About
Contact
Advertise

Facebook
Twitter

January 24, 2025 8:00am by Kokila Patel

General Debate 24 January 2025

Like this:

Like Loading...

Email
Facebook
Twitter
Comment347

Uncategorized
General Debate

Comments (347)

Login to comment or vote

NeverMindTheBollocks

I had to laugh. Going up The Terrace, a wiry, bearded young man energetically pumping his e-cargo bike pedals. Behind him sat serenely his wife, looking for all the world like a Buddha in florals.

One of them has achieved a life goal, though it wasn’t clear which one.
25 0
Log in to Reply
Report
January 24, 2025 8:01am
Grunter

Seymour pushing for asset sales. The central Govt owns $570 billion of stuff, all of it outside of its zone of competency. Most of it getting zero or negative returns.

Sell the lot, pay down the debt, create a retirement scheme for each taxpayer (own account with ability to self direct).

Last point, if any government proposed to spend $570 billion on farms, tv channels, radio stations, airlines and shares in energy companies everyone would be up in arms.

Sell, sell, sell…..!!!
39 2
Log in to Reply
Report
January 24, 2025 8:10am
- Quail
  
  If it was Luxon supporting Seymour’s call great.
  Sadly the Nats appear to have trouble supporting ACT ‘s excellent ideas,or it seems any ideas.
  
  23 2
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 24, 2025 10:37am
- thirteenstars
  
  This country has a strange, hmm, fetish, for what Winston Peters likes to call “strategic assets”, a strange notion which smacks of things like military bases.
  
  The belief seems to be that the government *should* own many things and that to sell them is akin to putting the family silver up for auction. It’s a bizarre way to look at the world and in our current deep mire a very silly one, too.
  
  Luxon has ruled out asset sales. NZF won’t have a bar of it, and the opposition would prefer we buy even more crap we don’t need.
  
  Yes, Kiwis are their own worst enemies.
  
  29 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 24, 2025 10:37am
  - Hard Cheese
    
    Yep, exhibit #1 is some of the financial illiterates on Auckland council who voted against selling the Auckland Airport shares because they were an asset and they shouldn’t sell a valuable asset. Never mind the council was paying interest on its mountain of debt and the shares weren’t paying a dividend.
    
    17 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 24, 2025 1:23pm
- G the giant from Dunedin
  
  Just the sort of bullshit scaring the centre away, he is as Lao saying quick privatise health
  
  3 13
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 24, 2025 10:43am
  - Morgan H
    
    This is where we will see if that’s true or not. Act is offering a vision of NZ heavily based on privatisation. They are the only party offering it. Act is doing well in the polls right now. They’re the 3rd biggest party in some polls. If they don’t poll above 20 then that means NZ doesn’t want privatisation and instead want “the centre”.
    
    5 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 24, 2025 3:25pm
    - Jack5
      
      To become more than minor coalition partners, don’t ACT and NZ First need a swag of electorate seats?
      
      Are they making progress with this, especially outside Auckland?
      
      5 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 24, 2025 4:49pm
- Hard Cheese
  
  Assuming they could get $570 billion for the assets in question, what’s wrong with this idea? If everyone was given a decent chunk of cash in a truly untouchable-until-65 retirement fund, surely it would cut out a lot of the future spending on NZ Super payments
  
  14 2
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 24, 2025 10:57am
  - kiwimike
    
    and for those already 65, they’d get it immediately !
    
    8 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 24, 2025 12:41pm
- kiwimike
  
  I like the individual retirement schemes for each nett taxpayer…..
  
  9 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 24, 2025 12:40pm
- Pope Punctilious II
  
  Privatization isn’t always a good idea. Decisions about privatization should always be based on careful consideration of the evidence, and of likely 2nd and 3rd order consequences – not on ideology. And yes there is such a thing as a strategic asset – what a shame Marsden Point isn’t still in public hands.
  
  However politically convenient asset sales may be for paying off debts within a 3-yr term, they’re not a sustainable way of balancing the books. Instead, make sustainable reductions in government spending by getting rid of useless “demographic” ministries, and culling bureaucrats. Bureaucrats and comm, not front-line health or education staff.
  
  8 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 24, 2025 12:57pm
  - pdm
    
    Pope – Lancorp is a prime example of something that the Government should have sold 50 years ago.
    
    TVNZ, Kiwi Rail, Kiwibank and NZ Post are others.
    
    11 2
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 24, 2025 1:39pm
    - Pope Punctilious II
      
      I don’t know anything about Lancorp. I agree TVNZ is a write-off. In principle I’m in favour of a public broadcaster, but with a strict code of balance and political neutrality – which ain’t going to happen while our institutions remain in the thrall of “treaty principles” and DEI. What are your arguments for privatizing rail, Kiwibank and NZ Post? Evidence? Rail’s been privatized once before – how did that go?
      
      4 2
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 24, 2025 1:43pm
      - Morgan H
        
        One of the problems with TVNZ is it being separate from NZ On Air. A model similar to the BBC works. Soft power diplomacy in action. Making content which showcases our country, values, and Kiwi culture to the world. We have brilliant directors like Sir Peter Jackson. We would have shows and films that are the envy of the world.
        
        2 0
        Report
        January 24, 2025 3:13pm
  - Grunter
    
    Why is Marsden point strategic? Please specifically explain?
    
    2 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 24, 2025 1:59pm
    - NeverMindTheBollocks
      
      Ideally, our oil refinery would be able to refine our own oil. That was not the case, however.
      
      1 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 24, 2025 6:59pm
peterwn

A British teenager who was 17 when he killed three young girls has been sentenced to a minimum of 52 years in prison and is considered unlikely to be ever released. AFAIK he could be released in due course ‘at His Majesty’s pleasure’ ie at the Home Secretary’s discretion. It seems a life without parole sentence is not available for youth offenders in the UK. I wonder what sentence a NZ court would have imposed in similar circumstances – 5 years?
57 0
Log in to Reply
Report
January 24, 2025 8:14am
- pdm
  
  5 years, serve about 2 then released on home detention for 6 months.
  
  Back on the streets in less than 3 years.
  
  It is past time we hardened up with our sentencing.
  
  57 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 24, 2025 8:19am
  - sirknz
    
    Why so harsh? You forgot to factor in the discounts for a tough upbringing, drug use, being yelled at by a white teacher at primary school for being an antisocial shit, and an undiagnosed learning disability that means they are unable to comprehend why stabbing people is bad.
    
    That would reduce the 5 years to 23 months which would make them eligible for home detention straight away.
    
    27 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 24, 2025 8:34am
  - Gravelroad
    
    In NZ it seems the criminal all too soon becomes the primary victim.
    The focus of the judiciary is on why the killer did what they did, what can be done to help them turn their lives around and how the law can be manipulated or interpreted to achieve the best outcome for the defendant.
    This needs a reset.
    
    52 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 24, 2025 8:43am
- Cassandra
  
  See my comment below on Headhunter Kevin Grey. 38 months for a vicious assault, theft and firearm offence, with a long criminal record.
  
  38 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 24, 2025 8:48am
  - Scooter
    
    Also he attacked a random stranger, why did he not get a longer sentence for that alone?
    
    25 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 24, 2025 9:02am
  - Swifty
    
    He and his mate inflicted a viscous beating and kicking on an innocent stranger, totally unprovoked, and his missus, and which led to hospitalisation and which will take years for that couple to get over.
    
    He could have killed that bloke.
    
    This random street-thuggery must be denounced in much, much stronger terms – that he and his mate are not locked away for, in my view, six or eight years, just mystifies me.
    
    Given his history of recidivism, at the very least others will be spared his violent rages while he is locked away.
    
    36 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 24, 2025 9:12am
    - john1234
      
      Seems normal these days for thugs to not only coward punch, but to then kick and stomp the victim’s head once they are completely defenseless on the ground.
      This should attract a charge of attempted murder.
      
      21 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 24, 2025 10:11am
      - Keith White
        
        And those victims almost all have a life sentence of diminished enjoyment of life, severely curtailed ability to earn, sustained and recurrent pain, problems with trust, and most if not all five senses permanently affected.
        
        What we really need in NZ is a hanging judge for the worst cases. Not a virtue-signalling judge.
        
        7 1
        Report
        January 24, 2025 4:21pm
    - kiwimike
      
      sorry at least 10yrs no parole.
      
      9 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 24, 2025 12:43pm
    - Paulus
      
      Can’t we have out own form of 501 please – I’m sure we can find somewhere ?
      
      6 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 24, 2025 1:45pm
  - kevn
    
    Cass… Early settler specialties.
    
    8 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 24, 2025 10:03am
  - Hugh Jarse
    
    Yes but under current judicial strategies Grey is the true victim
    
    15 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 24, 2025 10:06am
- lastmanstanding
  
  One aspect of US governance I like is the ability of the incoming President to ensure the Civil Service is staffed by people with the will to implement policies and strategies.
  Not so in NZ. Here the Civil Service can obstruct and thwart the Government as much as it likes without repurcusions. Shane Reiti is the latest example.
  Whilst 50 years the Civil Service may have been impartial the March through the Institutions has ensured it is now hard Left. I suspect at least 80% of senior Civil Servants vote either Maori Party ( in the case of the Maori Affairs Dept 100%. I dont use foreign words), Greens or Labour.
  While Sir Brian Roche is well intentioned he will be unable to make any significant changes. One man cannot defeat an army.
  Until there is root and branch reform only the Left will be able to get their policies and strategies implemented which is one reason I believe our society has moved Left over the past 50 years.
  
  38 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 24, 2025 9:13am
  - kowtow
    
    The simple fact is they are willfully , deliberately acting unconstitutionally .
    
    They should be fired on that account.
    
    Same with the activist judges who have placed themselves above parliament( that’s unconstitutional ) , pity they can’t be fired . But they can be “spoken” to.
    There are many ways to skin a cat . Pity Luxon’s not the man for the job.
    
    30 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 24, 2025 9:35am
  - PurplePen
    
    FWIW, high praise for no use of artificially inserted foreign words.
    
    7 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 24, 2025 11:28am
  - PurplePen
    
    I’d like to see legislation that enables any govt in X months following an election to be able to fire at will. Certainly at the CE level but maybe also the CE direct reports.
    
    9 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 24, 2025 11:30am
- Eastlander
  
  The British judicial system postures and tries to look tough with high-profile cases like this one or Lucy Letby. The same thing happened in New Zealand with Tarrant.
  
  9 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 24, 2025 10:28am
  - Philview
    
    The Letby case looks very suspect. The defence called no expert witnesses during the trial but many people who are experts are saying the prosecution case was deeply flawed. The new defence team have a very good case for a retrial but posturing top judges aren’t interested.
    
    8 2
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 24, 2025 1:00pm
- G152
  
  Bring back the death penalty for murderers
  
  8 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 24, 2025 10:44am
  - kiwimike
    
    and Treason…..
    
    4 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 24, 2025 12:45pm
- Philview
  
  The NZ Justice system is weird. There are people rotting in jail from 40 years ago and people getting 5 years today for worse crimes.
  
  13 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 24, 2025 12:53pm
Scooter

Chris Luxon’s State of the Nation speech was all about growing the economy but unsurprisingly he didn’t address the elephant in the room, Maori (albeit some but mainly activists and elitists) and their influence and issues that are holding NZ back. Listen to Michael Laws on the Platform as to an example where cultural views of some Maori say waters should not mix and how that is impacting the cost for councils etc.
If Luxon won’t address this then how can he expect to grow the economy and take NZ forward?

https://theplatform.kiwi/podcasts/episode/michael-laws-on-cultural-religious-costs
41 0
Log in to Reply
Report
January 24, 2025 8:20am
- Don Beckett
  
  Agreed. Nothing will happen with O/S investment as long as there is uncertainty WRT long term guarentees, so that an incoming changed government or a bunch of racist activists (read Maori Party & their sychphants) cannot cancel out of hand, as Jacinda did to oil & gas.
  Luxon is too wet – he hasn’t got the gonads to do it.
  
  21 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 24, 2025 10:54am
  - kiwimike
    
    let’s be clear, Luxon is a product of his backers in the party.
    So National is too wet is surely the correct term.
    
    11 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 24, 2025 12:47pm
Bridgenag

🚨 BREAKING NEWS 🚨 FDA KNEW COVID JABS WERE DEADLY & INEFFECTIVE IN EARLY 2022

From comments
“Of course, they knew of the terrible harm and deaths these jabs would bring about. The FDA wanted the data kept secret for 75 years….a ‘wonderful way to end a ‘pandemic’….the ‘safe and effective’ jabs. Surely they’d want that ‘miracle of science’ emblazoned for time immemorial. The payments/bribes distributed across the globe were/are colossal. “

ICAN Acquires Critical FDA Safety Reports Concerning COVID-19 Vaccines After Years of Litigation
https://open.substack.com/pub/metatron/p/breaking-news-fda-knew-covid-jabs?r=1aj1bv&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=email

[Mod – fixed link]
44 4
Log in to Reply
Report
January 24, 2025 8:20am
- Benedict Yu
  
  Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
  I see you are still at it. 😀 I will be having covid vaccine shot number 8 on 17 March, along with the annual flu shot.
  
  14 52
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 24, 2025 8:26am
  - NoFax
    
    Has Fauci been pardoned for unknown crimes not given you any pause for doubt? Genuine question.
    
    27 2
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 24, 2025 8:31am
    - septic skeptic
      
      I think this is most likely to be cover for lying to congress about his role in the gain of function research that likely caused the pandemic. Not so much the vaccines.
      
      11 2
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 24, 2025 10:18am
      - imalwaysright
        
        Two sides of the same coin. Pun intended.
        
        5 0
        Report
        January 24, 2025 1:28pm
  - peterwn
    
    Same here (but I have lost count).
    
    10 30
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 24, 2025 8:31am
  - wsk12345
    
    You do you. I don’t care if you have 50 jabs. (Though I resent paying for it). The bit I don’t under is why. I’m unvaxxed and it was a mild cold. I continued to walk for hours every day. My unvaxxed 80+ yo Parents had even less symptoms than me. It may have been bad at the beginning with the early strains but now? What are you scared of?
    
    33 3
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 24, 2025 8:35am
  - Grunter
    
    Go for it, your choice.
    
    Just so long as ‘THEY’ don’t make it mandatory again!
    
    23 2
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 24, 2025 8:36am
  - cmm
    
    You’re welcome to it BY. Do whatever floats your boat.
    Like DEI, just don’t force it down my throat (or into my arm).
    
    65 6
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 24, 2025 8:36am
    - MCōs
      
      And vice versa
      
      5 28
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 24, 2025 9:27am
      - cmm
        
        How is anyone forcing NOT taking the vax down anyone’s throat?
        
        Show me any government department spreading the message that vax is bad.
        Show me any government department or corporation firing people for taking the vax.
        
        24 2
        Report
        January 24, 2025 9:32am
      - MCōs
        
        Benedict has given no more indication that he’s going to force you to be vaccinated than you claim you’re not going to force him not to be vaccinated.
        
        4 19
        Report
        January 24, 2025 9:45am
      - westernScientist
        
        cmm: How is anyone forcing NOT taking the vax down anyone’s throat?
        The restrictions Ivermectin would be an example from covid, but there are countless others where in NZ we are not legally aloud to use drugs which are used in other countries because our bureaucracy has not ‘approved’ them – i assume the same would be true for some vaccines.
        
        11 1
        Report
        January 24, 2025 11:50am
    - Harro104
      
      A genuine qs for the KB anti vaxxers, do you believe in heard immunity and the benefits of getting high rates for kids vaccines like MMR or Polio? Or does the concern extend to all vaccines?
      
      2 11
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 24, 2025 10:09am
      - Don Beckett
        
        Well Harro – there are actually very few “anti vaxxers” on KB, but there are those who refused the Jacinda ispired mandate that tried to force the “vaxxine” on everyone, and confisctaed any other drug that proved useful – Ivermectin, hydroxychloroquine etc.
        There are a very few that may think all vaccines are bad, but mostly it’s the Covid “vaccine” – which is not actually a vaccine. And just because the WHO etc. changed the meaning of Vaccine, that does not make it so.
        
        17 2
        Report
        January 24, 2025 12:48pm
      - sirknz
        
        I take it you have had your whooping cough booster then.
        
        If you haven’t, can you explain why you’re an anti-vaxxer too…
        
        2 3
        Report
        January 24, 2025 1:50pm
      - Don Beckett
        
        It is necessary for only children to get the vaccine. It is not necessary for older folk to get it – unless perhaps they are in the same household as children or pregnant mums. But at 82, and not in any of those circumstances I don’t need to have it.
        Actually, I could have caught it from babies or children over the years, but ithas never been an issue.
        What about you ?……….waiting…..waiting.
        
        7 0
        Report
        January 24, 2025 3:13pm
    - Mod88
      
      Beware the Gene Technology Bill, forcing it down your throat/into your arm is precisely what is in there.
      
      10 2
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 24, 2025 10:13am
      - kiwimike
        
        why does the GTB have a Maori advisory group ?
        
        I thought the coalition was going to stop this ?
        
        12 0
        Report
        January 24, 2025 12:51pm
  - 70andstilllearning
    
    Good luck with your russian roulette BY – 2nd chamber got me – but keep trying ….
    
    36 8
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 24, 2025 8:55am
  - Ross Bayer
    
    BY
    I joined the community under my own name and in response to many recent posts you have made on this subject.
    Here is my detailed response
    I feel that it is not appropriate to label those who hold a different point of view than you might on this issue and I would point out that labelling was a tactic used by the previous regime (AKA the labour government) when anyone raised a genuine concern about the gene therapy that was forced upon the population.
    
    It is a fact that the population was coerced into accepting a product that was of no benefit to anyone under 50 and this sets out a pattern of misinformation by the previous regime that provides the basis for then questioning any rationale that was put forward for the gene therapy products (AKA the injectables).
    
    In previous posts you described a particular podcaster as causing the death of many people whereas I have observed the individual named shift from a strong supporter of the gene therapy products to a very concerned man as he observed and had on his show many people who were severely injured by these products.
    
    Some facts might help
    
    Covid is a lab developed organism which has damaged many millions of people around the world and was most likely funded by NIH through the Eco-health alliance
    
    When JA stated that the Gene Therapy injections would stop you getting Covid becoming sick or dying that was an untrue statement
    
    When JA publicly stated no-one would lose their job for not being injected this was subsequently proven to be untruthful
    
    When governments around the world refused to accept recent a covid infection as providing protection from reinfection stating that you still needed to be injected this was egregious, unscientific and exposed to the world that this was a scam
    
    Over 10,000 health professionals were granted an exemption which was concealed from the public at the time
    
    When A Blomfield said Ivermectin was a horse paste he was deliberately spreading misinformation
    
    The ARR of the common gene therapy (in NZ) product demonstrated in the trial was less than 1%
    
    The Oxford product was withdrawn from sale due to safety issues
    
    The Spike protein produced by the injectables does not stay in the arm or disappear in hours as was claimed by the supplier
    
    Many ( I think the Aus number is 80) people in NZ and Australia under 50 died from the injectables and their risk from Covid was negligible. High risk no benefit
    
    The health authorities around the world refuse to release patient data which would prove the safety of the product or maybe otherwise. This is a red flag
    
    Now for my personal comments. My journey on this matter has led me to review hundreds of actual peer reviewed scientific papers and in the early days I reviewed the UK public health data every week which was recording deaths by age and from which I could calculate the Infection fatality rate by age group.
    I also reviewed many of the documents provided by the Biotech company in their application to the FDA including the original trial report. This report has subsequently been scientifically reviewed and shown to have a Serious Adverse Event ration of 1 in 800
    
    I rely on information from some of the worlds smartest scientific and legal brains people such as Jay Bhattacharya, Aseem Malhotra, Robert Barnes, Robert Malone, Pierre Kory, Angus Dalgleish, Norman Fenton, Peter McCullough, David Drew, Edward Dowd and many others
    
    There was a longitudinal household study done by Oxford University just after introduction of the gene therapy products and this showed no measurable difference in infection or transmission between injected and non-injected. I cannot find a link which is to be expected.
    From these sources and many podcasts, I have formed the view that these products are not effective in preventing infection or transmission and pose a risk to health both from short term effects and possible long-term effects.
    
    That these products do not prevent infection or transmission with only a 1% risk reduction makes them worthless.
    The only immunity provided was for the manufacturer and this is another red flag
    
    There was no justification for coercing children to inject these and at the time this made me very angry given the known risk from these products and the very low risk from Covid for this group. This policy by the regime was not supported by the advisory group in NZ.
    Sadly there are many unfavourable comments from the proponents about those who raise concerns and this is not acceptable.
    
    I continue to be troubled by both the comments from yourself others and the unwillingness consider that those of us that have not accepted the narrative are somehow ill-informed when in fact my decision is based on the knowledge of intelligent articulate people who governments have continued to shame and this is creating a division in society.
    Personally I will continue the good work of informing people of the facts and over time those who opposed this program will prevail
    
    59 3
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 24, 2025 9:05am
    - Bridgenag
      
      Thank you Ross Great post.
      
      28 2
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 24, 2025 9:46am
    - imalwaysright
      
      “The only immunity provided was for the manufacturer…”
      
      Spot on.
      
      13 1
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 24, 2025 10:13am
    - Grunter
      
      That is a very well written post Ross. Thank you.
      
      13 3
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 24, 2025 10:37am
    - wsk12345
      
      100% everything you said.
      
      The fearmongering and misinformation of the labour government has a long tail. What I can’t understand is that everyone has seen covid now – if not in Themselves then a friend, neighbour or workmate. It’s clearly a nothing for a healthy person. How does that not overcome the indoctrination?
      
      14 1
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 24, 2025 11:01am
    - JackRabbit
      
      Thank you Ross.
      
      11 2
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 24, 2025 11:33am
    - kiwimike
      
      It is a pity that the whole coalition cannot state your article is correct Ross.
      
      9 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 24, 2025 12:56pm
  - imalwaysright
    
    Why eight?
    Did the first seven not work?
    
    34 3
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 24, 2025 9:10am
  - Damocles11
    
    I’ve never had the flu shot, and I’ve never had the flu in the past 2 decades. I remember when I last had it, it was before my son was born and he is 20 now.
    I’m not going to any more Covid shots. The last one I had was the ‘booster’ but I don’t think anyone gives too much of a hoot about the virus itself these days. The whole thing has died down since the heyday of the Covid panic, now and then I am vaguely aware that somebody on the periphery of my life has purportedly got it, but in the workplace I’m at, which has a large workforce, I can’t remember the last time I heard that somebody here had it. The virus itself is fading from importance, only the debate over the vaccine/s remains.
    
    22 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 24, 2025 9:13am
    - pdm
      
      We have a daughter (52) with Cervical Cancer so will have the next booster for her protection.
      
      8 7
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 24, 2025 9:46am
      - john1234
        
        Bugger – I hope she recovers well.
        
        9 0
        Report
        January 24, 2025 10:12am
      - Ghost
        
        Interesting research out of south korea where they have been able to turn cancer cells back into healthy cells. Also from the $500 billon Ai investment it ever takes off, seems to be doubt they have the financial ability. They hope to use Ai to develop individual cancer mrna vaccines when a person is diagnosed.
        
        4 0
        Report
        January 24, 2025 10:20am
      - wsk12345
        
        Have it for yourself if you’re a believer but please stop parroting the nonsense that you are doing it for granny or anyone else. Even the true believers have mostly moved on from that idea!!!
        
        11 2
        Report
        January 24, 2025 11:03am
      - imalwaysright
        
        Sad about your daughter, but how does your getting a jab benefit her?
        
        5 0
        Report
        January 24, 2025 1:35pm
  - Steve Otto N Shore
    
    Bridgnag is not still at it BY. The item is from ICAN.
    
    Maybe you are just lucky and have received lying Ardern’s saline vaccine. She was “safe and effective” gullible.
    
    18 4
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 24, 2025 9:19am
  - Grunter
    
    And remember – it is NOT a vaccine. Call it a “shot” just like you did with “flu shot”
    
    18 3
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 24, 2025 9:41am
    - imalwaysright
      
      Correct, it was designated as a vaccine to bypass more stringent regulations.
      
      9 2
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 24, 2025 10:15am
    - Don Beckett
      
      Yes, Covid is now endemic in society & throughout the world. I know of a number of people who have recently had it, some jabbed, some not – but in all cases the effects have been like a cold or the ‘flu – which Covid is.
      
      7 1
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 24, 2025 11:04am
  - Scooter
    
    Bene, so you really think pumping all that genetically modified stuff into your body is a good thing? I’d rather trust my own body to fight whatever cold variant comes along, rather than try something they whipped up in a Petri dish without the proper years of testing.
    
    12 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 24, 2025 10:37am
  - Scooter
    
    https://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/objects-and-stories/medicine/thalidomide#:~:text=Thalidomide%20is%20a%20compound%20that,morning%20sickness%20in%20pregnant%20people.
    
    2 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 24, 2025 10:48am
  - kowtow
    
    March 17?
    
    Have a Guinness shot or twelve.
    
    5 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 24, 2025 11:15am
    - imalwaysright
      
      Vitamin G
      
      Plus Guinness didn’t have to get the government to give them secret legal immunity from prosecution before they sold it.
      
      5 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 24, 2025 1:36pm
  - Ra Henare
    
    Well done Bene.
    You are exercising your freedom of choice.
    It is not the choice of many(including me)
    
    But that is the outcome from a free society.
    
    Having a “”poke”” at others that dont share your deciding is a little bit juvenile, don’t you think?
    
    8 2
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 24, 2025 1:40pm
  - Keith White
    
    So since the previous 7 shots aren’t keeping you safe, why will the 8th? No vaccine in history has ever needed so many shots in such a short time to be ‘effective’…
    
    9 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 24, 2025 4:23pm
- newview
  
  As of 2023 13 billion covid doses have been administered worldwide. I’ll take my chances and keep my vaccinations up with those stats thanks.
  
  10 24
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 24, 2025 8:51am
  - Anthony Melchett
    
    But what’s the point?
    
    The latest strain of Covid is literally the mildest cold you can get and besides, you are taking a potion designed for the first strain?
    
    Risk reward anyone?
    
    22 3
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 24, 2025 8:55am
    - imalwaysright
      
      “But what’s the point?”
      
      The point seems to be that Newview is happy for the recipients of the 13 billion doses to do his thinking for him/her.
      
      7 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 24, 2025 1:42pm
  - john1234
    
    I can’t be bothered with the COVID vax. The infection hasn’t been bad partly because you build a degree of natural immunity. No worse than a cold for me.
    The flu on the other hand – people are finding it nasty and debilitating. Moreover the flu vaccine actually works for me – have not caught it in years. In fact I can’t even remember last time.
    
    10 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 24, 2025 9:00am
    - wsk12345
      
      I’ve never had the flu jab and also not had a flu in 25 years. It’s not that common if you are healthy and not old. Also you get a bit of immunity constantly by being exposed to small doses in the real world which keeps your immunity up.
      
      7 1
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 24, 2025 11:05am
  - cmm
    
    Is that the same argument as:
    “Eat shit – 500 billion flies can’t be wrong”?
    
    But do whatever you want.
    
    35 7
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 24, 2025 9:08am
    - imalwaysright
      
      Looks like 500 billion flies are right.
      Might be better off eating shit, apparently it helps the bacteria in the gut.
      https://www.nature.com/articles/nature.2013.13885
      
      11 5
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 24, 2025 9:15am
    - Lance
      
      Quality debating and deep intellectual input from cmm
      //
      
      5 6
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 24, 2025 9:26am
      - cmm
        
        My point was that the appeal to majority argument is fundamentally broken.
        
        “13 billion doses, so it must be good” is poor argument.
        
        There are about 5 trillion cigarettes consumed annually (about 2 thosand per vax dose), so that means cigarettes mush be 2 thousand times better for you than the vax. Right?
        
        Numbers don’t lie!
        
        21 4
        Report
        January 24, 2025 9:54am
      - kowtow
        
        Well Lance , cmm is one of the better posters here and this site would be the poorer w/o him.
        
        I don’t agree with 100% of his contributions , that would be weird , but I really do appreciate them.
        
        17 1
        Report
        January 24, 2025 10:00am
      - JackRabbit
        
        @cmm
        
        It is tragic, but many people do not understand science, the scientific method, nor do they understand the power of money.
        
        From all the data and the science, taking the vaccine is Russian Roulette.
        
        “No it’s not a risk, I’ve never shot myself. And the show promoters pay me $20k per act. It’s all good. Just a few more runs and I’ll be a millionaire. You are such an anti-showman nutter.”
        
        5 1
        Report
        January 24, 2025 11:54am
    - newview
      
      My first response was to Bridgenag and her never ending need to inform this forum of every anti covid report that comes out. IMO statistically there is no reason not to have the vaccine. I understand that the flu is far more dangerous now and has killed a young woman we know and made her husband critically ill. The COVID vaccine will end up being incorporated with the flu vaccine I am assuming and I have no problem with that. On this forum I don’t feel the need to bang on about pro vaccine info but choose to try and give some balance to the negative COVID arguments.
      
      5 15
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 24, 2025 10:53am
      - Don Beckett
        
        We all have a point of view, so we all will continue to say what we think on this forum.
        If you don’t like it, you can butt out.
        
        11 4
        Report
        January 24, 2025 11:07am
      - Grunter
        
        I’m generally ‘pro-vaccine’.
        
        BUT – I am very ‘anti-COVID-Jab’. Even Pfizer’s own papers (yes I’ve read them) show it is not “safe & effective”. Of course they can’t be sued as they have legal immunity (the only real immunity this drug generated).
        
        12 1
        Report
        January 24, 2025 11:23am
      - newview
        
        Like wise Don.
        
        4 2
        Report
        January 24, 2025 11:56am
      - Ghost
        
        The vaccine story is over done, day after day. Even clan knew it was time to move on from it here.
        
        4 4
        Report
        January 24, 2025 12:01pm
      - JackRabbit
        
        The COVID vaccine will end up being incorporated with the flu vaccine I am assuming and I have no problem with that.
        
        The Rat Tests were testing for the flu, not Covid so that makes sense, from a get rich quick point of view for the vaccine companies.
        
        Too bad you’ve never had deep and meaningful conversations with medical professionals. Of the deep and meaningful conversations I’ve had with medical professionals since 2020, over 90% state the vaccine does not work, and is dangerous, the other 10% were on the fence but remaining cautious, and therefore applied the precautionary principle.
        
        The rest of the medical professionals, refused to engage, have a deep and meaningful conversation, could not get into specifics, and were ignorant of the scientific method. Most, if you asked for specifics, would get simply get angry, or go into a rage, or use the “its a conspiracy theory” response.
        
        The measure of a scientist(s) is their ability to understand the science and clearly and calmly be able to communicate that science, but also welcome debate instead of attacking rational queries.
        
        6 2
        Report
        January 24, 2025 12:06pm
- Yvette
  
  Benedict Yu jab (click) Unptick : Bridgenag jab Downtick
  Check score at the end of the day
  
  10 14
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 24, 2025 9:02am
  - Bridgenag
    
    Sad that even when FACTS are presented the brain washing/conditioning is so strong that some brains are unable to adjust. This is not a competition Yvette.
    
    15 5
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 24, 2025 9:50am
    - cmm
      
      Nobody can make an informed decision because we have been denied the information to make a decision by those with the duty to provide it.
      
      I agree, it isn’t a right or wrong thing.
      
      Let people make their own choices. If BY wants the jab then let him. If I was in a very high risk category, with the information available, I might make the same decision as he has.
      
      But also let the rest of us make the decisions we make without sanctions.
      
      20 3
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 24, 2025 10:00am
      - JackRabbit
        
        If I was in a very high risk category, with the information available, I might make the same decision as he has.
        
        “…information available” – media “sole source of truth narrative” or the actual information / science.
        
        By all accounts the jab took the lives of different demographics. But those that were high risk as a result co-morbidities, or had compromised immune systems, or were old, were easily tipped over the edge into death.
        
        From my research, there were no groups of people that benefited from the jab. Unless you count those people either in their twilight years or living alone with nothing to live for, and had a death wish anyway.
        
        4 0
        Report
        January 24, 2025 1:57pm
    - Greenheart
      
      Not a very pleasant response, Bridgenag. I am fascinated by the hysterical response by the anti vaccine brigade when anyone dares take the covid vaccine. I for one will continue to take the jab and await the outpouring of hatred that will provoke.
      
      6 20
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 24, 2025 10:07am
      - imalwaysright
        
        “I for one will continue to take the jab and await the outpouring of hatred that will provoke…”
        
        I haven’t seen anyone here express hatred to people who take the jab.
        I’ve seen disagreement and discussion. No hatred.
        
        12 2
        Report
        January 24, 2025 10:24am
      - JackRabbit
        
        “I am fascinated by the hysterical response by the anti vaccine brigade when anyone dares take the covid vaccine.”
        
        They are not anti-vaxxers, just anti this current vax.
        
        Just like you are probably not an anti-drinker.
        
        If you do not approve of people tanking up on alcohol, drinking excess beer or taking shots of whiskey, and then driving ‘out of their tree’, it does not make you an anti-drinker.
        
        That is the comparison.
        
        11 1
        Report
        January 24, 2025 11:48am
      - kiwimike
        
        what a stupid reply.
        where is the hatred ?
        all I see is people pointing out it’s efficacy.
        surely that’s common sense.
        
        then there is the total societal abuse that came with it……
        Duh !
        
        9 0
        Report
        January 24, 2025 1:02pm
Bridgenag

Aschaffenburg: Illegal Afghan migrant kills two and wounds three in the latest knife violence to afflict open-borders Germany

“As we all know, the greatest danger is not violent Afghan refugees who stab innocent people in parks, but the evil conclusions racists might draw from this ceaseless parade of horror.” //

https://open.substack.com/pub/eugyppius/p/aschaffenburg-illegal-afghan-migrant?r=1aj1bv&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=email
34 1
Log in to Reply
Report
January 24, 2025 8:21am
- sirknz
  
  Yeah, those terrible far right extremists who don’t like it when innocent people are raped and killed by migrants from the Middle East and Sub-Saharan Africa are the real problem…
  
  28 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 24, 2025 8:25am
  - Paulus
    
    The problem goes back ever further than in breeding over thousands of years, and the advent of the Muslim Bible as way of life.
    It is now eating the world.
    
    8 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 24, 2025 1:52pm
- Inandout
  
  Bridge, this kind of crime merely adds fuel to the fire and right of centre groups gain more supporters.
  
  15 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 24, 2025 8:34am
- Gravelroad
  
  Sir Keir Starmer says limit access to knives.
  That will fix this problem eh.
  
  38 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 24, 2025 8:46am
  - Anthony Melchett
    
    Should limit access to the country of illegal immigrants.
    
    This is why borders were made and restrictions placed on people coming in – to stop the bad ones.
    
    But now that’s mean and we should let them all in because racist.
    
    This period will be remembered as the dumb ages ™
    
    24 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 24, 2025 8:57am
  - kowtow
    
    Lefty politicians love to ban things .
    
    Unless it’s illegal immigration .
    
    21 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 24, 2025 9:00am
  - Steve Otto N Shore
    
    Ban screwdrivers too?
    The man is not very bright.
    
    17 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 24, 2025 9:26am
  - Quail
    
    Yes , perhaps even butter knives?
    Evil people will always find a way , motor cars ,baseball bats , spanners ,you name it ,can all be used as tools to hurt others.
    Limiting access to tools does not solve anything
    
    16 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 24, 2025 9:28am
  - Libertarians are right
    
    The sad irony is that his use of the knife probably saved a huge number of lives. The guy was obsessed with ethnic cleansing and was making ricin to launch a much bigger attack.
    
    7 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 24, 2025 10:41am
- RichardF
  
  There’s half a million illegal immigrants in London, according to the Daily Telegrapgh today.
  
  Many Western governments are committing crimes against their own people with the influx of illegal and unsuitable immigrants. Immigration is a good thing when the immigrant is adding value to their new home and wants to integrate and succeed at life.
  
  The problems in the UK, Germany, Sweden are out of control…the list goes on. What is the purpose of letting uneducated people in who can’t contribute to the economy and end up on welfare and with an axe to grind against their new ‘home’?
  
  Why are they hellbent on giving asylum to so many unsuitable people? The madness has to end.
  
  No wonder the ‘right’ vote is growing. Perhaps a return to common sense will prevail.
  
  26 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 24, 2025 9:58am
  - Don Beckett
    
    Dead right – Trump has got it right.
    Go Trumpy. 🙂
    
    13 2
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 24, 2025 11:10am
  - kowtow
    
    From the UK Daily Telegraph ( hardly a loon publication)
    
    Sweden
    “Nearly two thirds of convicted rapists in Sweden are migrants or second generation immigrants, a new study has found.
    
    Researchers at Lund University found that 63 per cent of convictions for rape or attempted rape were handed down to people born abroad, or whose parents were born abroad.”
    
    In the UK the pakistani muslim rape gangs stories can now be finally told.
    
    merkel broke the law allowing those millions to migrate .And so many of them hate the west .
    
    Yet the media/ swamp etc excoriate Trump.
    
    17 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 24, 2025 11:33am
  - Paulus
    
    See what is happening in Germany – may not be a pretty sight but Germany, thanks to Merkel, is reverting to earlier days of right wingism.
    Call it what you will.
    
    6 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 24, 2025 1:55pm
  - NeverMindTheBollocks
    
    Thank God for our wavy blue border
    
    1 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 24, 2025 7:12pm
Mark Hanley

Note for the Luxon critics… listen to his (no notes) state of the nation speech, there is plenty of ammo there for you…

You’ll hear the numerous impressive achievements of Luxons team, and how the basics they concentrated on whilst sorting out the monumental mess the Clark/adern/Hipkins cartel left them tie into Luxons long term goals for NZ.

You’ll hear the next phase of achieving financial success for NZ with a mention of the 2 industries I predicted would be a natural fit for nz…. rare earths and ai.

If you’re not bouyed by this impressive, once n a generation prime minister, and you’re still looking for bs made up ways to criticize him (not a leader, too much ceo, too much politician, what is his vision, maori sumpathiser, etc.), then you are a labour or ACT party fanatic /professional.

The ACT fanatics are the worst because their attempts to denigrate the prime minister will lead to their own Party’s downfall.
11 23
Log in to Reply
Report
January 24, 2025 8:22am
- Cassandra
  
  Nonsense. Luxon has good qualities and he has deficiencies. So far he’s doing ok but must do better. That’s neither ACT nor fanatic, just realistic.
  
  24 2
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 24, 2025 10:39am
  - G the giant from Dunedin
    
    You must admit that much of the stuff thrown at Luxon in here are totally over the top. Even lately I have noticed straight out lies, for instance Act voters saying that only Nats dropped on the Roy Morgan poll when the headline say all coalition parties are up
    
    6 10
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 24, 2025 10:53am
    - westernScientist
      
      https://www.roymorgan.com/findings/9813-nz-national-voting-intention-december-2024
      
      For the National-led Government there were increases for all three coalition parties led by National, up 2.5% points to 31% and joined by ACT, up 4% points to 13% and NZ First, up 1% point to 7.5%. This is the highest level of support for ACT since the 2023 New Zealand Election.
      …
      For the governing coalition National’s support would win 39 seats (down 10 seats), support for ACT would equal 16 seats (up five seats) and NZ First would win nine seats (up one seat).
      
      Nats up on the last RM poll, down on the election, ACT and NZF up on both.
      
      8 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 24, 2025 12:00pm
      - Paulus
        
        Its is Summer, so I could not care less what any Polls will say.
        Ta !
        
        6 2
        Report
        January 24, 2025 1:56pm
    - pdm
      
      Did you not deign to read my explanation, apology and correction of that G.
      
      [Mod – just end it there]
      
      5 1
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 24, 2025 1:45pm
      - Mark Hanley
        
        On ya G. You know you’re winning when they resort to personal abuse and claim to talk for “everyone”
        
        3 2
        Report
        January 24, 2025 1:59pm
  - Mark Hanley
    
    1. congratulations on identifying Luxon has good qualities.
    
    2. Pls provide examples of Luxons deficiencies, pls use concrete evidenced examples.
    
    3. Include your thoughts on missing government objectives, the priority, the political cost / time, and the benefits.
    
    Without the detail you could be guilty of “looking for bs made up ways to criticize Luxon”
    
    2 9
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 24, 2025 11:27am
- Grunter
  
  Mark
  I critisise Luxton (alot). But that does not mean I think that everything he says and does is wrong. I mostly agree with what he is doing.
  
  But what really gets up my nose is how a lot of Nat supporters have a ‘Luxonmania’ sense about them whereby Luxon can do no wrong. Anyone on Kiwi Blog that ctiicises Luxon is typically attacked with name calling and other nonsense. It does remind me of a milder version of ‘Jacindamania’ and the name-calling and identity politics of the hard-left.
  
  For me, Luxon’s speech yesterday was once again short of specifics that will make a difference. Yes to AI, Mining, foreign investment, etc, etc. But if he really meant it he would have announced some decent sized tax cuts in those sectors, all funded with asset sales and a massive down sizing of the Public Service. Only then would I say “He is a true leader”.
  
  16 2
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 24, 2025 10:54am
  - Mark Hanley
    
    Thx for your considered reply grunter.
    
    You will never find a personal insult about another kber from me,
    
    There is a great example of name calling by Matt/pope/jack/Morgan (the moniker changes but the language and style is constant) below your post, i think its great that a person who doesn’t agree with my intelligent, common sense, positive reasoning, consistently reads my posts…..
    
    Of course we can all find fault in Luxon, but it is sooo easy sit at our keyboards and criticize. It is much more difficult to manage effective change in a not for profit, politically charged, huge organisation like the nz government, whilst keeping the next election front of mind..
    
    It is also a tricky management task managing staff handed to you by the nz voters.
    
    Soooo……
    
    Whilst I too would like to see the things you list (it is no accident Seymour has just included privatization in his state of the nation speech so expect more on That front) I know that things take time and money, that is why Luxon is identifying and stating his priorities.
    
    I also know that privatisaton has to be extremely carefully managed and communicated, and that laying off swathes of public servants in the middle of a huge rescession, would have many negative consequences. It is better to wait for the assessments currently being conducted by the new management team so the correct people are sacked, then doing it at a time the sacked people can find other jobs.
    
    And tax cuts would be nice but we’ve got to pay the enormous interest bill left behind by the clark/adern/robertson/hipkins cartel so unfortunately the government needs all the income it can muster until substantial savings are realized.
    
    5 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 24, 2025 12:37pm
    - Paulus
      
      Over twelve months ago my Wellington 30 years plus, single Department Public Servive Daughter, was told like all her Department to Re-Apply for their jobs.
      Being something over 50 years old, spent a very uncomfortable year expecting to lose her job because of her age.
      Please to say she has not, but there has been many readjustments.
      Quietly some things have been changing that we do not hear about.
      
      6 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 24, 2025 2:04pm
- Morgan H
  
  “once n a generation prime minister”
  
  You sound like those people who worship Jacinda. Blaming previous governments isn’t an achievement, it’s an excuse. There needs to be actual change rather than talking about change. He’s John Key without the charisma.
  
  15 5
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 24, 2025 11:21am
  - Mark Hanley
    
    Thx for the Brilliant example….. I’ll make sure to include it in my next post…
    
    “you’re still looking for bs made up ways to criticize him (john key without charisma)”
    
    4 9
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 24, 2025 11:47am
    - Morgan H
      
      You want more of a response to your post?
      
      “The ACT fanatics are the worst because their attempts to denigrate the prime minister will lead to their own Party’s downfall.”
      
      The Act party is giving a vision for NZ. That is why it is doing good in the polls. Should they blindly accept Luxon as some sort of saviour because he’s the blue team leader? They have every right to criticize anyone. Yes, criticism should be based on facts and evidence. Luxon hasn’t demonstrated he is in the right position.
      
      I’m not someone who blindly follows. I think people should be able to think for themselves. Comments which can be summed up as “Red Team, bad! Blue Team, good!” aren’t help. It’s just tribalism. I hate when the MSM tell me what to think. That’s why I’m suspicious of James Meager because he was anointed as a future prime minister by MSM.
      
      I can see policies and ideas being good regardless of the party they come from. There were a few times where I was pleasantly surprised by the Greens. But then they ruined it by saying “From the river to the sea”.
      
      A leader needs to be bold and make actual decisions. An idea I would like Luxon to implement when National is changing charity taxes is to tax both iwis and religions. They should have to pay taxes like any other business.
      
      Another idea is to have actual electoral reform. We have MMP. This allows diversity of opinion, not the whole “my team is better than yours” type politics. We no longer need the Maori seats. Maori voices are already at the table because of MMP.
      
      And we should move towards a republic. A republic which every Kiwi is equal regardless of race. No more treaty, that’s the past.
      
      5 4
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 24, 2025 3:43pm
      - Mark Hanley
        
        Noone said you shouldn’t criticize, criticism is vital for an Informed political debate.
        
        However your criticism should be based on facts…. not generalized hyperbole bs.
        
        Another example of generalized hyperbole bs is…. *Luxon hasn’t demonstrated he is in the right position.”
        
        3 3
        Report
        January 24, 2025 4:46pm
      - Morgan H
        
        You mean hyperbole like claiming Luxon is a once in a generation prime minister?
        
        Or blaming the Fifth Labour Government and the Six Labour Government for our problems while not acknowledging the role of the Fifth National Government too?
        
        1 1
        Report
        January 24, 2025 6:36pm
- kiwimike
  
  Yeah, you just Love the Maori Apartheid don’t you…
  
  5 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 24, 2025 1:06pm
- Ra Henare
  
  Mark,
  You do understand that AI needs both:
  Cheap and available electricity to run the Server Farms….So where is that power coming from in NZ?
  
  Smart brains to live here. And why would any smart brains want to migrate to NZ as it currently is?
  
  There is much hyperbole about IT/AI being spouted by politicians as their goal to dig their countries/communities out of the shit.
  
  BUT, remember, reality is not part of a politician’s play book.
  
  So Luxons vision is BS, without a plan to rapidly expand power production(and no, wind farms/solar arrays are NOT a solution)
  
  AND to make NZ a great destination for smart brains.
  
  Some countries are targeting such individuals with taxation incentives. ie first $10 mill of profit tax-free….
  
  Cant see our Boss Manager thinking like that!!!
  
  7 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 24, 2025 1:53pm
  - Mark Hanley
    
    Yes I do understand that both industries are long term plays. Priority, time, and cost benefit are vital and constant themes/ consideration in my kb posts.
    
    If you read / listen to Luxons commitment to more renewable energy you will see the word hydro nestled amongst thermal, solar and wind. You will aso see the coalition implemented fast track resource consents, a vital component for allowing more hydro, etc.
    
    It is not up to the government to attract private talent to nz, Peter Beck appears to have done it very well without Luxon. It is up to the government to put in place the settings conducive to high worth industries…. like fast track resource consenting (i also like your tax incentive idea)
    
    So…. You are putting the horse before the cart. It takes time to attract high value businesses, but rest assured when they come, talent will follow.
    
    If you don’t believe the industries Luxon identified are the answer…. what is your better idea?
    
    3 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 24, 2025 2:48pm
- Jack5
  
  Is Mark Hanley basing his rare-earths predictions on the report linked to below from NZ Petroleum and Minerals?
  
  Lets hope there are economic deposits in the country, and Mark Hanley’s rare-earths enthusiasm isn’t akin to excitement 70 years about potentially economic uranium resources on the West Coast. Those hopes were false.
  
  https://www.nzpam.govt.nz/assets/Uploads/doing-business/mineral-potential/rare-earths.pdf
  
  1 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 24, 2025 8:04pm
  - Mark Hanley
    
    Actually rare earths aren’t rare at all they are abundant.
    
    The issue is economic extraction.
    
    What a great place to invest our scientific capital now studies into cultural whale songs and maori spirituality are no longer accepted topics.
    
    [Mod – fixed]
    
    1 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 25, 2025 6:04am
Scott

The boys at Valuetainment give a shocking insight into the mental state of Joe Biden –

https://youtu.be/46AbO9Xzqig?si=zl1njOdoi7r8ErMx

We find out that speaker Johnson could not get a meeting with Biden for 9 weeks! The speaker of the house wasn’t allowed to meet with the president!

And when he finally forced a meeting he found out the president had no idea of an executive order that he had signed 3 weeks ago. He didn’t know what he signed. He denied it!

Who decided on executive orders and policy and so forth? Was it Schumer, Hakeem Jeffries, the CIA director, who were initially in the meeting with the president and speaker Johnson?

This is a huge story. Biden was never the president. Who was?
And the Democrats lied about it for four years.

And the mainstream media covered for the president and lied about it for four years!

He was never the president. We may hate the media but honestly, we don’t hate them enough. This is the biggest presidential cover up since FDR. And at least he was the president. His body was crippled but his mind was good. Not so with Joe Biden. He was never in charge.
30 1
Log in to Reply
Report
January 24, 2025 8:23am
- Don Beckett
  
  Yes, Joe was Obama’s puppet – Barack’s 3rd. presidential term.
  
  13 4
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 24, 2025 11:13am
  - Scott
    
    Don, I think that’s right at least to some extent. Obama stayed in Washington, ostensibly because his children were in school. But they left school and he’s still in Washington. I’ve seen reporting that Obama hosts high level meetings at his house where people with secret service protection meet with him.
    
    Obama has a mansion in Hawaii and residences in other places. Why stay in Washington? Unless he wants to remain close to the seat of power. Has he been quietly running the show for the last four years? We can’t be sure. But what we can be sure of is that it wasn’t Biden!
    
    8 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 24, 2025 12:43pm
- Ra Henare
  
  I used to like Valetainment when is was Bet David.
  
  Now it is a male version of the View.
  ie regular people spouting their rubbish views.
  
  Caveat. They do have some interesting guests from time to time. But that could also apply to The View idiots as well.
  
  For long form video podcasts( I dont do audio only) I like Diary of a CEO and Joe Rogan. Not every session but with selected guests.
  
  For short opinion pieces (podcasts) I like Victor Davis Hansen. In my view Jordan Peterson has gone outside his lane and pontificates on anything and everything. Little bit like Elon Musk.
  
  I used to Like Mike Hosking, but he has lost his way a bit. Or being strangled by his producers.
  
  Are there any other NZ regular commenters/podcasts that are worth following?
  
  4 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 24, 2025 2:03pm
NeverMindTheBollocks

Shell Lane (The Terrace) bike rack report:

At 8.30am, a precipitous fall from yesterday’s high to just one bike.

A calm, coolish morning in the Capital, ideal for cycling.

It has to be said, it’s very quiet in town today. You’d almost think it was Wellington’s Anniversary weekend upcoming, rather than Auckland’s.
29 0
Log in to Reply
Report
January 24, 2025 8:30am
- PurplePen
  
  All public servants on holiday in the Islands and Oz.
  
  9 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 24, 2025 11:46am
- AitchW
  
  Bike rack use in Wellington falls by 66%.
  Council considers plans to remove under-utilised racks…
  
  6 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 24, 2025 2:56pm
Grunter

Another good point made by Seymour this morning…..

Even Shane Reti, arguably on paper the best Health Minister we have ever had, only lasted 12 months and couldn’t fix our broken health system. The problem is the model NZ has. We need a new model that has privatised health providers and each person has a state-funded health insurance. Similar to how it works in many other countries (eg France).
21 1
Log in to Reply
Report
January 24, 2025 8:46am
- NoFax
  
  We already have a model in place that works rather well – ACC. It isn’t perfect but it is always about trade-offs. If we extend ACC to medical instead then we start having a model where we are insured and the insurance company, i.e. ACC, buys services from the private sector in a competitive environment. It’s not where I would leave it, but it would be a great start. Ultimately, we want individuals choosing his or her healthcare and determining his or her own priorities.
  
  12 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 24, 2025 10:28am
  - kiwimike
    
    Yeah right
    the great NZ unwashed choosing their healthcare and determining their priorities.
    You sound like a brochure…..
    
    0 2
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 24, 2025 1:10pm
  - Paulus
    
    To extend ACC, as has been quietly doing for some years, and to become a medical extension requires only one thing
    – Money, and who is going to pay for it.
    Many would love to see Lawyers back her as they want much more money.
    
    3 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 24, 2025 2:11pm
    - NoFax
      
      The Health Budget right now is nearly $6k per person – you could buy a very good policy from Southern Cross or NIB with that kind of money. So, the money is there, it is just not been spent efficiently as there is no incentive to do so.
      
      3 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 24, 2025 3:21pm
- kevn
  
  Grunter… I think Dr Reti was stymied every inch of the way by the more influential MOH employees and also not helped buy the Med Assn lot.
  Someone from the ‘outside’ might have more luck.
  
  16 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 24, 2025 10:33am
  - Grunter
    
    Govt employees, Unions, Med Assoc,…..etc,etc. All part of the bloated blob (Public Health model). A Govt monopoly of 80,000 staff.
    
    Systemic failure. It is a model that will NEVER work…..for anyone. It is the exact model the Soviets used for almost everything back in the day. Even the current-day Ruskies loath it.
    
    11 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 24, 2025 11:00am
    - Ra Henare
      
      It would appear that NZ is following the NHS path…into oblivion as driven by ideology.
      
      Many countries have a good mix of Government/Private health systems to keep their populace healthy.
      
      Scandinavian Countries spring to mind.
      
      4 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 24, 2025 2:06pm
      - Jack5
        
        If you want Scandinavian-style health care, you’ll need to pay Scandinavian-level taxes.
        
        Sweden’s health system, largely tax-funded but decentralised:
        
        https://sweden.se/life/society/healthcare-in-sweden
        
        And Sweden’s taxes – local and national, and including capital gains tax:
        
        https://sweden.se/life/society/taxes-in-sweden
        
        1 1
        Report
        January 24, 2025 4:38pm
  - pdm
    
    kev – not to mention Margie Apa.
    
    4 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 24, 2025 1:48pm
- G the giant from Dunedin
  
  Good luck tell the no hopers this and keeping the centre to the right, this is the sort of things that stirs the horses, defines e term government, oh we, get ready to fund Māori only everything including parliament
  
  3 5
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 24, 2025 10:55am
Cassandra

Kevin Grey, a gang member but an active member of his marae, has been sentenced to 38 months in prison. Kevin has a lengthy criminal record. His latest for which he got 38 months in jail is for trying to steal a car, firing a rifle in the air to intimidate Black Power gangsters and finally attacking two people savagely because one of them smiled at him. All seperate offences over a period of time. In 19 months Kevin could be on the street ready to do what he normally does. Kevin should be in a secure environment for the rest of his life. At least this time should been 10 years.
49 0
Log in to Reply
Report
January 24, 2025 8:47am
- pdm
  
  Seems a prime candidate for the old 3Strikes law.
  
  I am not so sure he would qualify under the `watered down’ replacement though.
  
  31 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 24, 2025 8:57am
  - cmm
    
    Exactly right.
    
    3S applies one of the most basic processes used everywhere: feedback.
    
    If the shower isn’t warm enough you turn it up.
    If the car isn’t going fast enough then you step on the accelerator.
    If hubby can’t hear you then shout louder.
    
    And here, if a criminal doesn’t get the message with lower sentences then apply harsher sentences.
    
    I think one big problem is that our prisoners are not really punishment for some of our worst criminals. Prison is just a taxpayer funded gang pad where they can bloke it up with their mates.
    
    30 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 24, 2025 9:13am
    - Steve Otto N Shore
      
      Some crims just can’t survive on the outside. Inside is their hotel. Bed, meals, TV, and WIFI. And mates!
      
      11 1
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 24, 2025 9:32am
      - Bridgenag
        
        Couldn’t they make mailbags or something for the community………Do they work at all?
        
        4 1
        Report
        January 24, 2025 9:40am
      - pdm
        
        SO – I remember as a youth 60 odd years ago people saying that there were some hard liners who committed crimes in March/April/May so they would be in clink for the worst of the winter.
        
        9 0
        Report
        January 24, 2025 9:50am
      - peterwn
        
        Bridgenags – prisoners making mailbags? With mail volumes right down, NZ Post probably have enough mailbags in the stores that will meet demand for ever.
        
        8 0
        Report
        January 24, 2025 10:22am
  - G152
    
    A few more years and his ‘power’ will be gone.
    Some gang member will kill him to prove that they are supreme.
    
    5 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 24, 2025 10:54am
Im Right

Isn’t Germany due for general election soon?
I can’t see the immigrant hugger parties getting much support….then again, it seems to be the young voters who vote en mass for these DEI/Immigration policy parties that destroy their countries security and safety.
Not just Germany….but I believe the tide is turning away from the far left ideology.
13 0
Log in to Reply
Report
January 24, 2025 8:47am
Steve Otto N Shore

We Built It. We Paid for It. It’s Ours.
You can not give back something that was never theirs in the first place.
With the canal Panama has prospered. That would never have happened without the Americans.

https://amgreatness.com/2025/01/23/we-built-it-we-paid-for-it-its-ours/?
12 1
Log in to Reply
Report
January 24, 2025 8:49am
- cmm
  
  The Panama Canal runs around 25 ships per day at around $500k canal fees for the larger ships. That’s bringing in around $10M per day or $3.5bn per year.
  
  On top of that there are likely many parts of their economy that are fed by the canal business.
  
  18 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 24, 2025 9:17am
  - Steve Otto N Shore
    
    Tourism as well. A workmate and his wife went. Fantastic he said, especially so when you have an engineering type mind.
    
    7 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 24, 2025 9:35am
    - Jack5
      
      Steve Otto’s … We Built It. We Paid for It. It’s Ours…
      
      Relevant to US talk about taking over the Panama Canal is the 1956 Suez crisis, in which America pressured the UK, France, and Israel to back down.
      
      The Suez canal was a French initiative, paid for by French and Egyptian investors. In 1875, Egypt sold its half-share to Britain. Egypt’s President Nasser effectively nationalised the canal in 1956, with compensation.
      
      In 1956, Britain and France invaded the canal zone to retake control. They were partnered by Israel, whose ships had been shut out of the canal for eight years. They succeeded militarily but were forced to back down and leave the zone.
      
      President Eisenhower sided with Egypt — and the Soviet Union — against the UK, France, and Israel. America refused to sell oil to them after Saudi Arabia cut off their supplies. Eisenhower threatened the UK economy and the US sold down US Government holdings of UK government bonds.
      
      Wikipedia has a comprehensive article on the Suez crisis. It notes New Zealand and Australian support for Britain, France, and Israel.
      
      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suez_Crisis
      
      7 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 24, 2025 10:58am
  - kevn
    
    cmm… Panama canal. Controlled by the Chinese Trumpy says. There’s a problem.
    
    8 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 24, 2025 10:35am
    - cmm
      
      No doubt.
      
      The Panama Canal is a vital coast-to-coast link for USA and having it under Chinese control (or even Panamanian control) is a huge security issue for USA.
      
      However the criticality of the Panama Canal is partially self-inflicted through the Jones Act which significantly limits how goods can be transported from one port city to another.
      
      The Jones Act served a reasonable purpose in 1920, but those same reasons no longer stand. They should really scrap the Jones Act (or at least bring it kicking and screaming into the 21st century) and allow more flexible transport options.
      
      But, no doubt, there are huge lobbying interests that keep the Jones Act in place.
      
      8 1
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 24, 2025 11:24am
- MCōs
  
  Fortunately for NZ those marines never built the expressway between Wellington and Auckland or a road tunnel under the Remutakas
  
  4 4
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 24, 2025 9:49am
  - Steve Otto N Shore
    
    If they did it would have been done in 1/10th of the time.
    
    9 2
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 24, 2025 9:57am
    - MCōs
      
      1/10th of the time of what
      
      2 7
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 24, 2025 11:58am
      - Steve Otto N Shore
        
        My comprehension is ok – how is yours?
        
        3 1
        Report
        January 24, 2025 4:40pm
  - Jack5
    
    The “cargo cult” that US Army and Navy engineers set off in New Guinea and the Melanesian islands was echoed in NZ by legends.
    
    The Yanks wanted to build …
    
    A new harbour at X, an airport at Y, a super tunnel at Z …
    
    Always with a corollary, assumed to be common knowledge, that the NZ Government was too stupid to accept the offer.
    
    America’s mighty industrial power awed US World War 2 Allies like NZ as well as the Allies’ enemies.
    
    6 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 24, 2025 11:12am
- Libertarians are right
  
  The canal is an interesting one. The US has every right to it but the Panamanians basically threw a tantrum and wanted ownership of it because of its value. The US basically agreed to getting out due to not wanting to be “colonialist” but ensured that it had to be neutral. About 1/3 of Panamanians didn’t want neutrality.
  
  Under the Treaty, the US has a right to military intervention if neutrality is breached.
  
  While Panama is not directly discriminating against US ships going through the Canal, they have given the contracts to the ports at both ends of the Canal to a company owned by China (they just renewed the 25 year contract again despite everyone telling them not to). You could argue this gives China effective control of the port if they want to exercise it.
  
  9 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 24, 2025 10:56am
- Paulus
  
  Every vessel carrying Cargo has what is called Bills Of Lading, in which everything being carried is noted.
  So why do the Chinese, via the Panama Government, keep control evefythig that moves there.
  Money for the Government, or the local Politicians !
  
  4 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 24, 2025 2:16pm
  - Steve Otto N Shore
    
    Clipping the ticket.
    No clipping means your ship does not pass. Fuel up and go around Cape Horn and have a lovely trip.
    
    3 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 24, 2025 4:45pm
oldpark

Heard a Rumour that a guy who used to be the Mayor of Wellington has been quietly putting his toe in the water about running again to be the Mayor of Wellington in 2025 Council Elections .Seems its just a way to see or hear Ratepayer Reaction.
My opinion as a Ratepayer in the period he reigned.
Can’t think of anything he accomplished other than spending big Ratepayer Dollars on a technicoloured Pedestrian Crossing in Wellington’s Cuba Street. Not forgetting the alleged Decision to up grade Wellington’s Old Town Hall .
Yes that certainly was a big call .Wellington’s Ratepayers have been saddled with a cost blow out up to last count $340,000,000 and counting .
Maybe his intention was a good idea to restore an old clapped out building to restore it to its past glory .Of course that massive cost upsurge has helped send Wellington Rate increases into the stratosphere and beyond .
Hindsight is a good thing, wonder would the Wellington Ratepayers vote for the same alleged person who made the call who could be once more voted Wellington’s Mayor again in 2025 .Nuff Said.
17 2
Log in to Reply
Report
January 24, 2025 8:50am
- MCōs
  
  Justin Lester was mayor when $22,500 was spent on the rainbow crossing on Cuba St.
  About two grand more than a standard crossing.
  Big bucks in these austere times
  https://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/wellington/127422011/new-paint-job-for-wellingtons-rainbow-crossing
  
  12 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 24, 2025 10:06am
  - peterwn
    
    A pittance compared with the cost of the Evans Bay pedestrian crossing. That one was the usual white and black, and red, amber and green if traffic lights included.
    
    7 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 24, 2025 10:25am
  - cmm
    
    While $22500 is inconsequential in the whole Wellington budget, it astounds me that it can cost that much to make a pedestrian crossing.
    
    They say a black and white zebra crossing costs $15 to $20k in 2018 (so no doubt $25k to $30k now). How is that possible?
    
    The paint itself costs around $3 per square metre. So where does all the cost come from?
    
    10 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 24, 2025 11:34am
    - PurplePen
      
      A crossing was already there in Cuba street. All they did was change the black and white to rainbow colours at a cost of $22.5k! WTF
      
      12 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 24, 2025 11:57am
    - greybeard
      
      Road cones.
      Koha ( ransom ).
      Blessings.
      But mainly the $25,000 comes from the same council employees who estimated $230m for City-to-Sea bridge restoration and $25m for Begonia House restoration: in other words just plucked out of the air to please the council ideologues.
      
      8 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 24, 2025 1:35pm
      - imalwaysright
        
        Don’t forget the council will pay at least $40 million to fit out an existing office building.
        Yes, $40 million to change offices into offices.
        
        As for $230 million for a bridge across a road. Why don’t they span the road with a multistorey building and use it as a library, council offices and event centre and run the traffic through the base.
        
        9 0
        Report
        January 24, 2025 2:05pm
- Bobba Fret
  
  Surely anyone would be better than the incumbent mayor. But I agree some new blood would be better.
  
  8 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 24, 2025 10:07am
  - pdm
    
    If Wellington was to go back to a previous Mayor surely Kerry Prendergast would be the only option.
    
    8 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 24, 2025 10:42am
    - Steve Todd
      
      Not going to happen, pdm.
      
      By all accounts, including when I hear her on Nick Mills’ Wellington Mornings radio show, Dame Kerry (who will be 72 when the election rolls around) is enjoying life way too much to go back there again.
      
      I think she will content herself with her involvement with Vision for Wellington (https://visionforwellington.nz/). See also https://wellington.scoop.co.nz/?p=166641#more-166641).
      
      There’s a long way to go, but as at right now, the choice will be between Tory and the very likeable and energetic Ray Chung (aged 75 in October?).
      
      Kiwibloggers will know that I am very keen to see the Right get thoroughly organised this time round, including putting up quality candidates, and to really take the fight to Labour and the Greens.
      
      The worry is though that the good people of Wellington will have voted for Ray, but also for a majority Left council – à la, for example, Andy Foster, 2019–2022 – or vice versa.
      
      That is why, over time, I have concluded that mayors should be elected by the councillors, rather than directly by the People. That way, they will enjoy a majority on council and, hopefully, will have the ability to “get things done”!
      
      But, for the Right to prevail in Wellington, the turnout must increase, from 43% in 2022, to 50%+. That means putting up (politically) attractive candidates (that Right-leaning voters can happily vote for) and conducting a full-on, organised, well-funded, campaign.
      
      I can’t wait to see how it all unfolds.
      
      8 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 24, 2025 12:48pm
- mogg
  
  Latest cost for the town hallseems to be $347 million . When the new Price Waterhouse building was going up just along the road I spoke to the piling contractor who told me, this drill is now down 25mt and still not into the solid. The old town hall is built on reclaimed land and probably needs the same foundation work.
  
  7 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 24, 2025 10:50am
  - PurplePen
    
    Would have been cheaper to bowl it and build a replica wouldn’t it? Same with the library. I really don’t get council officers and their business advice to councilors. But then it’s the councilors that make the decision and don’t seem to be able to see nor understand the real world.
    
    9 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 24, 2025 12:00pm
    - mogg
      
      Yes keep the facade, tie it into a new building, just like Stewart Dawson’s corner.
      
      4 1
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 24, 2025 12:24pm
Steve Otto N Shore

The Addicted, Petty, and Hysterical Left.
They are destroying themselves and don’t know. Carry on…..
Elon Musk touching his heart and extending his arm was a Nazi salute. Very childish. Hillary, Obama, and Warren did the same but that is different!

https://amgreatness.com/2025/01/23/the-addicted-petty-and-hysterical-left/
21 1
Log in to Reply
Report
January 24, 2025 9:02am
- Blog-aholic
  
  So has Tim Walz.
  
  9 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 24, 2025 9:25am
  - Matt Long
    
    Netanyahu has just posted his support for Musk https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1882398456557552098
    But then the same people that called Musk a Nazi for his heart goes out to you gesture, also call Netanyahu a Nazi, and call the rape and torture of Israeli, and Thai nationals, amongst others a legitimate form of protest.
    
    10 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 24, 2025 9:38am
    - Ra Henare
      
      Interesting that news re the cease fire no longer attract Western media.
      
      For an update, check Israeli media.
      
      https://www.haaretz.com/
      
      4 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 24, 2025 2:09pm
- Steve Otto N Shore
  
  Elon Musk Doubles Down.
  
  https://ca.news.yahoo.com/elon-musk-doubles-down-salute-164919942.html
  
  7 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 24, 2025 9:39am
- Yvette
  
  Elon Musk touching his heart and extending his arm was a Nazi salute.
  
  So much comment on the supposed Nazi salute, but not so much of clutching his heart before the gesture of flinging it outwards.
  
  Ancient cliché : Beware the half truth, where you know not which half you have.
  or which half the media (not half biased!) gives you
  
  12 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 24, 2025 9:45am
  - Yvette
    
    What MSM (not half biased!) are not telling you, in all fairness –
    
    Strangelove syndrome is a nickname for alien hand syndrome (AHS), a condition that causes a person to lose control of one of their limbs. The term comes from the 1964 Stanley Kubrick movie Dr. Strangelove, in which the main character’s right hand moves independently. Displayed recently on the world-wide stage by Elon Musk
    
    Symptoms • The limb moves without the person’s conscious control • The limb may perform purposeful actions, like grabbing objects • The person may feel like the limb has a will of its own • The person may describe the limb in the third person • can show avid support for President Donald Trump  
    
    Causes • Brain tumors • Aneurysms • Strokes • Brain damage from injury • Brain surgery • Degenerative brain diseases • Lesions in the corpus callosum, posterior parietal cortex, supplementary motor area, and anterior cingulate cortex • avid support for President Donald Trump
    
    Treatment: Mirror box therapy, Cognitive therapy, Behavioral therapies, and Visuospatial coaching; reducing avid support for President Donald Trump
    
    This is for informational purposes only. For medical advice or diagnosis, consult a professional. Please!
    
    8 2
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 24, 2025 10:40am
  - Libertarians are right
    
    And saying my heart goes out to you. That seems relevant.
    
    6 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 24, 2025 10:58am
- Local Miller
  
  As has AOC
  
  10 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 24, 2025 9:54am
  - Steve Otto N Shore
    
    Her Green New Deal has received the bullet from Trump.
    Have the tantrums started yet?
    
    10 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 24, 2025 10:00am
- Ghost
  
  No. I’ve looked ip the video of obama, the photo of him and kamala are altered. One of aoc was actually her going to hug someone. The left and the right are as bad as each other with manipulating images and taking them out of context
  
  3 5
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 24, 2025 10:08am
  - keepcalmcarryon
    
    That’s the whole point of the counter meme Ghost.
    Everyone can be taken out of context to try and make a political point.
    
    2 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 24, 2025 1:14pm
  - Allan
    
    Wrong, AOC is on video. She was addressing a crowd. She throws that arm out several times.
    
    Based on having seen the video I will have to doubt your claim that the other pictures have been altered.
    
    Can you provide a link to support that they have been altered?
    
    I don’t believe that any of them are doing the nazi salute. Or roman for that matter if you are ‘Mad Cow’ Maddow and trying to be nasty without getting sued. But let’s make sure that the media manafacturing outrage is called out for their hypocrisy.
    
    4 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 24, 2025 1:40pm
    - Ghost
      
      Actually I have provided a link already to the aoc one, im sure if you look you find it posted on this page. As for the rest image search them and you will find they are altered. Here is the video of Obamas so not a Nazi salute. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1-jasxb7NY&t=2450s
      
      Here’s the link to one of the fake claims
      
      https://leadstories.com/hoax-alert/2025/01/fact-check-image-does-not-show-aoc-giving-nazi-salute.html
      
      2 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 24, 2025 1:54pm
      - Don Beckett
        
        You may well be right Ghost, but the point is that NONE of them are Nazi salutes. It’s an anti Trump beat up.
        
        1 1
        Report
        January 24, 2025 3:30pm
      - Ghost
        
        Problem is don you don’t defend what one person does by lying about what others haven’t done. People are no better than what they are claiming to be defending when they turn to lying and faking things. Peple demand better from the politicians, better from the other side and resort to exactly what the other side is doing.
        
        1 1
        Report
        January 24, 2025 3:49pm
Maggy Wassilieff

I never thought I’d be looking forward to the return of Corin Dann and Ingrid Hipkiss to Morning Report, RNZ, but after trying to listen to the haranguing interviews from Paddy Gower and Alexa Cooke over the last couple of days, I’ve had to concede that Dann & Hipkiss are preferable.
24 1
Log in to Reply
Report
January 24, 2025 9:08am
- Clyde
  
  The best way to avoid feeling wretched in the mornings is to avoid listening to Red Radio altogether.
  
  30 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 24, 2025 9:14am
  - Steve Otto N Shore
    
    Better watching Fast and Loud, and Kindig Customs on the Rush channel.
    Far better for mental health.
    
    6 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 24, 2025 9:41am
    - mogg
      
      Shed and buried with Sam Lovegrove.
      
      3 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 24, 2025 12:09pm
      - Steve Otto N Shore
        
        Yes, but they are not coming into my shed. Not just yet – wait 20 years LOL!
        
        2 0
        Report
        January 24, 2025 4:48pm
- NeverMindTheBollocks
  
  To be fair to Patrick Gower, in an interview this morning with Craig Rennie in respect of the latter’s criticism of David Seymour & cost of democracy, Gower did at least quote Seymour back to Rennie regarding Rennie’s role in advising Grant Robertson’s spendup of $60B. Rennie, of course, remained focussed on the $6m cost of Seymour’s initiative, but it’s a start in holding Labour apparatchiks to account.
  
  13 2
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 24, 2025 9:20am
  - G the giant from Dunedin
    
    Why anyone talks to that asshole Rennie is beyond me, and they wonder why the previous government were called marxists
    
    7 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 24, 2025 11:01am
- Cassandra
  
  Best not to listen at all. I gave up 8 years ago and my health has improved immensely. Similarly the Herald.
  
  30 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 24, 2025 9:26am
- lifesgood
  
  They’re all awful. I can’t stomach morning report. That dreadful Susie Ferguson was the last straw for me.
  
  16 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 24, 2025 9:29am
  - Steve Otto N Shore
    
    Just the mention of those commie names make me happy I am well away from them!
    
    12 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 24, 2025 9:43am
- Bobba Fret
  
  Mike Hosking is back on Tuesday on Newstalk ZB if that helps.
  
  12 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 24, 2025 9:36am
  - Graeme Hall
    
    My guess, Mike “Hosko” Hosking is back from attending The Donald’s inauguration ball last week. Apart from constantly telling us how rich he is, Mike seems addicted to attending venues frequented by the truly rich & famous. He might even have got a chance to wear his King Charles Coronation shoes (only cost ~3,000 UK pounds).
    
    6 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 24, 2025 4:14pm
- pdm
  
  Maggy – Hosking is back Tuesday next week so sanity will return.
  
  He needs to put Luxon `on the rack’ more in their Tuesday sessions.
  
  13 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 24, 2025 9:56am
- MCōs
  
  Years ago I said to myself don’t get into an argument with a politician. The buggers may be dubious, but they sound convincing and you’ll never win.
  Poor Alexa Cooke didn’t stand a chance against Judith Collins and if she did come up with a good point Ms Collins sighed in exasperation and brushed her off.
  
  3 7
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 24, 2025 10:27am
  - Maggy Wassilieff
    
    We must have been listening to a different interview..
    
    https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2018971960/science-innovation-and-technology-minister-judith-collins-on-changes-to-science-sector
    
    Alexa Cooke kept talking over Judith Collins, had no idea of what is Science and what clearly isn’t, had no idea that social science research is NOT dependent on a Marsden Grant or two, and never let Judith Collins explain the rationale for the Science reforms.
    
    14 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 24, 2025 11:14am
    - Jack5
      
      Judith Collins was rational and convincing, and the interviewer was ignorant, rude, interrupting.
      
      One of the thickest and most incompetent interviewers I’ve heard – ever.
      
      A Minister having to ask, repeatedly, “Alexa, please let me answer the question.”
      
      And “I’m trying to answer, Alexa.”
      
      Congratulations Judith Collins for not hanging up on this interviewer.
      
      For God’s sake, Minister of Media Communications, Paul Goldsmith, listen to this appalling interview and DO SOMETHING about State-owned news media.
      
      https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2018971960/science-innovation-and-technology-minister-judith-collins-on-changes-to-science-sector
      
      16 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 24, 2025 11:33am
    - Aquarius
      
      Listened through the link …..
      What a truly dreadful interviewer
      Exactly why I stopped listening to RNZ
      (Ferguson was the last straw)
      
      10 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 24, 2025 12:04pm
- NoFax
  
  Who actually listens to the radio anymore? But maybe I am not 90+ years old.
  
  4 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 24, 2025 10:35am
  - Biscuit
    
    Agreed, NoFax.
    
    And I’m only 72…
    
    2 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 24, 2025 1:42pm
  - pdm
    
    Me – No Fax.
    
    Grew up with a radio always going in the house and enjoy the same 78 years on.
    
    ps we had no electricity until I was 7 and no TV until I was 18.
    
    For Biscuit – times were tough when I was a lad.
    
    6 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 24, 2025 1:54pm
- PurplePen
  
  Good lord, was Gower on in the mornings. What a way to start your day.
  
  11 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 24, 2025 12:05pm
  - kowtow
    
    Be grateful for small mercies that it was radio , not tv , at least folk were saved from having to look at him.
    
    5 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 24, 2025 2:39pm
- Paulus
  
  Blimey and I thought Ryan Bridges was bad !
  
  3 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 24, 2025 2:19pm
Grunter

Trump at Davos…

He was asked about European Union regulations and basically told the room that they were an abomination for economic growth. Fact. He said that the only people who win from this are the consultants and told the room to stop hiring them.

He said that the U.S. has begun a “revolution of common sense” and then touted his recent executive orders to “save free speech,” focus on energy to grow businesses, and end the “discriminatory diversity equity and inclusion nonsense.”

Yesterday, Milei also gave the Davos Dickheads a serve. He spoke out about the radical transgender agenda as the agenda of perverts and invited “all mortals of the world to hear the sacred call of freedom.” He said that the “woke mind virus” is a global cancer that must be eradicated.
25 1
Log in to Reply
Report
January 24, 2025 9:08am
- cmm
  
  Aren’t the Davos muppets the people that push for the “Great Reset” and all that sort of guff?
  
  That is the exact opposite of economic growth.
  I can’t believe the Davos people would be receptive to ideas they have been pushing against for the last 10+ years.
  
  9 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 24, 2025 11:42am
sungsamning

https://www.breitbart.com/border/2025/01/23/mike-lee-america-first-act-bans-illegal-immigrants-welfare-other-benefits/
America First Act Bans Illegal Immigrants Welfare, Other Benefits.
Senator Lee introduced the America First Act in December 2024. The legislation is designed to prevent “illegal immigrants paroled into the United States from accessing billions of dollars in welfare and other benefits intended for American families.” Texas Representative Chip Roy and Chairman Jodey Arrington introduced a companion bill in the House.
14 1
Log in to Reply
Report
January 24, 2025 9:11am
- kiwimike
  
  this should be the standard the world over.
  Citizens only can get benefits and only citizens can vote with ID.
  the same for medical care and free schooling, all others none.
  they have to have medical insurance.
  
  so become a citizen.
  Apply and follow the pathway and contribute.
  
  Otherwise it’s work visa and your company pays.
  but clause 1 is you train a Kiwi to do your job.
  
  7 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 24, 2025 1:27pm
  - Paulus
    
    Same should be in New Zealand where only Citizens can vote in Gereal Elections, and the like and Actually Council named Ratepayers in Local Government.
    Poll tax was right !
    
    6 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 24, 2025 2:22pm
  - sungsamning
    
    It certainly should be. I’m glad the adults are back in charge in the USA.
    
    3 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 24, 2025 5:33pm
sungsamning

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRIkc0Ab38U
Trump Torches WEF.
He has these people freaking out. He’s taking on the new world order by himself essentially. [Modi, and the presitator didn’t turn up.]
13 1
Log in to Reply
Report
January 24, 2025 9:11am
- Steve Otto N Shore
  
  Good speech.
  
  8 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 24, 2025 10:04am
Matt Long

Trumps day three actions, things have slowed a bit.
https://x.com/charliekirk11/status/1882410102113829140
10 1
Log in to Reply
Report
January 24, 2025 9:25am
- sungsamning
  
  Yes, the second Trump administration will be the best thing that has ever happened to America.
  
  13 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 24, 2025 9:38am
- Steve Otto N Shore
  
  Killed DEI with the stroke of a sharpie.
  Going through a few – he gives them away.
  
  12 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 24, 2025 10:07am
imalwaysright

Heard Seymour on Platform this morning.
On attracting investment, he is against lowering company tax rate because each percentage point reduces revenue by $1B.
So 10% would mean $10B.
He didn’t say what other incentives could be offered though.
Also, has he given up on paring back the public disservice? He should be able to find $10 billion just on the maori activist gravy train.
16 2
Log in to Reply
Report
January 24, 2025 9:31am
- Cassandra
  
  There was a bit more to it than that.
  
  6 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 24, 2025 10:41am
Matt Long

Trump’s prescription for revitalising the American economy.
10 regulations cut for new 1.
Hiring based on aptitude.
A bigger increase in tax cuts to make America very attractive for manufacturing etc.
What about the government deficit?
Paid for by tarrifs on companies that choose to manufacture outside America.
A very interesting proposition. Runs counter to current orthodoxy, which has a track record of failure in the west.
12 1
Log in to Reply
Report
January 24, 2025 9:32am
- Matt Long
  
  Meanwhile to create economic recovery in New Zealand, National has just announced a slogan and an increase in the size of government.
  
  15 3
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 24, 2025 9:33am
  - Steve Otto N Shore
    
    New slogan? What is it? Auntie Cindy think it up for Luxon?
    
    11 2
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 24, 2025 10:24am
    - Matt Long
      
      “going for growth”
      
      https://x.com/TaxpayersUnion/status/1882225811752882268
      
      6 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 24, 2025 12:29pm
      - Steve Otto N Shore
        
        “going for growth” has Ardern pawprints all over it! ffs.
        
        6 1
        Report
        January 24, 2025 4:50pm
  - G the giant from Dunedin
    
    But you as an act supporter are quite happy for Seymour to open his very own bureaucracy and say nothing. You also as usual forgot mention yesterday shut down 3 agencies, but as usual with you hypocrisy is fine, just more bashing of Luxon
    
    1 11
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 24, 2025 11:04am
    - Matt Long
      
      Not an Act supporter thanks G, I support good policies and vote for the least bad party at elections.
      
      12 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 24, 2025 12:27pm
    - sungsamning
      
      That’s good news about the agencies being shut down.
      
      5 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 24, 2025 5:36pm
- Steve Otto N Shore
  
  No no no! Tarrifs don’t work scream the left.
  
  5 2
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 24, 2025 10:08am
  - MCōs
    
    Tariffs or duties were used as a tool of the Left in NZ until Roger Douglas came along as you will recall.
    Tariffs apply to countries and duties to goods. The latter were used on imports here to protect manufacturing at home such as cars, electronics and white ware.
    TVs cost a fortune and when we were kids we didn’t have one. We went down the road and watched their one.
    What was on? Don’t know, but it was TV
    
    10 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 24, 2025 10:45am
    - Quail
      
      Tarriffs impacted hugely on NZ and it’s exports in the past.
      The trade reforms in the past fought for by NZ at WTO generations was to eliminate tariffs because of the adverse impact on developing countries exports andtheir markets.
      Largely trade agreements reduced tariffs.
      They are still with us but much less prevalent than previously.
      International tariff regimes are usually bad for small trading nations such as this country.
      
      7 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 24, 2025 11:14am
    - Steve Otto N Shore
      
      You know what was on. The start of the mind bending TV1.
      One channel only.
      
      6 2
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 24, 2025 11:19am
      - MCōs
        
        The first TV broadcast in NZ was in 1960 and was The Adventures of Robin Hood, a live interview with a visiting British ballerina and a performance by the Howard Morrison Quartet.
        We’ve all been woke, rabid commies ever since
        I wonder what Howard Morrison sang in 1960. Maybe My Old Man’s an All Black
        Oh, my old man’s an All Black,
        He wears the silver fern,
        But his mates just couldn’t take him
        
        6 2
        Report
        January 24, 2025 1:49pm
      - kowtow
        
        ‘The Adventures of Robin Hood, We’ve all been woke, rabid commies ever since.’
        
        Yep , in the spirit of that broadcast , robbing the tax payer to fund the dope smoking couch dwellers ever since.
        
        6 1
        Report
        January 24, 2025 2:45pm
    - jonno1
      
      It was ‘Route 66’ circa 1961.
      
      3 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 24, 2025 5:36pm
      - Don Beckett
        
        Don’t you get your kicks –
        on Route 66. 🙂
        
        2 0
        Report
        January 24, 2025 7:48pm
  - Grunter
    
    Tariffs are a wrecking ball. They are the most idiotic part of Trump’s plan. So it is not just ‘The Left’ saying that.
    
    Show me one example of a regime of tariffs that has worked over the medium to long term.
    
    5 2
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 24, 2025 11:11am
    - Matt Long
      
      Agreed, I note New Zealand still has import duties more than 40 years after Roger Douglas proclaimed a level playing field would be created.
      The US has a special case where they can leverage power and threats to get many of the outcomes their government desires.
      
      6 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 24, 2025 12:34pm
  - Handyman
    
    When the left realise tariffs are a tax and the EU has the most tariffs in the world they will fall in love with them.
    
    6 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 24, 2025 1:04pm
- mogg
  
  Cheap energy fracking shale for oil and gas. They can produce more oil than Saudi Arabia. Net zero is killing EU economies, apparently those Danish wind turbines switch themselves off when wind speeds reach 50 mph because of ‘potential damage to blades and bearings’. Many wind farms in the North Sea are now switched off because the winds are too strong, but the consumers still have to keep paying the subsidies.
  According to Ratcliffe Net Zero is an experiment in virtue signalling from the far left. Starmer has said that ‘UK future is in AI technology not old fashioned industry’, It’s all over simplified drivel because AI takes up massive amounts of electricity, where is that going to come from.
  
  9 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 24, 2025 10:25am
  - PurplePen
    
    “Starmer has said that ‘UK future is in AI technology not old fashioned industry’”.
    
    When has any govt picked the next big industry or technology and made a fortune from it.
    
    6 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 24, 2025 12:14pm
    - Paulus
      
      Well I supoose Starmer is right – the oldest profession in the world is now still called Prostitution.
      
      5 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 24, 2025 2:26pm
  - MCōs
    
    A point not lost on President Trump who has said America is going to have to double its power output.
    Kind of slips off the tongue, doesn’t it!
    
    2 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 24, 2025 1:37pm
Bridgenag

Remembering Trump’s First Day;
A great OAN panel and adventures gone awry

Interesting panel discussion

https://open.substack.com/pub/rwmalonemd/p/remembering-trumps-first-day?r=1aj1bv&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=email
3 1
Log in to Reply
Report
January 24, 2025 9:35am
Damocles11

Another day of ‘Trump, Trump, Trump, Trump, Trump, Trump, Trump, Trump’ here on Kiwiblog in New Zealand.

Meanwhile, interesting things are happening a little closer to home. It looks like a conflict will break out of the Coalitions determination to ramp up mining, and the Leftists determination to stop them.
13 8
Log in to Reply
Report
January 24, 2025 9:42am
- mogg
  
  Trump Trump Trump is a lot closer to home than you seem to realise. Our biggest export market is China, our second biggest is America, there are going to be trade ructions between Trump and China and we will be in the middle.
  
  9 2
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 24, 2025 10:30am
- cmm
  
  ” It looks like a conflict will break out of the Coalitions determination to ramp up mining”
  
  Here we are, 15 months in and the Coalition government hasn’t got off its botty on things that really matter for boosting the economy – getting the energy sector going again etc.
  
  As I said yesterday, what really makes Trump different is that he used the off time to develop policy and have a whole lot in place to go on day one.
  
  That sets the benchmark for how we should expect shadow governments to be ready to go on day one. There is nothing stopping them doing the research they need to do this.
  
  For example we had Melissa Lee talk up how things could be done in the IT space two years ago. As soon as they got into the power they should have had policy ready to roll well over a year ago. I realise that Melissa Lee fell out of grace, but that doesn’t mean the work she did was run through the shredder.
  
  15 2
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 24, 2025 10:41am
  - MCōs
    
    The difference is the opposition parties, particularly Labour, don’t have resources they do over there.
    The money behind the vested interests in America is huge.
    Act would be the closest here.
    
    2 5
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 24, 2025 10:50am
    - mogg
      
      Kamala’s election run spent $1.5 billion US in 15 weeks.
      
      5 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 24, 2025 12:31pm
    - cmm
      
      What resources do they need to develop policies?
      They have a bunch of MPs and staffers paid for by the taxpayer. Surely they should be able to do something with that?
      
      Or are the out of government MPs just on holiday?
      
      9 1
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 24, 2025 2:19pm
      - NeverMindTheBollocks
        
        We don’t have any money. So, instead, we have to think.
        
        1 0
        Report
        January 24, 2025 7:28pm
  - kowtow
    
    The Nat’s used their “off time” in an internecine struggle for the soul of their party .
    
    The soul less faction won.
    
    The one that rates so poorly with the electorate .
    
    They aren’t as clever as they think they are.
    
    10 2
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 24, 2025 11:20am
- Steve Otto N Shore
  
  Trump, Trump, Trump, Trump, is not just another day. There are 4 years of it!
  MAGA.
  When will NZ Govt wake up and get their arses into gear?
  
  8 2
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 24, 2025 11:23am
  - rockape
    
    In the not too distant future there will be a divide. A divide between those who follow the Trumpian style or those who follow the European woke style. There will only be one winner and the loser will go broke. Which will NZ follow?
    
    6 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 24, 2025 1:59pm
    - Steve Otto N Shore
      
      NZ like going broke. It gets votes…….
      
      5 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 24, 2025 4:54pm
rangitoto

So Ratcliffe has sacked Ben Ainslie from the British Americas Cup team.
2 1
Log in to Reply
Report
January 24, 2025 10:09am
- mogg
  
  Ratliff is into football now he owns a third of Man Utd for $2.75B NZ and they are failing.
  
  3 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 24, 2025 12:38pm
  - Biscuit
    
    mogg, at least his Americas Cup yacht ran (a distant) second…
    
    Man Yoo, by comparison, are running (an even MORE distant) 13th in an 18-team Premier League…
    
    7 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 24, 2025 1:49pm
    - Steve Otto N Shore
      
      There is no second in America’s Cup or any yacht race.
      
      1 1
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 24, 2025 4:55pm
kevn

Damo… From your favourite source.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/government-hints-at-major-mining-announcement-defends-using-conservation-land/LODQCER4KJCSPO3E6M322DTGOA/
8 0
Log in to Reply
Report
January 24, 2025 10:37am
- cmm
  
  Does anyone else get annoyed by this “hinting” nonsense?
  
  If you’ve got something to say then friggin just say it. With conviction.
  
  This tentative floating of ideas seems to be just a way to sit on the fence for longer and worrying about not offending everyone.
  
  21 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 24, 2025 10:45am
  - the deity formerly known as nigel6888
    
    Its what happens when you are wholly poll driven animals.
    
    They fly the kite, if the public hates it, well it was never the policy anyway. If they get agreement or no-one cares, then push ahead.
    
    These days this is how all difficult policy decisions are made. Its probably why the Nats will be shitting bricks at painting themselves into a corner on the Treaty Principles Bill. A clear majority want it, and probably a super-majority of the centre right.
    
    Weasling out of this will be entertaining – many squirrels are about to be released.
    
    12 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 24, 2025 11:05am
    - cmm
      
      Yup, but I wonder if they are flying that kite vs the Treaty Bill.
      I thought that the majority of National voters were in opposition to Luxon on this point.
      
      3 1
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 24, 2025 2:14pm
    - Ra Henare
      
      Its one of the new digital age marketing techniques.
      
      In the business world, it’s an announcement of new product to be available some date in the future. Mass advertising/promotion.
      
      Orders being taken now so you dont miss out.
      Then use that data to judge effectiveness of product as defined.
      
      If not hitting sales targets. Then adjust product detail and mass promote again.
      
      Thus getting the best product to actually produce.
      Think Iphone etc
      
      In politics, it has been standard procedure for years. Float and promote the idea of something. eg Capital Gains tax? A Treaties Bill referendum etc etc.
      Only implement it if feedback from voters is positive.
      
      So here is a guess. The Current treaties bill will not go to referendum
      But Winnies delete any reference to Treaty Principles in legislation will fly thru. When does he step down as Deputy PM?
      
      1 1
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 24, 2025 4:49pm
- imalwaysright
  
  Is royalties the only model that a government can use for mining?
  It seems like there should be more meat on the bone for the owners of the assets. Us.
  There must be an alternative such as a hybrid government/ private mining company where we could retain at least half the value.
  
  7 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 24, 2025 11:15am
  - cmm
    
    Possibly, but then you potentially kill the good that lays the golden egg.
    
    Remember that the government is always at least a 28% business owner through company tax anyway.
    
    Add tax on all the salaries etc and it adds up to quite a lot.
    
    5 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 24, 2025 2:17pm
- Steve Otto N Shore
  
  Getting as bad as Ardern making and announcement next week about making an announcement of a future announcement!
  
  13 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 24, 2025 11:25am
  - imalwaysright
    
    A familiar pattern developing?
    
    6 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 24, 2025 12:15pm
    - Steve Otto N Shore
      
      There sure is. Luxon has watched everything from the podium of truth.
      
      5 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 24, 2025 2:33pm
imalwaysright

Larry Ellison wants to cure cancer with mRNA treatment.

Sounds like Covidscam 2.0

https://georgewebb.substack.com/p/larry-ellisons-mrna-cancer-vaccines
7 3
Log in to Reply
Report
January 24, 2025 11:47am
- kevn
  
  Iam… Larry can see gates cornering the jabby market. He wants in as well.
  
  5 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 24, 2025 3:30pm
cmm

Anecdotally it would seem there are far fewer cruise ships in Lyttleton this year than the previous year.

And this year there seem to be more smaller ships and less of the massive ships.

The smaller ships seem to carry more of the well-heeled sort who probably do not have the same financial pressures as those doing large-ship traveling.

I wonder whether that is because last year there were a bunch of people playing catch-up after Covid or maybe this year is down due to people feeling less flush?
7 0
Log in to Reply
Report
January 24, 2025 11:53am
- MCōs
  
  Have you looked at the state of Chch lately?
  No stadium, no cathedral, no A & P show, no shopping
  
  7 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 24, 2025 12:19pm
  - imalwaysright
    
    Have you looked at the state of NZ lately?
    Tourists have the internet apparently, and some of them use it to see if the country they want to go to has turned into a shithole recently.
    
    10 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 24, 2025 1:16pm
  - cmm
    
    Nobody takes a cruise to Chch to go to the stadium or the A&P show. Maybe shopping and the cathedral.
    Most of the cruising action is on the cruise ship itself (or maybe a few trips to see the scenery of Canterbury).
    
    5 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 24, 2025 2:12pm
- greybeard
  
  Those bloody dolphins again……
  
  7 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 24, 2025 1:46pm
Yvette

Seymour’s speech would have caught attention even without the mention of privatisation. He’s delivering it on the same day as the annual Rātana celebrations, which are being attended by every party bar Act.
The Act leader has always been opposed to needing to make the trek to Rātana, though it’s likely his Treaty Principles Bill will be the focus of many conversations there this year.
https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/news/politics/act-leader-david-seymour-expected-to-blow-open-privatisation-debate/
Imminent? Which will lead ONE News 6pm? – Ratana or ACT
Anticipating the answer, sell TVNZ – plus TVNZ+
14 0
Log in to Reply
Report
January 24, 2025 12:03pm
- PurplePen
  
  Ratana.
  
  8 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 24, 2025 12:18pm
Tauhei Notts

Trump. I always thought he was something like a clown. But hugely entertaining.
But I have been listening to him since last Tuesday and I am becoming very very impressed by the man.
I had no idea that he had such a sharp mind, but then I do read New Zealand newspapers.
He has an unusually acute knowledge of so many subjects. Notice how he is able to speak off the cuff, without notes or a teleprompter and rarely says um or ahh.
I now think the world is a better place by having an American president like him.
I believe, that in time, our news media might possibly lose their Trump Derangement Syndrome. I know that I have lost mine.
24 1
Log in to Reply
Report
January 24, 2025 12:04pm
- Miritu
  
  Thank you for your humility and being prepared to change your mind as events unfold. It may encourage others to do the same.
  
  4 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 24, 2025 5:32pm
MCōs

Here’s something this forum can get behind
http://ogles.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-ogles-proposes-amending-22nd-amendment-allow-trump-serve-third-term
3 4
Log in to Reply
Report
January 24, 2025 12:28pm
- Don Beckett
  
  I don’t think that’s necessary. If his administration goes well – which I think it will – Vance will be a shoe-in for two more terms, or maybe Don Jr. ?
  
  4 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 24, 2025 1:11pm
  - Steve Otto N Shore
    
    Vance, Don Jr and then Barron.
    And the leftie heads explode!!!!!!
    
    5 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 24, 2025 2:42pm
- Libertarians are right
  
  Terrible idea. Remember – a change you want now may be used against you later.
  Also – way too old AND term limits are good.
  
  8 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 24, 2025 2:10pm
- cmm
  
  Just because the last president was so terrible I don’t think that is a solid enough reason to make a constitutional amendment.
  
  There are still a good 3 years to roll. A lot can happen in that time.
  
  3 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 24, 2025 3:29pm
- sungsamning
  
  No thanks. He has done enough. Vance next, or Ramaswamy.
  
  1 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 24, 2025 5:44pm
Inandout

We must always keep an open mind on that vaccine.
https://goodoil.news/new-data-sheds-light-on-cover-up/
3 2
Log in to Reply
Report
January 24, 2025 12:38pm
- Don Beckett
  
  So you can’t be talking about the Covid gene therapy.
  (that “vaccine” )
  
  0 2
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 24, 2025 3:38pm
- kevn
  
  Inand… Number 8 isn’t fazed.
  
  0 2
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 24, 2025 3:42pm
lifesgood

So Simon Dallow is pondering his future in view of the proposed cuts to TV staffing. Well I never! I watched the news for the first time in ages recently and he ended every item with “hey eke neigh” What the hell does that mean and why does he do it? Time for a clean out methinks, and while they’re at it get rid of the people who keep calling NEW ZEALAND Aotearoa and renaming all our major towns with Maori names. Maori never had cities they only had villages and they were tiny and far apart.
20 0
Log in to Reply
Report
January 24, 2025 1:17pm
- Yvette
  
  “hey eke neigh”
  
  E haere ake nei – coming up next
  All these Maori references are now so glibly (sorry, Miyazaki) delivered, that they are flippant for the fluent and linguistically incomprehensible to a leaner – so all affluent, whatever way you consider it. If a state television channel so often mis-states its brief – sell it. Well, OK – give it away.
  
  renaming all our major towns with Maori names
  OK, without looking it up, give the Maori name for Tauranga
  I thought so
  
  10 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 24, 2025 2:25pm
- Paulus
  
  Within both RNZ and TVNZ the name of some strange country, not New Zealand, is used all the time in everything opening and closing with no Pawhiri either, but almost totally still in the Weather Cities, though I understod it was to be phased out.
  
  8 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 24, 2025 2:33pm
pdm

To help Chucky out here is Seymours speech which includes the quote of the year for mine. Only 11 and and a bit months until 31 December 2025 but, I reckon the quote will last.

https://nominister.wordpress.com/2025/01/24/david-seymour-quote-of-the-year/
6 0
Log in to Reply
Report
January 24, 2025 1:58pm
Ra Henare

and out in the real world////

This is some non-western puppet media headlines

https://www.phnompenhpost.com/world
2 1
Log in to Reply
Report
January 24, 2025 2:14pm
Steve Otto N Shore

Trump makes promise as he orders declassification of JFK and MLK files.
America has been waiting for this for a long time. Trump is going to take the CIA to the cleaners, along with others.

https://www.msn.com/en-nz/news/other/trump-makes-promise-as-he-orders-declassification-of-jfk-and-mlk-files/ar-AA1xKRUF?
5 1
Log in to Reply
Report
January 24, 2025 2:44pm
- MCōs
  
  I’ll bet he doesn’t release the Epstein papers
  
  0 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 24, 2025 8:53pm
mogg

If my understanding is right Jordan Williams from the tax payer’s union is saying that a woman working inside MBIE has set up the organisation which is receiving tax payer’s money for playing whale songs to Kauri trees, the total funding is worth $4 million.
He is unable to get definitive proof because MBIE will not provide the details. However he has seen invoices paid which have no details on them only the dollar amount. Set up under Labour this scam is still allowed to operate under Luxon (soft on Maori)
19 0
Log in to Reply
Report
January 24, 2025 3:06pm
- Maggy Wassilieff
  
  More details here…
  
  As part of this investigation, we’ve uncovered that the “research” was outsourced to a private “not for profit” company: Te Tira Whakamātaki Limited.
  
  According to Te Tira Whakamātaki Ltd’s website, its “Co-funder and Trustee” is Melanie Mark-Shadbolt.
  
  And here’s the startling thing: Ms Mark-Shadbolt is also the Co-Director of the very same BioHeritage Science Challenge Science – i.e. the Government initiative funding the project!
  
  Scam?
  Corruption?
  
  Is it time for the Auditor General to be called in?
  
  Or is it all too late…..
  
  https://pointofordernz.wordpress.com/2025/01/24/kauri-dieback-whale-oil-and-4-million-of-wellbeing-spending-what-the-media-wont-tell-you/
  
  9 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 24, 2025 5:47pm
  - mogg
    
    Does anybody know what these salary costs are, and who is receiving them. ‘Stop The Steal’.
    
    2 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 24, 2025 6:20pm
AitchW

The Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa is asking its followers to ring a hotline if they happen to come across any Israeli soldiers holidaying here so that they (the PSNA) can “track them down and let them know that they’re not welcome here.
Any Israeli soldier holidaying here is more than welcome in my eyes, and I’d happily buy him or her a beer!
PSNA is a vile, hateful organisation. Any organisation setting up a hotline so it can harass legal visitors needs to go onto the list of terror organisations. John Minto is a prominent member of PSNA, perhaps someone should set up a hotline to allow pro-Israeli groups to track him down.
I’m reasonably sure that Mossad knows where he is…
13 0
Log in to Reply
Report
January 24, 2025 3:23pm
- Blog-aholic
  
  Minto is a day late and a plate short. He is nothing but a screaming skull of hypocricy.
  
  12 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 24, 2025 4:26pm
  - AitchW
    
    That’s true but cold comfort to any Israeli family he targets with his usual rent a rabble.
    
    4 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 24, 2025 6:02pm
- MCōs
  
  The only contact I ever had with IDF types were former soldiers selling Dead Sea Mud skin treatment in a Bangkok mall.
  They stood out a mile because they were very assertive and foreigners can’t get visas for that line of work
  There was an article about their scam in the Bangkok Post Apparently they’d set and sell their stuff until they were rumbled and then move to another mall
  
  0 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 24, 2025 8:51pm
Hugh Jarse

They will be fighting internally for funding with the Aotearoan Solidarity Network for Palestine and the Network for Aotearoan Solidarity with Palestine shortly.
10 0
Log in to Reply
Report
January 24, 2025 4:29pm
- AitchW
  
  Bloody splitters.
  
  1 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 24, 2025 10:18pm
Ghost

Some very interesting people coming forward in this doco

The truth is coming. The Age of Disclosure is an unprecedented and revelatory film –featuring 34 senior members of the U.S. Government, military, and intelligence community– revealing a cover-up of the existence of non-human intelligent life and a secret war to reverse engineer technology of non-human origin.

The film exposes the profound impact the situation has on the future of humanity, while providing a look behind-the-scenes with those at the forefront of the bi-partisan disclosure effort.

YouTube
3 0
Log in to Reply
Report
January 24, 2025 4:39pm
greybeard

https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/360559125/watch-kayaker-paddles-alongside-majestic-killer-whales-raglan
Great ad for her dental clinic !
4 1
Log in to Reply
Report
January 24, 2025 5:12pm
- Don Beckett
  
  Had a similar thing back in around 1996. I was sailing in a Tauranga Yacht Club mid week race in my Noelex 22 – a 22 ft. trailer yacht, with 2 crew.
  Not long after the start, I was on a broad reach, when within 2 or 3 metres of my yacht I heard this load exhalation of air & there right beside me was a bull Orca – the 5 cows were a further 10 or so metres away. His dorsal fin was a little over 1 metre out of the water – he was nearly as long as my boat. He swam alonside us for about 2 or 3 minutes then submerged, & resurfaced about 30 metres away.
  Quite a blast. Orcas come into the harbour around Oct./Nov, chasing stingrays on the many sand flats in the harbour – it is a delicacy for them.
  
  8 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 24, 2025 5:45pm
  - greybeard
    
    That must have been an amazing experience, Don !
    Not to belittle your marine encounter but I was actually referring to the kayaker’s great smile….
    
    3 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 24, 2025 6:58pm
    - Don Beckett
      
      Believe me, greyb. I had a smile wider than hers, but without the teeth, 😆
      
      1 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 24, 2025 7:51pm
Swifty

A one-man wrecking ball:

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/luca-fairgray-accused-of-lying-about-age-to-abortion-clinic-in-underage-sex-case/OHJKOQUF2VC4TAN2BAZUB2QVBU/

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/130820708/auckland-teenager-who-raped-and-sexually-assaulted-fellow-teens-to-be-named
4 0
Log in to Reply
Report
January 24, 2025 5:57pm
- Ghost
  
  Meanwhile we will have a political figure fighting for name suppression after being convicted of sexually abusing two boys
  
  4 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 24, 2025 6:06pm
greybeard

https://www.stuff.co.nz/culture/360558030/samsung-reveals-s25-flagship-smartphone-goes-harder-ai
It doesn ‘t appear to be able to send/receive texts…..
3 1
Log in to Reply
Report
January 24, 2025 7:25pm
MCōs

Thailand legalizes same sex marriage
Former pm has a dig at Trump
https://thediplomat.com/2025/01/hundreds-of-couples-wed-as-thailands-marriage-equality-bill-comes-into-effect/
0 1
Log in to Reply
Report
January 24, 2025 8:33pm

Add a Comment Cancel reply

Login to comment or vote

« $42 billion for broadband and no customers

Imagine … »

Donations

You can now donate to Kiwiblog

Exclusive content from DPF on Patreon

Become a Patron!

Never miss a post

Email Address

Join 40.4K other subscribers

Highlights

Health Target 5 – elective treatments
Health Target 4 – Specialist appointments
Health Target 3 – Emergency Dept Waiting Times
Health Target 2 – Immunisations

Links

"Politics is the art of announcing what is going to work, then never explaining why it didn’t."
Not PC
At Least They Can’t Throw Rocks
No Minister
Strengthening rural communities
Hompaddock
Open mike 16/06/2025
The Standard
Iran trusted the West – Israel exploited that and started a war
The Daily Blog
John Rawls’ Theory of Justice
Utopia
Weren’t we supposed to be better off?
Point of Order
Willis and Quigley
Croaking Cassandra
Pre-emptive or preventative?
Kiwipolitico
Trying to attract a stranded asset
No Right Turn
United Rugby Championship Predictions for the Final
Stats Chat
Theologian Gets It Wrong On Abortion
Bob McCoskrie's McBlog
Halftime Stocktake
NZCPR
Social media slippery slopes
Offsetting Behaviour
THE WORKING FROM HOME RACKET BY PUBLIC SERVANTS
No Punches Pulled (Bob Jones)
Tory Whanau may have to sell Wellington mayoralty to make ends meet
The Civilian
The Accidental Engagement
Imperator Fish
Legal Beagle: Election '23: The Special Votes
Public Address
Making this movie might have been a mistake
Liam Hehir
Why I am retiring from political blogging
Kiwi FireWalker
Angie Warren-Clark: Meet the Newbies
Dan Moskovitz

[email protected]

PO Box 12270, Thorndon, Wellington 6144

Facebook
Twitter
FourSquare
Instagram
LinkedIn
Google+

Archives
Disclosure Statement
Editorial Policy
Privacy Policy
Complaints Policy
Comments Policy

Design by cre8d

%d

Share this:

Like this: