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March 1, 2024 8:00am by Kokila Patel

General Debate 01 March 2024

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General Debate

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Biscuit

I’m ashamed to say that I didn’t think of this first…

A mate called me yesterday re the three unnoticed-by-Moi earthquakes that hit Upper Hutt yesterday morning.’

‘A bit late .,.. but it looks like Chippie’s much-vaunted ‘momentum’ has finally arrived!’
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March 1, 2024 8:04am
- Blog-aholic
  
  Probably Upper Hutt trying to escape the Wellington insanity.
  
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  March 1, 2024 8:09am
- Paulus
  
  Nah – Chippy only farted !
  
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  March 1, 2024 8:20am
- Sir Cullen's Sidekick
  
  Biscuit bro – Upper Hutt will elect the 2026 PM of NZ – Mr Chippie.
  
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  March 1, 2024 9:48am
  - peterwn
    
    But Winnie says he will no longer be Labour’s leader in a few weeks time.
    
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    March 1, 2024 10:29am
  - G the giant from Dunedin
    
    Upper Hutt will elect Bishop with an increased majority,Anderson is damaged goods. Hipkins May win his seat, but just look at the huge drop in support at the last election, not sure if he will ever get support back
    
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    March 1, 2024 10:30am
    - Paulus
      
      Am sure Chippy will go as soon as he can find a University who need a Vice Chancellor.
      Massey should need one now !
      
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      March 1, 2024 11:13am
    - peterwn
      
      Oops. Chris Hipkins is the MP for Remutaka (ie Upper Hutt etc). Chris Bishop is the MP for Hutt South having displaced Ginny Anderson at the last election. Chris Bishop was the de-facto MP for Hutt South for some years befort that.
      
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      March 1, 2024 11:32am
      - jon
        
        Peterwn, good you got that sorted out. If Hipkins quits parliament, wouldnt mind betting, the defeated McAnulty from the neighbouring Wairarapa seat, makes a play for the safe Remutaka electorate.
        
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        March 1, 2024 12:37pm
      - G the giant from Dunedin
        
        Sorry should have said Hutt south
        
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        March 1, 2024 12:58pm
  - Biscuit
    
    Sir C, I know you are as tongue-in-cheek as Moi but Chippie has as much chance of being PM in any coming year as I have of becoming a mother.
    
    Chippie, supposedly our local MP, has shut down his Upper Hutt office and hasn’t been sighted in this fair city by any of my acquaintances since the Election.
    
    A Question for you, or those who might know:
    
    Chippie is presently ‘Leader of the Opposition’. The way he is ‘leading’ Labour into electoral freefall it can’t be long before the Greens (possibly with the Maori Party’s assistance) outvote him electorally.
    What happens then?
    Does Chippie stand down of LotO?
    Is there a Parliamentary vote of no-confidence in him?
    Do the Greens, like The Peoples’ Front of Judea in ‘Life of Brian’, declare ‘WE’RE the real Opposition’?
    Or does he soldier on into oblivion?
    
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    March 1, 2024 10:43am
    - Paulus
      
      No, Chippy is not the Leader of The Opposition Media Party. although he and his mates will leak all they can to the Media Party
      
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      March 1, 2024 11:15am
    - peterwn
      
      “Chippie, supposedly our local MP, has shut down his Upper Hutt office”. As an electorate MP he is entitled to one electorate office funded by Parliamentary Services. Any additional offices would need to be met from Parliamentary Services bulk allocation to Labour and the allocation would have been drastically reduced following the last election. No doubt Chris and Labour considered his Taita office to be more strategic to Labour than the Upper Hutt Office, so the latter was closed.
      Parties will sometimes have ‘electorate offices’ for their list MP’s if they think it is the best use of bulk funds.
      
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      March 1, 2024 11:44am
    - Ghost
      
      Luxton closed down both her offices after Meager won the electorate. She’s had it since she first got in on the list.
      
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      March 1, 2024 12:06pm
      - G the giant from Dunedin
        
        She is list only
        
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        March 1, 2024 12:59pm
      - Ghost
        
        No kidding, thus she lost the electorate to Meager….. and as I said she had the offices since she got in on list in 2017
        
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        March 1, 2024 1:11pm
      - G the giant from Dunedin
        
        I thought list MPs did not have electorate offices, usually they share offices if there is another electorate seat in the city’s, like Dunedin
        
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        March 1, 2024 6:22pm
      - Ghost
        
        She had one since she got into parliament. She initially put on it mp for Rangitata and was made to change it, so she put up list mp for Rangitata.
        
        https://www.stuff.co.nz/timaru-herald/news/105482457/Labour-Party-MP-Jo-Luxton-sets-up-office-on-Timarus-main-street
        
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        March 1, 2024 6:29pm
    - jenkies
      
      Doing well now according to latest polls.
      
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      March 20, 2024 4:07pm
- jenkies
  
  People like Chippie more than Luxey. Hipkins is a whisker away from being officially more liked.
  
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  March 20, 2024 4:06pm
G152

Shock horror.
Liebor has decreed that owing to the nats doing stuff to the laws of the land that because of smoking hundreds and thousands of us will die.
I have a little fact for our elected village idiots.
WE ALL DIE.
Its part of life
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March 1, 2024 8:08am
- Steve Otto(North Shore)
  
  There is no rush to DIE so don’t smoke or give up if you do. I did after 45 years of it.
  
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  March 1, 2024 9:35am
  - Ra Henare
    
    Health damage already done Steve.
    Your only benefits now are a cleaner breath and saving some dosh.
    
    Oh, and a chunk of virtual signalling
    
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    March 1, 2024 5:35pm
    - Steve Otto(North Shore)
      
      Virtual signaling yes of course.
      But I did give up in 2009 because neck surgeon said I had to or no surgery.
      Saving dosh yeah. I was at a pack of 25 a day. Unaffordable on the Super.
      So is the damage really done? At 72 I am fit and fine except for cubital tunnel nerve recovery.
      
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      March 1, 2024 5:57pm
- Damocles11
  
  Since it has all kicked off over the ‘smoking ban’ overturn being a ‘genocide of Maori’, surely therefore Maori should place a rāhui on all outlets selling cigarettes. Or hold a ‘National Hui’ on the subject, with the outcome being a ‘by Maori, for Maori’ ban on the smoking of all cigarettes. Send a clear signal to your people that smoking & Maori are done, assert your Tino Rangatiratanga over your own lives and destiny’s. I return again to a comment I saw on-line yesterday: ‘I’m confused. Do Maori have sovereignty, or do they need the government to save them from themselves?’ Apparently being smoke free is guaranteed under the Treaty (which must be about 58 pages long since it seems to include everything under the sun). So would a government ban mean that Maori would no longer inhale smoke? No. Those who wish to smoke would simply find ways to get their hands on tobacco, exactly as happens currently with cannabis.
  
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  March 1, 2024 10:00am
  - peterwn
    
    A ‘brute force’ smoking ban would provide ‘business opportunities’ for gangs so they can buy more gold plated Harley Davidson motorbikes and Rolls Royces etc with personalised plates.
    
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    March 1, 2024 11:48am
  - alphabeatrium
    
    I can’t believe that there are people who can say things like “Maori have a right to be smoke-free under the Treaty” with a straight face. In one sense they do; they can exercise their own freedom to smoke, quit or never smoke. The smokefree idea really is to take freedom away from Maori (and everyone else), in a boiling frog fashion. Surely if anything the Treaty gives Maori the right to smoke (or not) in perpetuity, as is their right as a free people.
    
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    March 1, 2024 1:43pm
    - Skippytony
      
      Here you go. Lets pass a law making it illegal to sell cigarettes to Maori. Problem solved….
      
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      March 1, 2024 3:55pm
      - Steve Otto(North Shore)
        
        “You are racist” would be the first reaction.
        Labour, Greens, and Te Pati Maori would not be worried about the legal bit, but the racist bit would create a riot!
        
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        March 1, 2024 6:01pm
    - jenkies
      
      Did you post that with a straight face? We all know what all that ‘free’ talk means. ‘free’ for some is not ‘free’ for all.
      
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      March 20, 2024 4:09pm
- igm
  
  Labour should face how many Pfizer vaccine will end up killing?
  
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  March 1, 2024 4:42pm
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    Jacinda Ardern should face the “Safe and Effective” lies that Pfizer paid her to program us with.
    She was but a small cog in the big wheel but she knowingly lied to New Zealand.
    Then she ran away when the kitchen got a bit hot.
    
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    March 1, 2024 6:04pm
Matt Long

Good to see the NZ government has finally designated Hamas a terrorist organisation as well as sanctioned violent Israeli settlers.
One of the features of good character is to treat people according to their actions rather than race.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/turning-the-other-cheek-on-extremist-jews-incitement-christians-flock-to-israel/
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March 1, 2024 8:10am
- Maggie Pie
  
  So does this mean Chloe & all those other green dorks will be banned
  from wearing a Keyifah in parliament?
  
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  March 1, 2024 8:27am
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    Should be, and hats should be out too.
    
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    March 1, 2024 8:33am
    - Steve Otto(North Shore)
      
      Some of them would turn up in a tee, shorts, and jandals if they could.
      
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      March 1, 2024 3:01pm
    - Nobby2
      
      If I was ever to go onto a marae I would be expected to be respectful of their rules, so why can’t the members of the maori party and green party be respectful of Parliament by not wearing hats inside any of
      Parliaments buildings. I was brought up knowing not to wear a hat inside and my children and grandchildren respect my wishes and do not wear a hat inside.
      
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      March 1, 2024 3:52pm
      - igm
        
        Do they wear stupid regalia if entering a club or RSA.
        I think not.
        
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        March 1, 2024 4:44pm
  - pdm
    
    Ties should be back in for men.
    
    That is proper ties not some greenstone thingy masquerading as a tie.
    
    Even if some of them will never be capable and competent politicians they can at least look as though they are.
    
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    March 1, 2024 8:55am
    - kowtow
      
      See those top “banker” types at the RBNZ don’t wear ’em on important occassions . Helps to project a certain image , even real estate salesmen are better turned out.
      
      Him of the Big Tree of the Forest fame .
      
      No wonder we’re in such strife .
      
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      March 1, 2024 9:13am
      - imalwaysright
        
        Saw McAnulty and Bishop on tv1. They looked like a couple of homeless people.
        Lazy.
        
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        March 1, 2024 9:36am
    - Steve Otto(North Shore)
      
      It comes down to respect.
      The bone carving pendant competition is childish.
      Mine is bigger than yours!
      
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      March 1, 2024 9:37am
      - imalwaysright
        
        Wearing them sideways seems to be the latest trend.
        
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        March 1, 2024 10:02am
      - I remember when
        
        Time for Healthy and Safety to point out the dangers of head injuries from sudden movements.
        
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        March 1, 2024 2:03pm
  - Maggie Pie
    
    I’ll tell you who all on the Left should look to emulate…
    
    Winston and Tanya. Absolute CLASS !
    
    https://vimeo.com/917751662
    
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    March 1, 2024 9:32am
    - Steve Otto(North Shore)
      
      Winston has always been a snappy dresser.
      Hey what about Nanaia Mahuta?
      Prefer female MPs in dress suits really.
      
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      March 1, 2024 9:40am
    - leoj
      
      Good point.
      
      The ones that look like freaks also act like freaks and they are ALL on the left.
      
      Lowest common denominator….
      
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      March 1, 2024 10:56am
      - david
        
        It is pretty hard to make a dumpling look like Elle Macpherson.
        And thats all I have to say about that.
        (Hat Tip: Forrest Gump)
        
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        March 1, 2024 11:24am
- Che Guava
  
  “One of the features of good character is to treat people according to their actions rather than race.”
  
  I agree. But the principal distinction in Judaism, and among Jews as an ethnic group, is not that of the quality of one’s actions, but that of Jew (“us”) and Gentile (“not-us”). That’s the foundation of their morality, which is characteristically particularist, not at all universalist like Christianity. A Christian will condemn the act, a Jew will condemn (or not) the person doing the act.
  
  As one stark and pertinent example of the Jews us/them distinction (versus the impersonal good/bad dichotomy), is that the Jewish terrorists who laid the foundation for the State of Israel are seen as “founding fathers” (notably one of them, Yitzhak Shamir, later becoming Prime Minister) and are frequently lauded, whereas the Arab terrorists who act in very similar ways, but against Israeli interests, are marked for elimination, along with anyone else in the vicinity. Similarly, Israel will back non-Jewish terrorists (like ISIS) and support their actions if they help “us.”
  
  The only distinction is “is it us, or is it them?””
  
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  March 1, 2024 9:50am
  - cmm
    
    The terrorist vs freedom fighter line is thin and blurry. As is often said: One man’s terrorist is another man’s freedom fighter.
    
    Some, eg Mandela, clearly strayed into terrorist land. So did those October 7 Hamas mofos.
    
    You are entitled to draw the line where you want, but to me the difference is whether the actions serve a military objective or not.
    
    Attacking legitimate military targets is not terrorism – even if those are placed in civilian areas and the attacks result in large civilian casualties.
    
    When the Hamas attacked military bases on October 7th that was not terrorism. Nor is it terrorism when Israel attacks Hamas tunnels even if they are located in civilian areas.
    
    Deliberately attacking civilian targets that serve no military goals is terrorism.
    
    Shooting up rock concerts and civilian homes far away from military infrastructure – pure terrorism.
    
    Between those is a grey area.
    
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    March 1, 2024 10:50am
    - Che Guava
      
      It’s the rank hypocrisy that I find distasteful. If the Israelis were honest about what any thinking person can deduce from their words and actions (going back decades), then I could at least respect that. But honesty wouldn’t play well in the battle to win popular opinion. And besides, they’re losing that battle even with the false moral pretexts they use to justify themselves.
      
      On the one hand, the Israelis constantly decry the morality of violence done by Arabs and couch it in a framework of latent “Islamofascism” and an insatiable Will to Power and conquest. On the other hand, it was nascent Israelis who, before they had access to regular state forces to do violence for political ends, invented the tactics of modern terrorism, and the Israelis are themselves Jewish Supremacists who are presently engaged in far more destructive acts of naked aggression aimed at conquering an ethnic outgroup, and are driven by their own Will to Power, partially justified by scripture, and partially by events of the 20th century.
      
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      March 1, 2024 11:23am
    - kowtow
      
      ‘Attacking legitimate military targets is not terrorism – even if those are placed in civilian areas and the attacks result in large civilian casualties.’
      
      Nope .To me it’s very clear .
      
      when there’s a democratic alternative , there can be no justification for violence , against anyone.
      
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      March 1, 2024 12:18pm
      - cmm
        
        That is a real “I don’t like reality so I’ll hide under my blanket and block my ears” response.
        
        HTF is there a “democratic alternative” to a bunch of terrorists coming over the border, killing hundreds of people and kidnapping others.
        
        No amount of talk is going to fix that. The only solution, as ugly as it is, is to destroy the Hamas terror infrastructure.
        
        Since that infrastructure is built in civilian areas and Hamas likes to use human shields, there is going to be a lot of collateral damage.
        
        I don’t like the idea of killing but sometimes there are no alternatives (well on in the real world).
        
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        March 1, 2024 1:09pm
      - Jake Dee
        
        A “democratic alternative” to violence?
        I simply don’t understand what that means.
        Don’t forget, this problem of who may use violence and of what sort is a scalable problem, it runs from the top, with huge nations at total war right down to the bottom, with individual people fighting and everything in between.
        We all know, and hopefully understand and appreciate that the police are armed and may shoot people to protect others from death or serious harm (there is a little humming and hawing about “shoot to kill” vs. “shoot to stop the threat” but if it means putting a bullet through someone’s skull, we all know what it means in practice).
        How can any of that be done “democratically”? It has to be done immediately, it’s not up for a vote of interested parties or a citizen’s referendum.
        Or is it that the violent party must be authorized to use violence by a democratically legitimated government before they in turn may legitimately use violence?
        That’s just not going to work.
        How many governments in the world today do you consider to be democratically legitimate?
        Is a Chinese cop or security guard who beats down a crazy person attacking a kindergarten with a knife himself a criminal because he was not authorized by a democratically elected government?
        If you look back through history the problem just gets worse. According to modern standards there wouldn’t have been a single democratic nation anywhere in the world before the 20th century. Was every soldier and police officer before that time a criminal?
        No. This “democratic alternative” to violence just won’t fly.
        
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        March 1, 2024 3:45pm
  - Fuzzysnuggleduck
    
    Re: A Them and Us view of morality based upon co-religionists…..
    Now do Islam
    
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    March 1, 2024 11:14am
    - Che Guava
      
      That’s not true. Islam, like Christianity, considers acts in and of themselves to have a specific moral character, regardless of who does them. You may disagree with the standards, but they set standards that apply to anyone. The “us/them” re: universalist religions like Islam or Christianity is about belief, not about blood.
      
      The difference is, Jews are principally an ethnic group that requires blood for admission (rather than the adoption of theological beliefs), whereas Islam (or Christianity) is a doctrine which anyone can commit to and adhere to, no matter what their DNA happens to be.
      
      The Talmud, among other doctrines, teaches that Jews have different moral obligations and restraints vis a vis other Jews as opposed to Gentiles. It’s not the act that counts, it’s the actor.
      
      Ivanka Trump may have converted to Judaism, but she’ll never be as Jewish as her husband Kushner, or even a secular Jew, because she doesn’t have Jewish blood, as far as is widely known.
      
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      March 1, 2024 11:35am
      - Fuzzysnuggleduck
        
        That is garbage.
        Islamic scholars can say that innocents aren’t killed during terror, because an Infindel is not an innocent – just like a Muslim killed by accident in jihad is a martyr (by accident) as well according to the same tenant.
        So they 100% consider Muslims as being intrinsically different to non-Muslims.
        How on earth can you claim to understand either Judaism and Islam, when you apologise for the extreme distinction that Muslims and their religion makes around co-religionists and those outside it.
        It is why they could take non-Muslims as sex slaves (‘what the right hand possesses’), or historical make non-Muslims pay taxes (jizya tax ) when they lived amongst Muslims.
        ISIS after all were not bad Muslims. They were the BEST Muslims.
        This is all part of Islamic jurisprudence – so I don’t think I’ll take your word further as a scholar of religious studies.
        
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        March 1, 2024 2:34pm
  - newview
    
    CG Once again your opinion is your truth but as it’s your opinion only it’s not everyones truth. What is your point. Are people who have Jewish friends not their genuine friends because they are Gentiles. Your opinion of how the Jewish look upon non Jewish is rubbish IMO. You also seem to be suggesting that Jews will accept bad quality behaviour from other Jews but won’t give non Jews the same acceptance. You also seem to be suggesting that Christians by definition are judging the act and not the type of person doing the act. It’s a great theory CG but it’s bollocks in reality. There are some pretty shitty christians (in name only) out there. I’m a non practising christian but attended my Jewish friends father’s funeral during Covid when they had to have security on the door. I know enough about my friend and his family and friends to know I wasn’t being treated in a different way because I was non Jewish. Instead of believing all the crap you read you should get out and make real life judgments of what you see and experience.
    
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    March 1, 2024 11:50am
    - Che Guava
      
      I’ve never made any universal statement about attitudes held by Jews or anyone else, so saying that not all Jews have this attitude is no rebuttal at all.
      
      No doubt there are some “shitty” Christians, but their “shittiness” is based on objective criteria applicable to any moral actor, not to their membership of a group.
      
      As just one example, we can conclude that Jews (in general) consider the experiences of their own ancestors to be of far greater significance than those of the ancestors of other peoples, because they never stop invoking the former and expecting sympathy and expressions of guilt, while barely mention what are, in many cases, the much more egregious latter. To equally condemn all historical experiences of minorities would be to diminish the special status Jews tend to give themselves.
      
      Similarly, the Israelis obviously feel completely at ease with bombing to death many thousands more Palestinians in Gaza than Palestinians killed Israelis on Oct 7th. Even though the former is objectively far worse than the latter, the Jews (generally) consider themselves justified because they consider themselves superior to non-Jews, and the deaths of Jews count more than Gentiles.
      
      In fact, rather than saying “we just can’t understand the causes of anti-Jewish sentiment throughout the ages” one of the ways to account for it is the (general, but not universal) sense of Jewish superiority (and Gentile inferiority) projected by Jews, and the consequent antagonism this engenders vis a vis populations of Gentiles.
      
      The dynamic between Jew and Gentile, replicated time and again and in place after place, is all very well-documented in the historical record, and is accessible to anyone.
      
      “Instead of believing all the crap you read you should get out and make real life judgments of what you see and experience.”
      
      How can anyone make any meaningful judgements about anything or any aspect of the world if they restrict their premises to only those acquired through their direct sense experience? It’s completely possible, for example, for a person living in Chicago or LA to have several African American neighbours who do them no harm whatsoever, yet it still be a knowable and demonstrably true proposition that African Americans are vastly over-represented in US violent crime statistics.
      
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      March 1, 2024 12:42pm
      - newview
        
        CG your quotes.”Similarly, the Israelis obviously feel completely at ease with bombing to death many thousands more Palestinians in Gaza than Palestinians killed Israelis on Oct 7th. Even though the former is objectively far worse than the latter, the Jews (generally) consider themselves justified because they consider themselves superior to non-Jews, and the deaths of Jews count more than Gentiles.”
        Correction. The Israeli leadership finds it necessary to kill thousands of Palestinians. Large numbers of Israelis are against it.
        ” one of the ways to account for it is the (general, but not universal) sense of Jewish superiority (and Gentile inferiority) projected by Jews, and the consequent antagonism this engenders vis a vis populations of Gentiles.”
        So your idea is that Jews feel superior, ( because they are good at business no doubt) and you feel it’s ok to write up your personal opinions unsubstantiated, just because that fits in with your ideas. Have you ever thought of keeping your comments on the facts instead of your unpleasant opinions.
        
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        March 1, 2024 2:27pm
      - double d
        
        Newview – CG continually has the worst takes on Israel/Palestine issues and his posts are thinly veiled anti-semitism.
        His third paragraph above – just throws out an opinion without any evidence – casually stating that Israelis feel completely at ease with bombing to death many thousands more Palestinians etc – does he have a special insight into every single Israeli?
        And the next paragraph giving his opinion that Jewish people feel superior and that non-Jews (gentiles) are inferior —— with zero evidence other than having an opinion.
        
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        March 1, 2024 11:06pm
Tomtoddy

The MSM’s mindless attacks on the Coalition Govt continue. Its going to be a long three years for Luxon and co.
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March 1, 2024 8:15am
- Prince
  
  More likely a long 3 years for the Media, with dwindling audience from the 35% of lefty voters.
  How many others will go under ? Will a new entrant seek out the other 65% market ?
  
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  March 1, 2024 8:31am
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    How many others will go under?
    The more the better. The general public are sick to death of them.
    NZ needs a Tucker Carlson.
    
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    March 1, 2024 9:44am
  - leoj
    
    We’re still lumbered with Simon bloody Wilson and Audrey Young, whose Dad would be spinning in his grave having sired such a disappointment.
    
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    March 1, 2024 11:02am
- sungsamning
  
  Fake news Hubs cease in June, when all the ‘journalists’ enrol in coding courses. Will Stuff be next?
  
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  March 1, 2024 8:33am
- hookerphil
  
  It will lessen after June 30 and who knows, Stuff might be gone by then as well.
  
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  March 1, 2024 8:34am
  - sungsamning
    
    Yes, indeed. Stuff could be a goner too. Just in time to enrol in coding courses with their colleagues from ‘News Hub’.
    
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    March 1, 2024 4:42pm
- Matt Long
  
  At the same time as the MSM news organisations are making desperate please to get into the taxpayers’ pockets.
  
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  March 1, 2024 8:36am
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    That is a brilliant typo, or was it intended?
    
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    March 1, 2024 9:46am
    - Matt Long
      
      Autocorrect, but this time it still works ok.
      
      9 0
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      March 1, 2024 9:59am
      - Biscuit
        
        Heh heh, Matt, it does indeed.
        
        8 0
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        March 1, 2024 10:49am
  - sungsamning
    
    Not now. This government has deep pockets, and short hands.
    
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    March 1, 2024 4:42pm
- Ehlana
  
  On the other hand, how much MSM is actually left? (as in remains to do anything. I think their politics is established.)
  
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  March 1, 2024 8:36am
- RoboRob
  
  Stuff will probably be gone by mid next year. Less and less MSM to push their agenda.
  
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  March 1, 2024 8:36am
- Colville
  
  Stuff will be next to go broke.
  
  Oh dear 🙂
  
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  March 1, 2024 9:08am
  - Fuzzysnuggleduck
    
    Much as that appeals to me too, the downfall of Newshub was not just that it was out of step with the ‘average kiwi’ perhaps, or bribed or willing in themselves to push the Ti Tiriti narrative, the real reason for their downfall was that people get their news online now.
    Terrestrial television is dying, and news is the first casualty.
    As someone comments on The Herald “I also hear that demand for stage coaches is not what it once was”.
    Stuff, sadly, being digital (aside from print) may well limp on for a while yet.
    
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    March 1, 2024 11:28am
  - kowtow
    
    They probably already are broke.
    
    Innit that they haven’t published accounts for some time and they’re probably most likely hanging on only due to taxpayer drip feed cash life support , courtesy of the Ardernista regime……..
    
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    March 1, 2024 12:22pm
- imalwaysright
  
  Luxon should sue them for fraud.
  
  The pjif was meant for media companies , not activists posing as media companies .
  
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  March 1, 2024 9:17am
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    Labour knew they are activists.
    
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    March 1, 2024 9:48am
- Notsofast
  
  Bob McCroskie just did a good analysis and hard proof of how the slush fund was misused to support monopoly labour.
  You can be pro choice on dope and abortion etc, but still enjoy the work of this guy.
  
  https://youtu.be/58-TGocFGR4?si=in4br6VblWZwKrUJ
  
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  March 1, 2024 9:28am
- G the giant from Dunedin
  
  Yes attacking him for taking a subsidy for not staying at premier house, the 52 k is small change for the price of running the big house, I thought they stated it cost $2 million a year when Ardern was staying there. What did Ardern do with her flat when in the big house? I bet she still has it, and probably rented it out
  
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  March 1, 2024 10:34am
Swifty

I see the esteemed Otago media professor, Olivier Jutel, thinks it ‘really sucks’ that new, conservative media voices are springing up in NZ and that they are prepared to invest their own money in these ventures.

He also makes a play for more taxpayer money to be thrown at news media companies through public interest journalism-type boondoggles.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/350196923/would-requiring-dividend-fix-uncompetitive-tv-market

Looking further at Mr Jutel’s social media postings I see he is happy to tell the world where he stands politically – no neutrality or objectivity for him, no siree.

On new conservative media players springing up he writes:

“This kind of bile and burn it all down populism, backed by rich-listers, is what the government is counting on. Absolute bootlickers.”

https://x.com/OJutel/status/1762663718712975643?s=20

Gosh, it’s almost as if Mr Jutel doesn’t support all New Zealanders having their say on current events and that the fact that they are paying for it out of their own pockets, instead of leeching off the taxpayer, seems even more offensive to the good professor.

One might also ask whether it is appropriate for Otago professors to be name-calling other New Zealanders they disagree with politically?

Entering into public debates by all means but nasty, childish name-calling? Really? Would Otago’s leadership condone this sort of behaviour?
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March 1, 2024 8:28am
- Ehlana
  
  “really sucks”? Is this the standard of English among University professors today?
  
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  March 1, 2024 9:45am
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    Normal language for a leftie I would have thought.
    
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    March 1, 2024 9:56am
  - imalwaysright
    
    Be thankful he didn’t spell it with an x .
    
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    March 1, 2024 10:10am
  - Paulus
    
    Will get better when Robertson gets there, as he can out lie just like the others already there.
    
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    March 1, 2024 1:49pm
    - Steve Otto(North Shore)
      
      Probably teach them how to get away with most of the lies.
      
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      March 1, 2024 3:15pm
- leoj
  
  Amazing that professors are held in such high esteem.
  
  Many are idiots who have never held a real job, have never had to make payroll and look down on the guy who unblocks his toilet.
  
  And they are influencing the kids. It’s no wonder the world is in a mess.
  
  The kids only learn how the real world works when they LEAVE university.
  
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  March 1, 2024 11:09am
- Fuzzysnuggleduck
  
  Look at his Twitter bio, and the Palestinian flag in place of pride.
  This is one of those academics that does not reflect a normal mindset, or a moderate perspective.
  Disregard: Leftie spouts leftist sentiment.
  
  I liked very much how when Harry Tam made comment about National’s gang policies, and Luxon simply told the media that he is not interested in what Harry Tam thinks.
  Bravo!
  About time a politician said that.
  And does the average reader of media comment care that a Gang spokesperson doesn’t approve of efforts against gangs?
  Disregard: Gang member is pro-gangs.
  
  The media just don’t get it.
  If there is a policy change which might turn off a tap to Maori entities who claim to represent Maori then why waste space getting comment from them.
  Disregard: Maori elites like money and power.
  We can anticipate what Willie, Rawiri or Tuku have to say on such things, but media seems to think their job is about sourcing opinions they play to progressive readers primarily.
  This is why this academic dingbat can’t understand a demand for ‘conservative’ perspectives, which are actually not uncommon and obviously have a demand.
  
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  March 1, 2024 11:46am
- kowtow
  
  “Would Otago’s leadership condone this sort of behaviour?”
  
  Oh come on , they’re deliberately marking themselves out as a Left Wing cesspit .
  
  btw From his own page on the uni website .
  
  Spot the mistake ,is that the level of professionalism of academic ex hacks. yes !
  
  ‘Oliver Jutel is a former TV journalist and media professional. His published worked has been concerned with neo-liberalism, populism, the media and public sphere.’
  
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  March 1, 2024 12:30pm
  - Swifty
    
    Yeah I saw that.
    
    Reeks of professionalism doesn’t it? A real eye for detail. Makes him look real credible.
    
    //
    
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    March 1, 2024 12:49pm
- I remember when
  
  “This kind of bile and burn it all down populism,
  backed by rich-listers, is what the government is counting on.”
  
  The argument is supported by a research paper by Left, Further Left, Even Further Left and Far Left,
  no doubt?
  
  Aren’t these people worried that they will convince everyone that they are close to insane?
  
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  March 1, 2024 2:21pm
sungsamning

https://rumble.com/v4g9t35-new-new-new-biden-hospital.html
Brandon Makes Unannounced Trip to Walter Reed Hospital.
Usually, these trips are arranged and announced months in advance. Are the Dems working up to Kamala pulling the 25th?
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March 1, 2024 8:31am
- imalwaysright
  
  He’s all class.
  Announced a ceasefire in Gaza while eating an icecream.
  
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  March 1, 2024 9:41am
  - G the giant from Dunedin
    
    Yet no seize fire, he never knows when to shut his mouth
    
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    March 1, 2024 10:47am
  - sungsamning
    
    He probably needed the ice cream to keep focused.
    
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    March 1, 2024 4:47pm
- Steve Otto(North Shore)
  
  Kamala is the best they have, as long as she reads the teleprompter and does not talk her normal rubbish.
  It leaves the door open for Hillary. I get this info from our Alaskan host families who are a mixture of left and right. They are all saying crooked Hillary will make an appearance.
  
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  March 1, 2024 10:00am
sungsamning

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-u-Ia5K-nc
McConnell Is Out! SCOTUS Crushes Jack Smith! Rachel Maddow Meltdown!
McConnel is gone. SCOTUS is likely to rule in President Trump’s Favor, and Rachel is ticked off. What’s not to like?
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March 1, 2024 8:31am
- MCōs
  
  If it wasn’t for McConnell president Trump wouldn’t have been about to load up the Supreme Court with his appointees
  
  I wonder if McConnell’s seizures are related to the bout of polio he had as a kid. I read it can come back and cause problems in later life
  
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  March 1, 2024 9:56am
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    What’s wrong with that? Obama did it, Biden did it.
    Must be different when the left do it.
    MAGA. TRUMP 2024.
    
    11 4
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    March 1, 2024 10:06am
    - MCōs
      
      You’re being a bit disingenuous there, Steve, or just plain ignorant
      
      2 3
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      March 1, 2024 11:50am
  - G the giant from Dunedin
    
    Don’t think so, it’s identical too what the old man use yo have when he was having those mini strokes before he had his stroke
    
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    March 1, 2024 10:49am
    - MCōs
      
      If he was having mini strokes a ct scan would pick that up
      
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      March 1, 2024 11:32am
      - mawm
        
        That is false. If it shows up on CT scan it is a stroke. TIA’s (Transient Ischaemic Attacks), commonly called mini strokes, are transient.
        
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        March 1, 2024 1:10pm
      - Paulus
        
        No necessarily – I have been judged recently by a top (read expensive) Neurologist as may well have had a small stroke in recentl yuears and with cost $1500 to find out although.
        I have had a couple of CTs in recent years not necessarily identifying as such.
        Aged 84 so just getting old.
        
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        March 1, 2024 1:54pm
      - G the giant from Dunedin
        
        As mawm says below he was having TIA’s, they are called mini strokes, but often he was the same as McConnell
        
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        March 1, 2024 6:27pm
  - xasperated
    
    post polio syndrome. Friend has it, after having polio as a toddler a long long time ago.
    
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    March 1, 2024 3:00pm
  - sungsamning
    
    Guess its only bad when the Republicans do it.
    
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    March 1, 2024 4:49pm
Paulus

See the Herald has a full page by someone Henare complaining as to why the Maori Health system is discontinued and why Maori are disadvantaged.
I did not vote for Maori to be given priority over any ailments I have or treatment needed.
Why are Maori so disadvantaged over the last 180 years – they can in principle read and write, drive cars and have access to all modern amenities and technology.
So why do they not get their children inoculated
and vaccinated, and why did they not take part in such as Census and Elections properly.
Why do we hear abut the tragic deaths, so many children, many of whom are considered Maori.
Why do we hear of principally Maori violence and drugs via the Gangs ?
Mr Henari ex Labour Minister – look at yourselves and don’t just tell us because we may have earned more money than many Maori – today many younger Maori earn good salaries and good often professional positions in our society – not your society – why not ?
Get real and stop bitching and do something about it- Ardern gave you the opportunity, and you stuffed it, perhaps because it suits you to always be complaining, and the media love that.
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March 1, 2024 8:33am
- Steve Otto(North Shore)
  
  Just another Maori blaming everything except themselves.
  
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  March 1, 2024 10:13am
- G the giant from Dunedin
  
  Their answer is they can’t afford the drive too the doctors, or they don’t trust whitey, there is absolutely no reason at all that health is any worse than whitey. We have a mongrel mob guy working with us, when he gets sick or his family get sick it’s straight to the doctors, his daughter was 2 months premature, she received the best of support while she was growing, she was not made to wait for whitey, he agrees there is no need for seperate health systems
  
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  March 1, 2024 10:53am
  - Paulus
    
    I think perhaps that their Health is not as good as Whitey, whoever, because their Lifestyle is piss poor, and they know it.
    Look at such as Obesity, Smoking, Diabetes and Cardiac failures.
    Prominent as to why mortality rates are higher than anybody else, and their lifestyle has not really changed since 1840 except no more Cannibalism.
    
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    March 1, 2024 11:28am
    - Ghost
      
      Most people I see around town that are obese down here are white.
      
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      March 1, 2024 11:42am
      - Fuzzysnuggleduck
        
        Maybe travel more.
        If you live in the mid to upper north island, or the east coast, where Maori and Polynesians are a high % you will see differently.
        Yes, there are fat white people but there are a lot (a lot) of fat and VERY fat brown people.
        Systemic racism and white supremacy does not cause diabetes.
        Fork->Face does.
        The mystery of disparity in health outcomes is not primarily explained by racist ‘white’ doctors.
        Fork->Face does.
        
        8 1
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        March 1, 2024 11:55am
      - Steve Otto(North Shore)
        
        @Fuzzysnuggleduck,
        The input hole is bigger than the output hole, no matter if they are brown or white – or any mixture.
        
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        March 1, 2024 12:59pm
      - Maggie Pie
        
        Not in all cases STEVE O! Have you not watched…. 1000-lb Sisters?
        
        5 1
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        March 1, 2024 2:05pm
      - Fuzzysnuggleduck
        
        Opps, accidently hit Report instead of Reply for Steve. Mods, please disregard.
        
        Steve – size of mouth versus size or butthole is not really a reason for body sizes, unless you mean skinny people must have large buttholes.
        
        I think nutritionists would say it is more about “calories in” versus “calories out.”
        …….That is not a comment on the size of one’s fundament, but rather than if you eat far more than you burn off you will run into fat.
        
        “How do I lose weight, Doctor?”
        “Eat less fatty”
        “You mean like belly pork or cheese?”
        “No. Eat LESS, fatty”
        
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        March 1, 2024 3:21pm
    - G the giant from Dunedin
      
      Whitey has poor life style too, it’s about seeing doctor if things are not right
      
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      March 1, 2024 6:29pm
- Steve Todd
  
  @Paulus @ 8:33AM
  
  See the Herald has a full page by someone Henare […].
  
  Was it necessary to include a deliberate and unnecessary putdown of someone whose identity you know full well, simply because you don’t support his politics?
  
  It’s puerile behaviour, Paulus, unbecoming an 85-year-old gentleman, albeit a bitter and grumpy one.
  
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  March 1, 2024 11:37am
slightlyrighty

https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/350196883/party-politics-has-no-place-council-wellingtons-dysfunction-proves-it

A great opinion peice as to why the Wellington Voters need a rocket.
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March 1, 2024 8:33am
- Steve Todd
  
  Well, it was pretty once-over lightly, slightly, and said little or nothing more than I’ve been saying for several years now.
  
  For example—
  
  “Over the last seven years, I have stated several times that if the Right want to regain power in this city, they must put up electable candidates in sufficient numbers to form a majority, and then vote for them! With 40% participation rates, the Right only have themselves to blame.” (See https://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/2023/03/good_leadership_from_the_mayor.html/comment-page-1#comment-3344194.)
  
  Voters must also understand that they should rank-order as many candidates as they reasonably can, to ensure their votes have maximum impact on the outcome of elections.
  
  For example, at the recent Lambton Ward by-election, when Joan Shi (Right leaning) was excluded from the count, 140 of her votes fell to Non-transferable, even though Karl Tiefenbacher was still in the count. Then, when Ellen Blake (Left leaning) was excluded, a further 156 votes fell to no Non-transferable, even though Geordie Rogers was still in the count.
  
  At the end of the count, a total of 383 votes had dropped out of the election throughout the count. That means that 383 voters (many of whom would have been Right leaning) did not indicate a preference between the two main candidates, Rogers and Tiefenbacher.
  
  Needless to say, had 46+ of the Right leaning voters among those 383 voters indicated a preference for Tiefenbacher, he would have won the election.
  
  As I keep saying, those on the Right only have themselves to blame.
  
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  March 1, 2024 11:15am
  - Fuzzysnuggleduck
    
    Agree, but maybe the right-wing people are to busy working and being successful.
    More people who seem to enter into politics seem to be belief driven, that is ideological in some sense (potentially identity politics) and so we have a parliament skewed into super-diversity in terms of Polynesians and gays: over represented.
    Just a theory of mine, in that the right wing people feel more secure in themselves and change their own personal fates rather than seek to change the world: and so are less likely to take to the street, or stand for roles in politics.
    
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    March 1, 2024 12:09pm
    - Steve Todd
      
      Well, if that’s the case, Fuzzysnuggleduck, then what’s the answer? The Right (in Wellington) just continue to let the Left walk all over them?
      
      Should people like Luke Pierson (author of the Stuff opinion piece linked to by slightlyrighty) and the successful Right leaning business- and other people in Wellington therefore just accept their fate, and do little or nothing to get organised (now) and do something to change things? That seems to be what you’re saying.
      
      Pierson bemoans party politics in local government, but (1) there has always been party politics in local government; and (2) surprise, surprise, it is only the Right who say there shouldn’t be – no doubt primarily because National has chosen not to participate. Perhaps it’s time for that to change.
      
      If you’re saying there is basically no answer, essentially, it seems to me, because the organised Right is above local politics, leaving the running of the city to Labour and the Greens, then surely it is incumbent on Right leaning Kiwiblog commenters to stop moaning about what a badly run city Wellington is.
      
      We all know that’s not going to happen, which means there is only one answer. The Right must organise, now, and get stuck in. That is the best way for things to change in 19 months’ time.
      
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      March 1, 2024 1:10pm
      - Fuzzysnuggleduck
        
        I agree, that ideally the right would be better represented.
        I don’t have an answer, other than noting than in the UK, Tommy Robinson was commenting that ‘moaning in the pub is not enough – get in the street!’ (i.e Londinistan and rape gangs). But flag waving, stomping and shouting and heckling is more a leftist trait.
        There is even the ‘shy conservative’ effect.
        But I for sure look for, and want more, centre right or conservative options. I look at local and central candidates carefully and any indulgence in Ti Tiriti or pepeha as part of a statement of what matters to them and my alarm bells go off.
        
        But at least we do have Free Speech, Hobsons Pledge and Taxpayer Union (if not pure ‘right’ at least overlapping with principles I support).
        
        Just as important is for the current government to pull funding and shut down the organs of the left in society: protect freedom in academia, shut down the Disinformation Project, no race-based funding or prioritisation and nip any expansion of the Christchurch call into gender politics and ‘words are violence’ in the bud.
        
        Salting the earth where the left-wing activists and groups are grown is another alternative if right wing activists or groups won’t spring up to compete for sunlight. Education and public service.
        
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        March 1, 2024 3:39pm
igm

Sooner there is mass fiscal failure in MSM and they become extinct, especially Stuff and NZME, the better off NZ as a whole will become!
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March 1, 2024 8:36am
- septic skeptic
  
  I hope the coalition appreciates this point. If we wanted this shifty outdated msm product we would buy it or watch it. We don’t. And don’t for one minute think of compelling us to pay for it through taxes.
  
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  March 1, 2024 9:43am
- Grunter
  
  Add the ODT to that list.
  
  The final straw for me was their lack of reporting on the central govt stealing local 3-Waters assets. Their pathetic excuse when challenged on it was “It’s a complicated issue!”. My cancellation after that response took 15 seconds…..
  
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  March 1, 2024 10:24am
- Paulus
  
  NZME only survives because of their Real Estate funded paper.
  
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  March 1, 2024 11:29am
Tomtoddy

I am rather old-fashioned. I believe having good manners is important. In order for a community of people to live harmoniously and flourish there are long established norms and understandings – often little things – that are the glue that ‘grease the wheels’. Saying ‘thank you’ for example.

I have recently written two articles for the Herald on current subjects and submitted them to the appropriate channels. I have written similar pieces for this and several other blogs that have been well received and appreciated with a ‘thank you’ from the owner/editor. But not from the Herald. Not a word.

It is their prerogative as to whether they use it – I am absolutely OK with that – but after spending hours honing a story and meeting criteria a one liner saying ‘thank you, but no thank you’ is surely an indication of politeness and respect??
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March 1, 2024 8:37am
- Lee C
  
  I too, am ‘a bit old-fashioned.’.
  I could name and shame a long list of people who perhaps inadvertently mark themsleves as too self-important to even acknowledge communications.
  
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  March 1, 2024 8:45am
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    Manage my Health.
    Watercare.
    Auckland Transport.
    Waitemata District Health Board.
    WINZ. (waiting time 58 min to over 160 min)
    Inland Revenue.
    Auckland Council.
    Hey wait, these are all part of the Public Sector.
    No shit!!!!
    
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    March 1, 2024 3:52pm
- PeeJay
  
  I too may be old fashioned, but I’ve always believed that good manners cost nothing but reveal everything about someone.
  
  I’ve always found it quite insightful as to character to see how people interact with folks like waiters / waitresses, cleaners etc.
  
  I’ve met with high-powered individuals who show genuine appreciation, politeness and respect when being served – which is almost always replicated in how they tend to be in business dealings.
  
  Similarly, I’ve met with numerous individuals who show borderline contempt for waiting staff, clearly thinking them beneath them, and this too tends to manifest itself in their business dealings.
  
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  March 1, 2024 9:13am
- RoboRob
  
  I received similar treatment from Stuff. I wrote to them with respect to their political cartoons. Whilst the email was confrontational, it pointed to them not covering both parts of the political spectrum as per their published charter, it was none the less polite.
  
  I received no repsonse from the online editor, not even a confirmation that it had been received. I then sent the same email to the CEO suggesting I might have sent the email to the wrong person orginally. Again, no response.
  
  Even if they simply planned to ignore my the least they could have done was send a simple ‘Thanks for contacting us. We have sent this email through to the appropriate team for investigation’.
  
  I didn’t expect them to take action but the rudness of not even replying to an email was infuriating and has led to my ban on giving Stuff my clicks.
  
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  March 1, 2024 11:03am
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    giving Stuff my kicks.
    FIFY.
    
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    March 1, 2024 3:56pm
- PurplePen
  
  I find, at least with the current ones, local authority Wellington councillors for the Southern Ward, Nureddin Abdurahman and Laurie Foon never reply to my irregular and not very frequent emails to them. Previous Wgtn councillors always replied. They represent not just themselves nor just their politics but everyone in their ward. It says a lot about them to not even acknowledge a constituent. Roll on the next Wellington council election, for many reasons
  
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  March 1, 2024 8:14pm
Steve Otto(North Shore)

Another media hit:
Luxon to live in Wellington apartment. He owns an apartment in Wellington. Maybe it is too far from Parliament? Don’t know.
Other MPs rent apartments and claim allowances’

https://www.msn.com/en-nz/news/national/luxon-claims-52k-accommodation-payment-to-live-in-own-apartment/ar-BB1j7hZG?

Maybe he is not impressed with the Premier House brainwashed staff” Who knows?
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March 1, 2024 8:43am
- Ian Boag
  
  The usual approach is to rent a a flat/house from your own family trust and claim the rental cost from parliamentary services.
  
  Seems a bit dodgy to me but it’s obviously the way of the world ….
  
  Not quite sure how you could claim the accommodation supplement as well for renting off your family trust but I guess that must be the way of the world as well. Also feels a bit dodgy but …
  
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  March 1, 2024 9:26am
  - Ian Boag
    
    My bad. As far as I can tell the $1000/week is the rent on his million dollar flat. Not the accommodation supplement. I got that bit wrong.
    
    A gross return of 5% which seems a bit on the high side for Welly.
    
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    March 1, 2024 9:47am
    - Warren Murray
      
      Once, again, Ian, you’re mistaken. The amount of the payment is set in clause 17 (3) of the Determination, which was made in August 2023.
      
      It is interesting, however, that in the explanatory memorandum, the Authority deems the provision of Premier House as being more ‘a cost effective option than other other alternatives.’ That is because Premier House has security systems, etc which would be expensive to replicate elsewhere.
      
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      March 1, 2024 1:10pm
  - Warren Murray
    
    That was the case once-upon-a-time but such practices were rendered unnecessary by rule changes made many years ago.
    
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    March 1, 2024 1:04pm
    - Ian Boag
      
      My ignorance. So an (out of town) MP rents a place to live in? Can it not be one owned by their family trust or spouse or company?
      
      I have no problems with CL doing this. $1k/week as a bit on the high side but …whatever. Maybe $700 would have been more in line with Welly values.
      
      The fact that it was debt free is irrelevant.
      
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      March 1, 2024 9:22pm
- G the giant from Dunedin
  
  As I said above, I think it cost $2 million a year for premier house when Ardern was there, is this not a large saving? I know the left will suggest it’s hypocritical but it’s not, save some money with not using premier house.
  
  What did Ardern do with her alternative housing? I bet she retained it and rented it out.
  
  And yes I do realise that Premier house eill have on going maintenance costs but not $2 million worth
  
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  March 1, 2024 10:57am
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    Is Premier House a bit like the Whitehouse when the POTUS and the FLOTUS steal all the stuff inside to furnish their own houses?
    Not mentioning anyone, but they are both crooks.
    
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    March 1, 2024 4:01pm
- Warren Murray
  
  I see Hipkins is playing mischief on this issue, saying that “The apartment at Premier House is dated and I agree it could do with a modest modernisation project. However I have not received notice that it is uninhabitable or condemned. I never lived there full time, nor did I receive an accommodation allowance to live elsewhere in Wellington.”
  
  The reason he didn’t receive an allowance was because he was ineligible. Being an MP who lives in the Wellington Commuting area (the four cities of Porirua, Wellington and the two Hutts) meant he was ineligible for any accommodation payment, either as an MP and, in his case, as PM. I dare say, the cost of using VIP transport to & from his Upper Hutt home would have been very high c/w staying at Premier House though.
  
  The determination states if the Prime Minister’s primary place of residence is outside the Wellington commuting area AND if he doesn’t take up residence in Premier House, he may elect to receive a continuous accommodation payment in respect of Wellington accommodation.
  
  Luxon’s situation is quite different to Bill English, which the media have also pointed at. English lived in Wellington before he became an MP. His stated home base of Dipton was quite ‘soft’ – it served as a base when he was in his electorate, but as his kids went to school, his wife had her practice in Wellington, etc, their Karori home was their main base. That’s not the case for Luxon, his home base was Auckland before he became an MP and his apartment in Wellington serves his work as an MP and, now PM.
  
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  March 1, 2024 1:01pm
  - G the giant from Dunedin
    
    Just heard Luxon on the news, he states he does want to go to premier house but the house needs a lot of work done, he said he hopes to get to premier house. Luxon has also declined the grant snd paid back what has been paid
    
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    March 1, 2024 6:33pm
Close Hen Counters

I see Forsyth Barr stadium is hosting a music event once in 18 month period or similar … fess up to the fact I got to the sentence about Pink and switched off. My rooster and I went to see Adam Lambert and Queen there around four years ago and the acoustics were terrible where we had tickets – many people around us left and we wrote to FB and council letting them know … never had any reply from either …. Loved being back in my uni town though, Dunedin is one beautiful place 🙂
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March 1, 2024 8:51am
- G the giant from Dunedin
  
  I went to Elton John and another concert, we had no problem with sound, but I hear people at the back in the cheap seats did, not sure what the answer is but the same will happen at CHCH new in door stadium.
  
  I went to Spark Arena for Calos Santana and the Cure, I note they have netting hanging down from the top part of the stadium, but half the seats remain empty
  
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  March 1, 2024 11:02am
- Clyde
  
  The stadium in Dunedin is nothing other than a rugby stadium and it was sold as an entertainment hub with promises of concerts every few weeks, the World Swimming Champs were going to be held there using a drop-in pool, the Dalai Lama was going to come every year etc etc. It is a concrete box with a hallowed turf kept alive by artificial means and not allowed to be walked on except by pro rugby bods. Oh and yes, the CEO of the wretched thing gets paid over $400k a year for presiding over what?
  
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  March 1, 2024 11:53am
  - G the giant from Dunedin
    
    Hang on, they used the possibility to have the world swimming champs as what is possible, after the Olympics were held in a drop in pool like that before the place was built, they cant apply for the world champs, swimming NZ would have to apply for the champs snd they roils not have the money to compete
    
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    March 1, 2024 6:36pm
  - Observer of Life
    
    We saw Fleetwood Mac there. Sound was terrible so a total waste of money. Will never attend a concert there again.
    
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    March 1, 2024 8:01pm
Steve Otto(North Shore)

“Trump’s real estate company is very liquid”

https://www.msn.com/en-nz/news/other/trump-defends-his-real-estate-company-as-successful-and-very-liquid/ss-BB1j6WP6?

I am beginning to think the ultimate goal of Leticia James is to shut down Truth Sicial.
Nasty Democrats.
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March 1, 2024 8:53am
- kowtow
  
  Amazing how far and deep the conspiracy has spread.
  NZME radio ‘news” last night referred to the riot at the Capitol building as “the insurrection” which of course it wasn’t anything of the sort.
  
  18 4
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  March 1, 2024 9:17am
  - Ian Boag
    
    TBF they weren’t alone using the term ..
    
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    March 1, 2024 9:27am
    - kowtow
      
      Doesn’t make it right . That’s the effin’ point.
      
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      March 1, 2024 12:34pm
- Jethrod
  
  Umm… there are liquids and liquids; from crystal-clear thru to a deeeeep dark browny colour ….
  
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  March 1, 2024 10:20am
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    Are you talking about beer? (piss)
    
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    March 1, 2024 4:08pm
- leoj
  
  Scum Democrats you mean?
  
  Never, ever, ever, ever, ever forget what they did to Bret Kavanagh.
  
  They truly are scum.
  
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  March 1, 2024 11:15am
Maggie Pie

Thort this worth sharing…

I took my baby furball up to the Waiata Reserve earlier for walkies.
Sooo many other fab people up there enjoying the wonderful day.
Just about everyone we stopped and spoke to, said how amazed they were at the Police Commissioner’s new found energy & confidence since he emerged from under Cindy’s skirt.
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March 1, 2024 8:54am
- kowtow
  
  MP
  
  I’m not convinced .This is the fellow who went along to a BLM vigil and who wrote a jstification for illegal roadblocks in $1uffed .
  
  Neither thing he had to do.
  
  To misquote some Oz type , comes across as a shiver in search of a spine.
  
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  March 1, 2024 9:21am
  - Diogenes
    
    I may be wrong, but my recollection is that the “shiver in search of a spine” was a David Lange quip — unless, of course, he borrowed it.
    
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    March 1, 2024 9:42am
    - Matt Long
      
      My memory says Muldoon regarding Rolling.
      
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      March 1, 2024 10:09am
      - R
        
        CORRECT Matt!
        
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        March 1, 2024 10:20am
      - Manu-Rau
        
        You are correct. A shiver, looking for a spine to run up.
        
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        March 1, 2024 10:27am
      - Tauhei Notts
        
        Wallace E. (Bill) Rowling.
        
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        March 1, 2024 10:36am
      - Steve Otto(North Shore)
        
        At the time Muldoon was on about free radicals.
        Something about he thought they were running around in the carpark letting tyres down.
        
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        March 1, 2024 10:48am
  - imalwaysright
    
    Kow,
    
    He chose not to wear his uniform to the blm gathering.
    Should have been sacked for that alone.
    
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    March 1, 2024 9:48am
  - Arthur Fleck
    
    Shiver/spine quote:
    Rob Muldoon and Paul Keating have both used it.
    
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    March 1, 2024 10:01am
    - Diogenes
      
      Thank you for the clarification re the spine/shiver quote. I stand humbly corrected.
      
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      March 1, 2024 10:28am
- leoj
  
  Na. If Luxon was serious (he’s not) and had any balls (he doesn’t), he’d have Coster in parliament every day, putting pressure on him towards a resignation.
  
  Look at Coster’s past actions.
  
  Coster is a limp-wristed leftist who went along with everything that the disastrous Labour govt wanted.
  
  We need someone with some guts, both as commissioner and PM!
  
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  March 1, 2024 11:22am
  - Beach Haven expat
    
    Many examples but the shameful manipulation of stats and officers to try to protect Hipkins’ lies around looting in Hawke’s Bay was a particular low.
    
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    March 1, 2024 7:38pm
Muttonbird

Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
Seven houses Luxton has his snout deep in the trough. First PM in 34 years to claim the accomodation supplement (if you excluded Bingles’ double dipping exercise which he partially paid back).

Born to rule, do as I say, not as I do. Disgraceful.

https://newsroom.co.nz/2024/03/01/luxon-claims-52k-accommodation-payment-to-live-in-own-apartment/
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March 1, 2024 8:56am
- Simon
  
  Luxon’s housing allowance is worth more than the combined value of MSM.
  
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  March 1, 2024 9:03am
- Maggie Pie
  
  You’d be getting tired of winning as well wouldn’t ya Muttsy 😀 😀 😀
  
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  March 1, 2024 9:08am
- Homas
  
  I know that they’re both mortal sins to your ilk, but which is it that rankles you in particular – the fact that he’s successful, or that he’s operating within his rightful entitlements?
  
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  March 1, 2024 9:10am
  - kowtow
    
    I think it’s fair for the media to run these stories , important even.
    The key is what stories don’t they run , while they’re constantly attacking the “blue” team.
    
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    March 1, 2024 9:24am
  - Che Guava
    
    “…the fact that he’s successful, or that he’s operating within his rightful entitlements.”
    
    It’s about optics. It doesn’t matter if he is entitled to it, it’s whether he needs it, and if he already owns an apartment in Wellington and has access to it, he doesn’t need another one paid for by the taxpayer. If he had any political awareness, he’d realise that he’d be attacked for this.
    
    If he’s successful enough to own multiple properties, then it doesn’t really matter what his entitlements are. Doesn’t the one undercut the other?
    
    In a way, small personal sacrifices like this provide much more political capital than impersonally slashing millions in wasteful spending at no cost to oneself. Even though I’m not a fan of John Key, he was “entitled to” his PM’s salary but, so I understand it, he donated it.
    
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    March 1, 2024 9:27am
    - Homas
      
      Perhaps it’s really, at least a little bit, about not cowering to the “optics”.
      
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      March 1, 2024 9:53am
      - Che Guava
        
        It’s not politically astute. Luxon will “cower to the optics” on climate change, Covidmania, diversity, feminism and every other liberal political orthodoxy, but then takes advantage of a perk that he doesn’t apparently need. If anything, he’s got it all backwards on the things he should “cower to.”
        
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        March 1, 2024 10:24am
      - RoboRob
        
        @Che
        
        Its not taking advantage for a perk. It is a work expense that his employer should cover.
        
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        March 1, 2024 2:36pm
    - RoboRob
      
      So your arguement is, he owns an apartment in Wellington already and should forgo renting it out and lose that income, so that he can use it for his job?
      
      Does the same apply to workers cars? If you need to use a car for work do you volunteer your own car and not ask for payment of expenses?
      
      Or is this only an issue if you are whatever the poorest person in the rooms definition of ‘rich’ is. Becuase you think Luxon is rich he should fund his own work expenses. What about flights, should he pay for those too. While we are at it why not have him provide food and drinks at meetings.
      
      This mentality is just so traditional lefty. Its all about jealousy. They have more money then me, therefore they are rich and should pay for things. I am poor becuase I earn less then them and therefore I shouldn’t have to pay for things.
      
      Would you apply your wealth rules to Chris Hipkins? Should he pay for his flights too? What about back benchers, surely they are rich too?
      
      What is the cut off where one is allowed to have their employer pay for employees expenses? Let me guess, if they are on the right of politics its about $10,000 more that whatever you earn.
      
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      March 1, 2024 2:32pm
  - G the giant from Dunedin
    
    And no mention of Cullens double dipping
    
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    March 1, 2024 11:08am
    - NothingLeft
      
      Or Greens: https://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/2009/10/qa_exposes_greens_housing_scheme.html
      
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      March 1, 2024 11:43am
- nathie
  
  Oh no, left-wing dickhead reporter finely crafts his smears to play down the fact “As Prime Minister, Luxon is now eligible to claim up to $52,000 a year under the same scheme”.
  
  More left-wing trash from tax-payer funding (PIJF @ $2m for Newsroom).
  
  Pay it back!
  
  https://www.taxpayers.org.nz/pijf
  
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  March 1, 2024 9:21am
  - Fuzzysnuggleduck
    
    Sadly, not true.
    “A spokesperson for Christopher Luxon confirmed he will claim the optional accommodation payment, despite living in an apartment in Wellington that he owns mortgage-free.”
    
    According to the linked article, he is taking the money.
    It is poor optics – I agree. A bit like he took the clean car subsidy even when he was dead against it.
    It is one thing to ‘win biggly’ and always take the cash when it is there, even via a stupid Labour policy, and it is another thing to show some principle as in he doesn’t really need it that badly and he could show his character instead by not snatching at the cash.
    I would prefer him to do the later, and be a moral leader instead of a corporate louse.
    
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    March 1, 2024 12:46pm
    - G the giant from Dunedin
      
      Well tonight he has handed it back, he also said he wants to stay at premier house but it’s in disrepair and they want to fix it up before he does
      
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      March 1, 2024 6:40pm
- Swifty
  
  Just more nasty personal attacks eh Mutton? I see you are a pupil of the Ginny Andersen school of politics.
  
  And what, for Luxon following the rules?
  
  Dear me.
  
  You really do need to get over the fact that your team lost the election. New Zealanders saw what your lot were doing and threw them out on their ear.
  
  Please move on Mutton.
  
  Reading this might be helpful for you:
  
  https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Five_stages_of_grief
  
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  March 1, 2024 9:39am
  - Muttonbird
    
    It’s unnecessary and wasteful spending. He’s asking the rest of us to do without while he fleeces the taxpayer $1000/week.
    
    Where’s the Taxdodger’s Union on this? Where’s Jordan Williams and Porky the Wasted Pig?
    
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon appears to have ignored his own orders to the public service to find savings up up to 7.5 per cent from their budgets, quietly claiming an 11 per cent top up to his own $471,000 salary in the form of a $52,000 optional allowance.
    
    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/benefit-mansion-christopher-luxon-claims-52k-top-up-to-rent-his-own-apartment/W3OD34M7RBAZRCMFMEXZ5XKPEU/
    
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    March 1, 2024 10:38am
    - Swifty
      
      Labour has just been in power for six years! If this obvious and massive ‘injustice’ exists why didn’t they change the rules?
      
      They didn’t because they didn’t see it as an issue – and you’re only trying to make it an issue in order to seek cheap, political point scoring.
      
      If it was Ardern or Hipkins you’d be saying “nothing to see here, it’s all within the rules….”
      
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      March 1, 2024 11:57am
    - Swifty
      
      And note the rich irony here KBers, Mutton is now concerned about levels of public spending after spending the last six years cheerleading Labour’s spending excesses.
      
      Again with the double standards – he just drips with hypocrisy. It just flows out of him.
      
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      March 1, 2024 12:00pm
      - lifesgood
        
        What’s the betting he himself is on all sorts of benefits, fleecing the tax payer. He sounds the type.
        
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        March 1, 2024 4:56pm
    - Fuzzysnuggleduck
      
      To be fair, which is probably not your intention at all in this (nor is there consistency in your outrage about waste in government), I expect the Taxpayer Union will publish on this, being that the article you posted is only 8 hours old and the newsletters I get from there are aprox weekly.
      
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      March 1, 2024 12:50pm
    - Libertarians are right
      
      I’ll try to explain it to you.
      Government is in Wellington. People that aren’t based in Wellington therefore have additional costs related to living in Wellington when they’re based elsewhere and get additional funding to cover for that. They haven’t made money because it’s simply covering costs that the Wellington MPs don’t have, effectively putting them on an even basis.
      
      Now, the confusing thing for financially illiterate people is the concept of opportunity cost. It’s easy to see the supplement as fair when the person needs it to get somewhere to live in Wellington (like with Ardern). For someone like Luxon however, they have the ability to buy a place to live in whilst in Wellington and do so for a variety of reasons. If Luxon lived in Wellington, he wouldn’t need the apartment as he’d have his family home and would therefore be able to invest his apartment money somewhere else, making an income. He therefore has a cost of having that apartment, due to being an Auckland MP and that is why he is eligible for the supplement.
      
      It isn’t hard.
      
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      March 1, 2024 12:52pm
    - RoboRob
      
      He is not fleecing anyone. If he rented his rental house in wellington he might get the $1000 /wk in rent. If he lives in it, for work, he misses that money and it is only fair his employer compensates him.
      
      It’s not really hard to understand if you take of you ideological blinders.
      
      If you really want to get angry about it then focus on the Greens who were gifted accomodation by a thrid party that they then rented to themselves for the maximum amount.
      
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      March 1, 2024 2:43pm
- G the giant from Dunedin
  
  Hey, he will not force the $2 million a year on the tax payer too stay at premier house, if this is what people do when not staying at premier house then this is fine, like a true leftie you mention English who was entitled to do what he did, and yes he did pay it back, but you refused to mention that Micheal Cullen did exactly the same thing as finance minister, but he refused to pay back a cent, short memories you lefties
  
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  March 1, 2024 11:07am
- Ghost
  
  How strange, don’t see you complaining about the labour’s mp’s that own property in wellington that collect a accommodation allowance as well.
  
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  March 1, 2024 3:32pm
  - Swifty
    
    Hahahahahahaha!
    
    Hey Mutton, how come you’re not ripping into these Labour MPs?
    
    Or will you come up with some contorted, acrobatic logic that reckons it’s fine for them to claim the allowance but not Luxon?
    
    We’re all ears!
    
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    March 1, 2024 4:32pm
Steve Otto(North Shore)

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis says he will sign bill to release the Epstein files from the 2006 Florida grand jury.
I hope his back is not facing Hillary, she does not want this to come out.
“If I go down, I will take half of DC with me”

https://www.thepoliticalglobe.com/desantis-takes-the-helm-a-conservative-beacon-of-governance-02-28-2024/?
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March 1, 2024 8:59am
- virtualmark
  
  Steve,
  
  Can I suggest that this might be more a case of De Santis taking aim at … Trump?
  
  De Santis still has ambitions beyond being Governor of Florida. Both Haley & De Santis are still manoeuvring to step in in the event Trump isn’t/can’t be the candidate in November.
  
  Trump had a long-standing friendship with Epstein, far far closer than Bill Clinton’s. There have been many rumours of Trump’s involvement with Epstein’s girls, including up to affidavits.
  
  Qui bono if Trump were to be caught up in scandal? Would the MAGA base be more likely to fall in love with De Santis or Haley? Me thinks De Santis.
  
  2 8
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  March 1, 2024 11:53am
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    Trump did not go to Epstein Island. He was on the Lolita Express once, from New York to Florida.
    Trump did have a friendship with Epstein, until Epstein misbehaved and was banned from Mar a Lago.
    
    12 2
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    March 1, 2024 1:05pm
    - Inandout
      
      SO, how many times have TDS types need to be told?
      
      6 1
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      March 1, 2024 4:03pm
    - G the giant from Dunedin
      
      Yes, and he was banned in early 2000s
      
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      March 1, 2024 6:43pm
PeeJay

Every now and then I read an article which makes me think WTF?

Today I read an article in the UK Guardian (apologies for not providing a link) about a theatre in London’s west end planning to hold ‘black out performances’. These are performances where the intent is to have all-black audiences. Apparently, this is yet another tiresome trend imported from the USA. There is the usual twaddle and alphabet soup of PR phrases to justify this event and show its absolutely not racist.

To me, it just seems racist, plain and simple.

I’ve always found that when considering anything like this event in terms of race, if you were to substitute the word white for black and the producers of the show thought it would be ‘good to host a White Out night – an opportunity for a White audience to experience and reflect on the play from their own perspective’, well that would clearly be racist and completely unacceptable and would rightly be condemned.

But apparently, it’s completely ok and totally not racist to want to host a black only audience.

Yep – the world is a bloody strange place sometimes!
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March 1, 2024 9:00am
- kowtow
  
  this has been covered across a lot of UK media .
  
  funnily enough last night on hdpa , her uk correspondant ,a mick ,at the start of his slot promised not to be “woke” but then launched into a very enthusiastic defence of this nonsense , even stating that blacks are unwelcome in west end audiences ( where the hell does that lunatic opinion come from)
  
  Again media types must live in their own very safe little bubble to have such a mad world view.
  
  ps It’s not American import ,it’s Marxist , which by its very nature is “internationalist” , but of European origin.
  
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  March 1, 2024 9:33am
  - Che Guava
    
    “European” origin? Marxism may have been located in Europe and taken up by Europeans, but it was born out of, and lead by, what may be called the “Jewish revolutionary spirit”
    
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    March 1, 2024 9:57am
    - rouppe
      
      Didn’t realize Mussolini was Jewish
      
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      March 1, 2024 12:47pm
      - Che Guava
        
        He wasn’t. Then again, he as a Fascist and a nationalist when he was the leader of Italy, so I don’t know how Mussolini relates to Jewish Marxists and and advent and promulgation of revolutionary international socialism.
        
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        March 1, 2024 2:45pm
    - Fuzzysnuggleduck
      
      Ah, the eternal Jew – ever money grubbing, drinking the blood of Christian children, and behind every malady that is inflicted on the world; be that Marxism, the one-world-government or the state of the Marvel film francise.
      
      I bet you applauded the part of Schindler’s List where the Jewish engineer woman was shot in the head on the orders of the Kommandant after he observed that “Marx was also an educated Jew”.
      
      6 1
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      March 1, 2024 12:55pm
      - Che Guava
        
        How does just re-stating the argument, albeit superciliously and exaggerated for effect, relate to anything I’ve said? I stated that Marxism was founded by a Jewish intellectual and later adopted by Jewish revolutionaries (e.g. the leadership of the Bolsheviks in Russia; the German, Hungarian and other European Marxists post-WW1 etc.), which is an historical fact.
        
        Incidentally, I’ve never seen Schindler’s List (although the story was directed and produced by the Jewish Steven Spielberg in the Jewish stronghold Hollywood), and I’m completely indifferent to the state of the Marvel film franchise (although what would become Marvel comics was founded by the Jewish Martin (formerly Moe) Goodman).
        
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        March 1, 2024 2:52pm
  - Jake Dee
    
    I’ve mentioned this before, but it’s perfectly possible for something to be BOTH American and Marxist.
    They aren’t mutually exclusive.
    
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    March 1, 2024 4:03pm
- MCōs
  
  Here’s the article
  https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2024/feb/29/no-10-condemns-london-theatre-for-hosting-black-out-nights?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other
  It provides context
  It’s not the first time this has occurred
  
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  March 1, 2024 11:56am
  - PeeJay
    
    Thanks for posting the link MCōs.
    
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    March 1, 2024 12:33pm
- Inandout
  
  Pee, baby Castro of Canada can turn up as a black man. He has done this before.
  
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  March 1, 2024 4:05pm
Hugh Jarse

The Guy Williams show, New Zealand Today on TV3 is a great example of why the taxpayer shouldn’t be funding programmes and why the MSM is going down the tubes. Last week he tried to paint Oamaru as a racist town because most locals used to a certain way of pronouncing their towns name wouldn’t change to the latest Te Reo iteration. The F word was used regularly on this 8.30 show. He also made a deal about jerking off a horse and at the end made out he was drinking the product. At least one of the locals saw fit to call him a fuckwit.

I decided to watch last night to se if there was any improvement. No, at the start he was sitting talking to two old coal mining codgers in Nightcaps, was just starting to get into the climate change BS and then brings up jerking off a horse again.

I guess being an MPs squeeze enabled him to get NZ on Air funding like a certain other political partner but it’s just an insult on so many fronts. He also needs to be told the Norman Gunston impersonation is naff. No wonder Golriz dropped him.
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March 1, 2024 9:00am
- kowtow
  
  Can’t stand the fellow and well done for taking one for the team.
  
  btw those “jokes” and attempts at what he and his ilk consider humour puts me in mind of a certain class of very unfunny self described comedians . ie the overuse of f word , allusions to animal sex as well as insulting the patriarchy ;
  
  he sounds more like a bull dyke lesbian “comedian”,that’s where he’s at.
  
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  March 1, 2024 9:40am
- Biscuit
  
  ‘No wonder Goldriz dropped him.’
  
  Erm, her arms were probably full of clothing items she (yeah, yeah, Mod: allegedly) shoplifted,..
  
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  March 1, 2024 12:05pm
  - fernglas
    
    I thought she’d told the whole world that “Ghahraman said she did not want to “hide behind” her mental health problems and took full responsibility for her actions.” That doesn’t sound like an “alleged” offfence to me
    
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    March 1, 2024 1:19pm
    - Biscuit
      
      Golriz I have no time for, fernglas.
      
      But I’d not want to imperil our wonderful mods’ liberty/ies…
      
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      March 1, 2024 2:35pm
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    Oh, it was not me, it was the magpie that I identify as sometimes.
    I don’t always identify as a magpie – but I do when I see nice stuff that magpies like.
    And so it will continue.
    
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    March 1, 2024 7:04pm
Random T Person

You know how Duncan Garner and Tova thought they were big stuff? Well take a look at Garner’s ‘Slam Dunc’ podcast on YT. Some are viewed as few as 30 times. That is how ‘famous’ ole Duncy boy is. I bet the same goes for Tova; I wonder how many eyeballs she is pulling, for the fat pay she is no doubt also pulling.
This tells you all you need to know about why Newshub is closing. They are top heavy with ‘media big shots’ getting paid awfully well, preaching to an audience which left a long time ago. They are legends in their own minds, and not in the public eye.
Michael Morrah hasn’t been crying, though, like the rest of those babies. No, as a middle aged white man, he’s working on a plan to buy out NH and make something that maybe the public might be interested in.
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March 1, 2024 9:07am
- Swifty
  
  30 views?
  
  Once you subtract his Mum and the aunties, uncles and his cuzzies how many would that leave?
  
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  March 1, 2024 12:23pm
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    Minus 30?
    
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    March 1, 2024 7:05pm
- Littletramp
  
  On behalf of Duncan – Thanks. You have probably just doubled the “watches” and given a little momentum – or are you Duncan?
  
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  March 1, 2024 12:59pm
- sungsamning
  
  With 406 subscribers, I don’t think ad income will be a thing either.
  
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  March 1, 2024 5:07pm
PurplePen

How a generation forgot what it is to be resilient. Was sent this today. Makes a good point.

The shift means people in their early 20s are now more likely to be unemployed due to ill health than those in their early 40s. But why has this happened? And has a culture, specifically in schools, of talking openly about mental health issues actually done this generation more harm than good? Some experts believe so.

https://www.instagram.com/p/C37uIKMsWDv/?igsh=MTg4aWh5bDJpa2cw
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March 1, 2024 9:15am
- Random T Person
  
  I certainly believe so. Everyone has mental health as an excuse these days, and they get away with it. Try being self-employed, suddenly your mental health woes take a massive back seat to earning a living. And you have no choice but to get on with it, and that is very good for you.
  
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  March 1, 2024 10:19am
- cmm
  
  Maybe a generation of helicopter parenting?
  
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  March 1, 2024 10:31am
- peterwn
  
  Poor kids probably have the hell scared out of them over Middle East, Climate Change, etc, etc. But then the baby boomers would have been worried about the Cold War and Nikita Khrushchev talking about multi megaton bombs when they were at school.
  
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  March 1, 2024 10:35am
  - MCōs
    
    When I was young not only did politicians wind everyone up about the very real threat of nuclear war, but the communists were going to swoop down from Asia and invade the country if America faltered in Vietnam
    None of this happened of course, but polio did as did measles and other childhood diseases, which killed and maimed kids
    Then there was stuff that was brushed under the carpet and never talked about like pedophile priests and abusive fathers/husbands
    
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    March 1, 2024 1:03pm
Steve Otto(North Shore)

American 80 year pattern is back?

https://rightsideoffers.com/thepoliticalmovement/the-80-year-pattern-of-america-were-there-again/?
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March 1, 2024 9:18am
- Grunter
  
  Steve O
  There are quite a few economists, historians, and forecasters who look at cycles. I think there is something in this and it is consistent with the “…Tough times breed strong men; strong men result in good times; good times result in weak men, weak men result in tough times….”.
  
  One guy who uses a model of cycles is Martin Armstong with his ‘Socrates’ ECM Model. He basically follows the money (international capital flows) on a global basis.
  
  He’s had a lot of bad press over the years, so take your pick on what you think of him. IMO he is, at a minimum, very interesting and he does make you think about things. Thatcher used him a bit I think, so he has been around a while.
  https://www.armstrongeconomics.com/about/
  
  “The Economic Confidence Model (ECM), sometimes referred to as the Pi Cycle, is our base model for comprehending the global economy. This model has accurately predicted major economic events well in advance. The ECM focuses on the global concentration of capital to provide a timeframe for shifts in confidence that lead to major economic events.”
  
  Back in 2011, for example, he predicted that war would break out in Ukraine in 2014. His next significant ‘turning point’ is May 7th, 2024 which he points out is the day Putin is due for his inauguration ceremony in Moscow.
  
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  March 1, 2024 11:08am
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    I had a look at that. Thanks. Will digest over the weekend.
    Yeah I know I am retired, but others in this house are not.
    I will go to my safe space!
    
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    March 1, 2024 7:08pm
imalwaysright

There will be plenty here who will see this as good news. Shameful.
https://www.bbc.com/news/live/world-middle-east-68438112
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March 1, 2024 9:25am
- Libertarians are right
  
  Who?
  It’s a tragedy. Desperate people swarming armed people for food is always going to end in tragedy.
  
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  March 1, 2024 10:38am
  - Fuzzysnuggleduck
    
    Oh yeah – the headline on The Herald said “Israeli forces fire on crowd waiting for aid” {100 killed}, but when you read the article “…a large crowd of Palestinians racing to pull food off an aid convoy”.
    If you see the pics of Egyptian truck drivers bringing aid in, and they are pelted with rocks and bloodied inside their cabs.
    So this is twisted depending you perspective, but 100% if you rush to loot such a convoy before the food it where it is meant to be, or distributed correctly, then some “bang-bang-bang” is not unexpected in a warzone.
    There was a post on the importance of manners earlier on this page. Even more so when dealing with police, or armed forces, in a confrontation.
    F around. Find out.
    
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    March 1, 2024 1:02pm
Maggie Pie

There’s an awful lot of tweets out of Oz this morning calling for gays to be banned
from joining the NSW Police Force.
This is obviously on the back of the two murders by gay officer Beau Lamarre-Condon
who shot his ex boyfriend and new lover in bed.
People saying you really need to be a fit & proper person to wear the uniform.
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March 1, 2024 9:47am
- imalwaysright
  
  Police have been uninvited from the gay pride parade because the gay killer is a police officer.
  
  Shouldn’t they ban gay people also?
  
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  March 1, 2024 9:58am
  - Ghost
    
    No they haven’t, they are marching in plain clothes.
    
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    March 1, 2024 11:49am
    - imalwaysright
      
      Shows immaturity from both sides.
      Do the gays hold the rest of the cops responsible for the actions of one.
      Cops are willing to forgo their uniforms to pander to the gays who have denigrated them as a group .
      
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      March 1, 2024 12:23pm
    - kowtow
      
      Mincing.
      
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      March 1, 2024 1:18pm
- Arthur Fleck
  
  NZ Police Officer Ben McLean murdered his wife and attempted to murder her new partner in 2017. Love triangles aren’t an exclusively gay thing.
  
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  March 1, 2024 10:13am
  - kowtow
    
    Love ? More like lust , whichever way they swing…….
    
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    March 1, 2024 1:16pm
Ian Boag

Did my daily Stuff trawl looking for political hit jobs aimed at the new govt. The only remotely “political” item I found was Tova interviewing Chris Bishop about problems with emergency housing. She wasn’t trying to beat him round the head – he acknowledged there is a problem – he has some not unreasonable ideas about what can be done. Informative ….

The rest of the content could reasonably be described as news about what is happening in NZ today ….

Go figure.
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March 1, 2024 9:53am
- rouppe
  
  Having now quickly skimmed that story (I usually bypass anything Tova O’Brien says) it comes back to the same two things:
  
  1. Landlords not maintaining standards. Having a motel room in that condition when someone moves in means it was not cleaned after the last one moved out. That’s not acceptable.
  2. No consequences for bad tenants. Letting a room get into that condition means no inspections are being conducted. The behavior described:
  “They punch holes in walls, they scream and make a big racket and so we have employed security, we have called the police, police that have never arrived.”
  should result in eviction. Emergency or not, there are plenty of people who won’t behave like that who also need help so there’s no need to put up with it.
  
  Everyone needs to up their standards. Motel owners, Kainga Ora, tenants. And legislation needs to support that lifting in standards, not tolerate a continuous drop in standards
  
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  March 1, 2024 1:06pm
  - Ian Boag
    
    Your points have some validity I suppose.
    
    My point was simply that this interview was the only “political” thing I saw on Stuff today and it wasn’t exactly beating on the government ….
    
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    March 1, 2024 1:30pm
    - Libertarians are right
      
      Check out the live feed now, claiming that Luxon has no integrity because Hipkins didn’t claim the supplement (because he isn’t eligible as a Wellington MP – which they didn’t point out).
      
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      March 1, 2024 1:48pm
dave_c_

What a hoot.
Countdown being infested with rats and the like.
Looks to me like Wellington City council management are similarly infested with rats also.
What an outrageous situation we have, where they give me the impression, that the ‘Reading Cinema’ deal had already been signed prior to the council meeting designed to debate it and make a choice.
They did not even give the ‘Sir Mark’ who bankrolled the children’s hospital, a moments consideration.
Rats the lot of them.
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March 1, 2024 10:10am
- Fuzzysnuggleduck
  
  If I was living there I would for sure splash out on a ‘giant rodent’ costume for the 1st day of opening, and push a trolly dressed as thus:
  https://www.pinterest.nz/pin/funny-costumes–586593920191148434/
  There are actually lots of good options if you look online.
  
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  March 1, 2024 3:48pm
Steve Otto(North Shore)

Trump appeals being wiped off the primary ballot.

The Judge is wrong. Trump has not been to an insurrection trial. This will be thrown out because he will have presidential immunity.

https://www.msn.com/en-nz/news/other/trump-appeals-illinois-swiping-him-off-the-primary-ballot/ss-BB1j7TPc#image=3
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March 1, 2024 10:23am
- G the giant from Dunedin
  
  All losing presidents do the same on Jan 6, tell his supporters to protest peacefully as Trump clearly did
  
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  March 1, 2024 11:13am
  - Libertarians are right
    
    Actually, the Conspiracy to Fortify Democracy had organised massive riots across the US if Trump won. In fact, they have admitted to having to hold back the rioters when the initial results came in as they wanted to burn the country down. The Conspiracy people pointed out (correctly) that mail in votes would carry Biden once they were counted.
    
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    March 1, 2024 11:31am
    - Steve Otto(North Shore)
      
      There will be massive riots across the Country when Trump wins on Nov 5th.
      I hope the National Guard, Marshals, even Veterans are ready.
      
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      March 1, 2024 1:16pm
      - MCōs
        
        NZ’s not that exciting about American election results
        
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        March 1, 2024 6:25pm
      - Steve Otto(North Shore)
        
        @MCos,
        Not to you but to our host families in Alaska it is.
        We have chocolate fish to Applebee’s bets on this when we get back there!
        
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        March 1, 2024 7:12pm
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    Thing is the word was out on social media to infiltrate the peaceful Trump Rally.
    Trump asked for National Guard help twice (20,000 then 10,000)
    Pelosi refused. She was even allowing her daughter to set up filming the yet to happen riot. Pelosi knew it was going to happen as it did.
    There is your snake in the grass – Pelosi.
    Donald Trump on social media told his supporters to peacefully go home. He did not start an insurrection.
    
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    March 1, 2024 12:04pm
    - RichardX
      
      So wrong so often.
      
      Assertions without evidence as usual and ignoring all the evidence that contradicts your position.
      
      I’m surprised you’re not saying it was Nikki Haley who stopped the troops on Jan 6.
      
      “Nikki Haley, you know they, do you know they destroyed all of the information, all of the evidence, everything, deleted and destroyed all of it. All of it, because of lots of things like Nikki Haley is in charge of security. We offered her 10,000 people, soldiers, National Guard, whatever they want. They turned it down. They don’t want to talk about that. These are very dishonest people,” Trump said.
      
      https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-confuses-nikki-haley-pelosi-talking-jan-6-rcna134863
      
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      March 1, 2024 1:09pm
- Tom Hunter
  
  This will be thrown out because he will have presidential immunity.
  
  Not exactly since they are two different arguments, even though linked by a common subject.
  
  SCOTUS 2024, A Big Year – Part II: Trump and Jan 6
  
  SCOTUS 2024, A Big Year – Part III: Trump and Colorado
  
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  March 1, 2024 12:29pm
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    Well sitting Presidents either have immunity from prosecution or they don’t.
    Trump possibly started an insurrection, Biden has all sorts of dodgy deals with Hunter, Ukraine and China.
    There is only one reason Biden is still there – he can’t be prosecuted.
    It is different when the left do it?
    
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    March 1, 2024 1:23pm
- Wayne Mapp
  
  The Courts won’t find he has presidential immunity. Rather they will say his actions didn’t cross the threshold of insurrection.
  
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  March 1, 2024 12:30pm
  - All_on_Red
    
    Yep
    Only partisan fantasists think there was an insurrection.
    
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    March 1, 2024 12:37pm
  - RoboRob
    
    Haven’t checked recently but I believe the question begin put to the SC is does he have immunity NOT was it an insurrection.
    
    I did listen to the full SC hearing on whether a state could remove someone from the ballet for reasons of insurrection. The court, and lawyers were pretty careful to avoid making any claim for or against Jan 6 being an insurrection. Trump will win this decision, anyone listening could tell. The questions really is will it be unnanamous. Personally I think it needs to be and will be.
    
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    March 1, 2024 3:01pm
Steve Otto(North Shore)

Stop Co-Governance. Julian Batchelor.

Comic analysis Part 3. Julian Batchelor says the text has a reading year level of years 5 to 6.

https://stopcogovernance.kiwi/blog/analysis-treaty-of-waitangi-comic-for-high-school-students-has-been-quietly-brainwashing-away-since-2018-part-3/
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March 1, 2024 10:36am
- Muttonbird
  
  Stop Julian Batchelor.
  
  1 2
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  March 1, 2024 10:14pm
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    Stop indoctrinating kids with Maori lies!!
    
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    March 2, 2024 9:40am
Ghost

A massive study of 99 million Covid-vaccinated people has just wrapped and the results are startling. Dr. Peter McCullough joins us to break it down.
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March 1, 2024 11:32am
Ghost

If only labour were still in office, I’m sure they would buy it, rename it the HMS Cindy

The future of Britain’s second aircraft carrier is under threat due to funding issues, naval sources have claimed.

Senior figures have spoken out after it emerged next week’s Budget will not include any significant rise in defence spending.

They fear HMS Prince of Wales, which cost £3.5billion to build, could be mothballed or sold for a knockdown price to a friendly nation, over the fleet’s flagship HMS Queen Elizabeth.

Article
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March 1, 2024 12:03pm
- I remember when
  
  knock a hole in the stern, modify and you have a Cook Strait ferry.
  
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  March 1, 2024 12:18pm
  - Colville
    
    Its about five times the size of a ferry 🙂
    
    3 0
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    March 1, 2024 1:38pm
    - kowtow
      
      Essentially it is a ferry , for aircraft !
      
      On a serious note , the Brits invented the damn things and now…………
      
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      March 1, 2024 2:43pm
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    Go fast enough and the water drains out. Then put the bung in!
    
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    March 1, 2024 7:19pm
I remember when

PETA says it ‘rescued’ racing pigeons from King’s estate:
“rescued three racing pigeons”
“calling on him to cut ties with the ‘archaic and often fatal pastime”
“the birds..were auctioned off to raise money for charity… as part of a gathering organised by the Royal Pigeon Racing Association.”
“PETA purchased the birds for P1500 and took them to a pigeon sanctuary.”
“pigeons are kind and loyal animals who are so intelligent that they were once entrusted by our military to deliver vital messages”

But not, apparently, intelligent enough to realise that they didn’t have to finish the race.
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March 1, 2024 12:11pm
- imalwaysright
  
  So they take birds that are bred to do what they do best, fly, and put them in a cage.
  Sounds like peta are the cruel ones.
  
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  March 1, 2024 12:35pm
- cmm
  
  “who are so intelligent that they were once entrusted by our military to deliver vital messages”
  
  From the sounds of that the soldiers whispered messages into the pigeon’s ear and it then flew home to tell the Major.
  
  PETA need their heads smacked.
  
  Having a homing instinct is not intelligence. Carrying a message because it tied to your leg is not intelligence.
  
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  March 1, 2024 1:14pm
  - Fuzzysnuggleduck
    
    Yep, they are taking anthropomorphizing to an extreme there.
    Their nature instincts just proved to be useful.
    No pigeon won a VC for going above and beyond the course of duty on its own initiative.
    This hyperbole on the nobility of the “intelligent” pigeon carrying “vital info” is like saying a truffle hunting pig cares deeply that the produce they sniff out is served in a fine Michelin-star restaurant.
    
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    March 1, 2024 3:59pm
    - Beach Haven expat
      
      Without wishing to be contrary, the story of Gustav is quite a famous one: Gustav, also known as NPS.42.31066, was a pigeon of the RAF pigeon service. He was awarded the Dickin Medal, also known as the animals’ Victoria Cross, for bringing the first report of the Normandy landings to the British mainland during the Second World War.
      https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gustav_(pigeon)
      (haven’t live linked it as in bed on a rather basic tablet but it’s there should you wish to read more)
      
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      March 1, 2024 8:01pm
      - Fuzzysnuggleduck
        
        Thanks for the genuine historical fact.
        But on the other hand, dogs which were mascots for battleships were never loading the heavy shell. Hero animals is something of wartime propaganda.
        Cute, but doesn’t make a pigeon a hero.
        Cheers.
        
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        March 2, 2024 12:30am
  - NeverMindTheBollocks
    
    Au contraire
    
    https://m.imdb.com/title/tt0361089/
    
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    March 1, 2024 8:44pm
    - Fuzzysnuggleduck
      
      ha!
      
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      March 2, 2024 12:30am
Damocles11

Unreal typo in the header of a NZ Herald article on their Facebook page. The c word. It’s an article relating to Brian Tamaki: is it deliberate?
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March 1, 2024 12:24pm
imalwaysright

Trudeau caught collaborating with Chinese government and covering it up.

https://youtu.be/UM2jp6V0af8?si=EHo935fZM1NUUtFX
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March 1, 2024 12:28pm
I remember when

Coral bleaching now so extreme that scientists expanded scale: Stuff
For more than a decade NAOO have used a two-scale system.
Bleaching Alert Level 2, has represented coral catastrophe.
A blistering Northern Hemisphere marine heat wave last year has caused a rethink.
This forced NAOO to add three new alert levels.
Bleaching Alert Level 5, signals near complete coral mortality, when 80% of corals in an area are experiencing mortality.

(close to coral catastrophe??)
The good news for the scientists is that they will be able say Alert Level 3 is worse than the highest rating ever previously recorded, etc, etc.
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March 1, 2024 12:44pm
kowtow

Great commentary from Peter Williams on BBand H on the newshub thing and matters media.

https://www.bassettbrashandhide.com/post/peter-williams-rip-newshub
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March 1, 2024 1:17pm
Maggie Pie

OMG! Heading home from tennis and tortured myself listening to those two lefty dorks
on ZB.
Both gleefully winding-up callers about the PM getting 52k rent to live in his OWN Apartment…. rather than Premier House.
You can tell from the sound of their voices, every Labor supporting Bene in the country is phoning in to have a crack! If they’d ever lived in the real world, they’d know if Christopher had chosen to live in Prem House, it would cost taxpayers 5 times as much FGS!!

And as my partner said (he knows the Luxo’s apartment), he cold easily rent it to an upper class tenant for more $3000 a week. No problem.

Honestly, I blame Ardern for the number of left morons who now host and infest talkback radio.
21 3
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March 1, 2024 1:49pm
- RoboRob
  
  The one thing, almost universal of the left, is their jealousy of anyone who they perceive has more then them. The harder left the more jealous they are and the less likely to want to pay for anything themselves.
  
  Having grown up in one of NZs most strident left wing areas, this is probably a large part of why I am now so firmly right wing.
  
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  March 1, 2024 3:06pm
- MCōs
  
  So Hipkins was a mug for not claiming an accommodation allowance when he was PM and stayed at his home in Upper Hutt?
  
  3 7
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  March 1, 2024 3:39pm
  - Ghost
    
    Other labour’s mp’s claimed it living in their own property. I don’t believe Hipkins could claim it as he isn’t from out of the area
    
    11 0
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    March 1, 2024 3:44pm
    - MCōs
      
      I just read that
      Bill English got caught out for some reason and paid back a load of money.
      The problem with Mr Luxon claiming the money isn’t whether or not it’s within the rules it’s just not a good look in these difficult times
      
      Interesting article on Wikipedia about Premier House and who lived there and who didn’t
      
      4 3
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      March 1, 2024 4:08pm
      - Ghost
        
        I’d agree, it’s not a good look.
        
        7 2
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        March 1, 2024 4:14pm
      - kiwikidsnz
        
        Luxon is as tone deaf as English, no surprises there they’re both listening to God.
        
        He just blew everything he’s been saying about austerity and restraint up. Idiot.
        
        6 8
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        March 1, 2024 4:42pm
      - G the giant from Dunedin
        
        English did the same as Cullen did as finance minister, English paid it back, but Cullen simply refused
        
        2 3
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        March 1, 2024 6:49pm
- MCōs
  
  Anyone with enough time on their hands to express progressive views on the radio must be ‘benes’ according to the tennis playing idle rich
  
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  March 1, 2024 4:20pm
alphabeatrium

“Our findings suggest that vaccine mandates did little to increase the uptake of COVID-19 vaccinations given that uptake was already high in general, and particularly high
among workers covered by the mandates. Moreover, they had a negative effect on the labour market outcomes of unvaccinated HCWs, which not only had consequences for the individuals involved, but also likely contributed to ongoing skills shortages in the health industry.”

AUT study: https://workresearch.aut.ac.nz/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/867876/Vaccine-Mandates-Final-Version.pdf
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March 1, 2024 2:13pm
Biscuit

Shesh, not seen a faux pas like that (Williamson Run Out 0) since Chippie tried to tell us pre-Election that removing GST from Food was gonna solve all our ills!
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March 1, 2024 2:26pm
Libertarians are right

So they are still trying to pretend that Hipkins is better than Luxon because Hipkins didn’t move into Premier House AND didn’t claim the Accommodation Supplement even though, as a Wellington based MP he wasn’t legally entitled to do either. They still haven’t pointed that out though.
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March 1, 2024 4:16pm
Maggie Pie

If you ever wondered why this country has ended up in the financial mire it finds itself today, just listen to this:

“In times of austerity when the Prime Minister expects government departments to find savings of 7.5%, he tries to justify taking a $52,000 accomodation allowance for his private residence when he could live in Premier House….. FOR FREE”

– Chris Hipkins (soon to be EX-leader of the Labor Party) 1ZBNews

Talk about appealing to the countrys lowest common denominators.
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March 1, 2024 4:40pm
- Maggie Pie
  
  UPDATE…
  
  Unbelieveably, Luxo has just buckled and says he will be REPAYING the allowance!
  
  GOD give me strength!! 🙁
  
  13 3
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  March 1, 2024 5:12pm
  - MCōs
    
    I agree
    If the peasants have no bread
    Qu’ils mangent de la brioche
    
    5 1
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    March 1, 2024 5:22pm
  - Ghost
    
    Good, and whoever advised him on it should get the sack. It was always going to look bad
    
    9 3
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    March 1, 2024 5:28pm
    - Swifty
      
      Very disappointed in Luxon over this.
      
      Should have learned his lesson over the EV rebate. He either should have refused to take the accom money in the first place, or taken it and stuck to his guns.
      
      Now he just looks weak and clumsy.
      
      In my view he should have refused it, hell he doesn’t need it, and thereby not given the left ammunition to attack him with.
      
      Yes, the attacks from Labour are them at their hypocritical best given their own MPs claiming it, but still.
      
      15 1
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      March 1, 2024 5:33pm
      - H. Upmann
        
        “he just looks weak and clumsy.” You didn’t know? Come on Swifty, you’re smarter than that.
        
        1 1
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        March 1, 2024 6:01pm
      - Ghost
        
        I wonder if Deborah Russell, Jenny Salesa, Jan Tinetti, Arena Williams and Duncan Webb would also like to now pay back the allowance they got last year.
        
        9 1
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        March 1, 2024 6:57pm
    - Maggie Pie
      
      Well i can tell you now it looks even worser now to some of us 🙁
      
      4 2
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      March 1, 2024 5:38pm
  - mawm
    
    Luxon has the spine of a jelly fish.
    
    10 4
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    March 1, 2024 5:30pm
    - MCōs
      
      He certainly doesn’t have the nose of a politician
      
      7 0
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      March 1, 2024 6:11pm
      - kowtow
        
        Couldn’t agree more.
        
        But then nor did Bill English who was caught out in the same perk.
        
        Who the hell is advising Luxon.
        
        5 0
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        March 1, 2024 6:41pm
      - MCōs
        
        He’s probably finding out if he needs a friend on the 9th floor he should get a dog
        
        1 1
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        March 1, 2024 7:45pm
      - Sparrow
        
        He is a typical corporate climber. He possibly got a housing allowance at Unilever Canada so was use to these type of entitlements its part of their make up. His type are not street wise or politically savvy. Frankly for him to accept tax payer subsidy on a mortgage free apartment is not only outrageous but frankly shows his lack of empathy for those in struggle street. This is going to be played over and over and will be highlighted at the next election. A free pass to the opposition.
        
        3 1
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        March 1, 2024 7:45pm
Steve Otto(North Shore)

PM Luxon does a U-turn.
This is Newshub so get your grain of salt ready.
Why not take it and donate it to a worthy cause?
What Hipkins said is not worth a tin if shit!

https://www.msn.com/en-nz/news/national/pm-s-u-turn-luxon-will-pay-back-accommodation-allowance-says-it-s-becoming-a-distraction/ar-BB1j96qw?
4 2
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March 1, 2024 6:08pm
Flossie

TV One news “reporter” Benedict Collins practically wetting himself on 6pm news regarding Luxon and his about face on taking a rent subsidy. And what did Dallow respond to his piece with?? “Shucks”.
Have TVNZ not learned a thing from Newshub’s imminent demise!
11 0
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March 1, 2024 6:18pm
Steve Otto(North Shore)

Desperation.
The can needs to be kicked to the kerb.

https://www.msn.com/en-nz/news/national/revealed-the-last-ditch-proposal-put-on-the-table-in-bid-to-save-newshub/ar-BB1j8Qki?
5 1
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March 1, 2024 6:49pm
Steve Otto(North Shore)

Next under the hammer of DCM?
Sooner the better!

https://www.msn.com/en-nz/news/national/revealed-tvnz-reports-financial-loss-of-16-7m-over-six-months/ar-BB1j83ZQ?
4 1
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March 1, 2024 6:59pm
Swifty

Meta bails from Aussie news:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tryyXXJAgW0
2 0
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March 1, 2024 8:49pm
- Ghost
  
  Good. The news media should be paying them for the traffic they drive to their dying websites.
  
  Oh please Aussie, we don’t have a single national broadcaster publishing news. Tv wise we still have what ever prime news is called now.
  
  1 1
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  March 1, 2024 9:02pm
Tauhei Notts

Beddy time for me but I am hoping that somebody much more knowledgeable than me will comment, tomorrow, on that Rochdale bye-election in England.
There seems to be something very troubling, to me, about that result.
1 0
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March 1, 2024 9:39pm
Rich Prick

I’ve just learned from a pretty good source that Te Whata Ora (Ministry of Health in proper language) has just stiffed the Masterton ratepayers for $65m over a wonky medical center. Those poor ratepayers might be looking at a 1000% rate increase to keep those Ministry seats nice and shiny.
3 0
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March 1, 2024 10:20pm
Rich Prick

The same source told me about an even more outrageous case involving a former Council CEO suing another Council over a swimming pool fence latch that saw him awarded $250k from ratepayers. Our courts are off the chart out of control.
2 0
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March 1, 2024 10:43pm
- Ghost
  
  We used to have a large fishpond. Council came around to approve the fence around the spa pool, they saw the fish pond and demanded a fence be put around it because a child could walk down our drive and drown in it. Ah, the back gate has a lock on it. Kid could climb the gate. Ah, there are no young kids that live in our street, just teenagers. Well a kid could walk down our street, come down the drive, climb the gate and drown in the fish pond.
  
  We smashed the pond up and filled it in, now a nice lawn. Fuck council people are a special kind of pathetic.
  
  2 1
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  March 1, 2024 11:18pm
  - NZer In Exile
    
    Thank the hoards of numpties who have the attitude of “I hate politics” and refuse to give a sh*t about local elections. Then they wonder why housing is so un-affordable and their rates are horrible while their area infrastructure is falling apart! Duh!!!
    
    0 0
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    March 2, 2024 6:59pm

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