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January 2, 2023 8:00am by Kokila Patel

General Debate 02 January 2023

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General Debate

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Yvette

Is Christopher Luxon going to grasp the significance of a Mana o te Wai statement before Waikato-Tainui’s Tukoroirangi Morgan (appointed to lead the Three Waters iwi body for Auckland and Northland) or Waikato-Tainui’s Tipa Manuta (already chair of Te Puna, the Maori Advisoy Council to Taumata Arowai, the Water Regulator) drops one?

■ Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has confirmed that public consultation on co-governance with Māori will begin later in 2022.
Her comments followed ACT leader David Seymour’s announcement last week that a referendum on Māori co-governance, which he likened to an “unequal society”, was a bottom line for any coalition negotiations in 2023 [1]

■ Co-governance plan kicked down the road to 2024
The Government has slammed the election-year brakes on New Zealand’s plan for upholding the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People [2]

So Willie Jackson, after 72 hui with “targeted” Maori Elite, was still apparently trying to knock their response into something acceptable to his Cabinet colleagues, before presenting it to their scrutiny, when his can was kicked down the road beyond the Election, for obvious reasons – and also now, just as obviously, “co-governance” will come back to bite us in the bum after the Election, if we are so stupid as to vote Labour in again.

Thus the “nation-wide conversation” process, begun by UNDRIP / He Puapua Labour commissioned report, is booted to 2024 –

■ But wait! – there are two “co-governance” matters, and the other, the “3 Waters co-governance”, since the Water Services Entities Legislation Bill has passed [3] becomes law, and commences on 1 July 2023

And while Ardern’s Labour has pulled this off – one “governance’ agenda canned until 2024 – the other “3 waters” agenda is now law, there is another item –

3 Waters “50 / 50 co-governance” is at the level of the Four Regional Entities but they are presided over by Taumata Arowai, the Water Regulator, and that is presided over by Te Puna, the Maori Advisory Council, chaired by Tipa Mahuta.
So she is top of the pile, and not in “co-governance”, but “total governance” – not just from her lofty position, but also having at hand Te Mana o te Wai statements: Maori-only edicts, of which Thomas Cranmer says –

Te Mana o te Wai statements have remained largely obscured from public view but they carry such unbridled power that they threaten to overwhelm the entire water services structure.
… there are no parameters, limits or indeed any guidance at all as to what may be included in a Te Mana o te Wai statement. The Bill simply states that “mana whenua whose rohe or takiwā includes a freshwater body in the service area of a water services entity may provide the entity with a Te Mana o te Wai statement for water services”. [4]

After the total mishandling of the Capital Gains Tax “nation-wide conversation” – where the Government never offered their position in the “conversation” so a void ensued, to be filled with media speculation, and what Jacinda would now call mis- and dis-information – has she in fact now learnt from that and tried these three new approaches –
• kick the He Puapua version of “co-governance” down the road – an often and well-used ploy
• ram the other version, 3 Waters “co-governance”, through Parliament under urgency [5] and
• bury the rest of your agenda in the fine print – the unbridled power of Te Mana o te Wai statements

So checkmate, Christopher – your turn
Think about this while you munch your BBQ sausage
You can do it from your house – it doesn’t have to be here – sausages are everywhere

___________
[1] https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2022/03/prime-minister-jacinda-ardern-confirms-public-consultation-on-m-ori-co-governance-will-happen-in-2022.html
[2] https://www.newsroom.co.nz/co-governance-plan-kicked-down-the-road-to-2024
[3] https://www.threewaters.govt.nz/news/third-bill-reading-passed/
[4] https://cranmer.substack.com/p/the-unbridled-power-of-te-mana-o
[5] The Law Society also believes it is constitutionally inappropriate to introduce an entrenchment clause under urgency by SOP. https://www.lawsociety.org.nz/news/law-society-statements/nzls-statement-on-the-water-services-entities-bill/
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January 2, 2023 8:01am
- The Other Enoch
  
  Yvette, you forgot the by-line. Beep-Beep! You awake Christopher?
  
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  January 2, 2023 9:19am
  - peterwn
    
    Chris and his team would be wide awake and the situation is nowhere near checkmate. Timing and impact are everything here, there is no point in going off half cocked prematurely and handing cards to the enemy.
    
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    January 2, 2023 11:13am
    - Positan
      
      And you’d also believe in the Easter Bunny …
      
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      January 2, 2023 8:42pm
- G the giant from Dunedin
  
  As you know, this mob can not be trusted
  
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  January 2, 2023 9:39am
- Steve Otto(North Shore)
  
  I like the last sentence about the sausages.
  Comes from ‘Tina’ in the Turner’s Car Auctions ad.
  Well done.
  
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  January 2, 2023 9:49am
  - peterwn
    
    But politics is about selling the sizzle, not selling the sausage.
    
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    January 2, 2023 11:26am
    - Yvette
      
      Like the Ardern Waitangi Day bacon breakfast (so sadly cancelled this year, to save more lives from covid – and cancer caused by bacon)
      QED
      
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      January 2, 2023 11:32am
      - pdm
        
        Yvette I thought the barbecue was cancelled to save Ardern or any Cabinet Minister present getting hit wilh a Dildo or a bit of fresh sheep or cow dung.
        
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        January 2, 2023 11:51am
      - RightFirstTime
        
        Or more like Cindy doesn’t want to be seen using a gas fired BBQ!
        
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        January 2, 2023 11:51am
      - Steve Otto(North Shore)
        
        @RightFirstTime,
        It would be great if someone asked her ‘Is this NZ LPG, or was it imported?
        Wow, the word soup waffle would be something!
        
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        January 2, 2023 12:07pm
      - NZer In Exile
        
        “It would be great if someone asked her ‘Is this NZ LPG, or was it imported?”
        
        Stand by for very strained frowny face.
        
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        January 2, 2023 1:59pm
      - nathie
        
        And that head tilt – the greater the angle the greater the deflections!
        
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        January 2, 2023 2:46pm
- hullkiwi
  
  Yvette, good use of the Tina of Turners by line.
  
  First note, Luxon and Simon Watts have been clear that the 3 Waters Legislation will be repealed.
  
  Second, under what authority were appointments to the various board entities being made, when the Primary legislation had not passed through Parliament and been given Royal Ascent? Is this not Mahuta/Ardern acting ultra vires their authority given by their warrants, and without a budget provided by parliament?
  
  Third, Luxon (National) and Seymour (Act) must collectively state:
  1. Under a National/Act all steps towards co-fovernance will stop;
  2. All Maori only entities with control of public services will be abolished (this included the Maori Health Authority);
  3. All steps towards race based segregation of New Zealand will stop, and New Zealand will be governed equally for all New Zealanders irrespective of how any one person or group chooses to identify themselves. Identity politics must be confined to the past. That means no more Maori appointments or “elections” to Maori only seats on Councils.
  
  Previous Labour governments when they jave been defeated have accused National of being the party that when in government will seek to divide NZ between the haves and have nots. However, never in the history of New Zealand have we witnessed an elected government govern New Zealand by implementing policies that have discrimination at their core. This being whether it is the implantation of the Covid Vaccine Mandates, access to general health, 3 Waters, or exercising of democratic voting rights that give equal rights to all voters.
  
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  January 2, 2023 10:00am
  - nathie
    
    Juts to add to this. I (and many others no doubt) would like to see changes to Govt English/Maori naming conventions.
    
    Currently it is confusing.
    
    So how about if it is a Govt (funded) agency for all NZ’ers then the English name comes first (then Maori second if applicable).
    
    Eg NZTA/Waka Kotahi. Or New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology/Te Pūkenga.
    
    If it is a Govt (funded) agency for primarily Maori, then sure Maori name comes first (then English second if applicable).
    
    Eg Te Wānanga o Aotearoa/Bridging & Tertiary Courses NZ.
    
    Sure some people may not care about such trivialities but as mentioned it is confusing at the moment for everyone.
    
    Here is an example that highlights the current absurdity of the issue. Recently I heard a news item on the radio (ZB) and it talked about “Te Whatu Ora and the Maori Health Authority …”.
    
    In other words they used the Maori name for Health NZ (i.e. “Te Whatu Ora”) but used the English name for the Maori Health Authority (instead of its Maori name, which they didn’t mention at all).
    
    How crazy is that? And the (Labour) Govt, who sets the agenda, can’t see an issue with that? Please National/ACT fix this mangled mess!
    
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    January 2, 2023 12:32pm
    - NZer In Exile
      
      Confusing the sheeple(and the dissenters) appears to be the name of the game. Much easier to slip nefarious stuff in that way.
      
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      January 2, 2023 2:02pm
    - Jack5
      
      It’s worse than you think, Nathie.
      
      As poster Ghost pointed out yesterday, the US Embassy in New Zealand has been referring to the country as “Aotearoa”, despite official sites in Washington still calling us “New Zealand”.
      
      So far, it seems to be the only national embassy doing this.
      
      The official name of New Zealand has not been changed in our statutes. “Aotearoa” is unofficial, despite some of the rag-tag Leftist Ministers using this, or “Aotearoa New Zealand,” in their official releases.
      
      So either the United States backs a national name change, or an ambassador has gone rogue.
      
      Perhaps, in return, we could borrow a Mohawk name for the United States. After Mohawks adopted the concept of a country, some of them called the United States “Anowara:kowa” — the Great Turtle. This reflects its shape on a map.
      
      We’ll even amend an old Kiwi motto in place of “In God We Trust”: shell be right.
      
      As always: no problem with “Aotearoa” when talking in or writing in Maori language, but it isn’t the official name when using the English language.
      
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      January 2, 2023 2:15pm
      - Ghost
        
        Found another, no surprise who it is
        
        https://www.eeas.europa.eu/new-zealand/about-ambassador_en?s=173
        
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        January 2, 2023 2:35pm
      - Jack5
        
        Good one, Ghost.
        
        I read from your link the first of Obermaier’s priorities:
        
        “The climate crisis is the greatest challenge facing the world. The European Union is committed to climate action and looks to other countries, including New Zealand, to team up with in this fight.”
        
        The Brits were right to escape from the EU.
        
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        January 2, 2023 3:30pm
- Loddenthinks
  
  If it really is checkmate, Luxon doesn’t have a turn. It’s game over.
  
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  January 2, 2023 10:39am
  - hullkiwi
    
    You’re correct, checkmate is game over. In reality, it is check, and for National/Act the next move (as I wrote above) is to stop and reverse all that has happened over the past 5 years, and much that earlier govts did naively.
    
    Finally, I believe for this election both National and Act have to pledge themselves to ending the Treaty Settlement industry. This means putting a terminal date for the submission of claims, the hearing/settling of the claims and then no more. Including no more top ups of previously settled claims. The Treaty Claims industry has been running for 35 years now, and must be brought to an end. Else, NZ will never be allowed to move forward, because one
    ethnic group is permitted to continue fighting past perceived wrongs through the changing perspective of new generations.
    
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    January 2, 2023 10:55am
    - NZer In Exile
      
      The only way out for the non woke parties is running hard on core principles that have stood the test of time. One country. One law. Pre-neomarxist governance. Pragmatic solutions on pollution. KISS implementations as much as possible (keep it simple stupid). Encourage education as a way to a better life. Lift the disadvantaged based on their level of disadvantage, not on idiotic woke identity tags.
      
      Oh and a no ifs no buts policy to rip out immediately any racially divisive moves by the clown show, root and branch, no matter how deeply or extensively spread.
      
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      January 2, 2023 2:11pm
    - Wayne Mapp
      
      The top ups for Tainui and Ngai Tahu are both a contractual and legislative obligation. There is no prospect of them being undone.
      
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      January 2, 2023 2:26pm
      - Jack5
        
        Chris Finlay, before he entered Parliament, did a great job for Ngai Tahu negotiating their sweetheart treaty settlement.
        
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        January 2, 2023 2:32pm
      - NZer In Exile
        
        Any yet no binding referendum on this?
        
        It’s not only the clown show who have been exceptionally arrogant f-wits.
        
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        January 2, 2023 2:58pm
      - NZer In Exile
        
        I presume the top ups for Tainui and Ngai Tahu rang bells with my mention of “racially divisive moves”? Hence your response Wayne?
        
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        January 2, 2023 3:01pm
      - NothingLeft
        
        The only limitation to govt in NZ is that it may not pass a law that it can not later repeal. Law regarding Ngai Tahu and Tainui can obviously be changed if govt wishes (realistically if electorate supports it).
        
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        January 2, 2023 3:26pm
      - hullkiwi
        
        Wayne, I understand what you have said, and without wishing to tell you your job, you left yourself open for a retort in your post.
        
        If the law, the consequences of the law or an agreement is an ass, then it is the job of legislators to fix the mistake.
        
        Only someone who can see no problems with the anomolies of the Ngai Tahu and Tainui (both of which have become very successful business corporations thanks to Treaty settlements) settlements, and believes that the status quo is a satisfactory position, would argue that matters should remain unchanged.
        
        Just as the tax protected status of the Iwi settlements (as granted by Michael Cullen) should not remain in place.
        
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        January 2, 2023 4:39pm
      - Wayne Mapp
        
        To those who have replied. In theory a parliament could legislatively overturn the Treaty Settlements that the great majority of parliament has entered into. But they won’t.
        Virtually all political parties, including ACT and NZF, would regard such a move as a grave breach of the Crown’s commitment under the Treaty. It would completely undermine the whole treaty settlement process. I also imagine it would do huge damage to race relations in New Zealand. Almost certainly on a much bigger scale than the last years occupation at Parliament.
        But I am sure you actually all know this.
        
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        January 2, 2023 6:23pm
      - Alan Wilkinson
        
        National seem hand in glove with the racist grifters and so wringing wet they won’t do a thing to stop the rorts. Just as they were complicit in the RMA ones.
        
        Can’t see anything changing until LabNat finish wrecking the economy between them. Ironically it might turn out to be Labour that has the balls to reverse course just as it was last time. Bleak future.
        
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        January 2, 2023 6:51pm
      - hullkiwi
        
        Wayne, I began to differ.
        
        Sorry your comment is not credible.
        
        IIRC, the in the National manifesto of 1990, the Bolger govt wanted a time limit on the submission & settlement of claims because of the exploding Treaty Settlement industry that had emerged at the time. However, the implementation of time limits on the settlement process never happened.
        
        Further, I find it hard to believe that when Doug Graham took the Tainui and Ngai Tahu settlements to cabinet, that nearly 30 years later, there would still be claims not negotiated or settled. Consequently, the clauses in each agreement are still effective, and continue to provide both Iwi with taxpayer funded top ups. This farce is to continue unto when?
        
        Then, in 2005, Cullen gave tax free status to the Iwi Settlement Trusts. Subsequently, the NZ taxpayers whether in NZ when the settlements were ratified or not have supported the creation of some of the country’s largest tax protected corporations.
        
        And with that, you suggest there could be racial disharmony, if the rorts that are the Settlement industry are addressed.
        
        Is the real concern about the disharmony of such a move, really more the concern of politicians past & present concerned that non Maori taxpayers (who are 84% of NZ’s population and) who are by and large are blissfully unaware of the details of each settlement and what has occurred subsequently. Add to which, the taxpayers & citizens are then required any number of social services, welfare benefits and state funded institutions e.g. the Maori Health Authority.
        
        What do you think will cause more disharmony?
        
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        January 2, 2023 9:58pm
2ic

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/481770/covid-19-response-recognition-award-recipients-revealed
“Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said all New Zealanders at home and abroad played a part in the successful response to the pandemic.”

Who has determined that our Covid response has been “successful”?

In terms of death rates from Covid, New Zealand is right in the middle of the pack, ranking at 117 out of 229 countries at https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/. And we are right in the middle of our third wave.

And at what cost? Crippling debt for future generations, a broken healthcare system, a failing education system.
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January 2, 2023 8:02am
- Cinematic
  
  Jacinda et al believe if they say it it must be true.
  
  That’s why they make announcements of announcement’s etc.
  
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  January 2, 2023 8:18am
  - G the giant from Dunedin
    
    The podium of bullshittery
    
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    January 2, 2023 9:09am
- Justitia
  
  Of course it was successful. It was so “successful” in fact roughly half the voting age population were panicked into giving Ardern an unrestricted mandate to wreak havoc on the country over the three ensuing years.
  
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  January 2, 2023 9:10am
- Yvette
  
  2ic
  … Ardern told the radio station even though the Government had to make some tough decisions in their COVID response, she can look back on them knowing she had saved lives. “One of our critical advisers through this, who’s from the science community, mentioned to me the other day that on their calculation, give or take, possibly 5000 people have been saved by what we had done,” she said. [1]
  
  See? – a vague “critical adviser” calculation, becomes, in the last paragraph, a concrete fact –
  
  “So in those moments, I think of that. Now those 5000 people, they don’t know who they are. “They don’t know that it was them that has been potentially protected by these measures. But I just keep that in my mind. It’s been hard but the flipside would have been even more painful [1]
  
  A saviour is self-conceived – Jacinda d’Arc – in her mind, but before your eyes in black and white on a media website page.
  
  ■ It can be predicted – yeah, even prophesied – that the saving of the 5,000 will become an established fact in next year’s Election slogans and blurbs.
  
  Deaths from smoking extra cigarettes to get the same nicotine hit won’t have kicked in yet.
  
  _____________
  [1] https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2022/03/prime-minister-jacinda-ardern-says-she-can-see-the-light-as-new-zealand-deals-with-wicked-perfect-storm-cost-of-living-crisis.html
  
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  January 2, 2023 9:16am
  - RockyJ
    
    I save lives too. When I drive in the left side of the road. That makes about as much sense as Jacinda’s claim she saved lives.
    
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    January 2, 2023 9:28am
    - Loddenthinks
      
      Apologies for the poor taste, but it’s also akin to saying “I prevented a rape last night. Changed my mind.”
      
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      January 2, 2023 10:41am
  - ClanMcleod
    
    Whatever happened to the “80,000 could die” nonsensical model?
    
    Her policies have killed many more people than were ever saved and will continue to kill people for years to come.
    The vaccine damages, it rarely kills instantly. Damage to cardio systems and immune systems will cause other issues. So technically they won’t be called “vaccine deaths” but the vaccines will have been the trigger. Without the vaccine the death wouldn’t have happened. They WILL be deaths caused by the vaccine.
    But none of those involved in pushing this experiment will ever want to look for a connection to the jab because to do so would implicate them in this madness. The doctors, the nurses, the jabbers, the advertisers and PR people, the politicians etc etc etc. There are an awful lot of people who have many reasons to keep this suppressed.
    
    The evidence will be buried, the data analysis won’t be done, the autopsies won’t be carried out. I’m fairly sure they’ve already changed the law so that “sudden death” won’t require an autopsy?
    
    Everything will be “because covid”. It is and will continue to be a massive cover up.
    
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    January 2, 2023 9:55am
    - NZer In Exile
      
      It appears western lock-downs killed more people in the developing world than covid did itself. This too was warned about by highly experienced, credentialed and respected pandemic related experts right at the beginning of the pandemic. Instead western leaders rushed headlong into copying China’s ill advised approach.
      
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      January 2, 2023 3:09pm
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    There is one way where Jaspinda could save lives without bullshitting the numbers.
    Clean out the Health System. People are dying because they can’t get the needed surgery. Not just the elderly either. Cancer would be top. Cancer does what it wants, anywhere on the body. Ripped and torn tendons – people can’t even work.
    
    Secretly I don’t think she gives a fuck. It is all about her.
    
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    January 2, 2023 10:12am
    - kevn
      
      @SteveO… Tragically, there is some evidence emerging indicating that the jab actually accelerates the cancers.
      Now there is a problem that masks won’t fix.
      
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      January 2, 2023 11:16am
      - Steve Otto(North Shore)
        
        But masks protect others – or something.
        Jesus they come out with some bullshit!
        
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        January 2, 2023 11:31am
      - Steve Otto(North Shore)
        
        Accelerates – NS Urology is keeping an eye on me with active surveillance for prostate cancer. Thing is, if it advances, are they able to deal with it? Chemo, surgery?
        
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        January 2, 2023 2:00pm
      - Sacha
        
        My daughter had a small mole on her forearm. She had one booster vaccine dose, and approx 8 weeks afterwards commented that it seemed to have grown bigger quite suddenly.
        She went to the GP who took one look, consulted her ‘mole map’ and sent her off to get it excised, and she has now got a significant 6 cm scar on her arm.
        The nurse at the clinic said that they were doing a lot more excisions than they used to do – anecdotal reporting I know, but we all know there’s no smoke without fire.
        
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        January 2, 2023 4:02pm
  - Bob
    
    possibly 5000 people have been saved by what we had done……
    so, 75,000 of the original 80,000 have died; hardly a successful outcome for them!!
    
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    January 2, 2023 11:20am
  - NeverMindTheBollocks
    
    No one was saved. No one here gets out alive.
    
    Just saying.
    
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    January 2, 2023 4:36pm
- Clownworld
  
  Successful responses included
  *sustained propaganda campaign
  *public conforming in the main to ridiculous illogical rules
  *worship of public health figures, celebrities and people of influence
  * Sacrificing careers, jobs and livelihoods for…
  *psychological damage to vulnerable groups
  *groupthink to exclude diverse thinking won
  * censorship of thoughts
  *businesses buying into reducing wages to then get propped up by taxpayers to pay people not to work
  *virtue signalling by corporates and celebrities
  * common messages brainwashed all into the following – masks work, pfizer is the most trusted medical pharma in the known universe so NZ only getting the best initially, that transmission will be stopped, that natural immunity is not as good as hybrid immunity, that pcr so called tests are accurate, that numbers reported are accurate, that lockdowns work, that 2M distance is scientific, talking to neighbours will spread disinformation and viruses etc etc etc
  *closing down tourism and hospitality
  *destroying economy
  * borrowing more debt to be paid off by future generations
  *virtue signalled to world we are fast and hard…
  
  Success at what cost?
  WHO said we succeeded – we are regarded a little like China.
  
  Success?
  
  Maybe…excess mortality?
  
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  January 2, 2023 11:15am
- Nickc2
  
  She’s not known as Pinocchio’s sister for nothing eh?
  
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  January 2, 2023 2:19pm
Maggy Wassilieff

Will Ardern’s Government do a flip-flop on Covid testing for incoming folk from China?

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/world/481771/australian-government-announces-mandatory-covid-19-testing-for-china-travellers
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January 2, 2023 8:04am
- herb1
  
  Maybe in a months time when they’re back from their holidays.
  
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  January 2, 2023 8:06am
  - G the giant from Dunedin
    
    Media reporting they will decide in 24 hours
    
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    January 2, 2023 9:11am
- 3-coil
  
  Happy NewYear Maggy…Would NZ also require vax status as well as rat test? (to ratify her management of NZ covid 2020-2022)
  
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  January 2, 2023 8:13am
  - ClanMcleod
    
    3-coil – what’s the point? The vax doesn’t prevent transmission. It MIGHT reduce symptoms which means those positive may well be asymptomatic making them super spreaders.
    Finally, the RAT test is less than 50% accurate so a planeload of 350 could potentially offload 175 asymptomatic covid carriers.
    
    It’s crazy that we’re still even talking along these lines. The narrative is nonsensical and needs to be ridiculed at every opportunity.
    If you have health issues where a respiratory illness might cause you serious issues, then stay home would be my advice. But you’re going to be staying home an awful lot.
    
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    January 2, 2023 10:01am
  - Maggy Wassilieff
    
    cheers.
    
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    January 2, 2023 11:25am
- Ruahine
  
  Great opportunity for the Gov’t to play the Covid card again and have us all being bossed and bullied again Chinese style. Thanks Xi Jin Ping.
  
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  January 2, 2023 8:14am
  - kowtow
    
    Thanks to all the various funders of that lab too .
    
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    January 2, 2023 10:47am
  - Clownworld
    
    Deja vu…here we go again…
    
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    January 2, 2023 11:21am
- Im Right
  
  Only if other countries do it first Maggie, then Ardern will follow.
  
  NZrs should never forget the ‘go hard, ‘go early’ mantra from Labour was a bloody lie…they were approx 2mths late from ‘going early’
  But I suspect any Royal Commission will have a very narrow field of scope to investigate.
  It’s why they will instigate the Commission, because when National/ACT win the election and THEY instigate a Royal Commission into the Covid response there will be no narrow focus!
  Labour will start the Commission at a time that any possible conclusions will not be ready/published until after the election.
  
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  January 2, 2023 8:18am
  - G the giant from Dunedin
    
    Most countries we follow have already done it, Cindy as usual gets it wrong and will buckle today
    
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    January 2, 2023 9:13am
  - Don Beckett
    
    When Nat/Act become government, they can adjust/increase the terms of reference for the commission.
    
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    January 2, 2023 11:05am
- Charmaine Hawke
  
  Guaranteed they will just follow the crowd. How is it we have managed to make people scared of a sniffle but dying suddenly is not an issue?
  We are truly the stupidest generation led by idiots.
  
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  January 2, 2023 8:21am
- ClanMcleod
  
  It will depend on what the “focus groups” tell her. It certainly won’t have anything to do with reality.
  
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  January 2, 2023 8:29am
- Scooter
  
  She will only do what her masters overseas tell her. Wait for it lockdown 2023.
  
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  January 2, 2023 8:30am
- Nickc2
  
  Yes, but she won’t announce it herself. AFIK, she’s left it up to the Duty Minister Stuart Nash. That’ll be his moment in the sun, and he’ll milk it for all he can.
  He’ll no doubt blame it on nine years of neglect by a National Govt. Also, he’ll probably blame them for roading pot-holes which his Govt has been progressively fixing over the last five years.
  Yea, right!
  
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  January 2, 2023 8:35am
- Suze Wainwright
  
  I’d be prepared to bet you an electric minivan full of mid-level Wellington public servants headed to a powhiri, Maggy
  
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  January 2, 2023 8:59am
- G the giant from Dunedin
  
  Weird, they said no last week, but sheeple are getting antsy again so they will buckle while Cindy is at the beach
  
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  January 2, 2023 9:11am
- Ghost
  
  I think they have to Maggy. Our hospitals can’t take the strain of tourists coming and needed to be treated for Covid.
  
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  January 2, 2023 9:13am
- Inandout
  
  Maggy, the tricky virus seeks only the unvaccinated so 95% of NZers are safe. Dr A B is now a Knight so his opinion from the podium of truth must be 100% correct. I remember the first time the Chinese were welcomed into the US by Nancy Pelosi at a Chinese festival in San Fran, she actually encouraged more tourists from that country. The date was February 2020, a month before the world went covid-mad. Pure Co-incidence?
  
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  January 2, 2023 10:02am
- Steve Otto(North Shore)
  
  Nope. Deep down Jaspinda wants another large Covid pandemic.
  Got to get my control back, got to get my control back.
  That mantra goes on all of her awake hours, maybe even in her dreams.
  
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  January 2, 2023 10:16am
- Jim
  
  Yep, imho it’s more political nonsense, possibly Western political brinksmanship because Putin and Xi have recently passed private written correspondence.
  
  Any such unilateral decision (to test inbound travellers from China) will achieve nothing as the virus(es) does what the virus does between any and all available vectors.
  
  But the virus simply doesn’t care where they are travelling to or from, as such it will get here (if not already) directly or indirectly in just a matter of days.
  
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  January 2, 2023 6:47pm
Clyde

Did anyone else watch TV3 news last night? I couldn’t believe the long long piece masquerading as news which involved Hinemoa Elder amongst others. Rambled on and on about East Pollies knowing the moon provided “energy” and “well-being” according to the East Polly knowledge. Somehow a lump of rock captured by the earth’s gravity is able to affect a person’s moods. I expected this sort of shit from TV1 but I had some hopes of TV3 – to no avail. News should be news not some sort of platform for dipshits.
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January 2, 2023 8:04am
- mikenmildagain
  
  A lot of people share the belief that the moon affects humans – hence ‘lunacy’.
  
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  January 2, 2023 9:17am
  - Clyde
    
    Ah, that settles a question I thought about a lot – you come from the moon, whereas I thought up to now that you were from another planet!
    
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    January 2, 2023 10:13am
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    It is true Mike. The business (now closed) I was working for, I could spot a fuckwit at 40 paces. Sometimes I would go out the back by the compressor shed so I didn’t have to deal with them.
    They just love telling me (with 50 years in the same job) how I should do things. Schoolteachers would be the top of the list.
    50 years give me the advantage of spotting them before they have seen me LOL
    
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    January 2, 2023 10:22am
    - Steve Otto(North Shore)
      
      Full moon is Saturday 7th. Let’s see how the usual culprits start acting the goat then.
      
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      January 2, 2023 2:46pm
  - CJames
    
    Yes milky, they might believe it. But there is no science behind it. That makes it a religion or cultural belief, doesn’t it? Or is it Maori science in the post-modern world being inflicted on us.
    
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    January 2, 2023 12:42pm
- Yvette
  
  reference –
  How people and businesses incorporate maramataka Māori into their daily lives
  Individuals and businesses are incorporating it into their daily lives to better connect with their environment and plan ahead for the days that are better suited for certain activities.
  
  … “We can deepen our spirituality around connecting to mother earth,” said maramataka practitioner and indigenous environment specialist Tui Shortland. “And I think that following the biodynamics cycles of the sun, and the moon and the tides and being led by the stars helps us to be more content and helps us to be more balanced and lead more of a holistic lifestyle.”
  
  ….The traditional knowledge system is making a comeback in modern Aotearoa and has been made into wall calendars, diaries, and been practised in daily online sessions.
  Child and adolescent psychiatrist Dr Hinemoa Elder has collated the knowledge from her tribe, Te Aupouri in the far north, in her recent book Wawata – Moon Dreaming.
  She said she wanted a way to remember the various names for the 30 different phases of Hina, or the moon …
  https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2023/01/how-people-and-businesses-incorporate-maramataka-m-ori-into-their-daily-lives.html
  
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  January 2, 2023 9:35am
  - Paulus
    
    As a normal New Zealand non Maori it is all way above my elderly mentality – eg Bullshit.
    
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    January 2, 2023 10:13am
  - Don Beckett
    
    So reverting to ancient forms of paganism and nature worship is now a step forward? I wonder why they were got rid of before today? Because false/wrong ?
    Spare me.
    
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    January 2, 2023 11:10am
    - Bob
      
      wonder why they were got rid of before today….
      because back in 1907, Maori didn’t control the Caucus!
      
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      January 2, 2023 11:26am
  - softail 1450
    
    Yvette, so celestial navigation and medicine in conjunction with the universe easily mastered by ancient Maori, the wheel ,not so much.
    
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    January 2, 2023 11:21am
  - 7kiwi11
    
    And of course no actual evidence of companies applying this lunacy. We are just told it is the case so it must be fact.
    
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    January 2, 2023 11:28am
    - Jack5
      
      A medical specialist in psychiatry who is talking of the effects of the Moon?
      
      Perhaps a psychiatrist who believes in the effects of the Moon should consider surrendering Western professional medical registration, and set up as a tohunga.
      
      That indigenous occupation will get new government recognition according to legislation wending its way through Parliament.
      
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      January 2, 2023 3:39pm
  - NeverMindTheBollocks
    
    Horseshit, eh.
    
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    January 2, 2023 4:39pm
- 70andstilllearning
  
  We – the other ~83% odd are being “educated”.
  Newshub needs to keep up it’s drip feed funding – there was something similar ( already forgotten the topic ) the previous night.
  Can’t wait to see what tonight’s education topic will be …//
  
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  January 2, 2023 9:44am
- mikenmildagain
  
  Is ‘East Pollies’ a common term in your social group, Clyde?
  
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  January 2, 2023 9:48am
- Inandout
  
  Clyde, the last time I watched One or Three was when we got our first smart TV, so maybe 6 years ago. What a wonderful world there is out there.
  
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  January 2, 2023 10:07am
- than
  
  I notice they mentioned the 1907 Tohunga Suppression Act in the story. It was supported by all the Māori MPs! In part because a number of children died from some of these Tohunga practices.
  Below is the Kiwiblog article on the subject a while ago.
  
  https://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/2022/10/was_traditional_medicine_crushed_by_pakeha.html
  
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  January 2, 2023 11:02am
  - I remember when
    
    So using traditional Tohunga science the practice is to be reintroduced.
    That is science, from a verbal history, last used 115 years ago.
    It’s enough to restore my faith in homeopathy.
    Bet they love the ‘placebo’ effect.
    
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    January 2, 2023 12:46pm
  - Pineapple Lumps
    
    Than, thanks for posting this link.
    
    Interesting to see that one of the cures given for fevers was alcohol.
    
    Does anyone know if Maori produced alcohol prior to European contact?
    
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    January 2, 2023 1:50pm
    - GJM
      
      Be a bit difficult to distill without metal. They might be able to brew some foul tasting and weak hooch with wild yeasts, probably not 3v3n as strong a a mid strength beer without yeast bred for alcohol resistance.
      
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      January 2, 2023 3:34pm
      - Pineapple Lumps
        
        The impact of availability of materials and types of yeasts are good insights. Certainly limits the options.
        
        Also, it helps to have an oversupply of sugars – not sure pre-European NZ had many of these.
        
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        January 2, 2023 4:03pm
    - NZer In Exile
      
      From memory no. They must have (IMHO) experienced accidental fermented juices of various kinds (kumara juice??) but thought the effects/taste/smell indicated the stuff had gone off and was bad for consumption.
      
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      January 2, 2023 3:48pm
      - Pineapple Lumps
        
        Good points NIE – Some fruits and veg readily ferment accidentally. The right combinations of yeast, sugar, water in the same source e.g. grapes. Fruit flavours help the palatability.
        
        Drinking juice out of a sodden Kumara pit doesn’t sound particularly appealing.
        
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        January 2, 2023 4:12pm
  - In Vino Veritas
    
    It wasn’t just supported than, the Maori MPs PROPOSED that the legislation be drafted to the European MPs. The Maori MPs wanted to stop Maori killing their kids.
    
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    January 2, 2023 5:27pm
- rangitoto
  
  TV3 promoting astrology.
  
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  January 2, 2023 12:14pm
Paulus

Yes, Ardern will have to follow Australia, US and UK in testing people from China.
Cannot understand why she said the opposite last week.
There are words for somebody like this – not here though as begins with Stupid…..
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January 2, 2023 8:06am
- G the giant from Dunedin
  
  Because she knows she is now hated re covid, again she will look stupid, oh but Luxon is the master of flip flops
  
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  January 2, 2023 9:17am
- MCōs
  
  On the one hand NZ doesn’t want to stem the flow of Chinese tourists if possible, but on the other if half of them arrive here infected with yet another strain of covid they’re not letting on about that’s not what the already stretched hospo industry wants.
  Whether the numbers arriving infected are significant compared with the numbers of locals already infected that they mix with is the question.
  Maybe the tourists are more at risk by coming here. Too bad if you’re here for two weeks and feeling rotten for a week or more.
  
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  January 2, 2023 9:37am
  - NoCash
    
    According to Dr John Campbell of YouTube fame, the current outbreak in China is Omicron, so no new strains yet.
    
    If we really want to monitor for new strains, then requiring -ve test result is the wrong thing to do. As being -ve within 2 days of departure can still be infectious. It’s better to do random or targeted testing (people with symptoms) on arrival, or test waste water on the airplanes.
    
    The current wave of countries requiring pre departure testing is IMO more political driven than science.
    
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    January 2, 2023 12:40pm
Swifty

I think David Bain killed his family and that his old man was a victim and absolutely not the offender.

I wonder if anyone else has any views on this topic?

😀
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January 2, 2023 8:06am
- peterwn
  
  The second trial defence was expertly conducted and exploited Police shortcomings to the full (eg time discrepancies by failing to check whether clocks, watches, computers, etc were running fast or slow, police unable to indicate the sequence of the exhibited photographs, etc). I also suspect a few jurors had made up their minds already as the trial started and nothing would budge them. In retrospect the prosecutor was behind the 8 ball even though the affirmative evidence proved guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
  
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  January 2, 2023 11:38am
  - Swifty
    
    I agree.
    
    The physical evidence overwhelmingly pointed to David – and away from the father.
    
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    January 2, 2023 1:33pm
- I remember when
  
  Pity about that ‘powder residue’ test being overlooked.
  
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  January 2, 2023 12:48pm
mikenmildagain

RIP Richard Leakey, paleontologist and conservationist.
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January 2, 2023 8:12am
- Maggy Wassilieff
  
  Bit late in the day with your condolences….
  
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  January 2, 2023 8:18am
  - mikenmildagain
    
    Yes, a year ago today.
    
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    January 2, 2023 8:23am
mikenmildagain

As the GOP prepare to elect a new speaker of the house of representative, they can celebrate today the 80th birthday of their longest serving speaker, Dennis Hastert.
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January 2, 2023 8:14am
- virtualmark
  
  I see what you did there
  
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  January 2, 2023 9:09am
Maggy Wassilieff

I wonder why our Green MPs haven’t been pushing for human composting here in NZ.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/jan/01/new-york-governor-legalizes-human-composting-after-death
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January 2, 2023 8:17am
- mikenmildagain
  
  [Mod – don’t accuse kiwiblog members of such a thing]
  
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  January 2, 2023 8:18am
  - Benedict Yu
    
    Their views are repugnant. However I do not wish death upon them.
    
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    January 2, 2023 8:34am
    - mikenmildagain
      
      And nor did I.
      
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      January 2, 2023 8:35am
    - septic skeptic
      
      He didn’t say anything about wishing death on them, just that they would be more use to the country as compost. Play the ball, not the man.
      
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      January 2, 2023 8:38am
      - G the giant from Dunedin
        
        BehahahHaga, human compost, and your name is septic hahaha
        
        8 3
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        January 2, 2023 9:19am
      - Benedict Yu
        
        If one asserts that someone “would be more use to the country as compost” it could be inferred that the person asserting such is suggesting that the person would be more useful dead rather than alive.
        
        I have little doubt that if, say the Leader of the Opposition asserted that the Prime Minister “would be more use to the country as compost”, the media and members of the Government would accuse Christopher Luxon of celebrating any possibility of the PM suffering a premature death.
        
        I don’t need a lecture on “Play the ball, not the man”.
        
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        January 2, 2023 10:24am
      - Ghost
        
        Play the ball, not the man
        
        Impossible when the “man” you speak of is constantly playing people on this blog and being a dick to people.
        
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        January 2, 2023 5:31pm
  - dubya
    
    Good for growing watermelons, and you can be assured they’d turn the hydrangeas red.
    
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    January 2, 2023 8:52am
  - Maggy Wassilieff
    
    @ Bernard Yu…
    
    and note how mikenmildagain aims the slur at Kiwiblog commenters.
    
    He won’t own the suggestion himself, but successfully manages to state that it is something others would do.
    
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    January 2, 2023 10:31am
- I remember when
  
  If you scatter the ash after cremation is that composting.
  
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  January 2, 2023 8:57am
  - Albert_Ross
    
    No, don’t do it
    
    https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/info/cremation-ashes-and-plants.htm
    
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    January 2, 2023 9:12am
  - Maggy Wassilieff
    
    Gosh, no.. you’ve incinerated all the food that worms and maggots and other decomposers could feast on.
    
    12 1
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    January 2, 2023 9:47am
- pdm
  
  Maggy wasn’t Jeanette Fitzsimons a leader with this at her Coromandel home.
  
  Obviously not palatable to Green members who visited her.
  
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  January 2, 2023 8:57am
  - mikenmildagain
    
    Has anyone here read her biography?
    
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    January 2, 2023 9:06am
    - softail 1450
      
      MMA, I would have but still haven’t stopped laughing about her CV.
      
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      January 2, 2023 11:28am
  - Maggy Wassilieff
    
    Human composting isn’t permitted in NZ.
    
    Organic burials are…
    
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    January 2, 2023 9:48am
    - NZer In Exile
      
      Human composting? Bury the body in the garden?
      
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      January 2, 2023 3:53pm
- Albert_Ross
  
  Sounds a lot like eco-burial, which is already an option here. I and my partner have both provided for it in our wills
  
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  January 2, 2023 9:09am
  - Maggy Wassilieff
    
    I can’t be bothered with composting my kitchen waste… I just dig it into trenches in the garden.
    
    16 1
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    January 2, 2023 9:53am
  - Inandout
    
    AR, so is a person sentenced to death by electric chair an EV death?
    
    12 3
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    January 2, 2023 10:15am
    - Loddenthinks
      
      No, that would be a Covid death.
      
      17 3
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      January 2, 2023 10:47am
    - Albert_Ross
      
      I’ve no idea what point you think you’re making.
      
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      January 2, 2023 11:50am
- Jethrod
  
  This has been going on for the last 5 years on the Labour backbench list MP’S
  
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  January 2, 2023 10:31am
Surely Knott

More bizarre closures at long bay beach and a complete lack of questions or answers from our media. At Xmas police closed long bay beach because it was full?!

Today long bay beach is marked black by safe swim and council due to a sewerage overflow.

They say “ It is not clear what has caused the wastewater overflow in the two northern Auckland beaches, but it appears to be an incident specific to the Torbay area as nearly every other beach across the region on the Safeswim website has the green “good water quality” rating.”

“ While such wastewater overflows are less common during summer, the Safeswim website states: “Overflows are more common in wet weather, but they can happen in dry weather if pipes are blocked or damaged.”

🤔 Why Isn’t it clear what has caused the overflow? You’re our national newspaper, and your job is to ring watercare and ask why. Why is there an overflow when there is no rain? Did a pipe break? Which pipe? Which street? How much sewage was released into the beach? Is this legal? Will watercare be fined? How many overflows have there been at the beach this year, what about other auckland beaches? Did the newspaper make even a rudimentary phone call? Seems strange that they didn’t interview watercare ? Or is this some environmental propaganda in the lead up to three waters eg if only we had a race in charge of our water that cared about clean water.
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January 2, 2023 8:40am
- Nickc2
  
  Has anyone in authority considered the increased number of bums on toilet seats that the Akld Unitary Plan has produced with its propensity to build High Rise Apartment Blocks and infill housing development without first increasing the size and capability of associated existing infrastructure?
  I sincerely doubt it, that concept’s too grown up for Akld Council eh?
  
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  January 2, 2023 9:30am
  - hullkiwi
    
    …and Nick, it will surprise nobody, but the problems of Auckland’s growth, the lack of investment in key water infrastructure and the mixing of sewerage and storm water systems during periods of high rainfall has been known to be a problem for over 35 years.
    
    But Auckland’s Mayor’s have been to keen to invest in big public bling where the said politicians will get a photo opportunity cutting a ribbon. No real photo opportunities cutting a ribbon for a sewerage works or pipeline!
    
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    January 2, 2023 11:08am
    - Nickc2
      
      Sadly, you’re quite right. Vanity projects will win every time!
      Mention the requirement to increase the size and capability of Sewer Treatment and Disposal Systems to a bunch of women councilors and you’ll draw a whole lot of blank looks and/or the bravest of them will call for a comfort stop. Mention the requirement for a Pedestrian Crossing at X, and they will go into raptures about the colour of the lines. //
      I’m not anti-women on councils by any means, but they should at least familiarise themselves with what the topic under discussion is, how it works, and its impact on other forms of infrastructure.
      To me, this was very obvious in how Akld’s Unitary Plan was formulated with copious quantities of Parks and Reserves for families, pets and children, increased housing for families and children, dividing roads for Bicycle Lanes, and . . . .well, you get the message. And dare I say it, sweet FA about supporting infrastructure let alone costings for such.
      
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      January 2, 2023 11:29am
      - Surely Knott
        
        We’ve had exclusively male mayors in Auckland and plenty of male councillors responsible for the state of Auckland and lack of investment in basic infrastructure. So you’re wrong the problem is due to women councillors but right about the rest
        
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        January 2, 2023 11:42am
      - Nickc2
        
        Surely Knott @ 11:42AM
        I think you’re being a little precious. My post was about ‘a bunch of Women Councilors’, not all Women Councilors and there was the // (intended sarcasm sign) if you hadn’t noticed.
        Perhaps I should have extended the rant to include Akld’s previous Labour Party affiliated Mayors. However, WTF did any of them achieve anyway?
        
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        January 2, 2023 11:59am
      - hullkiwi
        
        SK, you’re not correct. Christine Fletcher was mayor of Auckland prior to John Banks and SuperCity. North Shore Cith suffered first Wyn Hoadley and then Ann Hartley. All of Auckland has suffered a lack of investment in essential water infrastructure since the 1970s. They built Mangere (and expanded it) and Rosedale Road and then failed to invest for the future and complete what needed to be done.
        
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        January 2, 2023 12:34pm
- 7kiwi11
  
  Don’t worry, there’ll be no more overflows once 3 waters kicks in.
  
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  January 2, 2023 11:34am
Steve Otto(North Shore)

Arizona.
Judge tosses out Kari Lake’s Election Lawsuit. Well that just has to be a crooked Democrat Judge. Lake will appeal. Now we know why Katie Hobbs would not recuse herself as Overseer of the Election process. They have known about ballot problems for three Elections, but allowed the corruption to continue. There has to be a crime here.
This shit needs to be sorted out before 2024, but how do you get past corrupt Democrat Dudges?
https://finishtherace.com/eric/judge-tosses-kari-lakes-election-lawsuit-on-christmas-eve-lake-to-appeal-ruling/
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January 2, 2023 8:49am
- All_on_Red
  
  I think there were a number of issues exposed which clearly indicate all is not well with Voting integrity in Maricopa, but…
  No Judge in the US has ever reversed an Election- not at the level of that Judge anyway.
  Unfortunately Hobbs, who ran the system, is now Governor so I doubt any change will happen.
  Lake is appealing. Her only hope is the Appeal Circuit mandating change but that will be for the next Election.
  Would like to be wrong but the result wont be overturned.
  
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  January 2, 2023 9:09am
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    Those machines are all over the US, all programed for corruption.
    In Maricopa, one of the voting places has an IT specialist turn up. His job was to check the machines were functioning properly. They were, but things went haywire 30 min after het left. Same thing at many voting stations.
    You won’t hear that from the standard media.
    
    9 5
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    January 2, 2023 10:52am
    - Inandout
      
      SO: I think the Twitter files have destroyed many peoples’ blind faith in the system. The WH tentacles reach deep into the US way of life and these strange voting machines are but one example of how far.
      
      9 3
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      January 2, 2023 11:16am
      - Steve Otto(North Shore)
        
        Elon Musk is chopping those tentacles to bits, and the Dems are shitting themselves.
        
        8 3
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        January 2, 2023 12:10pm
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    The result won’t be overturned, but it makes the voters aware that the Democrats have been screwing them for years.
    Something for you All on Red. It is 2015. 7 years later the same bastards are doing the same as they did then. Reposted on Youtube 2020.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S63MW41dP58
    Trump 2024.
    
    4 3
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    January 2, 2023 4:00pm
Steve Otto(North Shore)

Meanwhile, Charlieboy is getting tough with Andrew. He has banned Randy Andy from the Palace. I guess Andrew’s only recourse would be to start naming others who where at Epstein Island. Watch out for Killary. Anyone who thinks Clinton has nothing to do with it, is ignorant. Billy mad at least 20 trips on the ‘Lollita Express’
https://gopnewsfeed.com/king-charles-just-banned-him/
18 5
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January 2, 2023 8:59am
- Clownworld
  
  Andy , Charlie – pot kettle black
  
  7 4
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  January 2, 2023 11:25am
All_on_Red

What happened to the Andrew Tate ‘arrest’?
Lots were wetting their panties with excitement at the thought of ‘Top G’ getting smacked over but it looks like they found nothing and the girl who was supposedly kidnapped wasn’t.
The Tates’ are morally dubious given their interests in Cam girls and Casinos but the whole thing looked very much staged as a massive smear.
I guess we will see.
Andrew Tate is right about Thunberg though.
22 4
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January 2, 2023 9:17am
- mikenmildagain
  
  She appears to be right about him, too.
  
  7 23
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  January 2, 2023 9:50am
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    [email protected]
    
    6 1
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    January 2, 2023 11:02am
  - Inandout
    
    m&m, do you have proof of her knowledge?
    
    11 3
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    January 2, 2023 11:18am
    - RichardX
      
      “do you have proof of her knowledge” would be an interesting bar to apply to assertions made on this blog.
      
      I would like to see independently verified evidence for all the assertions made, especially those that assert motive.
      
      2 8
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      January 2, 2023 11:44am
- MCōs
  
  He’s in jail for 30 days.
  After that, I don’t know.
  I don’t understand the Romanian system.
  BTW
  Why is he holed up in Romania in a warehouse?
  
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  January 2, 2023 12:38pm
I remember when

Termites in Australia’s north devour everything in their path as climate warms.: Stuff.
Reference is to Mastotermes Darwiniensis, the giant northern termite, which exists in the top half of Australia. Northern territory, Top of Western Australia and Queensland.
It is considered the most destructive of the Australian termites.
Incidentally, severe termite damage has increased since the removal in 1995 of long lasting soil barrier chemicals.
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January 2, 2023 9:26am
- Inandout
  
  Irw, the South American termites/ants go forth as an army and devour every living thing, including humans or animals unable to escape their pathway.
  
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  January 2, 2023 11:20am
I remember when

‘Started falling behind.’ 2022 deadliest year on NZ roads in four years – provisional data: msn.com.
Basically road deaths have returned to where they were pre-covid.
2018: 378 to 2022: 377.
What effect have the safety installations since 2018 had on the total?
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January 2, 2023 9:51am
- Inandout
  
  Irw, road conditions are the worst I can remember and the potholes must be a boon for wheel aligners. When dodging these holes a driver must swerve and then sometimes crashes as a result.
  
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  January 2, 2023 11:23am
- hullkiwi
  
  Sorry, when is the CE of Waka Kotahi (sorry, but she is in this waka by herself), going to resign for failing to achieve her own set priority.
  
  NZTA was established to provide a safe transport land and public transport network (excluding rail, cycling, and walking) for NZ. The problem was and remains Juli Ann Genter’s legacy and Labour cabinet ministers who are/were clueless about their roles as Minister of Transport. Instead, they allowed JAG to infest NZTA with her friends, and then destroy the purpose of the Authority. The final step was employing a CE who sees her role as implementing Road to Zero, while doing nothing tangible other than running copious volumes of TV ads, ads at the movies, ads in other media outlets, and lowering speed limits on roads without any evidence to support such actions.
  
  Meanwhile proper enforcement by police has diminished, investment in building safer roads has evaporated, and maintaining existing roads has seen budgets slashed and needed maintenance delayed.
  
  Great record, so the lady should resign too, for failing in her job.
  
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  January 2, 2023 11:39am
Steve Otto(North Shore)

More wasted Taxpayer money. When will they Stop?
Once again, this is nothing more than buying votes.
I got a Covid good boy lapel pin, I am going to vote Labour.
Pass the bucket please.

https://www.odt.co.nz/news/national/special-lapel-pin-covid-19-workers-pm
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January 2, 2023 9:57am
- Maggy Wassilieff
  
  Lapel pins are a must in N.Korea.
  
  https://www.rfa.org/english/news/korea/badge-12092022161144.html
  
  19 3
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  January 2, 2023 10:18am
  - mikenmildagain
    
    And at every secondary school in NZ.
    
    7 22
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    January 2, 2023 10:29am
  - Surely Knott
    
    Lapel pins also on chests of all the un agenda 21 loving leaders at Davos. You can buy your own Un sustainable development goals lapel pin and dress like Schwab, macron, gates et al. Although Davos had pins and “together band” bracelets.
    
    https://www.information-age.com/dispatches-davos-2020-messages-meanings-more-15264/
    
    https://shop.undp.org/products/sdg-lapel-pins
    
    8 2
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    January 2, 2023 1:44pm
- kowtow
  
  Will Hone’s Homies be qualified for them, afterall the PM and Chief Plod were ok with the illegal roadblocks.
  
  10 1
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  January 2, 2023 10:52am
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    Probably. They will be free.
    
    9 0
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    January 2, 2023 11:10am
- Inandout
  
  SO, merely change the face.
  https://i.pinimg.com/originals/71/12/36/71123632b6afdb517e82fbdb8a3770d2.jpg
  
  4 1
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  January 2, 2023 11:25am
Benedict Yu

On Youtube you can post video clips from violent films and TV showing death and torture.

Yet if I were to post a video clip questioning the efficacy or safety of the COVID vaccines, I would be given a warning. A second offence would mean permanent cancellation.

https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/11161123

That includes any content that questions the
“efficacy of vaccines: content claiming that vaccines do not reduce transmission or contraction of disease”

New Zealand achieved a vaccine coverage of about 90 percent of the adult population. To date, about 2 million COVID cases have been reported in New Zealand.
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January 2, 2023 10:10am
- Steve Otto(North Shore)
  
  Who actually decides what misinformation is?
  Different people see things different ways.
  Welcome to hard core socialist control.
  
  17 3
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  January 2, 2023 11:16am
  - Clownworld
    
    Yes the WHO determine this , along with the corrupt collection of govts and big tech ( as evidenced in twitter and facebook) using celebrities to push their message.
    Diversity is only important when minorities on the left are deemed to be voiceless vulnerable victims.
    
    Hard core communistic global corporatism coming soon and will be much more authoritarian than what we have seen lately.
    
    16 2
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    January 2, 2023 11:31am
  - Pineapple Lumps
    
    Steve we are lucky here in NZ to have a leader that never tells lies and is the single source of truth. Blessed with these attributes she is the most qualified to inform us of any mis, dis and mal information.
    
    Long live the most glorious and wonderful leader.//
    
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    January 2, 2023 2:02pm
    - Steve Otto(North Shore)
      
      NZ life is just wonderful.//
      
      6 1
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      January 2, 2023 2:51pm
- General
  
  It’s taken you a long time to realize a lot of things but you get there eventually
  
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  January 2, 2023 3:32pm
Swifty

8.30pm last night at the BP Mt Albert a distressed elderly lady, late 70s is my guess, was going from customer to customer asking for help with the engine oil level in her car as she didn’t know how and where to add it.

I asked her if she had asked the staff and her words were “Oh, they didn’t want to assist, they said it was not their job and said they didn’t want the liability.”

Her exact words.

There were three staff on, a woman cashier and two other young blokes, all behind the counter. The place was not busy.

Is this a new policy from BP? While I’ve seen for years the gradual retreat from forecourt service, I thought you could still ask for assistance. Especially the elderly or infirm?

If this is new policy, I wonder what has driven it?

(Note to mikenmild – I am neither upset, angry or frustrated about this event. I have no special ‘feelings’ about it and ask that you don’t post putting words into my mouth or ascribe to me feelings I don’t have or thoughts I don’t hold.)
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January 2, 2023 10:23am
- Steve Otto(North Shore)
  
  You could just tell Mike to ‘fuck off.’
  I have before when he behaves like an annoying 5 year old.
  
  21 3
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  January 2, 2023 11:19am
  - Maggy Wassilieff
    
    I think it is good for other Kiwiblog commenters to recognise the tactics mikenmild employs when he smears individuals on this blog.
    
    If you just post a rude response to one of his “hits”, then you can come across as the one who can’t debate a point.
    
    Some of us who have been on the blog long enough can see what’s occurring……but it took me some years to recognise his repertoire of slime.
    
    [Mod – if I miss a post where he is trolling you or smearing you, please let me know with a post under it to Mod]
    
    27 3
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    January 2, 2023 11:38am
    - Aquarius
      
      Can I again enter a plea to the moderators. MMA severely detracts from the pleasure of reading KiwiBlog even if one simply scrolls past the drivel posted. The blog would be greatly enhanced by the removal of his various aliases.
      What a sad wee fellow
      
      23 6
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      January 2, 2023 12:06pm
      - Pineapple Lumps
        
        Promptly down ticked by the unHoly Trollogy.
        
        I did notice less trolling and down ticking while NCEA was being marked.
        
        14 3
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        January 2, 2023 2:06pm
      - Bridgenag
        
        Yes please……… It really is tiring to have to dodge all his aliases
        
        6 2
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        January 2, 2023 4:37pm
- peterwn
  
  One way with dealing with an increasingly litigious society is to not put yourself in a position where you or your employer could be sued. If a forecourt attendant has not been trained in checking oil levels and appropriate choice of lubricants then it is better that the attendant does not try to do something which is outside the scope of training. Also increasing concerns and the possibility of negative consequences with ‘health and safety’ means employers are less inclined to allow staff to take risks.
  
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  January 2, 2023 11:25am
  - Benedict Yu
    
    Agree. Most of these staff would have no clue. Late model cars increasingly use low viscosity engine oil, labeled “0W”. Expecting service station staff to deal with your oil is long gone.
    
    17 0
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    January 2, 2023 11:37am
    - Taieri
      
      Late model cars increasingly use low viscosity engine oil, labeled “0W”
      ———
      
      This is generally intended to replace 15W-30 and 15W-40 mineral oils and is particularly useful in winter driving. The numbers above refer to viscosity, where “15” is “starting temperature”, with “W” denoting “winter and “40” is “running temperature”. These values represent testing temperatures and not the actual running temperatures.
      For modern engines synthetics are better but they are considerably more expensive than mineral oils. For older cars synthetics are waste of money as consumption can be quite high and improved lubrication effects are negligible.
      A word of advice: when you change oil, always change the oil filter as well.
      
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      January 2, 2023 4:20pm
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    How do you ‘train’ someone to check oil levels?
    There is a dipstick. It has two dots or lines at the end, oil level should be between them.
    If it is low, tell the customer so. The ask if they would like some more put in. That throws the responsibility back on the customer.
    The appropriate oil will be found on a sticker somewhere. Really if it is just a top up, oil is oil, the viscosity will not matter.
    
    Health and Safety are in the business of putting small businesses out of business. Just another quango.
    
    16 3
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    January 2, 2023 11:49am
    - greybeard
      
      I don’t think it is wise to mix mineral oil with synthetic oil, so please keep away from my car !
      
      4 0
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      January 2, 2023 4:41pm
- Hollyfield
  
  I had a similar situation a few years ago, also at a BP although I am sure it is not limited to BPs. I knew I needed oil, knew where to put it, but didn’t know what type of oil to buy for my car. I asked the attendant and he had no idea. A few decades ago virtually all young men would have known the answer as they tinkered with their own cars. These days it is not such common knowledge, and therefore something all service station employees should be taught as part of their induction to the job. They should know the products they sell. If I went to the makeup counter at a department store and asked what type of makeup for my skin type, they would know the answer. In my job if I told a customer I didn’t know anything about our company’s products, I would not keep my job.
  This is a failing of the service station industry.
  
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  January 2, 2023 11:26am
  - Benedict Yu
    
    I disagree. These are minimum wage workers focused on taking your money and selling pies. With hundreds of different engine types, how is it realistic for them to tell you the oil to put in your car? As a car owner, it is up to you to know the oil to use. It is listed in the car manual, or can be found in a few minutes using Google.
    
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    January 2, 2023 11:44am
    - Captain Mainwaring
      
      Or you could ask the dealer for your model of car.
      
      10 0
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      January 2, 2023 11:52am
    - Steve Otto(North Shore)
      
      @Hollyfield and BY, Oil is oil. Just a top up the viscosity does not matter, neither does mixing ordinary oil with synthetic. In this day and age, the google machine will tell you the grade.
      Oh, they are not service stations anymore. They are a fuel and food provider.
      
      14 5
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      January 2, 2023 11:55am
      - 70andstilllearning
        
        “Oh, they are not service stations anymore. …..”
        That’s the key really Steve – “service station” is now a misnomer in our modern language. Someone could doubt think up a new relevant descriptor but it would probably start with waka ……
        
        13 1
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        January 2, 2023 12:20pm
      - Steve Otto(North Shore)
        
        @7oandstill.
        How about this? “penehīni waka”
        
        3 1
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        January 2, 2023 2:58pm
      - rangitoto
        
        Exactly right. The average domestic car isn’t running a highly stressed racing engine.
        
        4 1
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        January 2, 2023 3:07pm
      - Steve Otto(North Shore)
        
        @rangitoto.
        Really? Watch what happens when there is rain. The nutjobs get out there and give their engine a bit of stress. Why? The road is wet and any oil on the road floats to the top. They don’t wear out their tyres as much.
        Anyway, 30/40 is for your lawnmower. Viscosity is for different ambient temperature.
        I just run my Landcruiser on semi synthetic 10/40, and that’s what goes in the lawnmower, and in my 4 stroke Suzuki outboard.
        
        4 0
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        January 2, 2023 4:14pm
    - Ghost
      
      Or just go to super cheap or repco, they‘ll look it up and top it up for you
      
      11 0
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      January 2, 2023 12:03pm
      - Steve Otto(North Shore)
        
        Yes they will. They are “service” places. Wiper blades as well.
        
        9 1
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        January 2, 2023 12:17pm
    - kevn
      
      @BY… Some modern cars don’t have oil dipsticks. A Euro ‘feature’ probably.
      
      11 0
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      January 2, 2023 12:21pm
      - 70andstilllearning
        
        Most still do kevn – problem is many are behind the steering wheel!
        
        10 0
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        January 2, 2023 12:42pm
      - Steve Otto(North Shore)
        
        Probably have something like a transponder, like you have on the back of the boat to show seafloor depth. GPS/fishfinder/depth sounder.
        Prob BMW. They are trying to make their cars idiot proof with all of the modern silly things. Automatic headlight adjuster?
        
        5 1
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        January 2, 2023 3:04pm
      - waikatosinger
        
        Planned obsolescence. What the Europeans are best at.
        
        Difficult and extremely expensive to get parts for. Difficult if not impossible to repair. Designed to stop working and fall apart reliably after 10 years. Loses value like nobody’s business. Anyone want to buy a European car?
        
        3 2
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        January 2, 2023 6:28pm
  - Taieri
    
    15W-40
    
    That’s all you need to know as it covers the full range of petrol engined cars.
    
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    January 2, 2023 3:59pm
- Inandout
  
  Swifty, I presume a warning light came on or she wouldn’t have asked for assistance. Or perhaps she is used to testing stations checking the oil. Either way the staff may have encountered raids and didn’t want to be shot.
  
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  January 2, 2023 11:31am
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    If the oil light came on the motor should be turned off. It is a ‘warning’ light, it comes on for a reason. Asking a kid at the servo is a waste of time. Find a mechanic.
    
    10 2
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    January 2, 2023 11:58am
- Benedict Yu
  
  That does not entirely surprise me. Looking at the folk employed in most petrol stations, many of them would know no more about checking oil than this elderly woman. I think she would have got the same response in most service stations in New Zealand. That is because service stations today are coffee and pie shops. The petrol is just to get folk in to buy the coffee and pies and overpriced soft drinks.
  
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  January 2, 2023 11:33am
- kevn
  
  @Swifty… So, did you help her?
  
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  January 2, 2023 12:24pm
  - Swifty
    
    Yep, I was a pump jockey for years as a young fella.
    
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    January 2, 2023 1:13pm
    - Steve Otto(North Shore)
      
      So here is the question. Who taught you how to check the oil level, compared to who would teach someone today?
      
      8 1
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      January 2, 2023 1:43pm
      - Swifty
        
        The pump jockey training back in my day was absolutely informal. I don’t recall that there was any ‘formal’ training whatsoever, you just picked things up as you went along – whether that be engine and transmission oils, radiator problems, wiper blade replacement, lamp/bulb changes, tyre pressures etc etc.
        
        I do recall getting talked through the operation of the tyre machine and wheel balancing unit and watched as I did my first few puncture repairs and/or new tyres fitted to rims but as for forecourt work I don’t remember any.
        
        I would say that back them all young blokes (not many blokesses were pumpies back then) had and worked on their own cars and/or bikes and so this sort of basic stuff was second nature.
        
        Clearly times have changed. Remember this was back in the day of oil bowsers on the forecourt that you pulled oil from into a spouted can like pulling a beer.
        
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        January 2, 2023 2:22pm
      - Steve Otto(North Shore)
        
        Yes swifty. Work on your own piece of shit car in the weekends just so you could get to work for 5 days. Basic stuff was second nature yes.
        Transmission oil – check with engine running and shifter in park.
        See my comment below about what my Mum did.
        Good job helping that person. Others there did not do it because they had no clue I guess.
        
        7 1
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        January 2, 2023 3:14pm
- artemisia
  
  Regardless of age, some people should not be driving if they need help with the basics. Time for Driving Miss Daisy.
  
  7 7
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  January 2, 2023 1:03pm
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    Basics like where to put the water?
    My Mum put it in the oil hole. Filled up the whole motor until she realised it don’t go there. Just had a mind blank thing, she did know what was the radiator.
    The whole motor! Fuck! I drained it and left the drain plug out overnight. Put the correct amount of oil in it and it ran like a beauty. Water just gave it a wash. Any residue water would soon evaporate with the heat.
    I have only seen that happen once.
    
    8 1
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    January 2, 2023 1:48pm
    - Taieri
      
      Water just gave it a wash.
      ————
      
      Too much moisture causes emulsification of oil. And that could be VERY expensive.
      
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      January 2, 2023 4:01pm
      - Steve Otto(North Shore)
        
        Left over water would be minimal. The oil did not go cream. All was fine.
        Anyway, oil and water is very slippery., could have been a good thing. Big ends and crank I mean.
        
        2 0
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        January 2, 2023 4:37pm
      - Taieri
        
        Anyway, oil and water is very slippery
        ———-
        
        It’s not about being slippery. It’s about oil losing its hydrodynamic properties. If it emulsifies it can no longer support crankshaft in the main bearings and con-rod big ends on the journals. That’s why it could be expensive.
        
        1 0
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        January 2, 2023 8:44pm
- Pineapple Lumps
  
  Was it hard to find where to put the oil in her Nissan Leaf?
  
  8 0
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  January 2, 2023 2:08pm
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    Old Morris 1100 – east west engine.
    
    5 0
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    January 2, 2023 3:15pm
mogg

To everybody of a certain age, Anita Pointer of the Pointer Sisters is dead, sad news indeed.
15 0
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January 2, 2023 10:31am
- General
  
  I’m 31. Automatic is one of my favorite songs
  
  5 0
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  January 2, 2023 3:19pm
  - greybeard
    
    31 ?
    You’re not a General, you are still a Private !
    
    7 0
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    January 2, 2023 4:33pm
    - Mike
      
      Bernard Freyberg was 28 when he became the youngest general in the British army.
      
      3 3
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      January 2, 2023 6:21pm
Steve Otto(North Shore)

Stop Co-Governance. Julian Batchelor.
https://www.stopcogovernance.kiwi/ Disclaimer.
https://www.stopcogovernance.kiwi/blog/where-is-the-clear-evidence-the-maori-want-to-take-over-control-of-new-zealand/
https://www.stopcogovernance.kiwi/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Hugh-Perrit-on-Maori-greed.pdf
12 3
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January 2, 2023 10:38am
- Steve Otto(North Shore)
  
  I would love to see a debate with Hugh Perrit, Willy Jackson, and Tuku Morgan.
  Pretty sure Hugh Perrit would run rings around them.
  
  11 2
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  January 2, 2023 10:40am
  - Loddenthinks
    
    Depends entirely on who moderates. John Campbell – no. Mike Hosking – yes.
    
    11 1
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    January 2, 2023 10:57am
    - Steve Otto(North Shore)
      
      Yes, the annoying Campbell would become a debater as well.
      
      9 2
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      January 2, 2023 11:22am
Ghost

I didn’t know they could get more stupid with cycle lanes, but I guess they can

A new Wellington cycleway has gobbled up half of a bus lane, resulting in a new and confusing “is ne” – but the Wellington City Council says the oddity’s days are numbered.

The road – one of the capital’s busiest arterial routes – recently had trial cycle lanes installed despite the protestations of multiple shop owners who successfully forced the council to conduct six weeks of consultation before installation.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/wellington/130891651/wellington-bike-lane-swallows-half-of-bus-lane-in-road-rejig
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January 2, 2023 11:24am
- Steve Otto(North Shore)
  
  Fucking cyclists. See how I used their pronoun as a verb?
  
  12 2
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  January 2, 2023 12:02pm
- rouppe
  
  Yes, Adelaide Rd.
  
  I went to donate plasma last week. That held be up because there is basically only one lane for traffic, and one lane for nobody else because it was empty
  
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  January 2, 2023 4:12pm
7kiwi11

Another good news story of kiwis punching above their weight. Supreme leader indeed.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/new-zealand-born-comancheros-gang-boss-duax-ngakuru-becomes-new-global-supreme-commander/AOQG43T3KRCGNE3YSDBZLPLOBU/
15 1
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January 2, 2023 11:49am
Rusty

I think the only service petrol station staff do outside of the shop is fill up LPG gas bottles for the barbie but I think you can now trade your empty for a full one if you don’t like waiting.
11 1
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January 2, 2023 11:58am
- Steve Otto(North Shore)
  
  $42 yesterday for a 9kg swap. The attendant was too lazy and gave me the key to the cabinet. I could have taken 3, but he pointed to the security cam screen. I knew I was on vid. This is what the World has come to. Non interested lazy bastards – but they know what is happening on TikTok.
  Very places on the Shore fill these days. Caltex Constellation is one that does.
  
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  January 2, 2023 3:21pm
Pineapple Lumps

Happy New Year fellow Kiwibloggers!

Did anyone get a good book for Christmas?

I’m reading “Lies My Government Told Me” by Robert Malone. As well as writing chapters of his own material he has also included essays from a number of well known contributors.

It’s got me thinking we could do something similar here in NZ – there would be enough material to make it a series.
13 1
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January 2, 2023 12:23pm
- Steve Otto(North Shore)
  
  Make a movie!
  
  7 1
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  January 2, 2023 1:50pm
- tknorriss
  
  Still waiting for mine to arrive. But I am getting Boldly Go by William Shatner. Should be a great read.
  
  And The End of the World is Just the Beginning by Peter Zeihan, the Geopolitical scientist who correctly predicted back in 2014 that Russia would have another crack at Ukraine in 2022.
  
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  January 2, 2023 3:05pm
Steve Otto(North Shore)

If Adolf Hitler, Mao Tse Tung and Elon Musk were walking down the street, and you gave an American leftie a gun with two bullets – he would put both in Elon Musk.
17 4
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January 2, 2023 12:32pm
- MCōs
  
  Sometimes you say the stupidest things.
  
  8 15
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  January 2, 2023 12:46pm
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    I repeated it MCos. I did not make that up, it came off my FB feed.
    
    11 6
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    January 2, 2023 1:51pm
- NZer In Exile
  
  Steve I think there are “traditional liberals” who hovered near what was previously known as the centre (they can be quite batty but also there are quite reasonable ones). Then there is the modern woketard (completely brainwashed and spring-loaded to fly off the handle if you disagree with their received narratives).
  
  Both are lefties.
  
  6 2
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  January 2, 2023 2:26pm
  - MCōs
    
    ACT describe themselves as traditional liberals.
    
    8 1
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    January 2, 2023 2:57pm
    - Steve Otto(North Shore)
      
      Could be a Seymour trick, keep eyes open.
      
      4 2
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      January 2, 2023 3:33pm
    - rouppe
      
      I thought they describe themselves as libertarians
      
      4 1
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      January 2, 2023 4:09pm
      - MCōs
        
        Almost the same, innit
        
        4 2
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        January 2, 2023 4:20pm
      - Mike
        
        The purist libertarians, like Lindsay Perigo and Jamie Whyte, left ACT long ago. Libertarians are as notorious as Communists and Christians for ideological schisms over the true faith.
        
        3 4
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        January 2, 2023 5:40pm
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    Lefties are born without a sense of humour, and it cannot be installed.
    There lies the problem. Sometimes I feel sorry for them, but I shouldn’t.
    
    11 2
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    January 2, 2023 3:32pm
Ghost

A few days ago

A leading Kiwi epidemiologist says rapid antigen testing (RAT) before people board planes from China would help protect passengers from coronavirus infections on flights.

But he doubts there is any point in reintroducing testing for Covid-19 at our borders.

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/kiwis-bigger-covid-19-risk-than-chinese-travellers-says-michael-baker/R4OIVRBR3RC2DLEA2Q5NPHTHU4/

Today

Epidemiologist Michael Baker says New Zealand should follow Australia and other countries in implementing a requirement for negative COVID-19 pre-departure tests for travellers from China.

https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/travel/2023/01/coronavirus-epidemiologist-calls-for-negative-covid-19-test-for-travellers-from-china-to-new-zealand.html
14 1
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January 2, 2023 2:45pm
- Inthe09
  
  I guess ‘the science’ changed in the last few days…
  
  13 2
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  January 2, 2023 3:11pm
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    Baker changes the ‘science’ to suit whatever he wants to be famous for.
    A Grade lying prick, straight out of the same mold Jaspinda came from.
    
    15 3
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    January 2, 2023 3:40pm
NZer In Exile

The American Spectator – Heroes and Zeroes of 2022

https://spectator.org/heroes-and-zeroes-of-2022/
5 2
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January 2, 2023 3:14pm
Alan Wilkinson

Just drove home from Auckland. Horrendous queues all the way from Whangarei heading south. Failure to build roadimg infrastructure that should have been in place 20 years ago. Third world infrastructure. Useless politicians and bureaucracies.
13 1
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January 2, 2023 4:22pm
- Steve Otto(North Shore)
  
  Still have to go through Warkworth with that two lane bridge at the south end?
  1953 that bridge was made, it is in the concrete molding on the south end.
  
  9 1
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  January 2, 2023 4:45pm
  - Alan Wilkinson
    
    Yes. Traffic lights at the Matakana Leigh turn off are the killer. The motorway bypass from Puhoi is finished but not open because they are haggling over the price. But the queues into Kaiwaka and Wellsford are just as bad. The queue into Kaiwaka started at Maungatoroto turn off and the one into Wellsford started near the Auckland District boundary.
    
    9 2
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    January 2, 2023 4:52pm
    - All_on_Red
      
      Its not quite finished
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5IxxdhG3BM&list=LL&index=7
      Getting there and they haven’t finished the Bridge in the Matakana Link Rd
      
      4 1
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      January 2, 2023 7:11pm
greybeard

https://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/royals/300777119/prince-andrew-accuser-virginia-giuffre-set-to-be-freed-from-gagging-clause
“gagging clause” is an unfortunate term given the subject matter.
7 1
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January 2, 2023 4:31pm
Surely Knott

Kate Hannah is not resting over the holidays on her crusade to rid us of mis-information.

Stuff reports that Hannah is concerns about “New Dawn Magazine” which is spreading conspiracies about the Chch gunman. She says they say the gunman didn’t do it (Clearly the Gunman did it. There’s extensive video footage from him. He didn’t hide it.)

Kate Hannah said “some of the commentary in New Dawn was borderline in legality”.

What’s borderline illegal? Has she reported it to the cops, or the censor? Are they looking into it? Or is she just using her position to publicly shame the bookseller instead and asking them to act as judge, jury and censor,.

She says “the article describes the content of livestreamed video as well as where it had been published which could encourage people to seek it out .” The article then goes onto say the magazine New Dawn is available at Whitcoulls Wellington, Johnsonville, and New Lynn!?!

Isnt’ Stuff and Kate Hannah doing exactly the same thing as they are accusing New Dawn of and advertising the location of offensive illegal content?
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January 2, 2023 5:08pm
- Mike
  
  Thete is still a small market in NZ for one or two magazines which I guess are mainly read by people to old or incapacitated to avail themselves of the much more widespread torrents of malinformation found on webshites ans social media.
  
  2 3
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  January 2, 2023 5:46pm
- Pineapple Lumps
  
  SK – it looks the same but is actually different. They are trying to swing cancel culture bullying into effect and expect by naming and shaming they will get Whitcoulls to stop selling and apologise. I suspect they will win too.
  
  11 2
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  January 2, 2023 5:55pm
- Chris Nisbet
  
  What is bordeline illegal, you ask? I’m no expert, but I’m picking it means ‘legal’, especially if you can find it in bookshops.
  
  8 1
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  January 2, 2023 5:58pm
  - Mike
    
    Bookshops cannot sell any publication that has been classified as objectionable by the censor.
    IIRC a secondhand bookshop proprietor got in a little trouble a few years ago when some busybody complained about the shop selling a book classified many yeats ago.
    
    5 2
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    January 2, 2023 6:08pm
Steve Otto(North Shore)

This came to me by email. NZ is on the wrong path.
It is long.
https://restofworld.org/2022/indonesia-china-ev-nickel/?utm-source=sharing
6 2
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January 2, 2023 5:15pm
- Chris Nisbet
  
  Shameful stuff really. Governments are queering the pitch, imposing tariffs on FF vehicles and using taxpayers’ money to subsidise these ungreen EVs.
  They don’t care where the contents of the batteries come from, and we’ve heard very little about what happens to them once they’re buggered. I suspect the worst.
  According to the article, global CO2 emissions might be reduced by ~5% if 50% of cars went electric. Whoop-dee-doo.
  It’s quite impressive how blind politicians can be when they set their minds to it.
  
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  January 2, 2023 5:54pm
  - Mike
    
    That’s fascinating. How much more than a 5% reduction from vehicle emissions do you think would be satisfactory to contribute to the overall targets agreed by the COP?
    
    2 5
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    January 2, 2023 6:12pm
    - Chris Nisbet
      
      Do you mean temperature targets? Well, the USA climate envoy, John Kerry, who is fully on board with the idiotic/suicidal idea that we need to rid the world of CO2 emissions, has told us that if the USA went net zero it would make no difference to the average global temperature.
      Bjorn Lomborg thinks we’d be better off simply adapting to any -ve effects that a bit of gentle warming might eventually cause us.
      I tend to agree with those claims.
      I suspect that reducing CO2 emissions by the full 100% would have no significant impact on the climate, the trillions we’ve spent to date have mainly had -ve effects on our lives (none on the climate), and that the benefits we’ve had from FF have been the best thing that have happened to humanity ever (any impact on the climate they might have caused has mostly been to the good). The pricks trying to force net zero on us are not our friends.
      
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      January 2, 2023 7:52pm
      - Alan Wilkinson
        
        Net Zero, Road to Zero, Predator Free NZ are all aspirational twaddle with no connection to reality. It’s what the Left do best.
        
        2 3
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        January 2, 2023 9:21pm
      - Ra Henare
        
        https://naturalresources.house.gov/news/videos/watch/john-christy-climate-change-denial-testimony-highlights-may-13
        
        Covers US stopping all emissions in 2015.
        Very interesting, from this guy who has all the creds. Including being an IPCC lead author.
        
        0 0
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        January 3, 2023 3:13pm
greybeard

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/130894332/the-man-who-tried-but-could-not-be-palmerston-north-mayor-has-died
“Barber has been a recidivist challenger for local body elections since 2013….”
Recidivist ?
Does the writer know what “recidivist” means ? Obviously not !
Here we go: “a convicted criminal who reoffends, especially repeatedly.”
Stuff does it again, publishing crap written by children which nobody checks before printing.
Pathetic.
16 3
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January 2, 2023 6:02pm
- Maggy Wassilieff
  
  The article goes on to state:
  
  In 2014, he was convicted of assaulting a child, the fourth such charge on which he had been found guilty.
  
  10 0
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  January 2, 2023 6:54pm
- Alan Wilkinson
  
  If Stuff ever publishes anything that isn’t illiterate incompetent ideological garbage you can be sure it wasn’t written by one of their journalists.
  
  8 3
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  January 2, 2023 6:59pm
Ghost

Fits for labour as well

Excerpts For The Democrat-To-English Dictionary: Updated For 2023

https://www.zerohedge.com/political/excerpts-democrat-english-dictionary-updated-2023
2 2
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January 2, 2023 7:31pm
Colville

Wow.
NZ just gone a session scoring 4 a over and not lost a wicket!
Imagine that half way thru test one!
0 0
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January 2, 2023 8:51pm

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