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February 3, 2025 8:00am by Kokila Patel

General Debate 03 February 2025

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General Debate

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NeverMindTheBollocks

“We’ve got a one-and-a-half tonnes of lamb, one-and-a-half tonnes of beef, one-and-a-half tonnes of pork, three tonnes of vegetables, and half a tonne of fish …”

Is it impolite to ask who’s paid for this food?

http://www.rnz.co.nz/news/te-manu-korihi/540697/waitangi-day-kotahitanga-on-display-as-hangi-feeds-10-000-people-at-te-tii-waitangi-marae
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February 3, 2025 8:05am
- Quail
  
  Beef and lamb , tonnes of it ! Did this sustain the indigenous people prior to colonialism?
  Perhaps Waitangi could recognise and thank the farmers and entrepreneurs who have been feeding all of us for generations?
  
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  February 3, 2025 10:06am
  - Gravelroad
    
    Haha. Good one Quail.
    But if you are are farmer who produces food, don’t expect any thanks for your work here in Aotearoa.
    You are responsible for wrecking the climate//
    
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    February 3, 2025 10:38am
    - kowtow
      
      Gravelroad .
      
      Think about it , the mass slaughter of all those settler colonial beasts for one huge nosh up will prevent the seas from rising !
      
      Even a tiny lil’ bit.
      
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      February 3, 2025 10:59am
      - Keith White
        
        “….the mass slaughter of all those settler colonial beasts for one huge nosh up will prevent the seas from rising!”
        
        As long as the gourmets don’t go for an after-meal swim…
        
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        February 3, 2025 1:08pm
  - Taieri
    
    Did this sustain the indigenous people prior to colonialism?
    ——————
    
    Pork. Obtained from long pigs…
    
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    February 3, 2025 12:05pm
  - all true
    
    There aren’t any indigenous people in NZ, only early settler
    
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    February 3, 2025 4:28pm
    - NZer In Exile
      
      We are all (black, brown, yellow, pink and white) the descendants of Africans. Get TF over the racist BS and get with the modern world we were all born into.
      
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      February 3, 2025 7:31pm
      - NZer In Exile
        
        PS the “get TF over the racist BS” was directed those obsessed with the irrelevant distraction of which races allegedly got to NZ first.
        
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        February 3, 2025 7:42pm
- cmm
  
  “Is it impolite to ask who’s paid for this food?”
  
  There’s that saying in poker: If you haven’t worked out who the mark is within 5 minutes then it is you.
  
  I could feel my wallet getting lighter as I read that.
  
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  February 3, 2025 11:14am
- Hugh Jarse
  
  It would be a breach of the Treaty to ask.
  
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  February 3, 2025 11:18am
- Steve Otto N Shore
  
  I do hope the local Council has provided a Food Act Registration here.
  Have they? Health and Safety and all that stuff.
  
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  February 3, 2025 5:14pm
Benedict Yu

Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
Trump is like 1930 trade wars all over again.

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Smoot-Hawley-Tariff-Act

Biden and that clown Kamala were a disaster. Is Trump as cure going to be worse than the Biden disease?

Only 2 weeks in, we have the start of a trade war and the RFK Health Secretary catastrophe in waiting.

Trump has prohibited the EPA from publishing climate change data.🤡

He has also cancelled the CDC Morbidity and Mortality weekly reports. 🤡

https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/index.html

These were excellent reading to provide information on emerging viruses, vaccine performance and a host of other emerging serious, or potentially serious, threats to health.

Perhaps the trade war will be averted and RFK will be consigned to the trash can of history. Let us hope. 😩
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February 3, 2025 8:09am
- Mark Hanley
  
  In news closer to home…..
  
  Yesterday I was asked why i thought the TOW principles bill will eventually pass into law…. Constitutional change is a long term play, so the process takes time
  
  1. Start the conversation with voters. The best way to have that conversation is to take a bill through select committee.
  
  2. Evaluate voter interest in the change. Surveys and the publc response to the select committee suggest there is strong support for the bill.
  
  3. Suggest a referendum which will take the heat off the government, and place the law into the hands of voters.
  
  4. Hold the referendum.
  
  5. Pass the law
  
  6. Start the push for constitutional change to embed the principles outlined in the bill….. it’s a no brainer to ingrain principles proven to be the bedrock of intergenerationally successful countries.
  
  PS. Vaccines – GOOD
  Fraudulent covid jab – BAD
  
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  February 3, 2025 8:18am
  - pdm
    
    Difficult to see the relevance of the last two lines which are totally out of kilter with the rest of your comment MH.
    
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    February 3, 2025 9:57am
    - Mark Hanley
      
      The last 2 lines were a belated tip of the hat to BYs comment.
      
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      February 3, 2025 10:22am
  - I remember when
    
    Mark Hanley:
    Largely agree vaccines are good.
    However, does the need for individual vaccines always get the debate that it should?
    Is a vaccine always the answer or have we just become programmed to believe that that is the case?
    
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    February 3, 2025 10:14am
    - Mark Hanley
      
      Most Vaccines are cheap, safe, and effective. The preferred stop sign at the top of the cliff.
      
      All Vaccines (the covid jab certainly wasn’t a vaccine) are debated by public health doctors before they are administered to the public. All Vaccines (except the covid jab) are optional.
      
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      February 3, 2025 10:34am
      - Mod88
        
        I decide what goes into my body. The individuals Free Choice on Vaccines is Paramount. Just ask Chris “We Never Made The Covid Vaccine Compulsory, People Made Their Own Choices” Hipkins. The Minister Of Mandates.
        
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        February 3, 2025 11:50am
      - kevn
        
        Mark H… I had my last jab in 2023.
        Tetanus booster.
        I am not an anti-vaxxer, just like 99.5% of folk.
        Anti mandate of untested jab? Yes.
        
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        February 3, 2025 11:58am
      - Mark Hanley
        
        I Agree Kev and MOD.
        
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        February 3, 2025 12:04pm
      - bennerg
        
        Mark,
        
        “Most Vaccines are cheap, safe, and effective”
        
        What most people have failed to appreciate, due to the media primed by the industrial side of medicine, is that most vaccines have not been put through the full standard testing regimes required for all drugs. RFK’s position is that he is pro “vaccine safety”. Sadly the media turns that around and calls him “anti-vax”.
        
        Here is our current schedule in NZ, and there are a lot there – and part of the testing should not just be “is this one vaccine is safe?”, but what is the effect of them all on a small, as yet fully developed nervous system over their developmental years. And compare them to a community such as the Amish who do not vaccinate.
        
        https://info.health.nz/immunisations/national-immunisation-schedule
        
        It has been known for some time that the US CDC and FDA have a revolving door policy with regards to their management.
        
        Right now my “bullshit antennae” tells me there is something suspiciously fishy about those cozy relationships
        
        I endorse RFK with a “pro science” approach, rather than arrangements of convenience that have existed for so long. What I want is to be confident that there is independent oversight for all testing processes, that true and proper processes are followed, and that we are guided by people who can raise issues without threat or favour.
        
        Gladly people by Bernie Sanders and “Pocahontas” Warren, funded by Big Pharma are now nowhere near those processes.
        
        I look forward to seeing the system totally rejigged, and be able to convince critical thinkers and skeptics alike that the results are real and not corrupt. Also a media that is likewise not beholden to these industrial behomeths, so we get full, transparent, and truthful reports. Luckily this is now starting to happen with the White House bringing in a wider, independent press representation.
        
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        February 3, 2025 2:09pm
      - Mark Hanley
        
        Bennerg. The success of Vaccines suggests they have gone throuh enough testing .
        
        It reminds me of those claiming all pharmaceuticals are bad whilst ignoring the 1 year of extra life we gain every 10 years.
        
        And those claiming the health system is geared towards men whilst ignoring women live 3 years longer than men.
        
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        February 3, 2025 2:49pm
      - Ross Bayer
        
        mark,
        just as you got the details of the HPV vax wrong you got this one wrong as well.
        In the US the 42 jabs that the children have by the age of 5 are a requirement to attend day care and school
        You have heard of the three strikes rule?
        
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        February 3, 2025 4:56pm
      - Ross Bayer
        
        See my post below
        
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        February 3, 2025 4:56pm
      - bennerg
        
        mark
        
        “The success of Vaccines suggests they have gone through enough testing .”
        
        The problem with that assumes:
        
        1. There is actual recording of adverse events, linking them to the vaccine injection. Typically in a roll out situation this is not done, unless special instruction.
        
        As an aside, I had an unpleasant side effect to a drug recently prescribed, and asked my doctor to record it on any relevant database … response was effectively “we don’t do that sort of thing”. It requires paperwork, follow ups and all sorts of inconvenience for them, especially since they only have 13 minutes to attend to you before the next patient comes along.
        
        2. The uncontested fact that in the USA chronic health conditions have worsened since vaccination programmes were implemented. Check our RFK’s presentations on the matter for details. Why? The question must be asked. What have they done different? Why are the Amish (who don’t get vaccinated) so healthy?
        
        These are the very questions that need to be asked, instead of sheep like taking whatever the Big Pharma companies feed everyone (drugs and propaganda).
        
        Having worked in the medical field in many different sectors, I’ve observed the insidious way the life of Doctors and Nurses, and other professionals is manipulated and controlled.
        
        So I welcome what RFK is planning, as it will take out the control and domination of business motivations in the area of health, and replace them with outcomes to actually benefit people’s health.
        
        We have just seen in the last 24 hours the revelation from DOGE that in the USA the Treasury authorised EVERY payment without oversight. WOW!!!! This is the sort of lunacy that is endemic in their bureaucracy. I’m assuming they will find the same sort of thing in their Health system. eg approval of any drug put forward by a drug company.
        
        Now these are the companies that have, like for Pfizer, been fined BILLIONS of dollars for unethical trading. So it’s time to get out the popcorn and expect a healthier future.
        
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        February 3, 2025 5:49pm
      - Mark Hanley
        
        Ross the 2 elephants in your virtual room are…
        1. We don’t live in America
        2. Every 10 years we live an extra year.
        
        So…… the many ethical Dr’s running and participating in our health system can’t all be corrupt. The Dr’s I know certainly aren’t.
        
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        February 4, 2025 5:48am
    - imalwaysright
      
      I Remember
      Good point. Apparently there are dozens of different recommended vaccinations.
      I wonder if they are tested for conflicting effects or cumulative side effects.
      That is a massive number of permutations.
      
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      February 3, 2025 10:38am
      - Benedict Yu
        
        There are not dozens. I count 13. That includes HPV at age 9 but excludes COVID.
        
        Are you seriously suggesting that parents should not follow the recommended schedule?
        
        You might want to wander through a New Zealand cemetery pre 1950. I wonder why there are so many graves of infants? We could return to that time if the anti vaxxers prevail.
        
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        February 3, 2025 12:19pm
      - imalwaysright
        
        So, since the ’50s doctors started saving infants with vaccines? Nothing to do with technical advances in post natal care?
        Don’t forget the proliferation of abortion.
        Those wee ones don’t get the luxury of a headstone.
        
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        February 3, 2025 12:46pm
      - bennerg
        
        Benedict, as usual you are making simple assumptions, that belie the complexity of health.
        
        There are many factors that have affected child health. If you take Whooping cough for example, when a vaccine was introduced in the 1940’s the average deaths in teh USA per 100,000 was about 1 to 2. Today it appears to be near nil. Fantastic, a win for vaccines ????
        
        Well when you look further back in time, say the early 1900’s, the death rate was about 12-15 per 100,000. So what happened? From what I understand the drop in deaths from 12-15 down to 1 -2 was due to better hygiene, and other benefits associated with higher quality of life – warmer homes etc. So the drop in deaths was a trend already established, and with the increasing quality of life past theh 1940’s, it could be said that the vaccine did little to affect a trend that was already established.
        
        Here’s a graph referencing the USA historical data.
        
        https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F34260fa8-11bb-4557-9c37-a88478966317_2715x1694.png
        
        Elsewhere I seen this same data presented supporting vaccines, but removes ALL the data prior to the introduction of vaccines, therefore making it look like that vaccines were the only variable.
        
        This is the sort of propagandising that has been used over time, and typical of the actions that brought Pfizer to be fined (albeit on another matter) over a BILLION dollars.
        
        Where this misinformation is brought to you by our own authorities, then I can understand the average person believing that it is real.
        
        But when you actually look into the real data, read the actual medical reports, understand the caveats that are never published in the media, you get a picture of a vipers nest of iniquity, with the genuine people of this world hoodwinked into believing and not questioning.
        
        Benedict, I believe you are a good person. You have the desire to see people be healthy and happy. But people are not healthy and happy – and in the USA as here, they are much worse than when we grew up.
        
        The emperor has no clothes!
        
        It is time to ask the serious questions, and get real answers, not ones from paid promoters and PR experts.
        
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        February 3, 2025 9:17pm
    - Fender
      
      I would say not for the one they decided all year 9 girls need at first year of high school
      
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      February 3, 2025 10:53am
      - Mark Hanley
        
        The herpes vaccine has been incredibly effective. Less herpes now means less cervical cancer in the future.
        
        The many deaths of young people to meningitus was also ended by the meningitus vaccine.
        
        Measles was all but wiped out by the vaccine…. measles is a killer of children.
        
        I won’t go on.
        
        I wish you blanket antivaxxers would stop going on.
        
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        February 3, 2025 12:12pm
      - Don Beckett
        
        Agrred Mark, except that measles wasn’t wiped out. I got measles when I was an infant & survived no trouble before the measles vaccine. as a child, I got the ‘German Measles’ vaccine, which was the dangerous one. However, when I was a college (15 ? ) I got the measles – mild dose no doubt, and again when I was 21, but mild lasted 2 days.
        No doubt i had a large degree of immunity which reduced the 2nd 2 bouts, but never got the ‘German’ variety – very effective vaccine.
        
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        February 3, 2025 1:18pm
      - Mark Hanley
        
        Don, not everyone who gets measles dies, but enough do to warrant a vaccine.
        
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        February 3, 2025 1:35pm
  - Taieri
    
    Start the conversation with voters.
    —————
    
    Such a “conversation” has been going on for a very long time.
    Put the proposed bill provisions to a referendum!
    
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    February 3, 2025 12:08pm
    - Mark Hanley
      
      If I was king of nz…. that is exactly what will happen.
      
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      February 3, 2025 12:26pm
      - NoFax
        
        I think you confused HPV with HSV. Human papillomavirus (HPV) can lead to cervical cancer and other cancers. Herpes simplex virus (HPV 1 or 2) or simply Herpes causes cold sores and but not cancer.
        
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        February 3, 2025 1:50pm
      - Mark Hanley
        
        Thx nofax. I looked it up and you are correct.
        
        My point about Vaccines still stands though.
        
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        February 3, 2025 2:53pm
- kowtow
  
  How come “Trump’s tarriffs ” are so evil and detrimental to the world , while the globalist taxes and potential punitive tarriffs to stop a minor gas ( which nature is the greatest producer of) are so good.
  
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  February 3, 2025 8:23am
  - Benedict Yu
    
    Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
    Because carbon taxes are taxes on the negative externalities of greenhouse emissions.
    
    Your comparison is totally invalid.
    
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    February 3, 2025 10:14am
    - thirteenstars
      
      Well, let’s just say that tariffs are levies on the negative externalities of IP theft, unequal tariffing of US exports, the costs of illegal immigration and drug trafficking, and the cost to the US of maintaining the freedom of the seas which is at the heart of global trade.
      
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      February 3, 2025 10:29am
    - kowtow
      
      OK , I’ll bite .
      
      The pre eminent greenhouse gas is dihydrogen oxide . So the science says .
      
      Here’s a bit of good ole whataboutism.
      
      Whatabout dihydrogen oxide taxes .Why not .
      
      Mankind is a huge user and ’emitter’. Targeting agricultural emitters would save the planet too, surely.
      But then we might have to compensate the traditional owners .
      
      Mind you we could ask one or two dihydrogen oxide bodies what they think seeing as how the Swivel Eyed Loons who’re into this emission nonsense ( parliament) also saws fit to “embody” some dihydrogen oxide.Depending on where he or she or was it a they them was .
      
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      February 3, 2025 11:07am
      - Steve Otto N Shore
        
        Not any bites kotow?
        Must admit that is am a huge emitter of dihydrogen oxide with the amount that I use.
        It is already Taxed heavily by the Govt before it gets to me.
        
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        February 3, 2025 5:33pm
    - I remember when
      
      Why are they the ‘negative’ externalities?
      
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      February 3, 2025 11:08am
    - Taieri
      
      Because carbon taxes are taxes on the negative externalities of greenhouse emissions
      —————-
      
      And they cause reduction in emissions.
      The question is: how?
      
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      February 3, 2025 12:09pm
      - imalwaysright
        
        They stop your “emissions” by keeping you in your box (work from home, don’t go to the pub and start hearing other opinions, don’t fly anywhere for a holiday in case you see a pattern developing, etc) and tuned in to your next set of instructions.
        
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        February 3, 2025 12:53pm
      - Michael Sommerville
        
        They reduce the emission of CO2 BUT they don’t reduce the total CO2 in the atmosphere.
        
        I have the graphs to prove it. Sadly my cpmputer skills are insufficient to reproduce them here.
        
        I also have a graph that goes back 600 million years that very clearly shows there is no correlation between CO2 and temperature.
        
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        February 3, 2025 12:59pm
  - thirteenstars
    
    Excellent point.
    
    I’m no fan of tariffs but they pale against the onslaught of fees, levies and hidden inflationary costs caused by government imposts and inefficiencies, the worst of which is the burgeoning Green tariffs on almost every human activity, which National have so eagerly put us on the hook for in recent times.
    
    I have American friends who wonder at the eyewatering cost of living in NZ because of all of this. The tariffs will certainly put some upward pressure on prices in the US but removing the US from the Paris Agreement will do more to keep prices down over the long term.
    
    Further, it’s Trump’s plan, which he has recently made clear, that perhaps it’s time for federal income taxes to go and for the US to use tariffs to take up the slack.
    
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    February 3, 2025 10:22am
  - imalwaysright
    
    Kow
    Well said.
    At least with a tariff we get something for our money.
    
    Luxon keeps saying he wants more growth and then signs us up for billions of dollars in payments to the Cult.
    
    Maybe he needs the growth to pay the Cult.
    
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    February 3, 2025 10:47am
    - Benedict Yu
      
      Tariffs are a ridiculous policy. It is amazing I even need to say that.
      
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      February 3, 2025 12:20pm
      - Don Beckett
        
        Depends on the intended purpose – protectionism, or influence. Why does the EU, Norway etc have tarrifs with no apparent international complaints for protectionism – when Trump imposes them with huge international complaint & derogation, to influence the negative repercussions of those other states’ whose action or inactions have very negative on the US populace.
        A large dose of hypocrisy is becoming very apparent.
        
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        February 3, 2025 1:27pm
      - mogg
        
        Life is never in black or white as your remark seems to suggest. It is amazing I even need to say that.
        
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        February 3, 2025 2:24pm
- BananaLlama
  
  Would it be possible to see which executive order they are complying with? They have a notice on the header but no link to the source, which immediately triggers my cynicism.
  
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  February 3, 2025 8:37am
- All_on_Red
  
  Only [Mod – just debate the topics] dont realise that the EPA is a Regulatory Authority and because of that is more a political organisation.
  The main Scientific organisation in the US is NOAA
  https://www.noaa.gov/
  Nothing has changed there. Plenty of data being published
  Like this showing Global Sea Level rise is only around 2-3mm pa
  Detail of Global Stations around the world
  https://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/sltrends/sltrends_global.html
  Heres Auckland
  https://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/sltrends/sltrends_station.shtml?id=690-002
  Anybody who claims sea levels will rise 1 metre by 2100 [Mod – just debate the topics]
  
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  February 3, 2025 8:37am
  - cmm
    
    Yup, you are correct and very few people understand this.
    
    The climate etc is NOAA’s turf but many other agencies want a slice of the sexy action and the noise that goes with it. These are primarily the EPA and NASA both of whom are infected with activists and like to make dramatic press releases.
    
    NOAA is about as close as you can get to a real scientific organisation in the US federal government. For now anyway – that might change.
    
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    February 3, 2025 8:55am
  - Benedict Yu
    
    “Only morons….”
    
    Only Monday morning and the tone is set…
    
    I give up.
    
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    February 3, 2025 9:35am
    - All_on_Red
      
      Apologies Benedict
      Grumpy Monday morning
      But it is noticeable that you seem to be deliberately being provocative with some of your posts recently
      
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      February 3, 2025 11:55am
      - Jethrod
        
        Also BY has had at least 2 “hidden comments due to low ratings” today as well as a number of pink enshrouded comments as well.
        What’s going on BY?
        
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        February 3, 2025 4:01pm
  - Dave
    
    Thanks, mod, for editing AoR’s comment.
    
    Most of AoR’s comment is quite reasonable, but his abusive language was so unjust that it was only after reading cmm’s comment, I vaguely recalled occasions when the EPA colluded with eco-devotees to effectively create new legal precedents by not fighting court challenges to existing laws.
    
    Implying that BY is a moron is so manifestly mistaken, that it initially discredited AoR more than BY, and looks more like cancel culture in action than serious debate. (Edit: See BY’s response at 9.35.)
    
    One of KB’s strengths is its acceptance of unpopular viewpoints and the willingness of informed people to debate them rather than the person. Long may that continue.
    
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    February 3, 2025 10:30am
    - imalwaysright
      
      BY calls people names and makes disparaging remarks about their posts.
      
      Can’t have different rules for different people.
      
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      February 3, 2025 11:39am
      - Benedict Yu
        
        Really? To the best of my knowledge, I have never violated the comments policy of the blog.
        
        Would you like to guess how many times you have done so?
        
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        February 3, 2025 12:23pm
      - Bridgenag
        
        Yes Bring Jackrabbit back…
        
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        February 3, 2025 1:15pm
      - imalwaysright
        
        [Mod – this stops now. Debate the topics, not the people]
        
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        February 3, 2025 1:42pm
    - cmm
      
      An ex-school friend of mine joined the EPA during the Obama years in an extremely senior role and is heavily involved in all the vehicle regulations, plans for automated highways etc.
      
      From what I can see from the odd conversation with him, there is a hell of a lot of activism etc. On top of that there’s a lot of money slushing around that finds them being lobbied by all sorts.
      
      He’s really interested in the technology side and largely closes his eyes to the poor science. If it wasn’t such a scam he wouldn’t be able to do the sorts of research etc he finds interesting.
      
      He really doesn’t care whether or not it is a serious problem, it all just gives him an opportunity to play with his ideas.
      
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      February 3, 2025 11:52am
  - Handyman
    
    The EPA has history for bureaucratic overreach.
    Under Obama it unilaterally declared its role to protect US waterways would be extended to include all standing water bodies. The states sued for infringing state regulation authority and EPA lost.
    
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    February 3, 2025 12:34pm
- Cassandra
  
  I don’t think you’re going to win the Kennedy debate, Ben, but the trade war is interesting. Economists are almost universally opposed to tariffs as a weapon – they hurt consumers as much as exporters – but Trump has a point, in that America’s industrial might has evaporated because of labour costs. There might be a compromise. Applying them to NZ would be daft – were not guilty – but you can bet the US farm lobby will be all over this.
  
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  February 3, 2025 8:42am
  - peterwn
    
    In the 1920’s, bootleg liquor was taken southwards across the Great Lakes. Looks like there will now be a northward flow of Jack Daniels, Jim Beam, Bud etc across the Lakes. Scottish distilleries will also be rubbing their hands with glee at the thought of increased exports to Canada. Perhaps there will be a movie ‘Some Like it Hot 2’ byline ‘Toronto 2029’ centered on a seedy funeral parlor in Toronto.
    
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    February 3, 2025 10:50am
  - sungsamning
    
    I’m undecided on the Trump tariffs too. I hope I won’t get kicked out of the MAGA movement. //
    
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    February 3, 2025 11:16am
    - kevn
      
      sung… minto didn’t do NZ inc. any favours.
      
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      February 3, 2025 12:01pm
      - sungsamning
        
        He sure didn’t. Never has.
        
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        February 3, 2025 5:43pm
  - Ra Henare
    
    If the Kennedy debate is about him being an antivaxxer(he swears on oath he is not).
    He is about health safety, and challenged the Party line of Covid Vax being safe.
    
    Then it negates ALL the other platforms he is running on.
    ie Reducing obesity, Diabetes, Mental problems that are increasing year by year in the USA.
    
    So throw the baby out with the bathwater if you can only concentrate on one comment from Kennedys past versus the policies of making the USA population healthier.
    
    But then again, like TDS, KDS is driven my emotions not critcical thinking.
    
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    February 3, 2025 11:53am
- slightlyrighty
  
  “Bueller………Bueller…….”
  
  https://youtu.be/yuOHbyuanbY?si=-XisqC6zvKY2pgH-
  
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  February 3, 2025 8:44am
- cmm
  
  “Trade war” is a rather hyperbolic. It isn’t a real was and is the best tool to achieve what they want to achieve.
  
  Both Canada and Mexico are extremely dependent on USA and are perceived by Americans to be taking advantage of that situation in many ways.
  
  Whether or not you or I think the “trade war” is fair or not is rather irrelevant. It is being conducted by the Americans for their own perceived best interests.
  
  That said, Canada have been hiding behind USA’s skirts for decades and Mexico is clearly not doing what it should to reduce the flow of drugs through its country.
  
  As for RFK. Having him give the pharma industry (and the corruption in the FDA etc that goes along with it) a good kick in the groin is far from the worst thing that could happen.
  
  I hope the same happens in the military and aerospace industry too.
  
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  February 3, 2025 8:46am
  - Blog-aholic
    
    It’s more a trade handbags at 20 paces…..
    
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    February 3, 2025 9:03am
  - goNZ1
    
    Yes – from the USA point of view they have a shocking fentanyl problem and millions of illegals come over their borders under Bumbling Brandons watch.
    So before we get too judgemental of Trumps medicine to recitify these challenges, let us pause and be thankful we do not have those problems here -yet….
    
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    February 3, 2025 9:04am
    - Northshoredoc
      
      Fentanyl from Canada doesn’t sound like a big problem ..43 pounds seized in a year less the 10.8 going the other way.
      
      https://www.forbes.com/sites/andyjsemotiuk/2025/01/31/tariff-on-canada-not-justified-by-us-immigration-and-drug-claims/
      
      In Fiscal Year 2024, USCBP seized 21,148 pounds of fentanyl at the southwest border, mostly smuggled from Mexico. In contrast, only 43 pounds were intercepted at the northern border. This means that less than 1% of all fentanyl seizures occurred at the U.S.-Canada border.
      
      Furthermore, drug flows are not a one-way street. In 2024, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) seized approximately 10.8 pounds of fentanyl coming into Canada from the United States.
      
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      February 3, 2025 9:42am
  - Cassandra
    
    From the Wall Street journal: “Dumbest Trade War In History”. I think this dispute meets the definition of a trade war. But call it what you will, it has the potential to inflict serious damage n all parties, at least in the short term.
    
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    February 3, 2025 9:34am
    - kowtow
      
      10 million illegal immigrants and a total failure by the USA Establishment to enforce the law has not the potential to inflict serios damage , but literally undermines the very concept of law and order and nationhood.
      
      Watch the Europeans too who’re now finally waking up to the same problem.
      
      Literally , nationhood and society is threatened by this lawlessness , by their govts and the other pro migration ( and soft on crime) proponents.
      
      Borders matter.
      
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      February 3, 2025 11:13am
    - NZer In Exile
      
      “From the Wall Street journal: “Dumbest Trade War In History”.”
      
      OK then it’s probably a good idea and will ultimately be a success.
      
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      February 3, 2025 7:35pm
  - NothingLeft
    
    Mexico is a borderline Narco-state where rule of law is patchy at best and all govt is severely compromised by cartel threats and infiltration. There would be a good case to make for US assisting in the elimination of at least the more significant upper echelons and infrastructure of the cartels to give a chance for it to be rooted out at lower levels. Then the Mexican side of the border might start to see some policing, and would certainly contribute greatly to an improved economy in Mexico.
    
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    February 3, 2025 10:30am
    - sungsamning
      
      If the US special forces went into Mexico; it could turn into a quagmire. The cartels have a huge cash flow. They’re completely ruthless, and they’ve long since compromised law enforcement, and politicians. Better to complete the wall. vigorously control both borders, and bring jobs back. Jobs provide hope, and self esteem. People with these things don’t need illegal drugs. The MAHA movement has a role to play in this process too.
      
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      February 3, 2025 11:25am
      - Don Beckett
        
        The MAHA movement – Make America Happy Again. 🙂
        
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        February 3, 2025 1:35pm
  - sungsamning
    
    Yes, its funny how the main recipients of $ from big pharma are hysterical about RFK getting into cabinet. Nothing to see here folks. //
    
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    February 3, 2025 11:20am
    - kevn
      
      sung… Check the BiG numbers on this…
      https://x.com/MidwesternDoc/status/1885674452085858771
      
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      February 3, 2025 12:03pm
      - sungsamning
        
        Sanders and Warren can honestly say: “Big pharma has been good to me”.
        
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        February 3, 2025 5:46pm
  - Ra Henare
    
    Keeping this all politics, Trump style, bluster and threats before settling on reasonable solutions.
    
    Then maybe the current rants and rage about tariffs is a waste of mental energy (But its good for clicks from the non-thinking MSM)
    
    Check back Trump 1.0 for examples.
    
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    February 3, 2025 11:56am
- In Vino Veritas
  
  Ben, Trump’s agenda 2017-21 had him scaling back EPA so there is no surprise he is doing same this time. It fits with his energy policies. There other agencies that are reporting climate data.
  
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  February 3, 2025 9:03am
- Phronesis
  
  It’s got nothing to do with trade. The MSM are wilfully failing to report what the intention is. As Trump has clearly stated, the tariffs are simply a stick to encourage compliance by Canada and Mexico on the border.
  
  https://x.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1885821495080825305
  
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  February 3, 2025 9:38am
  - Northshoredoc
    
    What is the issue at the Canadian border that requires a compliance ?
    
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    February 3, 2025 10:14am
    - Ghost
      
      https://www.newsweek.com/us-northern-border-crossings-break-record-2024-1921401
      
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      February 3, 2025 10:19am
      - rangitoto
        
        Well the US should police their border.
        
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        February 3, 2025 11:13am
      - Northshoredoc
        
        From your article, it appears the issues at the northern Border are negligible compared to the southern Border.
        
        ‘..In a statement shared on X, Representative Mike Kelly said: “The Northern border is virtually unwatched. Over the last three years, the Northern border has seen a record number of border crossings – 189,402 land encounters in all of FY23. The Homeland Security Appropriations Act provides funding to secure our Southern AND Northern Borders.”
        
        In addition to this, staggering statistics from the CBP show that more than 7.2 million migrants had illegally crossed into the U.S. over the Southwest border during U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration. This figure is higher than the individual populations of 36 states.’
        
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        February 3, 2025 11:40am
- Grunter
  
  Trump’s tariffs are economic stupidity. And dangerous as well.
  
  If anyone thinks tariffs make sense, at a national level, then logically, why not use them at a State or regional level? Why not have California impose a tariff on Orange Juice from Florida just like the Canadians have done? And if that somehow makes sense, then where does it stop? Back in history, tariffs were imposed at the City level. It sounds bonkers – and it was.
  
  All tariffs wreak havoc over the foundation of trade and prosperity – comparative advantage is destroyed.
  
  Trump is unleashing the most ridiculous plan onto the global economy. Whoever is advising him on economic policies is simply a looney.
  
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  February 3, 2025 9:54am
  - Cassandra
    
    It’s not solely economic, the Mexican bit is drugs and immigration as well, and China is geopolitical.
    
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    February 3, 2025 10:04am
  - thirteenstars
    
    “then logically, why not use them at a State or regional level? ”
    
    In the US that is forbidden by various clauses in the Constitution, that’s why. The Federal government only has power to tariff imports, not exports, and the states are prohibited from import and export duties. It’s also why the US has no national sales tax; because it has no authority to impose one.
    
    The Founders intended the Federal government be funded by tariffs and excise. They managed that for 130 years before the passage of the 16th Amendment which gave the Feds the power to tax incomes. During that time the US became the wealthiest nation in the history of the world and US government had to balance its spending and income.
    
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    February 3, 2025 10:53am
    - alwyn.a
      
      “In the US that is forbidden by various clauses in the Constitution”.
      Minor little details like that don’t bother the oaf in the White House. After all if you, (or if Donald), were to read the 14th amendment to the Constitution that would see that you are entitled to citizenship if you were born there and subject to the jurisdiction of the US. Didn’t worry Donald did it?
      
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      February 3, 2025 2:16pm
      - thirteenstars
        
        You are under the impression that an EO is a fait accompli when it is subject to both the Constitution and to regular law.
        
        The Trump EO was temporarily restrained by a judge. See, the system works. Trump is not a dictator although it seems you’d like to portray him as such.
        
        What will happen is the EO will eventually make its way to the Supreme Court, just as many before it have done from every president, and it will be adjudicated upon.
        
        Many thought Roe v Wade sacrosanct but it wasn’t. Things can outlive their use-by date.
        
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        February 3, 2025 3:05pm
    - Grunter
      
      Which kinda backs up my point – it’s so bonkers that they have laws saying don’t do it.
      
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      February 3, 2025 4:28pm
      - thirteenstars
        
        No, they don’t have laws forbidding Federal tariffs on imports. It’s the one exception precisely because the Founders knew that the state had be financed by some means and the best available was tariffs and excises on imports, and they did that successfully until 1913 when the income tax amendment gave the Feds the power to tax incomes.
        
        States are specifically forbidden because the Founders were well-versed in the history of Europe where countries had numerous tolls and duties between even very small subdivisions of the country. France and Germany were notorious for it. That’s a power states gave up for the benefits of joining the United States but they could still levy income taxes and sales taxes which were revenue mechanisms *within* their own states not *between* them.
        
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        February 3, 2025 5:31pm
  - cmm
    
    OK, suggest an alternative?
    
    USA has been asking Mexico, nicely, to control the through flow of people and drugs. Where has that got them? Nowhere.
    
    So the only way to get compliance is to attach some consequences.
    
    Tariffs are one of the best mechanisms available. They are less damaging that outright sanctions. They are certainly less damaging than using military tools.
    
    The intention here is to bring people to the bargaining table to start some serious negotiation – then the tariffs will come off if compliance is achieved.
    
    I find it somewhat funny that many people who egg on the use of sanctions decry tariffs.
    
    I think tariffs could be far more effective with, say, Venezuela, than sanctions are.
    
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    February 3, 2025 11:22am
    - thirteenstars
      
      You make a good point about realpolitik. Fact is, behind the closed doors at the UN or at the WTO, between all nations, realpolitik is the lingua franca that gets things sorted out.
      
      You have to wonder what those criticising Trump for his language and his policies would think if they could hear those other negotiations, the veiled threats, the tacit understandings reached.
      
      But, they know that’s what goes on. That’s why all nations have tariffs, some of them many times larger than what Trump has imposed. Those have all been worked out behind closed doors and they are accepted even if not welcomed, and for reasons of realpolitik.
      
      But the US is singled out as if it has some special obligation to play nice after many years of asking for cooperation and equality of obligation. What *do* you do when negotiation over time has failed? Start shooting? Of course not. But as Bastiat said, if goods don’t cross borders, soldiers will. Tariffs at least let trade continue while making the political point.
      
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      February 3, 2025 1:13pm
    - Grunter
      
      I do understand what you are saying, but I disagree entirely.
      
      Trump has a plan for controlling the southern border, and already it has decreased illegals by a reported 94%. Not bad after a few weeks. Armed guards with a ‘shoot to kill’ order seems to be a pretty effective tool for these buggers.
      
      Drug suppliers (no matter where they come from) should be dealt with the same way. The fentanyl problem isn’t going to be solved by tariffs. Drug Lords couldn’t care less if US consumers had to pay another 25%+ for Mexican goods – why would they?
      
      My main argument concerns the economic effect of tariffs, and this is based on standard economic theory (Austrian Economics, that is, not the failed Keyansian/Marist nonsense). Throughout history, tariffs have contributed to major recessions and even depressions. Just look at what Hoover did on June 17th, 1930, and then what followed (The Great Depression). At that time there was also an emerging a major sovereign debt crisis in Europe (sound familiar?).
      
      US consumers will now be hit with more inflation (remember it’s the end consumer that ultimately pays the tariff). 60% of US crude oil imports come from Canada (10% tariff).
      
      And now both Mexico and Canada have retaliated, and Trump has said that if they do that he will hit them even harder (who blinks first…???).
      
      So it will just be economic chaos unless these ridiculous tariffs are removed.
      
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      February 3, 2025 3:18pm
      - Grunter
        
        And one other point – I see that the Canadian Dollar is falling (as you’d expect). Which means that ‘the market’ has already eroded some of the tariff price difference. Except, of course, the US consumer still pays with inflation created by the rising US dollar (FX Inflation).
        
        Tariffs are just another central planner’s tool causing market distortions and a bunch of unintended consequences.
        
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        February 3, 2025 3:24pm
Northshoredoc

A day without vaccine or Trump mentions would be lovely.
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February 3, 2025 8:10am
- Ceepar
  
  oops, that should be -1 downtick +1 uptick.
  Sorry, fat fingers
  
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  February 3, 2025 5:44pm
Scooter

Who is the arsehole that killed a swan? I think we can all guess what ethnicity he is, and don’t give me that boo hoo be kind bs. It’s clear he is Asian and the sooner someone identifies and reports him the better. Western Springs is a beautiful place in the middle of a crowded city so needs to be protected and whoever did this needs to be fined, outed and shamed.

https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/news/national/witnesses-describe-brazen-daylight-attack-on-swan-in-western-springs/
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February 3, 2025 8:14am
- rouppe
  
  I’m amazed there isn’t one photo of his face.
  
  Someone shouting “hey you!” will almost always elicit a look, and with the camera being used, an easy id shot.
  
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  February 3, 2025 10:23am
  - lifesgood
    
    There may be a photo of his face with the police. I heard someone mention on the radio that the swans could be riddled with worms and parasites so the low life might get his just desserts when he eats it.
    
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    February 3, 2025 12:11pm
- GazzaW
  
  Correction Scooter.He needs to be imprisoned, outed and shamed.
  
  Our coastlines and marine parks are enduring similar or even worse depredations and the practise needs to be halted immediately regardless of the offenders’ ethnicity. Fining the offenders just won’t do the job.
  
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  February 3, 2025 11:15am
- muzled
  
  The sooner we get rid of all the swans in NZ the better.
  
  They’re filthy, aggressive and we’d be better of without them.
  
  But, probably better ways of doing what he did than the headline of that article suggests.
  
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  February 3, 2025 1:46pm
  - Paulus
    
    Nothing as bad a Canada Geese which is a legal pest, particularly to farmers, but whilst they can be shot there is nowhere where that can happen without a screaming mob.
    They poo unmercifally, and they bred like hell, and smell too.
    Tauranga has an enormous breeding colony in an Otumoetai Reserve , but the Council tell me they are not their problem – sorry.
    They did a path clean when I asked.
    
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    February 3, 2025 3:40pm
- NeverMindTheBollocks
  
  Lock up your cat!
  
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  February 3, 2025 2:42pm
  - Ghost
    
    Why lock up a Cat
    
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    February 3, 2025 2:51pm
- Terry Dalee
  
  Not that it excuses it, but I suspect if your assertation is correct, they know no better.. just like the boat load fishing in the Goat Island reserve.
  Obviously, prosecution will provide education. Throw the entire library at them.
  Being ignorant of local laws is no excuse and they are certainly that way minded in most parts of Asia.
  
  They’re quite welcome to the Canadian Geese, they are a known risk to aircraft operations at AKL airport.
  A flock of geese can quite happily take down a jet.. aka Sully and looking like Jeju…
  
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  February 3, 2025 3:19pm
  - GazzaW
    
    We live not too far from Goat Island and over the course of twenty years our little bay has literally become a marine desert. Every form of marine life has been poached out of existence. First to go were the mussels and scallops followed by the cockles and rock oysters and finally the rocks were stripped of periwinkles, whelks, limpets and shrimp. That must have happened to the entire foreshore and seabed within driving distance of Auckland and it’s time to put a stop to it.
    
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    February 3, 2025 3:56pm
slightlyrighty

So, TVNZ News department has awakened from it’s slumber.

Over the weekend, we have had a 2nd US Plane Crash in Philly. Air Strikes in Somalia and the prospect of Global economic turmoil as the New POTUS implements a range of Tariffs that has the potential to set of a Trade War with massive implications for a trading nation.

At the same time, High Profile US Senator Ted Cruz repeats fake news regarding Israeli Citizen requirements on entering NZ, with implications to our relationships with our allies.

Major stories with the potential to adversely affect this country and it’s place in the world.

So the lead stories on One Breakfast news was the reopening of a Railway Station in Pukekohe, and the state of school lunches.

One News is nothing but the propaganda arm of the Labour Party and the union movement in this country.
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February 3, 2025 8:14am
- Ghost
  
  One news covered the plane crashes on the days they happened Ted Cruz peters statement on was top story on sundays news.. How long should yesterdays stories be reported on? When I look at the news I expect up to date stories not a rehash of the previous day
  
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  February 3, 2025 9:38am
- NoFax
  
  It’s of course the propaganda wing of the Labour party as many have said for a long time. However, you still watch? Why?
  
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  February 3, 2025 9:43am
  - septic skeptic
    
    And the National led government still funds it. They also get very concerned about the demise of any MSM. Why?
    
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    February 3, 2025 10:53am
  - slightlyrighty
    
    1. Weather reports.
    
    2. Lack of alternatives.
    
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    February 3, 2025 1:38pm
    - NoFax
      
      Weather reports on your phone.
      
      There are a lot of alternatives – here being one of them.
      
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      February 3, 2025 1:54pm
    - rangitoto
      
      Weatherwatch TV on youtube with Phillip Duncan is the best
      
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      February 3, 2025 3:45pm
Maggy Wassilieff

Some of the folks involved with the Kauri-Whale song scambo:

https://breakingviewsnz.blogspot.com/2025/02/john-mclean-whale-snake-oil-mystic-tree.html
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February 3, 2025 8:40am
- Prince
  
  Good article. Where do you start cleaning out that sewerage pond ? I don’t think this Govt has the will or the means to even start.
  
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  February 3, 2025 9:04am
  - artemisia
    
    There have already been resignations and contracts not renewed, voluntary or not. More whale – kauri style ridicule will persuade some that spending more time with family is a good plan.
    
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    February 3, 2025 9:35am
    - Quail
      
      Artemisia.
      Any returned to the taxpayer?
      If not why not?
      
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      February 3, 2025 11:18am
- cmm
  
  Yes the grifters are bad. Very bad.
  But they are not the worst here.
  
  The worst must surely be the DoC people who signed over DoC funds (aka taxpayer money) to this scam.
  
  What was it they spent? $4million or such? I would like to see a shopping list for that.
  
  Based on what we see in the photo it looks like all they used was a $150 boombox. What happened to the other $3,999,850?
  
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  February 3, 2025 11:30am
  - kowtow
    
    Scam .
    
    Yep.
    
    Funny how te meedia paahti has gone full on against the banks , front page and regular stories .
    
    But when it comes to taxpayer money , silence.
    
    Talking of silence ; it would appear the due release of the report on dodgy dealings re that very politically connected trust/charity Maori wonderfulness thing has been put off till another time.No explanation .
    
    Can’t do that during Maori Grievance Week.
    
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    February 3, 2025 11:56am
- NeverMindTheBollocks
  
  Excellent article. I particularly liked this wry comment from Copilot AI;
  
  “It’s quite an interesting and unconventional method, don’t you think?”
  
  Who knew AI had a sense of humour!
  
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  February 3, 2025 2:48pm
Tomtoddy

I wonder how much of the tariff impositions is Trump obtaining as much leverage as he can to rectify situations that are adversely impacting the US economy.

Two examples. Temu, it is subsidised by the Chinese Govt and involves underpaid staff but was set up to challenge Amazon. Breaks international trade rules.

The new AI platform launched by China is also believed to involve subsidies and protection disallowed by WTO rules.

Canada and Mexico violate border rules and Trump is seeking to tidy up really dangerous and unfair practises.

I dislike much of what Trump says and does but he is easy to underestimate and the media are so hateful and spitefully socialist their content on Trump should be dismissed totally.
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February 3, 2025 8:40am
- cmm
  
  Well of course that is what it is about.
  
  Whether it is “fair” or not is a different matter – this is what Trump is trying to achieve and tariffs are an excellent way to do so.
  
  What are the other options? Gunboat diplomacy?
  
  Tariffs are an excellent choice because they can be applied or adjusted or removed in minutes.
  
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  February 3, 2025 9:12am
  - Quail
    
    New Zealand as a trading nation has spent some decades opposing tariffs at World Trade forums.(WTO).
    It was a policy started by the Lange Douglas Government and carried on by Ruth Richardson.Nationals Tim Groser was deeply involved with WTO matters.
    Internal subsidies were removed and the countervailing tariffs off shore also were substantially removed.Or they were supposed to be.
    This free market concept was the driver for the economic reforms of the Douglas era.
    As with most of these things the reforms were only partially effective and now they have morphed into subsidising the non tradeable sector.
    That is where the votes are.
    The NZ tradeable sector still faces a cold hard world out there with no help!
    This is largely why productivity in NZ has failed abysmally .
    
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    February 3, 2025 11:48am
Cassandra

School lunches in the news. Why do we have them? Parents are paid handsomely to care for their children. Opt in for lunch at school, opt out of some of their cash handout. Schools can choose government supply or do it themselves. Problem over.
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February 3, 2025 8:48am
- cmm
  
  “Parents are paid handsomely to care for their children”
  
  Some will argue otherwise. Ok, they are being given plenty of welfare to buy food etc, but where’s the extra payment to actually care for their kids?
  
  Some think caring for children should be paid. You can get the Supported Living Payment to care for a an elderly relative or a disabled spouse. So to many it would only seem fair if you got the Supported Living Payment to look after your own kids too.
  
  Unfortunately far too many see the child as no longer their responsibility once it is born, but rather the state’s (aka the taxpayer’s) problem.
  
  Why should I make sandwiches for my kids if the state doesn’t pay me? Unfortunately a far too common attitude.
  
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  February 3, 2025 9:08am
  - Cassandra
    
    Benefits are scaled for number of children. If that isn’t pay for care then I’m not sure what is. Of course not having any welfare of this type, which seems to be your position, cmm, is another debate altogether.
    
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    February 3, 2025 9:20am
    - Cassandra
      
      Family tax credits are, for first child, $144.30, second $117.56 weekly.
      
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      February 3, 2025 9:25am
    - cmm
      
      More children = more food and nappies?
      
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      February 3, 2025 11:32am
    - cmm
      
      Cassandra, the point I am making is that there are many people who believe they are entitled to pay for the time they spend looking after their kids – above and beyond the actual costs of buying food, clothing etc.
      
      Many believe that they should be paid for the labour of preparing food, taking them to school, washing their clothing, reading them books etc etc.
      
      Yup, shocking, but unfortunately there are people like that!
      
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      February 3, 2025 11:56am
  - artemisia
    
    Take into account additional funding for households with children including – Working for Families, Accommodation Supplement, Temporary Additional Support (TAS), Young Parent Payment, Child Support for example. Plus free budgeting help, heavily or completely subsided by taxpayers. And free school breakfasts and lunches.
    
    Media reports seldom mention these in poverty reporting.
    
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    February 3, 2025 9:23am
  - slightlyrighty
    
    One of the things I learned in 3rd Form economics was the concept of “Opportunity Cost”
    
    In other words, how you choose to spend your money or resources has an effect on what you did not spend that money on.
    
    Dare I say it, there are some adults that have no understanding of this concept, or how to use it to prioritise their spending. 2 recent examples are the Kainga Ora evictions of tenants with huge rent arrears. ($41000 in one case)
    
    There are parents who prioritise selfish spending rather than look at what they, or their kids need first.
    
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    February 3, 2025 9:30am
    - cmm
      
      Based on the incentives they get they are behaving extremely rationally.
      
      Splurge that $41,000 because you will never be asked for it back (or maybe they will at only at $5 a week). That’s the cheapest money you will ever get. Way cheaper than a personal loan.
      
      You can blow all your money and then go back to MSD for a top up because they will never let your kids starve.
      
      Save some money for a rainy day – when the car fails warrant or the washing machine packs up? Why? Rather blow it, then you can go to MSD for a hardship grant.
      
      Essentially, they can have their cake and eat it.
      
      Our welfare system disincentivizes responsible and frugal behaviour.
      
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      February 3, 2025 11:38am
- Gravelroad
  
  Don’t have kids if you can’t look after them yourself – or just don’t want to.
  If your first and only priority is to spend your coin (however it is accumulated) on alcohol, drugs, tattoos, gambling, or dogs – don’t have kids.
  
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  February 3, 2025 9:10am
  - PurplePen
    
    I would agree and perhaps seed and egg providers should obtain a licence before they are allowed to have children. Those that don’t have the children removed to foster parents or an orphanage until the seed and egg provider can pass their parent licence and then demonstrate for X months that they are more than just seed and egg providers.
    
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    February 3, 2025 10:46am
    - NeverMindTheBollocks
      
      Offer voluntary sterilisation (on a time-limited basis, say 5 years) in return for an uptick in the DPB payment. Of course, there would be howls of ‘genocide’, but I’m confident that said offer would be taken up by more than many would think.
      
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      February 3, 2025 2:53pm
- Maggy Wassilieff
  
  Lindsay Mitchell gives a cost breakdown of providing healthy sandwiches for 2 for 1 week.
  
  here’s a cost breakdown of a lunch I would make and eat myself (maybe omitting the biscuits): a couple of ham and cheese Molenberg sandwiches, a couple of Tim Tams and an apple. Throw in a Just Juice and the weekly cost, purchased from Pak’nSave, for two children, would be $57.31.
  
  https://www.bassettbrashandhide.com/post/lindsay-mitchell-free-school-lunches-why
  
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  February 3, 2025 9:38am
  - NothingLeft
    
    It doesn’t cost $5 a day per kid for school lunches. My 3 kids have ham and cheese sandwiches regularly for lunch plus fruit and treats etc and I’d be spending lass than half that.
    
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    February 3, 2025 10:36am
- nigel2010
  
  don’t have water for your dog you get prosecuted, don’t have feed for your horses you get prosecuted, don’t take your cat with rotten teeth to the vet you get prosecuted do we value pets more than children. if you don’t feed your children or take them to the dr/dentist why are we rewarding these parents and not prosecuting them for neglect
  
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  February 3, 2025 11:55am
Yvette

A Newsroom article starts: ”It’s a bill that has received the most submissions, generated the most publicity and created the most uproar in years, yet we know it’s going nowhere – so why is everyone so bothered?”

Despite unprecedented interest, “The Treaty Principles Bill is dead in the water”
Why – because one man has doubled down?
With no explanation other than “lacks subtle complexity”
How does that apply in a vague past, present and future of the untranslatable, undefined and unacceptable Treaty
WTF! Not my Treaty? A few days holiday from all this Treaty huha
and scambo {nice word, Maggy}
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February 3, 2025 8:50am
- Jade Warrior
  
  One thing I would really like to know (and no doubt the submissions are still being audited by the Office of the Clerk) is that, of the 300,000 submissions, how many are broadly for or against the Bill?
  
  And if it turns out that the bulk of submitters are actually for the bill, will that even be reported by the MSM and will Luxon reassess his position on the bill?
  
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  February 3, 2025 10:32am
imalwaysright

Apparently NZ has until this December to notify the Paris Accord of our intentions.
Why then was it done so early?
Maybe Luxon knows he is politically weak and is running out of time.
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February 3, 2025 8:57am
- Souvlaki
  
  Surely ALL Luxons colleagues can’t be asleep to the fact ‘things are not working out well’?😳
  
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  February 3, 2025 9:47am
- pdm
  
  Has anyone else had the email from Peter Williams including a draft email to Messrs Luxon, Peters and Seymour.
  
  Sent my email a few minutes ago and included Climate Change Minister Watts and my electorate MP.
  
  Not sure I can do a link to the Willams email – last time I tried that people got all of my in box and as here is a bigger forum caution wins.
  
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  February 3, 2025 10:05am
  - greybeard
    
    Yep, I have. I also sent email. Another of the “Friday Evening” announcements to avoid scrutiny.
    
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    February 3, 2025 10:13am
  - DimChappie
    
    Here is a link to the email template objecting to NZ’s involvement in the Paris Agreement:
    
    https://www.taxpayers.org.nz/email_climate_2035?utm_campaign=250131_climate_target_resent&utm_medium=email&utm_source=taxpayers
    
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    February 3, 2025 10:44am
  - Grunter
    
    Here’s the link.
    
    My version went out early Saturday morning.
    
    https://www.taxpayers.org.nz/email_climate_2035
    
    The Taxpayers Union continues to do a very good job.
    
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    February 3, 2025 11:17am
goNZ1

quite a good hack I spotted recently for those travelling a lot by plane!

https://metro.co.uk/2025/02/02/stop-plane-seat-recliners-this-hack-divided-travellers-22448804/?ico=more_text_links
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February 3, 2025 9:05am
DimChappie

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon explains why NZ has renewed its commitment to the Paris Agreement on climate change. A wokester who feels totally justified hobbling the economy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZqXf5485To
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February 3, 2025 9:15am
- Gravelroad
  
  Mr Luxon comes across as a smug git.
  That little smirk tells a story.
  
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  February 3, 2025 9:31am
  - fightingtemeraire
    
    Before he got into politics there was a photo of him and Jacinda. They looked the best of mates.
    
    He is a Leftie Greenie through and through.
    
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    February 3, 2025 9:35am
    - septic skeptic
      
      Given he was annointed by John Key what else would we expect? Aside from a few outliers such as Richardson and Williamson National is centre left at best and was basically communist under Muldoon.
      
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      February 3, 2025 11:17am
    - thirteenstars
      
      Specifically, he’s a Teal (blue + green), an actual and dominant faction within the National Party that sees itself as the face of responsible environmentalism.
      
      Essentially they believe you can have your cake and eat it, too. Or have your carbon payments and regulations, and your growing economy, too.
      
      Well, you can’t. Environmentalism is designed so you can’t. It’s a feature, not a bug. Green ideology doesn’t want smart suburbs, clean vehicles and sustainable growth, they want to bulldoze the suburbs, kill private transport, and reverse growth by downsizing humanity.
      
      The Teals are delusional, and complicit.
      
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      February 3, 2025 2:10pm
  - Quail
    
    GR,
    Mr Luxon apparently does not realise the world has moved on.Even Greta Thunberg is not seen anymore.
    There is no political or physical value in a rehashing old mantra . Political lag is little different to economic lag , it is looking back and mostly irrelevant.The world is moving away from Carbon.
    
    New Zealand needs LEADERSHIP Mr Luxon
    
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    February 3, 2025 10:27am
    - DimChappie
      
      Quail, he is seriously undermining National’s support and giggling about it, like his promise to honour the treaty and spike the Treaty Principles Bill.
      
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      February 3, 2025 11:31am
    - sungsamning
      
      And the advent of a second Trump administration provides sufficient political cover to get out of the Paris climate scam. I wonder if the Liberals in Oz will use it?
      
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      February 3, 2025 11:35am
- imalwaysright
  
  “There’s no room for Climate Deniers or Climate Minimalists” – Luxon
  
  It would be interesting to see the results of a poll on the climate Cult and for Luxon to tell those of us that aren’t in the Cult that there is “no room” for us.
  Maybe he could use National Party funds to send us each a letter telling us there is no room for us.
  
  This reminds me of adern and her two classes of people crap.
  
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  February 3, 2025 11:25am
- jonno1
  
  Please tell me that’s not real! How can anyone with a modicum of reasoning ability believe such nonsense? Of course, the only answer is ‘They can’t’, which leaves the uncomfortable alternative that there is some other agenda in play.
  
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  February 3, 2025 3:21pm
Grunter

This is a worthwhile read about Big Pharma and crooked Governments. For many decades, the mirror of science has become increasingly blurred by a storm of vested interests, particularly when research and the communication of results are linked to large corporations……and Bill Gates in particular!

RFK Jr. is addressing the exact theme of the debate.

Just one sub-plot as an illustration of the deliberate corruption exposed in the article….

“The most striking evidence of malfeasance, in any case, can be garnered from another body of internal documents: the “Pfizer papers.” When a Freedom of Information request demanded the release of documents related to the licensing of the Pfizer Covid “vaccine,” the FDA asked to be given 75 years (until 2096!) to be able to process and print the documents. Fortunately, the judge didn’t buy that. More than 450,000 pages of technical documents were eventually released and examined by a team of 3,250 volunteers that included doctors from all specialties, biologists, biostatisticians, and medical fraud investigators.”

“According to Pfizer’s own documents, within three months after the rollout of its “vaccine” in December 2020, they knew that it did not work to stop the illness (the documents speak of “vaccine failure”), and caused multiple types of “serious adverse events” (among them “death”). Shortly after, Pfizer was aware that its “vaccine” was damaging the hearts of young people. One of the most shocking revelations is that, long before this mRNA product was strongly recommended to pregnant women, Pfizer knew that its materials entered breast milk and poisoned babies as deaths of newborns after “maternal exposure” to the “vaccine” are recorded in these internal documents.”

https://brownstone.org/articles/sciences-turn-towards-darkness/
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February 3, 2025 9:17am
- imalwaysright
  
  “Pfizer knew that its materials entered breast milk and poisoned babies…”
  
  Meanwhile, back in NZ our Health Dept are encouraging women to take the jab at any stage of pregnancy.
  No sign of any data or testing to prove safety however!
  (But they do say don’t take the MMR vaccine while pregnant…)
  
  https://info.health.nz/immunisations/when-to-immunise/pregnancy-and-immunisations
  
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  February 3, 2025 9:55am
  - Benedict Yu
    
    The covid vaccine is perfectly safe for pregnant women.
    
    https://www.cdc.gov/covid/vaccines/pregnant-or-breastfeeding.html#:~:text=COVID%2D19%20vaccination%20during%20pregnancy,19%20before%20or%20during%20pregnancy.
    
    Any pregnant woman who is not vaccinated is either foolish or misinformed.
    
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    February 3, 2025 12:32pm
    - Keith White
      
      So yeah, the same CDC that said masks that aren’t good enough to stop asbestos particles, are good enough to stop virus particles.
      
      The same CDC that with the WHO agreed with China that Covid started in a wet market.
      
      The same CDC that… actually don’t take my word for it. This is them
      
      https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/cdc-director-acknowledges-mistakes-staff-internal-message/story?id=88519682
      
      and
      
      https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/imz-schedules/downloads/child/0-18yrs-child-combined-schedule.pdf
      
      …at least 27 shots by age 2, and between 50-85 by age 18.
      
      Yeah, that CDC.
      
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      February 3, 2025 1:16pm
      - imalwaysright
        
        I wonder if they get paid by the shot!!!
        
        [Mod – debate the topics, not the person]
        
        6 1
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        February 3, 2025 2:25pm
      - Benedict Yu
        
        Is the USA childhood vaccination schedule any different in substance from the schedule in New Zealand or Australia or the UK? Are you seriously suggesting that New Zealand parents not vaccinate their children according to the schedule? Really?
        
        On COVID vaccines and pregnancy, are there any regulators in any OECD country that have determined that COVID vaccines and pregnancy are contraindicated? Even one?
        
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        February 3, 2025 2:35pm
      - NeverMindTheBollocks
        
        Hi Benedict, I believe the US childhood vaxx schedule is quite different to schedules of other countries. No time to look it up now (damn the need for a paying job!), but I read somewhere that the US required a load more vaxxs (40+?) in order for kids to attend school. In the US as is NZ, doctors are incentivised to get their child patients to complete the schedule.
        
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        February 3, 2025 2:59pm
    - Ross Bayer
      
      Hi BY,
      I am unsure about your posts but increasingly of the view that you are are merely using the forum to wind people up.
      Me I would be inclined to take with a grain of salt anything posted on the CDC website given that it appears to have been captured by those interests that are financing the organisation and may therefore be somewhat of a voice for increasing use of medicines effective or not.
      
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      February 3, 2025 1:20pm
      - Benedict Yu
        
        OK ignore the CDC. Find me any developed country regulator that advises against covid vaccines for pregnant women.
        
        I am not trying to wind people up. I am winding up a small number of anti vaxxers by stating facts.
        
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        February 3, 2025 2:39pm
    - Grunter
      
      It isn’t safe according to Pfizer’s own papers Benedict.
      
      Have you read any of the released Pfizer papers? I’d encourage you to go to the source of what the people who made this jab are saying.
      
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      February 3, 2025 3:36pm
    - cmm
      
      BY: Choose what you want for yourself.
      
      But to suggest that all people should accept a largely ineffective and highly controversial medication is ridiculous.
      
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      February 3, 2025 4:14pm
      - Benedict Yu
        
        What do you mean “ineffective”! The covid vaccines saved an estimated 14 million lives in their first year of use.
        
        https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9537923/
        
        Millions more died unnecessarily because they were not vaccinated. People will die today simply because they listened to anti vaxxers. Yes people can choose to not get vaccinated. However it is utterly irrational.
        
        In 15 years of observing debate on this blog, I have never seen such persistent displays of nonsense. I know this nonsense is all around us. I had just hoped that most commenters here were rational. It is a sign of how insidious the anti vax movement has become.
        
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        February 3, 2025 4:38pm
- Ross Bayer
  
  Grunter,
  read the article posted, simple superb explanation of where we are today.
  What I do not understand is how some of those who post on the site can say what they do while there is overwhelming evidence such as this article which clearly state the facts
  You are to be personally congratulated for providing us with a balanced view which does not set out to denigrate anyone simply put the facts before us
  I would by you a coffee if I met you in the street.
  I think the bigger issue is that it is now clear to me that the governments of the western world are not acting in the best interests of their citizens and this troubles me
  
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  February 3, 2025 10:53am
- sungsamning
  
  No wonder some people are thinking in terms of a second round of Nuremberg type trials. And no wonder big pharma is sweating bullets at the prospect of RFK being in Trump’s cabinet.
  
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  February 3, 2025 11:37am
- newview
  
  https://mediabiasfactcheck.com/brownstone-institute-bias/
  In the end we believe what we want to believe. There is always misinformation even in the good stuff.
  
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  February 3, 2025 11:39am
- Ra Henare
  
  Thanks Grunter.
  
  Cue.
  A KB commenter who will defend the vaccine and say there is no evidence of child deaths from the vaccine.
  
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  February 3, 2025 12:20pm
I remember when

Ashburton school apologises over ‘culturally inappropriate’ uniform passes: NZ Herald.
“Ashburton Intermediate’s laminated passes include the student’s name and class and specify the ‘incorrect uniform item’ they have been permitted to wear.”

Oh for the days when there were no ‘incorrect uniform items’ allowed.
Or, laminated passes.
No room for any arguments or need for apologises.

A bottomless pit?
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February 3, 2025 10:04am
- Ghost
  
  As long as it was under the uniform we were allowed to wear what we wanted. It just had to be removed in wood or metal work class.
  
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  February 3, 2025 10:11am
  - David Garrett
    
    Ghost: surplus army jackets – or “tunics” as Br. Ralph called them – were all the rage at Edmund Campion College in the mid-70’s. Only the Swotty Nigels wore the approved school blazer instead.
    
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    February 3, 2025 10:41am
    - imalwaysright
      
      We had a Br Ralph at St Bernards. Unusual name. A forlorn chap in the mold of Wallace Rowling.
      
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      February 3, 2025 1:22pm
- NothingLeft
  
  School uniform is generally a good thing, though I don’t think it should extend to socks, shoes or hair ties.
  
  And dump the tricky, cleaning and ironing intensive and expensive skirts, shirts, blouses and blazers. Uniforms should be as cheap as possible, low hassle and utilitarian.
  
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  February 3, 2025 10:45am
- nova
  
  A crazy world when this is the lead item on the Herald website. Maybe the college made a minor mistake, but I don’t see how it is relevant to anyone outside of Ashburton.
  
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  February 3, 2025 11:32am
- Gravelroad
  
  Perhaps a lot of these students got ethnic bone and pounamu pendants and such for Christmas and they just want to show them off at school.
  Mine is bigger and better and more cultural than yours etc.
  One of my young grandsons got a “proper” cricket bat for Christmas – wooden not plastic.
  He is not allowed to take it to school.
  Can’t imagine why not.
  
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  February 3, 2025 11:46am
  - peterwn
    
    His parents are teaching not to be ostentatious. The opposits happens at Eton. The boys insist that their parents attending school events park their Rolls Royces at least a mile away.
    
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    February 3, 2025 12:30pm
    - imalwaysright
      
      Good eyes at the good schools!
      
      6 1
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      February 3, 2025 1:25pm
Chuck Bird

I am pleased that the Herald has changed its position on climate change. If someone pays for Premium they can comment on certain articles. The used to not allow climate change realists to be published. That policy has now changed.

It would be nice if TVNZ also showed some balance on climate change.
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February 3, 2025 10:39am
- pdm
  
  Not to mention Stuff.
  
  It inflicts them all Chuck.
  
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  February 3, 2025 2:34pm
- cmm
  
  Sorry, not paying Premium for that!
  
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  February 3, 2025 4:09pm
  - Jethrod
    
    And more on the Herald.
    Early January they offered me a free subscription for a month to try it out. It appears to publish most of its written content the day after it appears online. I have the online subscription and it is far superior to the broadsheet edition.
    Last Saturday there was 10 ( yes TEN) full pages of advertisements for Harvey Norman mainly in full colour.
    I suspect a name change coming up……..
    “The Harvey Norman NZ HERALD”….. a cunning way to engineer a takeover.
    I won’t be taking up a subscription when the free ones run out. Too much recycled paper and really difficult to hold tabloid paper and almost impossible to hold a broadsheet on Saturdays.
    
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    February 3, 2025 4:32pm
SimonRAnderson

A conversation with Elliot Ikelei and Cam Slater on Hobson Pledge’s submission on the Treaty Principles Bill to the Justice Select Committee last week, and the impending demise of Woke everywhere except the National party’s New Zealand.

Published this morning, here.
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February 3, 2025 10:54am
sungsamning

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9QChzjxNlxQ
Brooke van Velden Briefs MPs on How ACT Ministers are Liberating Kiwis, Slashing Waste.
ACT Deputy Leader Brooke van Velden runs through actions ACT’s Ministers in government are taking to cut red tape, protect kids, and grow the economy. She covers her own work fixing health and safety laws and restoring efficiency to the Department of Internal Affairs.
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February 3, 2025 11:11am
sungsamning

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IqgaLyWq6_w
They never learn.
The DNC is putting forward its best and brightest for Chair, and Vice Chair.
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February 3, 2025 11:12am
- Gravelroad
  
  Never thought I would say this , but I feel kind of sorry for Kamala Harris.
  Black woman who achieved high office as Vice President of the USA and stood for election as a Dem Party President.
  Didn’t get enough votes but gave it a shot.
  And for the black women pontificating and demanding recognition on the video above, it was as though she achieved nothing and never existed.
  I would say they were muppets but that is insulting to the real Muppets.
  
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  February 3, 2025 1:02pm
  - sungsamning
    
    Kamala Harris deserves some credit for metamorphosing from Indian to Black. The mechanism for this process is unknown to biological science. Its well known to political science.
    
    10 2
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    February 3, 2025 6:01pm
kevn

“Deep regret”…
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/ashburton-school-apologises-over-culturally-inappropriate-uniform-passes/DQZX7CMCT5ASNF7LQ4V3A4IKIM/
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February 3, 2025 11:29am
- Blog-aholic
  
  So having a uniform code is now racist too…OMG!!
  
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  February 3, 2025 12:25pm
- cmm
  
  So where can you draw the line?
  
  If you’re from a culture where wearing a bone through your nose and trotting around in a loin cloth is the cultural norm then is that allowed?
  
  What if the loin cloth is in school colours?
  
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  February 3, 2025 4:09pm
I remember when

School lunch delays: Our students deserve better that this: NZ Herald.
100% correct.
“David Seymour downplayed issues, but school says it’s about showing respect to students.”

It has nothing to do with respect, it is a commercial arrangement that hasn’t reached an acceptable standard!
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February 3, 2025 12:19pm
- mogg
  
  For school principals lining up to criticise the coalition’s school lunches on One News, it would be a good opportunity to remind them that NZ decile one schools under labour had a 98% literacy and numeracy failure rate. I would bet that the school lunches problem is fixed long before they solve their own quite unbelievable levels of incompetence.
  
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  February 3, 2025 2:38pm
- Grunter
  
  Who in the right mind would trust the Govt to feed their kids….???
  
  Or trust them with anything?
  
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  February 3, 2025 3:40pm
Bridgenag

Sunday Strip: When the headlines are so Hilarious…

https://open.substack.com/pub/rwmalonemd/p/sunday-strip-when-the-headlines-are?r=1aj1bv&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=email
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February 3, 2025 1:12pm
Bridgenag

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sunday memepool: dad jokes
humor you’ve never out groan

https://open.substack.com/pub/boriquagato/p/sunday-memepool-dad-jokes?r=1aj1bv&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=email

sunday meanpool
mean tweets, like mcrib, are back
https://open.substack.com/pub/boriquagato/p/sunday-meanpool-f25?r=1aj1bv&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=email
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February 3, 2025 1:36pm
Ghost

Good to see the judge say home detention is unlikely

The man accused of having a sexual relationship with a 13 year-old girl has been found guilty.

Luca Benedict Kercher Fairgray pleaded not guilty to three charges of sexual connection with a young person under 16 and went on trial at the Auckland District Court.

Article
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February 3, 2025 1:44pm
- Swifty
  
  And there’s this….
  
  https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/crime/a-lucky-break-auckland-rapist-avoids-jail-for-appalling-attacks-on-girls/W3XXDZSE3ER2HXLWRPVZ6TBYDU/
  
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  February 3, 2025 3:47pm
  - Ghost
    
    He lost name suppression last year, but i don’t recall any mention of who he was.
    
    4 0
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    February 3, 2025 4:02pm
    - Swifty
      
      The same guy.
      
      4 0
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      February 3, 2025 4:23pm
      - Ghost
        
        Oh damn. So several girls now this. He’s going to get out and rape again.
        
        4 0
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        February 3, 2025 5:31pm
- cmm
  
  “She imposed a sentence of 12 months’ home detention and 12 months’ supervision and reminded him if he breached the conditions of his sentence he would be jailed.”
  
  OK, I’ll bite…. how often do people really get jailed for breaching conditions?
  
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  February 3, 2025 3:58pm
trout

I see that the release of the report on The Manurewa Marae election shenanigans has been delayed again. Could it be that JT Inc. has lawyered up to try and make it disappear altogether?
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February 3, 2025 2:43pm
- Inandout
  
  trout, the government is the highest court in the land, blah, blah. Now we must remember the treaty which obviously trumps the Coalition. Oh well these silly old things we were taught at school.
  
  8 1
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  February 3, 2025 3:39pm
- Grunter
  
  Waiting until Feb 7th maybe…..? Some major gathering on Feb 6th to be avoided……
  
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  February 3, 2025 3:41pm
  - Jethrod
    
    That was the reason announced today.
    
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    February 3, 2025 4:41pm
Swifty

You sure about that Trev?

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1EP4j8rCTx/?mibextid=wwXIfr

😃
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February 3, 2025 3:44pm
Ghost

Marama Davidson returns to politics.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/350206765/stuff-live-stream-official
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February 3, 2025 4:22pm
- Jethrod
  
  The procedure has driven her GREY!!!
  
  3 2
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  February 3, 2025 4:51pm
  - fightingtemeraire
    
    She most probably lost her hair and it has regrown grey.
    
    3 0
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    February 3, 2025 6:32pm
    - Don Beckett
      
      Can’t colour the hair before it emerges from the scalp. “-)
      
      1 1
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      February 3, 2025 7:41pm
Swifty

Wellington Water head job up for grabs:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=HG_YSCBa0zY

Utilities or water experience not mandatory, but knowledge and acceptance of tikanga and the treaty etc essential.

FFS.
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February 3, 2025 4:23pm
Jethrod

There needs to be written into the US Constitution an upper age limit for Presidential hopefuls. There is a minimum age of 35, so why not limit top age to 65 for first term then.
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February 3, 2025 4:40pm
- mandk
  
  I don’t agree.
  
  But there could be independent assessment of candidates’ cognitive fitness.
  
  Biden was clearly already gaga in 2020.
  
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  February 3, 2025 5:04pm
  - rouppe
    
    That assessment would be worthless.
    
    Doctors confirmed Biden was in perfect health several times throughout his presidency.
    
    Real doctors, ones that didn’t have a view on the covid vaccine or were chiropractors
    
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    February 3, 2025 10:38pm
cmm

Asian drivers get a bad rap in NZ, and it seems, this is often justified. Sure, everyone drives poorly on occasion, but some just take the piss…

In less than a week I almost collided with two different Asian women, in three events, at one traffic circle.

The first entered the circle and just drove straight. She did not follow the lane markers – just drove in a straight line. On exiting the circle she then changed lanes, then after changing lanes turned on her indicators for a bit.

As luck would have it – a few days later I encountered the same woman again – this time driving a huge new 4×4 and doing the same thing.

On both occasions multiple people had to take evasive action (almost colliding with each other) and she just carried on oblivious to what was happening.

On the second event I recognised her as she zoomed past me – about 200 metres out from the circle so I slowed down to give her a lot of room.

It seems she lives close to that circle and so this is clearly an ingrained habit for her.

Then yesterday, a different woman on the same circle, entered the inner lane on the circle then stopped. After a few seconds she zoomed off – the wrong way up off-ramp from the freeway – right past two huge signs saying “WRONG WAY”. This was right in front of me and I had to take evasive action. She nearly collided with someone coming down the offramp.

How people like these get licenses I really don’t know. Maybe they cheat by getting their “translators” to do the license for them? Maybe they just drive unlicensed? Maybe they think a learner’s is enough?
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February 3, 2025 4:43pm
- greybeard
  
  $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ – lots of them.
  
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  February 3, 2025 4:46pm
- Gravelroad
  
  Some years ago a contractor working here told the story of his new bride – a woman from an Asian country – where all her driving experience had been along huge well-ordered motorways – just following the leader.
  He wanted to give her some confidence about driving in the much quieter and smaller roading situation here.
  He took her to practice driving round a large flat paddock for a bit to get her accustomed to being alone with no comforting traffic around her.
  She quickly became disoriented and ran straight into the only obstacle in the whole vicinity which was an old fence post in the middle of the area.
  He wasn’t too pleased.
  
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  February 3, 2025 6:18pm
Ghost

Sounds like social media had some strange people over the weekend. Tim Jago lost name suppression. It appears Chris Hipkins has accused act of hiding behind name suppression.….. rich coming from labour. Then it appears to have got worse with direct attacks against Plunket. Sean naming Jemaine Clement as one of the people attacking Sean.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFtN63JeymI
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February 3, 2025 4:48pm
- Ghost
  
  Hipkins tweet
  
  https://x.com/chrishipkins/status/1885839731126419466
  
  The ACT Party attacks the courts when it suits their political purposes but then hide behind name suppression when one of their own is charged and convicted of sexual abuse. Disgraceful.
  
  Is the leader of the opposition suggesting that politicians should not respect the courts decisions? Is the leader of the opposition demanding that politicians break name suppression?
  
  10 1
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  February 3, 2025 5:08pm
Lance

Polite Canadians booing the US national anthem.

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/feb/02/toronto-raptors-fans-boo-us-national-anthem-after-donald-trump-tariffs

The road ahead should be interesting
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February 3, 2025 5:06pm
Benedict Yu

This says everything about RFK. A letter to the Senate supporting his nomination signed by 800 “physicians”.

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/world/article-letter-supporting-rfk-jr-includes-names-of-doctors-whose-licenses-were/

Sadly many of them are fake doctors, chiropractors, and doctors banned for malpractice and for providing false information about covid vaccines.

Has there ever been a nomination for high office in the USA who is so unsuitable for the job?
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February 3, 2025 6:24pm
- kevn
  
  BY… Shall we have a look the Bill Gates effort then? Do view it.
  https://x.com/DeborahMurtagh4/status/1883100977965990210
  
  7 3
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  February 3, 2025 6:28pm
- Ghost
  
  So what’s your problem with chiropractors?
  
  8 0
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  February 3, 2025 6:31pm
kevn

BY… While you are on the job viewing, check this out as well…
https://x.com/VigilantFox/status/1886205810184724536
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February 3, 2025 6:33pm
Suze Wainwright

When’s Talbot Mills latest corporate clients’ poll set to be leaked?
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February 3, 2025 7:59pm
Jack5

The institutional bias of Radio NZ ….

In a report of the oral submission to the Treaty Principles Bill of Whangarei Woke councillor Josh Chanulal-Mackay demands an apology to Maori for the bill and then RNZ warns: “Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has been approached for comment”.

If a tenth of the 300,000 submissions on the bill were of the same view as Chanulal-Mackay, the Prime Minister would be commenting on them for bloody near the rest of his life.

The headline and text trumpet Chanulal-Mackay as a descendant of the missionary who translated the treaty into Maori.

Chunulal-Mackay is then described as the great-great-great-great grandson of that translator, Henry Williams. That means Williams is one of Chanulal-Mackay’s 32 great-great-great-great grandparents, and that genetics from Henry Williams contribute to 3.125 per cent of Chunulal-Mackay.

Chanulal-Mackay back in 2019 was described in the NZ Herald as the “voice for millennials” on Whanganui council and the then youngest local-body councillor in New Zealand.

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/ldr/540534/malicious-intent-descendant-of-treaty-translator-slams-principles-bill-demands-apology
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February 3, 2025 9:39pm
- Ghost
  
  A government enquiry will be formed under the next labour government. Hearings will be held. Compensation for hurt feelings will follow. Christine Hipkins (transitions to get more votes) will give a formal apology. Then hand over control of the government and all its assets to the Tamihere party
  
  We are in dark times, dark dark times. Oh wait, that’s from Harry Potter.
  
  2 1
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  February 3, 2025 9:53pm

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