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October 3, 2024 8:00am by Kokila Patel

General Debate 03 October 2024

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General Debate

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Flossie

I’ve been wondering why Maggy W hasn’t been around lately. I hope all is well.
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October 3, 2024 8:03am
- Maggy Wassilieff
  
  I’m fine. Over in Oz and offline for much of my visit.
  
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  October 3, 2024 8:33am
  - David Garrett
    
    Looking forward to seeing you back Maggy…your comments are always worth reading.
    
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    October 3, 2024 8:57am
  - Ghost
    
    Enjoy your holiday. Awful time to go, you’re missing out on all the normal crap spring weather.
    
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    October 3, 2024 9:04am
    - lastmanstanding
      
      Oz is in the shit socially as well as economically. Governments especially the Albanese Labor clown show have let in so many terrorist supporters they now have mass violent protests on the streets with the Police refusing to stop them because some Labor seats in Sydney and Melbourne have over 30% Muslim voters.
      Let this be a lesson for NZ Governments. If you import radical terrorist supporters your social cohension will come under pressure big time. We dont need to import conflicts from the other side of the world.
      
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      October 3, 2024 9:18am
      - MCōs
        
        Good news
        The threat of a terrorist attack in NZ is rated by the SIS as LOW
        That’s one step above very low, which is the lowest rating. I suppose they have to cover their arses if something does happen.
        In Australia it’s Probable
        
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        October 3, 2024 9:59am
      - David Garrett
        
        Lastman: Re your last para, I have been saying this loudly for more than ten years, My guest piece on Muslim immigration here is still available. Re-reading it the other day I wouldn’t change a word.
        
        I find it incredible that with a reminder just across the Tasman of what happens if you allow the Muslim population to increase, we are still not learning from the Australian experience.
        
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        October 3, 2024 10:10am
      - Cassandra
        
        The perils of immigration: ex Labor Senator Payman from WA is launching a new party targeting the pro Hamas/Arab/Lebanese/Moslem vote. That’s a significant Labor demographic. More keffiyehs in Parliament I suppose but a headache for Labor which also wants the important Jewish vote. If I was in the NZ Cabinet I’d be bringing in Filipinos and South Africans; Moslems maybe not so much. Most Americans cultures ming to NZ seem to be lefties so perhaps not too many of them either.
        
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        October 3, 2024 10:28am
      - Burtland
        
        are we to be bicultural or multicultural ? – make up your minds
        
        and a reminder our worst terrorist was australian
        
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        October 3, 2024 10:42am
      - MCōs
        
        The cabinet doesn’t bring in anybody
        
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        October 3, 2024 11:28am
      - Taieri
        
        If I was in the NZ Cabinet I’d be bringing in Filipinos and South Africans
        ————-
        
        If I was in the NZ Cabinet I’d be bringing people from cultures compatible with our own. But that horse has already bolted. We no longer have a common culture and common values. It’s very doubtful that we even still have what used to be called a community. We are just a bunch of separate tribes, living next to each other but having very little in common.
        
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        October 3, 2024 12:05pm
  - G the giant from Dunedin
    
    Enjoy your trip.It’s expensive to go to the pub isn’t it 😊👍🍺
    
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    October 3, 2024 9:39am
- imalwaysright
  
  And also Maggie Pie. The only genuinely funny one on here.
  
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  October 3, 2024 9:04am
  - MCōs
    
    Apart from yourself of course
    
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    October 3, 2024 9:34am
  - Inandout
    
    ima, Maggie had good links to X, saved wading through screeds of topics.
    
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    October 3, 2024 9:53am
  - David Garrett
    
    Maggie Pie funny? I would have said puerile…all those references to “the girls at tennis” and the particulary irritating “asking for a friend”. I don’t miss her “contributions” one bit.
    
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    October 3, 2024 10:11am
    - Cassandra
      
      Are you becoming grumpy, DG? That’s not like you.
      
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      October 3, 2024 10:30am
      - Biscuit
        
        DG grumpy?
        
        I’d offer him a square or three of this Caramello chocolate but, gasp, I rather fear the b*gger might TAKE some!
        
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        October 3, 2024 10:40am
    - pdm
      
      First ever downtick for you DG.
      
      I enjoy Maggie Pies contributions.
      
      As I usually do yours.
      
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      October 3, 2024 10:41am
      - Biscuit
        
        Agreed, pdm.
        
        Mind, there’s precious few folk in here I don’t at least read the opinions of.
        
        At if I do disagree with them, I don’t just downtick them I tell them why I downtick them.
        
        Novel, eh?
        
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        October 3, 2024 10:58am
      - imalwaysright
        
        Biscuit
        “And if I do disagree with them, I don’t just downtick them I tell them why I downtick them.”
        Well said, the only tick that really matters.
        
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        October 3, 2024 11:33am
      - David Garrett
        
        pdm: Well, I’ sure I shall live! I am rather used to downticks
        
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        October 3, 2024 12:29pm
    - Flossie
      
      Just a suggestion. If “her” (presuming there!) contributions don’t float your boat maybe you shouldn’t bother reading them.
      If she comes back of course.
      
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      October 3, 2024 11:20am
    - Ghost
      
      Her post were getting increasingly racist and vile. Especially the personal abuse she would direct at Benedict
      
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      October 3, 2024 11:28am
      - NeverMindTheBollocks
        
        Yes, that was noticeable over recent months & certainly detracted from her previous track record. Disappointing and just unnecessary.
        
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        October 3, 2024 12:58pm
      - Close Hen Counters
        
        Was she blocked ghost? If you are blocked can you still read the articles/debate/comments but not comment yourself?
        
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        October 3, 2024 1:33pm
      - Benedict Yu
        
        For the record, I do not recall Maggie directing personal abuse at me. She crossed the moderators’ line a few times too many on racist comments – e.g. referring to “chinaman” which is a century year old term in anglo countries – you can’t really get away with referring to Chinese folk that way.
        
        She also continued to make comments about my family, despite me telling her that it was a no go area. Of course the moderators were on to that.
        
        I thought that some of her comments were entertaining. Others not so much. I did not celebrate her leaving. IIRC she was given a 24 hours holiday by the moderators. AFAIK she can return any time she likes.
        
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        October 3, 2024 2:48pm
    - grumpy
      
      I’m with you. Maggie Pie always came across to me as a fake persona with just the slightest indication of not even being female…….but I might be wrong…… If genuine she was a wonderfully creative contributor. If a fake, the same also applies.
      
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      October 3, 2024 1:41pm
      - Observer of Life
        
        Grumpy: I agree. I felt she was a man pretending to be a woman. Her/his comments seemed to be tongue in cheek to get a reaction. I thought she/he was a bit of light entertainment. Certainly not to be taken seriously. I miss her/him.
        
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        October 3, 2024 10:19pm
    - mogg
      
      Maggie Pie would bait anybody and everybody, the real funny thing is that otherwise intelligent commentators on here could not see what she was up to and take it personal. She was the very definition of tongue in cheek with lashings of crudity thrown in, always operating in the abstract very rarely concrete. To take her literally was to miss the point entirely, much like many religious people thought that The Life of Brian was offensive
      
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      October 3, 2024 3:09pm
    - Benedict Yu
      
      I don’t miss her contributions too much. However, unless someone is totally nuts, I do not celebrate commenters leaving the forum. I would prefer to see more diversity of views, not less.
      
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      October 3, 2024 3:11pm
      - Inandout
        
        BY, I agree Chinaman is a tad ancient and hardly used nowadays but what I find astounding is that the song ‘Melting Pot’ still is played with these lyrics:
        
        ‘Take a pinch of white man
        
        Wrap him up in black skin
        
        Add a touch of blue blood
        
        And a little bitty bit of red Indian boy
        
        Curly Latin kinkies
        
        Mixed with yellow Chinkees, yeah
        
        You know you lump it all together
        
        And you got a recipe for a get along scene
        
        Oh what a beautiful dream
        
        If it could only come true, you know, you know’
        
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        October 3, 2024 6:03pm
    - Hard Cheese
      
      I’m with you DG – a 2020’s version of Susan of Herne Bay, and mostly tedious.
      
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      October 3, 2024 6:27pm
artemisia

Herald Today (paywalled) – Mood of the Boardroom: CEOs rate Christopher Luxon’s Cabinet

Top rated – Erica Stanford, Simeon Brown, Nicola Willis / Chris Bishop. Minister Stanford holds Education and Immigration portfolios – both obviously of major interest to the business community.

Teachers, the PPTA and other teacher unions would be well advised to take note that CEOs like the way education changes are happening because CEOs are the future employers of their students. If their students don’t meet the grade, well Minister of Immigration Stanford will no doubt have Plan B.

Not to mention that some of those underperforming students will have a lifelong ‘wellness’ disadavantage. Do underperforming teachers and edu policy developers ever consider that?
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October 3, 2024 8:06am
- imalwaysright
  
  Art,
  The teachers, union and the legacy ministry couldn’t give a toss about the students.
  Students are an unwelcome imposition on their grift.
  The kids know this and they know they aren’t wanted at school. That’s why they don’t go.
  
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  October 3, 2024 8:15am
  - cmm
    
    There was a saying in USSR:
    “We pretend to work and they pretend to pay us.”
    
    There should be something similar for NZ schools:
    “We pretend to go to school and they pretend to teach us.”
    
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    October 3, 2024 9:38am
  - G the giant from Dunedin
    
    They had the education union hack on radio with HDA this morning, he said teachers voted to work at Charter schools, more than 50% but refused to say how much more than 50%. He had the cheek to say charter schools are a failure, when state schools have less than 50% being able to read and write
    
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    October 3, 2024 9:49am
    - David Garrett
      
      G: Can you clarify that comment? I find it very confusing…Are you saying that the said union hack admitted that more than 50% of teachers wouild be prepared to work at a charther school, but would not say how much more than 50% were of that view?
      
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      October 3, 2024 10:14am
      - Matt Long
        
        The teachers voted in favour of unionised teachers working in charters schools, the union would not give the voting percentages.
        
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        October 3, 2024 10:50am
      - Mike22240
        
        https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/chris-abercrombie-post-primary-teachers-association-president-on-the-unions-opposition-to-the-governments-charter-school-move/
        
        I found the link David, I find it hard to believe he doesn’t know the number above 50%.
        
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        October 3, 2024 12:43pm
      - David Garrett
        
        Thanks Matt…a union which isn’t much interested in the view of its members…fancy that!
        
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        October 3, 2024 12:53pm
  - mandk
    
    re. the legacy Ministry, a Finnish friend of mine told me recently that the Education Ministry in Finland employs about 400 people.
    
    NZ has about the same population as Finland, yet our Ministry of Education employs about 10 times that number.
    
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    October 3, 2024 10:15am
    - NeverMindTheBollocks
      
      Ok, but our MinEd looks after public school buildings; perhaps the Finns don’t. On the other hand, bits of our MinEd were spun off into ERO, TEC, NZQA etc. And, our curriculum is now outsourced to Chris Hipkins’ Mum.
      
      The question is whether it’s a like for like comparison.
      
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      October 3, 2024 1:02pm
      - mandk
        
        Maybe not a perfect comparison, but a x10 size difference couldn’t be explained by responsibility for school buildings.
        
        And the spin-off of ERO, TEC, NZQA etc makes it look even worse.
        
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        October 3, 2024 2:13pm
      - imalwaysright
        
        The US education dept is about the same size as NZ’s.
        4000 to 5000 people
        
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        October 3, 2024 3:01pm
    - MCōs
      
      According to this information from the Finland Ministry of Finance that has a breakdown of central government personnel there were 1417 in Teaching & Education services last year
      https://vm.fi/en/state-personnel-as-statistics
      NZ has a figure in the eighteen hundreds
      https://assets.education.govt.nz/public/Documents/our-work/information-releases/responses-to-Official-Information-Act-requests/1324717-Response-v2.pdf
      
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      October 3, 2024 3:43pm
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    If I was of high school age today I probably wouldn’t go to school. These days it is just a whole lot of Marxist bull shitters who don’t give a shit about the kids.
    Sad, because I really enjoyed my high school years and these kids are not getting what I enjoyed.
    
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    October 3, 2024 10:35am
    - Burtland
      
      the marxists do care – the kids are their footsoldiers – their indoctrination has been completed one hug at a time – thanks Cindy
      
      only the boomers and maori stand between them and control
      
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      October 3, 2024 11:07am
    - Close Hen Counters
      
      I really enjoy reading your comments Steve and it makes me sad you think this about secondary education in nz … I’m not sure all schools are like this. My youngest finished school last Friday now waiting to sit Cambridge exams in just over a week’s time. All his teachers have given him their contact details so he can remain in contact when he goes to uni to in the states – despite a mix of humanities/math and commerce in seventh form, no commie bullshit
      
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      October 3, 2024 1:41pm
      - Colinxy
        
        Which turn of communism are you referring to? If you mean Marx-Leninism then no, that programming is mostly absent. The next turn: Mao’s cultural revolution, is more present though rebadged. For example, instead of Han Supremacy, it is White Supremacy.
        
        The next turn is even more present, and that is Critical Theory with the Critical Pedagogy sub-discipline being most relevant. Under the Ardern-Hipkins government, Critical Pedagogy was added: in particular Critical Mathematics and Critical Literacy.
        
        So the first iteration of Marx’s communism only has a small influence, Mao’s communism is more relevant, then Herbert Marcuse but Paulo Friere’s communism is formally here and is most relevant.
        
        (And I’ve deliberately used the term turn as that is how Hegel’s unity of opposites works: Abstract plus its Negation through struggle becomes Concrete. This Concrete is then turned into the next Abstract and the cycle starts anew. It is why Revolution, however accomplished, is a religious tenet to Marxism. This is how “Queers for Palestine” works under communist thought and is internally consistent even if to outsiders seems irrational.)
        
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        October 3, 2024 9:17pm
      - Steve Otto(North Shore)
        
        Close Hen Counters,
        There are of course exceptions. If you son has been lucky enough to avoid the commies then all power to him. I do hope he goes well.
        The main percentage of teachers are the leftist wreckers and haters.
        
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        October 4, 2024 7:14am
    - leoj
      
      Steve, you forgot to mention the maori bullshit.
      
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      October 3, 2024 7:38pm
      - Steve Otto(North Shore)
        
        Same isn’t it?
        
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        October 4, 2024 7:11am
- MCōs
  
  David Seymour and Shane Jones are notable omissions from the top ten cabinet ministers in the Herald article
  Back in 2020 the entire cabinet was ranked. Grant Robertson was given a higher score than anyone in the current cabinet; Winston a much lower score for doing the same job and Shane Jones was near the bottom
  There was also a glowing article on David Seymour
  https://newzealandinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Mood-of-the-Boardroom-2020-The-Covid-Election.pdf
  
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  October 3, 2024 8:47am
  - G the giant from Dunedin
    
    What’s that tell you about Seymour’s ethics? I actually would have him in the top half, and Jones is doing well I thought even though he is an oaf, why Jones is low is beyond me, they possibly don’t like the bombastic nature
    
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    October 3, 2024 9:51am
    - MCōs
      
      There’s always that whiff of corruption with Jones going back to his dodgy credit card expenditure and allocation of funds during his time as Minister for Regional Economic Development
      
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      October 3, 2024 10:16am
      - Manu-Rau
        
        LFMAO. When someone praises a second-generation fraudster like Grant Robertson in one post, and accuses Shane Jones of corruption in the next.
        
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        October 3, 2024 8:09pm
    - Cassandra
      
      Shane Jones has transformed himself. He used to play the oaf – I now rate him very highly. A real asset to the Coalition.
      
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      October 3, 2024 10:33am
      - Colville
        
        Yes his transition from Oaf to Leader (de facto at this point) of NZF is fascinating and will have a huge bearing on the longevity of the current coalition government.
        
        With Winston “retired” (its gotta happen!!) I see Shane as a natural ally to National.
        
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        October 3, 2024 11:29am
      - MCōs
        
        With Winston as leader NZ First has barely maintained a presence in parliament in recent years.
        Shane Jones doesn’t have the political appeal to maintain the momentum
        
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        October 3, 2024 2:42pm
      - Observer of Life
        
        I rate Jones as another Winston. Goes in whatever direction the favourable wind blows. I wouldn’t be holding your breath that you’ll like him in a couple of years time when he finds it necessary to cosy up to Labour.
        
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        October 3, 2024 10:27pm
- G the giant from Dunedin
  
  And level headed voters will mirror what the board room thinks, the left r we oils be well advised to take note
  
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  October 3, 2024 9:52am
- Paulus
  
  But PPTA and other Unions consider themselves superior in all aspects to CEOs.
  It was said that the Education Dept CEO, now leaving, I understand, said to her Seniors, in confidence of course, at a meeting, who are still there continuing what they have they have been taught, as to Stanford “What does she know about Education that we do not ?”.
  That appears to be the situation currently in most Goverment Departments from the chosen ones.
  
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  October 3, 2024 1:22pm
  - Mike
    
    Generally, cabinet ministers do not know more about their portfolio subjects than their officials. It would be odd if they did.
    
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    October 3, 2024 5:23pm
    - Manu-Rau
      
      After I left college in December 1980 it occurred to me that I had never once had a teacher who was more intelligent than me. Some of them had a reasonable handle on the curriculum, but most were – quite frankly – thick.
      
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      October 3, 2024 8:13pm
Grunter

Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
The world waits to see what happens next in the Middle East. The crazy Arabs in Iran are now threatening Israel with further action. Basically saying if Israel blows up Iranian oil refineries then Iran would retaliate by blowing up oil refineries right across the region (Saudi, Kuwait, UAE,…..).

The nut job Netanyahu does not have a realistic plan, never has. He keeps climbing the escalation ladder with no off ramp.

Over 12 mths this mess has developed exactly as expected. Both sides intent on ‘eradication’ which is impossible.

IMO this will now go from very bad to total chaos. Luckily Biden has promised peace…..”I’ve got this man!!”
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October 3, 2024 8:11am
- Matt Long
  
  The Iranians are not Arabs and the Ayatollahs are enemies of most Arabs.
  
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  October 3, 2024 9:12am
  - Grunter
    
    Good point Matt, I got that bit wrong.
    
    The rest I stick by. Happy to hear how this de-escalates in a realistic way.
    
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    October 3, 2024 9:33am
    - In Vino Veritas
      
      It’s pretty easy. The situation de-escalates when church is separated from state in Iran.
      
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      October 3, 2024 12:17pm
      - Grunter
        
        That’s easy (??) but not realistic
        
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        October 3, 2024 4:40pm
    - Ghost
      
      I can’t see a de-escalation. If the USA get involved, then china and Russia get involved.
      
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      October 3, 2024 4:36pm
      - Burtland
        
        putin still seems to be caught up in his “7days to kiev”
        china, n.korea and iran have been busy saving his arse
        
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        October 3, 2024 8:10pm
      - Ghost
        
        In the last few hours Russia and Syria have engaged with Israel over Syria.
        
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        October 3, 2024 8:21pm
  - Paulus
    
    Hope the Ayotollah does not have a mobile phone or pager !
    The people of Iran would be very very happy to see the Theocracy go, especially the women, who are being very heavily male dominated and subjucated.
    
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    October 3, 2024 1:25pm
- Matt Long
  
  Incidentally is Netayahu a “nut job” because he transformed Israel from a failing socialist state to a thriving market economy, or some other reason?
  
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  October 3, 2024 9:33am
  - Grunter
    
    I hate socialism. In fact almost all Govt do stupid stuff IMO. So it’s definitely not his centralist market economy policies (he’s not a free market libertarian BTW, more of a conservative/National type of centralist).
    
    He’s a nut job, IMO, because he has no stated plan for where this multi-front war goes from here, nor an end game. He keeps escalating, provoking the mad MUSLIMS, and killing innocent civilians. Simple as that really.
    
    Of course the other side is bat-siht crazy as well.
    
    All I’m saying is the realistic outcome is chaos as both sides will continue to escalate as they have for 13 mths.
    
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    October 3, 2024 10:40am
    - Geri Sjovik
      
      So, he’s a nutjob because he hasn’t stated a plan.
      
      That’s really a pisspoor justification for calling him a nutjob.
      
      Ever thought that maybe he doesn’t care to state what his plan is.
      
      I am also pretty sure he has stated exactly what his plan is for Gaza. Perhaps you just haven’t been paying attention.
      .
      
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      October 3, 2024 6:05pm
- Stellaboxer
  
  Grunter the
  Iranians aren’t Arabs.
  
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  October 3, 2024 9:55am
- Inandout
  
  The oil rich Arabs dont want their money flow disrupted by squabbling camel drivers.
  
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  October 3, 2024 9:59am
- Grunter
  
  Wow – “Hidden due to downticks” I think that’s the a first for me! And just because I called Netanyahu a nut job which there is an abundance of evidence that he is.
  
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  October 3, 2024 1:55pm
  - imalwaysright
    
    G
    Being “hidden” is a badge of honour. Think of it as a Purple Heart!!!
    Well done.
    
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    October 3, 2024 3:05pm
    - Grunter
      
      Thx imalwaysright…. Purple Heart it is!
      
      I was actually hoping that I’d spark some well-thought-through debate against my view that this mess is about to get much worse with both sides escalating.
      
      But nah – nothing, just the downticks….
      
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      October 3, 2024 4:47pm
      - imalwaysright
        
        Some don’t have a counter argument , or don’t want to acknowledge the truth, and so use ticks to vent.
        
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        October 3, 2024 5:50pm
  - Geri Sjovik
    
    Care to state that evidence?
    
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    October 3, 2024 6:06pm
  - leoj
    
    If Netanyahu did not respond, Iran would think that firing missiles is perfectly okay.
    
    Of course Israel should respond. By disagreeing with that puts you with the terrorists.
    
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    October 3, 2024 7:44pm
- NoFax
  
  I’m not sure what you mean that both sides are aiming for eradication. The Israelis want Hamas and Hezabeloh to cease to exist as terrorist organizations, but they want all Jews dead – that’s not a moral equivalent. Again, the middle east could be at peace if the usual groups just stop trying to kill Jews – they don’t have to like them, just not try to commit genocide. So not sure what Bibi can do to “deescalate” when one side’s starting point is the other should be all dead. As Golda Meir said, until the Arabs (or Iranians) love their children more than they hate Jews, there will never be peace.
  
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  October 3, 2024 2:49pm
  - Grunter
    
    Both sides at various times have stated that the other side must be eradicated. And Israel has been more effective when it comes to the numbers killed – more than Hamas & Hezbollah combined over the past few decades. And it appears that both sides hate each other equally IMO.
    
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    October 3, 2024 4:53pm
    - NoFax
      
      There are more Arabs living in Gaza and the Westbank – and Israel proper – than any time before. If the Israelis were trying to eradicate them then they are doing a very poor job of it. Contrast this with Jews living in Arab countries – basically there are none when before there were a lot and the cleansing of Jews happened as soon as the Ottoman Empire collapsed so before Israel existed.
      Hate is a strong word and not all hate or perhaps anger is equally the same. Israel is angry, perhaps hates, that the Arabs are trying to kill them – I think that is fair enough. The Arabs hate the Jews because they are Jews; nothing to do with Israeli policy. If it were about Israeli policy (killing Arabs for example) then the Arabs should be directing a lot more hate towards Syria or Iraq. The are not equal.
      
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      October 3, 2024 9:03pm
Chuck Bird

It appears that Labour have been making excuses for Damien O’Connor’s retweet about the 7 October.

Only Act has been critical of the retweet. Neither National or NZF have commented.

Winston is at a public meeting in Hamilton on 13 October. I hope to be there to ask him about O’Connor’s retweet.

Anyone who agrees with me wants to join me?
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October 3, 2024 8:16am
- peterwn
  
  No need for immediate comment from National or NZF. Damien has satisfactorily shot himself in the foot for now. Best to save comment and drop it at the most damaging time for him (eg during a general debate).
  
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  October 3, 2024 8:48am
  - Chuck Bird
    
    Good point. I hope you are right.
    
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    October 3, 2024 8:52am
  - artemisia
    
    Voters don’t like unrelenting negativity from their politicians (or anyone really). So better to take the moral high ground and quietly fill up the back pocket until the time is right.
    
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    October 3, 2024 10:55am
- G the giant from Dunedin
  
  It’s the old saying, let your enemy dig a hole, Peter’s may well still be over seas as Parkinson’s not sitting, I still say this is a push to start getting rid of Hipkins, O’Connor has. When in Europe for weeks for no apparent reason, he was not in the house the whole sitting block the same as Hipkins, there appears to have been a bit of a reshuffle, as O’Connor is now not the agri and trade spokesman, and I see Veral appears not to be asking questions about health, or though she did say something pathetic like numbers have been made up last night, even though Dunedin hospitals not had any funding for equipment, and I am lead to believe that no equipment has been funded for the partly built out patients building
  
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  October 3, 2024 9:57am
- Ra Henare
  
  Who cares what a Labour MP retweets?
  
  Except of course political tragics. Who get offended by all sorts of irrelevancies.
  
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  October 3, 2024 11:02am
  - G the giant from Dunedin
    
    If this was done by a government no this would be blasted as a rotten disgrace for days
    
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    October 3, 2024 2:29pm
Chuck Bird

The Oz betting sites now favour Trump. I wonder if JD Vance helped.
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October 3, 2024 8:21am
- peterwn
  
  How many USA voters frequent Oz betting sites?
  
  9 3
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  October 3, 2024 8:48am
  - MCōs
    
    I don’t know, but they will do now
    
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    October 3, 2024 8:53am
  - I remember when
    
    peterwn:
    Betting sites are there to make money.
    They simply reflect the odds they consider will make this happen.
    
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    October 3, 2024 9:50am
- Colville
  
  Chuck.
  Earlier in the week Stuffed interview Sir John , it was a good but shallow chat, Key saying why he thought will and should win.
  Then there was a Stuffed poll. “Do you think Sir John is right and Trump will win??”
  76% said no.
  That tells me everything about the typical reader of Stuffed. Young, red/green and out of touch with reality.
  
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  October 3, 2024 9:45am
  - Phronesis
    
    I thought it odd that JK chose to be interviewed in front of his private helicopter. But apparently the stuff journalist didn’t notice.
    
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    October 3, 2024 10:39am
    - Bobba Fret
      
      And on Three news he took Samantha Hayes up for a flight over the North Shore after the interview.
      
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      October 3, 2024 11:53am
      - Colville
        
        I didnt know he flew!!
        
        Its a funny 90 seconds…
        
        https://www.tiktok.com/@nzstuff/video/7420651036156628231
        
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        October 3, 2024 4:47pm
  - Colville
    
    Further to this.
    
    The interview was done in a helicopter hanger (there was a photo of them on fold out chairs in the hanger and a few helicopters..) and I was going crazy wondering why ???? weird spot!
    
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    October 3, 2024 11:32am
  - Steve Todd
    
    @Colville @ 9:45AM
    
    How does 76% of Stuff readers disagreeing with Key that Trump will win, and therefore, in your opinion, being “out of touch with reality”, square with your comment here, https://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/2024/09/another_assassination_attempt_on_trump.html#comment-3618281, in which you say you “have seen nothing in last few weeks to indicate Trump is anything but an outside chance now”?
    
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    October 3, 2024 8:45pm
- NZer In Exile
  
  I thought Vance was pretty solid in the debate. I watched most of it and was amazed by how relatively civilised it was.
  
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  October 3, 2024 10:08pm
Yvette

“The Treaty itself contains no principles which can usefully guide government or courts. It is a bald agreement, anchored in its time and place” – David Lange

However – Last week, the Māori Working Group on Aerospace declared itself “shocked” that the Minister for Space and Science, Innovation and Technology, Judith Collins, hadn’t included consultation with iwi as part of its Aerospace and Advanced Aviation Strategy — as if a neolithic culture which never got around to inventing the wheel deserves a share of the benefits of space technology on account of an imagined “partnership” with the Crown.

The group, set up “to advocate for Māori rights and interests in aerospace”, was appalled that, unlike in 2023 under the Labour government, the strategy “makes no reference whatsoever to Māori, the Crown’s partner under Te Tiriti o Waitangi” — thus losing the opportunity “to build and strengthen relationships with tangata whenua in the protection and appropriate use of aerospace resources”.

The group wants the nation’s burgeoning aerospace industry to develop policy “centred on tikanga” to enable “ethical and responsible exploration, caring for our environment, and unlocking economic and social benefits”.

Part of the justification for Maori involvement turns on the mystical notion that space is a “taonga” because it is the realm that Ranginui — the “sky god” — inhabits. The irony of religious dogma having been the biggest impediment to the work of astronomers like Galileo, who was declared a heretic for asserting that the Earth orbits the Sun, is apparently lost on the activists. […]

In Auckland, some developers end up paying iwi what is known as a “taniwha tax” on developments or alterations to a building or property if they fall within a large circle around a “culturally significant” site. And there are hundreds of such sites across Auckland affecting thousands of properties.
https://www.bassettbrashandhide.com/post/graham-adams-the-collapse-of-maori-nationalism

This is why one wonders if it is too late for ACT’s up-coming legislation to state –
4 – The New Zealand Government, all its services, and funding is to be secular

• ’One man’s meat is another man’s poison’ – attributed to the English philosopher and statesman Francis Bacon

Religious freedom includes the right to be free of religion

• Very few Māori still adhere to traditional Māori beliefs — 3,699 respondents to the 2018 census identified themselves as adhering to “Māori religions, beliefs and philosophies”
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October 3, 2024 8:25am
- John Loveridge
  
  One word: corruption.
  
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  October 3, 2024 9:24am
- Paulus
  
  I did not know that Maori were the first people in the world to fly, which is why the sky belongs to them.
  Now I know !
  
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  October 3, 2024 1:33pm
G152

O’Connor appears to have nailed his colours to a mast. (Had to correct the spell checker.. evidently ‘colour’ isn’t the way to spell colour or colours}…
I look forward to his now embarrassing retirement from liebor
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October 3, 2024 8:49am
- rouppe
  
  Yes, because you use a USA “keyboard” and language pack.
  
  Unfortunately if you use a UK language pack it changes the default $ to £.
  
  However if you download either an Australian (AU) or NZ language pack you get the $ and colour with a ‘u’
  
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  October 3, 2024 9:36am
- Jack5
  
  But it’s still the Australian Labor Party.
  
  It was the Australian Labour Party when formed in 1908, but changed to Australian Labor Party in 1912. An American member apparently had the spelling “modernised”.
  
  One spelling difference that has emerged with computers is Australian standard spelling of “program” in nouns as in American English. British English uses “program” for computers and “programme” for nouns unrelated to computers.
  
  This link shows standard Australian spelling compared with American and standard British spelling:
  
  https://stylemanual.com.au/contents/editing/spelling-conventions/comparison-australian-american-and-british-spelling
  
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  October 3, 2024 11:20am
BeaB

I can’t take the mood of the boardroom seriously when these are the same people who gazed starry-eyed at Jacinda and Grant. Especially as they shovelled out our money.
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October 3, 2024 8:49am
- Debsta
  
  Bang on Bea, I could not agree more.
  
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  October 3, 2024 9:15am
- Matt Long
  
  Somehow boardrooms have been infected by DEI and are addicted to corporate welfare.
  
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  October 3, 2024 9:35am
  - Paulus
    
    And the infection cannot be cauterised but can only increase, as we are seeing rapidly.
    
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    October 3, 2024 1:35pm
- JackRabbit
  
  Shoveled is an understatement.
  
  They borrowed and racked up future debt at the rate of nearly $100 million per day.
  
  It would be like giving all of NZ continual free lotto tickets with dozens of power ball winners every week.
  
  Since the general public won nothing, except loss of jobs and livelihoods, who got the jackpots?
  
  There was enough loot “shoveled” around to create 200,000 standard lotto division 6 winners.
  
  Who became millionaires? Who profited?
  
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  October 3, 2024 9:37am
- kowtow
  
  In these DEI days the survey could as easily be called “Boobs of the boardroom”.
  
  Esp when one sees Ardern’s international credentials at her Jaw Fest Promoters hawking this pap;
  
  “Ardern championed women’s empowerment, achieving 50% representation of women in parliament and on government-appointed boards.”
  
  Trigger alert , link contains photo and hagiographic material likely to be cause high blood pressure and other mental health stresses.
  
  Source ;CAASPEAKERS
  
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  October 3, 2024 10:37am
Ghost

Ouch

Bank of America customers reported problems accessing their online accounts on Wednesday, with some saying they were unable to sign in and others reporting they were able to log on but were startled to see their balances at $0.

Article
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October 3, 2024 9:05am
- imalwaysright
  
  A dry run for digital currency.
  
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  October 3, 2024 10:05am
Ghost

Im surprised Diddy hasn’t “committed suicide” yet…..

Diddy Sexual Abuse Scandal: Known Celebs and Minors Involved in New Allegations
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October 3, 2024 9:10am
- cmm
  
  Now he has lost power and influence there are hundreds of resentful people crawling out of the woodwork.
  
  It is almost humorous that while they stood to gain from Diddy they just kept quiet.
  
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  October 3, 2024 9:44am
  - imalwaysright
    
    He probably now has too much power, he knows who did what to whom and who was watching. That’s fatal.
    The Dems usually bury their problems.
    
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    October 3, 2024 10:17am
  - Burtland
    
    exactly the same with Harrods head Mohamed Al Fayed
    – the BBC will dine out on this for years
    
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    October 3, 2024 11:34am
- sirknz
  
  Not much has been mentioned by the politicians who are caught up in this one, yet.
  
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  October 3, 2024 9:44am
- Inandout
  
  Diddy he, or didn’t he?
  
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  October 3, 2024 10:03am
  - sirknz
    
    What didn’t Diddy do?
    
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    October 3, 2024 4:45pm
    - Observer of Life
      
      He didn’t do diddly squat?
      
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      October 3, 2024 10:40pm
- NothingLeft
  
  Apparently called “The Diddler” by online wags.
  
  He’s gonna be in jail for the rest of his life, and probably have a target on his back from inmates trying to burnish their reputations. I think in his shoes most would opt for auto-deletion.
  
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  October 3, 2024 4:46pm
RoboRob

I see our tax payer paid news service, rnz, is claiming in their opinion the debate between Vance and Waltz was a tie. Listing a CBS poll as the proof.

Interestingly that flies in the face of the majority of commentators who thought that while Waltz did ok, Vance was the clear winner. Certainly my biased opinion too. I thought Vance was excellent in general with only one slip (around whether he thinks Trump lost the last election).

I continue to find it bizare that RNZ provides biased ‘journalism’ around US politics when there is no need in NZ. Very few US citizens in NZ will be voting in the US and forming their opinions based on RNZ coverage.
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October 3, 2024 9:18am
- sirknz
  
  That wasn’t a debate, that was a murder on live TV, streamed with commentary on multiple YouTube channels.
  
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  October 3, 2024 9:46am
  - Tarquin North
    
    Even Jack Tame thought Vance was the winner. For him to say that Vance must have been streets ahead.
    
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    October 3, 2024 10:07am
    - sirknz
      
      Anybody who says otherwise has pants that have spontaneously combusted.
      
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      October 3, 2024 4:49pm
- Inandout
  
  RR, I caught a bit of HDPA speaking with her ZB offsider about Vance’s eye make up. I sincerely hope she had other things to say that were a bit more mature.
  
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  October 3, 2024 10:07am
- Cassandra
  
  Even the New York Times gave a clear win to Vance. Very polished performance. All we need now is for Trump to accept that he should retire.
  
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  October 3, 2024 10:38am
  - MCōs
    
    Joe Biden was extremely reluctant to withdraw his candidacy
    If Trump was somehow forced to similarly pull out it would be even more reluctantly and with his track record he would mercilessly attack the poor sod that stepped into his shoes
    He would probably run as an independent
    
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    October 3, 2024 11:41am
- I remember when
  
  Only by using the 6 January could doubt even be suggested.
  
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  October 3, 2024 11:04am
- Close Hen Counters
  
  Walz was a total and utter train-wreck
  
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  October 3, 2024 1:50pm
  - sirknz
    
    No, no, he just mispoke a few times…
    
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    October 3, 2024 4:50pm
    - Quail
      
      All major news providers have a differing view of the Vance v Walz debate,
      The outcome is voters and anyone interested just can not believe a thing the news companies say!
      A total disgrace.
      
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      October 3, 2024 8:45pm
  - Observer of Life
    
    What was all the note taking about? Weird.
    
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    October 3, 2024 10:41pm
I remember when

Simon O’Connor has an article on Utopian Democracy on Breaking Views.
To a large extent it explains the problem created when large numbers of refugees from the same country/area live in the same place.
They try to make changes so that life is as similar as possible to their ‘home’ country.
In order for this to occur the ‘locals’ find that their wishes often in danger of becoming secondary.
When deep seated religious needs are involved this can result in divisions in the community.
Care must be taken to prevent the ‘freedoms’ they want being written in law.
“Freedom’ is the ability to take actions and hold beliefs – subject to the existing laws.
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October 3, 2024 9:30am
- Ghost
  
  Can be read on Simon’s blog
  
  https://onpointnz.substack.com/
  
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  October 3, 2024 9:36am
- rouppe
  
  In short, people leave their shit hole country, and then proceed to change their host country to be like the shit hole they left.
  
  The lack of intelligence in that behaviour shows we are not enhancing our society
  
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  October 3, 2024 9:40am
  - Blog-aholic
    
    Indeed. I have viewed an interview from a female muslim immigrant who in Finland stated that Finland was way to full of Finnish people and it was not good…..why be there then?
    
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    October 3, 2024 9:59am
  - Phronesis
    
    They are all economic refugees. They are here for the money not to escape the culture they are from.
    
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    October 3, 2024 10:46am
    - Burtland
      
      and we actually need them to prop-up our abysmal STEM skills in our economy
      – maybe we need to swap our shithole education system for theirs
      
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      October 3, 2024 11:47am
  - cmm
    
    This can be seen again and again, be that:
    
    * “New Europeans” into France, Germany and Sweden.
    * Californians moving to Oregon and, more recently, Utah, Texas and Florida.
    * Closer to home: townies moving into semi-rural areas then complaining about country activities like shooting and possum throwing.
    
    This is nothing new. In the 1980s there was a popular bumper sticker in Oregon:
    “Don’t Californicate Oregon”.
    
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    October 3, 2024 10:54am
- Dudley Quaffquaff
  
  They try to make changes so that life is as similar as possible to their ‘home’ country.
  In order for this to occur the ‘locals’ find that their wishes often in danger of becoming secondary.
  
  Seriously, how is that different from what British colonists did when they arrived in New Zealand?
  
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  October 3, 2024 9:49am
  - Blog-aholic
    
    Quite a bit but I don’t think I have time to enlighten you as to when, why and how there is a massive difference.
    
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    October 3, 2024 10:00am
  - Stellaboxer
    
    Seriously, how is that different from what British colonists did when they arrived in New Zealand?
    About 200 years different.
    
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    October 3, 2024 10:06am
  - David Garrett
    
    Dudley: It isn’t that much different…but there are at least two major differences: 1) the English colononists didn’t try and force their way of life on the Maori; and 2) the colonists didn’t go around killing Maori who didn’t want to live like Europeans.
    
    However, forcing Maori to follow our ways wasn’t necessary – there is heaps of evidence that in many respects the Maori were delighted to follow European ways. For example, living in houses with a tin roof and windows rather than a raupo hut with a hole in the roof for the smoke to escape; wearing European clothes, especially in the winter; embracing the written form of their language – and the English language; being converted to a new religion which preached forgiveness rather than never ending revenge; accepting – by and large – the English rule of law which obviated the need for constant utu between themselves…etc. etc. etc.
    
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    October 3, 2024 10:06am
    - Inandout
      
      DG, and that great invention created thousands of years before, the wheel.
      
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      October 3, 2024 10:10am
    - cmm
      
      Yup, very similar in Africa.
      
      The missions opened schools and the local population sent their kids because they could see the advantages of “the white man’s magic” and they wanted some of that for themselves and their kids.
      
      Of course not all colonisers were equal. Brits are best. Protuguese maybe second, then Germans, Japanese and Belgians towards the bottom.
      
      Law and order (especially from Brits) brought levels of peace and prosperity never seen before.
      
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      October 3, 2024 10:59am
      - imalwaysright
        
        There wouldn’t have been many peoples on the planet who wouldn’t have signed that treaty.
        Even (especially ?) today, there are probably still many.
        
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        October 3, 2024 11:45am
  - Burtland
    
    how many maori choose to live a traditional lifestyle in the bush ?
    – only Marokopa man
    
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    October 3, 2024 11:54am
  - rouppe
    
    Colonists brought medicine, metallurgy, engineering, cloth, trade, horses, beef, sheep to a place that had none of those things. Not to mention the wheel. In short, took NZ technologically from the stone age to the industrial age in one go.
    
    As opposed to bringing 7th century behaviors to a modern society
    
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    October 3, 2024 12:23pm
    - NeverMindTheBollocks
      
      Yeah, but what did the colonists ever do for us?
      
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      October 3, 2024 1:09pm
      - bennerg
        
        NeverMindTheBollocks, Monty Python I presume?
        
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        October 3, 2024 3:17pm
  - NoFax
    
    I agree with you Dudley Quaffquaff, if Maori wanted to keep their culture (for better or worse) and their property they should have fought tooth and nail against the British – but they didn’t and now here we are. We cannot go back 200 years and change history.
    
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    October 3, 2024 9:07pm
Steve Otto(North Shore)

Megyn Kelly zeros in on Harris’ interview.
Harris has no plan for inflation control, she has no idea.

https://patriotpulse.net/megyn-kelly-destroyed-kamala-harris-with-one-crushing-piece-of-advice/?
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October 3, 2024 9:31am
- JackRabbit
  
  But like Biden, no doubt she has lots of adoring fans in cemeteries and cremation funeral plots, that will vote for her.
  
  Cole Sear (Sixth Sense) standing outside voting booths: “I see dead people’s voting ballots being brought in by the truck load.”
  
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  October 3, 2024 9:39am
- Colinxy
  
  Her plan to tackle inflation, as explained in her ABC interview, is she grew up middle class and had a nice lawn. She’d fit in with Hipkins’ economic genius.
  
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  October 3, 2024 9:57am
G152

Gail Maney looking for justice?
No-one seems interested, they told their lies got people jailed and got on with the business of coppers.
Just another victim, another name for media to play with when its a slow news day.
Hopefully she will get compensation from the particular police
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October 3, 2024 9:34am
- cmm
  
  A bunch of gang members might or might not have killed eachother. Who cares?
  
  “Hopefully she will get compensation from the particular police”
  If there is compensation it will be from the taxpayer.
  
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  October 3, 2024 9:50am
- MCōs
  
  I think before she’s likely to get compensation some sort of committee must decide she’s innocent or close to it.
  A not guilty verdict doesn’t cut the mustard
  
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  October 3, 2024 2:15pm
- NeverMindTheBollocks
  
  Gail may or may not have committed murder, but she was certainly no innocent abroad.
  
  “Gail’s early life story: her tough childhood and truncated school career and her drift into a demimonde of party-animal sex workers, drug dealers and gang members, where she accumulated a lengthy rap-sheet for low-level offending”.
  
  http://www.rnz.co.nz/news/in-depth/524780/gail-maney-has-always-said-she-is-not-a-murderer-the-court-of-appeal-is-about-to-decide-if-she-s-telling-the-truth
  
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  October 3, 2024 7:34pm
Steve Otto(North Shore)

More assassination attempts on Trump before the Election?
It’s less than 5 weeks away. Many with TDS actually have a mental problem, so yes it could happen. The SS need to sharpen up. Trump is getting the SS dregs, the unexperienced. There is inside information being leaked – how did Routh know Trump was going to play golf when it was a last minute decision?

https://politicalactionalerts.com/majority-of-voters-see-assassination-attempts-on-trump-as-likely-ahead-of-2024-election/?
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October 3, 2024 9:47am
- imalwaysright
  
  Here’s Killary laying the groundwork.
  https://youtu.be/EJpqOnoUcQM?si=eSsSOuVB-cNcfqU7
  “October election surprise”
  Chilling…
  
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  October 3, 2024 10:24am
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    Hillary is very dangerous. Her hatred of Trump runs deep.
    Not to be trusted at all.
    
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    October 3, 2024 11:46am
- ISeeRed
  
  TDS really is a thing. The number of people that spontaneously start trashing Trump in a non-political convo continues to surprise me. In every case, it’s the same tired old establishment media talking points.
  
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  October 3, 2024 11:05am
Steve Otto(North Shore)

RNC Focuses on Integrity; DNC Focuses on Hiding Corruption.
Officials are not removing non-citizens from the rolls.

https://freedomeagledaily.com/realloadednews/rnc-amps-up-pre-election-lawsuits-one-dem-group-raises-money-to-defend-secretaries-of-state/?
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October 3, 2024 9:52am
Steve Otto(North Shore)

Seconds After Buying Taylor Swift Guitar, This MAGA Fan Makes a Perfect Patriotic Move. He hit Swift right where it hurts!

https://pjnewsletter.com/trump-taylor-swift-guitar/?

https://x.com/TONYxTWO/status/1840565321696002193
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October 3, 2024 10:06am
- David Garrett
  
  Sadly, it appears that Swift has more power in this election than you would think. If someone is really going to let a wealthy, liberal elite pop star dictate how they vote, perhaps they shouldn’t be voting in this election at all
  
  Amen to that.
  
  The Founding Fathers of the USA would be turning in their graves – once they understood what a “pop star” was. Some vapid singer’s opinion influencing people how they should vote…what next?
  
  We already have the absurdity of those on the left saying 16 year olds should be able to have a say in how the country is governed by way of the vote, while simultaneously not being fully criminally responsible until age 21 or even 25.
  
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  October 3, 2024 10:22am
  - 70andstilllearning
    
    ” … absurdity of those on the left saying 16 year olds should be able to have a say in how the country is governed by way of the vote …”
    
    More than should DG – as pdm’s been banging on about the last few days you’ve got a LB council ACTUALLY giving non elected <16 year olds the right to vote (and be paid for the privilege) on council committee resolutions – bloody ridiculous!!
    
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    October 3, 2024 10:52am
    - Steve Otto(North Shore)
      
      Wonder how the Taxpayer’s Union bouncy castle at the Council went?
      
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      October 3, 2024 11:17am
- MCōs
  
  Some fool spent $NZ4000 on a toy guitar and hit it with a hammer
  I suppose that could be patriotic in Afghanistan
  
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  October 3, 2024 10:30am
- Biscuit
  
  I may have got this wrong, Steve, but ‘this MAGA fan’ bought a Swift guitar, for which she will receive some payment, destroyed it and you say that hits her right where it hurts.
  
  Really?
  
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  October 3, 2024 11:03am
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    I am just the messenger.
    
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    October 3, 2024 11:19am
    - Biscuit
      
      Heh heh, Steve.
      
      I doubt young Taylor will much notice the reduction in her ready cash but I would have thought that a non-politico needlessly taking sides in a bitterly-fought race like the US Presidency would almost be self-defeating.
      
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      October 3, 2024 12:34pm
    - RichardX
      
      Maybe Otto should man up and take responsibility for the messages he chooses to repeat but Biscuit misses that Swift was responding to an AI image of Swift posted by Trump implying that Swift supported Trump.
      
      It was not “needless”.
      
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      October 3, 2024 8:03pm
  - David Garrett
    
    Biscuit: We are not always on the same page, but I have to agree with you on this one.
    
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    October 3, 2024 12:58pm
- cmm
  
  I suspect this was some fundraiser. I doubt the $4000 went to Taylor Swift.
  
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  October 3, 2024 11:17am
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    Possibly all done for a video. I could not read the sign on the stage.
    
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    October 3, 2024 11:23am
- NZer In Exile
  
  I really scratch my head at the “Tay Tay” mania. I have zero interest. And I mean ZERO.
  
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  October 3, 2024 10:16pm
I remember when

So Christopher Luxon made a ‘windfall’ profit of $460,000.
Except he didn’t because he had to deduct real estate agents commission, any alteration costs, maintenance, legal fees, etc.
If he then wanted to purchase two replacement properties (greedy bugger thinks the left) any Capital Gains Tax reduces his assets value.
Apart from monetary value the properties have not increased in value.
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October 3, 2024 10:46am
- Taieri
  
  So Christopher Luxon made a ‘windfall’ profit of $460,000.
  ———
  
  Good for him.
  It hasn’t made me any poorer, or any richer for that matter, so why should I care?
  
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  October 3, 2024 1:32pm
- Paulus
  
  Helen Clark we are told had 6 or 7 properties, and does she buy and sell them around – we do not know !
  Jacinda made a Capital Gains Tax profit on her properties sale into to her Auckland multi million house, which we assume she has not yet sold for a huge profit, to a Labour (Lady) Supporter to turn into a shrine.
  
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  October 3, 2024 1:45pm
- mandk
  
  You should also factor in the opportunity cost of buying property instead of some other asset.
  
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  October 3, 2024 2:21pm
I remember when

The Central Leader has a lead article stating that bus lanes have resulted in $91 m in fines in three and a half years.
A cool $26,000,000 per annum.

Must get one of those!
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October 3, 2024 10:57am
Steve Otto(North Shore)

Israel’s Iron Dome. Interesting.

https://www.msn.com/en-nz/news/other/how-israel-s-iron-dome-wiped-out-iran-s-barrage-of-missiles/ss-AA1rB1ZZ?
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October 3, 2024 11:40am
- reason links 2 3 4
  
  Operation True Promise 2: Iran Strikes Again as Missile Barrage Overwhelms Israeli Defenses
  https://simplicius76.substack.com/p/operation-true-promise-2-iran-strikes
  
  Does ‘Iron Dome” intercept them after they hit the target :O ,,,, or am I seeing things https://www.bitchute.com/video/54dbY0TpVvhX
  
  Hopeless …… must be rust holes
  
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  October 3, 2024 2:22pm
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    Video is dated 1991.
    Israel’s Iron Dome became effective 2011.
    
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    October 4, 2024 7:29am
Jack5

American politicians are debating legislation that would force auto makers to include AM radio in electric cars.

AM radio is the poor relation to FM even in NZ, but there are rugged parts of this country that pick up only AM signals. In emergencies it’s the service to count on being accessible.

Tesla cars in NZ didn’t, and perhaps still don’t, have AM radio, and we speculated on Kiwiblog whether this was one of the reasons that suddenly there was talk of abandoning AM broadcasting of NZ Parliament on a channel shared with a religious station.

At that time, the main Chinese brand BYD radios did have AM radio, but were our public servants and politicians wanted Tesla vehicles.

Ford has joined Tesla in leaving AM radio out of its electric cars on the ground the motor interferes with the quality of the signal.

The United States has more than 4,000 AM radio stations.

AM signals carry longer distances and improve in distance and quality at night. Americans away from home can often pick up home AM radio in the evenings. Four time zones in “mainland” USA come into play.

This article from The Conversation explains the AM radio-in-cars campaign:

https://www.niemanlab.org/2024/10/congress-fights-to-keep-am-radio-in-cars/
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October 3, 2024 11:44am
- imalwaysright
  
  Jack
  
  Looks like George Soros is getting in early.
  Either that or there’s an election imminent!
  He’s buying 220 American
  radio stations capable of reaching about 170 million people
  
  https://europeanconservative.com/articles/news/soros-buys-over-200-radio-stations-weeks-before-u-s-election/
  
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  October 3, 2024 2:25pm
- cmm
  
  AM and FM are very different. FM has better fidelity, has more jamming immunity, but is short range, AM has worse fidelity, more prone to jamming but longer range.
  
  One of the few times I listen to radio is going up into the hills fishing. You can get AM quite far back into the hills where FM can’t.
  
  In South Africa during the apartheid era, the African language radio stations were FM only and FM-only radios were cheaper. Some of the speculation behind that (maybe it was true?) is that they only wanted the black population to listen to local radio stations. AM would have meant they could listen to radio from Botswana etc allowing undesirable political messaging.
  
  If they really want people to have long distance comms they should insist on short wave. That would allow you to listen around the world.
  
  I suspect that Tesla etc would rather sell people subscriptions to internet services and people can use that to listen to anything they want.
  
  IMHO the government should keep their nose out and let customers determine what they want.
  
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  October 3, 2024 2:38pm
  - cas
    
    Can’t get FM in the house but strangely can get it in the car in the garage!!
    
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    October 3, 2024 3:09pm
Swifty

Random impertinent question of the day:

I wonder to what extent Whanau Ora ‘navigators’ (funded by the taxpayer) function as paid advocates of the Maori Party while they go about their work with at-risk Maori families?

You know, just subtly if not in fact open advocacy…..

https://whanauora.nz/about-us

https://whanauora.nz/our-people
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October 3, 2024 11:51am
I remember when

Paddy Gower goes on tour: Stuff.
Apparently his performance mixes journalism, stand-up comedy and motivational speaking.

Sadly, my appreciation of the value of money will prevent me from attending.
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October 3, 2024 12:01pm
- Blog-aholic
  
  He could pay me and I’d still be absent.
  
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  October 3, 2024 1:09pm
- Chris Nisbet
  
  Is he any good at any of those things?
  
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  October 3, 2024 2:24pm
  - imalwaysright
    
    Chris
    Maybe he’s hired a journalist , a comedian and a motivational speaker !
    
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    October 3, 2024 2:28pm
    - Jethrod
      
      Darn it….. he ain’t achieved any of those things!
      
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      October 3, 2024 6:12pm
- PurplePen
  
  Comedy!!????
  
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  October 3, 2024 9:18pm
vand

The Israelis are in league with the “jinn” apparently !

Robert Spencer has a bit of fun writing:
Mostafa Karami, who teaches at a Shi’ite Muslim seminary in Iran, said Sunday that the Israelis were able to kill Nasrallah not by the power of any human agency, but only with the aid of jinn, who are better known in the West as genies. Karami didn’t say whether or not the Israelis employed the services of Barbara Eden of “I Dream of Jeannie” for this operation, but as Ms. Eden is now 93 years old, she is unlikely to have participated.

Karami also remained mum about whether or not the Israelis have a secret laboratory full of bottles, from which they summon their trained jinn whenever they need them to carry out special ops. The jinn, according to the Qur’an, are spirit beings that Allah created from “smokeless fire” (55:15). They can be dangerous; the Qur’an says that some of them even try to turn prophets away from their mission: “In this way we have appointed an adversary to every prophet, satans of mankind and jinn who inspire in one another plausible discourse through guile.” (6:112) The “assembly of the jinn” has “seduced many among mankind.” (6:128)
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October 3, 2024 12:21pm
- NZer In Exile
  
  Pretty sure a jinn is a sort of demon (according to ROP beliefs).
  
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  October 3, 2024 10:19pm
  - Ghost
    
    Jinn are shapeshifters, can be good or bad. Aladdin was based on a jinn
    
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    October 3, 2024 10:55pm
Jack5

Phil Shiner, the lawyer who persecuted British war veterans, faces up to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty on Monday to three charges of fraud related to applications for public funding for legal action against the UK Government.

Philip Joseph Shiner, now 67, accused British soldiers of murder and abuse of hundreds of Iraq civilians in the Second Gulf War.

The British Law Society Gazette says the fraud convictions relate to claims made after the alleged killings of Iraqi civilians by British soldiers at the Battle of Danny Boy in May 2004. One of those who died was Hamid Al-Sweady. His uncle, Khuder Al-Sweady, alleged the 19-year-old had been unlawfully killed by British soldiers.

Shiner made legal aid claims of around 200,000 pounds in 2007 for his firm to represent clients, including Khuder Al-Sweady, in an application for judicial review. He failed to disclose to the Legal Services Commission that his firm had engaged in cold-calling clients and making unsolicited approaches to potential clients in Iraq.

He also failed to disclose that he was paying referral fees, which was not permitted as part of gaining a legal aid contract.

Shiner received around three million pounds in the value of the legal aid contract.

The Telegraph describes Shiner as a superstar Left-wing lawyer feted by civil rights groups Liberty and Justice. [Liberty was formerly called the National Council for Civil Liberties. Justice describes itself as a law reform charity.]

The Telegraph says many senior British Army officers believe that Shiner’s approaches helped recruit young Iraqis into Shia militias that launched attacks against British troops.

Shiner was struck off the roll of solicitors in England and Wales in 2017 over the Iraqi allegations.
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October 3, 2024 12:38pm
David Garrett

A sensible judicial decision for a change

https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/350437022/police-officer-who-jabbed-handcuffed-teen-chin-escapes-conviction

Except for awarding the little scrote $1000 for “emotional harm”…what bullshit.
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October 3, 2024 12:54pm
- kowtow
  
  ‘The agreed summary said the teenager swore at police and kept standing up.’
  
  If that was part of the agreed summary then the Crown were wrong to charge the Cop as the scrote was still resisting /obstructing……?
  
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  October 3, 2024 2:04pm
- cmm
  
  Who would want to be a cop?
  
  You’d get the same salary as a truck driver and you could run over little shits like these.
  
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  October 3, 2024 2:22pm
  - Colville
    
    ….yeah but waterblasting the blood off the truck would be a bit of a chore….
    
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    October 3, 2024 4:56pm
Gravelroad

School holidays.
Grandkids here.
Mr 10 (knows everything) and his apprentice Master 7 (getting there).
10 year old has an interest in cars, and in particular, BMW cars.
I found a model BMW car @$3.42 in one of those bins at the supermarket and was quite pleased about it.
Got a Lamborghini for other one who is not so fussy.
However, after an initial buzz at getting the BMW, Mr 10 demanded to swap with his brother because on closer inspection it turned out that the BMW was a model i8 – electric.
Electric cars catch on fire, says Mr 10.
That was the end of that- even if it was a BMW
Electric cars not a very big thing round here.
No idea how he got the idea that they “explode into flames”……….
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October 3, 2024 1:11pm
- Ghost
  
  Smart boy. But since the other car isn’t electric he’s going to have to pay you more tax…..
  
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  October 3, 2024 1:17pm
  - mandk
    
    … not when all cars are RUC’d.
    
    Actually, EVs should be charged more because they are heavier than ICEs and do more damage to road surfaces.
    
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    October 3, 2024 2:16pm
- greybeard
  
  You were overcharged: try the Op-Shop next time, BMWs go for about 50c.
  
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  October 3, 2024 1:38pm
- Hard Cheese
  
  The i8 is a plug-in hybrid, and barely an electric car at that – its electric only range on the EPA cycle is a whopping 24 km. Plug-in hybrids are the most likely to catch fire, followed by internal combustion engines, the least likely being fully battery electric vehicles.
  
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  October 3, 2024 6:36pm
F E Smith

Did anyone else see this?

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/529738/census-2023-first-ever-census-data-on-nz-s-rainbow-communities-released

https://www.stats.govt.nz/news/2023-census-shows-1-in-20-adults-belong-to-aotearoa-new-zealands-lgbtiq-population/

Taking out the bisexual grouping of 78,300, we see some very interesting stats in there, most notably:

1. Homosexuals: 47,631 people, or 1.17% of the population aged 15 and over.

2. Transgender: male – 5,013 and female – 5,736, or .26%, but then there is the ‘something else’ group (listed as “transgender person of another gender”) – 15,348, or .3%. I am not sure how that works, but ok, the high-water mark is .64%.
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October 3, 2024 2:15pm
- fernglas
  
  I presume the “transgender person of another gender” is someone who identifies as being a member of a gender other than male or female, such as non-binary.
  
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  October 3, 2024 5:27pm
- David Garrett
  
  FES: It’s the homosexual number that interests me. They used to proudly proclaim that 10% of males are homosexual. Later it became known that that percentage derived from Kinsey’s studies in the mid 1950’s. Long story short, the percentage was exaggerated because back then most of the people who would talk about their sex lives were male homos. Of course for agressive homosexual advocates, the higher the percentage the more “normal” they can claim to be.
  
  I have seen various percentages over the last 20 years or so, but never as low as 1.17%, so that is most interesting.
  
  Just as an aside, one of my closest gay friends – I have known him for almost 40 years, and he is my childrens’ Godfather – cheerfully describes himself as “abnormal”, used in the correct sense of “deviating from the norm”. He also thinks gay marriage is absurd, and is against gay couples adopting children.
  
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  October 3, 2024 10:19pm
cmm

$1uff proving they are overpriced at a dollar yet once more.

In an article about “smishing” and SMS blasters the provide a photo of an “SMS Blaster”. Except it isn’t. It is a photo of a sine inverter.

They cropped the photo showing the wrong piece of kit.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/350438720/teen-arrested-sophisticated-smishing-scam-using-tech-never-seen-nz

Interest has the original photo from the cops.

The SMSblaster is at the top of the picture.

https://www.interest.co.nz/sites/default/files/2024-10/SMS-blaster-op_orca_2.jpg
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October 3, 2024 2:19pm
imalwaysright

Will Coster or any brass be going to Dargaville to sort out the crime?
This is NZ , not PNG.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/northern-advocate/news/dargaville-likened-to-wild-west-amid-rising-crime-and-lack-of-police/QUUTYMS66ZFENKBNKHAAIM3HWQ/
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October 3, 2024 2:41pm
Jack5

The wharfies are back on the picket lines. This time it’s America’s longshoremen.

Forty-five thousand dock workers on the United States East Coast and Gulf are in their first big strike for nearly half a century. This follows the end of a six-year contract on Tuesday.

The employer group, the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX), says it has offered the watersiders’ International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) a wage increase of nearly 50 per cent.

The White House has weighed in, saying it is time for USMX to negotiate a fair contract for workers.

Reuters reports White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre as saying: “Shippers have made record profits since the pandemic, and, in some cases, have seen profits grow in excess of 800 per cent.”

Jean-Pierre was referring to a boom in shipping demand since the Covid-19 pandemic.

Harold Daggett, the 78-year-old leader of the ILA, is seeking for his union members a 77 per cent pay increase over six years. This would would raise the base hourly rate for dockworkers to $US69 from $US39.
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October 3, 2024 2:52pm
- Eastlander
  
  In 2005 Daggett was described by American federal prosecutors as a Genovese family associate. Fascinating to see a real life Hoffa in this century – like finding a Coelacanth in your fishing net.
  
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  October 3, 2024 3:56pm
- NothingLeft
  
  Ports are being rapidly automated. The number of longshoremen will drop hugely in coming decade.
  
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  October 3, 2024 4:40pm
bennerg

The latest Census data has 887,493 people identified as Maori. To me this gives a false impression when compared to say the Chinese (279,039) and Indian (292,092) populations.

My experience of both Chinese and Indian commuities is that they are predominantly genetically their ethnicity, and they retain their culture, diet, religion, language spoken at home etc.

For the Maori population there are hardly any who can say that have 50% or greater blood, and while there appear to be no published data on the subject, I’d posit the average of that 800K is getting down near 10%. As to diet, well apart from formal celebrations, the European diet, and KFC et all have won that battle. As to language, many proudly state they can speak their language (10-20%), however I see few who do so in everyday life outside the home or marae, without an ideological purpose.

So for considerations of the influence on our society (the purpose of the Census), there needs to be some adjustments done on the data to truly reflect that real situation, to make it useful for that purpose. Maybe NIWA can be employed to do that, as they seem to be good at that job.
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October 3, 2024 2:57pm
- sirknz
  
  But Maori don’t believe in blood quantum, at least not until they are in control then I expect them to have different levels of entitlement based on skin colour and quantum.
  
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  October 3, 2024 5:15pm
- PurplePen
  
  “My experience of both Chinese and Indian commuities is … and they retain their culture, diet, religion, language spoken at home etc.”.
  
  All on their own bat with no funding from the taxpayer.
  
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  October 3, 2024 9:21pm
mogg

A sad state of affairs from the nasty TVNZ news/propaganda outlet.

Christopher Luxon vilified for his wealth and apartment sale – Barry Soper.
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October 3, 2024 3:40pm
Ghost

Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora’s financial position has “continued to deteriorate” in the last quarter, reporting a likely near $1 billion deficit for the last financial year.

Article

In part caused by Covid stock being dumped, thanks Mr Little. Holiday pay, it’s a disgrace that took so long.
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October 3, 2024 3:54pm
- Inandout
  
  Ghost, on ZB there is a constant ad for Pfizer (know your risk) urging people to get the vaccine if you haven’t had covid in the last 6 months. They are obviously still flogging off the stuff.
  
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  October 3, 2024 5:49pm
- NeverMindTheBollocks
  
  Margie Apa is completely useless. I can’t understand why she’s still in the job.
  
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  October 3, 2024 7:49pm
Swifty

I wonder how long it will be until a Green or Labour MP seizes on the 100,000 figure and proposes bringing in legislation to force these filthy capitalist house owners to rent out their houses, or in fact face new taxes if they remain vacant.

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/529755/ghost-houses-100-000-dwellings-reported-empty-in-latest-census
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October 3, 2024 4:43pm
- fernglas
  
  The concept of taxing individuals on income foregone is not unknown. Spain, for example, imposes a tax on homes owned by non-residents on the basis that they are not being fully occupied and therefore taxable rental income is being foregone. Although Spain doesn’t have a housing shortage, other countries which do impose a similar type of tax. It can happen in other circumstances where, for example, a loan between family members is made at a below-market interest rate. That is the reason why such loans in New Zealand are usually expressed as being repayable on demand; if there is no fixed term of the loan, the interest foregone cannot be ascertained. Gareth Morgan’s party took it further, proposing a tax on the imputed rental value of an owner occupied home as happens in the Netherlands. So such a move would not be unprecedented. The number of unoccupied houses is more likely to provide further ammo for those who would tax capital gains on the basis that people would be unlikely to be leaving their homes vacant if they were not expecting to make a capital gain exceeding the value of any return they could get through taxable investments such as interest or dividends. And the third aspect of it is that NZ has a housing shortage and therefore there may be social utility in incentivising owners of vacant properties to rent them. That can be done by taxing income foregone, imposing a vacancy tax such as occurs in parts of France, or increasing local council rates (France and parts of the UK). So whichever end of the political spectrum you look at it from, the scenario you have outlined has precedent.
  
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  October 3, 2024 5:21pm
  - artemisia
    
    Trademe’s July rental price index report – Rental listings skyrocket as prices fall, again
    
    Housing shortage? Certainly a shortage for tenants landlords don’t want.
    
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    October 3, 2024 5:31pm
Ra Henare

Is democracy all it’s cracked up to be?

Personally, I think modern democracy is a joke.
Voting is done on personalities, not policies.
ego
Jacinda Ardern.
Zelensky and many others.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/QDbd0KyFtSw
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October 3, 2024 5:35pm
- NothingLeft
  
  Democracy is a terrible system of govt, except in comparison to every other system of govt.
  
  It’s greatest failure in modern times is govts pandering to groups that get the bulk of their income from taxes, to buy their votes. That will inevitably dooms us to repressive Venezuelan type vote-yourself-rich economic failure.
  
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  October 3, 2024 7:23pm
NeverMindTheBollocks

Ex Minister in Singapore gets prison time for taking bribes.

Sounds just like Keir Starmer. Apart from the prison bit.

http://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0e1z00vvjlo
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October 3, 2024 8:10pm
- NZer In Exile
  
  Was listening to a Triggernometry podcast today. Interviewed was UK historian Dr David Starkey. He believes Starmer will turn the UK into an economic mess like Argentina was and will be booted rather quickly.
  
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  October 3, 2024 10:32pm
  - AitchW
    
    Like Jacinda did here?
    
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    October 4, 2024 4:23pm

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Highlights

Target achieved II
Good progress on attendance
Health Target 5 – elective treatments
Health Target 4 – Specialist appointments

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