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September 4, 2025 8:00am by Kokila Patel

General Debate 04 September 2025

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General Debate

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Cassandra

China’s parade, celebrating the 80th anniversary of their VJ Day: The most prominent guests at the parade were Russian president Vladimir Putin and North Korea’s Kim Jong-un, marking the first time the two men have appeared together in public alongside President Xi. For Kim, who is otherwise seen as a global pariah, to be included in this trio is a marked elevation in status

Among the other high profile guests were Belarus’s President Lukashenko, Iran’s President Pezeshkian and Myanmar junta chief Min Aung Hlaing. No major western leaders attended.

Helen Clark and John Key were there too, plus two former Labor state premiers. I have mixed feelings about Key being there. Not too much damage to NZ and it keeps comms with China open. But people are judged by the company they keep. He might get a frosty reception next time he sees Trump however.
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September 4, 2025 8:01am
- igm
  
  Key associates with Obama . . . Trump has better taste in friends.
  
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  September 4, 2025 8:06am
  - john1234
    
    It is hilarious watching the lefty media wetting themselves in amazement at the show of Chinese technological military might.
    Slack-jawed gawping at a parade is such a prole giveaway. Have they learnt nothing from the Russian’s inability to conquer a minnow neighbour and the calamitous losses of their paraded amaze-ball military technology?
    It would not surprise me one bit if items in that Tienanmen Square parade were made out of plywood.
    
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    September 4, 2025 9:48am
    - sirknz
      
      A comment I made to a colleague yesterday was along the lines of “I am sure that the trucks are real, anything else is a bit sus…”.
      
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      September 4, 2025 10:46am
    - Paulus
      
      Understand from knowing circles in the past that the tyres would be flatter if they carried the so called weights.
      
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      September 4, 2025 12:03pm
  - Ghost
    
    I don’t think you want to look at who trump’s friends have been over the years
    
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    September 4, 2025 10:11am
    - MCōs
      
      Politicians don’t have friends
      They have interests
      
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      September 4, 2025 11:45am
  - MCōs
    
    Personally I’d rather our leaders associate with Obama than the sort of chaps Trump seems to slobber over such as Putin, Kim Jung Un
    
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    September 4, 2025 10:12am
- Nikola Donatello
  
  I don’t have strong feelings. However Helen Clark seems weird. She presents as the defender of the downtrodden and promoter of peace. Yet she turns up all smiles at a military parade of a one party state.
  
  She just seems a very strange person who does not know when it is time to retire and enjoy her twilight years with her husband. I’m not being “ageist”. Just saying she has well and truly outlived her relevance.
  
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  September 4, 2025 8:10am
  - Biscuit
    
    Nikola, Helen must have been very conflicted.
    
    Her choices were:
    (a) Go to China
    or
    (b) Stay in Orkland and moan to her puddytats about the noise emanating from nearby Eden Park for the NZL-SAF Rugby Test…
    
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    September 4, 2025 8:13am
    - cmm
      
      You forget rabble-rousing on the Gaza border.
      
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      September 4, 2025 8:47am
    - Colville
      
      What is the bet there was an appearance fee paid for Helen and many others to be there.
      
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      September 4, 2025 10:26am
      - nathie
        
        Well she did receive a very long handshake from President Xi – her comradeship and lifetime commitment to the Marist-Leninist cause is clearly appreciated by the politburo! 🙁
        
        At 4 seconds, Helen Clark had a longer handshake with Xi than Vladimir Putin (3 seconds) but not Kim Jong-un (5 seconds).
        
        https://x.com/JamesWHalpin/status/1963049846492811643
        
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        September 4, 2025 11:17am
      - Manu-Rau
        
        @ nathie:
        
        In fairness, she is a dead ringer for former US National Security Advisor, John Bolton. Perhaps Xi thought she (no pun intended) was Bolton, and was asking who had invited him.
        
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        September 4, 2025 4:43pm
  - Nikola Donatello
    
    Not a term I know.
    
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    September 4, 2025 8:54am
  - NeverMindTheBollocks
    
    At least it keeps her away from complaining about popular events at Eden Park.
    
    From the footage, she reminded me of the CCCP stiffs lined up at the old Russian Victory Parades. Ironic, eh.
    
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    September 4, 2025 9:04am
    - nathie
      
      Concerts at Eden park will be banned – according to the UK Sun!
      
      2085: A 135yo Helen Clark is ruling the Chinese vassal state of New Zealand on her third pair of lungs. Concerts at Eden Park are banned.
      https://x.com/JamesWHalpin/status/1963235573277081746
      
      The context for the above joke headline from The Sun is that Xi and Putin were caught by the “hot mic” discussing living to the age of 150 by using organ transplants.
      
      https://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/putin-xi-and-kim-caught-on-hot-mic-discussing-living-to-150/65DJA7Q27NDSLIOGZBQ3ZQZJVM/
      
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      September 4, 2025 11:29am
    - Michael Johnston
      
      Yes, like these cheerful chaps.
      
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      September 4, 2025 12:01pm
  - I remember when
    
    I wonder if the display of military might caused her to have a moment of doubt about her association.
    Maybe a moment of wondering whether it is possible to sit on the ‘peace no matter what’ fence.
    Why do China need an armed force of such magnitude when it only wants peace?
    
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    September 4, 2025 9:24am
    - I remember when
      
      Just wondering – if the world didn’t spend so much money on military supplies, what would it be spent on?
      
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      September 4, 2025 9:35am
    - Paulus
      
      Afraid of Russia still !
      
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      September 4, 2025 12:06pm
  - OlderChas
    
    Also notable that only one of them was given a long interview slot on the 3 News show. I guess John Key declined the request for an interview?
    
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    September 4, 2025 9:37am
    - AitchW
      
      Pfft, Clark would attend the opening of a letter if it got her in the news…
      
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      September 4, 2025 2:38pm
    - Conservatarian
      
      Hosking does a Friday morning segment where he hosts his wife and (usually) Tim Wilson. It is light heart chummy slop between friends and lovers.
      
      John Key appeared on this segment twice recently in Wilson’s absence. No mention that I recall of the upcoming celebrations in China.
      
      This is a chink in Key’s armour.
      
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      September 4, 2025 3:20pm
  - sirknz
    
    How else is she going to get more money for her foundation?
    
    Same thing for Key I would wager a guess.
    
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    September 4, 2025 10:48am
  - greybeard
    
    I am not surprised she went there: I will never forget how disgracefully she and Goff and others behaved when NZ soldiers returned from Vietnam. She is a Lefty through and through and will never change. I bet she loved every minute.
    
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    September 4, 2025 11:39am
    - Ian Boag
      
      Hmm. A mere 50-odd years ago.
      
      Since then she got to be the leader of a major political party for 14 years and PM for 9 years. She obviously didn’t like the Vietnam war but neither did an awful lot of other people ….
      
      By all means feel free to not forget it. In 10 years or so it’s not unlikely that she and you (and me) will either be pushing up daisies or close to it 🙂
      
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      September 4, 2025 11:53am
      - kiwimike
        
        and ?
        
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        September 4, 2025 2:39pm
      - Eastlander
        
        So I’m supposed to forget about that because it was more than fifty years ago, but Parihaka is still relevant everywhere?
        
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        September 4, 2025 4:25pm
      - Manu-Rau
        
        Excellent. So you agree we should shut down the Treaty grievance industry? Welcome to 2025!
        
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        September 4, 2025 4:46pm
      - [email protected]
        
        The issue isn’t opposition to the Vietnam War. It was taking out that opposition on the soldiers who, serving in the military, generally don’t have a choice on where they go.
        
        If she had kept her opposition to the politicians who made the choice to send those troops I’d suspect her actions would be more forgotten by now.
        
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        September 5, 2025 10:19am
  - Paulus
    
    As she is no longer relevent in New Zealand she appears the most appropriate person to send, (understand at her expense).
    
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    September 4, 2025 12:05pm
- Eastlander
  
  Frankly it’s more embarrassing to be seen alongside Dan Andrews.
  
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  September 4, 2025 8:19am
  - imalwaysright
    
    Especially if you’re in a government car with a 15 year old cyclist under the front wheel…
    
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    September 4, 2025 9:20am
    - pdm
      
      Wasn’t the wife said to be driving?
      
      Was she permitted to?
      
      I think – maybe not.
      
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      September 4, 2025 10:04am
    - Eastlander
      
      Oof! I had forgotten that.
      
      In case anyone else needs a reminder…
      
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      September 4, 2025 10:17am
  - NeverMindTheBollocks
    
    Prince Andrew
    
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    September 4, 2025 1:15pm
- nathie
  
  The parade celebrating the 80th anniversary of their VJ Day is CCP propaganda.
  
  Rather it is showcasing their strength and is a show of force – sure any other nation celebrating VE or VJ Day have troops marching and a fly over, but they are largely unaccompanied by endless lethal weapons – a hallmark of totalitarian states over the decades.
  
  But putting that aside the fact is the CCP were not at the frontlines of the war against Japan in WW2, instead they were undermining China’s Govt of the time the Kuomintang Nationalist government (KMT), yes the same KMT that fled to Taiwan. And yes that same Taiwan which despite having democratically elected Govts since the end of WW2, is under constant CCP threat of invasion or isolation. President Xi has tasked his military to make preparations – whether it happens or not is unclear but it is a clear demonstration of intent. Bit like the situation in Europe in the late 1930’s …
  
  In that lens is the KMT still the defacto Govt of China but in exile? Woah that opens a can of worms in general terms of legitimacy of Govts anywhere in the world.
  
  So on that note, instead shouldn’t the CCP be making amends with Taiwan, instead of threatening to invade and take it over? After all that’s what most Govts around the world have done – make peace with the past?
  
  If they did then the CCP would truly have come a long way and be respected.
  
  Otherwise the future is the following – the CCP won’t stop at invading Taiwan to dominate and humiliate them … once that is achieved they will turn to Japan and undermine them to extract revenge and humiliate them for the “past transgressions”.
  
  Worth a read:
  https://newsroom.co.nz/2025/09/03/clark-and-keys-china-visit-sends-wrong-message/
  
  And from the other day: The West (that’s us) are also in their sights – the CCP think long term (boy do they have issues!):
  https://theasanforum.org/chinas-anti-fascist-war-narrative-seventy-years-on-and-the-war-with-japan-is-not-over-yet/
  
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  September 4, 2025 8:29am
  - cmm
    
    You would be correct.
    
    What secured them VJ in China was Operation August Storm – the Soviet invasion of Manchuria.
    
    This is largely airbrushed out of the Western view of events.
    
    Still, the main thing with any victory celebrations is not the history, but projecting power into the future – both militarily and politically.
    
    The next G20 meeting is in November in Johannesburg, South Africa. That will coincide with Russia, China and South Africa holding military exercises around Cape Town.
    
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    September 4, 2025 8:55am
  - G152
    
    Truth never gets an invite to totalitarian states celebrations of their ‘history’
    
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    September 4, 2025 9:30am
  - Dave
    
    “ …democratically elected Govts since the end of WW2…”
    
    Not quite: a one-party state ruled by the Kuomintang for about 30 years, IIRC, albeit much less oppressively than the mainland.
    
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    September 4, 2025 10:27am
    - nathie
      
      Thanks Dave (my bad I hastily edited in that comment as the clock was counting down then realised my error afterwards).
      
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      September 4, 2025 11:20am
  - sirknz
    
    “Appear weak, when you are strong, appear strong when you are weak”.
    
    Showing off all your toys in a parade has the appearance of being strong.
    
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    September 4, 2025 10:51am
- Wandering Star
  
  No Western leaders in attendance? Is it odd that a group of national leaders would meet up and not invite another group of leaders of a rival bloc who denounce them as their enemies? Makes perfect sense to me, given how the West frames these non-aligned (read, not subservient) states.
  
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  September 4, 2025 8:36am
  - In Vino Veritas
    
    Brutal dictatorships are never subservient WS. Just in case you hadn’t noticed. Or are an intellectual pygmy when it comes to history.
    
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    September 4, 2025 10:20am
    - Wandering Star
      
      “Brutal dictatorships are never subservient WS.”
      
      You’ve unwittingly hit the nail on the head: any nation that calls itself a “liberal democracy” is necessarily subservient to Washington DC and Wall Street. That’s what “liberal democracy” means.
      
      By contrast, it is only the so-called “brutal dictatorships” (as “we” refer to them) that have any semblance of real sovereignty, outside the orbit of US hegemony (which is precisely why such perjorative labels are used by “us” to repudiate the truly sovereign nations).
      
      But the unthinking masses are hypnotized by the deliberate use of such language into thinking that Washington’s and Wall Street’s enemies are your and my enemies too. A “brutal dictatorship” that fell into line would quickly be thereafter described as “a free and democratic ally” or some other such label indicating subservience.
      
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      September 4, 2025 11:02am
      - In Vino Veritas
        
        Hard to believe that anyone takes you seriously WS, even in your private life, if you come up with conspiracy theories like this shit. I’m actually surprised that there is enough tinfoil in NZ for you. Doh.
        
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        September 4, 2025 9:17pm
- cmm
  
  “and it keeps comms with China open”
  
  I will push back on that: how does it keep comms with China open? Key speaks for himself and represents himself. He has no government position in NZ.
  
  I don’t really care whether Key attends or not, but let’s not inflate his position.
  
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  September 4, 2025 8:45am
  - Wandering Star
    
    It seems to me we’re very happy to sell our primary products to the Chinese. If we really disagree with China and the Chinese regime, maybe we should reassess the role China plays in keeping our economy afloat?
    
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    September 4, 2025 9:12am
  - Cassandra
    
    He’s a former National PM. He is close to Luxon. No bad thing to have that channel. We are not an enemy of China. Yet.
    
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    September 4, 2025 9:12am
    - NothingLeft
      
      We are not an enemy of China, but they are totally amoral in their dealings with the world and their own citizenry. Exercise extreme caution.
      
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      September 4, 2025 9:50am
      - NZer In Exile
        
        Glad someone here is awake.
        
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        September 4, 2025 10:34pm
    - imalwaysright
      
      “We are not an enemy of China…”
      
      Our opinion of whether we are enemies is irrelevant. China decides that.
      
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      September 4, 2025 10:00am
      - MCōs
        
        NZ’s economic future is dependent on our continuing affable relationship with China whether we like it or not.
        Just ask any dairy farmer
        Trump ain’t coming to our rescue if the Chinese make life difficult for our goods at the border never mind that we’ve backed them up (almost) every time they’ve asked when they’ve entered into some foreign war.
        
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        September 4, 2025 12:37pm
- Paulus
  
  As we are of little recognition in the batting World status I see no reason for both not being there.
  Whether we like it or not China is important to us as they will always have mouths to feed,particularly among the young and now educated, most of which speak English.Have been to China.
  
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  September 4, 2025 8:48am
- Simon
  
  Japan, S Korea, Phillipines, Aust / NZ, Vietnam, Taiwan & Thailand between them could easily stand up to China, Russia & N Korea. But GAE doesn’t want strong regional powers as it’s a check against its own powers and schemes.
  
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  September 4, 2025 8:51am
- Rodney Hide
  
  The Australian’s foreign correspondent Cameron Stewart compared the parade to Nuremberg 1937.
  
  The appearance of Mr Key and Ms Clark may not age well.
  
  That said, they would not have gone without first checking with Mr Luxon.
  
  The lack of judgement by our leaders is truly shocking. We need to decide once again what we believe in and stand for. That means deciding what we are for. And more especially what we are against. Turning up to a military parade for tyrants is a truly shocking look.
  
  Thank you for your attention to this matter.
  
  Rodney Hide
  
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  September 4, 2025 8:58am
  - imalwaysright
    
    “That said, they would not have gone without first checking with Mr Luxon.”
    
    I suppose prominent Chinese people have to check with President Xi when they want to excercise their rights also…
    
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    September 4, 2025 9:04am
    - Rodney Hide
      
      They don’t have to check with the PM to exercise their rights. They could go and visit China any time they like.
      
      But in this case they are inspecting a military parade with assorted despots and tyrants. They are invited because they are ex PMs of NZ. I doubt you got an invitation to the red carpet handshake.
      
      Ex PMs know the protocol. They also don’t want to upset the present PM so of course they would check. They would not want to risk being disavowed or falling out of favour. It’s part of their cache to be still in with the government.
      
      Thank you for your attention etc.
      
      Rodney Hide
      
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      September 4, 2025 2:01pm
      - imalwaysright
        
        I agree with you.
        I misread “they would not have gone without first checking with Mr Luxon.” as “they should not have gone without first checking with Mr Luxon.”
        Hence the tone of my comment regarding citizens needing government permission to excercise rights.
        
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        September 4, 2025 2:26pm
  - In Vino Veritas
    
    🤣🤣🤣 “Thank you for your attention to this matter”.
    Outstanding Rodney. That’s made me really laugh!!
    
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    September 4, 2025 10:18am
  - Dave
    
    Doubtless they explained to the Chinese leadership the virtues of going non-nuclear while they were there.
    
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    September 4, 2025 10:33am
  - keepcalmcarryon
    
    I’m sure anti nuke Helen Clark cheered loudly for the parade of nuclear and conventional weapons displayed , all to be pointed at the west in this great “benign strategic environment “ we are in, having already disarmed her own country.
    
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    September 4, 2025 3:14pm
- lastmanstanding
  
  Just caught up with the post on teachers pay. if I was in charge this is how it would work.
  1. A base salary set on qualifications and experience.
  2. A scaled additional payment to teach at lower decile schools.
  3. Annual incentive based on improving the performance of the students over a year.
  It can be done. Remember if you dont measure it you arent managing it.
  
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  September 4, 2025 9:27am
  - I remember when
    
    What about all the add ons that make the teachers payroll system so difficult.
    
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    September 4, 2025 9:38am
    - Ian Boag
      
      Ed Dept bought a seriously buggy payroll system from Oz. Reverting to the old one was not an option as it was just a mess of chewing gum and string that had been patched to death over the years.
      
      Joyce did the “fix-it” thing about 10 years ago and I haven’t heard any significant grumbles about it since then. Have I missed something?
      
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      September 4, 2025 9:57am
    - Paulus
      
      Years ago when Labour were in power and Mallard was Minister we were told that there were so many thousands of wage permutations that schools retained one of their retireds as they understood every nuance (fiddle) of the wage payments of her teacher of which she had been one and so looked after her friends.
      There use to be some over 105,000 payments to the Teaching Profession (sic) each other Tuesday.
      Has that changed ?
      
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      September 4, 2025 2:53pm
  - Nigel Kearney
    
    1. Nothing for ‘qualifications and experience’
    2. Nothing for teaching at lower decile schools
    3. Bulk funding of salaries for the entire school based on improving the performance of the students over a year. The school then decides what they pay teachers.
    
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    September 4, 2025 9:55am
    - Dougal10
      
      When you say the school decides the pay are you for real. Most schools are run by incompetent boards and the principals surround themselves with yes men , the current system is shit but the alternative is probably worse.
      
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      September 4, 2025 10:34am
      - Paulus
        
        Not incompetent, they are their to support their teacher friends.
        Like Councils, Elected Councillors are only their to support the executice staff and their friends and certain groups.
        
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        September 4, 2025 12:14pm
    - Ian Boag
      
      Bulk funding – there’s a ship that sailed quite a while ago.
      
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      September 4, 2025 11:22am
  - Ian Boag
    
    Annual incentive based on improving the performance of the students over a year.
    
    By exams? Local or national? On the face of things, sounds reasonable except ….
    
    Students would know that the exams did not count for anything other than the salary of their teachers. Possibly the students might not take them all that seriously?
    
    If results from a stand-alone local exam are to matter those setiing the exams could game the system – ensure that exam at the beginning of the year was hard and the one at the end relatively easy.
    
    And of course if you are teaching a relatively bright group who do real well at the beginning of the year they may not show any significant improvement. A bit perverse …..
    
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    September 4, 2025 10:03am
    - Nigel Kearney
      
      Only test them at the beginning and don’t let the schools determine the exam. Most of the opportunity for cheating would disappear.
      
      Students already get numerous tests that don’t count for anything. Most of them do try.
      
      Bright kids would benefit most from this approach. When the focus is on pass rates, the incentive is to ignore the bright kids and the very weak kids. We desperately need bright kids to get even better. They are the people who will drive our future success. That’s one of the big weaknesses with our current system.
      
      Having the test at the beginning has several advantages:
      
      1. You are testing what they actually know, not what they have crammed in via panicked studying.
      
      2. There is no incentive for the teacher to help. In fact it is better for the teacher if they do badly so there is more scope for improvement.
      
      3. The starting result would be used as the end result for the previous year, but that previous teacher would have no ability to influence it.
      
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      September 4, 2025 10:40am
      - Ian Boag
        
        So we need to create an overseeing entity that runs separate national tests for years 9-10-11-12-13. Wow. Test every kid in the country twice a year, tests are of course the same (for a year) for the whole country.
        
        A bright idea – we could short-circuit this by having just one test – say in something like Year 11. Call it something catchy like “School Certificate”. 🙂
        
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        September 4, 2025 11:28am
      - Nigel Kearney
        
        Not twice a year. Once a year. But starting at year one not year nine. Primary is where there is most scope for improvement.
        
        For something as important (and expensive) as this, of course we want to put some resources into measuring how well we are doing it.
        
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        September 4, 2025 11:39am
      - I remember when
        
        One exam a year at the beginning of the year.
        Compare this year’s results with last year and we have a figure the represents last year’s teacher.
        Difficult for Year 8, do they get an exam at the end of the year too.
        
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        September 4, 2025 1:43pm
  - Paulus
    
    Can, but will not be done, the women of being Teachers and supporting Mothers will not play ball.
    Should any Government try like it, it would be ignored.
    Far too cushy a number to lose any of it.
    
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    September 4, 2025 12:11pm
- Philview
  
  I also read Tony Blair was going but don’t know if he showed up. I am just curious how the invite list was prepared.
  
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  September 4, 2025 11:23am
Nikola Donatello

These words are standard in all jobs advertised by MBIE, a government ministry.

“MBIE recognises the partnership founded under Te Tiriti o Waitangi between Māori and the Crown and is committed to giving effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi. We will do this through enduring, meaningful and effective partnerships with iwi, Māori, other Māori groups/organisations and the Crown, as this is critical to enable economic and social development, both for Māori and for wider Aotearoa New Zealand. We are committed to continuing to partner with iwi in order to find new sustainable solutions to address long standing systemic and cross-cutting issues facing Māori and wider Aotearoa New Zealand and we are also committed to identifying opportunities for iwi to lead and creating an enabling environment for iwi to leverage these opportunities.”

https://www.seek.co.nz/job/86793280?type=standard&ref=search-standalone#sol=a67d1dc5d4914614bdde350b19481cca14806589

I have read this carefully. Read literally, it is a quite something.

“We are committed to continuing to partner with iwi in order to find new sustainable solutions to address long standing systemic and cross-cutting issues facing Māori and wider Aotearoa New Zealand…”

MBIE is not a legal entity. It is simply a an agent of the Government. It is subject to any lawful direction by Cabinet.

This leads me to the question.. Did the government direct MBIE to “partner with iwi” to do all these things? Or have the public servants just gone done this off their own bat?

It is tempting to shrug this off as just words that do not matter. However they do matter. Iwi and there lawyers we will embrace and dissect every word and litigate what they judge to be any departure from this commitment to partnership.

Yet another stark example of the gap between government rhetoric and what is actually happening.
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September 4, 2025 8:03am
- Nikola Donatello
  
  Apologies for grammar typos.
  
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  September 4, 2025 8:11am
- imalwaysright
  
  “Or have the public servants just gone done this off their own bat?”
  
  These two women are responsible for MBIE, Nicola Willis and Carolyn Tremain.
  
  Perhaps we should email Nicola and ask her to ask Carolyn to front a press conference to clarify.
  
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  September 4, 2025 8:27am
  - balanced
    
    Aahhhh. The ardernesque Willis strikes again.
    
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    September 4, 2025 8:43am
  - cmm
    
    Willis has often, and unashamedly, proclaimed herself to be Blue-Green (or maybe Green-Blue). Don’t complain when she delivers exactly what she advertised.
    
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    September 4, 2025 8:57am
    - RoboRob
      
      Which is partially why National are down to 29% support and labour is up to 34%.
      
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      September 4, 2025 9:00am
      - balanced
        
        Robo. First uptick I’ve ever given you.
        
        We need a minor reshuffle, quick smart.
        
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        September 4, 2025 9:38am
      - RoboRob
        
        I think they need a major reshuffle.
        
        Luxon, Willis and Goldsmith need to go.
        
        Personally I dont think much of Watts but I dont think he is losing them votes…. Yet. Come next Winter he may very well be their most costly mistake.
        
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        September 4, 2025 9:49am
      - cmm
        
        balanced: Be careful what you wish for.
        A re-shuffle would likely have Willis wearing the pants.
        
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        September 4, 2025 9:56am
      - balanced
        
        The issue for Willis (van Velden, and Chourr) is there is nowhere to hide when you’re a minister.
        
        Your actions and (lack of) results are measured and put on show.
        
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        September 4, 2025 10:19am
      - wsk12345
        
        Choir is doing a good job. She may not set the world on fire but she has convictions, courage and she works hard.
        
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        September 4, 2025 10:56am
      - balanced
        
        Chourr certainly has all those things but making liquor more readily available without a thought nor idea on how to mitigate the extra harm, demonstrates why those chartertics aren’t enough to be an effective minister.
        
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        September 4, 2025 11:10am
      - pdm
        
        Balanced you are way ot of shape re van Velden and Chhour.
        
        van Velden does the hard stuff National won’t touch.
        Chhour is outstanding as Children’s Minister and with Oranga Tamariki.
        It is Nicole McKee doing alcohol changes and she ensures the background work is done before committing to announcements.
        
        Not a Nationl Minister to be seen.
        
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        September 4, 2025 12:28pm
      - balanced
        
        Apologies to Chourr, it is McKee. Seymour wisely does all the press for act so his ministers are difficult to identify.
        
        Pdm, you still haven’t listed act minister achievements outside simple legislatve deletions or changes.
        
        Come on man, you must be able to find one!
        
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        September 4, 2025 1:23pm
- keepcalmcarryon
  
  And National continues its slide in the polls, ACT and NZ first go up a little, Labour laughs.
  
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  September 4, 2025 8:45am
  - Ghost
    
    No, act have remained on 10.5 with Roy Morgan, which is what they were in the last Roy Morgan poll. NZ first are on 7, down from 9.5 in the last Roy Morgan poll
    
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    September 4, 2025 9:36am
    - RoboRob
      
      Yes NZF are down in the latest poll, but the trend this year has been National down and NZF slowly growing. Act has been stable.
      
      It is the trend thats important.
      
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      September 4, 2025 9:56am
      - Ghost
        
        No. In the last few Curia polls act have gone from 10, to 9.1, 9.1 then 8
        Roy Morgan 12. 11.5, 10.5, 10.5
        1 news 9, 9, 8, 8
        
        Act are stable but going down
        
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        September 4, 2025 10:08am
      - RoboRob
        
        @Ghost
        My point was more around NZF, who you were pointing out had a pretty big drop in the last poll.
        
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        September 4, 2025 10:42am
      - Ghost
        
        Nz first aren’t that great either
        
        Curia 7.4, 6.1, 9.8, 7.8
        1 news 5, 7, 8, 9
        Roy Morgan 6.5, 8, 9.5, 7
        
        1 news is the only one having nz first still going up
        
        The economy, health etc are hitting all coalition parties.
        
        I don’t include Talbot Mills, because having been polled by them, I don’t find them credible with the misleading questions they ask
        
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        September 4, 2025 10:53am
      - RoboRob
        
        @Ghost
        
        Agree, Talbot Mills is the labour parties polling company and tend to return the results that Labour want them to return. Totally un interested in them.
        
        Quite different to the relationship between Curia and the National party.
        
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        September 4, 2025 11:17am
      - Ghost
        
        Last time I was polled by Talbot mills they listed off a pile of attributes to select for hipkins, all positive, for luxon the vast majority were negative.
        
        DPF seems unique in polling for parties, he is honest and doesn’t attempt to lead with the questions. Royal Morgan used to show some bias in their questions
        
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        September 4, 2025 11:35am
      - RoboRob
        
        @Ghost
        
        I have done 1 poll, it was Roy Morgan. I thought the questions were excellent. Clear and unbiased. I trust their results.
        
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        September 4, 2025 1:04pm
      - Ghost
        
        Curia is the on,y one I haven’t been polled by, I get Roy Morgan and Talbot mills a few times a year.
        
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        September 4, 2025 1:36pm
      - pdm
        
        Ghost said
        
        `Curia is the on,y one I haven’t been polled by, I get Roy Morgan and Talbot mills a few times a year.’
        
        How do you do it Ghostie – are you on a list?
        
        I am almost 79 and a half years old and have never ever been polled by any Political Pollsters.
        
        mrspdm has once, Colmar Brunton I think way back when Key was coming into prominence but, not National Leader so probably 2006 or 2007 I think.
        
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        September 4, 2025 7:43pm
      - Ghost
        
        Took a while to work it out, and work out who they used, but, Talbot Mills, Roy Morgan, Verian all contract out to survey websites.
        
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        September 4, 2025 8:21pm
- Simon
  
  Core National party. National are the government they are responsible
  
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  September 4, 2025 8:53am
- Paulus
  
  No, All that we can see in the Public Service will to do whatever they want and will continue to ignore any Minister or Government who might upset their lives “earned” by the last Labou Government and cannot wait and work for the return next year.
  Dis we not read last week that there are some 10,000 vacancies being advertised – with 780 reductions since the election.
  
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  September 4, 2025 8:53am
- Mr T
  
  Summarizes everything wrong with New Zealand, and everything wrong with our current weak as government .
  As proud as I am to be a New Zealander, I find the race to 3rd world status too much to handle.
  But where do I go too? Australia is heading in a similar direction, but about 5 years behind us.
  And UK? It’s gone
  
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  September 4, 2025 8:57am
  - NZer In Exile
    
    The left have been fighting a war against rational thinking for about 60 years. They gnaw away like termites at this.
    
    There is pretty much nowhere to run to for the vast majority. The only option is to group together and fight back, or grovel and submit to their destructive insanity.
    
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    September 4, 2025 10:58pm
- Mr T
  
  What about Auckland Council. Looking at their job advertisements, every one has the subtitles in Maori first followed by English, why?
  Also every job I have looked at refers not to Auckland but Tamaki etc , and applicants should ideally have studied Maori, or be able to speak it, and of course have a full understanding of Te etc( treaty)
  
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  September 4, 2025 9:14am
  - Phronesis
    
    Essentially what happened is anyone with half a brain in NZ heads off overseas after getting their degree and gains useful international experience. The dregs of those who stay get entry level jobs in the public service. Ten or twenty years later the successful international kiwis return to NZ for family reasons and take all the management level positions. The dregs have come up with a highly successful way of countering this by making jobs contingent not on skills and experience but on maori bullshit. This is a very effective way of ensuring that said jobs can only be filled from the very small talentless pool of existing NZ public service workers. It’s even better than a union.
    
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    September 4, 2025 11:08am
  - greybeard
    
    My email to Luxon:
    
    Subject: Maori language in NZ Government
    
    “Well Mr. Luxon, just when are you going to fulfil your pre-Election promise of getting rid of maori words and phrases for Govt names and positions ?
    We voted you in on that promise.”
    
    Their reply:
    
    “Good morning (XXXX)
    
    Thank you for reaching out to the Prime Minister, Rt Hon Christopher Luxon. He appreciates people taking the time to share their feedback, concerns and ideas.
    
    The Government values te reo Māori as an official language and as a foundation for Māori culture and identity. We believe that public services and information should be made accessible to New Zealanders with communication in language they understand. This includes the use of the most commonly understood language in New Zealand – English – as well as te reo Māori and other languages, where appropriate. Our coalition agreements reflect this view with a commitment that in most instances public agencies will communicate their names and services in English, alongside any use of te reo Māori.
    
    Ministers and agencies have responded to the coalition commitment on a case-by-case basis. This aligns with the Government’s priority that public agencies focus on delivering more effective frontline services to New Zealanders. We don’t want public agencies spending significant money on these changes. That’s why we are going with an as and when approach. The last thing we want agencies to do is spend millions of dollars on new designs and materials at a time when we are asking them to cut back on wasteful spending.
    
    Thank you once again for taking the time to write; it is appreciated. “
    
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    September 4, 2025 11:48am
    - pdm
      
      GB – Amazing you got a proper reply if if it explains National dumping on their pr election promises.
      
      Most minister opt for out of office replies, including the Prime Minister.
      
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      September 4, 2025 12:35pm
    - Don Beckett
      
      Te Reo simply means ‘the language’.
      If we say ‘ English’, why don’t we simply say ‘Maori’?
      Otherwise we should say ‘the English language’ if we also say ‘Te reo Maori’.
      Picky picky, I know. 🙁
      
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      September 4, 2025 12:35pm
      - Conservatarian
        
        You’re not being picky Don. You’re simply highlighting an example of the Maori-centric worldview of modern NZ, endorsed by white liberals who never say no, and who never fail to advance and prefer cultures other than their own.
        
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        September 4, 2025 4:58pm
- I remember when
  
  Just read an article by a university academic which had absolutely no Treaty requirement, but still they referred to ‘Pakeha’ and Aotearoa.
  
  Systemic!!!
  
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  September 4, 2025 9:47am
- Hugh Jarse
  
  But they won’t be able to fool the public a second time in 2026. I don’t want to see a change of coalition because if we think it’s bad now, it will be doubly worse under Peeni Henare and the other four co muppets/leaders tax and burn policies. Economically there is a turn around happening under the current coalition and I hope that’s enough t9 ge5 the coalition back in.
  
  But I can see a large redistribution of right votes occurring as a protest of unrealised expectations which this nonsense is a perfect example of, along with every other government job ad, waiata and Karakia practice every day and before each meeting. Just imagine for one minute the strife if the Maori religious prayers were swapped out for christian prayers ?, hypocrisy writ large.
  
  ACT and NZF are already out there electioneering and getting good attendance at their public meetings, rightly or wrongly I perceive a hardening of expressed views with those two parties and perhaps more spelling out of policies differences starting to occur ?.
  
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  September 4, 2025 10:37am
- PurplePen
  
  “MBIE recognises the partnership founded under Te Tiriti o Waitangi between Māori and the Crown and is committed to giving effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi. We will do this through enduring, meaningful and effective partnerships with iwi …”
  
  The whole basis of everything that follows is on an assumption on their part that the ToW is a partnership between Crown and some Maori. Have they even read the three ToW articles I wonder.
  
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  September 4, 2025 12:45pm
pdm

`“We are committed to continuing to partner with iwi in order to find new sustainable solutions to address long standing systemic and cross-cutting issues facing Māori and wider Aotearoa New Zealand…” ‘

As I understand all 3 parties in the present Governing Coalition campaigned to get rid of the above.

After about 20 months only ACT has any commitment to such a change.

National and NZFirst have reneged.
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September 4, 2025 8:09am
- Mod88
  
  Yes they have and they are gaslighting us on a par that Hipkins and Ginny Anderson would be proud of.
  
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  September 4, 2025 8:11am
- Cassandra
  
  It certainly seems that way, pdm. Using the “partner” term perpetuates the myth. No problem with “working with iwi” (although I’d prefer tribes – Manglish is offensive) but partner has connotations which are best avoided. Successive governments have encouraged separatism, either on purpose or carelessly (eg Key and the indigenous racket). National seems happy to continue that. It’s a black and white issue. Make changes!!
  
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  September 4, 2025 8:19am
  - Paulus
    
    Too late and they know it – cannot make changes as impregnated too far.
    But what is a Maori as there are none !
    
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    September 4, 2025 8:55am
  - PurplePen
    
    Yes. No problem working with iwi either, just as MBIE is surely required to work with any entity or individual that might fall within the scope of the MBIE influence. Why single out tribes as a special group. Afterall, treaty article 3 says the Maori that signed up will all have the rights and duties of British subjects, making them equal?
    
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    September 4, 2025 12:50pm
- Scott
  
  pdm – I would hope that the coalition does address this. It appears to be public servants doing this on their own initiative. As I have often said, the embrace of Maori wonderfulness is a virtue signalling exercise for these people. It’s a way of saying to themselves and others, I am a good person. It’s no exaggeration to say that the embrace of Maori wonderfulness is a substitute religion.
  
  Unfortunately many NZers, often the same ones who tick “no religion” on the census, have embraced this false religion. How much the coalition can change this thinking is open to question?
  The coalition has certainly done a lot of the big stuff, Maori health authority gone, three waters gone etc.
  
  But the religion of Maori wonderfulness remains very strong for those with no other faith. It provides them meaning and a sense of moral righteousness. On the other hand some of us would much prefer to go to church. ⛪
  
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  September 4, 2025 8:22am
  - Paulus
    
    Don’t believe Maori Health has gone or is reincarnated under another Maori name ?
    
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    September 4, 2025 8:57am
    - Scott
      
      “On 1 July 2024, several former Te Aka Whai Ora board members and senior executives including chair Tipa Mahuta and founding chief executive Riana Manuel gathered for a farewell ceremony at Waitangi to bid the independent Crown entity farewell. The ceremony was also attended by former associate health minister Peeni Henare.”
      
      The Maori health authority has gone. The coalition govt has done what they promised to do. Well done them 👍
      
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      September 4, 2025 4:52pm
      - artemisia
        
        The Maori Health Authority could be back. There’s a High Court case in progress, decision reserved. Applicants want the disestablishment referred to the Waitangi Tribunal. Taxpayer funded gravy train then kicks in.
        
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        September 4, 2025 5:56pm
  - RoboRob
    
    The ministers are responsible for this stuff. Have they sent letters of expectation to the various ministry CEs requesting this sort of stuff be removed? Either they haven’t (the most likely) or a number of CEs are due to be removed for not meeting expectations.
    
    National has played us on this. All show and no go. I am not offended by Winstons failure to follow up becuase he is Winston and thats what I expect from him, I never believe anything he says until it actually happens.
    
    When National wonder why they continue to drop in the polls and are on the way to gift us another terrible Labour government, part of the issue is their failure to do what the promised. Reducing public service size and reducing borrowing are two other major examples.
    
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    September 4, 2025 9:05am
    - imalwaysright
      
      Ockham’s razor dictates that we assume that Maorification is Government policy.
      
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      September 4, 2025 10:10am
  - Dougal10
    
    Three waters hasn’t gone anywhere . The national water authority is implementing it currently through the department of internal affairs and bully boy tactics on councils who dont comply.
    
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    September 4, 2025 10:42am
    - pdm
      
      That is why they should have got rid of Taumata Arowai when they cleaned out 3/5/10/All/Mahuta Waters.
      
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      September 4, 2025 12:38pm
      - imalwaysright
        
        I wonder if the Mahutas are still on the public payroll, and if so what for?
        
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        September 4, 2025 2:37pm
    - Scott
      
      In point of fact – Three waters has been repealed by the water services repeal act of 2024 which passed control of water back to the local councils.
      
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      September 4, 2025 4:48pm
- balanced
  
  National are doing the actions which really count…… stopping the Labour hierarchy’s “maori labelled” tax money laundering schemes.
  
  “Over the two budgets, Tama Potaka has now slashed more than $1 billion of Māori-specific funding, and that is shameful,” Jackson said.
  
  I agree this maori mumbo jumbo must disappear, but in context the mammoth issues Luxon’s government is fixing, the maori mumbo jumbo isn’t a priority right now.
  
  It will be a priority in the lead up to the election, alongside the failing covid inquiry and Willis’ inability to fix the NZ big business, pocket raiding cartels.
  
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  September 4, 2025 8:28am
  - Nikola Donatello
    
    “I agree this maori mumbo jumbo must disappear, but in context the mammoth issues….”
    
    You are missing my point. If it was just mumbo jumbo I would not care. Agencies are partnering with iwi to determine policy. Some councils effectively have co governance arrangements with iwi.
    
    You imply that the government does not have time to stop this. Not correct. It would be easy to stop.
    
    The New Zealand government has almost endless resources available. It can do many things at once.
    
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    September 4, 2025 8:38am
    - balanced
      
      Noone has endless resources.
      
      All good managers assess then prioritize.
      
      It is not an accident Luxons ministers have been able to get stuck in this term without having to deal with endless maori activist wailing and hikois. See my comment above re the huge cuts in maori funding.
      
      Good managers also reassess and change their priorities when necessary.
      
      Expect to see more maori mumbo jumbo shedding in the lead up to the election.
      
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      September 4, 2025 8:51am
      - imalwaysright
        
        “It is not an accident Luxons ministers have been able to get stuck in, this term, without having to deal with endless maori activist wailing and hikois.”
        
        So “good management” is subjecting the NZ population to the appeasement of a group of activists who will otherwise cause harm…?
        
        Sounds more like a hostage negotiation.
        
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        September 4, 2025 9:13am
      - balanced
        
        Nope. Appeasement of 1,950,000 activists / hostages.
        
        More commonly referred to as voters.
        
        That’s why it is called politics and not business.
        
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        September 4, 2025 2:49pm
    - Paulus
      
      But won’t !
      
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      September 4, 2025 8:58am
  - cmm
    
    “stopping the Labour hierarchy’s “maori labelled” tax money laundering schemes.”
    
    Is that true? Aren’t they just restructuring them a bit differently?
    
    A bit like they were going to run a scythe through the public service, but the numbers didn’t really drop.
    
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    September 4, 2025 8:59am
    - balanced
      
      Clever managers pick the low hanging fruit first.
      
      We set a two-year target to cut $400 million in spending on consultants and contractors across the public sector by 2024/25,” Ms Collins says.
      
      “The latest update anticipates savings will come in at more than $800 million by the end of June.
      
      See my labour hierarchy “maori” tax laundering comment above…..
      
      Potaka has now slashed more than $1 billion of Māori-specific funding,
      
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      September 4, 2025 9:29am
      - pdm
        
        balanced – I am not convinced Potaka has done anything like that.
        
        He seems very much on side with Labours path on Maori Funding and outcomes, especially in the Conservation Area.
        
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        September 4, 2025 10:20am
      - balanced
        
        Pdm. There are many incredible things to discover and learn, if you search with a positive open mind!
        
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        September 4, 2025 10:54am
      - pdm
        
        balanced – I prefer to look at the whole picture.
        
        At the moment National are a big concern and my Electorate Vote is no certainty.
        
        Catherine Wedd , Tukituki MP take that as putting you on notice.
        
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        September 4, 2025 12:41pm
  - Nigel Kearney
    
    They are not fixing the ‘mammoth issues’. And even if they were, they can do other things at the same time.
    
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    September 4, 2025 9:00am
    - balanced
      
      The competent national ministers are taking great strides aided by Luxon’s top notch management.
      
      The public sector targets reinstated by Luxon set clear priorities for ministers and an unequivocable means for taxpayers to assess ministers performance.
      
      Crime, infrastructure, trade, education, foreign investment, roads, and health are improving significantly.
      
      The Covid inquiry farce; defeating the cost of living inflating, low productivity nz cartels; and increasing alcohol availability without mitigation for harmful impacts; are the exceptions.
      
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      September 4, 2025 9:23am
      - pdm
        
        Balanced have a look again and see who the Ministers are doing the `hard yards’ on turning things around.
        
        McCLay/Hoggard in Agriculture
        Stanford/Seymour Education
        van Velden – the controversial stuff National Ministers won’t touch.
        McKee/Costello – other controversial stuff. No National Ministers in sight.
        
        And so it goes.
        
        Then we have Simon Watts – he is a disaster in all of his portfolios as far as I can see.
        
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        September 4, 2025 10:24am
      - balanced
        
        I kept getting told on kiwiblog Seymour isn’t responsible for the education maori mumbo jumbo so how can you/he now claim credit for the great things Stanford is achieving?
        
        Ive asked you many times without answers….. What exactly have Seymour, vv, Chourr, and Costello achieved except rubber stamping simple legislation changes?
        
        Seymour is paradoxically against fixing the conditions which allow the food, electricity, fuel, and insurance price collusion cartels to exist. Seems a bit counter intuitive for a free marketeer.
        
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        September 4, 2025 11:07am
- Yvette
  
  Is legislation not already “in the wings” ready to go?
  A delay may mean that introduction and enactment will be timed to make the whole event an Election issue and the individual treatment a means of making it last as long as useful.
  
  But then they may just screwing around and Labour will allow the tide to continue.
  Who the hell knows?
  Time for ACT to act
  
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  September 4, 2025 8:39am
  - pdm
    
    Yvette – I think ACT have been trying since day one of this government.
    
    Unfortunately the National dominated Cabinet stymies them. Which is why they need to double their MP’s next year.
    
    More MP’s means more clout.
    
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    September 4, 2025 10:27am
- Simon
  
  Yep National party never stop gaslighting its voters. At this point National’s true nature and its steady wrecking of NZ should be apparent to everyone. It’s not National vs Labour. They both ruining NZ. Just slightly different rates.
  
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  September 4, 2025 8:56am
  - balanced
    
    Surely National courting the middle ground is because of the voters, not to gaslight them.
    
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    September 4, 2025 9:41am
    - Phronesis
      
      The middle ground voter is a myth. Look at the UK, where did Reforms 30% of the vote come from? It’s not from die hard Labour or Conservative voters, and Reform is not a centrist party. Voters want leadership on issues that matter to them, full stop.
      
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      September 4, 2025 11:40am
    - RoboRob
      
      Not showing the in the real world results though is it 🙂
      
      I think a lot of right wing voters feel they were gaslit last election. Again I will say, National have done a number of good / great things, however their ability to communicate them and their direction is a total failure.
      
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      September 4, 2025 1:10pm
    - Fender
      
      If that was true their polling would be fantastic because they were doing everything that was expected of them by the voters
      Because they are neck in neck with a party with no ideas at all tells me they are totally misreading the room and as such obviously gaslit their last supporters who are now feeling betrayed.
      
      Now explain how that thinking is wrong to me balanced
      
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      September 4, 2025 1:59pm
      - balanced
        
        Fender. You didn’t once mention the long and deep rescession National were forced to engineer to rid us of the 6 year long H Clark / Ardern $200b tax money laundering scheme.
        
        Nor the fact the $200b tax money laundering scheme left an almighty great interest bill and zero money in the cupboard for National to work with.
        
        Nor did you mention the many great National minister achievements, some of which i posted above.
        
        The mistakes I believe are adversely affecting the coalitions polling are:
        
        – the (to date) sham covid inquiry. Voters aren’t stupid, they can see the out of depth van velden is leading an inquiry in which the chair, grant illingworth is hell bent on covering up the covid fraud. There is $74.4b of our hard earned sitting out there, no-one knows who got it, and bizarrely no-one is trying to find out.
        
        – the nz big business cartels continue their *cost of living crisis* collusive pricing with no challenge from the coalition. The ardernesque Willis already did a deal with the banking devils and looks to be doing another deal with the supermarket devils.
        
        Both mistakes are easily fixed with a minor cabinet reshuffle, so why aren’t they Mr Luxon?
        
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        September 4, 2025 3:16pm
  - GJM
    
    The Unparty. It is the reason the UK Conservatives got spanked – because they were Blue Labour and would have been at home with Blair.
    National are the same – talk a good talk but do nothing but steady the boat ready for the next leftward move. They are indistinguishable from Labour and would fit in with Helen Clark’s government.
    The other one, is when they do something, they are useless at telling people and getting the message across. Yes, the media hate them. They need to accept that, realise that they are the enemy and act accordingly. Bypass them, and more importantly, you don’t fund your enemies and support them. The Left are ruthless on this – they absolutely target their base at the detriment of everyone else, knowing that they are irrelevant – only their votors count. The TPM is a classic example.
    National need to defund Radio NZ and TVNZ and sell them or give them away, cut the civil service in half and get rid of entire departments and every DEI and Maori initiative. They won’t vote for you anyway, Wellington is a lost cause, so accept it, and do the right thing. Then make the message very clear the savings are going into things that matter, like front line health services. Make the message clear – which do you want, a waiatia, or a knee operation. You can’t have both.
    
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    September 5, 2025 9:24am
artemisia

That economy, targeting the productive or ‘it’s the economy, stupid’? Mike Hosking this morning after the 6 am news asks questions.

Like why an expanding business – Garage Project – buys a business failed due, they say, to rising costs, falling revenue, cost of living crisis… And why one furniture / appliance retailer is in trouble due to ‘increasing financial pressures ‘ and others seem to be doing OK. So far, anyway.

Bayley’s recent New Zealand Retail Market Update found one in every eight central Auckland retail stores is empty. Recent Centrix data shows in the past 12 months, 2564 hospitality businesses have shut.

Travelling hopefully doesn’t necessarily mean arrival if there are too many competitors in your market. Customers make choices. Cream rises to the top.
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September 4, 2025 8:15am
- cmm
  
  CBDs are largely obsolete the world over. Why anyone would willingly go shopping in central Auckland is beyond comprehension – doubly so when you have to step over smelly homeless people.
  
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  September 4, 2025 9:02am
  - MCōs
    
    I don’t know how obsolete CBDs are in general, but Queen St to my mind has never been much of a shopping precinct; particularly now when people gravitate to the flash malls and there’s none around there.
    However it’s still the central business district
    Btw
    I’ve never had to step over homeless people down there.
    
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    September 4, 2025 10:52am
  - Paulus
    
    Tauranga as a centre is dead – well the Council are spending huge money on their precious dead wants, and the outside shopping centres are great and free parking, so why go to the centre there is almost no parking either, but Council car parks. I overstayed 7 minutes and got $80 fine.
    The Library bus is wonderful too in the suburbs !
    
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    September 4, 2025 12:24pm
Chuck Bird

Bronwyn Hayward, a stupid academic at Cantabury, made a personal attack on David Seymour because of his view on Paris.

I emailed her and asked her if she was prepared to debate her alarmism. No reply as usual with alarmists. Very few will debate.
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September 4, 2025 8:19am
- Cassandra
  
  She is a political scientist with a career in climate change activism. She is not a proper scientist. With our Paris she has no job – finally she’d have to actually work for a living. A debate with Seymour would be terrific.
  
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  September 4, 2025 8:24am
  - Chuck Bird
    
    “She is not a proper scientist.”
    
    I told her that and that Seymour was one of the few MPs with a science degree.
    
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    September 4, 2025 8:39am
    - CJames
      
      Seymour doesn’t have a science degree – it is an engineering one. Higher status as it is about things that actually work. Real world stuff, not playing semantics.
      
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      September 4, 2025 8:55am
    - peterwn
      
      Looking at David Seymour’s Linkedin stuff, much of his work experience was of a scientific nature. Anyway an engineering degree is a type of science degree (some overseas universities call them BSc(Eng)) although generally an engineering degree is a four year course compared with three years for a science degree.
      
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      September 4, 2025 9:43am
  - Gravelroad
    
    I have heard Prof Hayward speak on her topics of alarm and the “end of the world as we know it” type stuff.
    She is a very smart, “ kind” and convincing communicator.
    Her audience, especially the women, believe everything she says.
    She would give Ms Ardern a run for her money in the adoration stakes if she ever turned her attention to party politics.
    
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    September 4, 2025 8:45am
  - Nikola Donatello
    
    I have some sympathy with David Seymour. But I will present a contrary view for debate.
    
    Why do we care about the Paris Accord? New Zealand leaving WOULD attract an adverse international reaction. How bad? Don’t know.
    
    On the other hand, the government has not introduced any policies that would seriously address the Paris commitments. In other words the government is going to quietly fail and hope that the thing falls over. For a small country that is not stupid.
    
    How are we affected by the Paris Accord? We have a largely ineffective ETS that modestly increases energy prices. It adds 18 cents to a litre of petrol. So for the average car owner 10 to 15 dollars a week. The price of two takeaway coffees.
    
    If the Government actually wanted to meet the Paris obligations, energy prices in New Zealand would be way, way higher right now.
    
    I’m not defending zero carbon. Just trying to set some perspective.
    
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    September 4, 2025 8:46am
    - Chuck Bird
      
      Seymour does not just say to quit Paris, full stop. He allows the option for Paris to be modified, like the clause about not impacting on food.
      
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      September 4, 2025 9:08am
      - Nikola Donatello
        
        You will need to explain what you mean. Iirc Paris already has a carve out for food security. What are you suggesting be modified?
        
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        September 4, 2025 9:57am
    - RoboRob
      
      One big way we are effected is by our emissions trading scheme, required to meet the Paris agreements. Heard an ex power company man speaking the other day and he was saying scapping carbon tax on coal would reduce (all) power prices by more then 30%. Thats a pretty massive.
      
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      September 4, 2025 9:10am
      - Nikola Donatello
        
        See my comment. The current settings of the ETS are not even close to those required to meet the Paris obligations.
        
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        September 4, 2025 9:58am
    - JohnRidd
      
      Hi Nikola.
      
      You ask “How are we affected by the Paris Accord?”
      
      The government along with industry (https://www.agrizero.nz/)is putting millions of dollars into researching ways of reducing methane from livestock. There are a range of options. Vaccinating against methanogenic bacteria, probiotics and methane inhibitors either in the diet or put down the animal’s throat in a bolus. None of the options are very effective at reducing emissions. None have been properly tested for the long term effects. We don’t know what the reaction of consumers to these treatments will be but it seems unlikely to be positive.
      
      The cost to the farmers will be thousands of dollars per year. Farmers do not have the ability to pass on these costs. Also, there will not be any detectable change in atmospheric methane.
      
      On top of this, it needs to be remembered there is a great deal of uncertainty as to how much influence methane has on the greenhouse effect.
      
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      September 4, 2025 9:43am
      - balanced
        
        I agree with Donatello.
        
        If nz scientists come up with a methane solution, it will be worth billions to nz as the climate Emergency numpties will snap it up!
        
        Luxon is wisely playing along whilst maximizing “climate emergency” benefits for nz.
        
        The same goes for defence spending. Luxon is wisely investing in R&D and calling it defence spending.
        
        That’s what happens when you put a clever manager with successful big business ecperience in charge.
        
        Now Mr luxon, who got our $74.4b covid money, and when are Nicola Wllis and Brooke Vv getting replaced with competent ministers.
        
        Sam Uffendell and Todd Stephenson have the smarts and pedigree.
        
        We can start a give a little page to pay for their sex changes if the female roll count optics are that important.
        
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        September 4, 2025 3:30pm
      - NZer In Exile
        
        “there is a great deal of uncertainty as to how much influence methane has on the greenhouse effect.”
        
        Serious physicists (W Happer and many others), not on the alarmist grant/career gravy train have calculated that it’s a nothing burger.
        
        And if one rushes to Wikipedia and finds a “controversies” section on Happer, that too is a nothing burger. He was set up by Greenpeace in a pathetic “sting”attempt. Bottom line is he’s happy to share his work for anyone for free because he believes it’s important people are aware of the giant nutty scam that climate alarmism is.
        
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        September 4, 2025 11:03pm
    - Beach Haven expat
      
      Without being funny, that “price of two takeaway coffees” means the vehicle owner can’t buy those two takeaway coffees (or something else) if they wish with their own money to prop up an ineffective scheme.
      I realise you’re trying to give context about comparatively small sums against an individual’s total spend but its starting point is to accept the Government just taking the equivalent of two takeaway coffees for this ineffectual scheme, two for the next one, two for something else is perfectly acceptable. Taxpayers, including through schemes like this, are not just temporary holders of the Government’s money.
      Gordon Brown’s ex-henchmen and husband of the current UK Home Secretary Ed Balls, who had to pivot to Breakfast TV after getting booted from Parliament, was having a go at Terry Wogan’s son over inheritance tax yesterday. The family had been unable to sell Wogan’s mansion for what they thought it was worth and he made the point that under inheritance tax he was still having to cough up to the UK Government cash on an asset he couldn’t sell without paying interest. Balls’ position was that the interest was due because this was actually the Government’s money rather than understanding the asset had been bought out of taxed income with various taxes paid during Wogan’s lifetime so this is an individual’s money going to the Government rather than starting off as the Government’s.
      We should all contribute to society through tax but it is our wealth we have earned or created, not the Government’s.
      
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      September 5, 2025 12:43am
    - GJM
      
      Most countries are ignoring it, except for a few idiots in Europe. We should do the same. We should also set the rules to reconise our huge areas of trees and grass, none of which count. The carbon cost should also apply to the use, rather than the supplier. In the case of the dairy industry where 98% is exported, this is significant.
      Do what the French and Chinese do, ignore it and also just set the rules to suit yourself in th einterest of “fairness” and “science”.
      
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      September 5, 2025 9:31am
- cmm
  
  She does not worry about facts. All she cares about are the histrionics that will keep her “relevant” and employed.
  
  Don’t for a second think that she is anywhere near being out of a job – even if Paris gets binned.
  
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  September 4, 2025 9:05am
Chuck Bird

You are rightfully judged by the company you keep.

Helen Clark, Sir John Key at China military parade along with Putin, Kim

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/helen-clark-john-key-at-china-military-parade-along-with-putin-kim/75KYPVVJGRHLDKUFHH3WXTQHY4/?lid=0tuw3gaks8sh&uuid=7e1c01b483194b6a8d4be6a566de0223
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September 4, 2025 8:36am
Tomtoddy

Here is part of the conclusion from a scientific paper released a couple of months ago. It makes very important claims and backs them up with detailed data.

” The statistical procedure detects accelerating sea level rise in a few isolated locations. This pattern is inconsistent with sea level acceleration driven by global phenomena. Further investigation of a subset of locations revealed that local phenomena are often a plausible explanation for the locally observed pattern of sea level rise. The majority of the local causes of rapid sea level rise (or drop) appear to be geologic.”

It also says the IPCC claims are heavily biased upward. Surprise. Surprise!!!

This is very relevant because much of the “catastrophic” climate claims are about us all going under the tide.
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September 4, 2025 8:44am
- Maggy Wassilieff
  
  This paper:
  
  A Global Perspective on Local Sea Level Changes
  
  https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/13/9/1641#
  
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  September 4, 2025 9:06am
- cmm
  
  Yup, that is why people in Wellington are naive if they ever think they will be overrun by sea level rise.
  
  Many historical earthquakes have uplifted Wellington far faster than any sea level rise. In the 1855 Wairarapa EQ alone, uplift was over 6 metres in places.
  
  Basin Reserve was supposed to become a new harbour basin. Now it is a cricket ground.
  
  The other factor that is causing problems is extraction of aquifer water – especially on islands. Suck the water out and the land levels go down.
  
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  September 4, 2025 9:14am
- Chuck Bird
  
  I bet none of the alarmist MPs in any party would debate the author, John Raine
  
  Balancing The Climate Narrative – The Science Is Not Settled
  
  https://theplatform.kiwi/opinions/balancing-the-climate-narrative-the-science-is-not-settled
  
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  September 4, 2025 9:17am
- peterwn
  
  “appear to be geologic” Presumably this means that the local sea level benchmarks (shore and bottom) are sinking rather than the water rising. So measurements of sea level assume the land mass is constant whereas in reality the whole surface of the Earth is groaning and heaving because of geological factors.
  
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  September 4, 2025 9:34am
- G152
  
  Every harbour has a Tide Gauge.
  If there was an increase in sea levels that would be the place to reference it…..
  I am waiting
  
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  September 4, 2025 9:37am
  - peterwn
    
    But see my previous comment. If the sea bed rises or sinks for geological reasons, so does any tide gauge fastened to the sea bed.
    
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    September 4, 2025 10:59am
    - Maggy Wassilieff
      
      Indeed…
      
      Sea Level Rise in New Zealand: The Effect of Vertical Land Motion on Century-Long Tide Gauge Records in a Tectonically Active Region
      
      https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1029/2019jb018055
      
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      September 4, 2025 11:37am
  - cmm
    
    … and what would that show?
    
    All a tide gauge shows is what has changed locally. These could be for many factors including seismic movement or changes in ground water.
    
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    September 4, 2025 12:21pm
- artemisia
  
  There is also ground subsidence where aquifers are permanently depleted by extraction.
  
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  September 4, 2025 11:54am
  - cmm
    
    Yup, even when there is not permanent depletion, the depletion can cause a massive change in the level of the land. This is happening in Florida. It is also likely a lot of the explanation for “sea level rise” on various Polynesian islands.
    
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    September 4, 2025 12:59pm
rouppe

Up at Turoa again today.

Loads of kids that should be in school up here.
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September 4, 2025 8:46am
- pdm
  
  Home schooled maybe rouppe.
  
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  September 4, 2025 10:31am
  - rouppe
    
    Don’t think so. Lots in identical high vis. There was an older group 15-17 yo as well. Also in matching blue vests and one asked a question by “Miss, miss, when are we…”
    
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    September 4, 2025 10:35am
    - sirknz
      
      Private schools have skiiing as a part of their PE curriculum.
      
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      September 4, 2025 11:15am
      - rouppe
        
        One of the sets of high viz was emblazoned with “Ohakune Primary School”.
        
        I’m aware of the argument that it is “part of PE”, but I call bull on that.
        
        When we did PE it was for 1 hour, twice a week. Normal classes the rest of the time. Now I realise that this school is adjacent to the skifield, but I still think its taking the piss.
        
        I went to school in Rotorua. We could have had a day water skiing on the Blue Lake. Or mountain bike riding in the Redwoods. Or canoeing or rafting in any number of nearby rivers.
        
        But we didn’t. One hour of running, jumping, playing a sport or something like that. In the afternoons, after the morning of English, Math, Social Studies etc. Not a whole day. Ever.
        
        I just find it a bit irritating that schools are churning out kids not able to read, write and add to the required level, but they’re fine with whole days off skiing, and loads of teacher only days where kids are also off school.
        
        Anyhoo, nothing I can do about it.
        
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        September 4, 2025 2:25pm
      - Ghost
        
        We often, in primary, intermediate and high school went down to the lake for many different reasons. A cross country run in primary school. A class trip as a treat in summer. A class BBQ. Taking swimming lessons out of the pool and to the lake. Down to Ruapehu for a class outing. School camps to okataina which would turn into the parents and teachers getting drunk at night. Intermediate. Lots of trips to the lake, down to Ruapehu. A trip to Auckland that involved a day at rainbows end, going to Kelly tarltons, ice skating. High school, trips to the lake, geography classes down to Ruapehu. Camps around the lake that were mainly a time to go kayaking, swimming, and sailing. Cycling from Taupo to Rotorua.
        
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        September 4, 2025 2:47pm
      - kiwimike
        
        for some kids.
        Plus REM holidays they go away to ski.
        
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        September 4, 2025 3:11pm
      - MCōs
        
        At St Bedes when I was there we had army cadets once a week in case the communists invaded or whatever.
        It gave some boys the chance to yell and scream orders at the rest of us
        My father who had been right through WWII wasn’t much in favour of the idea. He was pretty much anti war by then and he’d earned the right to his opinion.
        That was about the extent of relief from the daily grind.
        
        The wife of an English guy I worked with in Bangkok taught at a super expensive international school in Pattaya. Because of her job their two girls got a 90% fee reduction, which was a mixed blessing. They went on class trips to places like Kenya and had to import horses from Europe for equestrian competitions. One of them also became friends with the daughter of the King of Bhutan so she popped over there for holiday.
        My mate was continually downgrading his Bangkok accommodation to make ends meet.
        Then to cap it off he got a lady, not his wife, pregnant.
        There’s more, but it’s getting away from the subject
        
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        September 4, 2025 5:00pm
    - pdm
      
      When I was at High School in 1963 we did a school trip to stay at Ball Hutt, Mt Cook.
      
      Those days it was done in school holidays with 2 teachers in charge.
      
      Cost 30quid per pupil and 10 days away including travel from Waipukurau
      
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      September 4, 2025 12:50pm
      - rouppe
        
        We did the same from Rotorua for those Sixth Formers that got UE accredited.
        
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        September 4, 2025 2:17pm
      - greybeard
        
        We senior pupils from Kamo High School held bottle drives etc to raise funds for ski trips at Ruapehu in 1965 & 1966. August holidays. One teacher with us. Great times. There and back by train. Stayed at Erua.
        
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        September 4, 2025 4:35pm
    - Ghost
      
      All our school trips to Ruapehu were during school time. Primary, intermediate and high school trips down there.
      
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      September 4, 2025 1:00pm
  - imalwaysright
    
    “Home schooled maybe…”
    
    If they aren’t , they’re on a slippery slope…
    
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    September 4, 2025 10:49am
RoboRob

Two national ministers interviewed by HDPA in two consecutive days. Goldsmith on gang patches and now Simon Watts on leaving the Paris accord.

I thought Goldsmith was bad but Watts just took it next level. I think this may have been the first interview by someone not pushing the green agenda. He was totally unprepared and didn’t even understand the question initially. Couldn’t answer a question directly and totally lost control of the interview. Terrifyingly he is also the minister of energy!

I know some here talk about the quality of the people in National but neither of these two could inspire an alcoholic to have a drink. Hopeless. I have said for some time, nationals falling polls are primarily a communication issue. These guys suck. It is no wonder media people are more and more moving into politics in the US, at least they are good communicators.

Simons interview
https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-demand/zb-on-demand/ (Wednesday 18:06.55
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September 4, 2025 9:20am
- R
  
  In politics, good communication requires a cooperative compliant m.s. media. The coalition government doesn’t have that; such a media is the ideological preserve of the present opposition! NZ badly needs a competently edited media of journalists who can research and comment on facts, not utopian ideology.
  
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  September 4, 2025 10:04am
  - RoboRob
    
    HDPA and Hosking are right wing friendly media. If you cant shine with them you are in trouble.
    
    Winston and Seymour have managed to do well in the media regardless of bias. We should stop using the biased media as an excuse for Nationals messaging problems.
    
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    September 4, 2025 10:45am
    - Philview
      
      I would say those to are fair journalists rather than right wing friendly. Hosking doesn’t take any prisoners left or right. Jacinda Ardern didn’t like it so no interviews allowed for Mike.
      
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      September 4, 2025 11:32am
  - Dougal10
    
    A compliant media cant fix stupid , oops actually they can but not sure they could fix watts.
    
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    September 4, 2025 10:51am
  - NZer In Exile
    
    With an entrenched mega-shit media ( a la NZ) one must go the Trump route. Do interviews with the top cool people on the interwebs.
    
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    September 4, 2025 11:12pm
- pdm
  
  Terrifyingly he is also the minister of energy!`’
  
  Also the Minister of Local Government to whom Councils just give `the middle finger’ and continue on their merry way.
  
  Goldsmiths problem is he is a ditherer.
  I often wonder who makes decisions for him.
  
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  September 4, 2025 10:35am
  - RoboRob
    
    If Watts is a failure, and it appears he may be, does that not reflect badly on the great manager from Air NZ? You know the guy that is a poor communicator but is apparently a fantastic manager and leader.
    
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    September 4, 2025 10:47am
    - Swifty
      
      I remember back in the Key days, DPF writing about good political parties should, each term, drop their poorest performing third of MPs – that way over a nine year period (three terms) you would have had the equivalent of a 100% turnover rate.
      
      I wonder what changes we’ll see from National between now and the election run up.
      
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      September 4, 2025 11:33am
    - pdm
      
      RR Watts is a contrast.
      
      I thought he was quite effective in opposition but, as a Minister he just does not cut it.
      
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      September 4, 2025 12:53pm
      - balanced
        
        Robo. I remember Jacinda and Grant were excellent at calling people names. Problem was, neither had the ability to come up with a constructive thought.
        
        So, if you’re going to keep hurling non referenced, non evidenced mud …
        
        Tell us who should be prime minister?
        
        What are their relevant qualifications?
        
        Has your choice successfully turned around a dispirited major political party and lead them to an election win?
        
        Havs your choice ever been promoted to lead large corporates?
        
        Has your choice successfully selected and lead a team of high performing ministers to turn around health, law and order, infrastructure. Etc.
        
        Without a viable alternative you run the risk of being seen as a pointless, repetitive, boring whinger!
        
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        September 4, 2025 2:00pm
      - RoboRob
        
        @Balanced
        
        You are replying to pdm not me.
        
        I don’t pretend to know all of the National MPs or their strengths and weaknesses. I leave selection of a leader to those in the party. I point out that the current leadership is a failure, as proven in polling.
        
        Personally I would have thought someone like Erika Stanford would make a better public face to the National party. I don’t agree with all of her decisions but she is a good communicator and willing to make tough decisions. Both admirable traits.
        Chis Bishop was on the radio the other day and seemed quite personable too, although I don’t know about his politics or work ethic. I am sure there are a number of good, strong choices.
        
        Has your choice successfully turned around a dispirited major political party and lead them to an election win?
        No. Although they haven’t led a first term government to a potential loss to a bunch of rabid idiots either. They haven’t turned good election results to poor polling results within 6mths of taking power either. They haven’t had terrible preferred PM polling and been tied with a proven loser either.
        
        Havs your choice ever been promoted to lead large corporates?
        Zzzzz Our most successful PMs have not done so either. Did Luxon cover himself in glory at state owned Air NZ, I hear he was disliked by at least some staff. I’m all for people with business skills in power but having led a large corporate is a stupid requirement for PM. You can do better.
        
        Has your choice successfully selected and lead a team of high performing ministers to turn around health, law and order, infrastructure. Etc.
        
        Does my choice have a bald head and an athletic wife? This is just stupid. My suggestion, Stanford, has been the most successful of all National MPs. She is the one who has fulfilled her promises and made massive structural changes to a ministry that is notoriously unionised and resistant to change.
        
        Without a viable alternative you run the risk of being seen as a pointless, repetitive, boring whinger!
        Sorry, pot calling the kettle black Mr ‘The supermarkets are cartels and its all Nichola Willis’s fault’. I have, on many occasions made suggestions for change in National, I have pointed out areas they could do better in, which I feel would improve polling.
        
        Please stop with the needless attacks and snarky comments. I look forward to your next post as I have noticed you always like the last word.
        
        3 1
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        September 4, 2025 3:35pm
      - balanced
        
        Word
        
        0 2
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        September 4, 2025 4:51pm
cmm

OK, we don’t expect much from $1uff, but this is a real clanger.

“the farmer left a 15.25cm gap in his tent door to improve air ventilation”

No doubt what was said was a six inch gap – meaning, of course, a gap of approximately 6 inches. The journalist then converted that to metric using google or such and copied down the high precision result.

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/hyenas-maul-camper-during-stag-do-at-nature-reserve/7N3S56HORZHVLJJ5CT3IATSM4E/
17 1
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September 4, 2025 9:37am
- Colville
  
  nahhh….I am sure he measured the gap with a vernier to 1/10th mm accuracy…..//
  
  9 0
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  September 4, 2025 10:37am
Southern Raider

There was a news article last night about changes to disability funding which seemed to be resoundingly supported which is great.

However one of the parents they interviewed had a severely disabled adult son and the other younger adult son also looked disabled. They looked to be of Indian or Pakistani descent.

Disability’s can happen for a very wide range of unfortunate reasons and I fully support parents and the children getting the support they require. However having two disabled children seems to be to be less bad luck and more potentially linked the culture and close relationships of the parents.

Does NZ face a looming health crisis and funding issues like the UK does due to the intermarriage of some immigrants?
13 2
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September 4, 2025 9:47am
- fightingtemeraire
  
  In the UK it is a v high cost to the NHS. There was a Timeline episode years ago about it and some of the clips were harrowing.
  
  6 2
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  September 4, 2025 11:52am
- fightingtemeraire
  
  One third of all births in the UK with disabilities are of children born into Muslim 1st cousin marriages.
  
  7 3
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  September 4, 2025 11:58am
- Chuck Bird
  
  I think it makes a difference if they are Indian or Pakistani. I believe Muslim intermarriage is a problem.
  
  7 2
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  September 4, 2025 12:21pm
  - Paulus
    
    Muslim Intermarriage is enourmous and has been world wide for centuries.
    As we see so many more of them we see the future problem.
    Called Sanguinity.
    Would you buy a dog without checking its pedigree – they dont !
    
    9 1
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    September 4, 2025 12:28pm
  - Jack5
    
    There are 198 million to 200 million Muslims in India.
    
    As with the Christian and Sikh minorities, respectively of about 32 million and 25 million people, they periodically get a rough time from the Hindu majority.
    
    3 0
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    September 4, 2025 1:11pm
- MCōs
  
  Talk about jumping to conclusions
  
  3 3
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  September 4, 2025 2:18pm
OlderChas

When is the TV3 “News Hour” going to be renamed “The Paddy Gower Show”?
10 0
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September 4, 2025 10:02am
- Nigel Kearney
  
  It’s like having a two year old in the room. If Paddy Gower is involved it will always be “The Paddy Gower Show”.
  
  12 0
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  September 4, 2025 10:33am
  - Paulus
    
    Who is Paddy Gower ?
    
    10 1
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    September 4, 2025 12:29pm
    - mandk
      
      He used to be a journalist, but he became a writer for Woman’s Weekly after he was humiliated intellectually by two Canadians.
      
      7 2
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      September 4, 2025 1:02pm
- wairarapapaul
  
  Haven’t watched it for 3 or 4 years, don’t miss it at all
  
  4 1
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  September 4, 2025 12:27pm
Swifty

I find myself thinking very cynically about this.

If saturating Maori kids in Maoritanga is vital for their well-being, and I’m not sure that it is, then parents are free to do this during all the times the kids are not in school.

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/571996/waitangi-treaty-maori-dropped-from-new-english-maths-curriculums-teachers-say

I struggle with the notion that I’m not a full human, somehow incomplete, full of unrealised potential and never able to achieve a full wealth of well-being because I’m not being soaked in Gaelic, caber tossing, highland dancing, sword fighting and all while being blasted with the sounds of pipe bands.

It’s nonsense of course and I find it almost sinister this current notion that ‘there’s only one way to be Maori’ and as even our lefty politicians eagerly propound, to their eternal shame.

And let’s face it, if the last twenty years have taught us anything, the aspects of the curriculum being discussed will be being presented in an entirely unbalanced way, with no or little counter balance to the positions presented (Maori will be treaty ‘partners’ who never ceded sovereignty will be presented as fact) and no correspondence entered into.

I firmly believe that this is indoctrination not education and do not lament its removal from our kids education.

And look at how ropable some are that their toys are being taken away.
12 0
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September 4, 2025 11:05am
wsk12345

Earlier this week I was accosted on a walking track by a woman called Andrea who informed me she is running for ECan “to keep the 6 right wing blokes out who are destroying our waterways. We need to cut the number of cows, it’s the only way!”

She also bemoaned the ACT candidate standing in the Heathcote ward – good to know I said….when asked she admitted standing under the People’s Choice (labour/green) banner because “it’s impossible to get in if you don’t have that wider group campaigning for you”.-

She clearly saw me, a middle-aged woman as being a kindred spirit and one that could not possibly be one of those awful People she mentioned. As a result she spoke in a manner which was hugely inappropriate. She won’t be getting any of my 6 votes (the whole wider family lets me do the research and fill in their forms).
11 3
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September 4, 2025 11:13am
- NothingLeft
  
  Karens of the world untie! (not directed at wsk12345)
  
  3 0
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  September 4, 2025 2:21pm
- Steve Todd
  
  The other candidate in the Heathcote ward, lawyer and Sumner resident, Ian Kearney, is standing as an Independent, not for ACT Local.
  
  1 0
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  September 4, 2025 3:59pm
Swifty

If we had a demonstrable track record of imprisoning for the maximum of seven years those who exploit migrants then this might mean something:

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/572046/deporting-criminals-set-to-get-easier-under-law-change

But the fact of the matter is that we don’t – we don’t come even close with most migrant exploitation cases resulting in fines and maybe a bit of home detention, rarely jail.

Upping the seven year max to ten years is just window dressing. It’s something Labour would do to appear tough.
5 1
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September 4, 2025 11:28am
- kiwimike
  
  So who actually goes to Jail in NZ ??
  It seems to me it is hard to go to Jail….
  
  2 1
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  September 4, 2025 3:17pm
imalwaysright

The Police have once again politely asked the public to make allowances for another gang funeral.

I doubt they would be so polite if we refused.

If we instead chose to excercise our rights to free movement, and not give way to a congregation of criminals, you can be sure WE would face charges.
4 1
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September 4, 2025 11:32am
Philview

I think Chris Luxon has always been given a raw deal by the media. He has his faults but the level of vitriol has been unreasonable. I wouldn’t be surprised if he decides to quit at this next election as must be frustrating to deal with childish journalists every day of the week. Why waste his time when he can go overseas and get a much higher paid job. This raises the question who would replace him and this person would have to be amenable to the other leaders in a coalition with NZ First and ACT.
5 2
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September 4, 2025 11:43am
- MCōs
  
  You might ask why did he terminate an apparently successful career line to become a politician
  The answer is certainly not money (although the cynical disagree) – it’s power.
  The power to shape the country to that which they think is best.
  
  2 0
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  September 4, 2025 2:37pm
  - Pope Punctilious II
    
    And show me the evidence that Luxon has any intention of “shaping” the country. He’s Mr. Status Quo, and he never saw a fence that didn’t look comfortable to him.
    
    3 1
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    September 4, 2025 6:02pm
rouppe

Government announces crackdown on immigration breaches with new deportation rules

Erica Stanford does it again!

For example, under the current rules, someone who commits a serious crime cannot be liable for deportation if they have held a residence visa for more than 10 years.

“We’re fixing that,” Stanford said. “Where migrants don’t follow the conditions of their visa, I’ve made it clear to Immigration NZ compliance and enforcement actions are a priority.”

The Greens, of course, want to reward illegal behavior

Ricardo Menéndez March from the Greens said the figures showed the need for the Government to offer a pathway to residency to many of those “falling through the cracks”.

There are plenty of pathways to residency for those from the Pacific Islands particularly. If they can’t be bothered using them, too bad
13 0
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September 4, 2025 12:24pm
- Swifty
  
  “Falling through the cracks” – a naked, unvarnished euphemism for criminal overstayers who have broken their sworn commitment to honour their visa conditions.
  
  The Greens are openly hugging crims to attract the migrant vote.
  
  Disgraceful.
  
  7 0
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  September 4, 2025 3:02pm
Ghost

The Government is cracking down on serious immigration breaches, announcing it will strengthen deportation settings on the same day Immigration NZ revealed there are more than 20,000 people who have overstayed their visa.

…

For example, under the current rules, someone who commits a serious crime cannot be liable for deportation if they have held a residence visa for more than 10 years.

“We’re fixing that,” Stanford said. “Where migrants don’t follow the conditions of their visa, I’ve made it clear to Immigration NZ compliance and enforcement actions are a priority.”

Article

Some needed changes
3 0
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September 4, 2025 12:43pm
lifesgood

Pretty ironic that the nurses have the nerve to complain about patients not getting sufficient care by withdrawing their labour and not giving their patients sufficient care. Frankly I’m fed up to the back teeth with nurses and teachers whining and moaning. Don’t like it? Get another job.
8 3
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September 4, 2025 12:47pm
- kiwimike
  
  Lifesgood
  They are!!
  That’s why both Nurses and Teachers have staffing problems.
  it is the NO 1 issue with both…..
  
  With Nurses it is a serious issue for Patients too.
  I don’t know why you can’t see that??
  
  But the reality is MOH and MOE have buggered them around in negotiations for over a year….
  
  1 1
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  September 4, 2025 3:21pm
Jethrod

Is this the kiss of death?
The past PM , JA, lauding it up for Pene Henare.
Surely TPM will now romp in.
Tho PH I think is the far better option.
Seen on Twitter.
4 1
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September 4, 2025 12:57pm
- Pope Punctilious II
  
  Correction: PH is a less terrible option. There’s no “better” about it.
  
  3 0
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  September 4, 2025 6:03pm
cmm

I just had my weekly-ish “fun with a scammer”.

Indian Scammer: “Hello there is a problem with the internet in your area, blah, blah, blah,…”
Me: “Is your mother proud of you working as a criminal scammer? Does she tell all her friends how clever you are? Will she come visit when you are in prison?”
Scammer: “You are a motherfucker.”
10 1
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September 4, 2025 1:09pm
cmm

I dunno about you, but getting shot seems like a shit way to spend the day – whether it was close to your heart or not seems rather inconsequential.

Any shot can be life threatening. Plenty people have bled out after being hit in the leg. But somehow in this case being hit near the heart seems important.

Community detention for illegal possession of ammunition and being accessory after the fact seems a bit light – especially since he was in the car when the shooting happened.

But, hey, it’s Aotearoa. We should be happy he didn’t just walk away with a free ice cream.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/360735011/man-sentenced-involvement-road-rage-shooting-saw-teen-shot-near-heart
6 1
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September 4, 2025 1:18pm
Ghost

Māori party showing what racist bleeps they are

Te Pāti Māori MP Takuta Ferris is under fire for a social media post taking issue with the ethnicity of Labour supporters campaigning ahead of the Tāmaki Makaurau byelection.

In text posted over an image of Labour MPs and volunteers campaigning for Peeni Henare in the Tāmaki Makaurau electorate seat, Ferris said: “This blows my mind!!”

“Indians, Asians, Black and Pākehā campaigning to take a Māori seat from Māori,” Ferris said, adding multiple “exploding head” emojis and pictures of himself looking confused and shaking his head.

Article

These New Zealanders, btw, are campaigning for a Māori to win the Māori seat.
12 1
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September 4, 2025 1:22pm
- mandk
  
  From the look of him, Mr Ferris has a lot of pakeha blood himself.
  
  But I guess it pays more to be a racist.
  
  10 1
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  September 4, 2025 1:45pm
  - NeonTeepee
    
    There is no way that muppet has any Maori blood. What a false!
    
    6 0
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    September 4, 2025 3:44pm
  - pdm
    
    Ferris is closely aligned if not related to the Sciacia Families of Horowhenua and Porangahau Central Hawkes Bay. The Sciacia’s are extremely proud of their Italian heritage.
    
    Ferris it seems may be a `black sheep’.
    
    4 0
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    September 4, 2025 8:01pm
- Bernard Black
  
  Ferris is a nasty piece of work, not very bright though.
  If he had just left it at Pakeha and Asian he would have gotten away with it.
  But you can’t say Black and get away with it.
  I doubt he even realizes Indian is also considered to be Asian, in the UK anyway, so he is mentioning them twice.
  What a thicko.
  
  5 0
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  September 4, 2025 5:30pm
cmm

More tub-thumping about immigration breaches with over 20,000 people overstaying their visas.

“Immigration Minister Erica Stanford believes the changes, soon to be introduced to Parliament, will address gaps in New Zealand’s compliance framework. ”

I will start believing they actually mean it when we see Kim Dotcom gone.

Personally I think this is more sound-tough with zero action. I hope I am proved wrong.

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/government-announces-crackdown-on-immigration-breaches-with-new-deportation-rules-as-overstayer-numbers-revealed/K6IB4KQTWBAG7NCCFJWJ6MPDBY/
5 1
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September 4, 2025 1:28pm
- Ghost
  
  Kim’s case is before the courts. I doubt these illegals have the money to drag it through the courts like him
  
  3 1
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  September 4, 2025 1:33pm
- Handyman
  
  Didn’t Ardern apologise on behalf of the government for previous National governments deporting Pacific Islanders and promise it would never happen again?
  
  6 0
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  September 4, 2025 1:39pm
  - imalwaysright
    
    Arderns dad took part in the Dawn raids.
    She said her father was a junior police officer who had to follow orders but had not believed it should be part of the job.
    
    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/prime-minister-jacinda-arderns-policeman-father-carried-out-dawn-raids-as-junior-officer/2VQOHS3CKVQAWV43D5E3LNXWVU/
    
    4 1
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    September 4, 2025 2:57pm
Ghost

Survivors of Epstein are planning to release their own client list. I don’t think it will bother Bill Clinton too much
2 4
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September 4, 2025 1:39pm
- All_on_Red
  
  DOJ releasing a lot
  ‘The chairman also revealed that tens of thousands of pages of records are now in the committee’s possession. “We have the documents — the initial batch that had been sent by the White House….
  “We’re in the process of uploading those documents for full transparency, so everyone in America can see them,” Comer said. “As quick as we can get them uploaded — as the Speaker said, there are 34,000 pages — we’re doing everything we can to get those uploaded. We want those to be public as soon as possible.”
  Those docs have now been released.
  https://pjmedia.com/matt-margolis/2025/09/02/epstein-files-drop-the-lefts-trump-smear-campaign-just-collapsed-n4943284
  
  2 4
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  September 4, 2025 2:50pm
  - Ghost
    
    Which is the reason why these woman are releasing their own list, what has been released is heavily redacted and files already in the public
    
    5 0
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    September 4, 2025 2:55pm
    - MCōs
      
      The problem for Trump re the so called ‘Epstein Files’ is that in the recent past he made a big song and dance about releasing them. The inference being if elected they would be released and they were sizzling hot, which thus far nothing has been
      
      3 2
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      September 4, 2025 3:56pm
- kiwimike
  
  It’s the vids I want to see,……
  
  no hiding the evil then for any of them….
  
  2 1
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  September 4, 2025 3:24pm
Swifty

What a pity that Labour spent like drunken sailors on shore leave so that now such harsh measures are necessary:

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/572010/children-s-war-history-lessons-at-national-memorial-to-end-as-historians-lose-jobs

Damn you Labour.
8 0
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September 4, 2025 3:13pm
Swifty

The UN confirms UNRWA staff participated in the Oct 7, 2023 massacres:

https://x.com/eyakoby/status/1963292485951590750?s=46

UNRWA staff that we helped pay for.
5 0
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September 4, 2025 3:26pm
Swifty

“Stabbing Jews brings dignity to the Palestinians. We have to stab the Jews. They teach us that Jews are terrorists. I am ready to stab a jew and drive a car over them. I am ready to join ISIS.”

https://x.com/eyakoby/status/1963171947384127840?s=46

I see nothing wrong with Phil Twyford’s proposal to bring in many more Gazan refugees, especially children like these.

I am sure they will add greatly to the multicultural tapestry that is modern New Zealand.
9 0
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September 4, 2025 3:56pm
vand

“From the look of him, Mr Ferris has a lot of pakeha blood himself.

But I guess it pays more to be a racist.”

Are there any Maori without pakeha ancestry?Rhetorical question .
7 0
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September 4, 2025 4:21pm
- NZer In Exile
  
  Computer says noooo. Cough.
  
  0 0
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  September 4, 2025 11:15pm
Maggy Wassilieff

Te Pati Maori apologises…..

https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/360813304/he-should-know-better-labour-condemn-te-pati-maori-mps-social-media-post

I’ve never known TPM to apologise for anything…
so I wonder what’s going on..

Has TPM suddenly realised what a bunch of racists they really are?
10 0
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September 4, 2025 4:52pm
- Gravelroad
  
  So,if I am reading this correctly, Mr Ferris is aggrieved that people of different races are helping a Maori candidate (Mr Henare) with his election campaign.
  What he is annoyed about really is that Mr Henare is standing for Labour.
  If he was electioneering as a TPM candidate I don’t think this would be a problem for Mr Ferris – at all.
  In fact, I think he would be boasting about having the help of such a bunch of diverse supporters.
  
  5 0
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  September 4, 2025 7:53pm
Steve Otto N Shore

Her I am at 6.10pm today and I find the last comment is pre-5pm.
Does that mean Kiwibloggers have finished work and gone home – after spending all day here?
Just interested about why it is like that. Nobody has work to do?

Regards, Steve.
5 2
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September 4, 2025 6:13pm

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