General Debate 16 December 2023

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Benedict Yu

A couple of contrasting speeches from Government Ministers.

The Climate Change Minister was celebrating the COP 28 resolution to transition away from fossil fuels. What that means for New Zealand, or any country really, is unclear.

He said “it is a turning point”.

https://www.1news.co.nz/2023/12/14/this-is-a-turning-point-climate-minister-hails-fossil-fuel-deal/

No. A bunch of politicians declaring something is not a “turning point”. A turning point would be the discovery of commercial fusion energy. Or a huge gas field in New Zealand.

Much to my amusement he also said that “much work was needed” to reduce methane emissions in New Zealand. 🤡 Such work has been going on for at least 25 years. The cows are still emitting methane with every belch, causing many folk to lose their minds.

I admit, I had never heard of Simon Watts until the Ministerial portfolios were announced. So far, he fails to impress. 🙁

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/504703/cop28-deal-significant-step-forward-climate-change-minister-says

Meanwhile, on another planet, Shane Jones gave a speech in Parliament.

He told us that climate change policies in New Zealand are driven by “people with shallow ideas”. He said that we will have one climate change policy, the Emissions Trading Scheme. “All other work being undertaken in the Ministry for the Environment will now stop.” He also said that no climate change policies will be allowed to adversely affect farmers. “To those currently buried in the Ministry for the Environment, working on those policies, stop”.

He also said that coal and gas would continue to play central roles in power generation.

He described the 2030 Paris Accord commitments as “Jacinda’s airy fairytale targets”. He said “we are not going to meet those targets”.

https://youtu.be/8ikaaaECmlE?si=qr-ZfRbgZri9bbgn

Shane Jones is correct. New Zealand has no chance of meeting the Paris Accord commitments from domestic action. We will be forced to pay tens of billions of dollars for international carbon offsets. In practice, this means paying other countries to reduce their emissions and receiving the credits.

Looks like there will be some interesting Cabinet discussions coming up. 😂
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December 16, 2023 8:01am
- mikenmildagain
  
  Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
  It exceedingly doubtful that Shane Jones, for all his self-important bluster, can unilaterally withdraw NZ from its international commitments.
  
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  December 16, 2023 8:05am
  - Master Mariner
    
    Rephrase that too , What country will meet likely “Targets” ?
    
    Unless the Laws of Physics have changed ?
    
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    December 16, 2023 8:12am
  - Simon
    
    It’s a “turning point”. MM. lap it up.
    
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    December 16, 2023 8:17am
  - Benedict Yu
    
    He did not say that New Zealand is going to withdraw from its international commitments. He simply stated a fact – New Zealand is not going to meet the 2030 emission reduction targets in the Paris Accord.
    
    Take a look at this chart.
    
    https://environment.govt.nz/publications/new-zealands-greenhouse-gas-inventory-19902021-snapshot/#:~:text=in%20the%20figure.-,Gross%20emissions%20have%20increased%20between%201990%20and%202021,Change%20(UNFCCC)%20reporting).
    
    New Zealand needs to reduce net emissions (net of Land Use, Land-Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF) emissions) to 24 MT by 2030, a 50 percent reduction on the 2005 level of 48 MT.
    
    So between 2005 and 2021, a period of 16 years, how much did emissions decline? zero 🙁
    
    The only event that has caused emissions to decline in the last 30 years is the global financial crisis.
    
    The challenge is even more severe when you consider that 50 percent of emissions come from agriculture, especially dairy farming. Dairy cattle numbers have fallen 10 percent in the last 10 years. That trend has helped the flat trajectory in gross emissions.
    
    https://www.stats.govt.nz/information-releases/agricultural-production-statistics-year-to-june-2023-provisional/
    
    Transport emissions are also now flat having soared until 2006. This reflects cars becoming more fuel efficient which has largely offset the continuing sharp rises in motor vehicle numbers, as a result of New Zealand’s high population growth.
    
    To get anywhere near the Paris Accord targets, we would need to reduce agriculture emissions by at least 20 percent and transport emissions by about 70 percent from where they are now. The Government has announced that its primary climate change mitigation policy will be the ETS. No more subsidised EVs.
    
    Could transport emissions be reduced by 70 percent? Of course. Just withdraw units from the ETS to provide a binding cap. However that would require petrol prices of perhaps $4.50 in 2023 dollars. Many lower income households would be priced out of car ownership. This has already been acknowledged by the Climate Change Commission.
    
    I become annoyed by climate change policy in New Zealand for one simple reason. The rhetoric bears no relation to the truth. Politicians like our new Climate Change Minister are either unaware of the truth or they willfully hide it.
    
    As I have said a couple of times, well before the end of this term of government, the rhetoric will have a nasty collision with the truth.
    
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    December 16, 2023 8:52am
    - cmm
      
      It is all virtue signalling. Being seen to be saying the right things.
      
      The commitments are always far off – for other people to meet. Now that far-off time has arrived and the twats that signed us up are long gone.
      
      Why should I mind committing to buy every person in NZ an EV and a house in 2080? I’ll be dead by then.
      
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      December 16, 2023 10:31am
  - Che Guava
    
    Who gives a shit about “international commitments”? If we are truly a sovereign nation, we do what is best for us, not what is purportedly best for the rest of the world. Within limits, of course. The extent to which “international commitments” bind us is the extent to which New Zealand is not sovereign.
    
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    December 16, 2023 9:55am
    - Charmaine Hawke
      
      “International commitments” when used by a politician is coded language for “my next job” IMHO. It is well past time they remembered they are on short term contracts with their people and their next job should not be on their mind.
      
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      December 16, 2023 10:14am
      - Lee C
        
        Charmaine, I’d like to propose you lobby the Green Party to support raising public money (or at least request a Referendum) for a statue honouring the work of Buffalo Bill.
        
        For hundreds of thousands of years, vast herds of buffalo roamed the prairie unchecked, and unsupervised emitting methane into the atmosphere in staggering amounts.
        
        Not a single Native American paid any form of carbon tax which raises the issue of reparations for emissions owed, in my view.
        
        Thank heavens Buffalo Bill completed his mission to wipe out the buffalo when he did. Otherwise, under the frankly reckless stewardship of teh Cheyenne, Sioux and Comanche, who knows what the global climate would look like today!?!
        
        In my view, Buffalo Bill was the world’s first climate activist, and should be honoured accordingly.
        
        Are you with me?
        
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        December 16, 2023 12:01pm
    - mikenmildagain
      
      Any other international treaties you wish to rip up?
      
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      December 16, 2023 10:31am
      - Che Guava
        
        Any that place New Zealand at an unacceptable (or more particularly, unnecessary) disadvantage that wouldn’t exist but for the treaty in question. That’s a reasonable position for a New Zealander, isn’t it?
        
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        December 16, 2023 10:43am
      - Paul
        
        International has no meaning. Everything is International. On this Planet. There are no International Treaties that involve all Countries.
        Perhaps you mean Trans National treaties?
        
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        December 16, 2023 9:08pm
    - cmm
      
      If you’ve signed up and you don’t meet those commitments, then it is possible that you end up being shunned and having some sorts of sanctions applied.
      
      Of course, nobody is going to really meet commitments so they will likely just reaffirm the commitments but push the dates out (eg. blaming Covid and Russia for delaying things).
      
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      December 16, 2023 10:33am
      - Che Guava
        
        I realise we aren’t big enough to act completely autonomously, but we could aspire to take the US approach, which is that we have a “rules-based international order” when it suits our interests, and we don’t have one when it doesn’t.
        
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        December 16, 2023 10:45am
    - Jake Dee
      
      Kinda yYes but mainly kinda No.
      A sovereign power is determined by its ability to enter into commitments but’s also judged by other sovereign powers by its ability to keep them.
      It’s like the Gentlemans Agreement, not actually enforced by law but it is enforced. Break a gentleman’s agreement, and it becomes known that you are not a gentleman and you don’t get offered another.
      
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      December 16, 2023 4:58pm
- profile
  
  A Comprehensive Assessment of Anthropogenic and Natural Sources and Sinks of Australasia’s Carbon Budget
  First published: 08 December 2023
  “Within Australasia, Australia was a net source of 38.2 ± 75.8 TgC yr−1, and New Zealand was a net CO2 sink of −38.6 ± 13.4 TgC yr−1.”
  https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2023GB007845
  
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  December 16, 2023 8:07am
  - Maggy Wassilieff
    
    Important paper…
    
    It will probably go over the heads of our Green MPs
    
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    December 16, 2023 9:52am
    - Paulus
      
      Me to, and I am a National Party supporter !
      
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      December 16, 2023 10:47am
      - Maggy Wassilieff
        
        2 key take-out points, then:
        
        1. NZ is a Carbon sink……i.e. Our vegetation and soil and estuaries and coastal waters are taking in more Carbon than is being emitted by NZ’s industries/cars/animals/humans/decomposing bugs.
        
        (On the race to Carbon Zero by 2050, we are already over and beyond the Finish Line).
        
        2. With Uncertainty values running at thousands of percent…. (−0.4 ± 77.0 TgC yr−1)… Our C budgets are FAR from settled science
        
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        December 16, 2023 2:25pm
      - Burtland
        
        even with uncertainty NZ appears to be a sink
        
        “New Zealand was a net CO2 sink of −38.6 ± 13.4 TgC yr−1”
        
        Given that our UN GHG inventory is bad and this RECCAP-2 budget is good, it would seem someone is BS’ing us – “is it them again Yogi”
        
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        December 17, 2023 9:17am
- Chuck Bird
  
  Methane is a short lived trace gas. That is why I am a supporter of the methane science accord.
  
  https://methane-accord.co.nz/
  
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  December 16, 2023 8:07am
  - imalwaysright
    
    Good work Chuck.
    Unfortunately the overall narrative that CO2 is our fault and warms the planet is programmed into most of the population.
    It is incredible that the population have been convinced that we are capable of heating a planet by two degrees in 76 years just by adjusting the chemistry of the atmosphere by an amount we struggle to measure .
    
    The massive nuclear reactor that pumps heat into the planet 24/7 seems to have been ignored in the “calculations”
    
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    December 16, 2023 9:11am
    - Michael Sommerville
      
      As I have asked, if the temperature starts coming down, are these idiots going to recommend we start burning fossil fuels again to stabilise the temperature and if not why not?
      
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      December 16, 2023 10:38am
      - thirteenstars
        
        No. Too hot, too cold, doesn’t matter. The rule is: if nature does it, fine. If humans do it, it’s bad. Very bad.
        
        There are some subtleties. If native populations–the noble savages–do it, that’s OK since they have a spiritual connection with the land.
        
        Another goodie, and a variation of the above, is if you do it in an attempt to prevent many others from doing it, you get a pass, such as flying 100,000 attendees to a climate conference, or jetting around the world shouting very loudly the end is nigh.
        
        The ETS has a nice little twist: you can do it until it hurts as long as you buy some credits and passing the cost of those credits along to your customers.
        
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        December 16, 2023 12:37pm
  - Chris Nisbet
    
    Yep. We apparently reduced the effect of agricultural methane emissions on the climate by some enormous amount by literally doing nothing. ‘Settled science’ changed a bit and figured out that methane doesn’t have even 1/2 the effect it was claimed to have.
    We should continue to do nothing.
    And don’t forget boys and girls…
    – warmer is better
    – CO2 is not pollution
    
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    December 16, 2023 9:21am
- Master Mariner
  
  After trying to identify NZ’s Road map to Zero. It became pretty obvious there was no plan, Just slogans etc.
  The turmoil this has caused to the productive sector of NZ economy is tantamount too economic sabotage.
  
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  December 16, 2023 8:08am
  - imalwaysright
    
    Tantamount is being kind Master, this destruction of New Zealand was deliberate.
    
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    December 16, 2023 1:34pm
    - Keith White
      
      ‘Treason doth never prosper: what ‘s the reason?Why, if it prosper, none dare call it treason.’ — John Harrington.
      
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      December 17, 2023 3:32am
- Simon
  
  Turning point. Good line for the cattle. RNZ and their cretin readers lap it up . International commitments is another. 200 countries have agreed to international commitments. Lol – the govt programming is just too much.
  
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  December 16, 2023 8:15am
- Dudley Quaffquaff
  
  Actually this is a pretty good test of whether somebody really cares about addressing climate change.
  
  If the choice is between paying large amounts of money for large amounts of emissions reductions overseas and paying large amounts of money for small emissions reductions in New Zealand, the former is indubitably the better environmental choice. They should support it wholeheartedly.
  
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  December 16, 2023 8:20am
  - mikenmildagain
    
    That’s true. a global problem obviously requires global solutions. If it is more effective to reduce emissions in other countries, that is the logical path.
    
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    December 16, 2023 9:55am
    - Aquarius
      
      That may be the first sane comment ever from mma
      
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      December 16, 2023 10:05am
    - rouppe
      
      New Zealand produces 0.7% of global emissions. You could eliminate every living thing in this country, every human, animal, bird, and fish, and the effect on the climate would be…
      
      Nothing.
      
      The solution to emissions reduction is with the large emitters. Using science to reduce the emissions from the thousands of coal fired plants in India and China would be a good start. They aren’t going away anytime soon, so focusing on the problem at hand rather than inventing a problem in this country is better all round
      
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      December 16, 2023 10:23am
      - Damocles11
        
        You’ve vastly overstated NZ’s share of global emissions. It is 0.17%, not 0.7%. We are a fraction of a rounding error.
        
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        December 16, 2023 11:43am
      - Dudley Quaffquaff
        
        Any group of 5 million people could say the same. In fact the total emissions of most groups of 5 million in the world would be lower that New Zealand’s. If those 5 million people were a cross-section of Chinese society they would be responsible for just over half of NZ’s share, and 5 million Indians would be less than a third of that.
        
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        December 16, 2023 1:06pm
      - ISeeRed
        
        @Dudley Quaffquaff Yes, I agree we should let in fewer Third Worlders if their carbon footprints will increase.
        
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        December 16, 2023 2:27pm
      - MCōs
        
        That logic could be used to absolve NZ from taking action over anything
        Why did we, along we forty odd other countries, send military to Afghanistan?
        
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        December 16, 2023 3:09pm
    - Michael Sommerville
      
      Exactly, and that is why NZ reducing carbon output will have absolutely no effect on the level of CO2 in the atmosphere.
      
      I shall start taking notice when India, China, Russia, Indonesia et al have reduced their carbon emissions. Then we will be able to truly establish whether this “science” is correct.
      
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      December 16, 2023 10:44am
    - crikey
      
      mma: “ If it is more effective to reduce emissions in other countries, that is the logical path”.
      
      Indeed, and, therefore, it is their responsibility.
      
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      December 16, 2023 3:23pm
      - Dudley Quaffquaff
        
        That doesn’t follow at all. It’s more effective for a qualified electrician to rewire my house than it is for me to do it myself, but that doesn’t make it her responsibility to do it. If I want it done, I’ve got to arrange for her to do it and I’ve got to pay her for her work.
        
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        December 16, 2023 5:07pm
    - Paul
      
      Nonsensical comment. There has never been a Global Consensus. Never will be. There is no Consensus at your Bus Stop. Expand your imagination a little. There is also no global problem.
      The Globe is inanimate. What we do may effect Humans, but we are merely guests.
      
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      December 16, 2023 9:14pm
- Matt Long
  
  I guess all the Blue Greens here are happy they votes for a soft socialist party, “Let’s Keep Jacinda’s Legacy.”
  
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  December 16, 2023 8:25am
- Burtland
  
  “climate change policies in NZ are driven by people with shallow ideas”
  
  Solar farms are currently being installed 2m about the ground to allow livestock grazing – they seem to have forgotten that ruminant livestock burp methane – how shallow is that.
  
  https://lodestoneenergy.co.nz/projects/kaitaia/
  
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  December 16, 2023 8:33am
  - Nickc2
    
    FYI, I find it hilarious that our kids can’t read, write, add, multiply, divide, or subtract but they can quote chapter and verse, rules pertaining to Man-Made Global Warming (MMGW), who is responsible for it, and who should bear the costs of it. Note, they have been brainwashed into believing MMGW exists!
    IMO, School Teachers throughout the Western World have a lot to answer for, but will they?
    I certainly doubt it!
    
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    December 16, 2023 10:21am
- pdm
  
  `I admit, I had never heard of Simon Watts until the Ministerial portfolios were announced.’
  
  I thought Simon Watts did an okay job as Nationals spokesman on 3/5/10/All/Mahuta Waters over the last couple of years. Sometimes he seemed a lone National voice on the rort.
  
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  December 16, 2023 8:36am
  - H. Upmann
    
    Well he has certainly messed up those successes then haven’t he, promoting the lunatic, clearly false methane-evil cult.
    
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    December 16, 2023 8:58am
- Scott
  
  The idea that we will phase out fossil fuels by 2050 is completely unworkable. We need oil and gas, we also need hydro, we need thermal energy, these will not be replaced by wind and solar. Wind and solar only work about half of the time.
  
  On a cold morning in July here in Masterton there are many many days where the sun is not shining and the wind is not blowing. My wife will be up before 7 AM, turning on the heat pump because it is cold, jumping into a hot shower, boiling the jug for a cup of tea and having breakfast before jumping into her fossil fuel powered car and driving to work. If Masterton relied on renewable energy then on a cold winters morning in July she could do none of those things.
  
  The fact of the matter is that there is not a village, a town, even a demonstration village, anywhere in the world, that is powered solely by renewable energy. Wind and solar will never ever replace fossil fuels. The idea of phasing out oil and gas by 2050 is ludicrous. Shane Jones is talking sense on this issue.
  
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  December 16, 2023 8:47am
- Bridgenag
  
  Anyone thought about the millions of belching, farting brumbie horses, camels, hares, rabbits, buffalo, dingoes, kangaroos, emus, donkeys, pigs running wild in the Aussie outback and the consequences of the bushfires?
  
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  December 16, 2023 9:01am
  - greybeard
    
    You forgot the NZ backpackers….
    
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    December 16, 2023 9:39am
  - kevn
    
    Bridge… and the grey nomads roaming Aussie. In their non EV vehicles. You can guarantee that.
    
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    December 16, 2023 10:07am
- Steve Otto(North Shore)
  
  I also have never heard of Simon Watts, and he is MP of North Shore!
  Wishy-washy type, a sheep.
  
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  December 16, 2023 9:09am
  - mikenmildagain
    
    Did you vote for him by mstake?
    
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    December 16, 2023 9:56am
    - Steve Otto(North Shore)
      
      Upper Harbour for us. Cameron Brewer.
      
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      December 16, 2023 12:20pm
    - Paul
      
      Clever, play the man. Red Card.
      
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      December 16, 2023 9:15pm
- Ra Henare
  
  It would appear that Simon Watts (accountant) is not an independent thinker.
  
  Those utterances look and sound like bumf from the troughers who went with him to Cop28.
  
  He has only been an MP for 3 years so guess he is still finding his feet and still overly relying on “”staff””.
  
  Lets hope he grows a set and becomes a leader not a follower.
  
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  December 16, 2023 1:52pm
- Countrygirl
  
  Can’t we use our carbon credits which are unsaleable to offset our own emissions? It’s all a mickey mouse set up to me.
  
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  December 16, 2023 4:12pm
Yvette

How to eat like our tīpuna
There has been much prestige around food – something that has changed mostly as we’ve colonised our understanding of food.
We’ve colonised our palate, would you believe?
Some of the things that were delicacies for our ancestors, many of us refuse to eat because our palates have been colonised to a very Western approach to what food is.

Because kai is an expression of identity, kai is an expression of tino rangatiratanga.
If you’re able to remove any external influence over what you eat and how you eat, that’s a way of re-indigenising your world and you are reliant more so on yourself for your sustenance and well-being.
https://www.1news.co.nz/2023/12/15/how-to-eat-like-our-tipuna/

An American involved in Watergate was in-prisoned, saw what he considered to be plight of African Americans, and interviewed by Brian Edwards, when this man visited New Zealand, said the African-Americans, in history, had been enslaved twice – once physically when they arrived in America, and second mentally, when they were continually told they occupy all the lower society statistics

Maori have been colonised twice
“Some of the things that were delicacies for our ancestors, many of us refuse to eat because our palates have been colonised to a very Western approach to what food is”, above, is only a minor example, but is perhaps in vast error in that it is not “because our palates have been colonised” but a self-inflicted mental mindset, which although in this seemingly minor example, shows how far the second colonisation penetrates.

Out-going Labour MP Kelvin Davis back on 20 February 2017, MP for Te Tai Tokerau, said –
After nine years of this National Government, propped up by the Māori party, there’s not a lot to brag about. Māori are more likely to be overweight, depressed, homeless, incarcerated and uneducated according to these disturbing statistics produced under National’s watch.
https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1702/S00255/no-mana-for-maori.htm

So, said for only cheap political gain. this is however a great example of the mindset and mantra that colonises Maori for a second time – and often if they don’t do it to themselves, one of their own: other Maori, will do it for them

– like Davis. Fortunately for us, he is leaving Parliament, but for Australians it may be rather sad – Andersen said Davis is taking up a job in Australia specialising in indigenous relations [1] – where he is likely to adapt a similar mantra for the people “he is to serve”
____________
[1] https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2023/12/kelvin-davis-resigns-from-labour-party-leaving-politics.html
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December 16, 2023 8:01am
- Taieri
  
  “Some of the things that were delicacies for our ancestors, many of us refuse to eat because our palates have been colonised to a very Western approach to what food is”
  ————-
  
  Such as long pigs…
  
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  December 16, 2023 10:46am
  - thirteenstars
    
    Indeed.
    
    Humans are quite delicious, apparently, and once you get a taste for it, very convenient since they self-manage their own grazing until culled.
    
    When you consider the parlous state of Maori in the late-18th century with regards to the severe reduction in food supply, especially protein sources, and the constant inter-tribal warfare, it’s no surprise feeding on one’s own became so popular.
    
    We can’t condemn an entire people for the practises of the past. We can however condemn the blind celebration of a culture that itself seeks to bring every bad past-practise of other cultures into the current context.
    
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    December 16, 2023 12:54pm
    - Damocles11
      
      Your tribe was ‘your own’, another tribe was simply your enemy competing for scarce resources, there to be subjugated, enslaved, and eaten.
      
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      December 16, 2023 2:42pm
- Swifty
  
  I’d just point out that there is not a single thing that gentleman has said about Maori food culture that people from every other culture on earth say too.
  
  It is in no way unique to Maori as he seems to imply by talking about all sorts of uniquely Maori descriptors and motivators.
  
  All around the world over the last few decades all manner of peoples have embraced traditional foods and food preparation – I myself have been immersed in it since the 90s.
  
  I’d add to that one of the major factors in the current health of not only the Maori population, but all populations, these days has been the explosion over the last 100-150 years of the ability of ordinary people to access abundant, cheap and nutritious food from all over the world.
  
  To those grifters who claim we’ve got a ‘food crisis’ at the moment in our lives (as Hipkins said a year or two back) – well just take a look back at how people were living 200, 500, 1,000 years ago and then pop along to your local Paknsave and then tell me all about it.
  
  The gentleman in the piece has rocks in his head if he thinks urbanised people will suddenly foreswear the supermarkets and take up growing rice on their patios.
  
  Thanks free enterprise!
  
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  December 16, 2023 11:56am
  - imalwaysright
    
    In the old days most people were hungry most of the time.
    That’s why they ate that crap.
    Now they aren’t hungry and therefore become fussy eaters.
    The maori moaner should be thanking those ancestral colonisers for feeding his ancestors and enabling their procreativity resulting in him and his dislike of huhu grubs in preference to a grass fed Angus steak.
    
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    December 16, 2023 1:46pm
    - Don Beckett
      
      To be fair, that’s not correct. When the first English settlers arrived, they didn’t adjust well to the change of their growing practices from the Northern hemisphere. In that first year, if it wasn’t for Maori helping them with the adjustment & planting, a good number of the settlers would have starved.
      
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      December 16, 2023 2:00pm
      - Jake Dee
        
        I’ve got to say I find that very unlikely. What British colony in NZ was dependent on the majority of its food being grown within NZ in the first year?
        What British colony in NZ was dependent on a crop that the Māori were expert in?
        NZ is a group of islands in the pacific and the British could fish quite well.
        
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        December 16, 2023 5:17pm
- Countrygirl
  
  And I note that Maori are the main people to have problems with smoking if they aren’t governmentally stopped from doing it. There’s no reason to take it up just because it is not illegal is there?
  
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  December 16, 2023 4:15pm
- Sarkozygroupie
  
  Yes, well Davis may find the Aussie public don’t take too kindly to having such ideas foisted on them and will do something about it. They push back more strongly than we do.
  
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  December 17, 2023 1:13am
Vinicius

Nick Leggett the CEO of Infrastructure New Zealand has an opinion piece in The Post today.

The article talks about infrastructure in general and of course the KiwiRail ferry projects.

• It is very concerning that the previous Government did not budget for the significant capital investment needed for iReX, and instead, kicked the can down the road. Sadly, this is indicative of the way infrastructure has been treated in New Zealand for some time: unfunded or partially funded plans with no clear pipeline of projects to provide taxpayers and the infrastructure sector with the required certainty.

• The reality is, if we don’t change how we do things and face up to our responsibilities as a nation, our infrastructure deficit will continue to grow with severe consequences for our communities as a result.

On the Ardern – Hipkins mob he writes:

• Now is the time for New Zealand to learn the lessons from poor planning and correct the political partisanship, poor decision-making and limited private sector capital investment opportunities that have led to this project failing.

Labour lacked an understanding of the nuances of policy making across much of government which is at the heart of why this country is where it is now. This is in addition to the uncontrolled spending by a failed Minister of Finance who hopefully will be gone from politics by the next election.

https://www.thepost.co.nz/nz-news/350132473/ferry-saga-highlights-failure-new-zealands-infrastructure-planning [paywalled]
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December 16, 2023 8:07am
Yvette

Reversing decline of te reo Māori
What’s clear, says Dr Higgins, is that most of the initiatives underway to encourage uptake of Māori language are operating in silos.

A government review of the Māori language sector carried out in 2011 found that more than $500 million is being spent on the language, but Dr Higgins says it is still struggling.
https://www.wgtn.ac.nz/maori-hub/to-be-deleted/rangahau/maori-research-projects/reversing-decline-of-te-reo-maori

So how much from all sources is spent each year from all New Zealand taxpayers on supporting the Maori language?
And where the hell is it being spent?
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December 16, 2023 8:08am
- mikenmildagain
  
  The $500 million figure appears to be bullshit.
  
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  December 16, 2023 9:58am
  - mikenmildagain
    
    Just checked – it’s $137 million for broadcasting and the language commission.
    
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    December 16, 2023 10:01am
    - Damocles11
      
      It’s $137 million of ‘delivering for maori’ (code for ‘keeping the money flowing to the maori elites and Labours political allies’).
      
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      December 16, 2023 10:15am
      - Paulus
        
        With that money they have altered the country real name to go away from the word New Zealand which no longer spoken.
        Some derived other word is sole use now.
        
        9 2
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        December 16, 2023 10:52am
    - rouppe
      
      And the immersion schools? And the mandatory Te Reo in state schools? And the indigenous consultants in every government department? And the 10 minutes wasted in every meeting having a waiata or mihi?
      
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      December 16, 2023 10:29am
      - mikenmildagain
        
        The immersion schools might represent a small marginal cost as the pupils would otherwise be in other schools at public expense.
        
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        December 16, 2023 11:04am
- Swifty
  
  I distinctly remember being told during its inception that the funding of Maori Television was all that would be necessary for the language to flourish – and on that basis the funding was approved and the organisation established.
  
  What horseshit that was.
  
  There’s another point here too, at what point will it be realised that many, many Maori don’t in fact value it and are unwilling or unable to learn it irrespective of how much taxpayer money is thrown at it.
  
  If of interest, Maori tv received approx $40M a year of direct funding until recently (not including programme commissions from other agencies) when Jackson announced tens of millions more in annual funding.
  
  https://i.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/129812494/government-outlines-its-threeyear-80m-mori-media-strategy
  
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  December 16, 2023 10:57am
Flossie

A company I deal with, and as is their demand pay by Direct Debit, has changed banks. I queried this company about the new DD fee on my bank account and they told me it was Nothing To Do With Them What My Bank Charges Me, and to take it up with my bank. I am kind of speechless that nobody there can see that if they want to change banks then their customers are paying a price.
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December 16, 2023 8:18am
- peterwn
  
  The whole Direct Debit situation is confused. Various privileged organisations (eg power retails, communications providers etc) are permitted to make a direct debit from any account unilaterally on the basis they will indemnify the banks if the payment is overturned, but then the customer’s bank seem unwilling to overturn an improper DD. Generally these organisations meet the $5 setup fee, whereas in other cases the customer meets the $5 fee. If the customer changes banks then it seems DD authorities are transferred to the new bank without charge and the utility advised.
  My view is that since DD’s are mainly for the benefit of utilities etc then they should bear the $5 fee and not the customer. However nothing is likely to change in the interim.
  
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  December 16, 2023 9:56am
  - rouppe
    
    Direct debits are a fucked process.
    
    I give a company written authority to debit my account. This is shown to the bank, and they allow the transactions.
    
    More than once I have gone to the bank with a written instruction to stop allowing the transactions, and they refuse to act on it, and it seems there is no way to prevent deductions unless the company initiates it.
    
    I’ve lost hundreds when a gym failed to stop taking money
    
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    December 16, 2023 10:36am
    - pdm
      
      I have no problem with Direct Debits provided I am dealing with established reputable companies.
      
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      December 16, 2023 11:56am
  - Tauhei Notts
    
    Years ago when direct debit of rates came in I asked my client if he would want his rates payments set up for direct debit.
    “No way” he exclaimed.
    He was the the local mayor!
    
    14 0
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    December 16, 2023 10:49am
    - Swifty
      
      It’s never been clear to me why people agree to do it.
      
      I set up automatic payments from my bank account for free and they serve exactly the same purpose – but with one key difference, I am in total control of how much goes out and when.
      
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      December 16, 2023 11:01am
      - peterwn
        
        Direct debits is honoured properly on both sides are extremely convenient. Automatic payments are OK for regular fixed amounts but not varying amounts such as power bills. Direct debits were ‘sold’ on the basis that the payer has complete control and could cancel direct debits at any time. However that fundamental principle has gone out of the window and you are generally now at the mercy of the party receiving the money.
        
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        December 16, 2023 12:34pm
      - Swifty
        
        Thanks peterwn.
        
        I just periodically review my utilities auto payments to make sure enough is going in so that I’m always in credit.
        
        Easy.
        
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        December 16, 2023 1:51pm
      - Ghost
        
        We do the same. Have never used direct debit and never will, automatic payments work just fine
        
        5 1
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        December 16, 2023 2:00pm
MCōs

Legislation banning exploration for oil and gas was passed in 2018 when NZF was an essential part of any majority required to make up the numbers.
They could have vetoed the legislation as they did with other stuff.
I’m not suggesting for one moment Mr Jones’ vote was bought off by way of the Provincial Growth Fund
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December 16, 2023 8:24am
- Yvette
  
  At the time of banning gas and oil exploration, it seemed to be common “knowledge” that the decision was made outside of Cabinet (something Winston abhorred enough to have UNSC 2334 resolution listed in the Coalition Agreement) to assist the passing of Winston’s waka-jumping bill against Shaw’s ban on oil and gas.
  So, if that was true, it is more gratifying to see a reversal of a dopey decision.
  
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  December 16, 2023 8:45am
- imalwaysright
  
  Yes you are
  
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  December 16, 2023 9:14am
- peterwn
  
  Was it a legislative change or did the Minister responsible simply told the department not to issue new licences? Just like Chris Hipkins scuttled Charter Schools by telling the Education Ministry to make life impossible for them.
  
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  December 16, 2023 9:59am
- Pineapple Lumps
  
  For an example of gaslighting just see
  
  “I’m not suggesting for one moment…” above.
  
  Mcos – do you find it hard to lie straight in bed?
  
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  December 16, 2023 12:22pm
  - MCōs
    
    Yes Dr Lumps.
    Ever since I broke my femur, but it’s getting better all the time
    Better, better, better
    It’s getting better all the time
    Better, better, better
    
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    December 16, 2023 1:02pm
    - imalwaysright
      
      Where did you get the small monkey and will you be able to repair him?
      
      4 1
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      December 16, 2023 1:59pm
Matt Long

Hooters on the NZ economy, makes sense, Herald Paywalled.
“Yesterday’s shock 0.3 per cent decline in GDP in just the September quarter makes New Zealand the worst-performing economy in the developed world.

Even then, the result was inflated by record net migration, despite yet another massive brain-drain.

Per person, GDP fell an extraordinary 0.9 per cent in just three months.”
Condemns Clark and Key for letting NZ performance slip, heaven knows why he supported the klutzes’ coup if he believes that.

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/christopher-luxon-looks-to-india-to-drag-new-zealand-out-of-its-long-decline-matthew-hooton/XFB56UFTJ5BX7AJ5LC76SWNJBM/
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December 16, 2023 8:30am
- Burtland
  
  Hooters is particularly adept at pin pointing the problems, but his solutions are generally the rantings of a clown in a noddy car
  
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  December 16, 2023 8:42am
- Che Guava
  
  “Record net migration” should be more of a concern than a fall in GDP. This fixation on GDP is fairly arbitrary. New Zealand has an economy, but it isn’t just an economy like some make out. It’s our home, and so it matters who comes here and in what numbers.
  
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  December 16, 2023 10:19am
  - Paulus
    
    Trade Minister is going to India next week to look at trade deals with the largest population in the world.
    India being what it is will only do trade if we take in many many more Indian immigrants.
    That’s India’s trade.
    
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    December 16, 2023 10:55am
    - Che Guava
      
      Why should a trade deal with India require a commitment to take in more Indian migrants? Honestly, if a trade deal with India requires taking in increasingly more Indians, then we’d be better off without the trade deal. What happens in 40 or 5o years when Indians make up a majority of New Zealanders? New Zealand is a completely different country, that’s what happens. Anyone with their eyes open can already see the transformation over just the last 20 years – add another two decades to that and consider the state of affairs. Why can we not say “no” to never ending demographic change?
      
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      December 16, 2023 11:29am
      - imalwaysright
        
        I think Helen Clarks trade deal with China included the provision for 1500 Chinese immigrants per annum. Plus the Chinese decide who the immigrants are.
        Not sure of the numbers and whether it is still going . Would assume so.
        
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        December 16, 2023 2:04pm
Surely Knott

WTF? Shocking event, bizarre reporting more coverups and identity suppression in our little communist utopia.

82 year old woman, asleep in hospital bed bashed with a plastic shower chair by a male patient that it’s “believed was supposed to have a minder.” On December 2.

“The Herald also understands the attacker was mentally distressed at the time of the incident.”

“A police spokesperson confirmed they were making inquiries….”

Then some stuff about a petition about nurse and patient safety.

Why wasn’t this reported on Dec 3 when it happened. Why hasn’t the criminal been named and arrested weeks later? Where’s the cctv? What kind of mental health or criminal record did the attacker have that they were supposed to have a minder? Where was the minder? Why were they mentally distressed? Why are the police still investigating this and no arrests? They clearly all know who did this? How do the herald know he was suffering mental distress? Are male patients kept with female patients now? Are acute mental patients being kept on mixed hospital wards? Are violent criminals being kept on general hospital wards? Is this man usually in a mental health facility? What consequences for the lax minder? Who was the minder responsible? What organisation was responsible for the man and his care? Why are the nurses using this to lobby for more security – sounds like this guy had a minder who failed at their job? Was the minder a prison officer? Is this story only being made public now to further the nurses union requests? If they care about the victim why no arrests and disclosure?
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December 16, 2023 8:31am
- Gravelroad
  
  Any word on whether or not the 82 year old woman who was bashed with a chair whilst asleep in her hospital bed suffered any “mental distress”?
  It is always about the attacker, never the attacked.
  Criminal and violent behaviour nearly always excused by so-called mental health issues these days.
  Easy as you like.
  If you can’t be safe while sick in hospital, where can you be safe?
  
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  December 16, 2023 9:43am
  - G152
    
    Liebor voter explains it
    
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    December 16, 2023 10:07am
- Maggy Wassilieff
  
  Are male patients kept with female patients now?
  
  Indeed they are
  
  https://theconversation.com/mixed-gender-hospital-rooms-are-on-the-rise-in-new-zealand-but-the-practice-is-unsafe-and-unethical-216263
  
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  December 16, 2023 10:02am
  - MCōs
    
    When I was in Middlemore for a month most of the time I was in a single room, but I shared the bathroom facilities with the adjoining room which happened to be occupied by a couple of women.
    Three quarters of the staff were female
    The patients are there because they’re crook and the ones I saw in my ward were in no condition to assault anyone
    Down in A & E is another world
    
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    December 16, 2023 10:24am
  - Sacha
    
    That’s a rather generalised article. There are no factual statistics. We all know the problems that can arise from mentally disturbed patients.
    But it is quite likely that overnighters in ED might share a ‘ward’. For instance, some years ago I overnighted at PN in a mixed room where people who didn’t need admission, rather overnight observation, stayed. One had a drip, and another was on observation watch for a drug reaction, and several others behind curtains slept the night away. I was offered the opportunity to stay overnight because I lived 2 hours drive away, and had a test scheduled for early the next morning – and they didn’t want me driving until the test results were known.
    I was grateful for the opportunity.
    
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    December 16, 2023 12:29pm
- NothingLeft
  
  What’s the bet she was a noisy breather/snorer, and the basher, with impulse control issues, was sleep deprived and couldn’t handle it anymore?
  
  Some people are light sensitive sleepers, some are sound sensitive, this is a problem that has grown since children having their own bedrooms and not having to accommodate environmental noise at night became the norm.
  
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  December 16, 2023 12:09pm
Maggy Wassilieff

Bookings are now open for the Waikaremoana Great Walk

https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK2312/S00330/waikaremoana-great-walk-to-re-open-in-january.htm
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December 16, 2023 8:44am
- kevn
  
  Maggy… Bring your own tent?
  
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  December 16, 2023 8:52am
  - imalwaysright
    
    And an MP5 and some claymores.
    
    13 1
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    December 16, 2023 9:17am
- pdm
  
  Is it safe to go through there?
  
  Either on the walk or just driving the road Wairoa to Murupara. Not that we are considering the walk but, the drive is one of the last areas of the North Island mrspdm and I have not seen.
  
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  December 16, 2023 9:04am
  - mikenmildagain
    
    No current NZTA alerts for that road.
    
    4 15
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    December 16, 2023 9:16am
    - pdm
      
      I will seek a few more opinions mikey.
      
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      December 16, 2023 9:26am
  - Maggy Wassilieff
    
    The Road from Tuai to Aniwania was in a pretty shitty condition last year (before Cyclones Hale and Gabrielle).
    I wouldn’t risk it in a little 2 wd vehicle.
    
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    December 16, 2023 10:12am
    - pdm
      
      Thanks Maggy.
      
      I think a grandson went through there about 10 days ago. I will check with him but he was probably in a 4wd.
      
      My concern was more re being accosted – local road block type issues.
      
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      December 16, 2023 12:01pm
      - Maggy Wassilieff
        
        I shouldn’t think there would be a problem…especially if you aren’t loaded up with hunting rifles and off-road bikes.
        
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        December 16, 2023 1:47pm
- John Loveridge
  
  Take a tent, but not a wallet.
  
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  December 16, 2023 9:16am
Bridgenag

Friday Funnies: Trusted News and Poison Ivy
The Ministry of Truth will see you now. You better be good, ’cause Santa Klaus is coming to town.

Videos good

https://open.substack.com/pub/rwmalonemd/p/friday-funnies-trusted-news-and-poison?r=1aj1bv&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
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December 16, 2023 8:58am
info@cruzpro.com

New Zealand national debt.

There are about 1.87 million households in New Zealand. About 40% of those households pay NET tax (they pay more than they receive from the government). Thousands more are tax neutral. This leaves 1.122 million net paying households to pay off the debt.

As of the end of 2023 the national debt is $144.6 billion. The debt per net paying household works out to be a staggering $128,912.
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December 16, 2023 9:04am
- mikenmildagain
  
  Now do the US national debt of $33.8 trillion!
  
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  December 16, 2023 9:34am
  - Che Guava
    
    The US staggers along on two main things: its military, and the belief of most of its people that the system is still in any way legitimate and functional. But both of these factors are rapidly diminishing by the day. The US is in serious trouble, but most of the rest of the West is approaching a similar crisis. This is why continually distracting people and censoring their growing dissent are so crucial.
    
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    December 16, 2023 10:07am
  - AitchW
    
    So are you suggesting that although the Labour government left the coalition government an economy in recession because of its reckless spending, it’s ok because the American economy is worse?
    Hey, the Venezuelan economy is in the toilet, so everything’s fine.
    
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    December 16, 2023 5:27pm
- The Housekeeper
  
  Of the 40% net taxpayers, how many are actually paid by the govt (ie taxpayers)?
  
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  December 16, 2023 10:53am
  - info@cruzpro.com
    
    Probably many. Just about everyone gets some type of government support, certainly people getting superannuation do. But NET taxpayers pay the government more in taxes than they receive from the government. There are some suoeranuitants that still work and pay taxes. Since superannuation payments are relatively low it is likely that some superannuitants paynet taxes.
    
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    December 16, 2023 12:50pm
NeverMindTheBollocks

GWRC Chair Darren Ponter is threatening Wellington area Councils with bills for excess water usage on the grounds that they do not favour water meters.

What a dickhead. Every Wellingtonian, without exception, knows that vast quantities of our expensively stored, treated and piped water is wasted through leakage – 44% is the latest estimate.

Darren, put your own house in order first, before threatening other people.

Meanwhile, the forecast for Wellington is rain for the rest of the day, while the rest of the country bakes.

I think the local pit of despond attracts the clouds.
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December 16, 2023 9:15am
- peterwn
  
  It is the constituent councils who do not provide sufficient budget to enable leaks to be fixed in a timely manner. Also no one seems to have assessed the indirect costs of leaks such as damage to roading and other assets resulting from leaks.
  
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  December 16, 2023 10:06am
- MCōs
  
  On the Kapiti Coast the introduction of water meters led to a 26% reduction in water usage.
  It stands to reason that if there’s no incentive to fix domestic leaks or cut down on unnecessary usage a good percentage of the population won’t.
  https://www.waternz.org.nz/Attachment?Action=Download&Attachment_id=345
  
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  December 16, 2023 10:37am
  - greybeard
    
    Not only a reduction in usage but since the meters were installed I don’t think we have ever had water restrictions of any kind.
    
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    December 16, 2023 11:53am
  - Sacha
    
    Lots of people didn’t know that they HAD a water leak, until the meters were installed –
    
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    December 16, 2023 12:00pm
  - Ghost
    
    We don’t have meters, council checks for leaks and advises the property owner if they detect anything
    
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    December 16, 2023 12:04pm
  - Pineapple Lumps
    
    Yes water meters make the user conscious of use and result in reductions. Treating drinkable water as a limitless resource does result in wastage and ultimately ratepayers are paying for an oversized treatment and reticulation asset. But that wastage must be a dual end user and service provider responsibility. At the moment it is the rate payer that foots the bill regardless of whether they have meters or not.
    
    So then how to fix the inept management of water provision?
    
    Do the same thing that meters do for users by linking the pay rises and/or bonuses of the service provider to ratepayers interests.
    
    1. Water quality
    2. Water wastage level
    3. Cost of delivery (averaged over 5 years to prevent short term detrimental decision making).
    
    Mcos – would you be keen to see that level of accountability within the public service?
    
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    December 16, 2023 12:08pm
  - Countrygirl
    
    When meters were introduced to Tauranga, ostensibly to save water, within about a year water rates had to be raised because people were not using enough water.
    
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    December 16, 2023 4:35pm
Chuck Bird

WATCH: An Honest & Sensible Conversation about Global Energy | Scott Tinker

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aTfwqvNuk44
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December 16, 2023 9:21am
TripeWryter

For want of anything better to do in the middle of the night when I can’t sleep I watched some Parliament TV this week.
I was struck by a moment in Tanya Unkovich’s (NZ First) maiden speech.
She was, she said, 14 and had come home with a poor school report.
Her mother – a Croatian immigrant – expressed her disappointment and gave her a bollocking because she said she knew Tanya could do better.
The now-MP Tanya said she began to understand how her young parents had left everything and everyone behind when they emigrated to New Zealand, on the other side of the world. and how they worked hard for their children to have a better life than they had.
She set about working harder.
It used to be that schools gave honest reports to parents. They were concise and blunt.
The nuns told my parents that I was lazy and could try harder.
In the fourth form Mrs Adams summed up my ability in maths: ‘Has no ability in this subject.’
She wouldn’t get away with that today, or for the last 30 years when teachers were instructed to write ‘positive’ reports.
The honesty of the nuns and Mrs Adams gave my parents the information they needed – and had a right to have.
That led to verbal kicks up the arse. I was urged to do better. Dad never went past standard 6. His Irish father didn’t believe in education beyond the basics. Mum prized education. She and her sisters were teachers. She was a musician.
But I also feel that parents have been schooled by ‘experts’ these days not to be ‘too hard’ on kids. That they should be praised instead.
Positivity and all that.
Now it’s ‘mental health’, as well.
My children were at high school in the 90s.
I read and tried to decode the bland, bureaucratically-written reports that effectively hid how they were doing.
Now, it so happened that I knew they were doing all right in English, social studies, history. My kids are good at language.
Two of them were in the top 10 per cent for maths. Their mother’s genes, not mine.
But one of mine started getting left behind in standard 4, when she was 10.
A friend who was a maths and science teacher at another school offered to do a diagnostic test to see when my daughter was at. She was 16. School Certificate was looming. Would she sit maths?
That’s when I found out how bad it was.
She did sit maths, bombed, and has held it against me for the last 30 years.
I watched other maiden speeches: Casey Costello (NZ First), Maori-Irish (like Debbie Ngarewa-Packer), not rooted in victimhood, not looking back, and who I wouldn’t be surprised if she became party leader one day.
Hana-Rawhiti is an impressive young woman, but backwards-looking.
She might not know it but it was Maori politicians including her ancestor Wiremu Katene, the first Maori Cabinet Minister – 32 years after the Treaty was signed – who urged the colonial governments to discourage the speaking of Maori in schools because the pakeha world was the future.
She ominously mentioned 1.2 million acres of Waikato land confiscated. Well, 40 years or so ago I had a friend whose small tribe had lost everything when Tainui advanced up the river because they knew the Treaty would lock in their gains.
Hana-Rawhiti might one day be able to look forward rather than backwards.
Another maiden speech: Wing Commander Tim Costley, lately of the Royal New Zealand Air Force and now MP for Otaki, is a funny, self-depreacting man. I suspect, too, that he is a lot sharper than he makes out.
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December 16, 2023 9:21am
- pdm
  
  tw – I believe Tanya Unkovich is the (quite a few years) younger sister of top New Zealand Lawn Bowler of 30/50 odd years ago Nick Unkovich. I never met him but he was a well respected man in bowling circles. A determined bowler with a number of New Zealand titles.
  
  Did you see Jamie Arbuckle – he was very good and I think along with Casey Costello will be a good counter to the shenanighans of Peters and Jones.
  
  Both future leaders if they stick around.
  
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  December 16, 2023 12:17pm
  - TripeWryter
    
    pdm: this is the Wikipedia entry for Nick Unkovich, the bowler.
    He might have been related.
    Jamie Arbuckle: I’m due to finish watching him.
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nick_Unkovich
    
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    December 16, 2023 12:41pm
    - pdm
      
      I did not hear her whole speech but at the start she said she had an older brother Nick who could not be present.
      
      Nick died in July 2005.
      
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      December 16, 2023 8:43pm
Steve Otto(North Shore)

Where’s Hunter?
He may flee when Trump wins. Crooked FBI and DOJ have plans for him? He may spill the beans.

https://www.newvisionnews.net/hunter-biden-contemplates-exile-amidst-legal-challenges/?
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December 16, 2023 9:26am
- mikenmildagain
  
  Would that be the same ‘crooked’ DoJ currently prosecuting Hunter Biden?
  
  5 24
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  December 16, 2023 9:42am
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    Yes. They are as crooked as the NZ Labour Party.
    Prosecuting Hunter will not happen until Trump is POTUS. It is all noise for the media.
    
    11 4
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    December 16, 2023 10:50am
    - mikenmildagain
      
      Really? He’s being prosecuted right now:
      https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/sep/14/hunter-biden-gun-charges-indictment
      
      6 14
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      December 16, 2023 11:08am
      - NothingLeft
        
        FBI/DOJ have had suspiscious activity reports, testimony from Tony Bobolinski and Devon Archer saying there was corruption, FBI/DOJ whistleblowers saying they were blocked from investigation and laptop releases on Bidens going back up to 8 years, clear evidence in Burisma of quid-quo-pro payment for action, endless stonewalling of investigations, allowing 7year statute of limitations to run out on known unpaid taxes from dodgy payments earlier than 2014 and yet DOJ wait until the week Hunter is subpoenaed to testify before congress to charge him – omitting anything that might lead to president (foreign agent act violations are numerous)
        
        This was just continuation of the DOJ Biden protection measures as tax charges mean Hunter can now plead the 5th before congress.
        
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        December 16, 2023 11:58am
    - MCōs
      
      Is that the same Trump who was going to lock up Hillary?
      
      5 5
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      December 16, 2023 11:17am
      - mikenmildagain
        
        Foiled by the ‘deep state’, natch. It’ll be different next time.
        
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        December 16, 2023 11:19am
      - Steve Otto(North Shore)
        
        Wait until Nov 5th next year. He knows how big the swamp in now.
        
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        December 16, 2023 12:22pm
      - MCōs
        
        25-January 2025
        
        4 0
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        December 16, 2023 12:53pm
      - Steve Otto(North Shore)
        
        The win will be in Nov. The inauguration will be in Jan
        
        4 1
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        December 16, 2023 2:38pm
      - MCōs
        
        5-November 2024 is irrelevant to Mr Trump
        Everyone knows whatever happens on that day means nothing to him. He’ll be the winner irrespective of the vote tally
        The coup on 6-January, or whenever, won’t be as hamfisted as the last time.
        
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        December 16, 2023 3:23pm
NeverMindTheBollocks

Totalitarian Thomas Nash says it would be ‘unthinkable’ in cities overseas with advanced transport systems to have free on-street parking for private residents on public road space in and out of the central city.

He’s talking about Featherston St (no buses currently, so earmarked for bikes), Adelaide Rd, Taranaki St etc. On some of those roads, there are no other parks.

He patronisingly says ‘There’s always opposition to change. I understand that. Change is hard’.

What an arsehat. The fact is that a lot of people like using cars, like on-street parking etc. Just count the numbers as they drove by.

Personally, we were a better city and a better country when our population was not swollen by immigrants. If I wanted to live in a no-car, apartment-only mega city, I’d live overseas. But I don’t, and I don’t.

Rant over.
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December 16, 2023 9:27am
- MCōs
  
  NZ has always been ‘swollen’ by immigrants
  My mother was an immigrant from the UK as were a lot of people in the assisted immigrant days
  
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  December 16, 2023 11:29am
  - pdm
    
    Me too mcos.
    
    My father was from the Outer Hebrides of Scotland and arrived in NZ in the late 1920’s.
    
    My mothers ancestors (on both sides) arrived in New Zealand from England in the 1860’s,
    
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    December 16, 2023 12:21pm
    - Diogenes
      
      My father’s family’s clan has its seat in the Outer Hebrides (Barra). My great grandfather was press-ganged into the British Navy at Argyleshire, around the 1860s I think, but jumped ship when it visited Invercargill. From there he made his way up to Woodville, where he settled. My mother’s side emigrated from England around the same time. My wife was English born, emigrated in the 1970s. Most of us were steerage class, methinks.
      
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      December 16, 2023 2:18pm
      - pdm
        
        Isle of Lewis for my father Diogenes.
        
        I have two furst cousins and their families stillliving there.
        
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        December 16, 2023 8:50pm
- rouppe
  
  The on street parking isn’t free on the streets you mention
  
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  December 16, 2023 11:44am
- Pineapple Lumps
  
  NMTB – keep ranting! The general approach from public service over the past 10years has been we will create the service/environment that we believe is right for you not the service/environment you would like. Many of this is driven by UN/Globalist policies.
  
  It is a war on the majority driven by the minority. Many are zealots who believe they have a morally superior position than the majority. One of the biggest examples of this is the war against the motor vehicle. Another is the impoverishment of our nation to virtue signal on climate change.
  
  So keep ranting, as Dylan says:
  “Do not go gentle into that good night,
  Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
  Rage, rage against the dying of the light.”
  
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  December 16, 2023 12:17pm
ClanMcleod

I haven’t been on as regularly as I used to, I don’t know if this was already covered?

Thomas Cranmer from August, re the separate Maori health thing.

It’s for Māori Health. Mahuta’s sister is the Chair and Tamihere’s wife is also on the Board. Cosy.

https://x.com/CranmerWrites/status/1687318010359672832?s=20

Not a good look…….
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December 16, 2023 9:34am
- MCōs
  
  “I haven’t been as regular as I used to be”
  Have you tried Laxsol?
  
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  December 16, 2023 11:50am
ClanMcleod

Anyone at all interested in the data leak from the MoH should have a read of this excellent analysis. Nothing is claimed, but it does point out the concerning signals.

This paragraph sums up my position on the whole thing.

The problem is that we just don’t know; everything is speculation to some degree. If Te Whatu Ora had any sense, they would issue their own press release explaining the data and calmly refuting any unsubstantiated “conspiracy theories”. That they haven’t done so, instead gaining an injunction to “censor” the data, speaks volumes as to their professionalism and their mentality. They are perhaps more interested in the virtue-signalling re-naming of their agency into ‘authentic’ indigenous language than in transparently serving the tax-paying citizens of New Zealand.

https://johnsullivan.substack.com/p/new-zealand-serious-vaccine-safety
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December 16, 2023 9:43am
- Sacha
  
  I heard on the radio this morning that the MoH (or whatever it’s called these days) wants the ‘immune-compromised’ to be vaccinated against Covid19.
  
  I wonder where these people are burying their heads ?
  
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  December 16, 2023 12:07pm
ClanMcleod

Canada’s life expectancy declines for the third year in a row.

https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/en/daily-quotidien/231127/dq231127b-eng.pdf?st=92N4MMgY

Nothing to see here of course…..//
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December 16, 2023 9:44am
- Benedict Yu
  
  Looking at the breakdown of causes, the picture seems clear. The increase in deaths in 2022 are:
  
  – an increase of about 30 percent in deaths from COVID
  
  – a 45 percent increase in deaths from influenza and pneumonia
  
  – an increase of “other ill-defined and unspecified causes of mortality” from 9,471 to 16,043.
  
  The first two are straightforward. Not sure what is behind the third one 🙁
  
  There are no significant changes in any other causes of death, including heart disease.
  
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  December 16, 2023 10:17am
  - NothingLeft
    
    Canadian death data for 2019 2020 2021 2022
    Malignant neoplasms 80,372 81,242 82,822 82,412
    Diseases of heart 53,364 54,430 55,271 57,357
    So about 8% increase in heart disease death from 2019. 2.5% increase for cancers
    
    That 8% is a big bell going dong dong dong. There is a well researched mechanism for covid vaccine injury of hearts. Up 2% in 2020 when covid was sweeping through population, another 2% in 2021, where covid numbers were similar but vaccination programs were happening and way up in 2022 after everyone had been vaccinated and had omicron.
    
    Why was it 2% up in 2021 vs 2020?, similar numbers of covid cases both years:
    https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/canada/
    
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    December 16, 2023 11:51am
    - Benedict Yu
      
      I don’t believe there is any evidence that the COVID vaccine is killing two percent of recipients through damaging their hearts. That is simply not credible.
      
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      December 16, 2023 12:46pm
      - NothingLeft
        
        2% increase in death rates from heart issues does not mean killing 2% of vaccine recipients. With something around 40million Canadians and increase of 1000 a year caused by vaccination would be a 0.0025% death rate, small enough that you could only find it by carefully looking at whole population.
        
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        December 16, 2023 3:19pm
      - mawm
        
        Nothing left – It’s not 2% of the population but an increase in the number of deaths by 2%. ie if the average annual number of cardiac deaths is 100 then a 2% increase would make that 102.
        
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        December 16, 2023 4:40pm
  - kowtow
    
    In such an advanced country .
    
    Hmmm.
    
    More likely we’re seeing the consequences of the politicians shutting down access to health services ( to ‘protect’ the system , not the people ) during the draconian , worthless lockdowns .
    
    i’d guess the same consequences are happening across the west .
    
    comparisons with Sweden might be useful.
    
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    December 16, 2023 1:56pm
    - imalwaysright
      
      Remember everyone standing at their letter boxes, distancing themselves from their potentially anarchic neighbours, clapping in appreciation of all the health workers who were at the same time choreographing their next scrubs clad tik tok video .
      
      Good times !
      
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      December 16, 2023 2:22pm
- mawm
  
  Clan – Dr John Campbell has posted an interesting interview with a barrister involved in the Canadian Citizens Inquiry. (About 30 min).
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WuZsEqOtDdI
  
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  December 16, 2023 4:44pm
Steve Otto(North Shore)

Stop Co-Governance. Julian Batchelor.

https://stopcogovernance.kiwi/blog/broadcaster-sean-plunket-interviews-julian-batchelor-who-reveals-stop-co-governance-plans-for-2024/

https://rumble.com/v41d9lt-julian-batchelor-and-sean-plunket.html
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December 16, 2023 10:05am
goNZ1

Ok time to walk the talk Mark Mitchell, who is in control at Whakatane, the Police or the Gangs?
“A gang funeral is set to be held in the Bay of Plenty today as police try to minimise disruption to the community in another test of the new Government’s claims of being tough on law and order”

I would expect to see at least 300 cops on site ,mostly carrying firearms ,mass arrests during any illegal and unsocial conduct and a total cordon on all surrounding roads to catch any trouble making out of towners .
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December 16, 2023 10:26am
- kowtow
  
  They were able to do it to the gentle freedom protesters at parliament , who had a right to be there .
  So, why not .
  
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  December 16, 2023 1:51pm
surfing

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/homeless-gang-member-struck-woman-in-face-with-spade-during-drug-deal-gone-wrong/SNQMYBKIXJENLLQFWZ7IFTIOEA/

Judge Hobbs is delusional, when he says …

“It does appear in the material before me that you are attempting to make positive changes and will continue to make positive changes when you are released from custody,” Judge Hobbs said.

This gang member is an absolute monster, running around the motu impregnating women, assaulting people, fighting, stealing and kidnapping. The judge is insane.
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December 16, 2023 10:33am
- Gravelroad
  
  From the article:
  “Phillips was exposed to violence, alcohol and drugs from an early age and it was said yesterday that his is upbringing led to his path of offending.”
  Ok, then, let’s have the parents/“care givers” required to attend the trials of these violent criminals and explain.
  We see this frequently- the accused offering excuses about why they take drugs, join gangs, intimidate, rob and maim people.
  It is because of treatment they allegedly suffered when they were kids – violence and trauma from adults who didn’t care.
  If this is all true, when will these parents ever be called to account for their actions?
  
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  December 16, 2023 11:38am
Maggy Wassilieff

I have a dying orange tree …
I cut back some of the dying branches and discovered the culprit within.. (Lemon-tree borer grub).

I can continue to cut the tree back, but wonder if it is worth it…as the tree now has open wounds and borer beetles will have probably laid eggs in bark crevices around the plant.

Probably time for me to biff the tree and bring in a new and healthy plant.

That Orange tree reminds me of our moribund universities.

I’m wondering if it is time to start anew with our Universities… Is it too late to cut out the disease which infests them?

https://www.bassettbrashandhide.com/post/john-raine-can-our-universities-rescue-themselves-from-politicisation
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December 16, 2023 10:36am
- nathie
  
  Heh, well put!
  
  I suspect most of us would agree with the author when he writes:
  
  I firmly support the laudable moves in the university sector to engage more strongly with iwi, to engage with Māori and Pasifika students at high schools to draw them into tertiary study (and we should aim for this to be on merit and without patronisation or paternalism), to deliver greater academic and pastoral care support for these students, and to lead more students into postgraduate studies.
  
  However, the extensive move to reflect Te Ao Māori in university culture has led to politicisation of the institutions and some loss of freedom of speech. Is there a way to support the presence of Te Ao Māori in academia without it leading to an environment of indoctrination or, in some cases, coercion?
  
  So this is the issue. On one side the “moderates” (open to differing views but want boundaries respected) … and on the other side an alliance of “well-meaning/totalitarian” managers/academics and ethno-supremacist activists/academics that have a common shared purpose – that of not open to differing views (dissent to be silenced) and are shifting the accepted boundaries in an accelerating radical and authoritarian direction. Perhaps it could be said they are ~~“reclaiming”~~ re-colonising the middle-ground?
  
  What’s sad about this is it is clear that their approach is wrong but it is hard to speak up against it for fear of being “cancelled” or branded as a “racist”.
  
  Our political leaders, be they left or right, can see this …. but they need to act to correct this before our future society becomes further divided.
  
  If the political class won’t act, then who will, and what will be the unintended consequences?
  
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  December 16, 2023 11:45am
- cmm
  
  Maggy, like your orange tree, universities can go from reasonably healthy to sick in a short period. The problem has been there for a long time just not yet completely obvious.
  
  The difference is that an orange tree can be replaced and will start fruiting again in three or four years. It takes decades to rebuild a healthy university.
  
  Where would you find healthy academics to staff them with?
  
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  December 16, 2023 2:28pm
- Paul
  
  Squirt a bit of CRC down the holes, wear goggles.
  
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  December 16, 2023 10:28pm
oldpark

How about the here and now or not so long ago .

Latest report from Auditor- General John Ryan reporting on the almost unaccountable 15’000’000’000 Billion Dollars . Seems virtually squandered with no accountability by some of the previous wastage spending by Minister’s of the Ardern/ Hipkins regime. Who for Six Long Years masqueraded as responsible custodians of NZs wellbeing and spending like there was no tomorrow .
Now we see the Auditor-General John Ryan has exposed so much out of control and no care or responsibility of NZs Finances .By out of their depth Labour government so called Ministers over at Least from 2020 to 2023.
Yet true to form when that scandal has been revealed in the last couple of days Labour Party main newsprint supporter “STUFF” has virtually tucked or hidden the report on Page A6 on a small column at the bottom of the page .
Just imagine if it was Nicola Willis From National Party who was culpable of such out of control with no accountability money virtually spent with very little record the lack of records to show NZs Taxpayers where the money went .
NZs full supporting programme of Labour/Green /Maori Parties so called Main Stream Media sycophants would have been number one News on TVNZ NEWSHUB NZ HERALD .and the darling of them all sneaky sycophant “STUFF” . What a bloody cover up .
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December 16, 2023 10:37am
- cmm
  
  Why does the AG wait until now to make a noise?
  
  Why not, say, September?
  
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  December 16, 2023 10:55am
- Paulus
  
  Stuff are still being paid by the PIJF so avoid any criticism of Labour still.
  Can’t wait for the PIJF money to finish then Stuff can go bust quietly.
  
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  December 16, 2023 11:01am
- mikenmildagain
  
  On stuff’s home page this morning. Some cover up.
  
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  December 16, 2023 11:10am
cmm

Apparently 46% of Maori have experienced “harmful” digital communications, but only 40% of the general population have.

Perhaps it is that Maori are more tuned in to playing the victim card.

“This included unwanted sexual advances, false allegations, racist remarks and online stalking.”

Pretty general.

If we wanted to really play that to the letter then almost all of us have experienced “harm” from mma who regularly refers to groups of people as morons, cranks etc.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/pou-tiaki/133459288/nearly-half-of-mori-experience-online-harm-netsafe-survey-finds
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December 16, 2023 10:41am
cmm

… and this is why Hamas using hostages (and civilians) as human shields is a war crime.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/world/middle-east/301028095/israel-admits-shooting-three-hostages-dead-in-clash-with-hamas
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December 16, 2023 10:43am
Ghost

Damon, I forgot to reinstall my adblock after reinstalling my iPad, how long have stuff being doing a full page donate to us ad?

https://postimg.cc/H8t8NqD9
5 1
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December 16, 2023 10:51am
- sungsamning
  
  If you don’t like seeing ads; install the Brave browser. It has a total ad block.
  
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  December 16, 2023 5:40pm
  - Ghost
    
    I use adblock plus on my iPad. I was resetting it at 1am and forgot to put it back on.
    
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    December 16, 2023 5:54pm
    - Paul
      
      AdBlockPlus and Ghostery together are the best
      
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      December 16, 2023 10:30pm
cmm

Lying media: “Solo mother arrested in her underwear in front of her daughter over unpaid bill”

No, the unpaid bill is what started it off. That is not what she got arrested for.

Her Apple pay wasn’t working (I wonder why?) and so she left promising to pay.

Then she “forgot”. Yup, I’m sure we all forget about something like that.

After two months the situation had escalated to a warrant being issued. Instead of complying she resisted, and hence getting dragged off…

There are so many points along the way where she could have prevented this situation from happening.

She is certainly not the victim here.

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/solo-mother-arrested-in-her-underwear-in-front-of-her-daughter-over-unpaid-bill/W7ARAGVWM5FA7EB7Y6T4DSP6HA/
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December 16, 2023 10:53am
- peterwn
  
  CMM – “There are so many points along the way where she could have prevented this situation from happening.”
  
  Herald – “She says she was told that the matter would be settled if the bill was paid, so she returned to the petrol station and paid the outstanding amount – A$58 ($63)”
  
  So what gives?
  
  And another matter – I am not sure about Australian or Queensland but leaving a child under 14 breaches NZ law and Australian law is probably similar. Therefore the Police had no business to cause a situation where a 12 year old was knowingly being left alone. The mother should not have been removed until the girl’s welfare was taken care of such as by summoning a police woman or someone from a welfare agency to care for the child.
  
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  December 16, 2023 11:15am
- nathie
  
  Don’t disagree with your points you make, but how typical of the Police to drag away someone (nonthreatening/middle class/probably was a supporter of the Police in general) guilty of a minor infringement at the end of the day … but where are they when ferals threaten law abiding citizens or protesters break the law (with nothing but contempt for the Police and the rule of law)? Consistency is all I ask for!
  
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  December 16, 2023 11:21am
- The Housekeeper
  
  “The matter regarding the alleged, outstanding fuel payment was just one of the matters police wanted to speak to the woman about, but it was not the primary purpose officers attended.
  
  “Regarding the stealing complaint, police have not received any advice from the service station of a desire to withdraw the matter.”
  
  So what was their primary purpose? Hard to think the servo would be pushing it if she has paid the $58. And if my Mum was being arrested I would be finding her pants rather than filming her.
  
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  December 16, 2023 12:45pm
Steve Otto(North Shore)

Hillary getting ready for Joe resigning?
To watch her meltdown when Trump beats her will be delicious.
Holes in the walls from empty vodka bottles!

https://conservativeundergroundnews.com/hillary-clinton-made-one-2024-decision-that-caused-democrats-to-flip-on-her/?
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December 16, 2023 10:59am
- Paulus
  
  Isn’t Obama waiting in the wings for when Joe is really declared Gaga ?
  
  6 3
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  December 16, 2023 11:03am
  - mikenmildagain
    
    Can’t be re-elected – already served 2 terms.
    
    5 7
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    December 16, 2023 11:11am
    - Steve Otto(North Shore)
      
      He means Mike Obama.
      It is possible, so Barry can pull the strings. But if Hillary if says no, she means no or else!
      
      5 6
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      December 16, 2023 11:24am
      - mikenmildagain
        
        Who is Mike Obama? Never heard of him.
        
        5 11
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        December 16, 2023 11:27am
      - MCōs
        
        Steve has this ridiculous notion that Michelle Obama is a bloke
        
        7 1
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        December 16, 2023 12:20pm
      - mikenmildagain
        
        I think it might have been dear old Redbaiter who linked to ‘proof’ of this: a picture of Michella Obama with a lump in her dress.
        
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        December 16, 2023 12:27pm
      - Swifty
        
        MCos – then how do you explain this?
        
        https://www.reddit.com/r/insanepeoplefacebook/comments/csl30m/big_mike_exposed/
        
        🤣🤣🤣
        
        (Just kidding MCos)
        
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        December 16, 2023 12:31pm
      - MCōs
        
        Reminds me of the Scotsman with the particularly long penis.
        He tucked it into his sock and called it a varicose vein
        
        True story
        
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        December 16, 2023 12:49pm
      - kowtow
        
        Or the Texan who stuck his in his ear and went round telling everyone he was a petrol pump.
        
        Not a true story.
        
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        December 16, 2023 1:00pm
  - Ghost
    
    Obama is busy making movies for netflix
    
    4 0
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    December 16, 2023 12:25pm
    - mawm
      
      Ghost – Somebody else is making Netflix movies, attaching Obama’s name to them and paying him millions of $$$’s.
      
      2 3
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      December 16, 2023 4:48pm
      - Ghost
        
        the movie was made by obama’s production company. Obama offered advise on the movie on how America would be attacked.
        
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        December 16, 2023 5:03pm
sungsamning

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=012B_HCCcyw
Body Language: Here’s Hunter.
Here’s Hunter’s version of events. No wrong doing by him and Brand, or the rest of the Biden Crime Family. Just those evil MAGA types being mean. [11:09]
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December 16, 2023 11:14am
sungsamning

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ZnHFzwK9GQ
Jamie Arbuckle makes a strong Maiden Speech.
New Zealand First list MP Jamie Arbuckle made a strong maiden speech highlighting his journey into politics and why New Zealand First is the party to unite New Zealand.
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December 16, 2023 11:15am
mikenmildagain

In other US news, notable loon Rudy Giuliani thinks a $148 million defamation verdict against him will be reversed.
6 14
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December 16, 2023 11:26am
- virtualmark
  
  Speech is free, but lies can be expensive.
  
  Legal note: Rudy chose not to testify. Appeal courts find it *very* hard to support an appeal from defendants who claim they didn’t get a fair trial but who chose to not testify at said trial. If you think you’re innocent then why didn’t you take the clear opportunity to present your argument why??? So I think Rudy’s talk of appeals is … optimistic.
  
  Note that also applies to Donald Trump in his New York fraud trial. Both he & Eric “Fredo” Trump chose not to testify, and that was after taking the fifth literally hundreds of times in their depositions. Good luck getting an Appeal Court to rule in your favour after that.
  
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  December 16, 2023 4:52pm
  - peterwn
    
    Declining to testify could count against the defendant trying to appeal the defamation case.
    The Trump case is a criminal matter and the defendant in a criminal case is not prejudiced for refusing to testify. It is, after all, the job of the prosecutor to prove the case beyond reasonable doubt, not the job of the defence to show the accused did not do it. Whether or not the accused took the stand has no relevance in any appeal case. However an appeal court (I am thinking of the NZ situation) generally would not order a retrial because accused did not take the stand but in retrospect wished he had.
    
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    December 16, 2023 9:28pm
    - virtualmark
      
      The NY AG trial is a civil case. The Florida secret documents, Georgia election interference, and DC insurrection trials are criminal trials.
      
      In the NY AG trial Trump has already been found guilty, based on the documentary evidence. The court appearances are just connected with the judge determining the size of the penalty.
      
      In US civil cases the Court is allowed to take an adverse interpretation of (i) the defendant taking the fifth, and (ii) the defendant not testifying.
      
      Giuliani’s trial was also a civil case.
      
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      December 17, 2023 10:49am
Chuck Bird

Luxon should view this short video.

10 Inconvenient Truths about Climate Change & Green Energy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HrMiYHQ6NjI
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December 16, 2023 11:32am
In Vino Veritas

This morning I had the misfortune to be sent, by a friend, an article from Newshub. And stupidly, I read it. Article is as always with NZ media, an opinion. By someone named Jonathan Boston who is Emeritus Professor of Public Policy at Victoria University of Wellington.
The article is on child poverty. Among a succession of things that he wrote in the article, this one stood out “Interestingly, ‘poverty’ is not mentioned in either of the coalition agreements. Nor are related concepts such as ‘hardship’, ‘deprivation’, ‘persistent disadvantage’, ‘exclusion’, ‘inequality’, ‘social justice’, and ‘wellbeing'”.
The para is laughable, and extends the label of woke buffoon on Jonathan. Firstly, nowhere does Jonathan mention that with regard to “hardship” and “deprivation”, NZ has a well funded Social Welfare system that provides food, clothing and shelter (among other things). Further, “exclusion” and “social justice” are straight from the woke handbook that pretty much every University in NZ seems to derive its purpose from. “Wellbeing” is quoted directly from the Labour Party. Lastly, “inequality”. Jonathan seems to think everyone should be equally miserable and equally poor. In NZ, everyone has the same opportunity. Those that can be bothered to take their opportunities (say, someone like James Meager) often do very well. Jonathan makes a typical leftist conflation when he comments “But children in poor families often find it harder…..”. There is a rather large difference in being poor, and living in poverty. Perhaps he should go to India, where I have just been again. He will see what true poverty looks like.
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December 16, 2023 11:33am
- Swifty
  
  Boston on the reasons for Labour’s demise:
  
  https://newsroom.co.nz/2023/10/18/learning-the-policy-lessons-of-labours-quick-demise/
  
  I think he’s missed a few major points.
  
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  December 16, 2023 12:26pm
  - Vinicius
    
    Labour must have been really bad when someone from Academia as prominent as Boston is poking the Borax at their record.
    
    I think if the Professor had listed everything Labour stuffed up it would have been many pages long.
    
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    December 16, 2023 3:03pm
Swifty

The New Zealand Green Party MPs will be deliriously happy at this news – all their hard work is now bearing fruit.

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/jewish-children-facing-increased-antisemitism-in-new-zealand-schools/HZMDBWBETZH4VPAUNWOKGSQQTA/
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December 16, 2023 12:16pm
- nathie
  
  No mention of the schools. Let’s have their names mentioned so that the school Principals can issue a public statement condemning these actions and to say what actions have been taken against the perpetrators.
  
  Surely that’s not much to ask in a decent non-prejudiced society (which teachers supposedly strive for)?
  
  Oh wait tumbleweeds … ?
  
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  December 16, 2023 2:16pm
NothingLeft

This is interesting – some people think they have identified a couple of intentionally anonymized buses delivering undercover state operatives geared up for trouble (elbow pads etc) to the Jan6 protest, and that they have enough info now to track them down, or at least allow congress to ask embarrassing questions:
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2023/12/im-confident-that-everybody-those-busses-were-fbi/
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December 16, 2023 12:38pm
- Steve Otto(North Shore)
  
  Always said the original Trump Rally was infiltrated, and not just by the FBI.
  Antifa,
  Proud Boys.
  Oath Keepers.
  Three Percenters.
  Patriot movement.
  QAnon movement.
  Boogaloo movement elements.
  Christian Right elements.
  White supremacists and Neo-Nazis.
  BLM was there too,
  
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  December 16, 2023 3:02pm
Jack5

The UK Telegraph runs cartoons by Matt almost daily.

Today, a mother is picking up her son after school. He tells her:

“In the nativity play, I’m the journalist who hacks the phones of the Three Kings.”
7 1
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December 16, 2023 2:26pm
- mandk
  
  Matt is a genius.
  
  Wouldn’t it be great if we had a cartoonist here who had even 10% of his talent?
  
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  December 16, 2023 4:42pm
Steve Otto(North Shore)

Isn’t it time this sort of shit stopped?
DOC did not pat this $5000, the Net Taxpayer did. Lou Sanson was on $464K.
Wonder what that converts to in an Hourly rate?

https://www.msn.com/en-nz/news/national/leaving-presents-for-ex-department-of-conservation-boss-cost-more-than-5000/ar-AA1lzwoO?
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December 16, 2023 3:42pm
- Steve Otto(North Shore)
  
  pay* ffs.
  
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  December 16, 2023 6:40pm
Steve Otto(North Shore)

Kelvin Davis – Special K.
Yep he is retiring from Parliament. He was number 2 on the list so could stay.
He did basically nothing. I wonder if he could do less than ‘nothing?’

https://www.msn.com/en-nz/news/other/kelvin-davis-retires-from-parliament-labour-mp-confirms/ar-AA1lzD8V?
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December 16, 2023 3:51pm
Nickc2

Guess who’s going to be rationed to hot tongue & cold bum for a very long time
Former President Bill Clinton said around the time of the 2016 election that his wife, Hillary Clinton’s, presidential campaign “could not sell pussy on a troop train,” according to a report.
Courtesy: Breitbart News
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December 16, 2023 4:18pm
Ghost

Upcoming Shawn Ryan show

What Is Donald Trump’s Biggest Threat?

The controversy surrounding the 2020 election now extends to the 91 felony charges against Donald Trump in 2023. This time, we bring in one of Donald Trump’s former lawyers, Tim Parlatore, who was part of the legal team, to unpack the indictments spanning across Washington D.C., Georgia, Florida, and New York. Out of the main attorneys representing Trump when Parlatore was present, only one remains. Parlatore describes Trump’s biggest threat that could result in a jury verdict of conviction but could be appealed.

In this episode, we learn why Parlatore left the legal team, the controversy surrounding classified documents, including Nuclear codes, election interference, politically motivated officials going after their rivals, the alleged January 6 insurrection, searching the Trump Tower, and more.

Could Donald Trump sue for malicious prosecution? Find out in this two-part series.
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December 16, 2023 4:41pm
Vinicius

Transport Minister Simeon Brown puts the brakes on cycleway and walkway initiatives.

The minister said, “I have given notice to NZTA to end its work on these programmes, and to not commit any further funding to local authorities (beyond existing contractual obligations) to develop these programmes.”

Brown went on to say that “cycling and walking initiatives were a waste of time and money.”

More commonsense decision making by the new government. This decision will get the left in a funk!

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/transport-minister-simeon-brown-puts-brakes-on-cycling-and-walking-initiatives-in-new-zealand-transport-authority-waka-kotahi-shake-up/IPRGSNQWJNCWDN2IVQ4J7O62XQ/
13 1
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December 16, 2023 4:44pm
Maggy Wassilieff

Kia Ora Mum,

write me a get-out of jail report.

Your loving sun,
XXXXXX

https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA2312/S00056/violent-offenders-note-from-mum-shows-absurdity-of-cultural-reports.htm
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December 16, 2023 4:48pm
Ghost

It’s amazing how a change of government actually allows the police to do their job

Police have arrested 15 people and seized a variety of weapons including a knuckle duster and rifles during their monitoring of a gang funeral in Whakatāne today.

Article
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December 16, 2023 7:10pm
Ghost

That was bizarre

Critics roast Jill Biden’s bizarre ‘Hunger Games aesthetic’ White House Christmas video
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December 16, 2023 7:47pm

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