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October 1, 2025 8:00am by Kokila Patel

General Debate 01 October 2025

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General Debate

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Scott

One of the reasons that I sometimes donate to the Free Speech Union is that I see free speech under attack around the world, especially in our old mother country, the UK.

Take this example. Last Thursday a middle aged man named Pete was arrested for one tweet. He posted on X the following –

The image, which Mr North posted on X in August, depicted a Palestine flag with the text: “F— Palestine. F— Hamas. F— Islam. Want to protest? F— off to Muslim country and protest.”

https://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2025/09/arrested-for-a-tweet.php

He was taken to the police station at night and questioned –

“Unfortunately, the time is 21.31, you are under arrest for what’s referred to as Section 19 of the Public Order Act.”

Section 19 refers to the publication or distribution of “written material which is threatening, abusive or insulting” and “stir[s] up racial hatred”.

He was released without charge at 1.30am and arrived home in a taxi at 3am.

This appears to be a campaign to intimidate those who oppose the Islamisation of the UK and to silence any dissent.

We note again the two tier system of justice. Bob Vylan has not been arrested for leading a chant at Glastonbury calling for “death, death to the IDF”. When islamists protest they can have signs, “behead the infidel” and “gas the Jews” and not be arrested.

But woe betide the white person who says the wrong thing about Palestine or Islam or even Hamas. They don’t have the right to speak their mind in the UK.

We need to be vigilant about free speech in NZ. What has happened in the UK must not be allowed to happen here.
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October 1, 2025 8:01am
- Paulus
  
  Our increasingly vocal, and totally media supported, many now radicals, will do everything they can to force the Government to become involved so they can upset the stability of our country, which they are doing already !
  
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  October 1, 2025 9:50am
- Philview
  
  Bob Vylan’s on stage hateful bile celebrating the death of Charlie Kirk was even worse. Did you see the footage of Moussa Kadri in London waving that big knife around and he got a 20 week suspended sentence. He didn’t use the knife but would have been terrifying to see.
  
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  October 1, 2025 11:22am
  - Hard Cheese
    
    So your position is that free speech should be protected, and that “Mr North” should be free to post on X about Palestine and Hamas as he did, and Bob Vylan should be able to celebrate the death of Charlie Kirk. Have I got that right?
    
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    October 1, 2025 2:35pm
- PurplePen
  
  Don’t forget that Green MP party co-leader that shouted in public that men were responsible for all the bad things in life or something to that effect. Fortunately no police action was taken which is as it should be. But I do wonder what might have happened if a white male MP had said the same about women.
  
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  October 1, 2025 11:52am
  - sirknz
    
    She specifically mentioned white men.
    
    Not a peep out of the race relations peeps at the time.
    
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    October 1, 2025 2:37pm
  - Pope Punctilious II
    
    Correction: she laid the blame on “cis white men”, not men in general.
    
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    October 1, 2025 6:00pm
  - NeverMindTheBollocks
    
    White cis males – M. Davidson
    
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    October 1, 2025 7:33pm
- Northshoredoc
  
  I agree with you Scott. Sect 19 of the public order act in the UK appears to be a very poorly written piece of legislation.
  
  Targeting speech which promulgates violence against a person or group should be suppressed by expression of opinion should not be constrained.
  
  On that note I am disappointed when people only take this view when it’s free speech that they approve of.
  
  I would be interested in further information on the non-arrest of protestors in the UK brandishing “behead the infidel” and “gas the Jews” slogans
  
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  October 1, 2025 11:58am
  - Scott
    
    Northshoredoc – this kind of extremism by Islamic protestors has been going on for a while. Here is an example from the UK as far back as 2006 –
    
    “Behead the one who insults the prophet,” read one placard a Muslim protester held at a weekend demonstration here against cartoon depictions of Islam’s prophet Muhammad. “Butcher those who mock Islam,” and “Be Prepared for the Real Holocaust,” read other signs. One demonstrator wore a mock suicide vest, seven months after four suicide bombers killed themselves and 52 other people in London.
    
    These protesters are now at the center of an impassioned debate here about whether British police should arrest them for inciting violence.”
    
    https://www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/wbna11207606
    
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    October 1, 2025 1:00pm
    - Northshoredoc
      
      Your link is from quite a while back (2006) and states that even
      
      “Moderate Muslim leaders have joined in condemning the extremists and calling for their arrest.”
      
      and
      
      ‘”Let us be clear,” David Davis, a leader of the opposition Conservative Party, said Monday. “Placards carrying the slogans calling for people who insult Islam to be ‘beheaded’ or ‘massacred’ or ‘annihilated’ are direct incitements to violence.” Davis added, “I do expect that action should be taken against those who have clearly incited violence, and taken soon.”
      
      ‘A police spokeswoman said that police officers have to consider the effect on public order that immediate arrests could trigger.
      
      She also said that police have videotape of the protests held Friday and Saturday and that if arrests are made they would be done at “the appropriate time.’
      
      I wonder if any arrests were ever made?
      
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      October 1, 2025 2:48pm
  - ISeeRed
    
    You assume it’s “poorly written”. I believe it’s written and working just as intended.
    
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    October 1, 2025 2:01pm
- surfing
  
  It works both ways too.
  
  Trump is attacking free speech in a big way . So, the left are getting hit in the US.
  
  The UK seems to be targeting free speech of the right.
  
  Overall, it is a terrible direction to take, banning free speech on either side of the political fence.
  
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  October 1, 2025 1:26pm
  - Libertarians are right
    
    How are the left being targeted in the US? Note that businesses firing people celebrating a political assassination are absolutely in the right – that’s got nothing to do with the Government.
    
    Kimmell’s issue was that he lied about MAGA’s involvement in the assassination.
    
    Trump wants them shut down but that is at best maybe chilling but certainly hasn’t worked out that way.
    
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    October 1, 2025 2:43pm
  - waikatosinger
    
    Some people need to learn that the knife cuts both ways.
    
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    October 1, 2025 5:13pm
  - Manu-Rau
    
    Rubbish. Trump is not attacking free speech at all. How many vile, lying, filthy left-wing journalists has he thrown into detention centres?
    
    (Oops, I’ve just remembered that ‘vile’, ‘filthy’ and ‘lying’ are all tautologies when used in conjunction with ‘left-wing journalists.’ Apologies to David Garrett and the other grammar checkers on KB.)
    
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    October 1, 2025 8:00pm
- ISeeRed
  
  The UK is occupied by a hostile power. A few are starting to wake up. I think it’s too late. The infiltration is too deep.
  
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  October 1, 2025 2:00pm
Swifty

Energy Minister Simon Watts anticipates electricity market review:

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/574627/government-poised-to-announce-response-to-electricity-market-review

Ministry head Peter Ohms praises the quality of the review while industry spokesperson Alice Amps signals her cautious optimism.

Electricity users group chair Lucinda Volt was unavailable for comment.
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October 1, 2025 8:11am
- leoj
  
  What’s neeed is a new clear vision.
  
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  October 1, 2025 10:31am
  - imalwaysright
    
    Taser focus…
    
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    October 1, 2025 12:51pm
Notsofast

I asked AI about the tunnels as I find people dont know the basics.
“The genocide” as parroted by Goff, Hipkins etc, seems one of the gigantic lies in the history of warfare.
Like most of us, I have no skin in the game:

“Hamas does not generally allow civilians to access its underground tunnels, which are primarily reserved for military activities. The network is used by militants for concealment and moving weapons, while civilians are often used as human shields above ground.

Denying civilian access to tunnels:

Military use only: Hamas constructed and fortified the tunnel network for its own strategic and military purposes, such as concealing fighters, storing weapons, and operating command centers.

Hiding under civilian infrastructure:
Hamas has placed tunnel access points and military infrastructure beneath civilian areas, including schools, mosques, and hospitals. This is done to deter Israeli attacks, knowing that the IDF tries to avoid striking civilian locations.
Blocking evacuation: Hamas has been documented blocking Palestinians from evacuating in response to Israeli warnings. During these instances, Hamas militants reportedly prevented civilians from moving south, instead urging them to remain in place.
Official statements: A former Hamas official, Mousa Abu Marzouk, has publicly stated that protecting civilians is the United Nations’ responsibility, not Hamas’s. He acknowledged that the tunnels were built for the protection of Hamas fighters, not civilians.”

It goes on, the sources include BBC NYT Guardian etc. as well.
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October 1, 2025 8:41am
- artemisia
  
  Sounds like genocide. Along with that other genocide Hamas is attempting, not very successfully.
  
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  October 1, 2025 9:49am
- mandk
  
  Hamas don’t care in the least about the deaths of children. All they care about is denigrating Israel.
  
  And the complicit western media go along with the propaganda.
  
  Islam is a vile religion, and the media are equally bad.
  
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  October 1, 2025 9:59am
  - Unity
    
    What I can’t understand is why Israel is hated so much by Islamic people. There are many different religions in the World but why do we have to try and kill the Jews off? For as long as I know, the Jews have suffered. What do they do to deserve it? I understand that before the latest war Israel employed a lot of Islamic people so obviously the Israelis are tolerant of other religions. It all sounds very one sided. I can understand the Jews doing all in their power to stay peacefully in their country and repel the antagonists. The latter are the problem – surely!!
    
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    October 1, 2025 1:12pm
    - mandk
      
      Moslems hate Jews because their vile prophet, Mohamed, failed to convert them to his religion.
      
      Their disgusting book, the Koran, instructs Moslems to kill Jews.
      
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      October 1, 2025 4:29pm
    - waikatosinger
      
      They hate Christians too. As evidenced by the thousands of Christians they have murdered and the churches they have burned down in places like Nigeria.
      
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      October 1, 2025 5:18pm
- kowtow
  
  ‘Like most of us, I have no skin in the game:’
  
  We all have skin in the game.
  
  It’s about attacking democracy and our way of life.
  
  First the Jews , then the Christians and most ironic of all once control is gained via the useful idiots , then they themselves are chucked off tall buildings too.
  
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  October 1, 2025 10:37am
- KH
  
  Be careful on believing anything about tunnels.
  Statements from both sides on that subject are likely to be garbage.
  As for under hospitals. I have been under a few big hospitals. Tunnels and ‘basements everywhere.
  Dunedin hospital has them under the state highway. Now disused.
  A nice big green park in front of Wakari hospital. You would never know about the long long tunnel under that. Good access from the former nurses home. But too spooky to use methinks.
  
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  October 1, 2025 2:20pm
Southern Raider

In a rapid change of tact the Pro Palestinian supporters around the world have flipped from “stop the genocide” to “keep the genocide going”.

These groups can’t survive without a crisis and Trump has backed them into a corner with a workable plan to potential peace.

It’s shows that these radical left groups were never about peace in Palestinian and it was always about Israel as a way or running a proxy war against the West.
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October 1, 2025 8:45am
- MCōs
  
  Here’s an opinion piece from Ian Parmeter with some reasons for concern about the peace plan
  https://theconversation.com/the-5-big-problems-with-trumps-gaza-peace-plan-266355
  
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  October 1, 2025 10:21am
  - Cassandra
    
    And Parmenter’s solution is? The Trump/Blair/Kushner/Witkoff plan has wide Arab support. Of course it doesn’t suit Hamas or the Israeli Right but it might just st work. Let’s do it. Then n a while we might have a Palestine to recognise.
    
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    October 1, 2025 10:33am
    - ISeeRed
      
      Don’t ask contrarians for solutions. They’re too busy posturing and posing.
      
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      October 1, 2025 2:08pm
  - Manu-Rau
    
    Sorry. Who is Ian Parmenter? Is he a friend of Lorde, or Taylor Swift, or Helen Clark, or someone else whose opinions don’t matter?
    
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    October 1, 2025 8:08pm
Yvette

Kim Dotcom may still –
1. Appeal to the Court of Appeal or Supreme Court
2. Further Judicial Review of Extradition Order / Minister’s Action
If there are new legal grounds (for instance, more evidence of health risks, unfair process, or other constitutional issues), those may be raised.
3. Stay Applications or International Treaty / Human Rights Arguments
4. Negotiation or Plea Deals
Less public but possible: perhaps negotiating with US prosecutors or NZ authorities to resolve some charges domestically or via plea to reduce risk, similar to what two of his co‑accused did. Indeed, Ortmann and van der Kolk took deals in NZ.
5. Complain to International Bodies
If there are arguments he’s being treated contrary to international law or treaties New Zealand is party to (fair trials, non‑discrimination, health, etc.), he might take complaints to UN bodies or similar.
6. Delay or Application Based on Health / Compassion
Given his health, speech/memory impairments (after stroke), he may again press arguments that surrender would be unjust or oppressive. Whether courts accept such claims depends on evidence and precedents.

And after 6, may consideration be given to application of tikanga [via Ellis v R] dealing with ‘life after death’ and preventive orders be given to the possibility Kim Dotcom’s ashes be sent to Washington, RIP – rest in prison. Posthumously repeat 1 – 6 without going to prison.

Am I heartless to seek ‘humour’ comcerning Dotcom? – well, yes, but he has made New Zealand an international laughing stock for so long.

But when will his health afflictions imprison him more than any physical restraints.
Is his inputs here to the local economy likely to be more than actions against him take out?
And what to date has the State spent in ‘our’ side of court action and when is enough enough?
And will President Trump’s cost cutting drop their end of matters?
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October 1, 2025 8:47am
- Fender
  
  Yes he could be pardoned by trump and it would all be for naught
  Time to move on as I believe the record and film industry probably already has so its just personal now
  
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  October 1, 2025 12:53pm
- JackRabbit
  
  Roll out a forklift and put him on a plane.
  
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  October 1, 2025 1:44pm
  - Steve Otto N Shore
    
    “Barge.”
    
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    October 1, 2025 4:21pm
cmm

Buttergate – electricity edition.

This time the government can actually make a difference.

Stop pissing around with the renewable toys that cost heaps and generate little power – and even less reliable power.

The power generation profile that suits other countries does not necessarily suit NZ. In particular, solar and BESS that might make sense in some places are extremely unsuited to NZ – especially BESS which really serves no useful purpose in NZ.

We have geothermal options that few others have. Develop those for a start. There are somewhere between 1000 and 1000MW that are easy to get at.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/politics/360840257/persistence-high-power-prices-blamed-lack-investment-new-supply
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October 1, 2025 8:48am
- Cassandra
  
  I’m sure the trade union plan to nationalise the power companies will help. //
  
  And while they do that why not buy the supermarkets? And KFC? Food security.
  
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  October 1, 2025 8:55am
  - RoboRob
    
    Just becuase the trade unions plan is stupid doesn’t mean that we cant criticise Nationals ‘plan’. Actually I take that back, at least the unions have a plan.
    
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    October 1, 2025 9:04am
  - peterwn
    
    Restaurant Brands who own KFC in NZ among other things is 75% overseas owned and the Spanish majority owner is aiming for 100% ownership. Presumably they would be willing to divest NZ KFC if the price is right.
    
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    October 1, 2025 9:17am
    - sirknz
      
      Mexican owners.
      
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      October 1, 2025 2:44pm
  - Taieri
    
    I’m sure the trade union plan to nationalise the power companies will help
    ———-
    
    Actually, the former Electricorp (and its predecessor NZ Electricity Department) was a very efficient and very effective entity, with virtually no bureaucratic bloat. But that was in the days, when this country still had a coherent national energy policy. And then, some genius got a brilliant idea to deregulate the NZ electricity “market”. A “market”, which isn’t really a market…
    
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    October 1, 2025 12:17pm
    - peterwn
      
      A big issue was the old New Zealand Electricity Department was micromanaged by legislation and other agencies – State Services Commission, Ministry of Works and Development, Trade and Industry. Treasury was a pain in the backside but it was fair enough that they breathed down our necks. A few years before Electricorp was set up, disgruntled employees could ‘appeal’ against appointments and often won. For example there was a vacancy for the Commercial Manager which was a direct ‘report’ to the General Manager but not high enough graded to be immune from appeals (s 29 of the then State Services Act). A guy in the group applied who had the best credentials on paper but was not acceptable to the General Manager (who had to live with the appointment) and was highly unpopular among staff in general. He appealed and got the job. I had to bear the brunt to two similar appeals (unfortunately I was not involved in the process so I did not have a chance to give my advice). I had had enough at that point and resigned when I found another job.
      On a broader front, it was fortunate that a nuclear power station was not built then since the organisation and environment were not up to the job of building and operating it. As an aside the PSA indicated that staff should not be compulsorily transferred to work at a nuclear power station. That would have not been a bother – there would have plenty of competent volunteers.
      
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      October 1, 2025 2:06pm
      - CJames
        
        I agree with your memories Peter. A number of the Electricorp movers and shakers were people that had been through the appeal process. A Station Manager and Regional Manager are two that spring to mind. Both went on to the top and brought their own incompetencies to their jobs that took years to recover from.
        To correct your naming. It was SHD until about 1957. NZED finished in the 70s. It then became New Zealand Electricity, a division of Ministry of Energy until becoming Electricorp. We have drawings from the same station at work with about 7 or 8 different logoes on .
        
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        October 1, 2025 5:15pm
    - wsk12345
      
      Efficient? Is that why it built plant with a levelised cost of 20 c/kwh and sold it for 3c. Even today it’s selling at about 12 c/kwh. It can only do this because taxpayers heavily subsidised the original build.
      
      You can’t say ecnz etc was efficient in building plant that will never pay for itself, even if we double its expected life.
      
      No.
      
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      October 1, 2025 2:46pm
    - CJames
      
      Tairei
      NZE was not efficient. It was way overmanned with massive bureaucratic bloat (7 signatures right up to the AGM to release even a simple drawing) and made some stupid decisions regarding capital decisions. Electricorp went too far with their job and development slashing. They milked the NZE overbuild legacy and got away with it for about 5 years. Then it turned to shit.
      My employment goes right back to NZE and Rutherford House
      
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      October 1, 2025 5:07pm
  - Paulus
    
    See who hasjust been appointed CEO of the CTU – Sandra Gray – one of most vocal hard lefties that New Zeallad could imagine, now has the job she has worked so hard for so long
    She now has the foreman’s job from the working class.
    – God Bless Aotearoa/New Zealand
    
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    October 1, 2025 2:00pm
    - Don Beckett
      
      Shouldn’t that be “God Save A(something)/ New Zealand”. ?
      
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      October 1, 2025 4:12pm
  - Pope Punctilious II
    
    Our electricity should never been privatized. By its fruits you shall know the tree, and the tree that Roger Douglas planted has left one million Kiwis depending on winter energy payments. When I called my energy company the other day I was told “Your estimated wait time is … 103 minutes”. That level of service shows utter contempt for customers.
    
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    October 1, 2025 6:18pm
- Grumpy Silver Top
  
  Very true. We will better served in future by using the resources we have. Additionally, huge-propellor wind turbines will be superseded by smaller, more efficient devices that have significantly less environmental and visual impact. Massive solar installations will also fall into disarray (couldn’t resist the pun) as engineering research discovers better options. Better use what we have and wait for better-engineered options that provide constant current rather than needing battery storage. We cannot include batteries in future energy strategies.
  
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  October 1, 2025 8:57am
  - Ian Boag
    
    huge-propellor wind turbines will be superseded by smaller, more efficient devices
    
    Nice thought. Problem is basic geometry – the power produced is pretty much proportional to the area of the circle swept by the blades. So 2x the diameter is 4x the power production ….
    
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    October 1, 2025 2:06pm
- virtualmark
  
  I agree re geothermal and note that there are already plans in place to double geothermal production over the next 15 years. Tuahara opened late last year. Mercury have an extension to Ngā Tamariki due to open in the next few months.
  
  But you should expect to see a *lot* more solar+battery in the coming years. It’s now the cheapest generation to build and to operate. Sufficiently cheap that (a) you can overbuild generation capacity to more than make up for lower output in winter/cloudy weather etc and (b) the capacity of the batteries you can afford keeps climbing so you install larger and larger batteries … both of which increase reliability.
  
  Basically there is a global industry transition away from thermal and in to solar. But in New Zealand’s case that transition has become really crunchy because our thermal generation is ending faster than elsewhere due to fuel (un)availability. It may mean we need LNG to bridge for 5-10 years, but I don’t see LNG (at global prices) being a long-term prospect.
  
  We are already at a point where the economics mean no new thermal plants will be built here, and arguably very little wind will be added from here on beyond what has already been committed to or consented. In 20 years time New Zealand’s generation landscape will be hydro + geothermal + solar with a bit of wind. The economics will make it that way.
  
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  October 1, 2025 9:08am
- lastmanstanding
  
  The global economic benefits of reconstructing Gaza will be significant. This will be a multi decade project. NZ will benefit either thru direct supply or at least some of our export customers will be direct or indirect suppliers. It reminds me of the old saying a rising tide raises all boats. If Trump can pull this off it will go down in history as a major achievement of the 21st century.
  
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  October 1, 2025 9:10am
  - cmm
    
    Well, yes, assuming it is all built to make the “Singapore of the Med” version of Gaza.
    
    That requires the desire to wipe Israel from the map to go away. Since that is baked into Islam, it is very unlikely to happen.
    
    As always, I hope I am proven wrong on this matter.
    
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    October 1, 2025 9:21am
  - artemisia
    
    No doubt China is well along the planning path for Gaza reconstruction.
    
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    October 1, 2025 9:52am
- imalwaysright
  
  Geothermal is our only realistic hope to become energy independent.
  Tim Grosser is chairing the Government’s Supercritical Geothermal Project Board.
  Their big problem is the depth of the wells – the drills disintegrate and torque dissipates at the depths required.
  
  Here is a company well on the way to solving these problems by melting the hole, rather than drilling it, with a Maser.
  
  Rather than reinvent the hole, NZ should be offering finance etc to get priority for this technology.
  
  https://newatlas.com/energy/quaise-energy-millimeter-wave-drill-demo-houston/
  
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  October 1, 2025 9:25am
  - Ian Boag
    
    the depth of the wells
    
    You are talking about supercritical geothermal stuff. Very high pressure, extremely unfriendly (acidic) pressure and super-hot – an extremely hostile environment. People have been working on this for a long time and there are no production wells yet.
    
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    October 1, 2025 2:17pm
- Yvette
  
  Cmm, which will come first? – the breakthrough in disposing of waste from nuclear power generation, or the disposing of trashed wind-turbine blades?
  
  see “Thousands of Old Wind Turbine Blades Pile Up in West Texas” photos–
  https://www.texasmonthly.com/news-politics/sweetwater-wind-turbine-blades-dump/
  
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  October 1, 2025 9:46am
  - RoboRob
    
    The breakthrough in disposing for Nuclear waste, since they already discoverred it 50+ years ago!
    
    There are reactor designs that can run on waste. The reason they are not in use is that they are more expensive then existing designs AND there is no shortage of supply AND disposing of waste isn’t all that difficult. But if we ever do run short of fuel or if waste storage does become an issue, we do in fact have a solution 🙂
    
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    October 1, 2025 10:49am
    - MCōs
      
      Nuclear may or may not be the solution to our long term power supply problems, but I doubt if either of our two main parties is up for the fight required to convince a skeptical public that that’s the way to go; particularly after the hammering Dutton took on the issue in Oz.
      
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      October 1, 2025 12:32pm
      - sirknz
        
        ” doubt if either of our two main parties is up for the fight required to convince a skeptical public that that’s the way to go”
        
        You spelled ‘brainwashed’ incorrectly.
        
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        October 1, 2025 3:06pm
    - Ian Boag
      
      disposing of waste isn’t all that difficult
      
      You should tell that to the people who run Sellafield or the Americans who were going to put it in a mountain or others around the world. Most nuclear power station waste is sitting in cooling ponds still waiting for this “easy disposal” thing to happen.
      
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      October 1, 2025 2:11pm
      - RoboRob
        
        Do some reasearch and you will see it is no the major issue that some portray
        
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        October 1, 2025 3:35pm
      - Ian Boag
        
        From the research I have done so far.
        
        Anywhere you put the real nasty stuff has to be secure for a few thousand years.
        
        The UK has a huge pile of nasties at Sellafield and is getting noplace on where to put it. France (the largest nuke user in the EU) is (still) looking at clay beds in Brittany. The Germans – having settled on some salt mines – changed their minds and are pulling out what they have already dumped (at humungous cost). The Americans gave up on Yucca Mountain.
        
        “Easy” places? Is anyone using them at scale? I know about Finland
        
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        October 1, 2025 3:46pm
      - Manu-Rau
        
        Gaza?
        
        It already has tunnels to store the nuclear waste.
        
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        October 1, 2025 8:25pm
- ISeeRed
  
  Time to consider emigrating. (Again.) You’ve lived here long enough. You must know we will never do anything sensible in the energy field, exploit our natural resources to the fullest, prioritise the employment of New Zealanders over foreigners, end systemic racism and grift favouring Maori people and entities, reform welfare to break the cycle of poverty and crime, and any other number of sensible policies this country desperately needs to implement RIGHT F*****G NOW to steer us away from the brink. Just enjoy the decline from a distant shore.
  
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  October 1, 2025 2:18pm
peterwn

Nicola Willis and Simon Watts have made the long expected announcement on the electricity industry.
https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/securing-new-zealand%E2%80%99s-energy-future
The biggest ‘take-away’ is the Government will enable the three 51% Government owned gentailers to raise additional capital. This means that the Government needs to put up the money to meet 51% of the capital raises which is why Nicola Willis is a co-author of the statement. This Government support does depend on whether the Government considers the purposes of the capital spend to be appropriate, and also the institutions, fund managers etc would also need to be convinced that the purposes are worthwhile.
The Government has indicated that it is strengthening the powers of the Electricity Authority which I consider to be deckchairs on the Titanic stuff. It may warm the cockles of the heart of Electric Kiwi etc but otherwise would be of little use.
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October 1, 2025 8:52am
- pdm
  
  pw – if Minister Watts is in charge then this is a big worry.
  
  I have no confidence whatsoever in him.
  
  He did however get an uptick this morning for getting out of bed by 8.30am to do an interview with Mike Hosking. He does not always manage being available that early in the day.
  
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  October 1, 2025 8:57am
  - Blog-aholic
    
    Watts, Hertz, Amps they are all the same.
    
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    October 1, 2025 10:11am
    - peterwn
      
      If you got a power bill based on Hertz you would soon be screaming.
      
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      October 1, 2025 11:40am
- Cassandra
  
  So what is the solution then, Peter? Isn’t some sort of body to tie it all together needed?
  
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  October 1, 2025 8:59am
  - peterwn
    
    The ‘solution’ is as the Government announced. While real or virtual re-nationalisation and pouring large amounts of subsidy money into electricity production is what some people and industries want, this is something the present Government does not want to do and anyway would be counter productive.
    By the way subsidising electricity with taxpayer’s money encourages energy waste.
    
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    October 1, 2025 11:56am
- RoboRob
  
  Funding for new generation was never really an issue. All the Gens have deep pockets and ability to borrow massive amounts cheaply, they have a huge asset base. If they were desperate for cash for a project they could have gone to the government at any time, they could also have done a capital raise on the sharemarket. This announcement is a giant nothing burger.
  
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  October 1, 2025 9:02am
  - RoboRob
    
    I assume the downtickers think the gens are strapped for cash and this will be a major improvement for them?
    
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    October 1, 2025 10:46am
  - peterwn
    
    Borrowing would be at the point where further borrowing would trigger a credit rating downgrade meaning they would need to pay more interest. The three main gentailers have not raised any equity capital since formation and certainly none since 49% of them were sold to funds, mom and pop shareholders.
    The gentailers have never been free to a capital raising without the blessing of the Government and a unilateral capital raising which dilutes the Government’s 51% ownership would cause a large political uproar.
    I suspect the gentailers have asked for the blessing to raise further capital and the Government has agrees accepting that it is going to have to front up to 51% of any capital raise.
    
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    October 1, 2025 11:50am
    - RoboRob
      
      We have just had, supposedly, a massive spend on new generation. I would be surprised if funds were holding the gens back. Unless you have inside information on that?
      
      But you are right, the govt as a 51% shareholder, needs to authorise a capital raise if the Gens want to issue more shares. But nothing stops them from borrowing agianst their (vast) assets.
      
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      October 1, 2025 1:22pm
- imalwaysright
  
  The Government must add a caveat that current capital and future capital can never be used to pay for ideological tithing to any Maori organisation.
  
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  October 1, 2025 9:06am
  - peterwn
    
    That is a Government decision but must not dictate this to the gentailers etc. It must set the ‘environment’ by other means and the gentailers will work in that. The gentailers are very sensitive to the needs and aspirations of the 51% shareholder.
    
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    October 1, 2025 2:10pm
RoboRob

Finally Nationals minister Watts releases the governments major energy changes to fix our broken system. RNZs headline says it all….

Government stops short of major energy shakeup, rejects asset sale
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/574645/watch-live-government-stops-short-of-major-energy-shakeup-rejects-asset-sale

In fact the government has stopped short of any major change whatsoever. Its LNG plan…

He said a new procurement process for a liquefied natural gas (LNG) import terminal would begin next week. The plan is to get it delivered in time for winter 2027.
Why? Why didn’t this start last year? We knew it was needed this time last year. If we had started then it would be available 2026.

Instead, the Electricity Authority will be given more teeth, with increased penalties for code breaches, more information gathering powers, and more monitoring powers. Legislation to strengthen the EA is expected to be introduced in the second quarter of 2026.
So a big nothing burger that, will take a year before it even will be taken to parliament. What comes immediately after second quarter 2026, an election? If anyone thinks these tweaks will be introduced next year, they are dreaming. It took two years to pass amendments to allow for gas exploration.

The regulatory framework for dry years would be addressed, with a new framework being developed in consultation with industry to ensure a lack of back-up supply did not happen again.
Zzzzz a committee.

Apparently the govt has promised extra funding for new generation. But that was never the problem. It’s not like money was the thing stopping new generation.

So National has wasted two years. They have ignored most of the big changes from the report they commissioned. They have instead opted to tweak the existing system. I guess we should have expected this from them. National have once again proven they aren’t willing to make waves. For all those about to claim this is a coalition decision, give me a break. Watts is the minister and it was co announced with Willis. We know from public statements that NZF is wanting big changes to the energy system and it’s not like Act are known for their softly softly approach.

A hugely disappointing announcement and a major let down for NZ. My only hope is that NZF or Act go to the election next year promising major changes. I’m sure it would be a huge vote winner.
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October 1, 2025 8:55am
- RoboRob
  
  Would the downtickers care to point out where I am wrong or is this just down ticks becuase I am criticising a National party policy?
  
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  October 1, 2025 10:45am
  - peterwn
    
    The Government’s options are limited in ways that you do not see. In particular it has to avoid excessive Sovereign interference since this would have a chilling effect on those wanting to invest in NZ.
    
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    October 1, 2025 11:52am
    - RoboRob
      
      There are a number of solutions that I have proposed in the past that have little to no interference. My most recent suggestion involved teaming up a foreign company (Brookfield Renewables), so the exact opposite of a ‘chilling effect’.
      
      The review Watts paid money for recommended major changes. It was written by an English consultant.
      
      In almost all countries governments have major control over electricity generation. To pretend that no changes can be made because it would scare off overseas investment is a bit of an exaggeration. Especially when you consider the level of overseas involvement currently in our energy market, none or close to none.
      
      Do you really think the plan outlined by Watts is the very best that could have been achieved?
      
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      October 1, 2025 1:04pm
- Foxfour
  
  So more Socialism for Business…
  Its the national party way
  
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  October 1, 2025 2:51pm
- Handyman
  
  Genius strategy.
  We will prepare for future weather variability by building more weather dependent generation.
  
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  October 1, 2025 4:04pm
Cassandra

The Herald reports that business leaders are split on whether the Government’s commitment to raise defence spending to 2% of GDP is enough to keep New Zealand secure in an increasingly volatile world. The only figure not paywalled is that 32% believe that 2% is enough. Presumably a larger figure wants a larger figure. With Europe committing to 3.5% direct and a further 1.5% for infrastructure 2% is woefully inadequate.
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October 1, 2025 9:07am
- Spam
  
  Business Leaders? Glad they went to the defence experts. Although I am interested in the thoughts of people waiting in the queue at KFC before I firm my own opinion.
  
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  October 1, 2025 9:10am
  - pdm
    
    Aagh the KFC queue Spam.
    
    Isn’t that where TVNZ finds its anti coalition government people to interview for their nightly bulletins?
    
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    October 1, 2025 9:14am
    - AitchW
      
      To be fair they only need look in the mirror.
      
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      October 1, 2025 9:22am
- cmm
  
  10% of GDP is not enough to guarantee NZ security because % of GDP does not protect anything.
  
  NZ is a teenie, tiny country so 2% or 5% of GDP is a tiny amount and provides a teenie tiny amount of weaponry.
  
  What matters is not the % of GDP but how it is spent and the defence policies that go with that. Switzerland spends less than 1% of their GDP on defence, but they focus on making that work.
  
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  October 1, 2025 9:26am
  - keepcalmcarryon
    
    Missiles and lots of em. And some mobile air land and sea platforms to shoot from.
    We have a large moat.
    
    10 1
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    October 1, 2025 10:07am
    - Cassandra
      
      No. We are not defending the homeland. Our strategy is to work with others to keep war as far away as possible and to keep the lines of communication and trade open. All major politicians and foreign policy professionals agree on this. This is one thing on which “the science is settled”.
      
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      October 1, 2025 10:40am
      - keepcalmcarryon
        
        It’s area denial isn’t it, having sufficient missile cover to deny enemy activity in the area, the pacific islands are great bases for such which is why China is gradually taking them over by buying out corrupt leaders.
        
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        October 1, 2025 6:58pm
      - Jake Dee
        
        “No. We are not defending the homeland.”
        If the purpose of The New Zealand Defence Force is not to defend New Zealand then something has gone seriously wrong.
        As I rather suspect it has.
        Focusing on preventing an amphibious assault on the various island of New Zealand is, as I am sure you will agree, a very foolish idea.
        But dedicating our defence forces to be an auxiliary of Washington’s would be an equally foolish and actually much more dangerous one.
        Having “All major politicians and foreign policy professionals agree on this” is a phrase that makes me immediately suspicious as does the term “settled science”.
        Other nations have major politicians and foreign policy professionals, what might they say if asked?
        
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        October 2, 2025 6:28am
    - kowtow
      
      And they have lots of subs.
      
      3 1
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      October 1, 2025 10:44am
      - keepcalmcarryon
        
        You can’t land an invasion force out of a sub
        
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        October 1, 2025 6:56pm
  - Dougal10
    
    No one can afford to take us over , imagine how much koha a second coloniser would have to fork out.
    
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    October 1, 2025 6:32pm
- nathie
  
  @Cassandra, you are correct, the figures are:
  32% = sufficient
  43% = falls short
  25% = unsure
  
  For many executives, the challenge is scale. “A percentage of our small GDP will never be enough,” says Mainfreight CEO Don Braid. “Strong security relationships with other nations remain our only options.”
  
  Forsyth Barr managing director Neil Paviour-Smith warns, “New Zealand is only truly ‘protected’ if we are part of a credible set of defence alliances. The cost of that may well be more than 2% of GDP.”
  
  Plus several other people quoted both for and against.
  
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  October 1, 2025 11:01am
slightlyrighty

The Government should be doing everything in it’s power to openly show the link between the Unions and the Labour Party.

The current agitation from the PSA and the Mega Strike that is being planned is so obviously co-ordinated by both groups. The Union Reps are Labour Party Members using Labour Party talking points.
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October 1, 2025 9:41am
- R
  
  The link between the Labour Party and unions has been obvious for years. As a young teenager in the 1950’s I was aware of it. Only had to listen to some of the teacher’s, usually the ones who couldn’t teach. The present MSM IS TRYING TO DISGUISE the fact.
  
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  October 1, 2025 10:11am
- pdm
  
  Not only Labour Party Members sr.
  
  Unions are (the) major funders of the Labour Party at Election time.
  
  No wonder Hipkins and his Caucus suck up to them and willingly do their bidding.
  
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  October 1, 2025 10:25am
  - imalwaysright
    
    “Unions are (the) major funders of the Labour Party at Election time.”
    
    So they build up a political financial warchest, using money that employees are paying on the understanding that they are buying a service to represent them to their employer.
    
    Isn’t that fraud?
    
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    October 1, 2025 10:40am
  - Paulus
    
    Will Labour do the new CTU boss Sandra Grey’s requirements – she is more vicious as very left unionst than many.
    
    3 1
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    October 1, 2025 2:05pm
- Foxfour
  
  What about the senior Doctors strike…coordinated ?
  https://asms.org.nz/senior-doctors-to-strike-for-48-hours-in-september/
  You have forgotten already the teachers and nurses strikes when Labour was in power.
  And no they arent aligned with Labour party , only about 10 unions are
  
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  October 1, 2025 2:48pm
  - NZer In Exile
    
    Strikes under Labour are because Labour is more likely to cave and shower other people’s money in a dumb way.
    
    Strikes under centre-right parties are largely activist unions and fellow travelers trying to make the centre right (who are actually hugely more competent than the wishful thinking left) look like shit. Yes there are the usual real issues of under-resourcing because (mostly lefty) NIMBYS don’t want NZ to have an economy sufficiently large and industrious enough to cover the costs of fixing what needs to be fixed and building what needs to be built). Very very silly people those lefties.
    
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    October 2, 2025 8:03pm
- MCōs
  
  Of course there’s a link between the Labour Party and the Trade Union movement. Just as there are links between the other parties and various interests that feel they will profit in some way if they are part of the government.
  Such has always been the case and it’s no secret
  
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  October 1, 2025 5:07pm
- Dougal10
  
  A lot of union reps are former labour and green party MPs.
  
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  October 1, 2025 6:34pm
Raphael

RIP Nigel Latta.

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/nigel-latta-dead-at-age-58-following-cancer-battle/H3UYIEACJFG6FKK2QHOFOW343Q/
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October 1, 2025 10:07am
Ghost

What a waste of time and money

Hundreds of the United States military’s top leaders absorbed highly partisan addresses from President Donald Trump and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth today.

Each harshly criticised their predecessors and touted their agendas in a summit that was extraordinary in nature but ultimately broke little new ground.

Article
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October 1, 2025 10:35am
- Cassandra
  
  It broke a lot of new ground. 20% reduction in generals; no woke; no beards except SF; weigh in twice a year; only one physical standard.
  
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  October 1, 2025 10:43am
  - Ghost
    
    Didn’t need to be done in person. Just a waste of their time and a waste of money.
    
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    October 1, 2025 10:56am
    - Don Beckett
      
      You’re quoting the NZ Herald. FFS
      Say no more.
      
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      October 1, 2025 11:36am
      - Ghost
        
        These comments where people whinge about who is running the story, in this case it is the Washington post article, are stupid, perhaps you can actually add a comment that actually relates to the topic
        
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        October 1, 2025 12:06pm
  - virtualmark
    
    That could have been an email.
    
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    October 1, 2025 11:05am
    - Cassandra
      
      “One former senior defense official put it this way: “I would say it’s hard to talk so long and say so little, but he turned it into a high art form. You expect the Secretary of Defense to talk and you expect substantive things to come out of his or her mouth. And what came out of it were a bunch of truisms, most of which he said before, nothing really new. He rolled out some things, but again, nothing worth bringing back the nation’s senior military leaders and putting them in a room at Quantico. So, that was my reaction. And the other thing is that he’s clearly playing to an audience of one, and that one person was backstage.” So, yes, it was a waste of time and money.
      
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      October 1, 2025 11:22am
      - imalwaysright
        
        The real waste of time and money was on these officers who had to be called to the bosses office and told how to do their jobs.
        
        6 7
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        October 1, 2025 11:32am
      - virtualmark
        
        I see Trump wanted them to clap and applaud him, and got a bit tetchy when they didn’t.
        
        The officer decorum rules mean that no officers should show either support or disdain for any political speech. You see that with the Joint Chiefs at the State of the Union speeches … they just sit there when others are applauding. I’d have thought Trump would know that by now.
        
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        October 1, 2025 11:40am
      - mandk
        
        ” … former senior defense official …”
        
        = retired civil servant?
        
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        October 1, 2025 11:45am
      - Ghost
        
        South Korea, Japan, Middle East, Eastern Europe, naval operations off the coast of china, all their leaders called back to Washington for this, insane and stupid.
        
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        October 1, 2025 12:19pm
  - Northshoredoc
    
    Send an email or have a meeting online. This would have been a waste of time any money for anyone travelling from more than a couple of hours away.
    
    If I was called to a meeting in Wellington about no more beards or woke an other such rubbish I’d tell them where to stick it.
    
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    October 1, 2025 12:01pm
    - Allan
      
      Have you listened to the entire meeting?
      
      The Secretary of War has laid out an entirely new direction for the US military.
      
      It wasn’t just about beards and fatso’s.
      
      I can take it that a lot of the commentaters have no military experience coupled with a good dose on anti anything that the current US administration does.
      
      Notice all the retired generals have shut their yappers about Trump being a fascist, Hitler etc? That’s because if they do it now they are going to be charged under teh Uniform Code of Military Justice and lose all their pensions and benefits.
      
      Now it is time for that traitor Milley to be charged for his treason.
      
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      October 1, 2025 2:02pm
      - Ghost
        
        This is actually the stupidity of some people like yourself, that if you speak against something you must be anti trump, anti his administration.
        
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        October 1, 2025 2:48pm
      - Northshoredoc
        
        ‘Have you listened to the entire meeting?’
        
        I watched Hegseth and Trump’s speeches, it was fortunate they were delivered to military personnel, as they are not allowed to show any reaction and must remain at attention.
        
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        October 1, 2025 4:24pm
- Cassandra
  
  And major reorganisation of commands – which has been going on for a month or two.
  
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  October 1, 2025 10:45am
- Ian Wright
  
  NZ Herald is not a reliable source on anything to do with President Trump. Hegseth’s full remarks are available on X, without a journalist translating them for you, https://x.com/DeptofWar/status/1973041625447235876.
  I think it’s exactly the sort of thing that to be effective needs to be said in person, face to face, not in an email, or on a video broadcast.
  
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  October 1, 2025 11:19am
  - Ghost
    
    It’s the Washington post, and no, nothing in that speech needed to pull those military leaders out of their commands and back to the USA.
    
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    October 1, 2025 11:24am
    - virtualmark
      
      Family member in very senior role in IndoPacCom in Hawaii. Having a small “holiday” with the top guy away. Playing golf today.
      
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      October 1, 2025 11:42am
    - Allan
      
      Ghost, do tell us how many years experience you have in a command role in the military.
      
      13 3
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      October 1, 2025 2:04pm
      - Ghost
        
        Let’s look at what others have said
        
        Rear Adm. Michael Smith (Ret.), who served in the Trump administration and now leads the National Security Leaders of America, called the event “ironic” and troubling. He pointed out that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth began by emphasizing the importance of keeping the military apolitical, only to then deliver a speech filled with cultural grievances and political ultimatums.
        
        Smith said:
        
        “The Secretary starts out saying how important it is for this group of generals and admirals to be apolitical. Then he goes on to air cultural grievances, and then says, ‘If you don’t agree with this political vision, you should resign.’”
        
        He added that demanding personal loyalty to an administration’s political policies “goes against the apolitical nature of our military”
        
        More
        
        Gen. Barry McCaffrey (Ret.): Called the meeting “bizarre and dangerous,” warning that it resembled “a political rally, not a professional military gathering.” He expressed alarm at the rhetoric about using cities as training grounds and the emphasis on domestic threats.
        
        Gen. Wesley Clark (Ret.): Said the event “undermines the apolitical nature of the armed forces.” He criticized the call for generals to resign if they disagreed, saying it “echoes authoritarian tactics.”
        
        Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling (Ret.): Described the tone as “militaristic and divisive,” adding that “the military is not a tool for domestic political messaging.”
        
        There was nothing that took place that needed to take these people from their commands and make them attend in person
        
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        October 1, 2025 2:29pm
      - Allan
        
        LOL, 36 years.
        
        Took the Queen’s shilling and signed on the green dotted line at 17.
        
        And yours?
        
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        October 1, 2025 4:16pm
      - Graeme Hall
        
        Ghost: you will notice all those Generals who were critical of the War Secretary are retired and probably with good reason as they bowed down to the Biden policies. As military historian Hoover institute Professor Victor Hanson, who knows these people, explains: When these guys or gals retire they normally expect to be employed by a defense contractor on a multi-million dollar salary as military contract lobbyists. It is a standard pathway in the US to a rich future for them. Trumps re-election means they are unlikely to have the same influence and so they are unlikely to praise his administration whatever it does.
        
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        October 1, 2025 4:31pm
    - Manu-Rau
      
      The Washington Post is even less reliable than the Ferald.
      
      That takes some doing, but they achieved it.
      
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      October 1, 2025 8:31pm
- Scott
  
  I think what Hegseth said was excellent and totally appropriate to be delivered in person. I agree with no more woke, no more DEI, no lowering of standards for equity reasons, concentration on war fighting ability, win wars, not endless war.
  
  What’s not to like? 😎
  
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  October 1, 2025 11:37am
  - Northshoredoc
    
    To be fair Scott, you’re of the opinion everything that Trump or those working for him say or do to be excellent up to and including finger painting with their own dung.
    
    9 11
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    October 1, 2025 1:31pm
    - Allan
      
      As opposed to letting all and any lies go unopposed.
      
      Or presenting a counter point of view?
      
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      October 1, 2025 4:20pm
    - Scott
      
      Northshore – best president ever. He has the best plans. Great plans. Nobody has better plans.
      That I can tell you. 😁
      
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      October 1, 2025 6:40pm
      - Northshoredoc
        
        Lol – you’re very easily impressed.
        
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        October 2, 2025 12:46pm
- Libertarians are right
  
  It was a statement. Reminding them of the chain of command. That’s all it was.
  The fact is that some of those people may not want to bring in the changes Trump etc want so they’re reminding them who’s in charge.
  
  It’s honestly crazy that they’d need to do that in the first place.
  
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  October 1, 2025 12:08pm
  - Allan
    
    It also negates any defence when the direct orders are not followed.
    
    “I was on Zoom and had interference and missed that part of the order”, that ain’t going to wash.
    
    Anybody with any experience of military command and leadership knows that a direct order delivered in person cannot be denied.
    
    No doubt some of those commanders are thinking they could ignore the order. No chance of that if they were in attendance.
    
    As for leaving their stations, there’s a chain of command. In the event of an untimely death, the second-in-command takes over and completes the mission. That’s how the military works.
    
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    October 1, 2025 2:23pm
  - Tom Hunter
    
    Most of the people criticising the speech are either not aware of various incidents where lower-level officers are clearly disobeying the chain of command, or agree with that “resistance” and support it.
    
    Specifically the Woke are still pushing their crap; transgenders still being promoted rather than being booted out; the JAG corp (the legal arm of the US military) still hot on PRIDE promotion; focusing on the “extremist Right” in the ranks; and malicious compliance”.
    
    Or how about the “pup play” officer who just retired last year but who is still sponsoring naval academy mid-shipman.
    
    All of that is damned dangerous for a civilian-controlled military and countering it required an eyeball-to-eyeball encounter, not emails and video-conferencing.
    
    But it’s also going to require firings and court-martials.
    
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    October 1, 2025 3:09pm
  - Northshoredoc
    
    The full speeches for those with an interest.
    
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ln-nB2ffF9M
    
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    October 1, 2025 7:08pm
MCōs

Nichole Kidman is divorcing Keith Urban on account of his terrible haircut
5 2
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October 1, 2025 10:35am
- Libertarians are right
  
  Actually, he’s divorcing her on account of her terrible taste in guys.
  
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  October 1, 2025 12:02pm
Tauhei Notts

I saw on another site an accurate and succinct comment that bears repeating.
“Maori Culture is a cynical construct to provide lucrative consulting sinecures.”
33 1
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October 1, 2025 10:51am
- Cassandra
  
  It’s the greatest waste of time and money, eclipsed only by Hegseth and his Meet the Generals. In fact it’s bigger because at least Hegseth has only done it once.
  
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  October 1, 2025 11:25am
  - imalwaysright
    
    “It’s the greatest waste of time and money, eclipsed only by Hegseth and his Meet the Generals. …”
    
    So if Hegseth calls another meeting of staff do you think that the cost would then surpass the amount of New Zealand’s public money spent on Maori activist grifting?
    
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    October 1, 2025 11:38am
  - Allan
    
    8 million it cost. A lot of hyperbole calling it the greatest waste of time and money.
    
    I guess that money would have been better spent on transgender comics in Guatamala or gay rights in Gaza.
    
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    October 1, 2025 4:22pm
Cassandra

Ironic that below the Add a Comment box is an advertisement for some Maori consultancy outfit!
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October 1, 2025 11:26am
NeverMindTheBollocks

Remember when Ivermectin was dismissed as a horse dewormer that couldn’t possibly be of use against Covid?

Introducing ketamine, a horse tranquilliser (what is it with the horses?) that in small doses might help with depression.

A lesson in cognitive dissonance.

http://www.1news.co.nz/2025/10/01/oral-ketamine-shows-early-signs-of-aiding-depression-in-nz-trial/
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October 1, 2025 12:40pm
- Allan
  
  They like the horse analogy to support the derisive narrative.
  
  Humans use Ivermectin for treating intestinal worms and other parasites.
  
  Sheep and other mammals need to be dosed regularly for their health..
  
  But as with most of what the media tell us, it is delivered through a particular lens.
  
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  October 1, 2025 2:10pm
- MCōs
  
  “Ketamine is used (as a tranquilizer) on a whole range of animals, including elephants, camels, gorillas, pigs, sheep, goats, dogs, cats, rabbits, snakes, guinea pigs, birds, gerbils and mice.”
  https://drugfoundation.org.nz/news-and-reports/ketamine-not-just-for-horses
  
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  October 1, 2025 2:32pm
  - NeverMindTheBollocks
    
    Way to miss the point, Cossie!
    
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    October 1, 2025 3:06pm
  - Dougal10
    
    And rich actors
    
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    October 1, 2025 6:40pm
- mandk
  
  The real reason why ivermectin was dismissed is because there was no money in it for the drug companies.
  
  Ivermectin is available at approx. $0.03 per dose, and it doesn’t require constant repeats.
  
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  October 1, 2025 4:33pm
- keepcalmcarryon
  
  It’s a dissociative so yeah cognitive dissonance.
  Used in a lot of CRIs and anaesthetic combos in vet med.
  Also appears to work at ridiculously small micro doses for pain in animals too.
  Handy medication.
  
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  October 1, 2025 7:07pm
- Jake Dee
  
  (what is it with the horses?)
  My guess is that now we’ve moved to motor vehicles for transport and work, the majority of horses in the west are for recreation and racing. Maybe excluding some exotic Zoo animals they must be some of the most expensive live stock there is. A great market for veterinarian pharmaceuticals.
  
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  October 2, 2025 6:16am
Jack5

Steal and run …

Rumble at supermarket in Burnside, Christchurch, today.

A young man, looked to be late teenage, who supermarket staff say had been stealing and running, was tackled by security guy after apparently assaulting a staff member.

The security guy tackled the runner to the floor at the entrance, held him in wrestling holds for some time while he yelled, swore, and struggled. All the while, his young girlfriend, kept at bay, cursed all and sundry. The tussle went from inside, though the entrance, to carts outside. After 20 minutes or so and still no sign of police, the runner broke free and fled on foot with his cursing, yelling girlfriend.

Do supermarket security people have power to use handcuffs or some other restraint? Supermarkets would benefit from guard dogs. A security guard with a well-trained German Shepherd, a Malinois, or a Doberman by look alone would settle down thugs.
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October 1, 2025 4:55pm

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