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August 21, 2023 8:00am by Kokila Patel

General Debate 21 August 2023

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General Debate

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mister nui

Open letter to David Seymour and those considering voting for ACT.

I have been an ACT voter for a very long time, since long before it was fashionable – first because of Johnny Ormond and later Deborah Coddington, both long-standing family friends, and from good Wallingford/Wanstead farming families. So I’m no Johnny-come-lately to the party. I think the only time I didn’t vote ACT is in 2005 when Brash led the National Party.

This year, I am almost certainly not going to vote for ACT though.

I despise Winston Peters with every ounce of my being, and Shane Jones even more so – I despise them so much, that we put on a party for politically minded friends last election night to celebrate the demise of NZ First and Winston.

This year, I am likely to give my vote to NZ First though. It was going to be Matt King/DNZ, and it still may be, but I don’t see a real chance of him making Parliament, so the only way I can see my vote making a difference is by giving it to NZ First.

Why?

Because they’re the only ones with a realistic chance of making parliament who are acknowledging that we need a full inquiry into Covid and the response, and acknowledging some of what I set out below.

What is now clear:
– Excess deaths are into orbit
– Vaccine injuries are not being acknowledged. Many of them are being brushed off as long covid, but most of them are long vaccine
– The vaccine was never tested properly, and this was in the documentation provided by Pfizer at the time of signing the contract
– The vaccine efficacy was known to be largely useless, yet was pushed and pushed by our government and media enablers. The data was right there in front of our eyes that the vaccine was useless, as Cindy was so disorganised that her government didn’t order it for a full year after Israel started using it. By the time the vaccine started arriving into New Zealand, Israel were approaching their third shot of the juice, and their data patently showed it was useless
– Ivermectin worked, and it was clear to see at the time that it was working, but its use was ridiculed by our government and media – there has to be a reason for this (I am pretty sure of what this reason is)
– Lockdowns caused far more damage to people and society than any perceived good they did; the damage to personal health, mental health, financial well-being and the economy, social cohesion, the education system and our future generations
– Restrictions on kiwis to enter their own country were such an infringement on our rights that this must be investigated, such that it can never happen again
– The mandates did not save one single life, but cost so many, as well as the damage they have caused and continue to cause. The use of mandates needs to be investigated, and any illegal use needs to be prosecuted

Other points for investigation:
– The media and their blind faith in the vaccine and the government narrative was because of the advertising money. The flow and amount of money spent and what conditions came with it needs to be investigated
– Where did the money go? Who got rich at the taxpayers’ expense? I’m looking at you John Tamihere for starters!
– Anybody who knowingly misled the people and/or who knowingly misled the government needs to be prosecuted (To see Bloomfield and Cindy in jail I know is unfortunately highly unlikely, but at least if an enquiry shone light on their actions that the public could understand that these two are far from the canonised saints that they have been anointed)
– Why is the contract between the government and Pfizer not available for all of us to see. The people paid for this juice, we want the contract between the people and Pfizer to be visible

I know that David Seymour is extremely unlikely to acknowledge the need for any of this, or to push for it to go ahead, but in my opinion, it has to, for the very sake of our country and future generations. And because David will not acknowledge this, is why my vote is likely to go to NZ First. There are many others in the same position as me.

Ridicule me all you like about voting for Winston First. I know the prick can’t lie straight in bed, can’t be trusted, and will quite possibly let me down by not making this a bottom line in any negotiations. Yes, my vote may even result in Winston enabling a third term of labour, which the thought of is truly horrifying, but I feel so strongly about this, that I want to see NZ First in parliament to cause Seymour and the dripping wet Luxon angst.

I’m sure there are many things I have missed, but that should be a good list for starters, and at least get some assholes puckering.

Never forgive, never forget, and never again.
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August 21, 2023 8:02am
- Lance
  
  Thanks for voting Labour and Winstons chaos
  
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  August 21, 2023 8:56am
  - Jim
    
    Lance, I would have said exactly the same, but I just tuned in to Reality Check Radio (for the first time) to hear the political leaders interviews.
    
    Following which I was so disappointed by Seymour’s dismissal of much emerging and damning covid related evidence, and especially the unusually high excess death rates (non covid related) in NZ and across the western world.
    For context, that’s the equivalent to more than a full Boeing 747 crashing every week in Australia! Remember when one covid death was too many!
    
    On the contrary Peters certainly acknowledged all the above facts, and alluded to much more that is in the international public domain, but importantly called out the silence from the complicit NZ MSM.
    
    Most importantly, what ever your covid opinion and political persuasion, I would now strongly recommend everyone listens to Reality Check Radio for one reason…..just to hear the ‘old school hard ball questions’ posed direct to politicians and so called experts (who dare to front), that allow YOU to make up your own mind, rather than be spoon fed one narrative by “the most transparent government ever” and their shameless shill MSM.
    
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    August 21, 2023 9:39am
    - Mark Hanley
      
      Mister, Not unlike gst free vegetables to solve the cost of living crisis, your identification of the problem is spot on but your solution, not so great.
      
      So what can be done?
      
      Put Pressure on political parties post election to investigate Jacindas covid fraud.
      
      Advocate for an Investigation into the purchase of the known deadly early pfizer doses and the injecting of those batches into the arms of unsuspecting Kiwis (which may include you dear reader)
      
      Investigation into why the medsafe report stating the Pfizer vaccine was neither safe nor effective was ignored by Jacinda amd Ashley, and more surprisingly was not communicated to us by our doctors so we could give INFORMED consent.
      
      Investigation into why Jacinda amd Ashley ignored the productivity commission report stating (soon after the first lockdown) that lockdowns killed more people than they saved.
      
      Investigation into the discarding of NZs pre-prepared pandemic plan which (Sweden) proved to be the correct response.
      
      A fonsesic audit of all government spending over the last 6 years and criminal investigations where fraud is detected.
      
      Demand a beefed up mp conflicts of interest regime, and for a system of compulsary citizens’ referenda to make future labour hierarchy self enrichment frauds much more difficult.
      
      How can you help the most?
      
      Communicate the facts to everyone you know and meet.
      
      You are the only true Anti disinformation commissioner.
      
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      August 21, 2023 11:42am
      - cmm
        
        “Put Pressure on political parties post election to investigate Jacindas covid fraud.”
        
        They won’t because they were all balls deep in it.
        
        It wasn’t Jacinda’s fraud. It was the whole lot of them. Including Winston.
        
        The only real difference is that like so often, Winston is airbrushing history to try make gains from it.
        
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        August 21, 2023 12:37pm
      - Mark Hanley
        
        Cmm. I’m assuming national (under judith collins) didn’t get access to the medsafe report nor the alarming early Pfizer batch adverse reaction report.
        
        But as one of my employees once explained to me….
        
        assumption is the mother of all f##kups.
        
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        August 21, 2023 1:49pm
      - ClanMcleod
        
        Mark Hanley – the biggest problem is, we have very little idea where National stand on this. What we do have is not encouraging.
        
        Luxon is on record saying he doesn’t need votes from people wanting an investigation into all covid policies.
        National are refusing to even acknowledge the fact that covid happened or that people were negatively affected. Clearly they’ve decided it’s too hot a topic. All good, except it means we have nothing of note to show that they are opposed to the policies used or that they wouldn’t use them again.
        We have cleared knowledge re Seymour, he is on record during his interview on Reality Check Radio stating that he believes the vaccines work and he supports them, and he believes mandates work and he supports them.
        
        This failure to even speak about the biggest and most disastrous event in NZ in a very long time, makes it difficult to understand National’s position. This in turn makes it difficult to commit to voting for them.
        My impression is, they still believe that everything done at the time was acceptable and they’ve said nothing to indicate a repeat is off the table.
        
        Maybe I’ve missed something, but I can’t see how waiting till after the election to test their mettle re and ask for the great things you mention is a viable strategy.
        They fully endorsed all of the negative policies at the time, only criticising Labour for not being ‘effective’ enough in how they implemented their tyranny.
        
        A few weeks to go. I’m open to being convinced that they will address these concerns.
        
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        August 21, 2023 3:54pm
- Steve Otto(North Shore)
  
  Never forgive, never forget, never again.
  Never again? Winston does not deserve anyone’s vote after the way he treated us.
  We have to vote Labour out.
  
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  August 21, 2023 8:59am
  - 2ic
    
    What on earth do you mean by “Winston does not deserve anyone’s vote after the way he treated us.”? Unless you mean you voted for him in 2017 on the assumption he would go with National, which he never said he would prior to the election.
    
    And NZ First didn’t even make it back into parliament in 2020. It’s National and Act that have been there the last 3 years that we have been let down by.
    
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    August 21, 2023 12:20pm
    - septic skeptic
      
      The first 3 years under Peters and Cindy were no better.
      
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      August 21, 2023 12:41pm
    - Steve Otto(North Shore)
      
      I did vote for him once many many years ago. 1993 I think.
      I still don’t know why. Must have been my Dad rabbiting on about proportional representation.
      I also voted for MMP without knowing how it would turn out. In reality is was not explained to the public. Shitloads of Pros, but no Cons.
      
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      August 21, 2023 3:42pm
- RoboRob
  
  lol
  
  If Winston gets it you will get either
  
  1) No investigation into Covid
  2) A claytons investigation into Covid. (So a big waste of money to show that the govt care).
  
  My money would be on #1
  
  I have said this over and over again. Winston probably doesn’t give a toss about Covid or the protestors. He cares about getting >4.99999% votes, and will pick niche groups to tap for those votes. In the past it has been racist people who hate Asians and people who wanted the maori seats removed. Covid is just the latest iteration of his vote grab. As history has shown, once in power Winston does nothing about those things.
  
  If you want to throw a vote to the man that hates the National party and ACT and who there is ~50% chance of bringing labour back in, go for it.
  
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  August 21, 2023 9:00am
  - ClanMcleod
    
    Well we aren’t going to get anything from Act or National anyway, they won’t even say the ‘C’ word in public. An unbelievable position to take. You don’t get to wish away abuses the last 3 and a half years.
    
    Seymour still supports vaccines and still supports mandates. Though he cowardly pushes the onus for mandates onto private businesses. A bob each way. Why would anyone vote for someone who supports this?
    
    How the hell can he support businesses having the ability to segregate and exclude someone from participation in society based on their medical choice?
    If this is acceptable then what about any other transmissible disease? Surely all are fair game?
    
    You’ve got flu? Can’t come in. AIDS? Can’t come in. TB? Can’t come in. Hepatitis? Can’t come in. Herpes? Can’t come in.
    Can people not see the utter stupidity of where accepting policies like this will lead?
    
    But the ultimate hypocrisy in Seymour’s position is, he believes the vaccines work. If he genuinely believes that, then surely anyone who shares that position has nothing to fear from an unvaxxed person? Why even consider telling someone to get jabbed or test or be refused service? Your jab protects you doesn’t it?
    
    Stop attacking people for not supporting ‘your team’. ‘Your team’ doesn’t support them, won’t even acknowledge their existence, let alone the abuses they have been subjected to.
    
    Maybe you should tell ‘your team’ to do the right and honourable thing and admit that many NZ citizens were punished for simply standing up for their rights?
    
    In fact, thank these people for being the ones who repeatedly pointed out the dangers of the policies that were implemented and supported by all politicians in parliament.
    It was the people you are harassing who are the reason we now know that we were subjected to a sham narrative psyop that has ripped the country apart.
    
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    August 21, 2023 9:32am
    - Steve Otto(North Shore)
      
      I can see why you are not liking Seymour, but Covid is a single issue. He has other attributes.
      I am sure Seymour will one day say that he he got it wrong. There is nothing wrong with owning your own fuckup. He may even do it before the Election – I hope he does. National Candidate and Party vote Act for me.
      
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      August 21, 2023 10:02am
      - bennerg
        
        “but Covid is a single issue”
        
        But in reality is just the tip of the rock …. a bloody big one.
        
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        August 21, 2023 10:12am
      - Ghost
        
        It’s not really a single issue, the past few years have reached every part of our country. The lockdowns have created a mess in health, education, justice. The mandates stripped health of desperatly needed staff and the lockdowns and lack of staff have meant people not getting timely treatment and diagnosis. Not to forget the generations of financial damage. The striping of peoples rights. And this will happen again
        
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        August 21, 2023 10:40am
      - Steve Otto(North Shore)
        
        bennerg,
        That tip of the rock and Nuremberg 2.0 can be dealt with after the Election. Covid lies and blackmailing NZ can be dealt with later. Ardern, we are not finished with you yet. You can run but you can’t hide. Did you take a healthy bribe for telling NZ “safe and effective?”
        Priorities. Let’s bury Labour for a few Elections first.
        
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        August 21, 2023 10:45am
      - I remember when
        
        Do we really know whether National or ACT will call for a covid enquiry if they get into power.
        At the moment there are voters who absolutely believe in the covid vaccination.
        How much of their belief is sustained by the Labour backed Disinformation and Misinformation campaign.
        If arguing about covid actions taken will reduce your vote by, let’s say, 5% what party can afford the luxury?
        
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        August 21, 2023 11:21am
      - ClanMcleod
        
        Steve – if he does he’ll get my vote. It’s begging for an honest and honourable place to go. Promise.
        
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        August 21, 2023 12:49pm
    - RoboRob
      
      Im not attacking people for not supporting my team. I am trying to point out the ridiculousness of supporting NZF.
      
      Yes Nat and Act have issues around Covid. Labour and the Greens have even bigger issues. Voting for Winston might be a vote for labour and the Greens. How this that any better in relation to Covid?
      
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      August 21, 2023 10:44am
    - septic skeptic
      
      I would say that turning this election into a referendum on the covid response would be the most likely path to getting Labour back.
      
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      August 21, 2023 12:46pm
      - Mark Hanley
        
        SAD (there are so many idiots in NZ) but…. TRUE.
        
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        August 21, 2023 2:24pm
  - Tony Stuart
    
    There’s only one thing Winston Peters cares about, and that’s doing what’s best for Winston Peters. The disingenuous old bastard has fooled the suckers more than once; don’t let him fool them again with his vainglorious rhetoric and selective memory loss.
    
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    August 21, 2023 10:09am
    - Colville
      
      Anyone who thinks Winson is going to assist any investigation into Covid lockdowns etc really has rocks in their heads.
      He was deputy PM while it was all set up, whats he going to do? blame himself?
      
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      August 21, 2023 10:54am
      - BeaB
        
        Well said. Those still being sucked in by Winston seem to forget he created and was a key part of the Ardern government. He cannot claim to have been a ‘handbrake’ on them and then absolve himself of any involvement in the Covid strategy.
        I am incredulous there is still anyone who believes a word this old huckster utters.
        
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        August 21, 2023 11:05am
  - mogg
    
    Winston will negotiate with Luxon, make unreasonable demands, Luxon will say no. Then he will say I had no choice but to go with NZ Labour Party.
    
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    August 21, 2023 10:53am
    - Colville
      
      and the dim ones who voted for him….”shit I never saw that coming!”
      
      definition of insanity…doing the same thing over again and expecting a different outcome.
      
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      August 21, 2023 4:17pm
  - imalwaysright
    
    If your reason for dismissing Winston Peters is that you consider him to be dishonest, then you therefore infer that all other candidates you would vote for are honest.
    
    At least Winston is recognising that there are many people who are victims of the present regime.
    
    If a politician won’t take that first step then you can be certain that they won’t take the next.
    
    Better a slim chance than no chance at all.
    
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    August 21, 2023 11:23am
    - RoboRob
      
      There are levels of honesty. Winston is the leader in the dishonest charts, beating even Chippie, Robertson and JA.
      
      If one looks at history you can be certain that Winston aint doing anything on Covid either. Just like Maori seats or Asians. He always has the ‘i’m only a minor party and can only do so much. If you wanted more I needed more votes’ excuse.
      
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      August 21, 2023 11:42am
    - Hollyfield
      
      Winston Peters has proven himself over and over to be the most dishonest of them all.
      
      The slim – very slim – chance that Peters may do what he says for the first time in his life is not worth the greater risk of another 3 years of Labour, with Greens and Te Paati Maori.
      
      Looking at his history, I think the more Winston Peters says he will do something, the less likely it is.
      
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      August 21, 2023 11:44am
    - rockape
      
      If Winston had got 5% in 2020 who do you think he would have gone with. My bet he would have stayed in the well supplied trough he had his snout in.
      
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      August 21, 2023 12:20pm
      - RoboRob
        
        If I recall correctly he was campaigning on going with Labour.
        
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        August 21, 2023 1:20pm
    - MikeMan
      
      Ask the Pike River families how they feel about his honesty?
      
      What was the line in 2016-2018 again?
      
      “First into the mine”
      
      https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2018/06/winston-peters-doubles-down-on-promise-to-be-first-into-pike-river-mine.html
      
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      August 21, 2023 8:50pm
  - Its only I
    
    Winston was going to be first into a certain mine when feeding off grief with Angry Little…how did that work out?
    
    I think the damage from the covid farce will come out despite gov not because of the fake promises from those wanting to be it.
    
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    August 21, 2023 4:13pm
- Captain Mainwaring
  
  Another single issue voter. What a fool. He would inflict the abominable Peters (and potentially Labour) on us because of this one issue.
  
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  August 21, 2023 9:07am
  - Ghost
    
    People have the right to vote for who they feel best represents them, attacking them for it won’t change that. Winston’s oxygen can easily be deflated by National or Act listening to their voters who have switched to Winston. But they won’t and people prefer to attack than understand why they have lost their vote
    
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    August 21, 2023 9:10am
    - RoboRob
      
      You are right, personal attacks acheive nothing. However I disagree that Nat or Act can change their stance on Covid to grab those votes back. I think its too late at this point (and would probably hurt more than help) and the Covid voters are pretty locked in on Winston now.
      
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      August 21, 2023 9:24am
      - Ghost
        
        From the people I’ve talked to they need to just say look the last few years a lot was done that needs to be looked into, including where the money went to, why we were getting the advice we were and promise to investigate that and Winston will be gone
        
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        August 21, 2023 9:27am
      - ClanMcleod
        
        RoboRob – you’re making a lot of assumptions there, I disagree with them but don’t have proof to support this. But surely the key point is, simply acknowledging the harms done is the right thing to do?
        
        I can guarantee you 100%, the majority of voters who lifted Peters to 5.5% (or wherever he is) are NOT locked on to him. They are only there due to desperation. Looking for someone to acknowledge them.
        
        They know his track record. They will flip in an instant if National and/or Act came out with a well crafted statement to address their concerns.
        
        For most it’s a reminder of the Wellington protest when NOBODY would acknowledge them. 30% of the country supported them. They were visible then, they aren’t visible now, but they are still out there.
        Like it or not, for those most negatively affected by the madness, this is THE issue this election. They aren’t going to be turkeys voting for an early Xmas by supporting parties that want to pretend they don’t exist. Who fully supported the nightmare and who have never said a word to indicate they would do anything differently ‘next time’.
        
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        August 21, 2023 10:04am
      - rouppe
        
        @Clan
        
        But surely the key point is, simply acknowledging the harms done is the right thing to do?
        
        Let’s imagine Luxon and National did that.
        
        What is it you think would happen after that? You think everyone will go “oh, yeah, you know what? He’s right…”?
        
        What would actually happen is three months of:
        * Luxon would have killed 80,000 people
        * Luxon would have killed your grandmother
        * Luxon doesn’t believe in science. Does that mean he doesn’t believe in climate change too?
        
        It would be incessant. It would drown out everything else. It would be a massive own goal. They would Trump him so bad, he’d never recover.
        
        It wouldn’t even matter if it was true. Spending three months plaintively wailing “but that’s not true” means airtime not advancing anything else
        
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        August 21, 2023 8:19pm
    - Libertarians are right
      
      It’s idiotic though. Labour literally won the last election easily with a Covid platform. Yes it was based on lies, fear and stupidity. I personally believe the only way they can win the election is if National and ACT let them relitigate it. The voters lost to Winston etc are nowhere near the numbers that would be lost to Labour if Labour successfully managed to make Covid a campaign issue again.
      
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      August 21, 2023 9:41am
      - septic skeptic
        
        Accidental downtick. I agree with you. Lots of voters look back fondly on the days of working from home in their PJs while binge watching Netflix.
        
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        August 21, 2023 12:52pm
  - Inandout
    
    CM, Winston went with Jacinda over one issue. Bill English.
    
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    August 21, 2023 9:40am
    - cmm
      
      I think a more likely scenarios is that:
      Cindy offered him baubles.
      Bill told him to piss off.
      
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      August 21, 2023 10:04am
    - ClanMcleod
      
      Inandout – I fully understand the loathing of Peters.
      I’m simply trying to point out there is a political vacuum that I believe could be easily taken away from him.
      Others believe this will cost National votes. I believe it will increase their vote.
      
      My reasoning is this:
      
      30% of the adult population supported the actions of the protesters in Wellington.
      
      I believe as per the representation in Wellington, the majority of these would be left/liberal leaning. Traditonal Green/Labour/Maori voters.
      I was there, this was the make up of most that I encountered.
      
      If KB is a reflection of the change in understanding regarding the harms and failure of policies during the insane covid period, then a large percentage of people now realise they were lied to and potentially harmed by those policies. They certainly know that far more harm than benefit has accrued during this period.
      
      I cannot see how a simple acknowledgement of what has happened, and some assurance that it won’t happen again, could possibly cause a drop in support? If it did then I would seriously be looking to leave the place. I don’t want to live in a country were people are happy to accept this tyranny.
      
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      August 21, 2023 10:19am
  - ClanMcleod
    
    And your intransigent and completely uncaring response shows why more and more might throw their support behind Peters.
    
    3 years of abuse and vilification, just when we get to a point of ‘moving on’, the abuse starts again because some people unreasonably want an acknowledgment of this horrific period in NZ history?
    
    At this point, those who would vote for Peters are doing so because the biggest issue to negatively affect them in their lives, is being ignored by every other party.
    They are told in no uncertain terms to swallow a dead rat and vote for people who fully supported their segregation and the destruction of many of their lives, businesses and relationships.
    
    Do you really think that people who had physical and mental strength to refuse to rollover and comply during the biggest psyop and propaganda campaign in NZ history, are going to rollover and vote for people who refuse to acknowledge anything even happened?
    
    You obviously haven’t thought this through, nor have the policy advisors. It’s a pathetically easy fix. Tell me why National/Act can’t see this?
    
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    August 21, 2023 9:54am
    - sharont
      
      I am someone who didn’t take the vax. I’m all for a proper inquiry but we’re not going to get it from Winston, and this election is too tight for Labour/National or Act to go out on a limb. This is simply not the election to be pressing for this. We have far too many issues that are urgent, present, here and now. As others have stated here, I am sure that this will come out when there is more pressure for an inquiry that will come from overseas rather than NZ. Get rid of Labour and then work on this issue.
      
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      August 21, 2023 7:05pm
  - JimBobJoe
    
    Cap’n – Not a fool. Just genuinely aggregived with Parties like NAtional and ACT that say they believe in individual freedom and smaller government not walking the talk.
    
    I think Mister Nui, Jim and Clan have points about the whole COVID debacle. But I dont think throwing away the choice of getting rid of Lab/Green/TMP monstrosity at this election is a correct choice.
    
    But calling people fools doesn’t add to the debate. Its just antagonistic and reflective of Nationals born to rule, steady as she goes better management of NZ’s ongoing decline in to a Left wing shit hole.
    
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    August 21, 2023 10:00am
  - David Garrett
    
    Captain: Brutal but quite correct. Peters is entirely without principle – well not quite; his only principle is “what’s in this for ME [him]?”
    
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    August 21, 2023 10:58am
    - Ghost
      
      We have many politicians like that. One now retired made sure the press were leaked that she was going to take her daughter to surprise the NZ woman’s soccer team while training. Always thinking how she can increase her profile and what she can get from it.
      
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      August 21, 2023 11:03am
      - imalwaysright
        
        Haven’t seen the fishermans friend lately. Still a couple ?
        
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        August 21, 2023 11:37am
    - ClanMcleod
      
      So DG – do you consider Seymour principled?
      
      A man who continues to deny excess all cause mortality?
      
      Who still states publicly that vaccines work, even though all available evidence shows they don’t?
      
      Who still publicly advocates for vax or test mandates for something that doesn’t actually prevent transmission or infection?
      
      Tell me what part of that position is principled?
      Nowhere in any world I inhabit.
      
      It’s blatant refusal to admit the truth and pure politics, following whatever he thinks will get him into power. He’s absolutely no different to Peters. He’s a liar and a fraud. Just like Peters. It’s all about him. Just like Peters.
      He’s saying what HE thinks people want to hear. Just like Peters.
      
      The only difference is, Peters is saying something that appeals to me. Seymour isn’t.
      
      Tell me which part of that assessment is wrong and why and I’ll vote for Seymour.
      
      Otherwise stop with the faux indignation.
      
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      August 21, 2023 1:00pm
      - miltonF
        
        Exactly. People saying Winston is dishonest must be looking at the situation in a political vacuum.
        
        Seymour and Luxon are literally claiming the vaccine is “safe and effective”. Now who are the dishonest ones?
        
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        August 21, 2023 3:45pm
      - JackT99
        
        Bravo, 100%.
        
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        August 21, 2023 5:02pm
  - Jethrod
    
    You are right about single issues.
    This is not a single issue election…… 3 or 4 things initially jump to attention…… like Health, Crime, Economy and co-governance. You know, the things Labour has been relentless about stuffing up.
    The single issue mentioned above may have contributed to New Zealand ‘s present situation but doesn’t deserve deep diving into.
    
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    August 21, 2023 11:14am
    - ClanMcleod
      
      Most of the issues you refer to are a result of covid policies, or were made very much worse by them.
      
      None of the main parties have said they won’t do it again.
      
      6 2
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      August 21, 2023 1:02pm
      - sharont
        
        Well, if Labour get back in there will be a mass exodus from New Zealand, so very little chance of getting the inquiry you want because there simply won’t be any support left. You’ll probably even make the decision to leave yourself.
        
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        August 21, 2023 7:08pm
  - I remember when
    
    The NZ First Party, lead by someone with Winston’s ability but not his failings, could by now be the middle of the road party people seem to want.
    
    A major party that may even have replaced or be starting to replace one of the major parties.
    
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    August 21, 2023 11:28am
    - sharont
      
      I voted for them for five elections thinking just that. Found out I was wrong. He was indeed Winston first as others had said. I won’t waste my vote on him again.
      
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      August 21, 2023 7:09pm
- wsk12345
  
  I hear you. I’m not quite there but getting close.
  I haven’t looked at the W1 list yet but assuming Casey Costello has a chance of getting in, I may go the same way as you. If it’s just WP and Shane Jones and some other useless losers in the first few positions then I’ll pass, thanks.
  
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  August 21, 2023 9:07am
  - RoboRob
    
    It doesn’t matter how many ‘good’ people are in NZF. The party does Winstons bidding, all MPs know their positions are beholden to him.
    
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    August 21, 2023 9:26am
    - David Garrett
      
      Robo: Quite so…an NZF MP who doesn’t go along with everything the Great Charlatan says doesn’t remain an MP for long, no matter how able they are.
      
      The one exception to that is the repeal of the 3S legislation; Peters agreed to vote for repeal because 3S was an ACT initiative and he hates ACT – but at the last minute his caucus grew a spine, and told him he would get rolled if he tried to vote for repeal.
      
      That is why Little suddenly looked ridiculous: he had consulted Peters and got a guarantee of NZF report for repeal – and then the NZF caucus spoke up. And good on them.
      
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      August 21, 2023 11:02am
      - imalwaysright
        
        DG, your first sentence could equally apply to Labour and National .
        
        This is a problem for our democracy as our local MPs no longer represent the voter, rather they obey the instructions of the whip.
        
        If every vote in Parliament was by MPs reflecting the wishes of their electorate rather than the party line then we would have less legislation and maybe fairer legislation.
        
        Party affiliation should indicate adherence to core principles that should be ratified or amended before campaigns begin.
        After election each MP should vote as their electorate dictates.
        
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        August 21, 2023 11:52am
      - Cassandra
        
        To imalwaysright: that’s a recipe for anarchy. MPs should only disagree with their party on conscience issues or something really major eg Simon O’Connor on abortion.
        
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        August 21, 2023 12:19pm
- Ruawai
  
  So Winston does one walk through the parliament protest and gets 5% of the vote. Do not believe this charlatan, he will say and do anything for power.
  
  Voting is more than a single issue, it is more important to get the economy, health, education and crime under control than to look backwards. Although I support an inquiry into Covid this is not the only reason for voting.
  
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  August 21, 2023 9:09am
  - wsk12345
    
    The problem is that none of those things matter if we have no personal rights. If we can be locked down at govt whim, injected with the latest wonder drug, told what we can spend our money on based on carbon impact. Nothing matters if ruled by authoritarians, and the only way away from that is to admit it happened and understand why and make changes so that future governments cannot walk all over us again.
    
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    August 21, 2023 9:35am
    - Libertarians are right
      
      You know Winston was heavily involved in all of that right? He’s saying words.
      His actions have never lined up with his words.
      
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      August 21, 2023 10:14am
- kowtow
  
  All Peters is doing ,is what he’s always done .
  Found an angry crowd ( and yes we have good reason to be angry) and agreed with them.
  
  But judging by his past record , don’t expect him to do anything once back , he never has .
  
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  August 21, 2023 9:09am
- Matt Long
  
  Of the parties that Family First given their green tick to, only NZ First has a realistic chance of entering parliament.
  It’s an awesome choice, someone totally untrustworthy saying all the right things to get elected again, or totally untrustworthy people promoting a spectrum of bad policies.
  https://www.valueyourvote.org.nz/
  
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  August 21, 2023 9:09am
  - Chuck Bird
    
    I am an Act member and voter. However, I believe that David has contributed to the situation regarding Family First by getting Brook to go for Simon O’Conner’s seat because of Simon’s religion.
    
    I am not a fanatic anti-abortion type. However, I believe if is wrong to murder a baby that survives a botched abortion.
    
    If anyone wants to downtick me say why you support leaving a baby that is separated from its mother to die.
    
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    August 21, 2023 10:09am
    - Matt Long
      
      I agree, I wasn’t that happy with ACT’s position on abortion, but still supported their economic policy. When Seymour both targetted O’Connor’s seat and ridiculed him for being faithful to Christianity it just showed he really is the twerking idiot he always was.
      
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      August 21, 2023 12:46pm
- Luke Piewalker
  
  @ mister nui
  
  Whilst I 100% agree with what you said about covid – there is ZERO chance I’m giving my vote to Winston First.
  
  1. 2017. He did that.
  2. Winston right before elections looks for the pitchfork vote (remember bottom lines like getting rid of Māori seats) then does what’s best for Winston.
  
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  August 21, 2023 9:19am
  - Ehlana
    
    Wasn’t there an earlier election where Winston campaigned on not going into government with the National Party, then did anyway?
    
    9 1
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    August 21, 2023 10:00am
  - greybeard
    
    I think that people who are considering voting for NZ First should ask themselves this question:
    If Winston Peters was not a member of NZF would I still vote for that party?
    
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    August 21, 2023 11:06am
- Gravelroad
  
  Just don’t vote at all then.
  Had you thought of that as an option?
  
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  August 21, 2023 9:26am
- Prince
  
  As if the NZ First/Labour/Greens/TPM Govt would ever consider investigating the Covid response.
  Oh but of course, this time Peters will be different…..!
  
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  August 21, 2023 9:28am
- crackle
  
  Surely you dont really believe Winston will follow through on any of that?
  What was it he said?
  “No jab means no dole and no parole,”
  Low Māori vaccination rates were a “threat to the whole population”; “we must get fully vaccinated ASAP”; “vaccinate to the max”.
  
  Hes an opportunist looking to get to 5%
  
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  August 21, 2023 9:28am
  - ClanMcleod
    
    crackle – but ‘opportunist’ or not, he’s the only one who has changed position since the clear evidence has emerged that neither the vax nor any of the policies implemented achieved any benefit whatsoever.
    
    Nobody else has.
    
    All others are still locked in to the policies of Labour. Not one has said they would change a thing, so presumably they would support the same madness again.
    
    None of the legislation that permitted the abuses and segregation that happened has been removed and none of the others has ever stated they would remove them.
    
    They won’t speak about covid at all. So why would someone vote for any of these parties because when it comes to covid policies, apparently none of them have changed position? Except Peters?
    
    I find it hard to understand why people don’t understand this and have a word with the politicians that represent them.
    
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    August 21, 2023 10:39am
    - crackle
      
      Im not convinced he’s changed his position that much at all and given any promises in regards covid inquiries will be quickly forgotten as happens with so many of Winstons ‘promises’. Hes only talking about it because hes made the calculation it will help him get back into parliment.
      
      As far as my vote goes, its a case of least worse and for me thats going to be Act as I see that as the best hope of getting at least a few things changed. A vote for Winston or the Nats is a vote for the status quo perhaps a little glitter on the the turd Labour have served up but end of the day it’ll still be a turd.
      
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      August 21, 2023 11:47am
      - ClanMcleod
        
        crackle – I understand fully, but when the most concerning policy for me is being totally ignored by the people I would prefer to vote for, what am I to do?
        
        At this point I will probably not vote. National and Act have said nothing to indicate they won’t do the same shit again. Not a word.
        
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        August 21, 2023 1:09pm
    - sharont
      
      Of course he’s changed his position. He wants your vote. I’m still waiting for him to go into the Pike River Mine. I believed him once. I have to say I’ve learnt from my mistakes. He is a complete (but likeable) charlatan and I don’t believe he’ll get 5%. He lost the votes of people who had been loyal over many elections. He also did the dirty on Ron Mark and put Shane Jones (former Labour) into Ron’s position.
      
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      August 21, 2023 7:13pm
- Cassandra
  
  mister nui: you’re the type of voter who got us into this mess. The whole world (almost – 99%) drank the koolaid. Get over it and concentrate on bigger issues.Peter’s is a charlatan. Vote ACT.
  
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  August 21, 2023 9:33am
  - ClanMcleod
    
    ACT?
    
    Seymour is as big a charlatan. He still supports the vaccines, thinks they worked, and still supports medical apartheid. Only difference is, he pushes responsibility for enforcing the apartheid policy onto the individual.
    No difference at all.
    
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    August 21, 2023 10:46am
- 2ic
  
  @mister nui
  I’m in the same position as you, but it’s much more than just National and Act’s position on the Covid response now.
  
  On Friday I posted that NZ First were taking policy positions on a number of other issues that are very important to me that National and Act lack the courage and conviction to confront. From the NZ First website:
  
  “Under New Zealand First vaccine mandates will end”
  “New Zealand First will repeal the Therapeutic Products Act”
  “Stop indoctrination by removing gender ideology from the curriculum”
  “Ensure a full scale, wide ranging, independent, one year inquiry conducted publicly with local and international experts, into how the Covid pandemic was handled in New Zealand”
  “New Zealand First will ensure no men are in women’s spaces or sports”
  
  And just over the weekend we have two more added to their ‘2023 Commitments’ (https://www.nzfirst.nz/2023_commitments)
  
  “New Zealand First will formally withdraw New Zealand from UNDRIP, and its imposed race-based obligations, and restore our country’s constitutional sovereignty and democracy.”
  “New Zealand First will introduce in parliament’s first sitting week, legislation to make English an official language of New Zealand.”
  
  I don’t want to vote for Winston Peters (I never have before), but at the moment there’s nowhere else for my vote to go after National and Act have turned their backs on me. And I say this having voted Act last election, and National at least 2 decades prior.
  
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  August 21, 2023 9:34am
  - Lance
    
    Genuine question
    Do you think Winston will actually do any of this considering his long history of non-delivery?
    
    24 1
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    August 21, 2023 9:44am
    - 2ic
      
      I don’t know – but I know for 100% certain that National and Act won’t deliver on any of it.
      
      I would prefer voting for one of the other minor parties (was originally considering Democracy NZ before they imploded). But none of them have any show of getting into parliament so it would be a wasted vote. Unfortunately NZ First is my only option at the moment.
      
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      August 21, 2023 10:07am
      - sharont
        
        But one thing you can be certain of any vote for Winnie will help elect Labour and if Chippie offers Winnie Deputy Prime Minister again (which he surely will) do you think he will refuse it?
        
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        August 21, 2023 7:16pm
    - ClanMcleod
      
      Well what we do know is that National and Act will do nothing. What’s to lose? It can’t get any worse.
      
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      August 21, 2023 10:49am
      - Colville
        
        Clan.
        You dont think it can get worse?
        You want Chippy back but at the mercy of Greens and TPM?
        you dont think that will be worse??
        
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        August 21, 2023 11:00am
      - Lance
        
        Seriously… it couldn’t get any worse?
        The left coalition from hell would root NZ, probably for good.
        
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        August 21, 2023 11:21am
      - RoboRob
        
        Yeah cause Winstons definately going with National right?
        
        You seriously think the best thing for the country is to have Winston as king maker again? He hates Seymour, and whilst English and Joyce are gone from National I doubt he has any love for them. For Winston, a Labour Green government is the dream and one he choose not so many years ago. In such a government he can wine and dine (as minister of Foreign affaris and horse racing (FFS)). All the bad policy gets blamed on the Greens and Labour and he gest to have another crack at the next election.
        
        FFS he was aligned with labour at the last election and if it wasn’t for Covid would have been in with Labour again too. Even though he pretends that all the co governance stuff was hidden from him.
        
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        August 21, 2023 11:57am
      - sharont
        
        Are you kidding? As it is freehold property is under attack, you have to claim to be Maori to get health care, a simple trip to the dairy and you could end up a victim of a knife attack or ram raid, gangs will get paid more and more crims will be left to roam the streets. More farmers sent to the wall, more pine trees taking over arable land and more slash that the Greens won’t allow to be removed. I could go on but I’m sure most people realise just how bad it can get.
        
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        August 21, 2023 7:19pm
  - septic skeptic
    
    2ic if you believe Winston First will deliver then you maybe also believe Labour and their green partners are going to 4 lane Auckland to Whangarei?
    Sharpen up your bullshit detector.
    
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    August 21, 2023 1:08pm
  - Jim
    
    I hear you 2ic, and those NZ First policies resonate strongly to get NZ society back on track for ALL KIWIS regardless of ethnicity.
    
    1 2
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    August 21, 2023 5:13pm
    - sharont
      
      NZF will not get over 5%. Especially now that National and Act have a healthy lead in the polls. Labour voters could more likely vote National to try to dampen down Act’s influence on a National government.
      
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      August 21, 2023 7:23pm
- cmm
  
  This is a HUGE issue for some people and I know a few people who will be voting this way – especially those who have had businesses destroyed etc.
  
  Is it REALLY a single issue? Nope I don’t think so. What was rolled out with Covid does not go away with Covid. It is really a playbook that is being used again and again: covid, global warming,…
  
  The biggest problem I see though is placing your trust in Winston. The chance of him following through on what he says is pretty low.
  
  Winston might be the only one raising the problem. But he’s not going to provide a solution.
  
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  August 21, 2023 9:36am
  - Tony Stuart
    
    Never has a truer word been spoken on Peters than in your final paragraph…
    
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    August 21, 2023 10:26am
  - ClanMcleod
    
    cmm – apparently nor are National or Act. It’s a worry. It’s why there are apparently 12% ‘undecided’.
    
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    August 21, 2023 10:55am
- ClanMcleod
  
  mister nui – the ‘downticks’ are because some people can’t handle uncomfortable truth.
  
  Everything you wrote is accurate, nobody can counter any of your points. Hence the vitriol and hissy fits.
  This frustrates me, we’re apparently all intent on getting rid of a tyrannical and useless government, yet we’re expected to pretend nothing happened when it comes to the covid circus?
  
  It’s an easy fix that I won’t explain again. Anyone with two functioning brain cells knows exactly what fixes this.
  
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  August 21, 2023 9:41am
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    What fixes this is voting to get rid of this Ardern leftover Party.
    There is no other option, I will vote to be rid of Labour rather than vote for the person I would like to.
    I am 71. I have had enough of this leftist shit. I would like to enjoy my ‘golden years.’
    
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    August 21, 2023 11:05am
    - lemuzz
      
      Yes. Vote to get rid of Labour. I hate Winston but anyone who voted him in, 6 years ago will either still vote NZ1st or maybe Nat or Act, but not Labour. Which ever happens Labour will be the loosers. For this reason a vote for NZ1st will come from those, who won’t ever again vote labour. Winston will not go with Labour again after they kept policy secret from him.
      
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      August 21, 2023 3:35pm
      - sharont
        
        If Chippie offers Winston Deputy Prime Minister again will he refuse?
        
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        August 21, 2023 7:28pm
  - miltonF
    
    Exactly clan. They want to vote out a tyrannical and useless govt. OK that’s fair. The problem is they want to replace them with a second tyrannical, useless govt, that agrees with the inhumane actions of the previous tyrannical govt.
    
    Make it make sense. The outcome of this cannot be good. Don’t come crying on this blog when National locks down the country for the next flu and forces gene therapies onto you. Just remember, you voted for it.
    
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    August 21, 2023 3:57pm
    - sharont
      
      Don’t come crying when Labour gets in and does the very same thing. None of the small parties are going to be able to do anything about it. Much better to vote National in and then put pressure on them. I personally am starting to think that people pushing about a Covid inquiry – and I never took the vax and was totally against the mandates and would like an inquiry – are Labour voters pushing votes away from National. National are the only hope we have of getting rid of this abomination of a government. Putting something that might happen in the future above what is actually happening in this country here and now, with this country fast becoming third world and 500 people leaving the country per week, is absolutely nonsensical and beggars belief.
      
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      August 21, 2023 7:32pm
- tavita
  
  I presume people have asked Seymour about this at the jamborees he is holding around the country. Can anyone tell us how he responded?
  
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  August 21, 2023 9:44am
  - ClanMcleod
    
    He was interviewed on Reality Check Radio by Paul Brennan.
    
    He fully endorses the vaccines. Still.
    
    He fully endorses ~~mandates~~ medical apartheid. Only difference between Act and Labour is, he pushes the responsibility to enforce it onto the individual business.
    
    Libertarian? Give me a break.
    
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    August 21, 2023 11:04am
    - RoboRob
      
      So electing Winston who will chose between Left and right will make a difference on Covid policy then?
      
      6 1
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      August 21, 2023 11:59am
      - ClanMcleod
        
        I’m one of the ‘undecided’. Luxon said publicly he doesn’t need my vote.
        
        I have no desire to vote for Peters. None.
        
        My preference was Act, up until I heard Seymour deny excess all cause mortality, advocate for the vaccines, and repeated his support for mandates, slightly modified from Labour’s version.
        
        He’s unprincipled and dishonest. He knows these things are untrue but says them anyway. For the same reason as Peters says he is opposed to covid.
        
        Political expediency.
        
        There is absolutely no difference between them. Both are unprincipled hucksters who will say whatever they believe is going to win them votes.
        
        It’s the worst position I’ve ever been in during any election in my life.
        
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        August 21, 2023 1:16pm
      - RoboRob
        
        @ClanMcleod
        
        Its not actually that hard…..
        
        If all the parties are useless on the one thing you really care about (in this case Covid), look at the other things you care less about and select the party that is bes on those.
        
        You could also just look at the current government and say, did they do a good job? If not vote for the other guy and give them a crack.
        
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        August 21, 2023 1:27pm
      - ClanMcleod
        
        RoboRob – sounds like a reasonable position, but I can’t forget how National and Act’s only response to Labour’s tyranny was that they weren’t doing it efficiently enough.
        
        I’ve read nothing from either Party to show that they have modified their position? If you have anything to the contrary please give me a link.
        
        Nor have they said a word about dropping the legislation and policies that led to this madness that I’m aware of?
        
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        August 21, 2023 2:28pm
    - greybeard
      
      I wish we could all have a break from this endless “CV-19” tsunami.
      Its over.
      WW1 is over.
      WW2 is over.
      
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      August 21, 2023 7:17pm
      - waikatosinger
        
        It isn’t over. Not by a long chalk. You don’t get to stuff up this badly and then walk away from it pretending that it didn’t happen. You don’t get to treat a big chunk of your own population like “filth” and then expect them to be quiet and forget about it (and vote for you!) Not happening.
        
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        August 22, 2023 6:17am
- Right of way is Way of Right
  
  Why in the name of all that is sensible would you make this your hill to die on? You are exactly the sort of single issue uncritical thinker that Winston is banking on to rescue him from well deserved irrelevance.
  
  If you are so hell bent on responding to his dog whistle policies, then what does that make you?
  
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  August 21, 2023 9:56am
  - cmm
    
    “Why in the name of all that is sensible would you make this your hill to die on?”
    
    Because to you it is a small hill, To many it is not.
    
    Consider an associate of mine:
    * He owns a small business that was booming before Covid. Adding staff, adding equipment etc. The Covid response (not the Covid itself) killed it dead.
    * His crook mother died during this period. They were not allowed to visit her. They were not allowed to bring her home for a meal and to see the grandkids. She died on her own. Alone.
    
    This guy is now a broken shell of a man.
    
    So to you it might be a minor hill. For some it is a huge mountain.
    
    And the same (inaudibles) will play the same game again.
    
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    August 21, 2023 10:12am
    - Libertarians are right
      
      Winston had more power over those decisions than National or ACT did. In fact, National and ACT were both questioning those policies and trying to get some rational thought applied. Winston gave Labour the numbers to ignore the rational people.
      
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      August 21, 2023 10:19am
      - cmm
        
        That’s typical Winston – tries to get both sides.
        
        He is the (inaudible) that gave us Cindy, but then he also claims that he was the one to save us from their excesses.
        
        But to claim that National and Act were questioning policies is far from factual. They might have questioned a few minor details but they were in boots and all.
        
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        August 21, 2023 10:48am
      - ClanMcleod
        
        No he didn’t. He wasn’t in government when the tyranny was imposed on us.
        
        Yes, he enabled Labour to get to that position, but he wasn’t responsible for covid policy.
        
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        August 21, 2023 11:08am
      - RoboRob
        
        @ClanMcleod
        
        I believe he WAS in with Labour when Covid hit. It was during Covid that the polulation swung behind Labour and voted them in with >50%. Winston WAS in the government that made all the intital covid decisions. It was ONLY when he was voted out and the protests happened that he decided to publicly critise Covid policy. Its almost like he spotted some potentail voters.
        
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        August 21, 2023 12:02pm
      - Ghost
        
        Winston was in for the lockdowns. Back then the vaccine wouldn’t be mandatory, even you didn’t want it there would be no repercussions. Vaccine rolled out the next year with all the conditions that you had to have it or else you would lose certain rights, and that vile pm on tv smiling when she said that society would be segregated between those who did have it and those that didn’t.
        
        The conversation needs to be had, the investigations needs to be had over the last few years, and National and or act need to step up
        
        We are already seeing talk of 15 minute cities, climate lock downs, the next pandemic, so the country needs to have this discussion.
        
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        August 21, 2023 12:08pm
    - rockape
      
      So what exactly do you expect Winston to achieve from all that. Remembering he will be third taxi off the rank in either a National or Labour lead government. Vote him in and he will just blow more hot air for three years but earning a nice salary.
      
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      August 21, 2023 11:29am
    - sharont
      
      Absolutely agree but what about businesses that are being killed off by ram raiders, people that have been stabbed to death, had their fingers cut off and the only solution under this government is catch and release? What about the judges giving serious criminals home detention – for example, two offenders attacking young women, the judge broke down about it but then gave them seven months’ home detention and name suppression? Time to put the Covid-19 inquiry on the back burner and concentrate on the issues affecting us now. Otherwise, we will get a third term for Labour, the floodgates will open, people will leave in droves (500 leaving per week as it is now), businesses will fold, plus there will be no welfare system because there will be so few taxpayers to support welfare, health etc. The only solution is to vote them out and work on the issue with the new government. Otherwise you’ll achieve nothing.
      
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      August 21, 2023 7:44pm
  - ClanMcleod
    
    Principled.
    
    He’s responding to the vacuum that National and Act are apparently too cowardly to address. They can take the ‘dog whistle’ off him any time they want.
    
    They refuse to do so.
    
    The implication to me is, they would comfortably repeat the whole ‘scamdemic’ all over again, because NOWHERE have they indicated that they would not.
    
    National and Act handed Peters a gold plated dog whistle in a beautiful presentation case.
    
    Talk to your politicians. Abusing people who vote on issues that concern them most won’t win them over.
    
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    August 21, 2023 10:59am
  - waikatosinger
    
    Let me flip the question. Why wouldn’t you want to attract the vote of this single issue voter and all the many other voters who feel the same way. All you have to do is promise an inquiry FFS. What is so difficult about that! It should be a no brainer.
    
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    August 22, 2023 6:24am
- JimBobJoe
  
  Mistwer Nui.
  
  I agree a in depth Royal Commission with a no barriers Terms of Reference needs to look at the whole COVID response and fall out.
  
  yes to:
  
  >Lockdowns – what risk/reward and pros and cons where considered and why were long term economic and societal consequences ignored? And pivotally why was lockdown chosen when all the literature of the last 100 years in Western societies say strict lockdowns just don’t work and inflict more harm than benefit
  
  > Excess deaths – in depth investigation of is there genuine excess deaths, what are the drivers of an excess and is the vaccine a cause. If vaccine is a driver what legal recourse do victims families have and can Pfizer be held in any way culpable (and I am thinking can the legal indemnity rumoured to be in their contract with governments be overturned based on suppression of data on health risks arising form the vaccine)
  
  Plus mandates, media bias etc
  
  All important items.
  
  but I will still vote to get rid of this current Government and their fellow travelers in the Greens and The Maori Party.
  
  ACT and National cannot relitigate COVID before taking power – why you ask? Real Politik.
  
  Too many voted for Labor in 2020 out of fear and pure belief in government statements. To admit they may have been played and conned is a huge dead rat for people to swallow IF National state they disagree with what Labour did before the 2023 election.
  
  The right time to sort a proper investigation is when in power, and yes I know Seymour is on record with no messing with the Labour appointment investigation in COVID as he believes it would undermine and politicise Commissions of Inquiry in the future.
  
  But Seymour and Luxon can, and in my view should, commission their own board of inquiry with different and broader terms of reference IF they take the Treasury Benches
  
  Vote Blue, Vote Yellow, but Vote and consign Labour to opposition for a long, long time. Voting NZ First is just letting Winston play his games and gives him a chance to empower Labour again – the country can tolerate rate
  
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  August 21, 2023 10:12am
  - cmm
    
    “But Seymour and Luxon can, and in my view should, commission their own board of inquiry…”
    
    They can. They should. They won’t.
    
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    August 21, 2023 10:49am
    - JimBobJoe
      
      I know CMM. But its the only hope I have,as I know the Inquiry that Labour have commissioned will achieve nothing but white wash Labours handling of the COVID Debacle – the appointees to the Inquiry board shout as does the limitations in the TOR for the inquiry.
      
      i am hoping against hope, that once in power Seymour will have an epiphany and push through a proper review top to bottom of all parts of the COVID management response that Labour and NZ First forced on the country
      
      The balls up that occurred from 2020 through 2022 can not ever happen again – MIQ, Vaccine Mandates, Vax passes, Masks, narking encouraged by the Government, the puerile and very deeply emotionally manipulative messaging form government, the contracts for certain entities to produce models, ads, marketing, the rise of the very nasty Disinformation project, etc, etc….
      
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      August 21, 2023 7:11pm
- Stephen Russell
  
  @mister nui
  If the Nats or Act started making the claims you want it would cost them 100 votes for every one they gain. Because that is where public opinion is right now.
  I agree that a full, thorough, unbiased Royal Commission Inquiry with a broad brief is highly desirable. That might cast new light on things and might change some people’s views.
  I have no doubt that a Nat-Act Govt will set up such an Inquiry. But they will do it calmly and deliberately, without presupposing its conclusions. It will all the more effective if done that way.
  
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  August 21, 2023 10:12am
  - Ghost
    
    Promising to investigate what happened the past few years won’t cost them any votes.
    
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    August 21, 2023 10:24am
    - ClanMcleod
      
      +100. I am in total disbelief that so many are terrified about doing the right thing.
      
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      August 21, 2023 11:22am
      - Dougal10
        
        They are still hoping that they weren’t actually conned.
        
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        August 21, 2023 2:29pm
    - miltonF
      
      I would really like to believe this but I have reservations.
      
      I have this sneaky feeling that many people who claim to be supportive of the Covid response, deep down, in their hearts, know it was a complete F-up and will fight tooth and nail to avoid any accountability for their actions.
      
      In a perfect world, where everyone has integrity and strong morals, an investigation would be supported by all. We don’t live in that perfect world unfortunately.
      
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      August 21, 2023 4:13pm
  - ClanMcleod
    
    This is the frustrating part of this discussion and it’s been stated ad nauseum.
    
    National don’t need to address any of the FACTS presented by mr nui.
    
    All they need to do is acknowledge in hindsight, there were things done that shouldn’t have been done. Because there were. Fact.
    
    That they will implement a full and unrestricted inquiry.
    
    Who could oppose such a thing? Unless they had something to hide?
    
    Who would vote against a party proposing such a thing? Unless they were terrified it would expose their favoured political party as criminals and human rights abusers?
    
    I think you’re wrong, public opinion on covid has moved massively. The shift on this blog over the last 18 months is a strong indicator of this.
    
    Also anecdotally I am hearing it from many acquaintances, friends, former friends and family members. From those who were rabidly in support of restrictions and mandates, to those who just thought it was ‘the right thing to do’.
    
    Very, very few still hold that position. Almost all have realised none of it was what they were told. Even those who refuse to say it out loud.
    
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    August 21, 2023 11:19am
- pdm
  
  mister nui – I too am CHB born and bred, spending the first 10 years of my life at Mangaorapa. My mother went through primary school with Johnny Ormond’s mother. My secondary education was 4 years at CHB College 1960 to 1963.
  
  Like you I have Party Voted ACT in all but one election (2014) since the inception of MMP and will do so again this year.
  
  Why:
  1. Because Natonal needs ACT or no worthwhile change will happen.
  2. I do not agree with all of ACT’s ideas but most of them suit my political mindset.
  
  Don’t shoot yourself in the foot by supporting Winston First even though Casey Costello may be a breath of fresh air there, New Zealand needs a strong ACT party otherwise we are in danger of mirroring Venezuela and perhaps even more so Zimbabwe.
  
  I urge you to think again.
  
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  August 21, 2023 10:16am
  - Surely Knott
    
    I think you agree with Mr Nuis’ concerns. But you are urging him to think again. But why has Act not been urged to think again. Instead you could be loosing votes like Mr Nuis.
    
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    August 21, 2023 10:47am
    - pdm
      
      SK – I am not a member of the ACT Party, or any other Political Party for that matter.
      
      Never have been and never will be.
      
      I do however agree with the broad thrust of ACT’s policies which is why I vote for them. If they go too far off the reservation then I will reconsider.
      
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      August 21, 2023 11:28am
- Tom Hunter
  
  @mister nui
  I get where you’re coming from. I really do. But a relative of mine was saying the same thing the other day until I showed Winston’s Tweet from 2021, which you can see here at The fine art of doublespeak:
  
  4 October, 2021
  Kiwis want their freedom back.
  We’ve been let down by this govt’s lethargy and a minority who refuse to get vaccinated.
  People need certainty and a plan – not uncertainty and spin.
  Start with ‘no-jab means no dole and no parole’
  We’ve had enough of the hand wringing
  
  Even in that quote you can see him cleverly appealing to both sides, as if the only people refusing the vaccine were those on the dole or in prison.
  
  And of course he was fully on-board with lockdowns when he was Deputy PM.
  
  In 1996 he barnstormed the country attacking Bolger and National for continuing Rogernomics and thus hoovered up a stack of Maori votes in the Maori electorates, plus older citizens pining for the days before 1984 – and then went into coalition with National, changing hardly anything at all.
  
  In 2017 he repeated the scam by assuring people that a vote for NZ First would be a vote to “strengthen National’s spine”. There were plenty here who pushed all that. And then he betrayed them by putting into power one of the most lightweight PM’s we’ve ever had, backed by a pile of more useless Labour MP’s than even in Kirk’s time. And you can’t tell me that after decades of Parliamentary and Cabinet experience that Peter’s wouldn’t have known that by just looking at the no-hopers.
  
  Nope. This is just another scam to return him to his most favourite place in the world. He’ll betray you all again – and on the very issue for which you voted for him, as before.
  
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  August 21, 2023 10:19am
  - ClanMcleod
    
    Tom Hunter – EVERY politician supported the draconian policies at that time.
    
    Peters is the only one to go back on that position. Like it or not, believe him or not – that is the fact of the matter.
    
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    August 21, 2023 11:26am
    - Fuzzysnuggleduck
      
      “NEVER FORGIVE. Never forget.”
      
      Peter’s may have changed his tune, but if it is cynical and manipulative – purely opportunism – then why vote for him? What does that achieve or prove? Especially when he is has a pattern of silence and non-action on ‘bottom lines’ once elected.
      
      Would be interesting to ask what specific piece of evidence got him to U turn on his position.
      Worth sending him the question.
      I suspect it was purely the polls, rather than any of the vaccine-harm links such as you post here.
      
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      August 21, 2023 11:59am
      - ClanMcleod
        
        I pointed all of this out on this blog before Peters started down this path. I warned that National and Act were leaving a massive political vacuum for him to fill. Which he did.
        
        I warned repeatedly that the simple way to close it off was simply an acknowledgment of the harms we all know happened, particularly those most negatively affected by covid policies.
        
        No apology needed, no admission of guilt. A simple acknowledgment of what we all know to be true. Bad stuff was done to many people, it was a mistake.
        A promise that it won’t happen again under their watch.
        NOBODY can successfully explain to me why this would be politically damaging.
        
        National/Act are NOT going to get any of the 30% or so of diehard Labour/Green/Maori votes. They have nothing to lose from what I propose and plenty to gain. Potentially a majority in parliament.
        
        For pointing this idiotic and juvenile political mistake out, I’ve been attacked, been accused of being a Peters supporter, which I am not.
        I am berated and told in no uncertain terms who I must vote for?!
        
        I’m out on this topic. Nothing more to say. I think I said the same thing a couple of weeks ago but made the mistake of thinking I could rationalise with people. Clearly I can’t so I’ll drop it.
        
        It should be an interesting couple of years coming up.
        
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        August 21, 2023 1:31pm
- kingerstinger
  
  [Mod – debate without the abuse]
  
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  August 21, 2023 10:42am
  - cmm
    
    Upticked – for the mod.
    
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    August 21, 2023 10:50am
- Surely Knott
  
  I’m in the exact same boat Mister Nui. Act refuse to address the vaccine mandates and what was done. They let us down. Liberal party in Australia is doing a great job investigating what happened and protecting rights.
  
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  August 21, 2023 10:45am
  - ClanMcleod
    
    Great point. At least Australia has politicians asking the hard questions.
    
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    August 21, 2023 11:27am
- Bill Felt
  
  Another one falls for the Winston talk pre election. Winston does this every-time. He will choose a small identity group, then structure a message to please them. He will do this over and over again. He will capture people and then when he gets to the position to be part of a Govt , he does what is best for him.
  
  And people fall for this every 3 years.
  
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  August 21, 2023 11:00am
  - Ghost
    
    What, you mean there are politicans who will campaign on what will get them votes, no, really? shock horror, who knew. BTW a lot of what act and greens tell you they will do will never make it out of the negotiations. They just say it to get the votes
    
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    August 21, 2023 11:18am
  - ClanMcleod
    
    Bill Felt – then take the oxygen away from him. It isn’t difficult. Or are National and Act not capable of working this out for themselves?
    
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    August 21, 2023 11:29am
- slightlyrighty
  
  Winston went with Labour as an act of revenge, and look where it got us.
  
  Giving your vote to him in a fit of pique as an act of revenge may well inflict more of the same. Please remember that the laws put in place by Labour were only able to be done because NZ First chose them.
  
  There are voices within National and ACT that will listen to your concerns. You just have to listen to them. Winston finds a hot button issue, and pushes it for all he is worth. He’s a numbers man, and he knows where to find those numbers.
  
  This time, it’s you.
  
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  August 21, 2023 11:08am
  - ClanMcleod
    
    Maybe if he had known what Labour were going to do after the 2020 election I would agree with you. But he wasn’t even in Parliament when the shit hit the fan.
    
    NOBODY in National or Act has listened to a single concern. Please show me some examples of any of them saying anything to support your claim.
    
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    August 21, 2023 11:41am
    - westernScientist
      
      so putting an entire country under home detention is fine? Yes he was there when the shit hit the fan, for about 9 months of it.
      
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      August 21, 2023 1:28pm
      - ClanMcleod
        
        That was at the beginning, when people were panicked by shills like Hendy and Baker posing as ‘experts’. There was a measure of uncertainty.
        
        The real tyranny was the experimental jab forced on people, the mandates, the vax passes, the QR codes, but in particular, the medical apartheid.
        
        This government had information that told them the jabs were dangerous. They deliberately hid this from the pubic. That’s malfeasance of the highest order.
        
        Peters was gone by that time. Either way, the point is he has changed his position. Call it political opportunism, but he’s the only one to do so. More importantly, what he is saying is the truth, while Luxon avoids the issue and Seymour continues to lie.
        
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        August 21, 2023 5:20pm
    - sharont
      
      Winston knew that Jacinda Ardern was a socialist. He chose to go with her. End of.
      
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      August 21, 2023 7:49pm
- softail 1450
  
  [Mod – debate what is being said without personal abuse]
  
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  August 21, 2023 11:09am
- kujira
  
  You state clearly that “he cant lie straight in bed” yet you trust him to push for an inquiry? The prick will say anything you like to get elected then crap on you again…like the last 3 times.
  Even if the lying prick chooses Labor again ? So if he chooses Labor – you don’t get an inquiry but you’d rather have him there …..for what?
  
  Never forgive, never forget, and never again….. except for Winny First?
  
  Never forget he put us in this effing mess to start with
  Never forgive him for crapping on us all
  Oh and never again – but you’ll vote for him?????
  
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  August 21, 2023 11:24am
  - ClanMcleod
    
    kujira – it’s a tough choice isn’t it?
    
    Vote for parties that refuse to even acknowledge there is an issue, let alone promise to do something about it.
    
    Or vote for someone who acknowledges there is an issue and says they will do something about it but probably won’t.
    
    Do you see the problem here?
    
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    August 21, 2023 11:44am
  - Beach Haven expat
    
    I’m confused. Will this Covid inquiry be before or after Winston leads everyone into Pike River?
    
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    August 21, 2023 1:29pm
    - Colville
      
      I am waiting to see what was in the Wine Box!
      
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      August 21, 2023 4:22pm
      - Ghost
        
        Whiskey?
        
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        August 21, 2023 4:26pm
- Drone
  
  All I can say mister nui is “Remember the Winebox”. Endless legal bills endless publicity simply endless for what, Winston’s ego. Remember the “NO” sign which really meant yes, Remember the “Baubles” of office. Winston will F the country over. A royal commission into the Covid 19 debacle will achieve what exactly. Lawywers fees, YES, endless publicity for Winston, YES, bankrupt the country, maybe not but will cost a lot of money, expose politicians as being shady, YES, result in Ashley, Jacinda, and their enablers Jessica and Tova in prison, NO. Zip zero zilch. thousands of words. The action would be a bit like the peasants storming the manor with pitchforks, pointless in today’s world. There is no accountability at the highest level in government, ministers do not fall on their sword any longer, those days are long gone.
  
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  August 21, 2023 12:46pm
- westernScientist
  
  You do realise that Winston was the deputy prime minister who locked everyone in their houses for longer than the average sex offender seems to get on home D now, right?
  
  FFS he was literally the deputy prime minister during the first lockdowns, he was the deputy prime minister who instigated the removal of citizens right to return to their own country, and locked those who were ‘lucky’ enough to be able to get back into hotels with armed guards for weeks with an exercise area in an underground parking lot. The list goes on…. but no, got to hold the opposition to account.
  
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  August 21, 2023 1:23pm
  - ClanMcleod
    
    In the early days when there might have been an excuse for panic. When MPs were being advised by ‘experts’ we now know were liars.
    
    He had nothing to do with the most egregious and totalitarian policies implemented. Jabs, mandates, vax passes and a medical apartheid regime.
    
    Those were totally the domain of Labour and co and National and Act, who’s only complaint at the time was that Labour weren’t efficient enough at doing it.
    
    Remember ‘get boosted’ Bishop and his door to door vaccination proposal?
    
    He’s the only one to reverse position. Yes, it might be political opportunism, but he’s the only one who is doing it.
    
    The rest are cowards without a shred of moral fibre, refusing to even admit that bad shit happened.
    They have never said they wouldn’t do the same thing again the next time a strange, but not very deadly respiratory illness comes along. They haven’t indicated they would remove the legislation that still sits on the books to permit all of that tyranny to return at the drop of a hat.
    
    FFS indeed.
    
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    August 21, 2023 1:40pm
    - westernScientist
      
      except that the jabs weren’t the most egregious abuse of individual freedom to come out of the covid saga, Lockdowns were. The jabs you could choose not to have, about 10% of us, and a lot more on here made that choice. The lockdowns you didn’t get that choice. Sure it was a shitty choice, but the lockdowns you didnt get even a shitty one. The lockdowns are when the social contract was broken, the jabs were just an enviable consequence of the lockdowns being aloud to occur and as that social contract is now broken, there is really no bottom to it.
      
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      August 21, 2023 2:00pm
      - ClanMcleod
        
        The lockdowns weren’t a medical experiment. That’s next level, Mengele style malfeasance.
        
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        August 21, 2023 5:25pm
    - sharont
      
      There’s no one you can really vote for in all honesty.
      
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      August 21, 2023 7:51pm
- Handyman
  
  There appears to be some sort of truce between Labour and National not to talk about covid. Not my agreement but for different reasons.
  1. Labour do not want to remind people of the lockdown, mandates and other overreach.
  2. National do not want a repeat of the 2020 elections reminding people how Ardern saved them and the nation.
  
  I suspect each has done polling which indicates they will lose their own supporters but gain none of the other lot. They both prefer to concentrate on the future. Labour especially wants everyone to forget about the past six years or mention their record.
  
  I was talking to a friend the other day who was convinced Ardern made New Zealand world leading and was definitely in the top performing countries. He couldn’t believe that actually New Zealand was in the worst half of the world (125th of 231 based on deaths per capita) and has had over 4,600 covid deaths. Labour doesn’t want him to know that and National doesn’t want to invoke the ghost of Saint Jacinda.
  
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  August 21, 2023 2:56pm
  - miltonF
    
    That’s my assumption too. Both Labour and National don’t want an inquiry because the result will be less votes for both and more votes for minor parties. I think it’s called a “uni party”, labour/national same same really. You can choose red coloured tyranny or blue coloured tyranny. Such a hard choice.
    
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    August 21, 2023 4:23pm
  - ClanMcleod
    
    That’s a tragic conclusion and you may well be correct. But if true, it means both parties are complicit in covering up crimes against humanity for political expediency.
    
    As miltonF has stated, they are basically a “uniparty”.
    
    It’s a nightmare. I can’t vote for any Party capable of these actions. It’s no different to supporting the Nazi Party in the mid 1930s in Germany.
    
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    August 21, 2023 5:29pm
- sharont
  
  2018: Winston Peters doubles down on promise to be first into Pike River mine. Just like Winston was first into the mine, right? I learnt my lesson. Won’t ever vote for him again.
  
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  August 21, 2023 6:54pm
- rouppe
  
  Mr Nui.
  
  Voting based on a single issue means you blindly let other things through.
  
  You don’t know what Winston is going to do. He gave us Jacinda. Who gave us all the things you say you want to see an inquiry about. One came from the other.
  
  What do you think an inquiry will do? It’ll be millions of dollars, ending up with “best decisions possible with insufficient information”, and “dynamic situation” and don’t forget “followed the science”.
  
  What you are not going to get is anyone arrested, anyone indicted, anyone publicly shamed for what they did, and especially no one will admit they were wrong.
  
  The only thing you can do is know who was responsible, and not vote for them. Winston was part of making it happen.
  
  Anybody who knowingly misled the people … needs to be prosecuted
  
  Do you not think Winston knowingly misled people? Do you think Shane Jones had your interests at heart when he gave money to refurbish Maori private property?
  
  Get over your need for an enquiry. It’s pretty pointless, having observed many so called “examination of the facts” over the decades.
  
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  August 21, 2023 7:59pm
Benedict Yu

This is a good example of why people are losing faith in previously respected institutions. In this case, the American Medical Association.

An article just published in its Journal of Ethics concludes that publicly funded uterus transplants should be offered to men. Such transplants would be sourced from dead women, or live donors.

“Gestation of a child following uterus transplantation (UTx) in cisgender women with absolute uterine infertility factor has proved successful in the United States.

Given the success of UTx that relies on both living and deceased donors, interest in the procedure is likely to extend beyond cisgender women.

Among those likely to be interested in UTx are transwomen who want to gestate their own children, transwomen who want uterus transplants to consolidate their identities but not to gestate children, some transmen who want to gestate their own children, and cismen wanting to gestate children of their own.”

https://journalofethics.ama-assn.org/article/should-uterus-transplantation-transwomen-and-transmen-be-subsidized/2023-06

Contemplating allowing men to have babies is the logical extension of erasing the term “mother” and “woman” from the healthcare system. That has already happened in New Zealand in the case of the midwives, a profession that has been synonymous with “women” for the last century in New Zealand.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/pou-tiaki/130398403/midwifery-council-proposes-dropping-the-words-mother-and-woman-from-its-guidelines

The biology of women is not a costume that should be worn by men. Men should not be acquiring the uteruses of dead women so they can have babies.

Yet here we are. The proponents of this ideology have sufficient power that politicians are terrified of them.
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August 21, 2023 8:02am
- Nukuleka
  
  This is, frankly, sick. Beyond sick actually.
  
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  August 21, 2023 8:13am
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    Liberalism is a mental disorder.
    
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    August 21, 2023 8:26am
- kowtow
  
  Politicians terrified of them.
  
  Not all , but the ones who do stand up get relentlessly attacked by the media and all and sundry in the wokosphere.
  
  However politicians answer to their voters , or do they .
  
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  August 21, 2023 8:22am
  - sirknz
    
    Depends how savvy their voters are. If their voters follow only the MSM narrative then they get this woke nonsense forced into their world view.
    
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    August 21, 2023 9:54am
- cmm
  
  What we need is a huge bloody war.
  Seriously.
  
  Wars tend to focus people’s minds on what is important.
  
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  August 21, 2023 8:27am
  - Dave
    
    Goodness me, cmm.
    
    In huge bloody wars people focus on winning the war and other things are put on hold. How many bodies do you think will be necessary to concentrate our minds on what is important?
    
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    August 21, 2023 9:55am
  - sharont
    
    I think we’ll get one. Instead of worrying about the WEF and further Covid lockdowns, people need to be concentrating on China and our lack of any defence under this Labour Govt.
    
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    August 21, 2023 7:53pm
- Taieri
  
  The proponents of this ideology have sufficient power that politicians are terrified of them.
  —————-
  
  The question is: how did they manage to acquire and retain this power?
  
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  August 21, 2023 8:31am
  - Benedict Yu
    
    I don’t know.
    
    In the UK the numbers of teenagers being referred for gender medical and surgical treatment have surged from a handful to thousands in the last 5 years.
    
    The other thing… 5 years ago it was mostly teen boys who wanted to transition to female. Girls wanting to become “trans boys” were rare. Now girls make up two thirds of all referrals.
    
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    August 21, 2023 9:00am
    - farbeyond
      
      Go for the women, you tear down the family.
      
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      August 21, 2023 10:30am
  - Notsofast
    
    This way.
    Leor Sapir explains, he is a proper scholar in the field, explaining the origins.
    
    https://youtu.be/LvJFAvADio8
    
    New Zealand is following text book worst practice. The voting record of mps reveals profound mysogeny, the tragedy being they are so ill educated they have no insight into their actions. It is completely flat earth stuff.
    
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    August 21, 2023 11:18am
    - ClanMcleod
      
      NZ is the petri dish for many things in the world. From basic products and services to some of the most insane ideological ideas.
      
      We’re still doing the covid lunacy. Most of the public might be ‘over it’. But the legislation to repeat it is still on the books and none of the main parties has unequivocally ruled out doing any of it again.
      
      Saint Ash is working with the WHO to help implement their proposed Pandemic Treaty which would give that unelected body the ability to declare ‘pandemics’ and order the responses to them.
      Clearly another ‘conspiracy theory’. /s
      
      We are leading the transgender madness. Labour recently announced more money to fund this butchering of perfectly healthy people, the majority of who have mental health issues, not physical issue.
      
      We are fully on board with the climate change insanity, even though we are over 80% renewable already.
      
      It’s getting hard not to think that we are being lined up as one of the first places to abandon sovereignty and go full ‘global citizen’ taking orders from unelected international bodies funded from disturbing sources.
      
      I know, paranoid conspiracy theorist, nothing to see here. /s
      
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      August 21, 2023 12:02pm
  - miltonF
    
    “how did they manage to acquire and retain this power?”
    
    Blackmail. Epstein’s island…
    
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    August 21, 2023 4:29pm
  - sharont
    
    They took over the universities and the media and the rest is history.
    
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    August 21, 2023 7:54pm
- Rusty
  
  @Benedict,
  
  As far as I’m concerned God only created two types of human beings — Male (man) and Female (woman)
  
  These doctors are going to be answerable one day…
  
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  August 21, 2023 8:42am
  - pdm
    
    `As far as I’m concerned God only created two types of human beings — Male (man) and Female (woman)’
    
    Dead right Rusty.
    
    Worth more than one uptick.
    
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    August 21, 2023 10:20am
- Rich Prick
  
  I’m curious, where would my new uterus go? Somewhere near my arse? I’m genuinely interested, and in what the freaks think is OK.
  
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  August 21, 2023 8:56am
- wsk12345
  
  And that’s the last straw – I’ll be removing Donor from my licence and instructing my family accordingly.
  I had been thinking about this post the covid vaxxed blood transfusion issue. (People in other countries if not here that were refused transplants, even directed kidneys, due to not being vaxxed- and went on to die).
  
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  August 21, 2023 9:11am
  - Ghost
    
    Why? The procedure isn’t available in NZ, and I doubt it will be for a long time. Why let people die or go blind because of this. Make it known you don’t want this donated, but don’t make other people miss out because of it
    
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    August 21, 2023 9:16am
    - wsk12345
      
      Why? Because it’s just one thing after another.
      Recently heard of someone donated his mothers body to “science” – only to find it was given to the military for some of their “blowing things up”:simulations.
      The issue with unvaxxed being second class for medical care.
      The prioritisation of medical care on a racial basis -despite the fact that Maori are by far the latest likely to donate organs, they will likely be at the top of the list to receive them.
      I would give a family member a kidney tomorrow but I’m done with this shit. I’d rather be fed to my dog frankly.
      
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      August 21, 2023 9:41am
      - Ghost
        
        Because of a teenager dying in a car accident my father got his vision back with a Corneal transplant. When my little brother passed in a car accident everything that could be donated was.
        
        The people who need the transplants aren’t responsible for what’s happened the past few years, we need more people donating
        
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        August 21, 2023 9:58am
      - Phil
        
        I am the recipient of a donated cornea. Sadly, I didn’t regain the sight in the eye due to other complications, however I am most grateful to the stranger who gave me at least the chance of sight. Of course, I am a donor myself.
        
        On the other hand, to my astonishment, the loss of one eye apparently automatically designated me a supporter of Canterbury Rugby.
        
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        August 21, 2023 11:06am
      - wsk12345
        
        @GHOST
        I’m sorry that people like your father will potentially miss out on organs. But this country has made it clear to me that my filthy unvaccinated self is of zero value (except to pay taxes so losers can choose not to work). I’m done. No longer will I be a second class citizen for everything except when i die and someone wants my organs. I’m either good enough to be a citizen or i’m not, and this government has made it clear that I am not in SO MANY WAYS. Wrong medical choice. Wrong race. Wrong gender.
        I called NZTA and easy as that I am no longer a donor.
        
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        August 21, 2023 3:32pm
    - ClanMcleod
      
      Thin end of the wedge. As with everything else we are waking up to these days.
      
      I did my new licence last week and didn’t tick the donor box for the first time.
      
      I didn’t suddenly decide to lose my trust in medical authorities who I respected my whole life. Their actions are responsible for the situation. I detest the feeling. Like being let down by a partner or close friend. It is quite devastating.
      
      I know this isn’t the fault of someone needing help. But it was always going to be part of the predictable consequences of the actions of the idiots responsible for the last few years.
      
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      August 21, 2023 12:07pm
    - sharont
      
      I wouldn’t trust any doctor to wait until I was dead before he was selling off my organs.
      
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      August 21, 2023 7:55pm
      - Ghost
        
        I’m sure you can provide evidence of doctors selling off organs in New Zealand or even evidence of doctors killing people off for organs, I’ll await that evidence
        
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        August 21, 2023 8:04pm
- JimBobJoe
  
  Evil. Harsh word but this is just an ongoing, rolling, gathering speed Evil.
  
  Martine Rothblatt – go look up his story and the Transhuman, Transgender, live forever ideas that is part of the backbone of the trans movement.
  
  Martine and friends have a lot of cash and fund a lot of this lunacy
  
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  August 21, 2023 10:19am
  - Notsofast
    
    It feels like asymmetrical warfare, look how a 21 year old gay Fijian social influencer has made complete idiots out of all the honorable members. We are stuck with it for a very long time.
    Being gay is of course, uninteresting, and completely authentic. The rest of what this parody of a human represents is extremely dangerous to innocent children.
    
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    August 21, 2023 1:03pm
Biscuit

Proof, last night that English women are years – 57 years, like. At least – behind their menfolk.

Juan nil…
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August 21, 2023 8:04am
- pdm
  
  Biscuit I thought Juan was a male.
  
  Or is it a number as in juan, two, three etc?
  
  Watched about 15 minutes of the game and saw the well taken goal – that is the game of soccer isn’t it.
  
  Turned back to the Athletic Championships -much more interesting and the ladies competing there wear shorter, tighter shorts – well maybe not the Discus throwers.
  
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  August 21, 2023 8:11am
  - Ruawai
    
    PDM these are professional female athletes not objects for you to drool over.
    
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    August 21, 2023 9:13am
    - Ghost
      
      Lol, right, and the amount of times I’ve heard female friends drooling over how the All Blacks were wearing tight outfits, or watching the diving in the olympics to check out the male divers.
      
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      August 21, 2023 9:18am
    - ClanMcleod
      
      The wokeness is permeating everywhere…….let’s deny human nature. 😂
      
      We’re animals. Or do you subscribe to the Musk school of transhumanism? Not a place I want to inhabit.
      
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      August 21, 2023 12:14pm
  - Biscuit
    
    ‘Juanita nil’ doesn’t really suit my narrative, pdm.
    
    ‘Juan, too, three’ reminds me of the girl band and its warm-up mantra:
    ‘Anna one Anna two Anna three…’
    
    Yep, watched some of the Athletics, too – I’m quite a fan of the still-not-23 Norwegian 1500 Metres Olympic champion runner Jakob Ingebrigtsen…
    
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    August 21, 2023 12:49pm
    - NeverMindTheBollocks
      
      On those trays?
      
      No, no Senior Fawlty ….
      
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      August 21, 2023 9:26pm
Steve Otto(North Shore)

Stop Co-Governance. Julian Batchelor.

https://www.stopcogovernance.kiwi/blog/confirmation-the-treaty-of-waitangi-could-govern-the-countrys-lawyers/

The Platform:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7Fr1c7O1Cc
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August 21, 2023 8:06am
- Steve Otto(North Shore)
  
  Tikanga is not Law.
  Maori myths and legends are being drafted into law.
  This will be the downfall of New Zealand as we know it. All part of the Coup.
  
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  August 21, 2023 8:09am
- David Garrett
  
  Steve O: That interview Plunket did demonstrated that the legal “expert” he interviewed had no better clue than any of us regarding exactly what “the principles of the treaty” are.
  
  If I heard him aright, he eventually mumbled something about finding the principles in some footnote to some paper. Really?
  
  Remember when Ardern didn’t know what was in the treaty? She didn’t even know how many articles there were.
  
  The rot started back in 1987 when Robin Cooke decided that this so called treaty was “our founding document”. I could actually accept that – but nowhere in those three articles is there any mention of “principles”.
  
  All the “principles” have been invented since 1987, both by the courts and – to a much lesser extent – by parliament – which is of course totally the wrong way round. Under our (unwritten) constitution, parliament is sovereign, not the Court of Appeal or the Supreme Court.
  
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  August 21, 2023 8:49am
  - In Vino Veritas
    
    If my recollection is correct David, it was only Cooke and one other of the Justices that mentioned “partnership” at all. And of course the mention of it has been singularised to “Cooke ruled the Treaty was a partnership with the Crown”. Everyone seems to forget that the Crown entered into a contract, not a partnership.
    
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    August 21, 2023 9:57am
    - JimBobJoe
      
      Correct Lord Cooke of Thorndon was the dissenting view and some how the majority view was overlooked and the ”brilliance” of Cooke has become holy writ…
      
      Destructive legal mind games leading to collapse of society in NZ… very sad
      
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      August 21, 2023 10:22am
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    Also added to the Treaty was “forestries and fisheries” in 1989 by Sir Hugh Kawharu.
    Forestry and fisheries were not in the original Treaty written in Maori.
    
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    August 21, 2023 11:50am
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    DG, the principles of the treaty are on the google machine.
    
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    August 21, 2023 3:57pm
- Nickc2
  
  When’s someone going to drum into these clowns that Maorification of NZ isn’t Unification?
  Despite Willie Jackson’s raving on at some Marae on Saturday about Maori Gains made during his Labour Govt’s reign, he’s still full of shit and a racist to boot!
  
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  August 21, 2023 8:53am
Flossie

Yet another How Bad Luxon Is column. This time Derek Cheng in the NZ Herald today.
I don’t necessarily want an all singing all dancing charmer as PM. I want a competent person who can sort out the mess we now have in our country, and for my money Luxon is our best bet.
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August 21, 2023 8:06am
- David Garrett
  
  Flossie: If Luxon is our “best bet”, then we are really in trouble.
  
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  August 21, 2023 8:51am
  - Flossie
    
    Who then?
    
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    August 21, 2023 8:59am
  - lifesgood
    
    You what? Please don’t tell me you prefer Hipkins or Peters.
    
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    August 21, 2023 9:06am
  - Captain Mainwaring
    
    Who is then David?
    
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    August 21, 2023 9:09am
    - rockape
      
      Remember Winston was in Government till the end of 2020. Can you tell me the aspects of the Covid restrictions he voted against when deputy PM?
      
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      August 21, 2023 9:23am
    - Cassandra
      
      On behalf of DG: Seymour.
      
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      August 21, 2023 9:36am
      - David Garrett
        
        Cass: Correct. Even though the man isn’t much interested in the “Laura Norder” part of ACT policy, he is the only option.
        
        I see with some incredulity some commenters above are going to vote for Peters – I have always thought Kiwibloggers were far too smart to fool for that duplicitous bastard again…obviously there are commenters here who are much less canny than I always assumed.
        
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        August 21, 2023 10:17am
  - Matt Long
    
    DG, it does look bleak, however Luxon is the only realistic alternative leader of government to the New Communist, Envy, and Racist Coalition, and I wish him all the best.
    
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    August 21, 2023 9:21am
    - Ghost
      
      Thing is it doesn’t matter who you vote in, you get the same agenda, you are heading to the same destination. And that will be climate.
      
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      August 21, 2023 9:24am
      - Matt Long
        
        Climate is only one prong of the strategy, the destination is 1984.
        
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        August 21, 2023 9:36am
    - bjools
      
      Besides we aren’t looking for the best possible leader, we are looking for (or should be) the bestleader/govt. possible……………………..
      From the choice we have.
      
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      August 21, 2023 10:02am
    - Cassandra
      
      Seymour not a dictator, plenty of other ACT MPs to pick up on Laura. And I hope they consult the guru! (DG for those still in jamas).
      
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      August 21, 2023 12:22pm
- pdm
  
  Flossie – I think Luxon will make a competent PM. Definitely better than anyone on offer from Labour – but he does not cut it as an opposition leader.
  
  One can only hope with guidance from Seymour things will work out okay after October 14th.
  
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  August 21, 2023 10:24am
  - KH
    
    I am voting ACT. That said Luxon is doing well.
    He does not offend but when the media want to put things in his mouth he does not fall for it.
    Quite a strong character actually.
    
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    August 21, 2023 11:23am
- Tony Stuart
  
  My hope is that on election night, National and Act between them have 51% or more of the vote. A National/Act majority coalition government is our best hope for ending the current malaise. As a bonus, having Act and National with a clear majority would render Winston Peters toothless, if he in fact makes it back into Parliament.
  
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  August 21, 2023 10:32am
- cmm
  
  I don’t think we’re going for best.
  We’re going for least bad.
  
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  August 21, 2023 10:59am
  - Colville
    
    Perfect is the enemy of good.
    
    After the last 6 years I will be very happy with good.
    
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    August 21, 2023 11:18am
Grunter

Article link that contains further links to various stories about the now accepted failure of the Ukrainian offensive.

The Biden regime will now move to disaster recovery and start blaming Zelensky.

Negotiations with Putin will now be very one sided towards the Ruskies and hard to swallow by the west. It’s difficult to see who the west has that Putin would trust in a negotiation anyway?? The demented Biden isn’t up to it.

https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/us-intelligence-deems-ukraines-counteroffensive-failure
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August 21, 2023 8:08am
- westernScientist
  
  Depends why you think the Russians and the west are at war in Ukraine. If you assume the Russians want it because they want to move their boarder westward into Poland where it is more easily defendable. The logical response from the west, not wanting to fight a direct war between NATO and Russia, is to try and ware the Russians down as much as possible without ever letting them get to Poland. To do that, the west supply Ukraine with just enough military help to keep the stale mate going until either the Russians run out of people or the Ukrainians do. Either neutering Russia, or weakening them to the point that they are much easier to defeat, or bring to the negotiating table in a weakened position. I doubt the west powers at be actually wanted the offensive to be successful, as if it was they would end up having to deal with Ukraine potentially invading areas of Russia, or at lest areas that Russia considers ‘theirs’.
  
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  August 21, 2023 1:41pm
- rangitoto
  
  Today’s update from Denys Davydov https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wk5ynB4u2Vk
  
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  August 21, 2023 2:05pm
- All_on_Red
  
  вперед к победе, товарищ
  
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  August 21, 2023 3:00pm
Tomtoddy

Māori leaders pleading with political candidates not to use Māori issues as “political footballs”. I guess that boils down to not asking questions about co-governance, no accountability for indecently large sums of money being spent on non-essentials, no querying the dividing of communities on the basis of race only and much more.

It’s not even subtle. “Leave us to go on taking a wrecking ball to our constitution. Democracy is so colonial”.
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August 21, 2023 8:08am
- Cassandra
  
  Putting it the other way round would help: get Maoris to stop weaponising race in order to screw money out of the rest of us. There are more disadvantaged people in this country who are NOT Maori than Maori. Message to rangitira and kingis – drop the begging. Your message should be: get a skill, learn to read, stop stealing, eat properly, get a jog, turn up to work on time and on Monday, take responsibility for yourself.
  
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  August 21, 2023 8:16am
  - Tricati
    
    What was telling on the news item I saw where Willie Jackson was expounding all the good, they have done for Māori, but did not articulate what those gains were. My guess is he didn’t want to state the real intent of He paupau, 3/5 waters, co-governance or the separatist Māori health authority, as this would wake up those outside Maoridom to what the hell has been going on and the likely uproar hat would ensue.
    
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    August 21, 2023 9:08am
  - Cassandra
    
    Or even get a job (and a jog, for that matter).
    
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    August 21, 2023 9:38am
- Simon
  
  National will give billions to iwi over the next 6 yrs to handle issues formerly undertaken by the state. Maori health via iwi, 100% fund iwi NGOs to handle social issues, “partnerships” with iwi to create and promote dependency on iwi handouts via the tax payer. Luxon / National are very big on “equality” and see iwi as a way to create equality for Maori.
  
  National & iwi will fail of course to deliver anything except mass state dependency and make a handful very wealthy.
  
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  August 21, 2023 8:16am
  - Don Beckett
    
    The Labor Party shill strikes again.
    
    25 6
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    August 21, 2023 9:03am
    - Matt Long
      
      Do you have any substantive evidence that a Luxon lead government will roll back co governance as pioneered by Key?
      To me the current iteration of National looks a lot further left than Key’s.
      
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      August 21, 2023 9:16am
    - Cassandra
      
      Wayne Mapp will be along shortly to explain why National should and will pay up.
      
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      August 21, 2023 9:44am
    - Tom Hunter
      
      Wayne Mapp in 2021
      
      My prediction, there will be a substantial empowering of iwi in education, heath, housing supply and social policy in the next few years. National will go along with most of this once they are back in government, just as they have done so since 1990.
      
      In that sense Don Brash was a bit of an aberration, one that National is not keen on repeating.
      
      And before I get the usual, “He hasn’t been an MP since 2011” here’s the lead statement from Mapping The National Party:
      
      You are right. There were (and are) a substantial number of National MP’s who would have similar views to myself.
      
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      August 21, 2023 10:30am
    - Pope Punctilious II
      
      Pointing out the National Party’s obvious shortcomings does not make one a Labour Party shill. Simon’s comments serve as a valuable reminder to ask our local Nats’ candidates some blunt questions before the election.
      
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      August 21, 2023 10:39am
  - Cassandra
    
    I think you’re right, Simon, National will at least try to handover the dosh – they started this whole gravy train. Which is why we need ACT at 20% to stop it.
    
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    August 21, 2023 9:41am
  - Ehlana
    
    Taxpayers fund services for citizens and residents. My requirements are that those services are efficient and effective. I suspect that is most likely to happen when the people receiving the services choose the provider that works for them.
    
    If the local iwi, Buddhist temple or Doctors who Surf Society set up a health clinic and its care suits you best, they should get the funding to provide care for you.
    
    But the Doctors who Surf shouldn’t be able to demand funding on the basis of the number of surfers in the community.
    
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    August 21, 2023 10:13am
  - Tony Stuart
    
    Your proof of this is what Simon?
    
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    August 21, 2023 10:34am
    - Matt Long
      
      I’d like to see some sort of proof Simon is wrong Tony.
      I’ve just been reading that both Luxon and Willis have been denigrating the idea that women’s toilets should be a safe space for woman and girls, sometimes it’s as if they want to assure NZ they believe just the same as Hipkins and Sepaloni.
      
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      August 21, 2023 1:08pm
      - Ghost
        
        Toilets aren’t a safe space and no one should consider them a safe space. I can recall over the years a few cases where men have gone in and assaulted woman in public toilets. Best thing they could do is get rid of male/females and just have cubicles.
        
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        August 21, 2023 1:21pm
  - Ghost
    
    We have a Maori run health provider in town, well run, free to everyone to use. I hope national continue to fund them because they are needed.
    
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    August 21, 2023 10:46am
    - cmm
      
      And herein lies the problem: so many people think all the corruption is fine – so long as they get a small slice of it too.
      
      Do you realise that if you didn’t pay all the extra tax required to support the “free” Maori service, you’d easily be able to pay the price from other providers?
      
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      August 21, 2023 11:04am
      - Ghost
        
        I have no problem paying tax or higher doctors fees to pay for the service they offer which includes going and picking up their elderly patients and driving them to the clinic for their appointments. Providing free services to people who can’t afford to put food on their table let alone see a doctor or nurse. And I also have no problem dropping off some food for their food bank they run either
        
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        August 21, 2023 11:14am
    - Yabster
      
      Its not “free” Ghost- its 100% subsidised by tax payers – it may well be a good service -but the proof is in the reporting- ie outcomes, value for money- that is lacking with this current Government.
      
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      August 21, 2023 11:27am
      - Yabster
        
        Hi Ghost- so you have a breakdown of that funding- I suspect but could be wrong the funding is mainly the Health Board AKA the taxpayer…..
        
        1 0
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        August 21, 2023 2:15pm
    - Cassandra
      
      Why, Ghost? And who funds them or are all the doctors unpaid volunteers? Does the tribe fund this from its own resources (all handed over originally from taxpayers but never mind).
      
      3 0
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      August 21, 2023 12:26pm
      - Ghost
        
        Their funding comes from different places, health board, iwi, donations, and funding from different local groups.
        
        2 4
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        August 21, 2023 12:34pm
- Stuart
  
  Standard hypocritical nonsense from the left.
  
  ‘We demand everything be about Maori, Maori must be considered at every stage of every process.
  We demand separate and preferential systems for Maori’.
  
  ‘Stop making politics about Maori’
  
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  August 21, 2023 8:18am
- pdm
  
  `Māori leaders pleading with political candidates not to use Māori issues as “political footballs” ‘
  
  Have they told `Little Willie’, Nanaia, Chippie and the rest of the Labour proponents of racial division and identity politics?
  
  Are they advocating to rescind 3/5/All Waters Legislation?
  
  Mmmmmmm thought not
  
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  August 21, 2023 8:30am
  - Tony Stuart
    
    National made it abundantly clear last week after the passage of the final Three Waters legislation, the Water Service Entities Amendment Bill that all legislation empowering Three Waters or whatever it’s now called will be repealed by Christmas.
    
    At a public meeting with National’s Local Government spokesman Simon Watts on Thursday, I asked if National would seriously consider the alternative legislation put forward by the Taxpayers’ Union. Noting the involvement of Stephen Franks in the drafting of the replacement legislation, Simon Watts said he and National were open to any offers of help to put in place legislation to guarantee that local water assets and infrastructure remained in local ownership. I was heartened by that.
    
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    August 21, 2023 10:43am
    - wsk12345
      
      except someone said here last week that the TU alternative still requires kowtowing to Iwi and Hapu (whatever that is). Consult with etc etc.
      Does it still contain Te Mana o te wai statements (whatever those are) that must be “given effect to”. I was under the impression that the name may be gone but the requirement remains. Not true?
      
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      August 21, 2023 3:36pm
  - oldfella
    
    Notice how quiet things have gone in the Labour Maori caucus? Maybe they’ve been told by Chippy to shut up and not scare non-Maori voters, some of whom might want to ask some uncomfortable questions about Maori aspirations.
    
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    August 21, 2023 10:58am
- Prince
  
  The headline: Hipkins makes no promises to Maori.
  
  What didn’t get asked : What promises did Willie Jackson and his bandits make behind closed doors ?
  
  Remember He Puapua ? Convince me that Jackson hasn’t promised more funding for the Maori elite.
  
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  August 21, 2023 9:36am
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    Willie will be involved in Co-Governance. Busy man, being part of the Coup.
    Nobody can tell me that Jackson, Mahuta; those who are high up, do not know of this Coup. It has been happening since 1975. Slowly.
    
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    August 21, 2023 12:39pm
- Allan
  
  The Maori elite only have themselves to blame for the pushback from all those who are affronted by their blatant power grab based on racial grounds and false historical facts. I think that it is fantastic that this is going to be debated so this attack on the fundamentals of our democracy can be booted into the rubbish bin of history where it belongs. The arrogance of their demands is breathtaking. One man one vote with no preferential treatment based on colour, race or creed is all that matters. END OF STORY !!!!!
  
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  August 21, 2023 12:07pm
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    False Historical Facts means the rogue 1975 Treaty of Waitangi and the additions.
    It has to go back to the original 1840 version written in Maori.
    Only then the Gravy Train will stop. The ‘I am special’ attitude will stop. We are all equal, not some more equal than others!
    
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    August 21, 2023 12:45pm
Maggie Pie

TRENDING…..

Steve Laws lays out why you shouldn’t let foreigners be involved in another country’s politics…..

https://twitter.com/Steve_Laws_/status/1693340831543919103
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August 21, 2023 8:09am
Steve Otto(North Shore)

This man must be stopped. Part of doing this is to piss Trump off. Another part is no respect for Taxpayer Money – just keep wasting it, like Labour does but on a much bigger scale.

https://libertyonenews.com/biden-admin-sells-off-border-wall-components-worth-300-million-for-2-million/
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August 21, 2023 8:17am
- Steve Otto(North Shore)
  
  This is so Trump will have to spend more Taxpayer money to buy these components to continue the wall.
  Joe hates America, he is unstable.
  
  16 5
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  August 21, 2023 8:25am
- bjools
  
  Hope Texas bought it and start erecting it next week.
  
  6 0
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  August 21, 2023 10:07am
  - Colville
    
    Maybe Canada bought it…? 🙂
    
    3 0
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    August 21, 2023 11:20am
    - Steve Otto(North Shore)
      
      Don’t need a wall up there. How will all of the Trump haters move to Canada. Whoopie Goldberg, Myley Cyrus, Snoop Dog are still in the States.
      
      Trump 2024!
      
      3 0
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      August 21, 2023 12:50pm
Steve Otto(North Shore)

Biden Preparing to Bring Back Covid Restrictions, Including MASKS, Beginning with Mid-September Rollout.
Labour will do the same if they hold power.

https://wltreport.com/2023/08/19/biden-preparing-bring-back-covid-restrictions-including-masks/?utm_source=newsletter_wlt
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August 21, 2023 8:22am
- Inandout
  
  SO, considering up to 7 million illegals have trotted across the Southern Border, many with Covid, and Biden cared not a jot, I doubt the Yanks will fall for that again.
  
  12 1
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  August 21, 2023 8:27am
  - cmm
    
    Inandout: you seem to forget that those 7 million people represent 7 million votes. 14 million if they vote twice.
    
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    August 21, 2023 9:00am
- cmm
  
  And you think “~~light up a smoke~~“, “get boosted” Bishop and his mates in blue won’t?
  
  16 8
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  August 21, 2023 8:30am
- Raphael
  
  I was just listening to the Podcast of the Lotus Eaters talking about the same time.
  
  Given all the data we have now about how damaging lockdowns are vs Covid (which I’ve had) I doubt they will have anywhere near as much compliance as there was before.
  
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  August 21, 2023 8:59am
  - cmm
    
    I think there are quite a few countries where an attempt to re-impose lockdowns would be met with an Arab Spring response.
    
    Unfortunately I don’t think NZ is one of those.
    
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    August 21, 2023 9:04am
    - sirknz
      
      I think you might be surprised at NZ if there is a next time. I know people who are prepared to walk away from their jobs should mandates like what we saw under covid be pushed again.
      
      9 0
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      August 21, 2023 10:04am
      - ClanMcleod
        
        When push comes to shove we will find out won’t we? Easy to say what you will do until faced with the reality.
        
        Wouldn’t it be great if National and Act would make a public statement declaring those policies will NEVER be used again under their watch?
        
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        August 21, 2023 12:28pm
      - cmm
        
        “I know people who are prepared to walk away from their jobs”
        Nope, you know people who SAY that.
        Actually doing it? Few will.
        
        9 0
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        August 21, 2023 12:43pm
      - Steve Otto(North Shore)
        
        If you don’t stay home and do as you are told, Cuddles Coster will throw you in jail.//
        
        Retired now, but in a manufacturing workshop customers would come in wearing a mask. Go around the back and I just said ‘we don’t go for that mask shit.’ and he would take it off. People were living in fear that they would be reported. Never wore a mask once in that workshop. How can you weld with a mask on?
        
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        August 21, 2023 12:57pm
- ClanMcleod
  
  Steve – can you point me to anywhere that National or Act have categorically stated they won’t repeat the same policies that Labour implemented?
  
  Genuine question. If they have, I haven’t read it or seen it anywhere?
  
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  August 21, 2023 12:25pm
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    I can’t, and that question needs to be asked of them.
    The media will never do it. Catch them on the campaign trail?
    
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    August 21, 2023 1:00pm
    - ClanMcleod
      
      Do my best, they certainly won’t answer emails with that question in it.
      
      3 0
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      August 21, 2023 1:51pm
      - Steve Otto(North Shore)
        
        I have many emails to National that get the same automated reply. Not one has received attention.
        
        1 0
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        August 21, 2023 4:04pm
Maggie Pie

A bestie from Church retweets:

If only Dame Jacinda had lived by the ‘Ten Commandments’ inscribed by the finger of God, rather than those written by the pen of Lenin, how much better New Zealand would have been today…..

https://twitter.com/AwakenedOutlaw/status/1681576792891723776
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August 21, 2023 8:34am
- cmm
  
  Well she does. She’s a Mormon remember.
  She believes in the Magic specs that give you vision into things that mortals can’t see.
  And she believes she’s the one and only person with that magic vision.
  
  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urim_and_Thummim_(Latter_Day_Saints)
  
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  August 21, 2023 8:48am
  - Maggie Pie
    
    Not quite correct cmm.
    She turned her back on Mormanism so she could support LGBGT rights.
    
    18 1
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    August 21, 2023 9:15am
    - cmm
      
      She only turned her back on the LGBTQ part – not the rest of it.
      But if you’ve been exposed to magic thinking through your childhood it is very hard to recover from that.
      
      12 1
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      August 21, 2023 9:21am
      - Maggie Pie
        
        I can’t believe you still show support for the wicked bitch 🙁
        
        17 3
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        August 21, 2023 9:25am
      - cmm
        
        Support her?
        How am I supporting her?
        C’mon Maggie you know me better than that!
        
        6 0
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        August 21, 2023 9:38am
      - Maggie Pie
        
        LOL!! Knew that would rattle ya dags 😀
        
        9 2
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        August 21, 2023 9:47am
    - Raphael
      
      Mormonism has decided that LGB (not sure about the T+ part) is acceptable within Mormonism. When you’re already pushing one heresy, why not embrace others.
      
      4 0
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      August 21, 2023 9:48am
      - David Garrett
        
        Raphael: The Mormons are very good at “adjusting” their religion in order to gain some benefit or other.
        
        The original Mormon (LDS) religion embraced polygamy. Then, in the 1890’s (IIRC) the American government decided that an outfit which endorsed polygamy could not be a tax exempt church. Miraculously, the Angel Moroni came back and whispered in the then President’s ear – apparently polygamy had been a mistake, so a schism broke off from the established Mormon “church” (in quotes because Mormonism is absurd), within which you could only have one wife.
        
        The original Mormons – embracing what they call “Plural marriage” – still exist, but they are derided by those who broke away 130 years ago as apostates. In fact the reverse is the case: adherents of the modern day LDS church are the apostates, not vice versa.
        
        As an aside, I doubt whether The Princess knows any of this; she’s none too bright.
        
        BTW, when is the wedding to the fisherman going to take place? There seems to have been no mention of that star studded event lately.
        
        12 1
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        August 21, 2023 10:26am
      - NothingLeft
        
        Southpark did a nice exposition on the founding of Mormonism. https://youtu.be/idya6ixdo0I?t=42 Joseph Smith was a first class con-man, who got polygamy going so that he could indulge his interests more fully.
        
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        August 21, 2023 3:25pm
- Steve Otto(North Shore)
  
  If only she did not lie through her teeth after she said she said she wouldn’t.
  
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  August 21, 2023 1:03pm
Frank the tank

National’s list has a distinct DEI flavour to it. Fine if the candidates are better and will in due course become better ministers and parliamentarians. If not then the country is poorer for it and it sends the wrong message for 50,000 to 100,000 votes.

In the interim another reason to vote Act.
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August 21, 2023 8:38am
igm

Paul Eagle, in usual Labour fashion, continues his indulgent life, leeching off ratepayers.
Can lefties not stand on their own two feet?
This clarifies why they are referred to as “leeches”.
27 2
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August 21, 2023 8:41am
- Benedict Yu
  
  No is the answer. Typically they have no other profession or skills to fall back on.
  
  Jacinda will milk her international star dust for some time. However many of the current Labour Cabinet don’t have many other career options. If Labour loses, I would expect that key Ministers such as Hipkins, Robertson, and Little, will remain in Parliament, simply because they don’t have other options.
  
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  August 21, 2023 8:50am
  - David Garrett
    
    BY: Spot on. I was there when the Labour survivors of the 2008 election were bailing out – it was notable that the only ones to bail were the ones with other options, such as Clark and Cullen.
    
    The rest clung to their seats for dear life -I wonder how many readers have heard of a Labour MP called Ross Robertson? An MP for 27 years, and achieved absolutely nothing, except a pretty good understanding of Standing Orders, and a penchant for raising trivial Points of Order.
    
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    August 21, 2023 9:01am
    - Matt Long
      
      By coincidence I heard of him yesterday, apparently a group of people were at South Auckland markets asking Hipkins to answer questions instead of giving him hugs and he has to leave.
      Robertson was on the spot to give reporters Labour’s take.
      
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      August 21, 2023 9:27am
      - Cassandra
        
        He was on the spot to buy a pie actually, just happened to be there at the same time as Hippy.
        
        5 0
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        August 21, 2023 9:50am
      - Steve Otto(North Shore)
        
        Robertson the bodyguard? LOL!
        
        0 0
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        August 21, 2023 4:12pm
  - cmm
    
    This need to keep their seat puts the MPs in an extremely vulnerable position. They are prone to being brow-beaten and pressured into following the line etc.
    
    It is only politicians with nothing to lose that are prepared to speak up. They are really the only politicians worth having around.
    
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    August 21, 2023 9:14am
  - kowtow
    
    If they’re important enough the Bluered Team machine will give them some sinecure soemwhere .
    
    There’s plenty of ambassadorships , directors this and that for the mutual backscratching they both engage in , while pretending they don’t.
    
    3 1
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    August 21, 2023 10:16am
  - Paulus
    
    Am not sure any more that Dame Jacinda has any real credibility in overseas parts.
    It is obvious hat she has been trying with UN and WHO without success.
    She has take much flak in overseas media now and appears to be quite toxic.
    I wish she would go and not come back however.
    She appears to be skulking around, despite I read that she still has Diplomatic Protection Police and of course chauffer Government cars available at her request, like all former Prime Ministers.
    Bolger appears to be the biggest user in this area we are told.
    
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    August 21, 2023 10:46am
    - cmm
      
      She has at least the $2M “book deal” and her university position to feather her nest.
      
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      August 21, 2023 1:28pm
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    If Labour loses Hipkins will get rolled by Michael Wood. Hipkins will be off to the Councils, he does not know how to work or run a business.
    
    4 0
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    August 21, 2023 1:07pm
    - Captain Mainwaring
      
      And the odious Michael Wood doesn’t know how to work or run his own diary.
      
      2 0
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      August 21, 2023 4:13pm
- NeverMindTheBollocks
  
  To be fair to Paul Eagle, he is the new CEO of the Chathams Is Council. Hard to see that being a sinecure; & equally hard to believe that Islanders will put up with Woke rubbish.
  
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  August 21, 2023 9:44pm
Maggy Wassilieff

This chap reckons Prison saved his life..

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/kahu/manu-vatuvei-i-lost-my-why-going-to-prison-saved-my-life-and-my-battle-to-gain-back-my-mana/B2ETESLLIVC2FHCGKZGKK2GNFQ/

I wonder what distinguishes him from others who fail to turn away from criminal offending.
16 0
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August 21, 2023 9:01am
- cmm
  
  OK, before we jump to conclusions let’s give it 5 years and see if he still has a clean nose. I hope for his, and our, sakes he does.
  
  The tools are there. What matters is whether people use them. You can take a horse to water etc etc.
  
  NZ has extremely high recidivism rates. Prison is not working,
  
  15 0
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  August 21, 2023 9:18am
  - NeverMindTheBollocks
    
    It kept Manu & his drug dealing out of circulation for a period. There is that.
    
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    August 21, 2023 9:46pm
- kowtow
  
  That’s the front page of the paper today .
  
  Mustn’t be anything newsworthy to report //
  
  5 0
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  August 21, 2023 10:12am
- Tony Stuart
  
  What goes in Vatuvei’s favour is that he had a successful, well paid career before the money dried up and he was lured into the methamphetamine trade.
  
  With the support of his former club and support from Dave Letele’s BBM organisation, he has a good chance of redeeming himself. He must always remember though that he’s only one bad decision away for getting back into a downward spiral.
  
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  August 21, 2023 10:49am
- ProtectBabiesFromPredators
  
  Vatuvei proves to Kelvin Davis that Prison DOES work.
  Note to Kim Workman. Evidence counts.
  
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  August 21, 2023 9:52pm
Maggie Pie

Talk about a wet-arse and no fish 😀

“1.2.3.4. Tax The Rich Even More!”.

The Green Pardy/Trade Union demo held downtown on Saturday looked like a cold dismal affair.
Lucky if 50 other losers even bothered to turn up to hear what any of these boring reprobates had to say.

WATCH: Simon Anderson takes one for the team….

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQXQ66MbonA
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August 21, 2023 9:09am
- Rich Prick
  
  Wet arse, no fish. What a turn of phrase.
  
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  August 21, 2023 9:28am
lifesgood

All the women in Tamaki saying they will vote for Brooke remind me of those women who voted for Jacinda. She’s young, she’s attractive, she’s smart, she’s not a pale stale male. You have to laugh at how easily the thoughtless are swayed.
23 6
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August 21, 2023 9:11am
- Cassandra
  
  If you’re comparing Brooke with Jacinda as equals then you’re writing rubbish. Brooke is a very smart young woman; Ardern had the gift of the gab, that’s all.
  
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  August 21, 2023 9:58am
  - Chuck Bird
    
    Simon tried to get an amendment on the abortion bill that said that if a baby survived a botched abortion and was separated from its mother that it should not be left to die.
    
    I would like to get Brook and/or David to say if they support leaving such a baby to die. To me, it seems as bad as what that British nurse has done.
    
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    August 21, 2023 10:18am
    - Libertarians are right
      
      Unfortunately, O’Connor is very vocal about his beliefs in Parliament and comes across as the type of politician who would happily place his religious beliefs over the rights of individuals.
      National have a large number of religious people on their list and a lot of people don’t want religion dictating their lives.
      By putting one of their top MPs against O’Connor ACT have declared that they won’t allow National’s religious faction to impose on people’s rights. Politically this is very smart. It helps to take the sting out of one of the biggest issues National has.
      
      5 4
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      August 21, 2023 10:45am
      - Gulag1917
        
        Not ok for religious people to be vocal about their beliefs but ok for non-religious people to be vocal about theirs.
        
        14 3
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        August 21, 2023 10:57am
      - Chuck Bird
        
        So do you think it is someone’s right to kill a baby that survives a botched abortion?
        
        3 1
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        August 21, 2023 11:34am
      - Libertarians are right
        
        To Gulag1917 and Chuck Bird:
        Your points aren’t relevant. The issue is perception. The media and the Left (but I repeat myself) have already tried multiple times to link National (especially O’Connor and Luxon) to America’s so called “Religious Far Right” and their attacks on people’s rights.
        By placing Brooke against O’Connor ACT have created a bulwark against those accusations.
        
        Gulag1917 – Being vocal is fine but there are political ramifications for trying (or being seen to be trying) to push your ideological positions on others. Hopefully, Labour’s ramification will be getting utterly smashed in the election.
        
        Chuck – That’s already illegal and should be tried as such.
        
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        August 21, 2023 1:30pm
      - Chuck Bird
        
        Libertarians are right, it is not illegal. Do you want a bet?
        
        If I am right would you support leaving babies from a botched abortion to die?
        
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        August 21, 2023 4:39pm
      - Libertarians are right
        
        Chuck – of course I don’t agree with leaving babies to die. There are various laws regarding failure to provide the necessities of life and various legal requirements on Doctors etc. This was why most parties didn’t support his amendment.
        
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        August 21, 2023 4:59pm
  - greybeard
    
    Gift of the gab ? She talks a lot of rubbish, and distracts from what she does say with her gruesome facial contortions and overdone hand movements.
    I suspect the idea that she was a great communicator actually came from her !
    
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    August 21, 2023 10:57am
Steve Otto(North Shore)

Kristi Noem, South Dakota may endorse Trump. She was thinking about running for POTUS.
“The fact is, none of [the other GOP candidates] can win as long as Trump’s in the race. And that’s just a fact. So, why run if you can’t win?” Trump is 40 points ahead of his closest rival. President? take that to the Bank.

https://teapartypolls.com/redrebelnews/sd-gov-kristi-noem-hints-at-upcoming-trump-endorsement/?aff_id=1037&utm_placement=redrebelnews

Trump 2024.
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August 21, 2023 10:13am
- ClanMcleod
  
  Georgia Indicts Millions Of Voters For Conspiring To Elect Trump
  
  https://babylonbee.com/news/georgia-indicts-every-trump-voter-for-conspiring-to-elect-an-election-denier
  
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  August 21, 2023 12:37pm
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    Fuck!
    My Partner is looking at me funny now after watching that video.
    
    If I am not on this blog tomorrow then she has gotten even madder and made me dead!
    
    Oh, and she knows what the bee is. Just made her look at me even weirder.
    
    4 1
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    August 21, 2023 1:20pm
    - ClanMcleod
      
      😂😂😂
      
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      August 21, 2023 1:49pm
Chuck Bird

I would like to see James Shaw or someone from the Herald debate his claim that there is a climate emergency. Shaw will not debate his religion.

Climate change farming emissions: Government reveals much-anticipated plan for pricing by 2025

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/the-country/news/climate-change-farming-emissions-government-reveals-much-anticipated-plan-for-pricing-by-2025/R7UPEXCO7NDNHOFRHRC6IL5DIA/
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August 21, 2023 10:24am
- kevn
  
  One for shaw to read and reply to…
  https://breakingviewsnz.blogspot.com/2023/08/mike-butler-global-warming-remedies.html
  
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  August 21, 2023 10:37am
  - Chuck Bird
    
    Kevn, I totally disagree with Dr Kelvin Duncan.
    I quote him below.
    
    “The peak temperature will be reached in 2039, and that will be a trivial increase of 0.085C above the maximum recorded.”
    
    He makes predictions to the exact year of a maximum and to one thousand of a degree.
    
    No one period, an alarmist or a sceptic can make a prediction anywhere near that accurate. I certainly would not waste my time reading his book. I have paid for and read books from real experts like Dr Judith Curry, Dr Steven Koonin, Dr Patrick Moore and others.
    
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    August 21, 2023 4:28pm
Tricati

Labour truly have run out of ideas when they announce they will require the teaching of Math’s, English and writing via a revised curriculum.
They, and the teachers unions, panned National when they stated it was their policy months ago but now Labour thinks its a vote winner.
Maybe teaching ‘diversity’ in schools isn’t such winner after all.

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/national-leader-christopher-luxon-unveils-more-of-its-education-policy-after-committing-to-curriculum-rewrite/VZN3Q3SFZREL5BZPMXFJEDXQSA/
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August 21, 2023 10:25am
- greybeard
  
  And that is why National held back announcing their policies until recently: they knew that Labour would copy them, but promise even more uncosted things.
  
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  August 21, 2023 10:53am
- Observant Octagenarian
  
  Ahh – but Labour will be teaching Maori Mathematics!
  
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  August 21, 2023 11:03am
- Steve Otto(North Shore)
  
  You know that Labour tell lies right?
  
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  August 21, 2023 1:21pm
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    Tahi Rua Toru Wha
    
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    August 21, 2023 4:19pm
Steve Otto(North Shore)

Woke is working.
Costume Party. Now while the KKK is distasteful, it is still part of American History.
These may be the same people who plain and simply want history erased because it offends them. What is wrong with a KKK costume to get people to recognise a bad bit of history? It happened.

https://www.msn.com/en-nz/news/other/kaimai-quiz-night-attendees-disgusted-over-group-s-ku-klux-klan-costumes/ar-AA1fvnHX
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August 21, 2023 10:28am
- Bobba Fret
  
  If a white person paints their face black and puts on an afro wig for a fancy dress party they get in big trouble.
  If a black person paints their face white for a party, do they also get in trouble?
  
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  August 21, 2023 11:42am
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    No, and I don’t know why.
    
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    August 21, 2023 1:22pm
- Chris Nisbet
  
  I hear that they were going to dress up as gang members, but were worried some MP might mistake it for an Electoral Commision meeting.
  
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  August 21, 2023 12:34pm
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    But some MP might give them $2.75M
    
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    August 21, 2023 1:23pm
- ClanMcleod
  
  Back when we still had a sense of humour……Mel Brooks and Blazing Saddles did it with style.
  
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nB1E0oAAc-w
  
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  August 21, 2023 12:40pm
kevn

SteveO… Did kkk practise cannabilism?
More inconvenient history.
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August 21, 2023 10:38am
- Steve Otto(North Shore)
  
  I just don’t know
  
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  August 21, 2023 1:27pm
Maggie Pie

Well butter my butt and call me Chenille….

‘ZB NEWS reporting that Labor intend to make it compulsory for schools to teach reading, writing and arithmetic from 2025’.
No shit Sherlock?

Talkback caller, purporting to be member of the Maori Pardy says….. “he hopes that doesn’t come at the expense of kids learning Te Reo”.

‘
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August 21, 2023 10:45am
- Captain Mainwaring
  
  Well I for one does hope it comes at the expense of kids learning Te Reo.
  If they want to learn a dead language they can do it at home, not on the taxpayers’ tit.
  
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  August 21, 2023 12:47pm
- Steve Otto(North Shore)
  
  When will the Teachers fine time for indoctrination?
  
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  August 21, 2023 1:28pm
Gulag1917

A few England women’s soccer team players bend the knee and loses. Isn’t that symptomatic of something.
5 0
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August 21, 2023 11:05am
- Colville
  
  If the English soccer team tackled like the male rugby counterparts the game would have been down to 3 aside by half time….
  
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  August 21, 2023 11:57am
Steve Otto(North Shore)

Recently, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said that all Americans who voted for President Donald Trump are “an extreme threat to our democracy, to our freedom, to our rights.”
This appears to be laying the groundwork for a civil war on Trump voters.

https://patriotclash.com/karine-jean-pierre-calls-for-civil-war-against-trump-voters-during-briefing/
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August 21, 2023 11:22am
Steve Otto(North Shore)

I think Trump is correct. None of his rivals are even close. Concentrate on their own States to rid America of Joe Biden.

https://patriotclash.com/watch-trump-tells-opponents-to-drop-out-of-race-now/

https://twitter.com/charliekirk11/status/1692271271181181407
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August 21, 2023 11:27am
Ghost

No reasons this can’t be done to start next year

The Government will amend the law to ensure schools are teaching maths, reading and writing the same way from 2026.

Education Minister Jan Tinetti said the Government intended to add core teaching requirements to the national curriculum under the Education and Training Act 2020.

Article
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August 21, 2023 11:43am
- cmm
  
  “The Government will amend the law to ensure schools are teaching maths, reading and writing the same way from 2026.”
  
  The devil is in the details. What does “the same way” mean?
  
  Does that maybe mean something like they have in San Francisco where all schools were forced to do the same watered down maths and algebra has been pushed into later years and calculus has been completely eliminated?
  
  This was done mainly because black kids were struggling a bit more with maths and, you know, racism, so equality through under achievement.
  
  This means that anyone wanting to go to university etc now gets private education (private schools or, at the least, extra tuition like summer schools).
  
  Since blacks tend to not do private school and extra tuition this has meant that black mathematics achievement has dropped even further behind whites & asians.
  
  Who would have thought that – a government programme achieving the opposite of what it says on the packet!
  
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  August 21, 2023 1:39pm
- ProtectBabiesFromPredators
  
  Winding back the Curriculum to the same subjects and content as 1970 would turbocharge the youth!
  
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  August 21, 2023 9:57pm
I remember when

Judge rules in Favour of Montana Youths in a Landmark Climate Case: NY Times.
“As fires rage in the West, fueled by fossil fuel pollution, today’s ruling in Montana is a game-changer that marks a turning point in this generation’s efforts to save the planet from the devastating effects of human-caused climate chaos,” said Julia Olson, the founder of Our Children’s Trust.

“THis ruling is absurd, but not surprising from a judge who let the plaintiff’s attorneys put on a weeklong taxpayer-funded publicity stunt that was supposed to be a trial,” Emily Flower, a spoeswoman for the Attorney General, Austin Knudsen, said in a statement.
“Montanans can’t be blamed for changing the climate.”

Since 2011, state law has prevented officials from weighing “actual or potential impacts that are regional, national, or global in nature” when conducting environmental reviews of large projects.

[Mod – please include links to the article you are quoting]
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August 21, 2023 11:49am
Maggie Pie

TWITTER TRENDING….full screen/sound up

Member-for-Tijuana takes his election campaign to the streets of Mt Albert.
The main concern is, just looking at the state of some of the residents Ricardo is talking with, he may well even attract a few votes 🙁

Fortunately, we can all be heartened by the comments made on his post….

https://twitter.com/RMarchNZ/status/1693167584223572003
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August 21, 2023 12:02pm
- Ghost
  
  So Maggie, what do you think happened over the weekend, it sounds like they were told to stop using barbie campaigning
  
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  August 21, 2023 12:09pm
- Gravelroad
  
  I’d be voting for the dog in the video – or even the ginger cat.
  Both would be more trustworthy and have more relevance than Mr Mendez.
  
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  August 21, 2023 12:44pm
- Biscuit
  
  Maggie, it’ll be hard for you to believe, I know, but some of us – by choice – aren’t members of the Twittersphere.
  
  Can you give me, in here, the Top Five comments to which you refer?
  
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  August 21, 2023 1:00pm
  - Maggie Pie
    
    Thing is bikkie, you don’t even have to be a member!
    Simply klik on the link and scroll down.
    
    Anyway, the first 5 just for you ….
    
    1. When will you fuck off back to Mexico?
    2. What exactly have you done for NZ in the last 6 years?
    3. Do you think the good people of Mt Albert want you ruining their business?
    4. Idiot!!
    5. Poor Mt Albert. First Jacinda now this homo.
    
    So you can see where this is going can’t you bikkie…..
    
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    August 21, 2023 1:36pm
    - Biscuit
      
      Ah I sort of guessed the gist, Maggie!
      
      But thanks anyway!
      
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      August 21, 2023 3:38pm
  - Fuzzysnuggleduck
    
    I wasn’t able to view the full threads (Scroll) on Twitter until I joined, purely as a reader. Often the comments are the best bit!
    
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    August 21, 2023 1:42pm
- Bridgenag
  
  Every time I look at your links to twitter I get all action I have taken on this site “disappeared”
  
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  August 21, 2023 1:27pm
I remember when

Is covid a single issue election subject?

The following are a number of Ministerial departments affected by covid decisions.

Health, Education, Revenue, Finance, Justice, Employment, Sport and Recreation, Housing, Infrastructure, Building and Construction, Trade and Export, Transport, Immigration, Racing, Police, Small Business.
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August 21, 2023 12:13pm
Jack5

The reaction to a team at a Kaimai quiz night arriving in Ku Klux Klan uniforms raises a question.

Why didn’t the KKK’s flaming St Andrew’s cross, the gathering symbol of Scots Highlander clans and now, without the flames, the flag of Scotland, spread the stigma?

The first link below tells how, for decades, the men who inflicted KKK terror didn’t wear white uniforms with conical hats that hid their faces.

The terror had continued for decades before an illustrator created the uniform for a 1905 novel and play, “The Clansman”.

The famous, now controversial, cinema pioneer, D.W. Griffith, in 1915, for a mass scene in his film Birth of a National used 25,000 yards of white muslin to create KKK uniforms on the pattern of those shown in the novel.

Origins of KKK hood:

https://newrepublic.com/article/127242/klan-got-hood

The KKK outfit is similar to that worn in various countries in Catholic processions:

https://www.dreamstime.com/symbolic-representations-christians-religious-holidays-great-catholic-processions-hooded-men-women-dressed-image135841953
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August 21, 2023 12:15pm
- Ghost
  
  It reminded me not long ago of the huge outcry of the religious people in Spain wearing their outfits and people mistaking it for KKK.
  
  I do wonder what is more offensive, a person wearing a kkk outfit or this Crap
  
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  August 21, 2023 12:20pm
  - Cassandra
    
    Faux outrage re kkk, a bit like the silly carryon re Seymour and Guido. People like Golriz Garaman really do make fools of themselves.
    
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    August 21, 2023 12:31pm
Littletramp

How stupid is King Charles to think the Commonwealth is under any sort of threat?

https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/entertainment/2023/08/prince-william-kate-called-to-urgent-meeting-with-king-charles-at-balmoral-report.html
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August 21, 2023 12:37pm
All_on_Red

‘If Trump is the GOP nominee, he will be crushed in the general election, and he will bring the House of Representatives down with him. The latest AP poll finds Trump with 35% approval and 62% disapproval. Sixty-four percent say they definitely, or probably, won’t vote for Trump in 2024. If he is the Republican nominee, he will lose worse than he did in 2020.’
https://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2023/08/make-way-for-trump.php

Support for Trumps battle against the Corrupt Democrats Lawfare doesnt equate to him gaining a majority. He will lose Georgia, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania and that means he just wont have enough Electoral College Votes.
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August 21, 2023 1:02pm
- Steve Otto(North Shore)
  
  “We will see what happens.”
  DJT.
  
  Oh, he did not lose 2020.
  
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  August 21, 2023 1:37pm
- NothingLeft
  
  Agree, Trump’s a bad choice compared to De Santis, or perhaps Ramaswarmy, though Biden’s corruption may turn stomachs sufficiently that Trump goes up.
  
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  August 21, 2023 3:16pm
cmm

On the face of it, this guy committed fraud – a criminal act. Why are the real estate people treating it as an internal disciplinary matter?

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/ex-realtor-nick-hoogwerf-made-fake-valuation-for-house-he-bought-at-auction/AK7RSJOXN5AYLAGS54IJJS2ZBM/
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August 21, 2023 1:14pm
- ClanMcleod
  
  Because corruption is normal practice in NZ these days? Just a guess!
  
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  August 21, 2023 1:42pm
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    We will find out with a ‘center right?’ Government.
    Face it, the left don’t even care how much corruption is needed to retain power.
    A cornered rat will strike – and I did that as a kid and got bitten.
    
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    August 21, 2023 4:35pm
- Maggie Pie
  
  My partner maintains if they did the right thing and handed all the complaints over to the SFO…. there would be SFA REAs left.
  
  Nobody can deny the last 5 years under this government has been an absolute goldmine for those fliking residential property 😀
  
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  August 21, 2023 1:50pm
Ghost

National would fund 13 new cancer treatments, scrap free prescriptions

National Party leader Christopher Luxon has promised to give Pharmac $280 million to pay for 13 new cancer treatments over the next four years, and scrap free prescriptions, if elected.

The treatments are ones the cancer control agency has highlighted as having a “substantial clinical benefit”.

“National will allocate $280 million in ring-fenced funding to Pharmac over four years to pay for these therapies. We think this is a better use of taxpayers’ money than paying $5 prescription fees for everyone, including those who can afford to pay it themselves,” he said.

Then the media get involved

Luxon was asked whether it was appropriate for politicians to tell Pharmac – which operates independently from ministers – which medicines or treatments it should fund.

“In this case it is cancer control agency, that has determined the 13 cancer treatments that are available in Australia,” he said.

Article

I can imagine if that was a labour announcement how the media would be championing labour for saving lives.
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August 21, 2023 1:44pm
- Warren
  
  What did Andrew Little do when he was opposition leader held meetings with Pharmac and demands about how they would have to change if Labour became the Government.
  And they have certainly done just that for six years as Labour has wrecked the Health system.
  
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  August 21, 2023 1:56pm
- Steve Otto(North Shore)
  
  Labour,
  “Labour said on Sunday it would become compulsory for schools to teach financial skills if re-elected in the October 14 general election.”
  
  Warning warning warning Will Robinson!
  You can not teach financial skills if you don’t have them!
  But keep exercising that roving decimal point!
  
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  August 21, 2023 4:43pm
Ghost

Not sure I would want to live in an apartment building that also includes alcohol and drug support, feel sorry for the state tenants that have to live with people in need or wrap around support 24/7

Three towers, 276 apartments with killer views of Auckland’s CBD. Te Mātāwai is the Government’s largest public housing development to date. But that’s not the only reason this complex is unique.

“Warm, dry, safe homes for people, with 24/7 wraparound services,” said Kainga Ora regional director Auckland Central John Tubberty.

“Things such as art therapy, mirimiri, weaving, AOD,” added Kāhui Tū Kaha deputy CEO Tipene Lemon.

That’s alcohol and drug support provided around the clock free of charge by non-profit Kāhui Tū Kaha.

“It’s an opportunity for Maori in particular to be able to discharge manaakitanga,” Lemon said.

Article
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August 21, 2023 2:02pm
- Fuzzysnuggleduck
  
  With all respect, it doesn’t read to me that unless you were one of the special people, or someone at the trough supplying said manaakitanga services, that your own feelings would count for much on this project.
  Its all about the feelz and the ideology. What could possibly go wrong?
  
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  August 21, 2023 2:18pm
  - kevn
    
    Fuzz… Drift back in 12 months and have a follow-up.
    What will it be like?
    
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    August 21, 2023 3:44pm
- Fuzzysnuggleduck
  
  …”Some units are tailored for rough sleepers”…
  One of my last trips to the CBD I saw a human turd in a doorway. Makes a change from vomit and other fluids I suppose.
  The slobs hanging out together around the Sky tower and Queen street region will bring their own twist to the new apartments.
  It was about time they were rewarded for contributing to the character of our top city.
  
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  August 21, 2023 2:27pm
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    Auckland I guess you mean.
    I avoid the CBD as much as I can. We have this Internet thingy and phones.
    Sorry but Auckland side street off Queen St are just disgusting. Pile of carboard and a sleeping bag – “Touch my stuff and I will kill you” on the cardboard. Had to go back 8 days later. Same junk and same sign.
    
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    August 21, 2023 4:49pm
- JimBobJoe
  
  odds of a standard resident being stabbed or raped by someone taking in some wrap around support services inside the first year?
  
  I reckon low in the first year as there will security guys there constantly, but into year 2 the odds start to rise I reckon.
  
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  August 21, 2023 9:03pm
Maggie Pie

UPDATE…

Ever since the rumor of Jeffrey Epstein’s prison suicide, I’ve been keeping a close eye on the scandal.
And just let me say that very soon it’s going to explode – big time!

The real reason King Charles will never let brother Andrew back into the ‘royal fold’, is because like me, he knows what is still to come out. Prepare to be rocked to the core…

https://mol.im/a/12426315
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August 21, 2023 2:25pm
- ClanMcleod
  
  Maggie, talking about suicides:
  
  As Hurricane Hilary prepares to make landfall in Southern California, the World Meteorological Organization has announced that all deaths resulting from the storm will be ruled as suicides.
  
  “We are seeing Hilary continue to weaken as it approaches the West Coast, so we have high hopes that it will not cause any, um… suicides,”
  
  https://babylonbee.com/news/deaths-caused-by-hurricane-hilary-to-be-labeled-suicides
  
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  August 21, 2023 2:49pm
  - All_on_Red
    
    https://babylonbee.com/news/hilary-makes-landfall-destroys-over-30000-emails
    
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    August 21, 2023 3:16pm
  - JimBobJoe
    
    that is brilliant….
    
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    August 21, 2023 9:00pm
- Biscuit
  
  Agreed, Maggie.
  
  If I were Andrew I’d not get close to too many high windows less he get a dose of problem-solving Putin treatment..
  
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  August 21, 2023 3:43pm
- Steve Otto(North Shore)
  
  “He took his own life while in jail in 2019”
  No he didn’t. I will not expand on this other than to say once he was arrested, many many wanted a cover up. The ones that have never been to the Island but their names are on the plane flight log. Then there is the black contacts book. Who has that now, and why won’t it be released?
  Not me, not me, I was not there!!!
  
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  August 21, 2023 4:56pm
Inandout

Ghost, go to their website and click on Financial Report. ‘Oops.. something went wrong’.

https://kahuitukaha.co.nz/
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August 21, 2023 2:25pm
- alex Masterley
  
  Which one. 2022 seemed to work but had minimal financial information.
  No balance sheets or anything similar.
  
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  August 21, 2023 3:05pm
sirknz

Why would we do this when most of his ‘subjects’ don’t recognise him as much more than the King of Huntly?

https://www.stuff.co.nz/pou-tiaki/300954441/te-pti-mori-calls-for-diplomatic-status-for-mori-king

Just seems like a headline grabber to me.
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August 21, 2023 2:41pm
- Ghost
  
  It was obvious what Goff meant, obvious to everyone but the maori king and the forever offended.
  
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  August 21, 2023 2:51pm
Ghost

Sigh, but I guess we can expect the response from the public is that fat bottom girls will become an iTunes number 1

Queen’s Fat Bottomed Girls has been dropped from a greatest hits compilation targeted at younger listeners.

The suggestive 1978 single in praise of “dirty ladies” with fuller figures was a chart success and featured on previous selections of favourite tracks by the glam rock band.

Article

Queen – Fat Bottomed Girls (Official Video)
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August 21, 2023 2:57pm
- ClanMcleod
  
  I am a massive Queen fan, had the privilege of seeing them live three times. There was a brilliant poster in the album of the song, the album was called ‘Jazz’.
  
  As a promo for the release of the ‘Jazz’ album they organised an all female, naked bicycle race. That was the poster inside the album!
  
  https://www.ebay.com/itm/163683810434?var=463160915910&mkevt=1&mkcid=1&mkrid=711-53200-19255-0&campid=5338722076&customid=&toolid=10050
  
  Cancel culture is destroying everything good about society, soulless bloody idiots.
  In comparison to what can be accessed by kids today, this was nothing but a bit of harmless fun.
  
  Well, on that basis, what else will be banned?
  
  “Whole lotta Rosie” – AC/DC
  
  “TV Mama” – Canned Heat
  
  Or any one of a multitude of other songs celebrating larger ladies.
  
  https://medium.com/@annacoumou/10-songs-for-the-fat-positive-feminist-revolution-4ae051ccbea6
  
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  August 21, 2023 4:49pm
Ghost

Please go to the toilet before you read this article, you will piss yourself laughing

The Green Party has apologised after its campaign team’s EV got stuck in the sodden ground at a Lower Hutt park, ripping up grass in the process.

Local Tony got in touch with AM on Monday, saying while heading to work on Saturday he came across what he believed to be a group of boy racers in an electric vehicle.

Article
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August 21, 2023 3:01pm
rangitoto

Greens make a mess. They should have bought a ute.

https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2023/08/election-2023-green-party-apologises-after-campaign-ev-gets-stuck-in-park-rips-up-grass.html
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August 21, 2023 4:06pm
- ClanMcleod
  
  That’ll be the weight of all those batteries, or were they giving Megan Wood a lift to the bakery?
  
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  August 21, 2023 4:17pm
- kevn
  
  Should have just parked up and carried the timber etc to the sign site.
  
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  August 21, 2023 5:03pm
- hullkiwi
  
  They did. The ute towed the leaf and trailer off the grass!
  
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  August 21, 2023 6:57pm
Maggie Pie

Honestly….if this government is going to issue a
‘TAKE-DOWN NOTICE’, you’d think those employed
to issue it would at least be capable of getting the date right!

https://news.gab.com/2023/08/gab-stands-firm-against-censorship-demand-from-new-zealand-government/
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August 21, 2023 4:23pm
- ClanMcleod
  
  More evidence that this country is becoming a basket case. Disturbing.
  
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  August 21, 2023 4:54pm
- artemisia
  
  Is 221 August 2023 actually a Monday? Or even a day? Time for a Parliamentary Question so we (and the world) know when this offshore media company is required to adhere to one of New Zealand’s sillier rules.
  
  Be fascinating to watch what actually transpires, as Gab appears to have more than one defence. Will the Christchurch Call succeed? Or be quietly dropped in this case.
  
  I sense some OIA requests brewing.
  
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  August 21, 2023 6:55pm
kevn

Now, how about the other 1000’s of NZer’s including medical personnel.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/unvaccinated-otago-university-employee-unjustifiably-sacked-collects-53k-in-remedies/BCXHDALA2FF2PABG6XKLW54GEI/
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August 21, 2023 4:50pm
- rockape
  
  Most are being re employed. Some of their fellow staff really unhappy about that.
  
  5 1
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  August 21, 2023 4:54pm
  - mandk
    
    The fellow staff have nothing to be unhappy about.
    
    There is no evidence that unvaxxed people are a threat to them.
    
    They ought to be unhappy about taking a vaxx that is neither safe, nor effective.
    
    7 1
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    August 21, 2023 5:06pm
    - rockape
      
      It was more about the anti vax people verbally undermining doctors and their fellow patients. It’s strange that in two of the three cases I am familiar with the sacked nurses were on warnings for bullying before Covid. Go figure. When you put yourself above others expect kick back.
      
      1 4
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      August 21, 2023 7:18pm
kevn

rock… They may well do. Feeling shafted by hipkins and arden being forced to take the jab.
I have yet to meet anyone who is pleased they took the jab. Even voluntarily. So much negative jab data out there now.
The evidence from late 2020 was plain, pfizer even advised the NZ govt of jab health issues.
Employees who were able to withstand the financial pressure and resign with other options are the winners.
Jabbed NZer’s are the losers.
6 1
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August 21, 2023 5:09pm
Colville

https://www.1news.co.nz/2023/08/21/poll-labour-dips-to-just-29-national-act-on-course-for-win/

65/55 Right Vs Left…. that is a bit more like reality.
16 0
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August 21, 2023 6:16pm
- Rumblestrip
  
  Labour’s worst poll result in six years.
  
  The big headlines on Stuff right now:
  1) A boxing coach passed away
  2) A rottweiler is being put down for biting a vet
  …
  
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  August 21, 2023 6:54pm
- hullkiwi
  
  …and Aunty Helen of Helengrad is out with the begging bowl….and we are told they are only getting started….!!!
  
  10 0
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  August 21, 2023 7:00pm
  - NeverMindTheBollocks
    
    Tell her to get her own cheque book out
    
    1 0
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    August 21, 2023 9:57pm
    - Ghost
      
      She is, that’s the point of it, she has said she will match any donations made to labour.
      
      0 0
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      August 21, 2023 10:12pm
- JerJer
  
  I believe they called Chippie “dead man walking” on TV1. Things must be dire.
  
  11 0
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  August 21, 2023 7:09pm
- greybeard
  
  I see that Jessica ( “first Tova then Jessica”) Mutch is enceinte: who is the lucky guy ?
  
  3 0
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  August 21, 2023 7:26pm
  - Maggy Wassilieff
    
    Mr McKay…
    
    It will be her 2nd Child
    
    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/tvnz-political-editor-jessica-mutch-and-jacinda-arderns-bodyguard-welcome-first-baby/D6IXDH7UDNUM3H6APWCOWJOPSM/
    
    1 0
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    August 21, 2023 7:32pm
    - greybeard
      
      Thanks.
      The NZ media personalities’ milieu is not my forte.
      
      3 1
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      August 21, 2023 7:34pm
  - Biscuit
    
    I plead INNOCENT!
    
    3 1
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    August 21, 2023 7:32pm
    - nathie
      
      Who are you pleading to, a Magistrate or Mrs Biscuit?
      
      If a magistrate I may very well be able to help! For $499.99 I can provide you a Cultural Report, courtesy of Harry’s Enterprises and I guarantee you will “nail it”!
      
      But I’m afraid if it’s Mrs Biscuit … well for $499.99 that gets you a deluxe outdoor dog house with a tin roof to prevent leaks when it is raining!
      
      3 0
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      August 21, 2023 8:09pm
      - Biscuit
        
        Heh heh, nathie.
        
        The boss lady I’ve shared a cot with since just after our Uni days – we never wed – knows that I gave up ‘straying’ once I met her.
        
        My plea of innocence is more for the benefit of Kiwibloggers like you!
        
        1 0
        Report
        August 21, 2023 11:14pm
- JimBobJoe
  
  Can Chippie match or better Angry Andys 24% poll result? Even A_Squared Little thought that poll in 2017 was crap and offered to resign… his colleagues in the best traditions of English football club owners expressed the complete confidence in him, until they knifed him and install Jacinda of the Pox and Lie in July 2017.
  
  https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/labour-leader-andrew-little-says-he-considered-stepping-down-in-face-of-bad-polling/KPHBUCRGPGIIVJGOHU5B7SPAEA/
  
  0 0
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  August 21, 2023 10:05pm
  - Ghost
    
    I’m sure if Hipkins tries he can take Bill English’s 21.8%
    
    0 0
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    August 21, 2023 10:19pm
Fisiani2

The Labour decline is progressive and they could be low 20% by election time. The mood is that they have failed and disappointed and are flailing.
Party Vote Labour means more and more chaos.
Party Vote National means competent change and renewal
21 1
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August 21, 2023 6:48pm
- sharont
  
  Winston has lost his edge – no need to vote for him any longer! Win/win!
  
  6 0
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  August 21, 2023 7:58pm
kevn

labour in 20’s means more bribes.
16 0
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August 21, 2023 7:00pm
jon

Hipkins needs to get to work on his concession speech for the 14th Oct.
8 0
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August 21, 2023 7:39pm
- cmm
  
  “Definitely not. I’m still far too busy fixing nine years of neglect. ” or something like that.
  
  1 0
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  August 21, 2023 8:11pm
PeterB

At Chris Luxon’s speech in Greenhithe. Come across pretty well. 3 Waters will be gone. Got a great big cheer.
12 0
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August 21, 2023 7:53pm
Inthe09

But but but – Luxon is so unpopular – oh hang on….
8 0
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August 21, 2023 8:02pm
Hugh Jarse

Is that rain i hear ?, no it’s the sound of lefty tears rolling down their cheeks and hitting their keyboards
6 0
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August 21, 2023 8:14pm
greybeard

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby-world-cup-2023/300954832/rugby-world-cup-2023-former-all-blacks-coach-steve-hansen-joins-wallabies

Well, that is the end of any chance the Wallabies may have had !
2 0
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August 21, 2023 8:32pm
- Colville
  
  Wont matter…their Props are still powder puffs…
  
  If it was Wayne Smith I would worry!!
  
  2 0
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  August 21, 2023 8:46pm

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