobs. Zero covid has caused all the problems NZ is currently experiencing and will not be able to remedy for another 10 years or so.
  
  Zero covid nutjobs.
  
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  July 15, 2022 8:34am
  - kowtow
    
    The ‘zero’ mob are really dangerous .
    
    In there with the ‘year zero’ types . The ‘resetters”.
    
    Not to mention zero carbon .
    
    Totally, but dangerously, bonkers.
    
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    July 15, 2022 10:18am
  - Harry Knuts
    
    this zero-covid nutjob is at it again – https://www.stuff.co.nz/opinion/94869389/sharon-murdoch-cartoons
    how do people like this get air time… beyond me…
    
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    July 15, 2022 10:37am
    - Benedict Yu
      
      She would have to be the most odious cartoonist in the country.
      
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      July 15, 2022 2:09pm
  - ClanMcleod
    
    Simon – zero covid worked so well they’re applying it to the road toll. Of course it will work……
    
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    July 15, 2022 11:17am
- Chris Nisbet
  
  Just imagine how bad things would be if we hadn’t gone hard and early, and tossed around tens of billions of dollars doing everything but bolstering our health system.
  Still, put your N95 on and your risk of getting (or is it giving, who knows?) the sniffles will (apparently) drop 75 fold (that’s one of the mightiest claims I’ve heard so far).
  /s
  
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  July 15, 2022 8:38am
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    Seems today is ‘re exposing Jaspinda’s lies’ day
    
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    July 15, 2022 9:33am
    - artemisia
      
      She will refute that, saying she followed the science. Actually she followed the apparent expects who were clearly well aware that they would be pilloried if actuals were more than their projections. So why not err on the other side, then they could say – the team of 5 million did the right things as we advised and it worked.
      
      Until it didn’t.
      
      And in any case the leaders of our nation are supposed to run the country, understand the many levers that involves and not panic. Supposed….
      
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      July 15, 2022 11:24am
- k1w1
  
  I see that idiot Baker is desperately vying for attention today. Someone tell him that no one cares, please. We saw Cindy, maskless, indoors, with many other people throughout her offshore travels. There is no way I am complying with their wishes for more mask wearing. They can GF.
  
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  July 15, 2022 8:47am
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    I read a news item today confirming what I said about Covid vaxes and mask wearing would be ramped up. Sure enough, they were all at it.
    Baker, Blofeld, Plank, Hendy, some other new guy from another Uni, and of course the pink terror. All had opinion answers.
    Strange that item has now disappeared
    
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    July 15, 2022 9:37am
  - quarterpack
    
    Please share…why would Baker be “desperately vying for attention”?
    Maybe he is just reading the numbers and telling things as he sees them?
    If wearing a mask is the worst thing you have had to do you must have had a fairly easy life, I wear mine because even if it reduces my chance of contracting covid by a measly 10% I figure its worth doing. And it improves my appearance
    
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    July 15, 2022 12:43pm
    - hmmokrightitis
      
      Because mask wearing has been such a raging success so far hasnt it?
      
      Ever think about the negative side effects of doing so?
      
      Ever think about the issues we are going to encounter over the next 10 years, the increased death toll, simply because Cindy panicked? Let alone the economic damage so far and more to come.
      
      Masks do nothing for your average punter.
      
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      July 15, 2022 2:07pm
    - k1w1
      
      OK I’ll play your game. Stevie Wonder could see that Baker is something of a media whore. He’s rapidly running low on schtick and the new ‘wave of covid’ is perfect ammunition for a comeback tour. He’s clearly frustrated by the Govt not listening to him, the EXPERT, GODAMNIT, by their (lack of) action in mask-wearing mandates or moving to red. Of course he is entitled to an opinion, but mine is that he cannot see the wood for the trees. He views everything thru, and only thru, the very narrow lens of public health (covid matters only, however – to his detriment) and has not a single solitary clue of real world politics, affects of lockdowns on the people/mental health/economy/business/jobs/family connections etc etc. It’s not surprising from an academic, obviously, but it’s so far from the real world it’s laughable. I have nothing against people who wish to wear a mask. That is their business. Just don’t make it mine. I’ll take my chances. If I’m sick, I stay home. Problem solved.
      
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      July 15, 2022 2:55pm
    - Hebe123
      
      so for the half the country that have had covid, why should they wear masks?
      
      Oh that’s right, their immune systems are fucked and they can catch it again!
      
      https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.04.18.22271936v1
      
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      July 15, 2022 2:55pm
    - Fuzzysnuggleduck
      
      People should be free to wear masks, or free to not wear them.
      If you are sick, you really should, and if you are in surgery or ICU/HDU units, yes, but what Baker is insisting upon is compulsion.
      That is where I disagree with him.
      Let people manage their own risks/conclude the degree of risk, and do as they see fit.
      
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      July 15, 2022 4:47pm
- Loddenthinks
  
  Don’t give them ideas! Pointing out how much worse we’re doing may embolden them to put us back into red, or lockdowns, or even more control mechanisms.
  
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  July 15, 2022 10:44am
Warren

Is it time to Lance the boil and take the portfolio of Health away from Andrew Little and stop his childish game of trashing nurses and their Union.
https://i.stuff.co.nz/national/health/129273745/nurses-organisation-asks-health-minister-to-focus-on-health-crisis-instead-of-putdowns
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July 15, 2022 8:08am
- graham
  
  “… take the portfolio of Health away from Andrew Little …”
  
  The problem you are faced with, Warren, is … who would you give it to in the current Government? Who can you think of who would do a better job?
  
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  July 15, 2022 8:36am
  - Paulus
    
    Verrall will get the job soon.
    
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    July 15, 2022 10:09am
  - Keith White
    
    My wife’s pet cat would do a better job. She’d yawn and let the active responders get on with it under her remote and supercilious supervision.
    
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    July 15, 2022 12:12pm
- RoboRob
  
  And give ti to who? Chris hipkins, may as well give him all the portfolios. At least he can play the media.
  
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  July 15, 2022 8:54am
- Sacha
  
  As far as I can tell, people hear, but nobody listens to Little’s attempts at self-justification.
  In fact there seems to be complete acceptance of the Government’s. incompetence. People don’t want to talk about it, and will simply vote them out next election whether it is next week or next year.
  As for the introduction of anti-virals. for the select few – that is another medical scandal to add to the pile.
  We have known for 18 months that early immune boosting prevents the onset of serious symptoms and later complications.
  Hospitals would not be in the state they are right now, if all the staff had been issued with health packs. Loving care was not extended to them, was it?
  And now Little sees fit to criticise their efforts.
  He has no shame – like his leader.
  
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  July 15, 2022 9:05am
- Steve Otto(North Shore)
  
  Something needs to happen soon. People are dying, not getting hospital care they need. I don’t mean Covid, I mean Cancers (all types) That would be the main one.
  
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  July 15, 2022 9:42am
Piticus

Maybe the All Blacks should play ‘coach-free’.
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July 15, 2022 8:08am
- pdm
  
  With Whitelock Captain!!!
  
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  July 15, 2022 8:35am
  - RoboRob
    
    Well with the coach out and Whitelock in we did well in the first match. With the coach in and Whitelock out in the second game we were shit. The proof is in.
    
    I suspect Whitelock took the reigns in the first game so he probably would be a better coach as well.
    
    It has always been obvious the Robinson was the right choice for ABs coach but it’s too late now.
    
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    July 15, 2022 8:58am
  - MCōs
    
    What happens if they lose by even more?
    I remember the days when Robbie Deans was overlooked in favour of Graham Henry after the quarter final loss to France in the 2007 RWC.
    Deans took over Oz and they performed poorly.
    Henry carried on with the ABs and the won the next RWC.
    So now it’s deja vu all over again.
    Replace the loser with another Crusaders hot shot!
    
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    July 15, 2022 9:18am
    - Littletramp
      
      The State of Origin rugby league match on Wednesday night showed what winning at sport is all about.
      It is a test of character, courage, mental strength, persistence and preparation.
      As stated elsewhere the All Blacks won the best haircuts, best tattoos, best haka and the Irish took over from there.
      We are becoming “wokeness” personified.
      If that is what we want as a nation we are actually doing well -not for me though.
      
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      July 15, 2022 9:41am
    - RoboRob
      
      Robbie deans would have done well with the ABs, the Aussies have a lack of talent, game play and funding. A much harder team to make work.
      
      Deans wouldn’t have made the mistakes Henry made with team rotation.
      
      As a Crusaders man I am somewhat happy we get to keep Robinson but from a National perspective he was the obvious choice. The ABs can’t stick with the same coaching / gameplay style forever and expect to win.
      
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      July 15, 2022 9:49am
    - Alan Wilkinson
      
      Graham Henry is also a Cantab – I was at high school there with him.
      
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      July 15, 2022 2:03pm
artemisia

Pushy and grumpy unions and sectors see their hopes of better conditions (aka more money) going down the toilet if not set in concrete before the next election. Smart really, plenty of ex union on the front and back benches, the latter who especially see their job disappearing and new union jobs not on the horizon. Already filled by the new brooms and the exes look like ineffective advocates for 6 years despite holding the reins of power.

Expect more of these exes to be held up to account, or in some cases, serious ridicule. Already happening.

OTOH the Maori caucus has done very well. The unions won’t have missed that.
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July 15, 2022 8:08am
Nickc2

It was announced by Hosking on his TalkbackZB Show this morning that he believed this Govt was deliberately crippling our economy. Is his assumption correct?
Uptick = YES
Downtick = NO
Comments optional.
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July 15, 2022 8:12am
- mandk
  
  Downtick from me.
  
  Labour are so incompetent it’s as if they are trying to wreck the economy.
  
  The Greens on the other hand …
  
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  July 15, 2022 8:30am
- Mummy
  
  You got it. Definitely yes. It’s all part of the great reset. You will own nothing and be happy.
  
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  July 15, 2022 8:34am
- amospicton
  
  It’s a very good question but I think it’s naivety – they seem to think that doling out money solves problems. It doesn’t – welfare is like crack cocaine. But their biggest problem is failing to recognise that everything is a derivative of the state of the economy. A strong thriving economy cures most social problems by giving people an opportunity to better themselves. The taxes pay for roads, hospitals, schools etc. They think commerce is evil but its the life blood.
  
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  July 15, 2022 8:36am
  - alloytoo
    
    Brewster’s Millions measurement of success.
    
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    July 15, 2022 10:11am
  - Drone
    
    @amospicton, as smuch as I tend to agree that the Government are failing miserably to address the nations problems whilst at the same time creating a long term legacy by embedding racism into so many places. In their defence there is the issue of the last few years (covid) which has crippled the two “industries” that the country relied upon to bring money into the country, tourism and education. Without the money from these industries the country really only has agriculture, and we can’t find enough workers to pick crops. Sad really..
    
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    July 15, 2022 7:17pm
- hmmokrightitis
  
  FWIW, I think the civil service are complicit.
  
  Every department we deal with refuses to be proactive in terms of advising government except one – Treasury. And their current level of advice is, hmmm, ordinary.
  
  Ministry CEO’s simply nod and deliver what’s been asked / demanded, and never push back. Fear. Simply put.
  
  Labour has created an environment where dissent is not only not tolerated, its the kiss of career death.
  
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  July 15, 2022 8:38am
  - Sacha
    
    You are right – it’s the public servants who control what the government does. They are the ‘advisors’, a powerful bloc who by their very numbers can control the government. And the government is grateful to have them.
    Also, given their (probable) age grouping at senior levels, they are full of their own opinions, and they have no experience of managing hard times with their own resources even with the knowledge gained from their extensive university degrees.
    But they know what is good and right and how everyone else should lead their lives ‘for the common good’. Even if it leads to bankruptcy.
    How long will we put up with this?
    
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    July 15, 2022 9:17am
    - Benedict Yu
      
      ” it’s the public servants who control what the government does.”
      
      That is not quite right. All they can do is advise. At the end of the day, if the Government directs them to implement a policy they are bound to do so. For example Treasury advised bluntly that the EV ‘rebate’ scheme was bad policy. Regressive and would not reduce emissions. (Eric Crampton at the New Zealand Initiative has also written extensively on the stupidity of the policy.) Yet despite that advice the Government went ahead anyway.
      
      Another pleasing example is the Housing Ministry last week advising the Government to not allow Kāinga Ora to borrow more money.
      
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      July 15, 2022 10:27am
- kowtow
  
  One of their very first big calls was to end oil and gas expl.
  
  There can be only one conclusion .
  
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  July 15, 2022 8:41am
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    That was not even voted for, Jaspinda just declared it I think.
    I don’t remember Select Committees, I don’t remember it in Parliament.
    
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    July 15, 2022 10:23am
- Tauhei Notts
  
  I ticked yes. The reason that is really troubling me and I don’t know the answer is;
  “Why are they trying to cripple our economy?”
  It defies logic.
  
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  July 15, 2022 8:45am
  - Nickc2
    
    To make all NZers dependent on the Govt! To coin a socialist slogan, “you will have nothing but be happy”. From Socialism stems Communism.
    
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    July 15, 2022 8:52am
    - mawm
      
      It’s not only NZ – it’s the US, Canada and now The Netherlands where totally irrational decisions are being made that have hugely negative effects on their economies.
      
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      July 15, 2022 12:17pm
  - Captain Mainwaring
    
    So they can have everyone is social housing and completely control us.
    
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    July 15, 2022 8:53am
    - Captain Mainwaring
      
      IN social housing.
      
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      July 15, 2022 8:57am
  - bartybart
    
    I think the current Labour mob are happy to cripple the economy to
    a. deliver more beneficiary’s and in turn, voters.
    b. to hand over assets to maori elite, this is more important than anything for them. Mahuta and her thugs are control over the weak and woke ardern, fatty, skippy faction.
    And c. watch the Dutch protests, farms being taken and the farmers will lease back. this huge mountain of debt will be paid by government taking private assets to stop the country turning in Sri Lanka.
    
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    July 15, 2022 8:58am
    - Opie
      
      How come he can call Robertson fat and I can’t?
      
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      July 15, 2022 11:58am
  - RoboRob
    
    JA didn’t know what GDP was and it’s clear that none of them understand supply and demand. With that level of economic understanding how could they hope to run government well?
    
    Don’t think it’s intentional they are just wedded to their beliefs and economically clueless. All this was well known and they still got voted in & back in.
    
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    July 15, 2022 9:00am
    - igm
      
      Look at the backgrounds of this administration, with none of them ever earning a real dollar, being lifelong dependents of taxpayers, ratepayers, and misled trade union members.
      
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      July 15, 2022 9:51am
    - RoboRob
      
      Question to the downvoters. Why? What did I say that you disagree with or feel is inacurate?
      
      Instead of just down voting my every comment why not add something to the discussion?
      
      If I downvote (and I only do if something is offensive or plainly inaccurate), I generally also comment.
      
      MODS, how about giving posters the ability to see who is doing the down voting? I suspect its the same people constantly. What about a limit to the # of downvotes? I know of at least one poster (mike) who uses downvotes to show which posts they have read, thats clearly not the purpose of a downvote (or an upvote for that matter).
      
      [WordPress does not allow for that, we don’t see who down or up votes and it is not tracked to the best of our knowledge – Mod]
      
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      July 15, 2022 11:05am
      - RoboRob
        
        Hi Mod
        
        Thanks for the reply, I am sure it is possible to add custom code but the work probably outways the worth.
        
        I see that this post has been downvoted too 🙂
        
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        July 15, 2022 2:57pm
      - Bluegrass
        
        Disqus does – so why not?
        
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        July 15, 2022 10:17pm
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    They just hate seeing people working hard and succeeding, but do not want to do the same. They are hateful, lazy, and Marxist.
    I have seen basically the same thing 4 times now.
    
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    July 15, 2022 10:31am
  - septic skeptic
    
    IMO they now know that 2023 is lost and they are busy poisoning the well for the incoming government. As Cullen did last time around. I expect many more co-governance appointments and they will have long term contracts and massive golden parachutes.
    
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    July 15, 2022 12:04pm
- Steve Otto(North Shore)
  
  Not too sure about deliberate, I think wrecking the economy comes naturally every time they become the Govt. They have no reason to stop.
  Tax and spend.
  
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  July 15, 2022 10:20am
- ClanMcleod
  
  This is the “great reset” and Ardern is one of the WEF’s poster children. She will be rewarded for her great work when she leaves NZ.
  
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  July 15, 2022 11:21am
RRM

A very unexpected take from Nicky Hager on the Vax mandate protest.

He seems to say it is “chilling” and “dangerous” that people are communicating and getting information from sources that are not the state funded media?

The protest was against the vax mandates, by people who believed the govt’s programme of mandatory medication was wrong.

Every major news broadcaster in NZ was receiving special discretionary funding from the govt, conditional on broadcasting messaging in keeping with the govt’s vaccine mandate programme and wider covid-19 response. That’s not journalism and it’s especially not investigative journalism, that’s propaganda. Of course people who don’t like the govt programme, and don’t trust the people behind it, weren’t going to rely on that to be their “only source of truth” (Jacinda Ardern, 2020). They would be fools if they did.

To say that people rejecting govt propaganda and informing rhemselves via other channels is “chilling” and “dangerous”, is an extraordinary opinion from an award-winning independent investigative journalist and professional whistle-blower.

(Does that mean I should buy and read his books? Or not? I’m very confused.)

[Relevant quote from Hager’s speech below. It sounds like a completely different protest than the one I – as a vaccinated person – saw and visited most days.]

“The protest was in February this year, when New Zealand anti-vaccine groups staged an action imitating the Canadian “freedom convoy” truck protest. Hundreds of people took over the Parliament sector of the city for four weeks, with effigies of people in nooses and being guillotined, and slogans about executing the Prime Minister. It had an ugly ending with protesters pelting the police with rocks and setting their tents on fire.

The most chilling part was the social media statistics. They revealed that more people were getting news about the parliament protest from right-wing and conspiracy social media than from all the mainstream news media combined. The “mass” media was out-massed. It was unprecedented in New Zealand, showing the danger of on-line propaganda. There’s been talk for years about what happens when whole sections of society are detached from mass media and here were some of the consequences”

https://www.newsroom.co.nz/nicky-hager-being-investigative-journalists-in-times-of-trouble?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook#Echobox=1657567590
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July 15, 2022 8:12am
- alloytoo
  
  Hagar’s opinion will reverse the moment a centre Right government gets in power.
  
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  July 15, 2022 8:33am
  - Swifty
    
    Exactly right alloytoo.
    
    He has no principles – he’s just a partisan lefty hack.
    
    He’s got truckloads of evidence of dirty politics by the NZ left but has never written a book on them.
    
    Why is that?
    
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    July 15, 2022 12:14pm
- emmess
  
  I suppose that makes Hager ‘far-right’
  LOL
  
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  July 15, 2022 8:41am
  - mawm
    
    Far from right!
    
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    July 15, 2022 12:21pm
- Chris Nisbet
  
  The _last_ place I want to get my dis/misinformation from is the state-funded media.
  I think my concern has something to do with that ‘state-funded’ bit.
  
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  July 15, 2022 8:43am
- glowworm
  
  Talking of mass media being out-massed, I just listened to this podcast on mass formation. Very interesting…
  
  https://youtu.be/PkBQcIDto7s
  
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  July 15, 2022 8:57am
  - RRM
    
    Yes, that is excellent.
    
    You can’t tell the establishment left or their activist base that though, they think any talk of mass formations is just further right-wing disinformation…
    
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    July 15, 2022 11:44am
- Than
  
  Ha, that’s just too ironic. An alt-left conspiracy nut-job calling it “chilling” that people listen to alt-right conspiracy nut-jobs.
  
  Still, I suppose self-awareness is a foreign concept to that slimy little weasel. Along with concepts like evidence, telling the truth, and any form of journalistic ethics.
  
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  July 15, 2022 9:05am
  - Matt Long
    
    Very well put.
    
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    July 15, 2022 10:39am
- Stellaboxer
  
  Hager isn’t a journalist he’s a left wing activist. When was his last expose of leftists wrong doing? His cherry picked and inaccurate description of the protesters should be enough of clue.
  
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  July 15, 2022 9:18am
- graham
  
  Would this be the same Nicky Hager who has built his career relying on information from sources other than the mainstream news media?
  
  • The same Nicky Hager who has eagerly consumed documents leaked by the NSA “whistleblower” (as Mr Hager fondly refers to him) Edward Snowden?
  
  • The same Nicky Hager who in praising Julian Assange, wrote that people who challenge the powerful inevitably get attacked themselves:
  
  The first thing that usually happens when someone challenges powerful interests is that they get attacked personally, their character and motives smeared. It is most often unfair, but still seems inevitable. Assange has helped challenge very powerful interests. He is being called reckless and dangerous by the White House, a criminal and even a terrorist by the US right, and also dictatorial and an egomaniac by disaffected ex-colleagues.
  
  • The same Nicky Hager who wrote “Seeds of Distrust”, in which he claimed to expose the government’s coverup of GE-contamination of corn crops? Where – ironically – the Minister for the Environment, Marian Hobbs, accused Mr Hager of writing “conspiracy theories”!!!
  
  I guess it’s okay for “investigative journalists” to distrust the mass media and the story lines being peddled by the government, but we – the ordinary people – are just too dumb to be allowed to question these stories.
  
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  July 15, 2022 9:19am
  - All_on_Red
    
    The Explorer Voyager has travelled 4.5 Billion miles in space and still hasn’t found Hager’s integrity.
    The guy is just a liar.
    
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    July 15, 2022 10:32am
  - NeverMindTheBollocks
    
    Top comment
    
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    July 15, 2022 8:52pm
- I remember when
  
  Have forced myself to read all of “The Hollow Men” and have just finished.
  Got a free copy from the Sunday Star Times many years ago (2006).
  As a reward I am never, ever going to read another book that he has authored.
  
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  July 15, 2022 9:49am
- Libertarians are right
  
  The Left control mass media so when whole sections of society are detached from mass media it means they are detached from the Left wing narrative. To people like Hager who’s spent his entire career propagandarising for the Left (funded by his Trust Fund of course), this is the worst possible thing that can happen.
  
  He’s just a Trust Fund baby who thinks he knows how we should live our lives better than we do despite never actually living in the same world as the rest of us.
  
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  July 15, 2022 10:06am
- ClanMcleod
  
  The far bigger danger is government propaganda as we’re now finding out. It’s why we are rapidly losing trust in our institutions. The loss of trust in our health providers is much greater than many realise and may take decades to restore. Trust in the media and government are also down the toilet. Police heading the same way.
  
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  July 15, 2022 11:24am
  - Keith White
    
    I relinquished my own practicing certificate last year because I no longer wished to be a member of a profession I’d been proud to serve in for nigh a half-century, after we rushed pell-mell to abandon the principles of “Do No Harm”, The Nuremburg Code and the Helsinki Declaration – and approved our Medical Council and Medical Association leaders threatening any dissenters with disciplinary action up to and including being struck off.
    
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    July 15, 2022 12:17pm
- Swifty
  
  A few decades back Hager was in opposition to the Establishment and was railing against it and the media which supported it.
  
  Now he is part of the Establishment and rails against those who oppose it and the media which support them.
  
  He is among NZ’s biggest hypocrites.
  
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  July 15, 2022 12:12pm
Tony Stuart

Kudos to the 13 Christchurch councillors who yesterday voted in favour of the new stadium going ahead, at a fixed price. It’s good that they took note of the overwhelming support from more than 30,000 people who took the time to make submissions.

If only the Finance and Expenditure select committee was to do the same when they hear submissions on Three Waters over the next few months. For the first time in my life, I have asked to appear in front of the select committee to make my submission in person.

In other news, my Gold Card turns two today…
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July 15, 2022 8:14am
- kowtow
  
  Fixed price ? In time ?
  
  Bwa hahahahaha.
  
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  July 15, 2022 8:43am
  - Paulus
    
    Fixed price until the builders run out of money – then go bankrupt, and the ratepayers get screwed – again.
    
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    July 15, 2022 10:14am
    - Benedict Yu
      
      It would be interesting to see the contract. Someone from the Council was being interviewed on the radio this morning. He said there was a ‘contingency’ for cost increases within the $683 million fixed price. He said it was confidential. He did not make much sense at all. He would have been better off simply refusing to be interviewed.
      
      Unless we can see the contract, it is impossible to know how this ‘fixed price’ contract will work in practice.
      
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      July 15, 2022 11:28am
      - Bluegrass
        
        Yes, you need to see it.
        
        Who wrote it? The Contractor/the Client?
        
        And why would a public sector/tax-payer funded contract t&c’s be private and confidential?
        
        There are very few fixed price contracts in actual practice. ‘Fixed price’ contracts can be subject to rise and fall. And staged completion targets, where a shopping list of delay ripple effects can increase cost.
        
        And depending on how well the scope of work/specs have been drafted, variations/changes can be claimed.
        
        And more…
        
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        July 15, 2022 10:51pm
    - Benedict Yu
      
      The good news is that the contractor is a serious firm. They have over $A 7 billion of projects in progress.
      
      https://besixwatpac.com.au/
      
      This firm has built several large stadiums.
      
      https://besixwatpac.com.au/projects/stadiums-and-venues
      
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      July 15, 2022 11:37am
- Tricati
  
  TS, I watched the whole proceedings and it was an eye opener. I was astounded at the lack of business acumen amongst them, their inability to grasp basic financial aspects being clearly explained, the inane suggestion to move the current ‘temporary’ stand to new location and extend it to save money, and bitchy comments towards the last National Government.
  Going out for public input has back-fired on them, as the response was overwhelmingly in favour, and it gave folks a lightening rod to focus on the council’s performance. A good example is the $20 Transport fee on our rates – This was added to cover ‘cycleways’ with the position the total cost would not exceed 60 million; it’s now over $300 million and has got many questioning the councillors just prior to the elections as to who supported this madness.
  Really enlightening was the impact of 3 waters on the council’s balance sheet, and the drop in future council revenue. The head of the councils Finance & Expenditure committee gave an excellent presentation, and her explanation of the 3 waters impact should be compulsory listening for every rate payer in NZ.
  After 10 years of dicking around, really pleased to see the stadium finally going ahead.
  
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  July 15, 2022 8:44am
  - MCōs
    
    If big public projects were decided based on the sums adding up you’d have a Gib factory in the CBD.
    Forget about libraries, stadiums, museums
    
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    July 15, 2022 9:25am
- Nukuleka
  
  You’re a Christchurch ratepayers are you Tony? You’ll be contributing to the costs of this ill-placed, over-priced white elephant will you?
  
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  July 15, 2022 8:58am
  - RoboRob
    
    Tony either doesn’t live in Christchurch, doesn’t realise how much more hes going to pay on his rates (in his retirement) or is so financially secure he doesn’t care.
    
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    July 15, 2022 9:07am
    - Tony Stuart
      
      No, I don’t live in Christchurch, but I will be a casual visitor to the stadium once constructed. The “temporary” stadium at Addington was fine for a couple of years, but it has long been evident that the city needed a purpose-built stadium.
      
      I’m looking forward to helping the Christchurch economy when I visit the new convention centre in three weeks. Having facilities such as that and the stadium, from April 2026, will bring extra revenue to the city.
      
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      July 15, 2022 9:37am
      - RoboRob
        
        Agreed Tony. Don’t get my wrong, I am in favor of the stadium just terribly disappointed by the process and cost. If I was in the council I would have voted to proceed, but if I was in the council it would never have gotten to this situation.
        
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        July 15, 2022 9:51am
      - kowtow
        
        ‘ will bring extra revenue to the city.’
        
        But will it ?
        
        The cost of building , running and maintaining these things is huge .
        
        They also don’t get used to the max all of the time.
        
        In practise I believe these things are “nice to haves” that help a limited part of the economy ie hotels and boozers for a short time ,while the rest of society , ratepayer’s , who’re doing it hard at the best of times , have to pay for it year round and who also suffer when essentila services such as lamp posts and poo pipes get neglected .
        
        That’s exactly what happens in Dunedin. And the rates don’t go down cos the “economy gets a boost ” from a bunch of Paddies paying for a pint to be pulled every 5 or so years , nope the rates keep getting more severe. And public services shittier.
        
        The debate needs to be had , like covid , beyond the emotional but at the pointy serious economic level.
        
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        July 15, 2022 10:28am
      - Hebe123
        
        Great, i’ll send you my rates bill then, and you can pay for my share of the white elephant that i will never visit. Seeing as its so good for you.
        
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        July 15, 2022 11:54am
  - In Vino Veritas
    
    Nukuleka, I remember the whining in Wellington about an ill-placed, over-priced white elephant. With 30-40% or so of the “polled” population up in arms about it. And now…….
    
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    July 15, 2022 9:28am
    - Nukuleka
      
      Hi Vino. Not being a beltway Wellingtonian I don’t get your point. Are you saying that the Caketin (is that what it’s called?) pays its way and is not a financial burden on ratepayers? I’m pleased if that is so.
      
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      July 15, 2022 10:41am
    - Matt Long
      
      And now they’re stuck with it and it costs an arm and a leg in ratepayer subsidiaries?
      
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      July 15, 2022 10:46am
    - Hebe123
      
      Even the reports the council looked at in making this decision couldn’t find a net benefit from the stadium. And these things are always super optimistic. So it’s definitely going to be an absolute dog that rate payers fund forevermore.
      
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      July 15, 2022 11:55am
- the deity formerly known as nigel6888
  
  Seriously, Tony. At a time of accelerating inflation, and the construction price index running at 16% you really believe there is any such thing as “fixed price”???
  
  Thus stadium has either crystallized all the risks the contractor can imagine, and built them in, or it’s a bait and switch. Once council is on the hook, then the “unexpected” blowouts start.
  
  My guess is $1.3bn.
  
  What have I got wrong?
  
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  July 15, 2022 9:04am
  - RoboRob
    
    Your right, its a bait and switch. There will be at least one contigency that allows rises to cover inflation costs. So not a fixed cost.
    
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    July 15, 2022 9:53am
    - Don Beckett
      
      Fixed in today’s dollars, so inflation adjusted. 🙂
      
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      July 15, 2022 10:56am
- RoboRob
  
  A) Its not really a fixed cost contract. It well cost well over $683m. The ‘fixed cost’ story is just to appease the plebs.
  
  B) Every rate payer (and eventually renter) in Christchurch will need to pay an extra ~$120 per year for this project (prior to blow outs). When the 77% of people voted in favour did they know that?
  
  Im pro CHCH having a good stadium but this project has been totally mis managed and the councilors who screwed this up will be long gone before the chickens come to roost.
  
  CHCH could have repaired the original stadium for just over $100m 10 years ago or built a replayment for well under $200m. They had pricing for both soon after the earthquake.
  
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  July 15, 2022 9:06am
  - septic skeptic
    
    Is the rebuild of the cathedral finished yet?
    
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    July 15, 2022 12:17pm
- Steve Otto(North Shore)
  
  Happy Birthday.
  
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  July 15, 2022 10:37am
- Steve Otto(North Shore)
  
  Fixed price? On time?
  This is not America.
  
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  July 15, 2022 10:38am
- NeverMindTheBollocks
  
  Fixed, until there is a change in scope.
  
  Oops, we forgot the gender neutral toilets. Or some such.
  
  Step forward, Mr Change Request!
  
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  July 15, 2022 8:54pm
Simon

Not even the shit show Cindy govt is listening to those crack pot “experts” . MSM parade these weirdos on a daily basis. The “research covid” grant money & massive “economy saving” cash injections into MSM must have tried up.

Cindy govt created these freaks now they can expect to be stalked by these jilted exes.
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July 15, 2022 8:24am
- kowtow
  
  It simply proves that the whole show was political from the very start.
  
  “Follow the science” when it suited them.
  Today it’s ignore the scientists , as it suits.
  But we’ll pretend the masks are the answer , which is just another political prop ; being seen to do something , anything , when everyone knows they don’t work.
  
  Political farce and the Brendas are still lining up for their tickets.
  
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  July 15, 2022 8:50am
mandk

Many happy returns, Tony.
I’m a year and a day older than you.
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July 15, 2022 8:25am
- Tony Stuart
  
  Happy 68th for yesterday 😊
  
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  July 15, 2022 9:19am
Spoff

Watch “Ep. 141 The Ultimate PPE Expert with Incredible Insights into Mask Science!” on YouTube
https://youtu.be/ZFjLFqESxY0
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July 15, 2022 8:26am
wilderbeast

Been keeping a lazy eye on local council news leading up to the end of year elections. There has been an emptying out of candidates prepared to stand up against the current political climate. One gets the impression they’re tired of fighting an irresistible force – one sided and abetted by Labour sympathetic staff and a power tripping central government. A couple of days ago the Otago Daily Times carried a story where half the sitting councillors in the Clutha District are stepping away. Looking closer they all had farming back grounds, were anti three waters and had fallen out with the Labour fawning mayor they have down there. You sympathise, but it looks like the government has broken the will of its opponents and things may get worse before they get better.
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July 15, 2022 8:31am
- Paulus
  
  Tauranga Council has, and is, being run by the Mahuta appointed Commissioners, who will agree to whatever they are told by Government – and no elections for another three years.
  Called Democracy yer know !
  
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  July 15, 2022 10:22am
krazykiwi

Major win for UK Free Speech Union: Online ‘Safety’ Bill Kicked to Long Grass.

Outstanding win for human rights, and a blow to the narrative holders. Kudos to Toby Young for his relentless effort on this.
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July 15, 2022 8:31am
- ClanMcleod
  
  Brilliant news! That Bill was an abomination. Toby Young has been excellent. His Lockdown Sceptics blog is wonderful.
  
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  July 15, 2022 11:33am
Chris Nisbet

Is there anywhere we can go to get statistics about daily _non-covid_ flu deaths in NZ? I’m just wondering how they compare to the covid deaths.
I gather that non-covid flu hospitalisations outnumber covid hospitalisations (yes?), but does that translate into more deaths as well?
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July 15, 2022 8:46am
- Steve Otto(North Shore)
  
  Covid cured Influenza.
  
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  July 15, 2022 10:46am
- ClanMcleod
  
  Remember, the covid “deaths” are bullshit numbers. We won’t get a breakdown for that reason, but there is no doubt the vast majority are deaths “with” covid, not “from” covid. No doubt whatsoever.
  
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  July 15, 2022 11:35am
- mawm
  
  Chris – I posted this link to stats in the UK earlier today.I can’t imagine we will be much different. The issue comes down to how many of the total population are unvaccinated because if they are undercounted it makes the unvaccinated look like the ones dying. It seems in NZ that this is the case as they are only counting those people who had attended a DHB in the last year before rollout in 2021.
  https://bartram.substack.com/p/deaths-by-vaccination-status-for
  
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  July 15, 2022 12:42pm
- Chris Nisbet
  
  While I was hunting about trying to find some data on flu deaths in BZ (no success on that front) I found this study on excess deaths….
  In summary…
  “Evidently, there is just a short postponement of death, by about four months, from strict containment and closure policies imposed to deal with Covid in 2020.”
  
  https://researchcommons.waikato.ac.nz/bitstream/handle/10289/14270/NZAE_Poster_postponed_deaths.pdf
  
  I don’t remember seeing this reported anywhere. /s
  
  The situation might not even be that good now, given that excess deaths are on the up.
  
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  July 15, 2022 2:33pm
bennerg

In the last couple of weeks I’m detecting a new Covid-19 wave. Not not a biological infection, but an increasing PR barrage from the usual paid for suspects, such as:

Mark Richardson
“Just for God’s sake, get the jab, go back to work,” Richardson said. “Take one for the team.

Well has he not understood anything of the experience over the last couple of years, and the scientific research showing that getting jabbed does not stop you getting covid-19, nor stop you transmitting it to others? The only benefit now “promoted” being personal (reducing symptoms), and quite frankly really only of any benefit if you are in a vulnerable age group (70+) – and there aren’t that many nurses in that cohort. Sounding like an army recruiting campaigner, I can just visualise his face on the Uncle Sam poster, finger pointing at us. Sadly, for him, Mark is yesterdays news.

And I’m reminded of the news report that came out after health workers were mandated: 56 medical doctors resigned rather then take the Covid-19 jab. Add in the hundreds of nurses, and you really have to wonder, what do these senior medically trained people know? Also my daughter, along with 60 of her team, got the jab under duress. Didn’t want it, but having to support a family, had no choice. So how many in the health sector really support it? Not that many I’d suggest.

Ashley Bloomfield
Sounding like my ’60’s biology teacher, talking to me as if I’m a naughty boy, Ashley is out promoting the “must wear mask” message again. I still cannot get over the dichotomy in his messaging over time, along with the diverging opinions in scientific research about mask effectiveness, and given that people are not dying in the streets from Covid (note reporting of covid deaths is those “with” covid) then one can only assume that this messaging is about control of the people. Wearing masks indicates you have yielded to the control of central government.

Society has been getting back to normal, people have been feeling free to decide for themselves whether they wear masks or not. If they are compromised, sure, if they feel masks actually work, then maybe OK. Some of the others will get Covid, and with the natural immunity established, continue to be fine. As that seems to be the only true way to avoid it in the future – unlike the faux immunity from the jab … and booster 1 … and booster 2,3,4,5 …. etc.

I then ask why the sudden change in messaging? Are they really concerned about what is called a second wave?

Is it actually any different to a normal winter flu? If they published the full stats we would know .. but …

Or is it that they find that their ability to counter individual thought is waning, and there is a need to return to the old way of management by FEAR.

Or is it to counter upcoming bad publicity with a possible police investigation into the deaths caused by the jab, and increasing scientific research indicating the jab may reduce immunity overall – being the basis of observed all-cause deaths in most vaxxed countries.

I’m over fear, I’ve had covid, time to get back to life, and ignore the harbingers calling for a great reset of everything from economics, world politics, climate and everything.

It’s time to ramp things down, not up.
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July 15, 2022 9:02am
- Chris Nisbet
  
  I used to think Mark had a few clues, but that comment from him makes me wonder.
  Let’s be clear, if some unvaccinated nurse/doctor wants risk their life (/s) trying to help make me better, that is wonderful, and certainly a much better situation than not getting treating at all, or being forced to hang around a pile of sick people longer than I’d otherwise need to.
  Sacking people (nurses, doctors, firemen, etc) who want to save other people’s lives, simply because they weren’t inclined to take a mediocre ‘vaccination’, seems pretty idiotic to me.
  To keep that mandate in place now we’re absolutely certain how mediocre it is, and esp. since it was designed to work with some extinct variant, we’ll words fail me.
  
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  July 15, 2022 9:18am
  - bennerg
    
    Sadly removing the mandate makes them admit to failure.
    
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    July 15, 2022 9:48am
- Pavel
  
  All these experts that have been trotted out to us over the last 2 years are so far down the rabbit hole they have lost their sense of direction. What else do you expect them to say? And not just them but also everyone else in the media or who works for government. Are you aware of what happens to people who speak up; they get canceled. Can you imagine if the writer of this blog was staunch anti Vax, the site and owner would be viewed as nut jobs and their reputation would be ruined forever. Even if David was anti Vax he wouldn’t want to make that known. Like your daughter, all these experts, politicians and journalists are human too and have families and lifestyles to maintain. Yes the fear needs to end but more importantly is to lose the fear of questioning everything and respecting different views. If that fear is not removed then we as a country will not be able to grow and thrive and will be reduced intellectually to a level on par with the old soviet union.
  
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  July 15, 2022 10:41am
  - bennerg
    
    Well put Pavel, the loss of critical and independent thinking is a massive hit to our nation.
    
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    July 15, 2022 3:39pm
- Steve Otto(North Shore)
  
  The next wave of Covid is named “Anothercon”
  
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  July 15, 2022 10:49am
- Hebe123
  
  I think their fear is about reinfection in the vaccinated. This could go on and on and on….eventually people will figure it out.
  
  I’ve not heard of a single unvaccinated person catching covid twice. For instance, my niece had it in March and despite being in a house full of covid sufferer’s for the past two weeks, her naturally acquired immunity protected her. Would love to heard if anyone has heard of an unvaxxed person getting reinfected? I have not.
  
  Vaccinated people on the other hand are getting it for the second time in droves. Most of my old mates have school age kids, and most are vaccinated. A number of them are posting to FB about how they are “over” the continual covid-flu-covid again train they have been on this last few months. They don’t seem to see the irony that they are catching everything because their immune system is fixed on the original WuFlu strain and can’t respond to anything else.
  
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  July 15, 2022 12:01pm
- NeverMindTheBollocks
  
  An independent media would run a few clips of Ashley’s shifting position on the benefits of mask use.
  
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  July 15, 2022 8:59pm
Maggie Pie

TRENDING

A bestie tweets. This is very concerning……

We were assured by Ardern and Bloomfield the vaccine was safe 🙁

https://newspunch.com/jacinda-ardern-left-reeling-as-zealand-police-look-at-investigating-covid-jab-deaths/
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July 15, 2022 9:04am
- Ross Campbell
  
  So the headline says the police are looking at investigating covid jab deaths but when you open the article all it actually talks about is a group of doctors who have sent a letter of complaint asking for an investigation.
  I thought people who lived in Remuera would be able to make this distinction but seems I’m wrong.
  
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  July 15, 2022 9:54am
  - All_on_Red
    
    Mate if we were going to list all the times Lefties have been wrong because of Fake News, then our Host will need a bigger blog.
    
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    July 15, 2022 10:29am
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    Mike, read it again and click through to The Gateway Pundit. There are 158 deaths, many with details covered up. We are being played by a Socialist Govt, and you know it.
    
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    July 15, 2022 10:56am
    - Ross Campbell
      
      It’s been pointed out why this story is obviously false/misleading but poor old Steve still thinks its true.
      You remind me of “Trigger” off Only Fools And Horses.
      
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      July 15, 2022 11:38am
    - Batman
      
      Gateway? That bunch of moronic crooks.
      
      Usually, one should try to not shoot their argument in the face in the first sentence.
      
      Hah! Gateway pundit… What a hilarious joke.
      
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      July 15, 2022 1:28pm
      - Steve Otto(North Shore)
        
        True news comes from CNN and the NZ Podium of Truth in Parliament.
        
        7 2
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        July 15, 2022 3:59pm
      - Steve Otto(North Shore)
        
        Oh, forgot, other true news comes from “The View”
        
        6 2
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        July 15, 2022 4:01pm
      - Steve Otto(North Shore)
        
        Batman does not know how to play the ball – he just diverts.
        
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        July 16, 2022 9:51am
  - ClanMcleod
    
    “I thought people who lived in Remuera would be able to make this distinction but seems I’m wrong.”
    
    Well you’re wrong about everything else, I would have thought you wouldn’t be surprised about that any longer…….
    
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    July 15, 2022 11:45am
    - Ross Campbell
      
      See my posting on here has been of value to you Clan as your finally learning the art of sarcasm.
      Even the quote structure and the little dots at the end…..
      
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      July 15, 2022 12:01pm
      - Hebe123
        
        pity you’re not learning the art of punctuation….or anything else.
        
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        July 15, 2022 3:01pm
  - wilderbeast
    
    If you’re a good boy Ross you might get invited to a BBQ in Remmers one day
    
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    July 15, 2022 9:58pm
- Frank the tank
  
  Remember Mags these are the same people that will swear black and blue that men can have periods.
  
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  July 15, 2022 10:29am
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    Some men – if you can call them that, have mental type periods. Ever seen a snowflake having a serious psychotic episode type meltdown?
    
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    July 15, 2022 4:04pm
- MCōs
  
  So some bunch of anonymous medical people claim another bunch of anonymous people have been adversely effected by the COVID vaccine and they want the police to investigate.
  
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  July 15, 2022 10:38am
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    I guess you did not follow through to ‘The Gateway Pundit’ either. 158 deaths, some with details covered up or just not available.
    You can do better.
    
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    July 15, 2022 10:58am
    - MCōs
      
      Nothing in my comment conflicts with the the article referred to.
      I might add there was a case last year when a recently deceased person was blatantly used as an example of vaccine death when it was nothing of the like; much to the distress of the family.
      
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      July 15, 2022 11:27am
      - Steve Otto(North Shore)
        
        I am with you on some of that. Friend of a friend died with covid, when in reality he could not even walk because his Prostate Cancer was killing him.
        
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        July 15, 2022 4:07pm
  - ClanMcleod
    
    They aren’t anonymous. They’re shut down, vilified and smeared for daring challenge Brenda’s lies.
    Same with the victims of vaccine injuries and deaths. The information is deliberately suppressed and even you know that but will refuse to admit it because the result will destroy your world view. It will also destroy the trust in government and “experts” and so it should. We have been lied to.
    
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    July 15, 2022 11:48am
- ClanMcleod
  
  Maggie – they lied, so did the “experts”. They are still lying. Some of them may not know they are lying, they think they are repeating the truth but they aren’t. They are repeating lies.
  There is no excuse for repeating a lie. They can’t say they “didn’t know”. There has been plenty of evidence presented to show that they are repeating lies.
  They may now be in the denial stage. too frightened to admit they made a mistake. That’s even worse than outright lying.
  
  I hope that investigation happens, I can’t see it right now, but it does need to happen and a number of people need to be dealt with appropriately.
  
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  July 15, 2022 11:43am
  - Ross Campbell
    
    “There is no excuse for repeating a lie”
    What’s your justification then?.
    
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    July 15, 2022 12:28pm
- Paul Marsden
  
  As much as I would like the Police to investigate, they won’t be. What I would like them to report on publicly however, is what was the ‘official’ cause of death of Pauline Hanna?
  
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  July 15, 2022 12:24pm
Nickc2

Were Cindy, Albo, and Kamala modern-day missionaries to the Pacific Islands attempting to replace their population’s deeply ingrained belief in Christianity with the contemporary religion of Climate Change?
AFIK, the Chinese had no such intentions, albeit their intentions are far more sinister.
IMO, the three new missionaries were being played off a break by the PI leaders in search of more aid funding with no firm commitment to rejecting Chinese largess.
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July 15, 2022 9:51am
I remember when

Parliament set to appoint an Independent Commissioner into Parliamentary Standards in bid to improve MP behaviour and accountability.
“This role has been established as part of our commitment to improving the culture of Parliament,” Speaker Trevor Mallard said.
Once again irony is ignored.
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July 15, 2022 9:54am
- Hugh Jarse
  
  Trevor leaving will improve parliaments behaviour and accountability.
  
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  July 15, 2022 10:47am
rangitoto

Ivana Trump found dead. It’s dangerous to have too much info on the Clintons.
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July 15, 2022 9:55am
- gump
  
  Ivana Trump finalised her divorce from Donald Trump before Bill Clinton was elected President.
  
  Welcome to the fantasy land that Kiwiblog commentators live in. Where everything is made up and facts don’t matter.
  
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  July 15, 2022 10:50am
  - kowtow
    
    Is that self denunciation ?
    
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    July 15, 2022 1:50pm
- Steve Otto(North Shore)
  
  Bad taste, but upticked anyway for the Clinton comment.
  
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  July 15, 2022 11:08am
- Rodion Raskolnikov
  
  Thank God the left are maintaining their moral high ground through this:
  
  https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/wrong-trump-trends-as-twitter-reacts-to-ivana-trumps-death/ar-AAZAxnB
  
  “I see ‘Wrong Trump’ trending,” sportswriter Jeff Pearlman tweeted. “Not gonna lie—I’d said that to my fam a few minutes earlier. I don’t root for deaths. But exception can be made for an aspiring authoritarian with nary a decent bone in his body (who, for that matter, openly celebrated John McCain’s death).”
  
  The total lack of self-awareness still astounds.
  
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  July 15, 2022 12:43pm
  - Batman
    
    You could say the same of those who openly pray for treason trials and wink at the punishment for treason, for their political opponents on the left.
    
    It is a disease of partisan morons.
    
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    July 15, 2022 1:36pm
I remember when

After the Silver Ferns v NZ Men game Noelene Taurua stated that her Goal Attacks needed to turn and shoot more often.
As the players in question have been failing to do so for a considerable number of years now it would seem to be unreasonable to expect this to change in the time available.
Noelene, rightly, places a lot of emphasis on players being at peak fitness, but if your shooting is suspect it just means you still miss when shooting goals.
You’re just fit enough to do it more often.
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July 15, 2022 10:08am
- NeverMindTheBollocks
  
  All the pro female sport crap can’t hide the fact that elite female sport is pretty useless.
  
  Even the Silver Ferns, the best of NZ netball, a sport that girls & women play from day one, can’t stop their arses being kicked by a bunch of men who just play the game socially.
  
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  July 15, 2022 9:05pm
Maggie Pie

Nigeria safer than New Zealand to raise children?

‘Nigerian law will see men convicted of raping children under 14 having their testicles removed without anesthetic before being executed’

– NYT

https://twitter.com/CassandraRules/status/1547316727301767175
19 3
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July 15, 2022 10:37am
- Ross Campbell
  
  It’s not actually Nigerian law as you quote but merely state law in Kaduna state which is one of 36 states comprising Nigeria.
  Also if you are finding Nigeria a tempting place to emigrate too you will find it in the atlas on a continent starting in A and ending in A.
  No sorry the answer was not America.
  
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  July 15, 2022 11:13am
  - cmm
    
    Sure it is a state law, but that is still a law that is legal in the country (much like Texan laws are legal in USA).
    
    I wouldn’t be in a hurry to move to Nigeria, but arguing the point is losing. Just the mere fact that we get comparisons with Nigeria or any other place in the continent that starts and ends with A, is bad enough!
    
    11 3
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    July 15, 2022 3:30pm
  - RightNow
    
    Since it was a quote I guess you’re saying the NY times are wrong (again)?
    
    0 0
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    July 16, 2022 2:52am
oldfella

Is there anything that’s not racist these days?
Heart measuring for cardiovascular disease systemically racist, study finds
https://www.stuff.co.nz/pou-tiaki/300637564/heart-measuring-for-cardiovascular-disease-systemically-racist-study-finds
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July 15, 2022 11:26am
- Taieri
  
  Stupidity rules OK!
  
  1 0
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  July 15, 2022 4:43pm
- NeverMindTheBollocks
  
  Because Maori are more muscular than white Americans (and by extension, pakeha), you see.
  
  Disregarding the fact that virtually all Maori are more pakeha than Maori, genetically speaking. Which is all that is relevant to a medical study.
  
  No word on how Asian New Zealanders are impacted. Didn’t fit the narrative.
  
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  July 15, 2022 9:09pm
Steve Otto(North Shore)

Is this where we are heading?
https://thepoliticalinsider.com/electric-vehicles-are-a-tool-of-tyranny/?
10 2
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July 15, 2022 11:32am
- Rodion Raskolnikov
  
  People often wonder where all of the extra electricity will come from. The point is, there won’t be enough electricity to get from A to B, which is the intention.
  
  14 3
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  July 15, 2022 12:47pm
  - alloytoo
    
    I think you are right.
    
    Serfs should never be allowed mobility.
    
    5 0
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    July 15, 2022 2:47pm
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    Stuck in your house, and welfare dependent.
    Yep, New Zimbabwe. That is exactly where the President of the International Youth Jaspinda Ardern wants us. It is not control – you will be happy, because you were told that you are happy.
    
    5 3
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    July 15, 2022 4:35pm
oldfella

Warning of recession, currency impact if foot-and-mouth spreads to New Zealand
New Zealand’s economy could take a severe hit in the event of an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in the country, an economist says.
I’m sure Labour is right on top of this so no need to worry. //
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July 15, 2022 11:47am
Steve Otto(North Shore)

‘I was wrong’ Once the Vax injured wake up:
https://rumble.com/v1c7u9l-july-14-2022.html?
9 3
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July 15, 2022 11:50am
ClanMcleod

Attorney General Eric Schmitt.

“Missouri and Louisiana just filed suit against Joe Biden, Jen Psaki, Dr. Fauci, and other top-ranking officials for allegedly colluding with social media companies to suppress freedom of speech under the guise of combating “misinformation.”

This includes lies about mask efficacy.

https://twitter.com/AGEricSchmitt/status/1522298313311096833?s=20&amp%3Bt=yC4j1j3Fh99FC2sEobBNiw&utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email
18 2
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July 15, 2022 11:51am
- Stellaboxer
  
  I guess you can only suppress the truth for a moment or two. Hope Ardern is taking note and that unholy truth quango she has set up is listening.
  
  7 3
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  July 15, 2022 12:13pm
Maggie Pie

TRENDING

Chinese immigrant shares his views on the current state of NZ…

https://twitter.com/KiwiMusashi/status/1547674452791803904

And hard to disagree!
12 2
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July 15, 2022 12:06pm
- Ross Campbell
  
  Also trending on twitter.
  Japanese immigrant shares his views on NZ’ers who think he is Chinese.
  
  3 11
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  July 15, 2022 12:41pm
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    [Deleted – read the rules.
    
    Personal Details
    
    Give other commenters the courtesy of referring to them by the name or alias they use on this blog.
    
    mod.]
    
    1 2
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    July 15, 2022 5:12pm
    - Steve Otto(North Shore)
      
      They do Mod. Just pointing it out.
      It may not be the truth, but many here think there are quite a few aliases using more computers and VPNs.
      Not hard to do, but I have not bothered. My name is on the Electoral Roll – and my address.
      Can’t find “Batman” on the Electoral Roll.
      
      7 1
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      July 15, 2022 5:28pm
      - RightNow
        
        It’s Bat birthing person.
        
        1 0
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        July 16, 2022 2:54am
surfing

Wellington water is escaping all liability it seems, they forgot to fluoridate the water for 6 years…

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/heads-yet-to-roll-at-wellington-water-despite-fluoride-failure/Y6URB25CB2ABQ6UVGL4KDRRPDE/

“There has, however, been a new appointment to the water company’s board, after it was found none of the directors had practical or leadership experience in water services.”

Incredulous the board has no water infrastructure experts.

Must be jobs for the boys, experience not necessary. This is as odious as Mahuta’s family members getting appointed to positions with no subject matter experience.
13 0
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July 15, 2022 12:50pm
- NeverMindTheBollocks
  
  But a good manager can manage anything //
  
  And thus, the public service
  
  1 0
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  July 15, 2022 9:11pm
Yvette

Local elections 2022: New Zealand Today interview with Guy Williams sparks call for Leo Molloy to withdraw from Auckland mayoral race
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/entertainment/2022/07/local-elections-2022-new-zealand-today-interview-with-guy-williams-sparks-call-for-leo-molloy-to-withdraw-from-auckland-mayoral-race.html

Auckland voters – see the video as it may contribute to your decision

Tauranga voters – mourn the fact that your council is run by Government commission and you don’t get to decide on a council make-up, this Election, that will oppose “3 Waters” – the Commission surely won’t oppose it on your behalf.
11 0
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July 15, 2022 1:04pm
Maggie Pie

And I think we all know why….

https://trib.al/FqZxVky
6 4
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July 15, 2022 1:13pm
- mandk
  
  Yes, it’s a sodomites disease.
  
  Problem is that some of them will also have sex with women and spread it into the wider population.
  
  4 1
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  July 15, 2022 3:43pm
fightingtemeraire

Latest Curia Poll. 5 seats for the Maori Party!!!

Do you mean that 4% of the population support them??? Hells Bells.
14 1
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July 15, 2022 1:44pm
- Captain Mainwaring
  
  The other thing about the Curia poll is that National ‘took a dive’. Yep, they were down by a massive 0.4% at a time when Cindy is strutting the world stage and getting all the attention.
  Where do these repeaters get their sense of perspective?
  
  16 2
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  July 15, 2022 2:40pm
  - hannity
    
    Looks like Luxon has left his high water mark.
    It was never gonna last .
    He’s just not likable -let alone electable
    
    4 11
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    July 15, 2022 3:39pm
    - Steve Otto(North Shore)
      
      At this stage we will not be voting Luxon in – we need to vote ALL LABOUR OUT.
      Filled your Toyota Landcruiser today? Now knocking of the door of $300 fucking dollars!
      Then there is the boat – nearly $500 for a Haines 17 to just have a fish!
      
      4 1
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      July 15, 2022 5:43pm
  - kowtow
    
    From this report its Luxon’s personal support that’s dived .
    
    This cos of the artificial strom whipped up by the Media pardy earning their pay, you see.
    
    ‘National Leader Christopher Luxon’s personal support has crashed 5.6 points in the latest Taxpayers’ Union-Curia poll, following his mishandling of abortion politics – although National’s support remained largely steady.’
    
    https://www.odt.co.nz/news/national/luxons-support-tumbles-after-abortion-comments
    
    4 1
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    July 15, 2022 4:21pm
Philview

I just read an ODT headline “Support for Luxon tumbles in latest poll” I looked at the article which had a detailed discussion about his views on abortion. At the end of the article the rest of the poll results which look like they showed a National Government result. The media are disgusting.
12 0
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July 15, 2022 2:13pm
Maggie Pie

*CCTV-CAPTURES-POLICE-PURSUIT*

Great outcome. Usual suspects.

https://twitter.com/Rickczee/status/1547393566166552576
11 0
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July 15, 2022 2:20pm
- cmm
  
  A real sportsman:
  * Car wrecked
  * Surrounded by cops.
  * Cops have guns and dogs….
  …. and he still tries to leg it!
  
  4 0
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  July 15, 2022 4:13pm
- Steve Otto(North Shore)
  
  Smokes a lot of cigars. What was in the cigars?
  
  1 1
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  July 15, 2022 5:45pm
Inandout

Money well spent for the MSM and should help spin Jacinda’s bullshit.
https://www.taxpayers.org.nz/taxpayer_update_more_for_media_new_chair_for_the_taxpayers_union_new_poll_shows_a_tie
4 0
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July 15, 2022 2:40pm
alloytoo

Simon Barnet and James Daniels trying hard to sabotage Leo Molloy’s Mayoral campaign right now.

They seem irritated that it seems to be having the opposite effect.
6 1
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July 15, 2022 2:44pm
cmm

Ouch. Not Magic Cindyland any more then?

In the early 1990s people would give anything to move here.

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/cost-of-living-crisis-new-zealand-voted-second-worst-country-to-move-to/A6QHYJL343H4HM7UVA5FLV6AVA/
14 0
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July 15, 2022 3:35pm
- Maggie Pie
  
  WOW!! Mexico tops the list as the most desirable!
  
  Wonder if we might see the MP-for-Tijuana and his boyfried head home?
  
  16 1
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  July 15, 2022 3:47pm
  - cmm
    
    Remember that this is really about expat living (ie. mainly retirees looking for some cheap living in the sun). However with the new “work from anywhere” work/life style there are increasing numbers of younger people too.
    
    There are hundreds of thousands of people moving from California to Mexico.
    
    In the 1990s there were thousands of people moving to NZ from Europe etc, looking for that low-stress lifestyle in NZ. Now, not so much.
    
    https://mexiconewsdaily.com/news/who-is-moving-to-mexico-from-the-us-the-answer-might-surprise-you/
    
    8 0
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    July 15, 2022 4:05pm
Kurious Kiwi

Theres talk about Jacinda using NZ to prime the great reset. I dont get it. How does handing power to the Iwi Elite ever benefit global power brokers. Labour is bulldozing their racially separatist through, hoping voters wont notice, it is almost a silent coup but the stakes are very high. If they fail and voters wake up next year they will face political ruin, sidelined for at least three more terms.
Welcome to Aoiwiroa. Fasten your seatbelts, this could be a very bumpy ride.
4 1
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July 15, 2022 3:43pm
- NeverMindTheBollocks
  
  Maybe Labour think Maori will be grateful & therefore vote Labour forever after.
  
  How blind they are.
  
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  July 15, 2022 9:13pm
- Bluegrass
  
  Political and cultural disenfranchisement of white, Western, Christian Caucasians is the goal of the cultural Marxists.
  
  The Maoris are the tool du jour to effect this goal in far-away NZ.
  
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  July 15, 2022 11:21pm
Captain Mainwaring

Two killed in a shooting in West Auckland and the shooters are on the loose.
Cindy certainly succeeded in rounding the guns up.
13 1
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July 15, 2022 4:07pm
- Maggie Pie
  
  Reports of patched-gang-member on the run after shooting his ex and her dad 🙁
  
  12 1
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  July 15, 2022 4:12pm
- Steve Otto(North Shore)
  
  Different guns. There were legal guns and those other guns that we don’t even know about.
  Good job Jaspinda, the unwanted legal guns got handed in. Cash!!! I don’t know about the cash.
  It was a good thing for her to do.
  The crims must have found a way to not hand their guns in.
  Wonderers never cease.
  
  7 1
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  July 15, 2022 5:54pm
- kowtow
  
  At the time of the confiscation , which was promised to make NZ safer , gang “spokesmen” ( who the Media Pardy give a lotta airtime to ) boasted and assured the public that they would never give them up and not only that they felt they had a right to hold onto the already illegally held firearms .
  
  The Media Pardy weren’t too pertubed by these prognostications and kept up the govt line that lawful licensed folk were the problem .
  
  Well how’s that been working out .
  
  4 0
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  July 15, 2022 6:25pm
- surfing
  
  Jacinda is an utter joke.
  
  2 0
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  July 15, 2022 7:34pm
rouppe

Sorry in the Herald about a woman in Anchorage getting off a ticket by flashing a “white privilege card”.

Notwithstanding it is pretty funny, I can’t get over the fact no one is mentioning that the woman isn’t white! Clearly Hispanic or Filipino or something, but clearly not white…

But, sure enough, the usual suspects claiming its proof of white people’s privilege…

Crazy
5 0
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July 15, 2022 4:18pm
Benedict Yu

How can folk be so dumb as to think that a Supreme Court ruling in the USA has any bearing on New Zealand law re abortion?

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/129290542/christopher-luxons-support-fell-amid-us-abortion-debate-poll-suggests

The chances of Luxon seeking to change the abortion law if he leads the next government are zero.
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July 15, 2022 4:19pm
- kowtow
  
  I bang on relentlessly about the power and the will of the Media Pardy to shape , create , direct NZ public opinion.
  
  And they do .They act as gate keepers of what’s in their so called “news cycle” , they focus exclusively on a narrow range of topics and they determine what’s constantly in front of us .
  
  If voters haven’t seen this with Trump , Brexit ,covid and now again back to climate catastrophism then nothing will open their eyes .
  
  Our population is supposedly well educated , liberal ,secular and holders of democratic values , but many exhibit all the qualities of a herd of idiots.
  
  11 1
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  July 15, 2022 4:45pm
  - NeverMindTheBollocks
    
    Just goes to show that a good education is wasted on many people
    
    1 0
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    July 15, 2022 9:15pm
- rouppe
  
  The key will be in how the survey question was phrased.
  
  If it were phrased in a way that pushed the idea that he’d try to change the law, then no surprises in the result.
  
  5 0
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  July 15, 2022 4:55pm
- Jack5
  
  Benedict asks How can folk be so dumb as to think that a Supreme Court ruling in the USA has any bearing on New Zealand law re abortion?
  
  Because State TV, State radio, and the bought news media did their best to nail Luxon with the American decision.
  
  They ignored that the US court has no jurisdiction in NZ.
  
  They ignored that abortion has always been an individual “conscience vote” by individual MPs rather than a party issue in NZ.
  
  The poll also showed:
  
  The cost of living and the economy were the most important issues identified by voters in the poll, followed by health and housing.
  
  Inflation and the cost of living will sink the Leftists at the next NZ general election.
  
  14 0
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  July 15, 2022 5:07pm
- Hugh Jarse
  
  Yep but that’s what National are going to have to fight for the next year, stupidity and the media who whipped this non NZ story up. If National do get in it’s going to be great judging the media by their coverage of National versus their coverage of the current government.
  
  3 0
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  July 15, 2022 5:28pm
Maggie Pie

Caught mayoral hopeful Wayne Brown on ZB earlier.
What a humorless twat he turned out to be!
Wont be getting my vote.
And could you imagine some left woke-tard like Fess asking Jack Tame when he had his first root?
LOL!!

LEO – for – MAYOR – of – AUCKLAND!!
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July 15, 2022 5:08pm
- Steve Otto(North Shore)
  
  The racist Collins will win, we know it.
  Racist? look at his recent rubbish about who was driving ……..
  
  6 2
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  July 15, 2022 5:59pm
  - Maggie Pie
    
    My partner’s mum was telling me it’s a Postal vote….
    so not like the old days when they bused them in.
    She reckons given most of Fess’s followers can hardly read or write, this is Auckland’s best chance of getting a Mayor that might actually do something for the actual Ratepayers.
    
    3 2
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    July 15, 2022 6:39pm
- greybeard
  
  I am from Wellington, and have no interest in Auckland local politics.
  But I heard Wayne Brown talking on ZB today and thought he was quite sensible ! Unlike a lot of local govt hopefuls he is a businessman and an employer.
  That has a lot going for it.
  
  2 0
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  July 15, 2022 6:43pm
  - Maggie Pie
    
    Just like Len Brown was a Lawyer…..
    everybody thought he was quite sensible!
    Until he was busted eating Chinese sweet & sour beef-flaps on the council’s Board Table in the sacred Ngati Whatua room 🙁
    
    https://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-news/9285772/Mayor-Len-Brown-confirms-affair
    
    6 2
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    July 15, 2022 7:18pm
  - surfing
    
    Nah, he’s an idiot, belongs in the circus, thinks he knows better than everyone else. Appears overly entitled to me.
    
    4 0
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    July 15, 2022 7:32pm

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