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September 27, 2025 8:00am by Kokila Patel

General Debate 27 September 2025

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General Debate

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CJames

Readers may remember that some months ago I detailed my correspondence with the Prime Minister (or his office) about why we had put in such aggressive emissions cuts as part of our NDC for the latest Paris Agreement gabfest. The answer I got back was that we had to do it because if we didn’t, it would affect out trade.
Well, with CoP30 close, they are now finding out Climate Change (Inc.) is going off the priorities of many countries.
https://www.climatechangenews.com/2025/09/12/countries-trail-cop30-ndcs-clash
To quote “Only a sixth of countries have presented their updated NDCs so far, including an emissions-cutting target for 2035, with those from many major economies including the European Union (EU), China and India still missing.” Others detail, that excluding the US which has pulled out, those countries are only 10% of the emissions.
https://cliscep.com/2025/09/20/the-haves-and-the-have-nots/
So it confirms my contention that we are impoverishing ourselves for a lost cause. A major reason for our electricity being so expensive is a direct result of the target – the “captain’s call” being a leading contributor. There are other stupid decisions, including increasing latent authoritarianism, being done because of it.
Are you listening Mr Luxon? Get out of the Wellington bubble. New Zealanders and their future are your priority, not appeasing some out of touch foreign politicians who don’t even know we exist. They don’t buy from us because we are meeting meaningless targets. It is because we are the cheapest and most reliable quality supplier. Any trade barriers are solely their self-interest, protecting their own subsidised suppliers.
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September 27, 2025 8:01am
- NeverMindTheBollocks
  
  Yep. Our policies are hollowing out our industrial base. Winstones, Kinleith, the Nelson sawmill, Sealord. All of them had their individual problems, but high energy prices contributed.
  
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  September 27, 2025 8:13am
- Nigel Kearney
  
  There are some things both sides agree on:
  
  1. Climate change cannot be stopped unless the four big emitters make a serious effort.
  2. The four big emitters are not making a serious effort.
  3. There is no way to force the four big emitters to make a serious effort.
  
  The conclusion is obvious as a matter of logic. We just need politicians to stop pretending.
  
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  September 27, 2025 8:15am
  - Taieri
    
    Climate change cannot be stopped unless the four big emitters make a serious effort.
    —————
    
    Climate change cannot be stopped regardless of any human effort. Can humans control the Sun?
    
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    September 27, 2025 8:22am
  - cmm
    
    Politicians stop pretending? That’s most of what they do.
    
    Whether it is posturing about Climate Change or Palestine, NZ’s stance is inconsequential – except to those doing the posturing.
    
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    September 27, 2025 8:33am
  - G152
    
    Climate changes by the hour.
    We used to call it weather
    
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    September 27, 2025 9:01am
    - Nikola Donatello
      
      Weather and climate are not the same. We still call weather the weather.
      
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      September 27, 2025 9:35am
  - gravedodger
    
    “Climate Change cannot be stopped”, ever!!
    There are far greater factors at play than what the people of Planet Earth will ever bring into play.
    It is a total rort brought into play by a handful of persons pursuing power and control over wealth creators by Taxation and manipulation of minds and behaviours.
    Carbon Dioxide levels have fluctuated in quite extraordinary levels over millennia and currently sit at around .039% of the atmosphere.
    Should that level fall to .03% or lower then a real climate crisis will eventuate as plant life sustaining life on earth will come to a stop.
    Rising CO2 levels are greening a planet so devoid of vegetation over much of the land mass providing food for all life.
    It is an ultimate in Ponzi schemes that allows the proponents to fly in luxury, reside in the most environmental damaging accomodations and meet for regular talk fests how successfully they are manipulating cowed workers across the globe into supporting their criminal activities.
    Not only do they consider all others are inherently dumb but their manipulations continue to hold sway.
    Finally a world leader has publicly called the Bullshit out and exploding heads surround the now exposed to a minor degree fabrications.
    
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    September 27, 2025 9:02am
  - Nikola Donatello
    
    Just a qualifier on China. Its emissions have almost certainly peaked. This year or perhaps last year.
    
    https://www.carbonbrief.org/analysis-clean-energy-just-put-chinas-co2-emissions-into-reverse-for-first-time/
    
    However China is doing what it wants to do. Yes it is still building coal powered stations but its investment in solar is gigantic.
    
    The point is that China will do whatever is in its best interests. Whether its emissions go up or down (they are almost certainly now on a downwards path) is simply a by product of its self interest.
    
    One example of that self interest is heavily polluted large cities. They won’t want that to continue forever if they can cost effectively decouple growth from rising emissions.
    
    New Zealand is totally and utterly different. Politicians are now paralysed because they can’t deliver what they told the UN would happen.
    
    Think about it. What exactly is the New Zealand government doing to reduce emissions? There is a weak emissions trading scheme that is not even coming close to incentivising the change required to meet targets. That’s it. Maybe a few other odds and ends. The farmers are paying for some research. Not really a big deal.
    
    Honestly the current government will just stare at the headlights like a deer, hoping that the whole thing falls over. It is not going to introduce serious climate change policies.
    
    Let’s look at it another way. I could name 20 urgent and pressing policy problems that the government should address to make New Zealand richer. Desperately urgent problems. Changing climate change policies is not in the top 20.
    
    I will add two qualifiers. First qualifier. The only way that New Zealand can meet its Paris Accord commitments is to pay other nations many tens of billions for carbon credits. IIRC they have ruled that out. Therefore we WILL fail to meet the commitments. If I am wrong on that, well yes that is a serious problem.
    
    Second qualifier is a new government. The Greens would definitely destroy the country to meet the Paris Accord. The Maori Party will cheer them on because they want to end democracy and capitalism.
    
    Climate change policy will go around in circles and paralyse politicians here like it has forever.
    
    One thing I am totally confident about. China will do what it wants to do when it wants to do it. For its own reasons.
    
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    September 27, 2025 9:32am
    - Foxfour
      
      “pay other nations many tens of billions for carbon credits. IIRC they have ruled that out. ”
      
      No thats not the situation its $2 bill in this years budget. Which has happened every year with lesser amounts since Kyoto was signed by Jenny Shipley
      “a total of nearly $2,046 million for the allocation of New Zealand emission units to the economy”
      https://www.budget.govt.nz/budget/pdfs/estimates/v8/est25-v8-envir.pdf
      
      Thats what the Labour/Greens scheme for farmers paying for their CO2/CH4 etc, the taxpayers were paying for those emissions ( despite cows and sheep eating grass ). As its ditched the taxpayers are back funding those farming ’emission units’
      
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      September 27, 2025 10:24am
      - Nikola Donatello
        
        No. You are confusing two totally different things. New Zealand Units are issued by the New Zealand government. They are used to comply with the ETS.
        
        My previous comment referred to the option of using the flexibility mechanisms of the UNFCCC to effectively pay countries to meet our obligations on our behalf. That has nothing to do with the New Zealand ETS. The latter is simply a domestic climate change policy.
        
        The problem arises because the ETS cap is currently nowhere close to meeting our Paris obligations. The ETS impact on New Zealand energy prices is very minor. For example about 20 cents on a litre of petrol..
        
        Yes it is complicated and a mess. However the punch line is that out climate change policies are vastly, vastly, insufficient to meet our declared climate change commitments to the UN.
        
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        September 27, 2025 4:28pm
  - Handyman
    
    One of the big four emitters has reduced emissions more than New Zealand, Australia and Europe combined.
    That would be the USA.
    
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    September 27, 2025 10:47am
    - Colville
      
      By using it’s own natural gas rather than coal.
      
      Can we think of another country that could do exactly that*?
      
      *if it wasn’t for f$&king J@#$&da!
      
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      September 27, 2025 2:33pm
      - Nikola Donatello
        
        Yes the UK.
        
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        September 27, 2025 4:29pm
      - Ian Boag
        
        It has already been pointed out here on KB (not by me) that all the offshore drilling people had shot through some time before the captain’s call happened. Apparently the international oil industry doesn’t see offshore NZ drilling as something with a high probablitiy of success.
        
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        September 27, 2025 6:06pm
      - NZer In Exile
        
        Boag that may be true (though I suspect that’s only part of the story).
        
        Regardless, Jacinda & Co’s very poorly thought through captain’s call made sure they will most likely NEVER risk coming back.
        
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        September 27, 2025 8:57pm
- Dougal10
  
  The trade deal at risk is a shit rushed one that was signed with the EU to make cindy look good . If leaving the Paris agreement is a way out of it I say great.
  
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  September 27, 2025 8:23am
  - Foxfour
    
    What Rushed EU trade deal
    “[Oct 2015] New Zealand has taken a significant step towards expanding trade and economic links with the European Union, with a commitment to progress Free Trade negotiations announced today, Prime Minister John Key says.”
    https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/nz-takes-significant-step-towards-eu-fta
    
    nearly 8 years in the making and it was bi partisan
    
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    September 27, 2025 10:29am
  - Nikola Donatello
    
    Why do you care? The status quo is we have the trade deal, we remain in the Paris Accord, but fail to take meaningful action to meet the commitments? For at least now, that is the best course.
    
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    September 27, 2025 4:43pm
- cmm
  
  … and another 120 of NZ’s finest got on a plane out of here today…
  
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  September 27, 2025 8:32am
  - Boy Geoff
    
    That’s nice – I hope their jobs in Aus were guaranteed
    
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    September 27, 2025 8:36am
    - imalwaysright
      
      Are you suggesting their jobs here are guaranteed ?
      
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      September 27, 2025 9:38am
      - Boy Geoff
        
        No, I don’t think jobs are guaranteed anywhere – but certainly not in Aus anymore…
        
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        September 27, 2025 10:25am
  - NeverMindTheBollocks
    
    I note from somewhere or other that about half of New Zealanders leaving permanently were not born in NZ. That will include many who came here as students of one kind or another, got the passport, perhaps had seal-the-deal kids & have then shot through for greener pastures. Not really New Zealanders, in my view, whatever the bits of paper say.
    
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    September 27, 2025 9:13am
    - Pineapple Lumps
      
      So only 60 of NZs finest leaving today. Not so bad then!
      
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      September 27, 2025 11:22am
    - septic skeptic
      
      The question is then are these bludgers looking for a country with a better dole, minimum wage workers, or say nurses looking for higher pay. Even recent migrants who came here with the best of intentions could be finding it hard to feel valued and welcome in New Aotearoa.
      I would need some more analysis before I took any solace from the fact that recent migrants are now leaving.
      
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      September 27, 2025 12:01pm
      - NeverMindTheBollocks
        
        I would like more analysis too. But for whatever reason, it doesn’t seem to around.
        
        Expanding a little, what makes a New Zealander? For me, it means being part of the local culture. It starts at preschool, and continues into primary. It means having an NZ accent. Parents who join the PTA, run a stall at the school fair, coach a sports team or turn up week in, week out on the sidelines.
        
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        September 27, 2025 1:16pm
      - Pineapple Lumps
        
        NMTB – those are all good points except a person doesn’t have to be born here to be a NZ’er.
        
        For me it is a person that considers NZ home and NZer’s their kin (no matter race or creed), and loves this country more than anywhere else on the planet. The best NZers love the country more than themselves!
        
        What I dislike is the new imports who see non-Maori NZ’ers as the same as them, buy into the racism, and embrace the Maori wonderfulness/more important than the rest myth.
        
        Multi-generational kiwis – Chinese, Dalmatian, British, Indian, Dutch etc – are equally important NZers . The fact these people saw NZ as a good destination to come to is completely due to all the NZ’ers blood, sweat, and tears over these many generations. Not the divisive ethos that many become indoctrinated with because of the romanticism of NZ Maori and trying to create a racist separatist elite.
        
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        September 27, 2025 2:01pm
    - septic skeptic
      
      Oh and by the way I wasn’t born in NZ. I came with my parents as a 9 year old. I’m considering leaving after 50+ years in which I called New Zealand home.
      
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      September 27, 2025 12:07pm
  - Jethrod
    
    Muldoon had a little quip regarding people leaving NZ. Briefly he said persons leaving NZ to settle in Australia raises the IQ of both countries!
    
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    September 27, 2025 11:52am
    - Don Beckett
      
      Yes, he said that, but in reality it was not true in many cases. I left in 1978 & stayed for 10 years, and earned probably three times as much as I could have in NZ.
      But in the mid 80’s Oz went into a recession where I was living and NZ was going pretty well in 1988, and all other family etc were here, so home we came.
      
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      September 27, 2025 1:06pm
    - Skippytony
      
      That kind of cheap shot mentality is endemic. What really hurts NZ inc is the number of folks in the top 10% who have upped sticks. Consider say David Kirk
      . Qualified doctor, worked for a top shelf consulting company, been a company director in Aus for 20 years. His family all aussies now. Loosing too many of that calibre is bad for any country.
      
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      September 27, 2025 1:33pm
  - Interested Party
    
    I can assure you many will not be our finest
    
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    September 27, 2025 11:55am
    - lifesgood
      
      Future 501s, probably.
      
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      September 27, 2025 1:02pm
- PurplePen
  
  Opinion piece from Bjorn Lomborg, Stanford uni offers a perspective that is overlooked. Quoting from it as an introduction:
  
  “As world leaders converge on New York for the UN General Assembly and Climate Week, two incompatible visions are about to clash: rich-world elites obsessed with climate change versus developing nations battling poverty, hunger, and disease.
  
  Unfortunately, even trillions of dollars spent on traditional climate policy can only deliver tiny benefits, whereas just billions of dollars of simple, proven policies can transform lives, alleviate poverty, promote health, and boost resilience. This chasm highlights why most of the world often perceives rich virtue-signalling elites as disconnected from reality.”
  
  https://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opinion/3109872/climate-week-fanfare-hides-the-poverty-gap
  
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  September 27, 2025 12:29pm
Chuck Bird

If Luxon will not debate this issue with Groundswell and Methanne Science Accord he should be rolled.

Groundswell NZ

https://www.groundswellnz.co.nz/
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September 27, 2025 8:10am
- pdm
  
  Chuck you could extend that to asking why PM Luxon will not be interviwed on The Platform?
  
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  September 27, 2025 8:24am
  - Notsofast
    
    National lose votes for Luxon refusing to address his potential supporters.
    It may be related to climate science, who knows.
    He could talk to Michael Laws who seems agnostic on the subject.
    This is pure speculation on my part.
    
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    September 27, 2025 9:39am
  - NZer In Exile
    
    The Platform is a great and much needed initiative IMHO. Plunket should receive an award for that.
    
    However, I can understand why Luxon would not want to be interviewed by Plunket. Plunket simply interrupts way too often. He cuts people off and insults them. Sometimes before it was even possible to know what they really wanted to say. Perhaps Michael Laws could offer to interview Luxon instead?
    
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    September 27, 2025 9:09pm
- Pope Punctilious II
  
  Rolled and replaced by whom? What makes you think any of the potential replacements would take a different stance?
  
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  September 27, 2025 9:02am
  - leoj
    
    Good point!
    
    The entire party, except for Simeon Brown, are weak and woke promoters of the maori takeover.
    
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    September 27, 2025 11:37am
- Nikola Donatello
  
  Chris Luxon could not debate the science of methane emissions because he does not know anything about the subject. It would just be awful word salad.
  
  I would rather listen to a debate between two experts who hold different views. I might learn something.
  
  There are few government ministers I would watch in a debate. David Seymour definitely. Simeon Brown. Chris Bishop. Erica Stanford. That’s about it.
  
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  September 27, 2025 9:08am
  - imalwaysright
    
    Luxon won’t even tolerate anyone asking questions about the Climate Cult.
    
    Remember Maureen Pugh being castigated by Luxon for asking [mod – deleted] and Green Party Leader James Shaw for evidence.
    
    Her lack of willingness to take the Leap of Faith led to Willis and Luxon publically presenting her with a copy of the Scriptures for her to recite and cast off the Demon of Doubt.
    
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    September 27, 2025 9:47am
    - Nikola Donatello
      
      No I don’t even know who she is.
      
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      September 27, 2025 4:36pm
      - imalwaysright
        
        Nikola Donatello
        Who is Maureen Pugh?
        
        Thumb up 6 Thumb down 13 ReportSeptember 13, 2025 9:29am
        
        Same question. Try Google.
        
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        September 27, 2025 7:47pm
- Jack5
  
  Why won’t Luxon be interviewed on tiny “X” and internet “Y”?
  
  Under MMP, his job’s to be coalition co-ordinator first, and leader second. Twenty-four-hours PR voice like Ardern? Nah.
  
  Careful, or the next coalition will be Labour-Greens-Maori Party. An alternative Labour-NZ First coalition is an optimist’s choice.
  
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  September 27, 2025 9:18am
  - septic skeptic
    
    If National hope to avoid that, they will need a fresh leader who can articulate a clear vision of what they stand for and a credible plan to deliver that. It’s a very long shot to hope they can run on their record so far and that the economy will turn enough to win over swing voters.
    
    I say a fresh leader, but Luxon is no leader. He may be a co-ordinator but that is NOT the main part of the job
    
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    September 27, 2025 12:14pm
    - Colville
      
      I think you are wrong.
      Luxons job is probably 70% party and inter party relationship management.
      That is why Seymour and Winston do so well.. Luxon steers the ship.. Others are shooting from the hip and enjoying themselves.
      Luxons job is too make the collective look OK.
      
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      September 27, 2025 2:40pm
NeverMindTheBollocks

The impact of our reaction to Covid lingers on. The chances of this measles outbreak in Northland spreading among children is high.

Just 76.4 percent of two-year-olds were fully vaccinated as of December last year. The rates were worse for Māori babies (63.3 percent) and Pacific (70.4 percent).

I bet there’ll be nothing about this in the Jacinda hagiography

http://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/574252/new-measles-case-confirmed-in-bay-of-islands
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September 27, 2025 8:10am
- Ghost
  
  Immunisation coverage for children in New Zealand at 24 months of age is 82.0 percent for the three-month period ending 30 June 2025.
  
  Immunisation coverage
  
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  September 27, 2025 9:38am
Chuck Bird

We should hear at 11am if Peters supports rewarding Hamas.
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September 27, 2025 8:13am
- Gravelroad
  
  He will.
  But it will be crafted in a round-about way so as not to upset either side here.
  Politicians always take note of the loudest voices.
  Wouldn’t want to lose the protester vote, eh.
  
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  September 27, 2025 8:22am
  - Foxfour
    
    Thats right . It will be a ‘support the idea’ but wrapped in KPIs so that it ticks the boxes for the news to drop out of the media 24/7 sausage making machine
    
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    September 27, 2025 10:34am
- KH
  
  I too want to know what New Zealand will say.
  I want us to condemn Israel for it’s state organized murder in Gaza. 70,000 so far and counting.
  Acknowledging it won’t stop them and there are many mad murderers there.
  
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  September 27, 2025 9:07am
  - Pineapple Lumps
    
    I want our government to acknowledge that it is Hamas that started this war, and to date have caused the suffering and deaths of their people by continuing the war on Israel. Israel have had two options, 1. Wage war to try and recover their hostages and show they wont tolerate those that desire their extinction or 2. Allow Hamas to wage war on them with no consequence.
    
    I want our government to condemn the Palestinian rulers – Hamas – and reconfirm they are a terrorist organisation who are fully committed to the eradication of Israel, no matter the cost to the Palestinian people.
    
    I want our government to demand Hamas to sue for peace, put down their weapons, release the hostages and cease all military activities, including building tunnels and procuring armaments.
    
    How could any right thinking person give statehood to an area that is governed by terrorists, whose self-avowed goal is the elimination of the Jews?
    
    This state organised murder that you speak of is being orchestrated by Hamas. It is akin to them making their people swim across an ocean and then blaming the ocean when they drown. Hamas have the power to stop the suffering!
    
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    September 27, 2025 10:40am
  - Don Beckett
    
    KH
    You ae imbued with Hamas’s propaganda, pedalled by the UN & useless media.
    
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    September 27, 2025 10:47am
  - Handyman
    
    I look forward to your post condemning Ukraine for killing nearly one million Russians as part of the genocide of Russia.
    
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    September 27, 2025 10:52am
  - kowtow
    
    It is state organized murder .
    
    That of the Mullahs in Tehran and their myriad , crazed allies across the Middle East .( and their fellow travellers across the world providing moral and public support)
    
    That’s the real problem . Not democratic Israel , engaged in a just war of defence and retrieval of its ( and other countries) hostages .
    
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    September 27, 2025 12:37pm
- NeverMindTheBollocks
  
  Peters should say that the time is not right to recognise Palestine.
  
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  September 27, 2025 9:14am
  - xasperated
    
    and I suspect to the surprise of many, that’s what he did.
    
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    September 27, 2025 11:44am
kowtow

The “leaders” of the West , need to get on board with MAGA and dump “climate” catastrophism.

The policies this catastrophism have led to are deindustrialisation , very high energy prices , weak domestic markets and the empowering of very dangerous rivals who do want to dominate the free west .

Are a few bottles of average quality sav blanc worth that Mr Luxon.

One wonders though what the great minds behind the National Party are up to. On the one hand they want us to export ag produce , on the other to hammer the same farmers doing the work to keep us afloat and that hammering is leading too to deindustrialising our manufacturing and keeping energy prices in a poor economy high.

An afterthought to this climate ponzi scheme is why are our insurance wallahs paying good money to send Swarbrick to London to undermine our economy, indeed way of life . When “Big business’ and the extreme left get into bed together you know something is very rotten indeed.
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September 27, 2025 8:14am
peterwn

“Bay of Plenty cop Harrison Rickard-Simms busted drink-driving, appeals conviction”
See: (not paywalled)
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/bop-cop-harrison-rickard-simms-busted-drink-driving-appeals-conviction/MDS7J7IMZNCLXGRODTCQRQQLTE/

He was double over the limit. Community magistrate rightfully convicted and disqualified him for 6 months. Police management are considering whether to fire him (note – anyone who has had a drink drive conviction can forget about being a cop as far as I know). He appealed to District Court and judge discharged him without conviction on the grounds the consequences of a conviction would outweigh the relative seriousness of the offence.
“He, more than anyone else, should have known better.” his defence lawyer said. Precisely.
In fairness to the District Judge, she probably concluded that based on previous appeals, a conviction would not be upheld by the Court of Appeal, and therefore overturned the Community Magistrate’s decision.
This is an insult to law abiding citizens and those who expect to be safe on the roads. It is of concern that the ‘discharge without conviction’ card which was intended to deal with unusual circumstances can be played so readily.
I hope the Crown Prosecutor appeals but he will probably review recent case law and appeal decisions and decide that an appeal would be a waste of time.
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September 27, 2025 8:15am
- Philview
  
  There is a clue in the name. I am reminded of Major Dan in Forest Gump and being denied his perceived rightful place in his family tree.
  
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  September 27, 2025 8:21am
- cmm
  
  It also comes at a time where confidence in the police is at an all time low. The only way to rebuild that is to hold police to a very high standard.
  
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  September 27, 2025 8:36am
  - KH
    
    I have confidence in our police.
    
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    September 27, 2025 9:08am
- Nigel Kearney
  
  If I was going to list the types of offending that might justify a discharge without conviction, first offence driving over the limit but not dangerously would be very near the top of my list.
  
  Seems like what you are suggesting is that he should be treated more harshly because he is a police officer.
  
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  September 27, 2025 8:39am
  - peterwn
    
    No. He is being treated less harshly because he is a police officer. He would have known he had too much to drink and thought he could get away with going out to buy takeaways, but Murphy’s Law claimed another victim.
    At my former workpace, there was a reorganisation and staff were being made redundant with very generous payouts. An employee whose driving licence was essential for the job was nicked drink-drive. He faced a court date and when convicted would have been immediately fired without redundancy. He was asking when he was likely to be made redundant in the hope it was before his court appearance. He gave up hope and chose to resign thus kissing goodbye to his redundancy payout. His union tried to get redundancy for him but without success. At that time pleading for a discharge without conviction would not have worked despite the significant consequences of his offending. He suffered the serious consequences, so why should that cop not suffer similar serious consequences. Incidentally if the cop has been stood down on pay pending investigation, that is an insult to the taxpayer.
    
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    September 27, 2025 9:00am
  - cmm
    
    Which part of double the limit did you miss?
    
    Yes, unfortunately police need to be held to higher standards to rebuild confidence. They already are to some extent. You can’t join the police with criminal convictions and it seems having a tattoo is almost mandatory.
    
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    September 27, 2025 9:00am
  - cmm
    
    Some while ago a country cop was caught slightly over the limit.
    
    He had been to a bbq while on standby/backup and had got the call after just one beer too many.
    
    In cases like that I can see both sides:
    * Country cops need to scramble at all hours to provide back up, but they also need to relax, unwind and socialise. He wasn’t off his face. Cut him some slack if he’s just a tiny amount over the line.
    Flip-side:
    * Cops need to set some sort of example and not flout the law – especially in social settings. If you’re on standby/back up then preferably do not drink at all. You don’t know what you might need to do: handle a firearm, high speed driving etc. Need to keep your wits about you.
    
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    September 27, 2025 9:08am
    - NeverMindTheBollocks
      
      Standby means you have to be available. Generally, this means you have to limit your behaviour. No going tramping or sailing, for example. If you’re watching your kids play footie, having the car handy and a plan for someone else to take the kids home. Keeping your phone on. And, no drinking.
      
      These things apply not just to cops. Think IT workers, lines company staff etc.
      
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      September 27, 2025 9:19am
      - peterwn
        
        There was a lines company overseer whose skills and expertise was badly needed after hours. He was not on standby but had rather a lot to drink. The Engineer went round to his house, picked him up and took him to the job site. He was able to advise the gang how to get the job done. When finished and the power was back on, he was driven back home. No one was judgmental about the episode.
        
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        September 27, 2025 10:36am
      - CJames
        
        I have seen a similar thing happen for a drilling rig supervisor. One could argue that it was very sensible Health & Safety policy.
        
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        September 27, 2025 3:26pm
  - keepcalmcarryon
    
    Well clearly he needs to be held to a higher standard than any old crim otherwise what’s the point of having a police force, we could just employ the mob like Labour did.
    
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    September 27, 2025 10:48am
- gravedodger
  
  Any relation to Clint, I am wondering?
  
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  September 27, 2025 9:04am
  - Philview
    
    I think Clint has an S in the surname whereas Viv doesn’t so I assume the latter. The article mentions strong family history in the police.
    
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    September 27, 2025 9:20am
artemisia

The Parent Boost Visa changes announced by Immigration Minister Stanford are causing ripples in the migrant community.

Alarm over health insurance costs for Parent Boost Visa

Health insurance for visiting parents needs to cover emergency healthcare, medical repatriation, return of remains and cancer treatment. So not all potential health costs.

Certainly expensive if the coverage is not needed. Cheap if it is needed. That’s insurance for you. But if it is needed and no insurance, who pays then? Those who could not afford the insurance?

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/chinese/574245/alarm-over-health-insurance-costs-for-parent-boost-visa
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September 27, 2025 8:23am
- Swifty
  
  I don’t remember, years ago, when New Zealanders moved overseas to the UK or US grizzling and moaning about not being able to bring their parents over as well.
  
  Times must have changed I guess.
  
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  September 27, 2025 8:31am
- TS Child
  
  Functionly, the person who pays for non-insured overseas visitors in this country is the tax payer. Either via ACC or via the hospital wiping off an unpayable debt. It’s really hard if family moves to New Zealand and then wants their family to stay for extended periods. Non-taxpayer funded health is expensive…. It’s a thing that needs to be considered at the time of immigration. It’s potentially also a thing that needs to be discussed as a country – but at a time when taxpayers are struggling to get timely healthcare, it’s a big ask to expect them to fund healthcare for visitors from overseas who have never paid tax. Travel insurance can be very patchy in the actual coverage – the devil is in the details here …
  
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  September 27, 2025 8:35am
  - KH
    
    There are plenty of aged parents who came here to be with their children. But their children have moved on and abandoned them here alone.
    And we support them.
    
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    September 27, 2025 1:35pm
- KH
  
  I am alarmed as well.
  If they are worried the health costs are expensive and at the same time expect us to pay for it, it’s a shocker.
  Such a money grab and sense of entitlement is alarming indeed.
  
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  September 27, 2025 9:13am
- NeverMindTheBollocks
  
  How much does health insurance cost for a 50 year old who has good health? The figure suggested seems high to me. Perhaps an example of what the market will bear, rather than relating to the underlying costs?
  
  But, the visa on offer is extremely generous of NZ. The target is aged parents, who otherwise would not qualify. Absolutely, they should pay their way.
  
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  September 27, 2025 9:23am
  - Foxfour
    
    The health insurance on offer for NZ residents/citizens – and of similar age- is less expensive as they exclude all conditions that are ‘acute’ and covered by health system. The ‘senior long term visitor’ insurance has to cover a lot of that.
    
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    September 27, 2025 9:59am
- peterwn
  
  This sounds like – ‘The Law like the Ritz Hotel is open to all’.
  
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  September 27, 2025 10:37am
sungsamning

https://redstate.com/wardclark/2025/09/25/happening-now-fed-prosecutors-reportedly-to-launch-investigation-into-soros-orgs-n2194394
Happening Now? Fed Prosecutors Reportedly to Launch Investigation Into Soros Orgs.
Could we finally be about to witness the long-awaited comeuppance for George Soros, his son Alex, and their Open Society Foundations?

That remains to be seen, but reports on Thursday indicate that Justice Department officials are in receipt of directives to start investigations of the Open Society Foundations. This has not yet been confirmed by the Justice Department. [Throw everything at it, including RICO.]
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September 27, 2025 8:26am
sungsamning

https://issuesinsights.com/2025/09/26/left-wing-terrorism-has-been-unleashed/
Left-Wing Terrorism Has Been Unleashed.
For years, we were told by government officials and outside “experts” that the terrorists in our midst were mostly right-wing fanatics – a list that under the Biden administration came to include parents who spoke up at local school board meetings and Catholics who like the Latin mass.
But even the left is now admitting what everyone else already knows.
Namely, that despite their constant bleating about tolerance and peace, it’s leftists who pose the greatest threat to Americans.
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September 27, 2025 8:27am
- Foxfour
  
  Really
  MINNEAPOLIS
  AP
  —The man charged with killing the top Democrat in the Minnesota House and her husband, and wounding a state senator and his wife, pleaded not guilty Thursday in federal court.
  
  Theres a special category of IS mass shootings at places of worship.
  All right wing zealots killing blacks or jews and such
  ‘A shooter who sprayed bullets into a church filled with young students was “obsessed with the idea of killing children,” investigators said, after reviewing writings and videos that detailed hate for a myriad of groups….The shooter expressed hate towards almost every group imaginable,” including Mexicans, Christians and Jews, acting US attorney for Minnesota Joseph Thompson told a press conference.’
  
  Mexicans , Christians and jews , strange mix but the clue is Mexicans and jews
  
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  September 27, 2025 10:05am
  - rouppe
    
    Really
    Two attempts on Trumps life: leftists.
    Charlie kirk: leftist.
    Pro Palestine protest violence: leftist.
    No kings protest violence: leftist.
    Arthur Folasa Ah Loo shooter: leftist “peace keeper”
    Coordinated harassment of Jews on campus: leftists.
    Spraying fascist symbols on Tesla dealerships and setting fire to their cars: leftist.
    
    I take it that your reference to “Mexicans and Jews” is to allude to “far right [not allowed to say it] “. Except fascism was born from socialism.
    
    The first fascist was Benito Mussolini.
    Before inventing fascism he was a socialist.
    His close advisor during this transition was a guy called Giovanni Gentile.
    Giovanni Gentile was a student of Karl Marx.
    
    Nothing there is making me thing “conservative right wing Christian. Everything there is making me think Leftist.
    
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    September 27, 2025 1:28pm
    - rouppe
      
      Oh, here’s another one just today…
      
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      September 27, 2025 2:23pm
    - Foxfour
      
      Italy in 1920s had its own socialist Party PSI, thats left wing
      Mussolini deliberately created a right wing ideology – Fascism
      
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      September 27, 2025 3:38pm
      - rouppe
        
        And Mussolini was in the psi.
        
        The psi kicked him out because he advocated for military intervention in ww1.
        
        So you see, when socialists want more violence, they don’t suddenly ideologically fling to the other end of the ideological spectrum. They become the fascists.
        
        Fascism is born from socialism.
        
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        September 27, 2025 9:06pm
  - Jack5
    
    Foxfour: How about giving Jews a capital “J”?
    
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    September 27, 2025 2:09pm
  - Tom Hunter
    
    The killer, Vance Boulter was appointed by Governor Walz to the governor’s Workforce Development Board…““because of the special trust and confidence I have in your integrity, judgment, and ability.”
    
    Would Walz and his associates do that for a guy who hates Mexicans or has other right-wing beliefs in a state that is solid Democrat and has been for decades and is increasingly left-wing?
    
    The thing is that we’re supposed to believe from the newspaper on the spot, the Minnesota Star Tribune, that the following groups were what Boelter himself identified with, as filtered by the reporters through friends, family, and business associates (all 3rd parties in other words):
    Christians
    Gun owners
    Preppers
    Family men
    Republicans
    Trump supporters
    
    Which just happen to be all the US Left’s hate objects.
    
    But at the same time we’re not supposed to accept his direct claim that he killed on behalf of Tim Walz.
    
    Insane would be the safe bet here, although it’s possible that the whole manifesto could be a deliberate ploy to make him appear insane.
    
    In any case, if the Democrat Party had really believed at the time that he was MAGA their minions would have pushed it hard across the whole USA, as they did with Palin years ago. The fact that – a couple of “MAGA” headlines aside – they haven’t done this tells me they’re a lot less certain than their followers are now in the wake of Kirk’s death where they’re desperate to portray his killer as right-wing or play the both-siderism line.
    
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    September 27, 2025 2:40pm
peterwn

Commentators are saying that the Government needs to make ‘bold moves’ with the electricity industry.
The only ‘bold moves’ that seem available are:
1. Kick the four gentailers in the slats. Even if the Government stops them paying dividends, this is not going to create extra electricity or reduce electricity bills significantly.
2. Subsidise electricity. This has two issues 1) Nicola Willis would find it extremely hard to find the significant amounts of money (and that problem would not be solved by giving her the boot) and 2) electricity subsidies would encourage wasteful use which would not be good for the environment.
No doubt the Greens and Labour could win votes by promising these two unrealistic approaches.
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September 27, 2025 8:27am
- CJames
  
  They won’t do option 1. The government and all the organisations like ACC and Kiwisaver need the divident income. Option has been proven not to work. You forgot option 3 Peter. Put them all back together as a new NZED, Nationalised. That would appeal to the idiots on the left – confiscate the assets. The elephant in the room is half the power price is distribution and transmission. And their costs have been rising faster than building new stations.
  
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  September 27, 2025 8:35am
  - pdm
    
    KiwiSaver will not pay dividends to the Government.
    
    All KiwiSaver investments are in individuals names – eg your name and my name etc. so the Government has no call on them.
    
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    September 27, 2025 8:58am
    - CJames
      
      I didn’t write Kiwisaver pay dividends to the Government.
      
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      September 27, 2025 9:05am
    - Conservatarian
      
      It’s possible he means the NZ Super Fund
      
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      September 27, 2025 9:08am
    - KH
      
      You pay tax to the government on your Kiwisaver.
      Should not happen. Kiwisaver is a social protection device not a standard investment.
      So no tax at entry, during or exit.
      Please.
      
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      September 27, 2025 9:17am
  - AitchW
    
    CJames did you mean the Super Fund?
    
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    September 27, 2025 9:16am
    - CJames
      
      More the various institutional investment arms who aggregate people’s Kiwisaver and other retirement accounts for sharemarket purchases. Look at the list of big investors in the generation companies. But yes, Super Fund as well
      
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      September 27, 2025 12:17pm
  - imalwaysright
    
    Its amazing how many people are clipping the ticket between a generator turbine and grandma’s one bar heater.
    
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    September 27, 2025 9:28am
    - peterwn
      
      There are only two other industry ticket clips – Transpower and the local lines company. Admittedly there is contracting out – such as meters, maintenance gangs etc. But it is cheaper to contract out these functions than to do them in house. Meters owned in-house to core business so it makes sense to contract them out.
      
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      September 27, 2025 10:43am
  - peterwn
    
    There is a big sovereign risk aspect to re-nationalising electricity generation (and forcing the gentailers not to pay dividends is virtual nationalisation), it that can be re-nationalised then what else can be nationalised? The other issue is whether a re-integrated industry would operate more efficiently than the present setup. It would in an ideal world, but there is no ideal world. The Government got fed up with carrying the sovereign risk of electricity generation/transmission and considered private enterprise can handle the risk better. The members of the Business Round Table (and its mouthpiece Roger Kerr) supported Roger’s calls for further reforms until there was a power shortage and the BRT then called for the Government to do something – hypocrites.
    
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    September 27, 2025 10:56am
  - rouppe
    
    Plus 49% of most of them are owned by the public. If dividends are suspended there will be a mass exodus, tanking the share price.
    
    Mind you might be a good speculative buy then…
    
    Better to take the dividend and use it to drill for gas.
    
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    September 27, 2025 1:31pm
- kowtow
  
  I wonder what the commentators had to say about the $100 million to the Maoris .
  
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  September 27, 2025 8:36am
  - NeverMindTheBollocks
    
    Details here – http://www.pressreader.com/new-zealand/the-timaru-herald/20240803/282093462011786
    
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    September 27, 2025 1:28pm
  - KH
    
    This commentator says “Maori like water. But they like the money more”
    
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    September 27, 2025 1:44pm
- [email protected]
  
  How about this government encouraging business and home owners to install solar panels?
  
  We earned a respectable 15% return on our solar panel investment and they paid for themselves in just over six years. Solar is a lot cheaper now and a small financial incentive from the government can be very useful.
  
  Those saying solar only works when the sun is shining need to realize that any extra energy from the sun helps keep lake levels up for nighttime use.
  
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  September 27, 2025 8:38am
  - peterwn
    
    While there is sufficient buffer in the system to support solar/ wind this is becoming a scarce commodity. Solar customers rely on a grid connection to cover periods of no sun etc. An ‘off grid’ setup requires solar/wind, storage and a standby generator. Heating and cooking need to be by LPG. This is the typical setup on Great Barrier Island.
    
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    September 27, 2025 10:48am
  - PurplePen
    
    The 15% return is what the sales people tell you. They base such a return on the capital spent at the outset. What they don’t factor in is the capital you’ve outlayed up front has been decpreciating such that by the time you’ve recouped the amount you’ve outlayed the capital will be worthless or maybe about a quarter what it was.
    
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    September 27, 2025 12:47pm
    - [email protected]
      
      Once installed solar panels last about 20 years. Even after 20 years they still generate power but at a reduced rate.
      
      Our solar panels are just over six years old and have saved their costs already. From now on everything they create is profit for us.
      
      The 15 % return on investment was not what a sales person promised… it is our actual return on our investment.
      
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      September 27, 2025 8:27pm
  - NeverMindTheBollocks
    
    If the deal is so good, it won’t need a subsidy.
    
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    September 27, 2025 1:29pm
    - [email protected]
      
      I think that it is the upfront cost that keeps a lot of people from investing in solar.
      
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      September 27, 2025 8:29pm
- CJames
  
  The main reason why new stations aren’t being built is the RMA. That costs companies a lot of money to build up the evidence for submission, only for it to be killed by blind Freddie the frog. Objectors kill everything and suffer no consequences for dragging it through the courts, or threatening to. They go for blackmail to get money. Look at Ngai Tahu and Waitaki. That is about $20 a family we pay for year for that.
  Look how many proposed stations had to go to Fast Track. Why are they there? To fix the problem, get rid of the RMA.
  
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  September 27, 2025 8:41am
  - Quail
    
    CJames,
    So true.
    The major problem with the proposed RMA reforms is that Luxon has ruled out reform of the present Natural Environment legislation.
    This in turn makes it clear that not only is more power generation almost impossible , so is growth in or even maintenance of agricultural production in NZ..
    The farms that once sustained a high standard of living for all NZ are declining rapidly.
    The regulatory burden driven by the RMA, and other similar acts are largely responsible for this decline!
    
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    September 27, 2025 9:40am
    - Foxfour
      
      Fonterra has had a record year. Dont know which countrys agriculture is in ‘rapid’ decline
      
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      September 27, 2025 10:37am
      - imalwaysright
        
        The price paid to farmers has increased, but so have their costs.
        $10.50 for a kilo of milk fat that may have cost $9 to produce.
        
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        September 27, 2025 11:04am
      - CJames
        
        How much sheep and beef is going through the works? What are the sheep numbers nowadays?
        
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        September 27, 2025 12:20pm
      - Foxfour
        
        ‘Dairy NZ estimates the breakeven milk price to be $7.51 per kg MS this season’ ( 2025)
        
        Production costs are of course way way lower, and finance costs added which vary a lot if at all.
        
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        September 27, 2025 1:32pm
      - Quail
        
        Foxfour ,
        FYI,
        Decline in sheep numbers from over 70 million to about 20 million .
        Freezing works making huge losses and closing.
        Fonterra selling off some of its assets.
        Nett importer of pork.
        Watties dispensing with fruit suppliers .
        Grape industry is struggling .
        The list is long and grievous.
        Suggest a little research will reveal more!
        
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        September 27, 2025 1:53pm
- Dougal10
  
  Getting rid of shaws green taxes would help, they have completely wrecked the energy markets
  
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  September 27, 2025 11:08am
- RoboRob
  
  I posted my proposal here recently, neither 1 or 2. It would have increased supply, met our Paris accord goals at no cost to nz businesses and potentially removed US tariffs. All without government borrowing.
  
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  September 27, 2025 12:46pm
mandk

How long before the UK goes up in flames?

Starmer wants to introduce compulsory digital ID cards that will inevitably be used for social control.

Papers please.
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September 27, 2025 8:29am
- virtualmark
  
  All developed nations are going to have to grapple with the question of proving ID in a digital world that is filled with bots, AI, etc etc.
  
  Realistically we (New Zealand) are also going to have to consider some form of digital ID that proves you are a natural person and not some bot.
  
  That does open the door to a Big Brother world, although I’d note that Google, Facebook, Twitter, WordPress etc etc already know a hugely creepy volume of information about each of us and I figure they’re less trustworthy than most Governments.
  
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  September 27, 2025 11:51am
  - peterwn
    
    There is already digital ID called ‘Real Me’ although its use is optional, although its use is becoming mandatory such as on line filing of a Tenancy Tribunal application.
    
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    September 27, 2025 1:09pm
    - Dougal10
      
      Not sure if the real me is that real long term, if you don’t remember how to get into it and are locked out it doesn’t actually mean much.
      
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      September 27, 2025 2:47pm
    - virtualmark
      
      Yes but. RealMe is okay for logging on to Government websites.
      
      But it’s not that useful for verifying your identity to non-Government bodies. And it doesn’t integrate with things like the Apple Wallet/Google Wallet on your phone etc.
      
      There is a need for some form of Government-issued electronic/online ID that we can use to verify that we are who we are. For example, something like where an app on your phone/computer can generate a token, confirmed by your biometric ID such as your facial recognition, that you then provide to, say, Air New Zealand and then Air New Zealand’s computers can verify that token against a Government-run computer. So, for example, your ID is never given directly to Air New Zealand … all they get is some token that they can then have the Government (immediately, online) say “Yes that really must be peterwn”.
      
      Conceptually fairly simple. But implementation would rely on lots of organisations working together, so in practice pretty hard.
      
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      September 27, 2025 3:27pm
    - Quail
      
      Used by new NZ gun registration regime.
      Don’t know how secure it actually is!
      If it is using AI hopeless.
      
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      September 27, 2025 4:27pm
- peterwn
  
  UK wanted to introduce physical ID cards some years ago and wanted to charge people to obtain them. Public outcry was so much that the idea was dropped. Such ideas are more likely come from bureaucrats than from politicians.
  
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  September 27, 2025 1:14pm
  - mandk
    
    The chief proponent of ID cards was former UK PM, Tony Blair.
    
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    September 27, 2025 3:55pm
artemisia

The UK now. The hot topic – (illegal) immigration. From the BBC.

Now, it is front and centre.That shift is largely due to the rise of Nigel Farage, highlighted again today in a major new poll from YouGov that suggested a Reform government would be a near-certainty if a general election was held tomorrow.

If UK Reform does get the opportunity to form or at least seriously influence the next government, how will they deal with the immigration related lawfare. Already happening on several fronts, and that would increase dramatically under UK Reform policies. I expect UK Reform will be watching the US (illegal) immigration lawfare carefully. And planning.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c62q00gzqgpo
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September 27, 2025 8:35am
- kowtow
  
  And the Blob is already planning to stymie them at every turn . A huge obstacle will the House of Lords ,and the courts , Whitehall and legacy media won’t be far behind .
  
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  September 27, 2025 8:38am
- leoj
  
  Due to old and stupid five year gaps in elections, the Poms are stuck with Labour for another four years.
  
  And we have equally stupid poeple here who want a four year term, another year for dunce politicians to put their feet up and do nothing, or worse, ruin the country.
  
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  September 27, 2025 2:17pm
robertmacculloch

Hasn’t my Herald article about Willis in 2024 aged nicely (?) It was when Farrar’s Kiwiblog was celebrating Willis & Luxon as financial geniuses.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/finance-minister-nicola-willis-and-a-first-year-economic-report-card-robert-macculloch/GNBY5FGGMRCZ7A4CS22B5EVY7U/
Want to stop NZ bankrupting? Read the way out here – its easy but is opposed by the born-again libertarians at Kiwiblog, NZ Initiative & The Platform dummies –
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00779954.2025.2496872
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September 27, 2025 8:37am
- Pineapple Lumps
  
  Robert – Im not sure how to interpret your last sentence. Are all people at Kiwiblog, NZ Initiative and The Platform libertarians? Dummies? Opposed to your suggestions?
  
  I have seen commentators post your articles on here previously. Generally they received a lot of upticks indicating a high degree of support for your ideas.
  
  Many of us are unsatisfied with our current Government, PM, Minister of Finance and the lack of significant action to reverse the damage done by the previous government. Not so many of us can see how to get them to perform better.
  
  Frustrating? Yes immensely. Keep up the good fight! Please don’t alienate everyone as that just allows them to dismiss all of your ideas, in a time where more people need to be hearing them.
  
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  September 27, 2025 11:08am
  - imalwaysright
    
    Well said Pineapple, we are all on the same side as in wanting the best for the country and all opinions have value.
    
    Would it be a stretch to say that even the moderate left agree with us on the basics?
    
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    September 27, 2025 12:45pm
- KH
  
  “………. How to change the welfare state from a Taxation to a Savings based model …”
  Step one. Phase out National Super completely and phase in a muscular universal Kiwisaver.
  It would take 30 years to complete, but we would see the first benefits very soon.
  
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  September 27, 2025 1:49pm
- Philview
  
  Robert, I have appreciated your articles for several years and know that you put your neck on the line with your strident critique of the economic performance of the last Labour Government. I also recall that your analysis in 2023 of the dire state of the NZ economy as highlighted in IMF reports was ignored by the NZ media and much to your dismay the National Party as well. Now the National Party are wearing the consequences and we are looking at the possibility of an extreme left wing Government coming to power next year.
  
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  September 27, 2025 2:53pm
- Quail
  
  Robertmaculloch,
  Thanks for a thoughtful post.
  But you lost me at savings.
  If you can tell me of a savings scheme that is not a cost to the owner, please do?
  Most ,including KiwiSaver, Life assurance policies bank deposits just do not keep up with inflation .
  Inflation is just another tax and tool that Governments use to redistribute wealth.
  Government deficit budgeting and increased borrowing drive that inflation.
  And ,yes, I believe it is a deliberate strategy.
  One brief glance at the Reserve Banks PTA and Governments ever increasing spending is proof enough for any sceptic.
  Any sensible financial plan needs a stable currency!
  Something NZ does not have!
  
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  September 27, 2025 4:58pm
Jack5

The Hooerald promised editorial-standard reforms are still that — a promise — judging by an online heading on a Phillips-hunt article:

The making of Marokopa’s ‘monster’

You can imagine the headline writer’s head fog: “can we call him a monster? – well just put monster in quotes”.
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September 27, 2025 9:02am
- Foxfour
  
  But they are right , he was a monster. Whats with your obsession with this guy and the police hunt for him.
  
  4 12
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  September 27, 2025 10:08am
  - Pineapple Lumps
    
    Why did you turn a comment about editorial standards into a jab at Jack5? Are you happy with the standard of our media? Can you see the rise in tabloid, click bait headlines to that present more extremist, less balanced viewpoints than the articles themselves?
    
    Fact: The trust in the media is at an all-time low.
    
    Fact: The online environment has incentivised the manipulation of headlines to find those most likely to result in clicks.
    
    Given those two facts, companies that promote themselves on their high standards are often found to be engaging in tabloid style journalism and deserve to be called out as hypocritical.
    
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    September 27, 2025 11:18am
  - Jack5
    
    An ad hominem response, Foxfour (10.08 post) and that means valueless in a blog, or in a more formal debate.
    
    Why don’t you spell out, argument form, why you think Phillips is a “monster”.
    
    Shorter OED 1973’s fourth definition of “monster” is presumably what you mean:
    
    “A person of inhuman cruelty or wickedness”.
    
    [Other definitions given irrelevant to your post include: prodigy or marvel; malformed animal or plant; imaginary animal, part brute and part human; and (something) of extraordinary size.]
    
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    September 27, 2025 11:18am
    - Foxfour
      
      This is what I mean about fixated and OCD comments
      
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      September 27, 2025 1:35pm
  - BeaB
    
    No-one who loved their kids would make them live like this for so long. Monstrous in every sense of the word.
    
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    September 27, 2025 11:37am
- Ghost
  
  And when the injunction is lifted and you find out just what a monster this man was, will you still complain about that heading?
  
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  September 27, 2025 12:03pm
  - Pineapple Lumps
    
    Always sceptical of our media, the angles they take and the agendas they push. Will they report on Tom Phillips as unbiasedly as they report on Jacinda Ardern. Ardern did more damage to NZ people and children than Phillips. Haven’t seen any headlines about what made the Monster PM of NZ.
    
    Tom Phillips may end up in history like Robin Hood or Ned Kelly or Guy Fawkes ie a good person who took on the state and lost.
    
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    September 27, 2025 1:40pm
    - KH
      
      I have seen the rumours about the monster Phillips. And it’s extraordinary.
      But there is a lot suppressed and that’s a problem. Because I can not be sure the rumours are true or not.
      
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      September 27, 2025 1:52pm
    - Ghost
      
      No he won’t, and as the private investigator said, when the details come out his supporters will have egg on their face.
      
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      September 27, 2025 2:05pm
      - Jack5
        
        Was going to ask what private investigator and who was the investigator working for?
        
        Then I found the reference on the internet. He was working for he kids’ estranged mother.
        
        The eldest of the kids might write an interesting book.
        
        That might be worthwhile evidence on whether Tom Phillips was a “monster”.
        
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        September 27, 2025 3:06pm
      - Ghost
        
        I very much doubt she will write about it. More than likely their names will be changed and you won’t hear from them again. I would suggest you wait until the injunction is lifted.
        
        1 4
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        September 27, 2025 3:18pm
NeverMindTheBollocks

I’ve been thinking about the right to vote in NZ, specifically, that Residents have that right. I think the right should be restricted to citizens. Once upon a time, the proportion of Residents to citizens was much smaller than it is now. Different times.

Without looking at the numbers, I would think that some Auckland electorates would now have Residents in greater numbers than the majority of the sitting MP. Were a preponderance of them to vote in same direction, it would swing the seat (and party vote) and with poll numbers being where they are, decide the election outcome. Surely it’s not right that non citizens have that much leverage.
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September 27, 2025 9:31am
- Foxfour
  
  “Permanent” residents only, the last stage before citizenship
  
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  September 27, 2025 10:39am
  - rouppe
    
    My sisters husband is British. He has had permanent residency for thirty years, and no plans to apply for citizenship.
    
    When I asked him once he said “why? The only place he treated differently to a citizen is the lane he uses at passport control”.
    
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    September 27, 2025 2:07pm
    - MCōs
      
      Not quite right
      My wife has a permanent resident visa, which must be transferred to her next passport when the previous one expires. Whether that means she must always have a current passport, I’m not sure because she’s always had one and she’s has to apply in person at the embassy in Wellington.
      Furthermore
      The government can change the conditions for the visa anytime they like.
      
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      September 27, 2025 4:44pm
Pope Punctilious II

Chch PPTA prez warns of “rising extremism” among school students. [Mod – there is no need to inject causal racism into your post] he’s very concerned that some of the boys support Trump, and some of the girls have expressed interest in being trad wives.
https://share.google/etDF33c9r1kp3mcDc
In what world is a interest in a trad wife role evidence of “extremism”?
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September 27, 2025 9:47am
- keepcalmcarryon
  
  In woke world.
  
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  September 27, 2025 10:59am
- Dougal10
  
  They can’t understand why boys are pushing back about learning mythology , it seems its the ppta that is out of touch with the “real world”.
  
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  September 27, 2025 11:17am
- AitchW
  
  To be fair “trad wives” choose a very restrictive lifestyle.
  All of their significant choices are made by their husbands, including who to vote for.
  I’m no rabid feminist but I do wonder just how healthy it is for a woman to surrender to her husband so completely.
  
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  September 27, 2025 11:21am
- David George
  
  What would you expect teachers, teachers that believe their purpose is to turn out communist homosexuals, to say?
  
  7 1
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  September 27, 2025 11:46am
- Jack5
  
  We ain’t got no femni-cation …
  
  Thanks to Your Eminence (9.47 post) for that link. It’s well worth reading. I give another link to it below.
  
  A sample — words from Paul Stevens , chairman of the Auckland regional branch of the Post Primary Teachers’ Association:
  
  Alongside students making arguments that even a few years ago “society would’ve utterly rejected” Stevens said they were all part of a broader movement which pushes back on feminism.
  
  Some female students had also embraced ‘trad-wife’ ideologies that promoted limiting women’s roles to homemaking and child-rearing, Stevens said.
  
  These ideologies appeared predominantly in year 9 students, which meant it was ”bound to get worse”, he said.
  
  https://www.thepress.co.nz/nz-news/360833430/trump-boys-nz-classrooms-teachers-warn-rising-student-extremism
  
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  September 27, 2025 11:49am
- PurplePen
  
  Not surprised. It was inevitable that youth eventually reject and turn against their elders, in this case their teachers. It’s the way of each younger generation. It teachers had had any sense they would have stayed right out of ideology and just taught the 3 Rs.
  
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  September 27, 2025 12:52pm
- Pineapple Lumps
  
  It warms ones heart to see the younger generation pushing back against evil. There is hope for NZ yet!
  
  I’m not talking about extreme views, but there is no doubt our society and education system wages a war on boys and conservative values in general.
  
  NZ would be a much more prosperous country with more conservative values e.g. two parent heterosexual families encouraged and valued, loving parents encouraged to discipline their children, a primary parental caregiver in the home full-time up until school age and then at home when children get home from school. Much of the decline in the education and health of children could be fixed with a focus on those three things.
  
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  September 27, 2025 1:47pm
surfing

More wasteful spending by Tauranga council, 4.7 million on plans, decided they don’t like, so doing it again!

https://www.sunlive.co.nz/news/372245-city-council-sank–4-7m-into-scrapped-pool-plans.html

This is the council that took themselves to court because they sold some public assets far below market value and post sale council decided they should have sold for market price. Council lost that case of course.

And the same council that spent 20 million on a new carpark building, found it was so badly designed they had to sell it for a dollar.

And, just spent $150 million dollars on new offices for themselves, with fancy coffee machines on top!
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September 27, 2025 11:06am
- imalwaysright
  
  A friend visited the MPI office in Wellington last week.
  Apparently its like a 6 star hotel. No expense spared.
  
  Made me think why do so many of them work from home.
  
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  September 27, 2025 12:49pm
  - Dougal10
    
    Imagine how posh the big new mpi facility will be in auckland .
    
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    September 27, 2025 2:53pm
TripeWryter

These folks have been visiting our prisons unannounced …
https://www.ohchr.org/en/treaty-bodies/spt/membership
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September 27, 2025 11:07am
Pope Punctilious II

Auckland Uni Senate has recommended making the controversial Waipapa Taumata Rau (“treatification”) paper optional. Now it’s up to the university council to decide whether or not to follow this recommendation.

I encourage any former Auckland Uni students to email the council today to urge them to follow the senate’s recommendation, and drop Waipapa Taumata Rau as a compulsory paper. The email to write to: [email protected]. Point out that Auckland is your alma mater.

You can remind the university council that:

1. The Education and Training Act requires publicly funded universities to be politically neutral. University of Auckland is breaching this requirement by imposing a compulsory course that takes a partisan position on politically contentious issues like the Treaty of Waitangi.

2. It’s bad enough obliging all students to pay for a compulsory course of no direct relevance to their majors, but student fees cover less than one third of the cost of tuition. Why should taxpayers pay for over 2/3 of the cost of a compulsory politically tendentious course, the contents of which many of us disagree with?
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September 27, 2025 11:11am
Eastlander

The number of school principals who see their jobs as platforms for political activism is absurd.
10 1
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September 27, 2025 11:28am
AitchW

Go Winston!
We’re not recognising the terrorist Palestinian state.
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September 27, 2025 11:28am
surfing

Liked Winston’s UN speech, and agree with the NZ stance — but damn, he’s showing his age, messed up a lot of the words.
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September 27, 2025 11:29am
Clyde

Great speech and great decision by NZ at the UN. Of course the wretched Green mob will be in conniptions, but can you imagine that waddling Mahuta give such a speech?
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September 27, 2025 11:31am
- Jethrod
  
  Ohhhhh, standing by for exploding heads from the green mob.😁😁😁🤣🤣
  
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  September 27, 2025 4:13pm
BeaB

Well done Winston!
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September 27, 2025 11:36am
- Pineapple Lumps
  
  Well done to the entire coalition government! Luxon, Winston, Seymour – have collectively supported this position.
  
  There is no doubt if a Hipkins, Swarbrick-Davidson, Waititi-Packer government was in power we would not only have recognised Palestine but probably committed NZ troops to go and fight for them.
  
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  September 27, 2025 1:52pm
Chuck Bird

NZ ‘not ready’ to recognise Palestinian state, Winston Peters tells UN

https://www.stuff.co.nz/world-news/360830829/live-un-general-assembly
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September 27, 2025 11:45am
- Hollyfield
  
  The Herald coverage has more detail of the actual speech – Stuff left out a couple of paragraphs critical of the UN. https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/winston-peters-delivers-speech-on-palestinian-statehood-at-united-nations/2DHYZRRSNNHURB4AGBSGVZZ5CA/
  
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  September 27, 2025 11:55am
Hollyfield

I just watched the UN livestream of Winston Peters. Apart from the subtitles amusingly calling him Winston Peaches, I was very impressed, it’s not the way I thought it was going to go.

He repeatedly called out the UN’s lack of effectiveness in dealing with international conflict before saying now is not the right time to recognise a Palestinian state. I expect the protesters will be out in force now.
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September 27, 2025 11:53am
- Jethrod
  
  He is the second NZer to callout that august (huh) body this last week.
  That former PM and UN secretary- General wannabe, Helen Clark, was very critical of them last week.
  
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  September 27, 2025 4:17pm
Handyman

Watch the left (ie media) reaction to Winston’s UN speech.
Last week the headline was that the world is waiting for New Zealand, which punches above its weight and has an independent foreign policy, follow the UN crowd to recognise the state of Palestine.
Tonight I predict on TVNZ news — “Peters, speaking to a largely empty hall, refused to recognise the state of Palestine, and did not follow Australia, Canada and the UK “.
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September 27, 2025 1:12pm
- leoj
  
  The UK is now officially a shithole, thanks to Islam.
  
  8 1
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  September 27, 2025 2:20pm
AitchW

Marama Davison on the news claiming that by refusing to recognise a Palestinian state we have abandoned our independent foreign policy to follow the US.
Of course, had we abandoned our independent foreign policy to follow the Aussies, Brits, Canadian, and French, that would have been perfectly acceptable.
God the Greens are dim witted.
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September 27, 2025 2:59pm
- MCōs
  
  It’s perfectly obvious our position is aimed at appeasing President Trump who is an loose cannon capable of creating a lot of damage to our export trade on a whim.
  
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  September 27, 2025 7:24pm
Ghost

Hmmmm, I’m guessing when parliament sits the opposition are going to be very busy moaning about a few things that have happened over the break. Where will they start…. Palestine, or this

Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith warns government prepared to remove tikanga Māori from court rulings
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September 27, 2025 6:27pm
- DimChappie
  
  This news has made my day. I would like to believe the Coalition is going to erase tikanga from the law and fix the Marine and Coastal Area Act. National must know there are votes to be won here. Jeez, they might even get mine.
  
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  September 27, 2025 9:05pm

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