About
Contact
Advertise

Facebook
Twitter

December 8, 2025 8:00am by Kokila Patel

General Debate 08 December 2025

Like this:

Like Loading…

Email
Facebook
Twitter
Comment173

Uncategorized
General Debate

Comments (173)

Login to comment or vote

Cassandra

The Climate Panic: Despite trillions of dollars in subsidies, wmd and solar (the two ‘unreliables’) still provide just 6 per cent of the world’s energy. Their low-density, high-cost, intermittent power output is of no use to data centres or electric grids, let alone transport and heating, and effectively poisons the economics of building and running new nuclear and gas generation by preventing continuous operation. Quite why it became mandatory among those concerned about climate change to support these unreliables so obsessively is hard to fathom. Subsidy addiction has a lot to do with it, combined with a general ignorance of thermodynamics.

A US review of climate science by five distinguished academics (all well-known climate skeptics) set out just how non-frightening the facts of climate change are: slowly rising temperatures, mainly at night in winter and in the north, correspondingly less in daytime in summer and in the tropics where most people live, accompanied by a very slow rise in sea level showing no definite acceleration, minimal if any measurable change in the average frequency and ferocity of storms, droughts and floods – and record low levels of deaths from such causes. Plus a general increase in green vegetation, caused by the extra carbon dioxide.

I like the idea of clean oceans, indeed a clean world. I do not like stupidity and accepting an unproven (not necessarily wrong but then neither are the skeptics) theory based on a suspect computer model and then spending billions, all the time accompanied by excessive use of fossil fuel use – conferences and private jets – is stupid. And for NZ to get itself in a tangle, an expensive one, is really stupid. We should talk a lot, call out hypocrisy loudly, and do nothing.
47 3
Log in to Reply
Report
December 8, 2025 8:01am
- All_on_Red
  
  ‘ A US review of climate science by five distinguished academics’
  Link?
  
  8 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  December 8, 2025 8:05am
  - Cassandra
    
    It’s a sign of my age, sorry, linking is not in the armoury. Search Department of Energy 2025 climate report and you’ll get the whole caboodle, all umpteen pages and miles of kickback.
    
    26 2
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    December 8, 2025 8:25am
    - All_on_Red
      
      No worries
      https://www.energy.gov/sites/default/files/2025-07/DOE_Critical_Review_of_Impacts_of_GHG_Emissions_on_the_US_Climate_July_2025.pdf
      Thanks
      
      Google how to copy and paste- aint hard. You write some good posts and links to your source would help the discussion.
      
      25 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      December 8, 2025 8:30am
      - Cassandra
        
        Thanks! My grandchildren roll their eyes too……..
        
        26 0
        Report
        December 8, 2025 8:46am
      - Don Beckett
        
        I know what you mean 😆
        
        6 1
        Report
        December 8, 2025 10:40am
- Simon
  
  Man made climate fraud is about the transfer of wealth from the working people to a narrow range of billionaires via govt backing of fake alternative green energy
  
  31 2
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  December 8, 2025 8:10am
- cmm
  
  Sweeping broad statements are ill advised because different conditions favour different solutions.
  
  In California and Texas etc, there is very high load in the middle of the day when everyone is hammering their AC units. The sun is shining and solar panels work well. There is a good correlation between demand and solar generation – so solar makes some sense.
  
  Here in NZ our peak demand is just after the sun goes down. That correlation does not exist. But we do have some abundant resources than most areas do not have: hydro and geothermal. Both hydro and geothermal are extremely dispatchable.
  
  Another area is battery storage (BESS). BESS makes some sense in USA and some other areas. It makes absolutely zero sense in NZ because we can perform the same function far cheaper and more efficiently using our hydro systems.
  
  The problem comes from energy policies being driven by virtue signaling activists who want to be seen to be doing the right thing and keep up with the international Joneses. That seems to be far more important than building systems that are better suited to our (almost) unique set of circumstances.
  
  So instead of getting reliable systems that work for us, we’re getting huge PV farms because we don’t want to be “left behind”.
  
  20 2
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  December 8, 2025 8:24am
  - Cassandra
    
    If “ill-advised sweeping broad statements” is aimed at me then see the report in all its majesty. This is blog, ffs. I’m not going to give you five pages of summary when you can read the original.
    
    16 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    December 8, 2025 8:29am
    - cmm
      
      I was not at all aiming at you.
      
      I was adding commentary on the way governments and the media discuss energy matters.
      
      There is no “global solution” there are a bunch of local solutions that are suited to different circumstances.
      
      On a small Pacific Island the best solution is going to be very different to a a highly interconnected grid like Europe or even a place like NZ with lots of geothermal and hydro.
      
      18 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      December 8, 2025 8:44am
      - Cassandra
        
        😇
        
        8 0
        Report
        December 8, 2025 8:46am
      - David Garrett
        
        cmm: On a small Pacific Island the best solution is going to be very different to a a highly interconnected grid like Europe or even a place like NZ with lots of geothermal and hydro
        
        As regulars know, I live on “a small Pacific Island”.. where we are virtually totally dependent on (imported) fossil fuels – and we will be for the foreseeable future.
        
        On an island with no hills let alone lakes, hydro is not an option. Solar is, but subject to the same limitations as everywhere else. I know very little about battery storage from solar.
        
        The prevailing wind is from the east, and is very constant, so I guess wind power is an option – but someone else is going to have to pay for all those solar panels and turbines
        
        18 2
        Report
        December 8, 2025 9:31am
      - cmm
        
        DG: And of course the white mofo is the sinful one….
        
        What is important is to first look at the desired power use profile – then fit a supply system that works for that and is within what people can afford.
        
        PV and wind could potentially be an option but those would need to be looked at properly.
        
        I see there is talk of harvesting wave power, but I suspect that is unlikely to be practical. PV and wind are far more reliable.
        
        When the competition is diesel (quite expensive) then what makes sense changes – especially if power needs are modest (ie. if you only use a small amount of electricity mainly for refrigeration and lighting then you don’t need your electricity to be as cheap). PV with battery starts to become viable.
        
        Bottom line though is that you will need those diesels for backup (for the foreseeable future anyway).
        
        7 0
        Report
        December 8, 2025 10:24am
      - R
        
        HYDRO….if only the ideological activists hadn’t poisoned young minds, and we had built all five or so proposed hydro electric power dams during the latter half of the last century.
        
        12 1
        Report
        December 8, 2025 10:58am
      - I remember when
        
        Is large scale solar best suited to high sunshine countries, such as parts of Africa/Australia?
        Very little discussion about the retirement of the equipment when it needs to be replaced.
        This problem would seem to have the potential to be massive where there is large scale use.
        Also, should solar be left for individual households to make their own decisions on whether it suits them, rather than large ‘farms’ producing in bulk?
        
        2 0
        Report
        December 8, 2025 12:05pm
      - Jake Dee
        
        You’re right, a patchwork of solutions depending on local need, but that’s also why you can’t count out battery storage for New Zealand, there are plenty of places in NZ that could benefit from it, we have plenty of small Pacific Islands and isolated areas in our big Pacific Islands.
        
        3 0
        Report
        December 8, 2025 12:34pm
      - NZer In Exile
        
        DG there’s another island (King Island in Bass Straight Australia) which generates electrickery using a combo of wind, solar, a flywheel (for spinning inertia), a resistor (for dissipating excess energy as heat), and, drum roll, a diesel generator. Guess which element does the heavy lifting most of the time?
        
        King Island Real time energy dashboard:
        https://www.hydro.com.au/clean-energy/hybrid-energy-solutions/success-stories/king-island
        
        0 0
        Report
        December 8, 2025 8:44pm
  - [email protected]
    
    BESS is still very expensive here in New Zealand. I have looked into this a few times and it still doesn’t work financially.
    
    Solar however, was one of the better investments I have made. We are at home all day and run our business from the property so use a fair amount of energy.
    
    Our solar system paid for itself in six years and is now creating a net profit.
    
    10 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    December 8, 2025 8:44am
    - Spam
      
      We put it in, and as ours is like yours in that it matches our demand profile it is OK – ours will pay back in around 8 years.
      
      However, for the rooftop solar advocates as a solution to New Zealand’s energy woes, there are some significant issues that need to be resolved. the main one is related to localisation.
      
      Most streets will have a let-down transformer. Rooftop solar generation may generate an excess of electricity, and if it is fed-back into the grid, the transformers generally can’t work in reverse, so that electricity must be used by other people downstream of the transformer, or the voltage in that section starts to rise. There are limits on this voltage rise, before that solar gets curtailed.
      
      Significant scale of rooftop solar requires a large upgrade of the local distribution networks and transformers (or a whole lot of batteries downstream of the transformers). I.e. the costs of rooftop solar to NZ-inc are not just the panels; its the infrastructure upgrades.
      
      14 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      December 8, 2025 9:39am
      - Taieri
        
        the transformers generally can’t work in reverse, so that electricity must be used by other people downstream of the transformer, or the voltage in that section starts to rise.
        —————
        
        Just as step-down transformers reduce voltage and increase current, step-up transformers increase it and reduce current. So, electricity doesn’t have to be “used by other people downstream of the transformer”. All that’s needed is a suitable inverter maintaining correct synchronization (frequency, phase, voltage and load share) with the grid.
        
        7 0
        Report
        December 8, 2025 10:40am
      - Spam
        
        @Taieri:
        Are you meaning the inverter on the solar panels? Sure. But my point is that there are advocates saying that rooftop solar is a useful source of distributed generation. Without a lot of grid upgrades it isn’t, because excess rooftop solar generation in one suburb can’t even be used in the next suburb over.
        
        If you’re meaning a step-up transformer, then again I agree, but it has a cost.
        
        Which is my point. Just rolling out rooftop solar doesn’t solve anything without infrastructure upgrades.
        
        6 0
        Report
        December 8, 2025 11:06am
      - Taieri
        
        Just rolling out rooftop solar doesn’t solve anything without infrastructure upgrades.
        ———-
        
        Correct, but I was referring just to the technical side of things.
        I’m in favour of rooftop solar panels as means of saving electricity, i.e. hot water supply, EV charging and such like. It’s also a very useful solution (combined with generator/storage) for remote/off grid properties. Otherwise, I agree with you, it’s costly and not very practical.
        
        5 0
        Report
        December 8, 2025 11:17am
    - cmm
      
      “Our solar system paid for itself in six years and is now creating a net profit.”
      
      Only because it is massively subsidised in many ways.
      
      BESS does not work in NZ because it makes far more sense to just throttle back on hydro and use the surplus PV immediately.
      
      4 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      December 8, 2025 2:09pm
  - MCōs
    
    During the summer our maximum consumption occurs when the shower is used.
    In Thailand most people don’t have hot water.
    
    8 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    December 8, 2025 8:53am
    - rouppe
      
      For “don’t have” read “don’t need”.
      
      When I was in Thailand for 2 months earlier in the year I mostly had cold water showers because the ambient water temperature was a comfortable temperature in which to have a shower.
      
      7 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      December 8, 2025 10:20am
    - Cassandra
      
      When I lived in Malaya the cool shower was a highpoint of my day. Sundown quite popular too for the anti-malaria potion.
      
      8 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      December 8, 2025 10:28am
  - Chuck Bird
    
    Has anyone here been to any of Dr Will Happer’s lectures, and if so, do you disagree with what he had to say?
    
    4 2
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    December 8, 2025 11:19am
  - [email protected]
    
    The vast majority of electrical energy generation in New Zealand is hydro with a bit of geothermal. The use of solar during the day means we need to use less hydro power and the water needed for hydro can be saved/stored in the lakes. It is like having a low cost energy storage system.
    
    If wrong, I’m happy to be educated by those better informed.
    
    6 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    December 8, 2025 11:28am
    - Skippytony
      
      @info – the points above are that yes, solar can be a viable thing for my house & thus reduce demand load on the grid but the benefit of my infrastructure is confined to my house as the distribution grid in NZ is basically one way. I can capture and use solar for my needs but cant share any surplus thus further reducing demand on the grid.
      Also, in my world, an 8 year ROI on consumer grade electronics probably means its not that attractive a) as thats probably past the economic life of the panels and battery system and b) where and how do we cost in the downstream disposal of the old infrastructure? My friend was an early solar adopter in Aus (you can sell back to the grid though the rate is now a joke, the sell price being about 10% of the buy price) but his panels were less that 50% efficient after 5 years – eg end of life.
      
      6 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      December 8, 2025 12:55pm
    - cmm
      
      Yes, you are mostly correct.
      
      “It is like having a low cost energy storage system.”
      That is exactly why BESS makes no sense in NZ.
      
      BESS works by taking excess power and storing that in a battery, then dumping that extra power back in the grid when it is needed. This process has three main problems:
      1) it is inefficient. Charging the battery and then discharging back into the grid is, maybe, 85% efficient – meaning 15% or so is lost as heat.
      2) It is expensive to buy and run all that BESS equipment.
      3) Those batteries are a major environmental risk (during the mining, manufacture and if they catch fire).
      
      There are a few lower level problems too.
      
      We are always using hydro it makes far more sense to just use the power immediately and throttle back on the hydro. Then open the hydro tap a bit more when the extra power is needed. Basically we’re using the hydro as a substitute for pump storage. This is close to 100% efficient and needs no extra equipment (especially not the dangerous batteries).
      
      BESS makes perfect sense for many scenarios. One such example is using it on smaller islands (eg. DG might soon see BESS on Tonga). It makes no sense for us though.
      
      4 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      December 8, 2025 2:18pm
    - Paulus
      
      But who wants to own the water in all the South Island Lakes ?
      
      2 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      December 8, 2025 3:02pm
- the deity formerly known as nigel6888
  
  unfortunately foolish performative governments signed us up to Paris, Net Zero, and ICAO CORSIA (look it up and weep) the govt dodged the IMO agreement thank the Deity, but untangling this mess is going to be hard work, particularly as the usual suspects will do everything possible to sabotage us along the way – for example, who cares what the feckless Starmer thinks, the Poms are screwed enough as they are with their “deindustrialised” economy, expensive power, and growing Islamic militancy…
  
  12 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  December 8, 2025 9:25am
- AitchW
  
  I’m no climate scientist, in fact I’m no scientist at all however it would seem me that in a closed system like the one in which we live CO2 levels should be self regulating.
  If increased CO2 levels encourage plant growth then surely the increased uptake of CO2 by said plants will reduce the “excess” CO2 AND increase the volume of O2 in the atmosphere. Or am I missing something?
  
  11 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  December 8, 2025 9:26am
  - slijmbal
    
    @aitch – if you increase supply of something and have a separate mechanism that is sensitive to that increase then it’s more common in systems for the level to settle at a new increased level rather than stay at the old level.
    
    But, yes there is adaptation.
    
    7 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    December 8, 2025 10:25am
  - cmm
    
    Plants are borderline starving and can cope with (and in fact thrive with) far higher CO2 levels.
    
    That is why growers sometimes pump CO2 into greenhouses – it helps the plants grow better.
    
    The increased CO2 levels are a major contributor to the increased greening of marginal deserts.
    
    Of course if the amount of plants increase so will the consumption of CO2 so, after a bit of a lag, the plants will end up consuming more and the balance is likely to be restored again.
    
    14 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    December 8, 2025 10:29am
    - [email protected]
      
      We don’t have a CO2 balance per se. The historical trend has largely been one of sequestration which is why the current CO2 is 420ish ppm down from close to 6000 ppm in the past.
      
      0 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      December 8, 2025 3:00pm
- tedbear
  
  Cassandra, the ‘not necessarily wrong’ suspect computer that’s supposed to be a model of Planet Earth’s climate system???
  The oceans are the primary driver of the Earth’s weather yet this super dooper computer doesn’t have an ocean, let alone all the other weather drivers.
  
  Also as there is no land mass in the world that manufactures its own weather, those believing that car exhausts affect a country’s rainfall are all completely insane.
  
  4 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  December 8, 2025 12:11pm
- ISeeRed
  
  It often amazes me how far we’ve come as a species when we are so prone to mass delusion, social contagions, moral panics and other forms of utter irrationality.
  
  0 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  December 8, 2025 2:36pm
- Grumpy Silver Top
  
  It is encouraging that voices debunking the climate change catastrophe (yeah, nah!) are beginning to gain traction – that is the 5 US scientists et al.
  Kow towing to Net Zero is economic suicide.
  Wind and solar power technologies are in their infancy although it is possible that rapid development will deliver small and efficient turbines.
  I am becoming increasingly sure that the world is diving down a rabbit tunnel with current solar power technology.
  Our international vulnerability to electrical failures is of increasing concern. It’s terrifying to sit down and list all the things that won’t work without electricity.
  Finally the hypocrisy of climate conferences held in places that require thousands of people to travel by air to attend is beyond belief. Their credibility is zero.
  
  3 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  December 8, 2025 5:20pm
NeverMindTheBollocks

Ruminating on recent publicity about HIV in NZ, I note that Burnett Foundation spokesman Rodrigo Olin German was HIV positive when he arrived in NZ. He enthusiastically advocated for PrEP, prophylactic drugs that reduce the viral load. This is funded by Pharmac, ie by you & me.

It’s unclear what PrEP costs the taxpayer. Regardless, we require chest X-rays for tuberculosis from would-be immigrants, and turn away obese people – both on grounds of an unreasonable risk to the NZ health system of high future costs.

My question is, why are those with an HIV positive status not rejected, for much the same reason? After all, it’s in NZ’s interests to have as few HIV positive people in NZ as possible. Why would we knowingly permit immigration of people with a chronic and communicable disease? What’s in it for us?

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/580475/we-are-active-members-of-society-40-forty-years-of-fighting-hiv-in-nz-but-the-stigma-is-still-there
18 2
Log in to Reply
Report
December 8, 2025 8:13am
- dubya
  
  Emtricitabine and tenofovir (PreP) is a generic now, without funding around $10-15 per month. Similar cost to the contraceptive pill. It was more expensive when NZ could only access the trademarked Truvada brand.
  
  The highest risk of HIV transmission is actually from people who don’t know they have it. The gay community have huge awareness and regular testing, to the point where new cases in NZ are now predominantly heterosexual.
  
  8 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  December 8, 2025 10:11am
  - Northshoredoc
    
    Emtricitabine and tenofovir drug cost is $13.45 per month. The most commonly used OCs are between $2 – $13 for 3 months.
    
    Treatment of HIV positive individuals is expensive with the preferred drug cost around $1000 per month
    
    Tb medication and treatment can be very expensive.
    
    The rest of your comment is spot on.
    
    6 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    December 8, 2025 10:23am
  - Ra Henare
    
    Just some facts.
    Thinking tenofovir.
    An anti viral drug.
    
    Used for treatment HRV
    Approximately 3,500 people in New Zealand are living with HIV as of late 2024
    
    Used for treatment of Hepatitis B
    Approximately 100,000 people in New Zealand live with chronic hepatitis B.
    
    0 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    December 8, 2025 4:50pm
    - Ian Boag
      
      A funny story. I was get keyman insurance as part of a financing package for my business. I was told to get an HIV test.
      
      A woman from the insurers called to talk to me – I wasn’t there – so she left my office lady a message to call back. “Tell Ian it’s about his HIV test”
      
      Insurance lady was a bit mortified about it. I did come out negative :-}
      
      0 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      December 8, 2025 7:16pm
- cmm
  
  When we came to NZ in 1992 we had a severe medical screening including chest X rays for TB and HIV testing. Either of those would have meant rejection from getting a PR visa.
  
  HIV is far more treatable these days with far cheaper generics. That has even changed in the last 5 to 10 years.
  
  About 12 years ago now an extended family member in South Africa got AIDS and died after about 2 years (gay bloke, promiscuous, no condom). These days he would have likely survived or not even got infected due to PReP.
  
  3 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  December 8, 2025 10:40am
  - Nikola Donatello
    
    Interesting. In that case my comment below may be incorrect about treatment costs. Perhaps the generics are now so cheap that it is not a big deal for pharmac.
    
    5 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    December 8, 2025 11:23am
    - cmm
      
      There’s cheap and cheap.
      
      Treatment is certainly way cheaper than it was just 20 years ago, but that is still way more costly than prevention with PReP etc.
      
      I am certainly no expert on these matters, but as I understand it the HIV risk with PReP is now so low that promiscuous gay boys are shagging without condoms. Their biggest worry is now STDs rather than HIV.
      
      5 1
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      December 8, 2025 2:23pm
  - Raphael
    
    Likewise, when I came over in 2007.
    
    Heck, one of the questions was “have you had an HIV test in the last X (can’t recall the number) years, if so, please explain why.” And I had to explain that yes, I had, because the company I worked for (Sappi Forests) got a tax rebate if they tested all staff annually.
    
    4 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    December 8, 2025 4:21pm
- Nikola Donatello
  
  I thought perhaps because treatment is now cheap. But no. I did an AI inquiry from official pharmac schedules and media reports. In 2016/17 the average cost to pharmac was $41,000 per year for each HIV patient. That is for anti retro vital drugs. So in 2025, let’s call it $60,000.
  
  I’m wondering whether they are let in because HIV sufferers are disproportionately gay. Not exclusively of course.
  
  Who knows? But it seems inconsistent with excluding applicants with other serious illness.
  
  7 3
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  December 8, 2025 11:22am
  - Northshoredoc
    
    AI is incorrect.
    
    The most common treatment of individuals with HIV in NZ is dolutegravir with or without lamivudine.
    
    Drug cost per month is $1090 pk/30 ( one tablet per day). Many of th eother HIV treatments are now generic and less expensive.
    
    https://schedule.pharmac.govt.nz/ScheduleOnline.php
    
    7 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    December 8, 2025 1:37pm
igm

Very interesting . . . definitely worth a read:
https://goodoil.news/exclusive-documents-expose-willie-jacksons-trespass-shenanigans-to-bust-union-and-shield-his-manky-missus/
14 2
Log in to Reply
Report
December 8, 2025 8:17am
Yvette

[1] Read, [2] read only the bold type, or [3] scroll on by

“Tikangafeudalism”
Kapa-Kingi was expelled on 10 November 2025 (alongside Ferris) by TPM’s national council for alleged serious breaches of the party constitution.
Ferris likewise was expelled at the same time and under the same decision.
In Kapa-Kingi’s case, her Court challenge led to an interim High Court order reinstating her membership of the party, pending a full hearing in February 2026.

Both MPs were expelled by the same party body at the same time for broadly similar stated reasons (“serious breaches”, misuse of funds, bringing the party into disrepute).
Both say the process used breached the party constitution (in Kapa-Kingi’s case this is central to her Court case).
The Court in Kapa-Kingi’s case found “serious questions to be tried” regarding the process.

Is it reasonable for Ferris to anticipate that he might seek (and potentially obtain) similar interim relief, if he takes the Court route on similar grounds – procedural irregularities, constitutional rights within the party, prejudice from being excluded.
The fact that the two were expelled together under the same resolution supports the symmetry of their situations.

As ‘tikanga’ apparently engages ‘utu’ – reset of balance – is Ferris not obliged to pursue justice and mana?

The rift went public when Kapa-Kingi’s son, former Te Pāti Māori vice president Eru Kapa-Kingi, said the party’s leadership was “toxic” and operated under a “dictatorship model”.
Tamihere also told Kapa-Kingi he would seek “utu” against her son for that comment.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/politics/360908270/mp-mariameno-kapa-kingi-takes-te-pati-maori-president-john-tamihere-court-after-expulsion

See? – ‘utu’ may not be just a cosmic reset of balance, after all …
Should we watch Tamihere for the guidance on ‘tikanga’ that he claims his actions to be?

Ambition is natural in any movement – but ambition must sit inside tikanga.
Ambition inside tikanga strengthens us.
Ambition outside tikanga fractures us.
… Our present leadership challenge is not about policy, programme or principle.
It is about personalities.
And personality cannot outweigh kaupapa
https://waateanews.com/2025/12/07/the-best-of-years-the-worst-of-years-2024-to-2025/?

Jungian shadow integration or counter-identification:
What of Tamihere’s speech yesterday does not apply to himself?

The party condemns what it describes as “discrimination against tikanga in the House”, including the suspensions of its co-leaders and MP Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke. These events, the speech argues, reflect a political environment hostile to Māori assertion.
https://waateanews.com/2025/12/07/te-pati-maori-leader-reflects-on-best-and-worst-of-years-as-court-battles-intensify/

Was it “discrimination against tikanga in the House”, when the haka simply disrupted a vote, which Chlöe Swarbick had already interrupted three time with ‘points of order’ which were out of order?
Is John Tamihere hiding behind ‘tikanga’ in a way as shallow as the timing of the haka that was viewed by 700 million around the world without realizing –
“I wasn’t meant to be the one leading the haka”: Hana-Rāwhiti Maipi-Clarke
Maipi-Clarke told The Morning Shift podcast on Tuesday she was shocked to be handed a copy of the Treaty Principles Bill that had just been through its first reading in the House. She ripped the bill and then led the haka.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/politics/360491389/i-wasnt-meant-be-one-doing-haka-hana-rawhiti-maipi-clarke#

Is John Tamihere’s version of tikanga as shallow as this?
“Tikangafeudalism”?
14 2
Log in to Reply
Report
December 8, 2025 8:35am
- Paulus
  
  Who is paying for all this Shenanigan ?
  Non Maori Taxpayers I expect.
  
  6 3
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  December 8, 2025 3:07pm
  - Taieri
    
    Non Maori Taxpayers I expect
    —————
    
    There’re plenty of Maori taxpayers in NZ. They also pay for it.
    
    0 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    December 8, 2025 4:03pm
Swifty

And still not a single word from our mainstream news media sites on the Willie Jackson allegations.

It’s quite extraordinary.

Five days now and not a peep.
39 1
Log in to Reply
Report
December 8, 2025 8:51am
- pdm
  
  The gang against Jackson seems to be growing by the day.
  
  Started with McCarten, now Cam Slater is on board and did not paywall his latest attack. While apparently Sean Plunket has been bullied and was having a crack at Jackson on the Platform this morning. I am waiting for that to turn up on you tube because I am not a Platform subscriber.
  
  It must be a worry for Jackson that Hipkins may be the only friend he has left.
  
  21 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  December 8, 2025 9:38am
  - imalwaysright
    
    Pdm,
    you can listen to the Platform on their website or download their app.
    Both are free.
    https://theplatform.kiwi/
    
    11 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    December 8, 2025 9:49am
  - Colville
    
    pdm.
    Imagine trying to get thru a dark patch in your life but realising that realising that Chris Hipkins is a friend.
    That aint gonna help!! :-/
    
    12 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    December 8, 2025 10:28am
- kowtow
  
  I think they’ve been served legal papers to frighten ’em off.
  
  Plunket on Platform was on about it this am. Might be on pod cast.
  
  10 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  December 8, 2025 10:07am
- Mod88
  
  TV1 Poll tonight and Media are doing all in their power to return Labour to Govt. The call of the PIJF is strong, use the force, Luke. In this case ignore it as it is going to reflect very very badly on Hipkins. He says it is an “Employment” matter. Have we got news for him.
  
  12 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  December 8, 2025 11:27am
  - Swifty
    
    ‘Employment matter’ my arse.
    
    This is about the behaviour of a senior Labour MP, an ex-Minister and one who is almost certain to be a senior Minister in Hipkins’ cabinet if they win next year – and quite possibly Maori Development and/or Broadcasting or, heaven forbid, anything to do with workplaces or employment.
    
    Or Justice or Police.
    
    7 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    December 8, 2025 12:51pm
imalwaysright

Willie Jackson reminds me of Napoleon from Animal Farm.
26 1
Log in to Reply
Report
December 8, 2025 9:00am
- NeverMindTheBollocks
  
  Napoleon was of course based on Lenin
  
  9 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  December 8, 2025 1:06pm
imalwaysright

Goldsmith is looking at taking away the right to a jury trial for certain crimes, as Britain are.

I don’t trust the NZ judiciary, and even if I did, this is a bad idea.
20 3
Log in to Reply
Report
December 8, 2025 9:03am
- edhunter
  
  I don’t trust juries, or more to the point the calibre of person being put up for jury duty. I’ve never had an employer who would let me attend, and have also written numerous letters for my staff to also excuse them from jury duty. This is surely not an isolated occurrence and other employers across the country would be doing the same thing .
  It makes me wonder who actual make up juries. Is it all retirees, stay at home mums and beneficiaries? And if so can it really be said to be a jury of your peers?
  
  10 2
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  December 8, 2025 9:49am
  - AitchW
    
    The courts are far less likely to excuse you than they once were. I managed to be excused a few years back, but was told that I’d be called in about a year.
    I was called in a year and was not excused.
    
    6 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    December 8, 2025 12:25pm
- Philview
  
  I am no longer convinced a bunch of random people have the expertised to form an opinion on guilt of innocence when presented with very technical information. In the UK that situation with the Post Office scandal and now there are major concerns with the Lucy Letby convictions. In the case of Letby it is apparent the Jury were fed a load of garbage by the prosecution and there appears to be the lack of process for real expertise to step in prior to the court case and say hang on a minute this evidence is rubbish.
  
  6 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  December 8, 2025 9:50am
  - Ra Henare
    
    As I understand it.
    The idea is that a Jury is of your peers.(Common folk)
    The jury will hear the evidence.
    Remember, prosecutions will present technical information in a jury friendly way to support the guilty verdict
    and the defence will attempt the same to support a not guilt verdict.
    
    The whole point of a jury is NOT about technical expertise.
    
    2 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    December 8, 2025 5:21pm
- Flossie
  
  I don’t necessarily agree that it is a bad idea as the way things are it is taking literally years for a trial to happen. A victim is stressed beyond belief and usually the accused is walking around free (on bail) probably doing more harm. The fairness of a jury trial to the accused has to be balanced by justice being done in a timely manner.
  
  16 2
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  December 8, 2025 9:50am
  - kowtow
    
    Question is how did it get this bad , and again we have a bad solution by govt to a problem the govt created.
    
    Crerated because we’ve had say 60 years of soft on crime so crime is out of control.
    
    Very simple solutions . Zero tolerance as per the NY “broken windows” approach. It’s not hard.
    
    12 2
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    December 8, 2025 10:10am
    - Mike
      
      The ‘broken windows’ thing is a bit of a myth. Beware of monocausal explanations.
      
      1 10
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      December 8, 2025 12:14pm
      - NZer In Exile
        
        Any respectable sources to back that up?
        
        IE not Wikipedia, The Conversation or The Guardian (for starters).
        
        1 0
        Report
        December 8, 2025 9:08pm
  - rouppe
    
    It is because of that reason that during the submission period I advocated that rather than removing the option of jury trial based on the seriousness of the offence, as measured by maximum penalty, that they remove jury trials for classes of offence.
    
    In particular the more technical ones such as tax, corporate fraud, immigration/extradition etc.
    
    9 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    December 8, 2025 10:27am
- Ruahine
  
  I do not trust Goldsmith one little bit.
  
  8 5
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  December 8, 2025 10:12am
- Ghost
  
  What he is looking at doing and asking for feedback is increasing the threshold for a trial by jury. It is already a judge only trial if your maximum penalty is less than two years’ imprisonment
  
  You can read the current Offence categories & types of trials here
  
  https://www.justice.govt.nz/about/lawyers-and-service-providers/criminal-procedure-act/offence-categories-and-types-of-trials/
  
  11 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  December 8, 2025 10:32am
- Mod88
  
  Trial by Jury is an unalienable Right in a Democracy. The End.
  
  3 3
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  December 8, 2025 11:48am
- Paulus
  
  From a case I was on Jury where physical violence was present, then in the Jury room the two Maori people on the Jury just said “Not guilty”, as soon as they sat down, and that was the end of it.
  To my simple mind it was pure violence by a Maori man.
  
  6 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  December 8, 2025 3:11pm
  - Steve Todd
    
    Here we go again. This is at least the third time you have told us this story, Paulus.
    
    As I asked you back on Sun 13 Apr 25, here (https://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/2025/04/general_debate_13_april_2025.html/comment-page-1#comment-3705576), why didn’t you and the other ‘guilty’ jurors dig your toes in and force the forelady to inform the judge that the jury was hung?
    
    1 2
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    December 8, 2025 7:24pm
- Raphael
  
  When we have stories like the below, I don’t trust the judiciary.
  https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/hamilton-woman-kate-gough-avoids-jail-after-sexually-assaulting-teen-boy/KKEFBFRR2NEW7DKXBCDFCF6QIQ/
  
  Hamilton woman Kate Gough avoids jail after sexually assaulting teen boy
  Audible gasps could be heard by a victim’s supporters as a judge indicated he wouldn’t be sending a 37-year-old woman to jail for sexually assaulting a teenage boy.
  
  Two supporters of the victim of Kate Rochelle Gough’s crimes walked out of the courtroom in the Hamilton District Court on Friday as Judge Thomas Ingram said a home detention sentence would mean she would receive more rehabilitative and psychological help from outside a prison’s four walls.
  
  A key part of the reason for that sentence was suppressed by the judge, who explained to shocked whānau that he fully backed a report by psychiatrist Dr Shailesh Kumar, who found Gough to be at a low risk of reoffending.
  
  Judge Ingram also used that as a key factor in declining to add Gough to the child sex offender register, along with the fact her offending occurred over a short time – one month – last year.
  
  ….
  
  Kumar’s report essentially told him what was obvious: “You are a prisoner of your background”.
  
  “Most of the people who commit serious crimes have some background of trauma.
  
  “I accept it has been a causative factor without which you wouldn’t be before me today,” and allowed 25% for her upbringing.
  
  3 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  December 8, 2025 4:26pm
Im Right

Climate doom and gloom merchants seem to have the most prominent platforms and are happily promoted by ‘virtue signalling’ organizations…
But as I have posted on Bombers blog- but never published funilly enough, (The Daily Blog)-he is of the climate doom merchants tribe-
I simply ask of him and his readers:
The climate change bible, ‘An inconvenient truth’, had some pretty big forecasts for planet earth by 2020-2025, namely…
No ice at either pole – WRONG
No snow falling on earth – WRONG
Coastal cities underwater – WRONG
Sea rises of 1+mtrs – WRONG
I will assume my posts do not get published on lefty blogs as, Ironically, the points I give are “an inconvenient truth” to the ‘we are all doomed’ climate fanatics.
‘com on, you gotta laugh at them, they must live in fear each day…..that’s no way to live… but absolute gold dust to the green party for votes.
21 3
Log in to Reply
Report
December 8, 2025 9:08am
- David Garrett
  
  I’m right: I recently watched An inconvenient truth and can confirm you are spot on re the predictions which haven’t happened – or even come close to happening.
  
  There was one blatant lie I remember: that the residents of a certain unnamed Pacific Island nation had “already had to flee to New Zealand”. As untrue now as it was in 2000 when the film was made.
  
  I understand that in the meantime Al Gore has built a massive house on the American coast somewhere…clearly he doesn’t expect it to be inundated any time soon.
  
  27 2
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  December 8, 2025 9:36am
  - Mike
    
    It’s almost as if Al Gore were a politician rather than a clumate scientist. Politicians have a dreadful record of predicting the future.
    
    9 14
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    December 8, 2025 9:42am
    - Swifty
      
      You think Gore thought up those predictions himself, rather than being fed them by ‘scientists’?
      
      Snigger.
      
      17 1
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      December 8, 2025 9:50am
      - Mike
        
        Ah, the John Key approach to scientific expertise:
        
        ‘He’s one academic, and like lawyers, I can provide you with another one that will give you a counterview’
        
        Perhaps you can enlighten me, Swifty, on how you, personally, decide whose scientific expertise you should trust.
        
        2 8
        Report
        December 8, 2025 12:20pm
      - NZer In Exile
        
        Making predictions that turn out to be wrong would be an accurate litmus test Mike. If your hypothesis causes you to make predictions that turn out to be wrong, your hypothesis is CRAP!!!!
        
        1 0
        Report
        December 8, 2025 9:23pm
      - NZer In Exile
        
        Failed (alarmist) Prediction Timeline (courtesy of Watts Up With That website):
        
        https://wattsupwiththat.com/failed-prediction-timeline/
        
        And this is by no means a comprehensive list!!! I can find plenty more if you wish.
        
        1 0
        Report
        December 8, 2025 9:57pm
      - NZer In Exile
        
        Put this in your pipe and smoke it also:
        
        Fifty Years Of Failed Apocalyptic Forecasts:
        
        From Tony Heller’s excellent work on digging up old Newspaper microfiche:
        https://realclimatescience.com/fifty-years-of-failed-apocalyptic-forecasts/
        
        1 0
        Report
        December 8, 2025 10:16pm
    - David Garrett
      
      Well, the movie certainly got endorsed by some very prominent doom merchants – sorry – “Climate Scientists”. You should watch it Mikey Boy; you might learn something about bullshit American style.
      
      (Mind you as a retiree you should have learned a little about that by now)
      
      18 2
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      December 8, 2025 9:53am
      - Mike
        
        I’d hate to trouble the moderators by asking them if they have relaxed their rule on using commenters’ names, Mr Garrotte.
        
        1 10
        Report
        December 8, 2025 12:22pm
    - NZer In Exile
      
      “Politicians have a dreadful record of predicting the future.”
      
      As do alarmist “climate scientists”.
      
      1 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      December 8, 2025 9:10pm
  - G152
    
    They misunderstand weather.
    Whether deliberately or not…
    And claims will be made that time will refute
    
    6 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    December 8, 2025 9:53am
    - David Garrett
      
      G152: but that’s the point: there are already a million dire predictions that haven’t come true – or even half true. How many failed predictions does it take before mainstream “climate scientists” start saying “Now hold on a minute here….perhaps the science wasn’t so settled after all?”
      
      14 1
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      December 8, 2025 10:18am
  - Cassandra
    
    DG. Gore’s 30,000 square foot house is in Tennessee. According to one report I read recently he made $300 million from his climate campaign aka rort.
    
    11 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    December 8, 2025 10:33am
    - David Garrett
      
      Cass: Yes…the house I am referring to is his holiday house…Tennessee is a landlocked state (as I’m sure you know)
      
      9 1
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      December 8, 2025 10:42am
      - Cassandra
        
        I thought the big house was the Tennessean. Two big houses seems a bit hypocritical. What a surprise.
        
        6 1
        Report
        December 8, 2025 12:26pm
      - Cassandra
        
        News: “In a move that critics may cite as his own inconvenient truth, former Vice President Al Gore and his wife, Tipper, have added a house in secluded Montecito, Calif., to their real estate holdings.
        
        The couple spent $8,875,000 on a gated ocean-view villa on 1 1/2 acres with a swimming pool, spa and fountains, according to real estate sources familiar with the deal. The Italian-style house has high ceilings with beams in the public rooms, a family room, a wine cellar, terraces, six fireplaces, five bedrooms and nine bathrooms in more than 6,500 square feet of living space.”
        
        The Tennessean is much bigger. Tennessee to Montecito is only a few hours by private jet so Al and Tipper can easily have fun weekends with Meghan and her VI.
        
        11 1
        Report
        December 8, 2025 12:30pm
  - R
    
    Possibly he has been through an educational knowledge improvement program in recent years
    
    3 2
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    December 8, 2025 11:14am
  - Maggy Wassilieff
    
    He bought a holiday house in Montecito… but it’s not exactly on the coast, couple of km distant and at an altitude of 150m.
    It has an Ocean view.
    
    https://www.reddit.com/r/Houseporn/comments/2mj2x3/al_gores_house_in_montecito_california_1600x1090/
    
    7 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    December 8, 2025 11:43am
    - I remember when
      
      Just hoping he lives long enough for it to become beachfront?
      
      0 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      December 8, 2025 2:49pm
    - Im Right
      
      But wait Maggy
      Wasn’t he the originator of ‘carbon footprint’ made famous by ‘An inconvenient truth’?
      Wasn’t he espousing large homes are a danger to the climate….lol
      Fuck the left are such suckers, good on Al Gore, he sucked them in…took their money…and now has a larger carbon footprint than anyone who bought his book/saw his movie.
      Lol…SUCKERS!!
      
      2 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      December 8, 2025 3:52pm
- Nikola Donatello
  
  The documentary made no such forecasts. According to Perplexity Pro…
  
  “Based on an analysis of An Inconvenient Truth (2006) and the specific claims you listed, the documentary did not make these specific predictions for the year 2025.The list you provided appears to be a collection of viral internet memes or misinterpretations that circulate online to critique the film.”
  
  Sadly, Climate Change is on of a small number of topics that cause usually rational commentators on this blog to become, to put it politely, irrational.” “Covid vaccines” is a topic that has a similar effect. It is a mystery.
  
  1 7
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  December 8, 2025 1:24pm
  - cmm
    
    Have you watched an Inconvenient Truth?
    
    I forced myself to do so in 2007 when I first heard of it. I was working for Apple and all the Apple people were into it – Al Gore was on the Apple board of directors at the time.
    
    IIRC the first predictions were for 2012. Still waiting.
    
    7 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    December 8, 2025 2:27pm
  - Im Right
    
    Nokola
    What about ‘Carbon footprint’….what about air miles etc
    When these climate leaders fly around the world attending climate crisis forums lol
    Leo DiCaprio flying in his private jet to collect his ‘climate champion award’ then flying out again lol
    
    1 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    December 8, 2025 3:54pm
  - NZer In Exile
    
    According to Grok AI:
    
    Forecast in the Film (2006)
    Arctic summer sea ice could be completely gone “in as little as 34 years” (i.e., by ~2040)
    
    A 20-foot (6-meter) sea-level rise “in the near future” if Greenland or West Antarctica were to melt substantially
    
    Hurricane Katrina-like storms would become much more common and intense due to warmer ocean temperatures
    
    Kilimanjaro’s snows would disappear
    
    Drying of Lake Chad, Amazon rainforest collapse, shutdown of Atlantic thermohaline circulation, spread of diseases, etc.
    
    Summary of the Nature of the Forecasts:
    Most were framed as “if we continue on our current path” (i.e., no major emissions reductions).
    Some (Kilimanjaro, stronger hurricanes, Arctic sea ice) have unfolded close to or faster than the film’s timeline.
    The most visually dramatic ones (20-foot sea-level rise inundating cities “in the near future,” complete Greenland melt in decades) have not materialized on the timescales implied in the film and are now considered unlikely before 2100–2200 even under worst-case scenarios.
    
    We now live in a low-trust world with bullshit swirling all around us.
    
    1 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    December 8, 2025 9:17pm
Scooter

So Mark Mitchell says he only knew about the McSkimming affair in 6 Nov 2024 but emails were sent to his electorate office from the woman in Dec 2023 and Jan 2024 and were responded to by his sister who works in his office.

So are you telling me his sister didn’t tell him about them, not even during a family dinner? Being as it is pretty important and not least for some salacious gossip. So not only do we have one or the other side playing lose with the truth, we also have some dysfunctional people in government and MP’s electorates who can’t seem to manage communication.

“Mark Mitchell, who is also MP for Whangaparāoa, said 17 of the 36 emails in relation to McSkimming went to his electorate office.
The Post has reported the staffer in his electorate office, who is also his sister, responded to one of the emails in January 2024, to say the email address was for matters related to his electorate, and because the content related to his ministerial portfolios they would be managed by his ministerial team in the Beehive.”

At least nepotism is right across all sides of the political spectrum.

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/579602/police-minister-s-staff-replied-to-jevon-mcskimming-accuser-s-emails
6 10
Log in to Reply
Report
December 8, 2025 9:10am
- imalwaysright
  
  In his career Coster was a Detective and a Crown Prosecutor.
  
  How on earth would someone with that pedigree decide to help McSkimming ?
  Coster could have had McS investigated, and should have, but didn’t.
  Why?
  
  Unless McSkimming knows something about Coster or the Ardern Regime he served.
  
  16 2
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  December 8, 2025 10:32am
  - keepcalmcarryon
    
    Unless it was business as usual for the top dogs in HQ busy knowing better than everyone else and having their own rules for the special people.
    
    7 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    December 8, 2025 2:09pm
- Mike
  
  Perhaps the success of the (alleged) dirty tricks campaign to secure his nomination for the Rodney electorate persuaded Mitchell that he could get away with anything.
  
  1 11
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  December 8, 2025 12:30pm
  - Im Right
    
    Perhaps the fact the whole top table in Police…caught up in the whole scandal…all appointed by Labour/Chippy
    But, Shhhh don’t mention that Mike
    
    2 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    December 8, 2025 3:58pm
Swifty

National: 1

Labour and the unions: 0

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/581136/better-reading-maths-results-but-two-new-curriculums-a-massive-job-principals
16 1
Log in to Reply
Report
December 8, 2025 9:17am
- R
  
  After nearly 40 years of ‘coasting’ in the classroom, teachers and office bound(?) principals,in particular should be well refreshed to tackle that ask of basic numeracy and literacy.
  
  13 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  December 8, 2025 11:20am
- Maggy Wassilieff
  
  Each year that I was teaching, I took on a new subject to teach …i.e. I had to become familiar with a curriculum that I had not previously taught.
  
  It isn’t rocket science, and should NOT be a problem for any trained teacher who has some knowledge of the subject matter.
  
  I would have thought most teachers would be damned please to be teaching with a clear, explicit curriculum.
  
  14 2
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  December 8, 2025 11:52am
  - Swifty
    
    I’ve spent my whole career managing business change. I do it for a living.
    
    In my time I’ve worked closely with thousands of New Zealanders, driving change in their roles, job descriptions, processes, systems, results etc.
    
    The vast majority embrace it, especially if the changes are well communicated and managed, and the purpose, the desired outcomes, are clear and necessary.
    
    I’ve been continually dismayed by the comments and apparent attitude to these changes of teachers and principals, and teachers’ and principals’ representatives.
    
    They seems to be actively looking for problems and excuses to slow things down or wish away the changes.
    
    Good on those who have spoken out saying the changes are positive and bringing much needed improvement to students and their families.
    
    10 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    December 8, 2025 12:42pm
    - Mike
      
      Changes in education are typically poorly communicated and ill-managed, with the purpose and desired outcomes unclear and often unnecessary.
      
      1 11
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      December 8, 2025 2:22pm
    - Im Right
      
      I agree with you Swifty, I work in an industry where change (structure/software is updated…. regularly)
      I unfortunately worked with many who were the ‘complain, moan, ‘will never work’, hate changer’ mob
      Needless to say, a lot were restructured out of the companies I worked with, no one likes moaners….
      
      0 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      December 8, 2025 4:07pm
  - BeaB
    
    And it’s primary school level. How hard can it be? This morning RNZ had primary principals extolling the success of the new curriculums but still there’s a plea for it all to be slowed down. So another cohort of kids can be doomed to low achievement?
    It’s time they got stuck in , did the work, used the holidays wisely and do the best they can for the kids they always profess to care for.
    
    8 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    December 8, 2025 1:53pm
  - Paulus
    
    That’s not what their Unions tell them ~
    And what is the percentage of Teachers are women please ?
    90% at a guess !
    
    4 2
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    December 8, 2025 3:19pm
  - Raphael
    
    My Great-Aunt, telling of her life story, explained that the reason she went to Russia pre WW1 (when the Tsar still ruled), was because she considered becoming a teacher, but instead became a governess (and then got married, and after that WW1 happened). She described the girls’ schooling there as rather high-level and would cycle through 3 languages. On Day 1, all subjects would be taught in Russian; on Day 2, all subjects would be taught in French; and on Day 3, all subjects would be taught in German. Not only were teachers expected to be fluent in 3 languages, but ultimately so were the students.
    
    I suspect something like that would result in general outrage from the NZ education sector.
    
    5 3
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    December 8, 2025 4:36pm
    - Mike
      
      We could do that with NZ Sign Language, English and te reo.
      
      1 3
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      December 8, 2025 4:51pm
      - NeverMindTheBollocks
        
        You are such a tease, Mikey!
        
        0 0
        Report
        December 8, 2025 7:19pm
AitchW

Oh dear, teachers are going to have to some work in the 12 weeks leave they get every year…boo bloody hoo!
13 3
Log in to Reply
Report
December 8, 2025 9:27am
- BeaB
  
  Reminds me of the Deputy Principal casually saying ” by the way you’ve got School Certificate History and Bursary English next year'” just as the school closed for Christmas. A busy holiday and I was well prepared to start the new year. No internet then. Or AI. All textbooks and long visits to the library and heaps of written notes. But we got it done.
  
  10 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  December 8, 2025 1:57pm
Yvette

Juries do not pass GO

imalwaysright – Goldsmith is looking at taking away the right to a jury trial for certain crimes, as Britain are.
I don’t trust the NZ judiciary, and even if I did, this is a bad idea

I would consider it a particularly bad idea if juries are removed as supposedly Courts consider “tikanga” to become an aspect of New Zealand law.
That will surely require vigilant accountability (like the law being illuminated for a jury) and transparency that may be lost if judiciary (like the highest in New Zealand, the Supreme Court arrangement: Ellis v R) can be possibly indoctrinated, or the media as untrusted as they are, but trusted to actually report facts?
5 4
Log in to Reply
Report
December 8, 2025 10:17am
- Ghost
  
  Do you know that if your maximum penalty is less than two years’ imprisonment it is trial by judge not jury?
  
  7 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  December 8, 2025 10:28am
- Gary Benner
  
  In the Ellis case, the outcome went way beyond the man, and the whole system that fabricated the total scam.
  
  I was happy that the case proceeded after Ellis’s death, and personally did not see “tikanga” as the driving force – it was to see a final outcome to the whole sordid affair thrust on our society by a maniacal cabal of social workers in Christchurch and around NZ. The outcome would have brought much relief to the others there such as Gaye Davidson (sorry I cannot remember the names of the others) who were likewise accused – then excused, and the many others that were attacked in a less public way in trials around the country around that time.
  
  12 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  December 8, 2025 10:54am
  - Philview
    
    It is interesting that the public instinctively knew something was amiss with that case from day one.
    
    13 2
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    December 8, 2025 11:16am
    - Im Right
      
      Biggest scam Philview, was the parents given $$$ from, was it ACC or some Govt Dept….then investigation after investigation started.
      Can you honestly tell me the parents were not coaching the kids what to say for fear of having to hand back the substantial (already spent) payout.
      There would have been most parents crapping themselves, even if they knew their kid was making it all up and lying!
      
      2 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      December 8, 2025 4:12pm
  - imalwaysright
    
    Instilling Tikanga into the law was the purpose of the Ellis necrophiliac excercise by the “Supreme Court”.
    
    If they genuinely had the restoration of Ellis’s reputation at heart they would have cited their purpose as such.
    
    Its not difficult.
    
    3 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    December 8, 2025 11:43am
  - Burtland
    
    the NZ version of the Salem Witch Trials (1692-1693)
    – why is it always Christchurch
    
    8 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    December 8, 2025 1:27pm
    - Paulus
      
      Because it is Christchurch the Holy City of New Zealand, or so they think, so never wrong !
      
      4 2
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      December 8, 2025 3:22pm
  - mogg
    
    Another one of the women has just died a couple of months ago. The whole saga had a very serious effect on her life. The very least they deserve is an apology.
    
    2 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    December 8, 2025 2:42pm
- cmm
  
  I think I would rather face a judge than a jury.
  
  A jury is an erratic bunch of people with zero understanding of the law. They could just find you guilty because you look dodgy etc.
  
  The thought of my life hanging in the balance with an irrational bunch of people freaks me out.
  
  To me this is far more of a problem than the possibility of an untrustworthy judiciary and bent judges.
  
  5 2
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  December 8, 2025 11:12am
  - imalwaysright
    
    “To me this is far more of a problem than the possibility of an untrustworthy judiciary and bent judges”
    
    Same thing.
    So the possibility of a bent judge is preferable to a jury?
    
    Makes sense if you are a scum gang member to whom the judge bows in reverence, but if you are innocent and of the non preferred demographic of the judge, then you are fucked.
    
    5 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    December 8, 2025 11:56am
  - Jake Dee
    
    I have heard it said that if you have a choice between a jury trial and a judge’s bench trial, if you’re guilty go with the jury, if you’re innocent go with the judge.
    A judge is more likely to spot gaps and problems with the evidence and has a lot of experience with how criminals of all sorts look sound and act.
    On the other hand, juries are more likely to be sympathetic and overlook matters especially in people who look sound and act like them.
    How did OJ Simpson get off ?
    
    8 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    December 8, 2025 12:54pm
    - Paulus
      
      Simpson is a coloured American so all it takes is the media and money !
      
      3 2
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      December 8, 2025 3:24pm
  - Libertarians are right
    
    Also, judges still can and do decide cases even when there is a jury.
    Examples include Andrew Little’s defamation case where the judge extraordinarily stated Little had qualified privilege (without any rational reason to do so) so the jury had no choice but to declare him not guilty.
    Also Trump’s bookkeeping case where the judge explicitly disallowed any evidence showing the “crimes” he covered up weren’t actually crimes and also told the jury they didn’t have to agree what “crimes” were covered up. He basically handheld the jury to a guilty verdict.
    
    4 2
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    December 8, 2025 1:12pm
  - MCōs
    
    So that makes crooked judiciary, stupid jurors and dumb you for getting arrested by resentful police
    
    7 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    December 8, 2025 1:16pm
Hugh Jarse

If you are guilty and want a long remand period and a good chance of getting off, go to a jury if your crimes allows that. If you are not guilty and prefer a better chance of getting off go before a judge. Penalties imposed by Judges is another matter.

I would support reducing the number of crimes that can go before a jury as the current system is being bogged down and gamed by defendants with little actual penalty being imposed in a lot of more minor cases. I.e. the effort and inconvenience of a jury trial is not worth it in terms of the outcome which used to protect the community.
7 1
Log in to Reply
Report
December 8, 2025 10:45am
- Gary Benner
  
  I agree in reducing the number of crimes that can be put to a jury, but there are two caveats here:
  
  1. Jury service needs to be compulsory – ie an employer cannot stop you, only ill health (mental or physical) should be the limiter, and perhaps some consideration for the very violent crimes (some people would suffer trauma), or the very long ones. With this full reimbursement of lost wages, or an equivalent for the self employed. Those on a benefit do not need anything other than travel.
  
  2. There needs to be a system to assess and remove bad judges. An equivalent of the IPCA for Police (not run by other Judges or anyone in the legal fraternity ( it’s too close a body in NZ) to make recommendations to the Chief Judge. Also limits on their reductions of legislated penalities – at most 20%. And only then in 20% of cases. NOT the norm.
  
  Finally since we are talking about this, a limit on these long trials, where highly technical (say in financial fraud cases) or other complex matters, these issues are dealt with out of the Court and brought as a summary by an “expert” (or two, prosecution and defence) who can answer any issues raised. Trials that last 6 weeks should be brought back to one week.
  
  Oh, and one last thing, where an individual has been imprisoned for violent crime, their release should be dependent upon proven rehabilitation, and a guarantee of public safety. Should they re-offend, then any subsequent punishment should be double, and the professionals attesting to the “rehabilitation” be given a strike – and three strikes and they are out. This is true recognition for the victim(s), and a strong message to offenders that violence will not be tolerated.
  
  11 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  December 8, 2025 11:18am
  - Flossie
    
    As to your point 1 Gary, that is how things stand now as regards doing jury service. I can’t agree about full reimbursement.
    
    2 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    December 8, 2025 11:45am
    - Jake Dee
      
      Agreed about full reimbursement.
      Because funds are always going to be limited, it would natural trend towards selecting people with lower paid jobs, so you would be losing some of the most intelligent people from the jury pool.
      
      6 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      December 8, 2025 12:58pm
    - Gary Benner
      
      Flossie, I think many people find ways out (with help from their employer) to get out for fundamentally financial reasons – especially when the trial goes beyond a few days.
      
      It should not financially impact a person especially for longer trials. A beneficiary is not affected, but a professional or tradie is – quite often in a big way.
      
      5 1
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      December 8, 2025 2:09pm
- MCōs
  
  A few years ago my wife was called up for jury service at the Manukau District Court.
  At the time there were about fourteen court rooms of which two were used for jury trials.
  I went along to help her out because she didn’t know what a jury trial was and in the week she was on standby there were only two jury trials (the charges for one read like a nasty, hardcore pornographic novel)
  In the meantime I could hear a steady succession of trials/hearings being called out for the other court rooms.
  This year the court house has been expanded to eighteen courts plus four hearing rooms.
  My impression is the vast majority of trials are already judge only.
  Btw
  The prospective jurors weren’t bozos.
  I had previously written to the Justice Department and pointed out my wife was entirely unsuitable, but they said it was up to the judge if she was selected. She didn’t get that far so the system wasn’t put to the test. In my view she should have been tested well before that point.
  
  I looked in the papers for news of the trial mentioned above involving numerous sexually assaults.
  Nothing.
  
  5 2
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  December 8, 2025 12:29pm
greybeard

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/360911256/brendon-mccullum-says-englands-ashes-problem-overtraining-plans-beach-recovery
Maybe they have been over-McCullummed.
6 0
Log in to Reply
Report
December 8, 2025 11:11am
- MCōs
  
  In the meantime first NZ last year and now South Africa have whitewashed India at home
  
  3 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  December 8, 2025 12:35pm
  - Mike
    
    England’s recent test record is rubbish. Drew 2-2 at home to India this year before the developing Ashes debacle. Recent highlight was 2-1 over us here last summer, after losing 2-1 away to Pakistan.
    
    1 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    December 8, 2025 1:03pm
    - MCōs
      
      Before Mccullum took over they won 1/17 tests
      Interestingly everyone remembers when the Blackcaps win and when the ABs lose.
      
      3 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      December 8, 2025 1:22pm
      - Colville
        
        1:17. Yeah that is how bad it has to get before you hire a meathead like McCullum.
        
        2 1
        Report
        December 8, 2025 1:45pm
      - MCōs
        
        Maybe he’s a meathead, but prior to the current series England have won 22/35 of the tests since he took over.
        The ABs lost three tests this year and Razor is in all sorts of trouble
        SA lost three tests and their team is the best there’s ever been, it seems
        
        3 1
        Report
        December 8, 2025 3:33pm
- Gravelroad
  
  Looks like bazball is now beach ball.
  Why can’t they just play cricket?
  
  6 2
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  December 8, 2025 3:21pm
NeverMindTheBollocks

Daran Ponter acting as God Almighty. Apparently, Wellingtonians are sick of waiting for the national ticketing system and are begging for debit card and phone tagging on. Well, all I can say is that this Wellingtonian wasn’t asked; and of all the problems in my life that are addressable by GWRC, this one was nowhere near the top of the list.

And by the way, Daran, how much extra will it cost Wellington rate payers to move ahead of the NTS? Because it will, you know. And, irresponsible use of rate payers money IS at the top of my list of things that GWRC can do something about.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/360911297/wellington-region-ditch-snapper-public-transport-cards
7 0
Log in to Reply
Report
December 8, 2025 1:17pm
- zulumonster
  
  As with most local body politicians it appears Mr Ponter is tone deaf to the real needs of the electorate. No-one has been begging for an alternative to the National Ticketing service – but it’s only $5m (believe that at your peril) so let’s do it!
  
  0 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  December 8, 2025 3:44pm
- KKNZ2025
  
  Ponter will likely claim he “can manage it within his operations budget” as several previous vanity projects have. He never suggests that his apparently excessively generous operations budget could be reduced to reduce rate increases though.
  
  0 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  December 8, 2025 5:11pm
Ghost

The family of a 10-year-old boy subjected to a horrific sexual assault in the public toilets of a popular Lower Hutt playground say the teen attacker’s mental and intellectual conditions created a “foreseeable risk”.

Article

A brave boy who ignored all the threats of his attacker and ran straight to his dad. But I do find the threats of involving the mongrel mob to be strange, not exactly something a kid would say I would think

Then in Napier we have some moron bakery celebrating a former mongrel mob Leader
6 1
Log in to Reply
Report
December 8, 2025 1:37pm
- RichardF
  
  Are you suggesting the victim made it up? I’m from the Hutt Valley and there are lots of Mongrel Mob members living near Avalon Park. You see them there regularly. It’s completely feasible that a 14 year old mentally derranged kid (mental age 9) living in that neighbourhood would say that.
  
  5 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  December 8, 2025 6:16pm
  - Ghost
    
    Huh? I haven’t suggested any such thing
    
    Let me try to put it in another way for you. I find it strange for a kid to threaten someone with the mongrel mob, it makes me wonder if the kid has family connections to the mongrel mob.
    
    2 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    December 8, 2025 7:36pm
Ghost

Sean Plunket exposes Willie Jackson & Manukau Urban Māori Authority’s attempt to cover up workplace bullying.

YouTube
11 1
Log in to Reply
Report
December 8, 2025 1:38pm
Colville

So this Snapper Card thing for public transport.
Wellington ditching it.
Cost to implement is $1.4Bil across new Zealand. $250 per man woman and child.
So given less than 5% of the population ever gets on public transport its over $5000 per user.
16 years ago.

So National signed this off?
9 0
Log in to Reply
Report
December 8, 2025 1:47pm
Skippytony

https://thestandard.nz/why-the-next-election-will-not-be-easy-for-labour/

Its like we live in a different country.
10 1
Log in to Reply
Report
December 8, 2025 1:50pm
- Albie
  
  Hilarious to read how one of the obstacles they see to Labour’s re-election chances are an improving economy!
  
  1 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  December 8, 2025 2:47pm
Apteryx

Can you believe this? Wellington regional council has just announced it will ditch Snapper cards and implement its own system for paying public transport fares with phones and debit cards.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/360911297/wellington-region-ditch-snapper-public-transport-cards

Sure, the national ticketing system for public transport is years behind schedule and over budget, but on the eve of it possibly coming into service why launch a go-it-alone system in Wellington. I live in Wellington and find Snapper just fine to use.

Council chair Daran Ponter says that Wellingtonians were “sick of waiting”. Really? I wonder what the evidence for that is. I suspect that many more Wellingtonians are “sick of waiting” for lower rates rises and financial prudence from the city and regional councils, but that doesn’t seem to register with Ponter. Only last week he put out a release saying that rates caps would increase funding costs for essential infrastructure and limit investment.
https://www.gw.govt.nz/your-region/news/rates-caps-will-increase-funding-costs-for-essential-infrastructure-and-limit-investment/

There appears to be nothing on the regional council or Metlink websites about the proposal for this new payment method.

The Stuff article talks about being to pay only with phones and debit cards, yet the national system includes credit cards. That’s an important difference.

It also says the new system in Wellington will be in operation in the first half of 2026, i.e. within just over 6 months, and cost only $5.5 million. The national system is said to cost about 100 times that just to build and get into operation, and of course has taken 16 years and counting. Ponter’s figures don’t stack up.
7 1
Log in to Reply
Report
December 8, 2025 1:54pm
- Mike
  
  Neither story stacks up.
  
  5 6
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  December 8, 2025 2:25pm
- greybeard
  
  When I first read this my immediate reaction was that it was in response to the plan to do away with Regional Councillors in favour of local Mayors: in other words, it was a two-fingers message to the Coalition Govt, and nothing to do with the transport users.
  
  4 2
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  December 8, 2025 4:12pm
- Jethrod
  
  Hey….. everyone settle down now. They’ve got Andy to fix it, he who oversaw all the brilliant things that happened in Health a few years ago, fixed Pike River, gee I could go on but the wonderful essay is just continuing.
  
  4 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  December 8, 2025 9:15pm
Burtland

Sir Geoffrey Palmer “Too many laws passing without ‘proper scrutiny’ ”

“Nothing in this Act shall permit the Crown to act in a manner that is inconsistent with the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi”

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/581193/too-many-laws-passing-without-proper-scrutiny-geoffrey-palmer-says
8 1
Log in to Reply
Report
December 8, 2025 2:00pm
- KKNZ2025
  
  Typical blind hypocrisy from the architect of the SOE ACT that embedded Treaty Principles in NZ Govt without the scrutiny of defining them. He is personally responsible for the current shambles.
  
  4 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  December 8, 2025 5:05pm
Paulus

I am trying to find a suitable comment to Geoffrey Palmer’s pitch in as he remains stupid, but words fail me, and to me still love himself, as he is pro Maori and anti the elected Government.
If anybody he has most to answer all the people of New Zealand for much of its sadly divided state, it is he !
12 4
Log in to Reply
Report
December 8, 2025 3:31pm
- Swifty
  
  I note he fails to mention the good 10 or so bills passed by Labour under urgency 2017-23.
  
  It’s fine when the left do it.
  
  3 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  December 8, 2025 3:49pm
- Mike
  
  I blame the Secretary of State for allowing the governor to implement his Constitution Act in 1853.
  
  4 7
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  December 8, 2025 4:02pm
  - cmm
    
    What a ridiculous position to take.
    
    There has been a period of over 170 years since that act. There have been numerous opportunities to change it. Any remaining problems are entirely the fault of the modern generation.
    
    And indeed there was a broken bit that was changed. It was observed that Maori were disproportionately disenfranchised – leading to the establishment of the Maori roll a few years later (1867).
    
    The Maori roll had, arguably, a valid role in society until 19 December 1879 when it should have been scrapped.
    
    So that just goes to show that the fine folk of the 1853-era were able to admit they had broken things and fixed them. However those since 1879 have failed.
    
    Why could people back then fix a mildly broken constitution in 14 years, but we cannot fix an even worse broken constitution nearly 150 years later?
    
    6 4
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    December 8, 2025 5:29pm
    - Mike
      
      Your assumption that the NZ constitution is broken is wrong.
      
      1 8
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      December 8, 2025 6:36pm
Boy Geoff

Is there a Reid Research poll due soon to present alternative facts?
4 0
Log in to Reply
Report
December 8, 2025 6:10pm
Ian Boag

A funny story. I was get keyman insurance as part of a financing package for my business. I was told to get an HIV test.

A woman from the insurers called to talk to me – I wasn’t there – so she left my office lady a message to call back. “Tell Ian it’s about his HIV test”

Insurance lady was a bit mortified about it. I did come out negative :-}
3 1
Log in to Reply
Report
December 8, 2025 7:17pm

Add a Comment Cancel reply

Login to comment or vote

« Changing grades

Surely everyone should back the FSU on this? »

Donations

You can now donate to Kiwiblog

Exclusive content from DPF on Patreon

Become a Patron!

Never miss a post

Email Address

Join 13K other subscribers

Highlights

Target achieved II
Good progress on attendance
Health Target 5 – elective treatments
Health Target 4 – Specialist appointments

Links

"For 40 years, NZers have been told that fewer councils mean better government. For 40 years, the evidence has refused to oblige."
Not PC
They all do it…
The Standard
Word of the day
Hompaddock
Another non-tariff barrier
Offsetting Behaviour
Rugby Premiership Predictions for Round 18
Stats Chat
UK Conversion Therapy Ban, Digital ID, Rallies, Elections
Bob McCoskrie's McBlog
Legal Beagle: Election '23: The Special Votes
Public Address

[email protected]

PO Box 12270, Thorndon, Wellington 6144

Facebook
Twitter
FourSquare
Instagram
LinkedIn
Google+

Archives
Disclosure Statement
Editorial Policy
Privacy Policy
Complaints Policy
Comments Policy

Design by cre8d

%d

Share this:

Like this: