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January 13, 2026 8:00am by Kokila Patel

General Debate 13 January 2026

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artemisia

Finding it hard to understand the anti-ICE protests and disorder in the US. Do all the protesters really support massive illegal immigration into their country, state, city? If so, what are their reasons and are those reasons rational? Are they being manipulated but not aware? Because from a distance it looks very much like mob rule.

Not sure the protests will work well for the ‘rulers’.
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January 13, 2026 8:10am
- kowtow
  
  When the likes of Hilary Clinton , the Hollywood darlings and other leftists call it “murder’ then you know it’s all part of an ongoing insurrection against the democratically elected govt .
  
  The same people remained silent at the “murder” of Ashli Babbitt. it’s all political.
  
  In a sense we have the same divisions here . The parliament protests over Covid .For and against , very much along political lines .
  
  Big state Chavista/Mullah types verses personal freedom .
  
  Our media very much on side with the former.That’s how they got away with locking us up for the sniffles.And much more besides.
  
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  January 13, 2026 8:24am
  - RichardX
    
    ”The same people remained silent at the “murder” of Ashli Babbitt. it’s all political.”
    
    If the Capitol Police used the same criteria of perceived threat to justify the use of deadly force as ICE agent Jonathan Ross did in Minneapolis, there would have been dozens, if not hundreds of deaths in Washington DC on Jan 6th 2021.
    
    You can’t have it both ways.
    Next you’ll be claiming Jan 6 was a peaceful protest with no violence.
    
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    January 13, 2026 10:19am
    - Don Beckett
      
      So Ashli Babbitt drove her car at a Capitol Policeman did she ?
      Funny, I thought she walked through a door that another police officer opened for he.
      
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      January 13, 2026 11:12am
      - All_on_Red
        
        ‘Capitol police officer Michael Byrd who shot unarmed Ashli Babbitt on January 6th, reportedly has a taxpayer funded daycare in his home run by his wife…
        
        Because of course he does…’
        https://wcbm.com/national-headline/on-jan-6-questions-emerge-about-michael-byrds-taxpayer-funded-maryland-daycare/
        
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        January 13, 2026 11:42am
      - RichardX
        
        Don Beckett
        So Ashli Babbitt drove her car at a Capitol Policeman did she ?
        Funny, I thought she walked through a door that another police officer opened for he.
        
        January 13, 2026 11:12am
        
        I guess it is just a reading comprehension issue.
        
        Nowhere did I say that killing Ashli Babbitt was justified.
        Nowhere did I say that driving a car at a Federal Agent was the only action that qualified as a perceived threat.
        I have seen nothing to show that it was Good’s intent to drive her car at Ross.
        
        You could attempt a response to my actual point.
        
        Don’t get me started on Kowtow projecting how people are labelling the death of Good as “part of an ongoing insurrection”.
        
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        January 13, 2026 12:17pm
  - Taieri
    
    That’s how they got away with locking us up for the sniffles
    ————
    
    They got away with it because we were scared to shit.
    
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    January 13, 2026 10:22am
    - R
      
      Adern and sycophants ‘got away with it’ because she imposed POLICE STATE criteria to a simple chest cold health issue.
      Totally supported by a very compliant media; a media which in the last two years has forgotten how to be compliant and supportive of the government of the day.
      
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      January 13, 2026 11:20am
      - Taieri
        
        Adern and sycophants ‘got away with it’
        ———-
        
        As verified by the results of 2020 elections.
        
        Facing the truth is painful isn’t it?
        
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        January 13, 2026 11:42am
      - kowtow
        
        The same people who gave her the 2020 win very quickly regretted that .
        
        Tells you how thick a certain block of the voting public are.
        
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        January 13, 2026 12:55pm
    - kowtow
      
      “We” kimosabe?
      
      I wasn’t . Saw the BBC ( and others’ ) lies from the outset for they were.
      
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      January 13, 2026 12:15pm
  - Paulus
    
    And we are still funding the media in New Zealand for them to freely use our monety to create a form of insurrection as they please.
    Why are we still paying the PIJF ?
    
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    January 13, 2026 2:40pm
    - Ghost
      
      We aren’t. As you already know the final funding round was 2023, well before the election.. While projects went beyond that, no new funding was given by this government. The final position that still had funding ends this month
      
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      January 13, 2026 2:56pm
- All_on_Red
  
  I wouldn’t discount the very real possibility that a lot of these people are being paid.
  Who by is probably the interesting part.
  https://x.com/DefiantLs/status/2010350989522677768?
  
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  January 13, 2026 8:31am
  - artemisia
    
    I hear there is a whole lot of ‘free’ money around, for now anyway.
    
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    January 13, 2026 8:43am
  - Mummy
    
    This is why many of them wear masks. So they won’t be recognized in photos in the media.
    
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    January 13, 2026 8:49am
  - NothingLeft
    
    With AI and face recognition it will not be too hard to go through video of rent-a-crowd protests and see how much of it is actually paid professional actors in employ of various organizations trying to destabilize USA (particularly big money Middle East ‘great Satan’ Islamists plus huge Russia and China propaganda financing. Anti-US/anti-west countries, NGOs (financed by far left capture govt branches) and other far left wing ‘burn it all down’ nepo babies and widows are spending billions a year on social media operations and bots.
    
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    January 13, 2026 9:41am
    - Don Beckett
      
      George Soros has been funding this type of anti-Republican, anti-Trump for many years, and has spend probably billions over the years.
      
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      January 13, 2026 10:45am
      - losingtheplot
        
        When it comes to monsters under the bed, I’ve never understood the fixation on Soros.
        
        Plenty of evidence of bad actors such as Russia and China conducting influence campaigns and cyber attacks in the USA. Maybe focus there instead of on an old man who chooses where to spend his own money. No difference between him and Musk, they both spend on causes they support.
        
        I put it down to the jew thing again. Some people just seem to enjoy hating on them.
        
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        January 13, 2026 1:17pm
      - ISeeRed
        
        losingtheplot, maybe some are fixated on exposing Soros because of the widespread perception by many like you that he’s just a harmless “old man who chooses where to spend his own money”. That must be the Understatement of the Year, although I admit it’s only two weeks into 2026.
        
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        January 13, 2026 1:51pm
      - waikatosinger
        
        I have never understood why George Soros is tolerated. He is not American yet he interferes in American politics to an extreme degree. His funding of DAs who deliberately fail to prosecute and intentionally release criminals unto the community could be construed as a malevolent attempt to undermine the American justice system. His one world foundation funded the immigrant caravans that funneled millions of illegals across the US southern border. He appears to be an enemy of the United States trying to bring it down by using his money.
        
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        January 13, 2026 3:20pm
    - Raphael
      
      One chap who interviewed a protestor, on a hunch did some research and found her at 100 other protests in the past.
      
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      January 13, 2026 10:57am
      - MCōs
        
        The late Tim Shadbolt was arrested 33 times at various protests and rallies without the help of face recognition technology
        Bishop Brian has probably been involved in scores of protests over the last few years along with his mob of cretins.
        
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        January 13, 2026 12:04pm
      - Ra Henare
        
        MCOS, His mob of cretins????
        
        So all Christian should fall in to the category of Cretins. Because they have strong opinions on things.
        
        So anyone who protests against abortion ???? Cretins??
        So anyone who protests against the beliefs of others????? Cretins???
        
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        January 13, 2026 3:01pm
      - MCōs
        
        It’s you that suggests all Christians are cretins, RH, not me. Clearly they are not
        I’m referring to the hopeless mob who trail around in thrall of the self appointed Bishop of Wiri
        
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        January 13, 2026 4:09pm
      - AitchW
        
        Raphael, is she a Minto?
        
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        January 13, 2026 5:17pm
  - Inandout
    
    AR, the funding for these protestors is filtered through a myriad of outlets which makes it very dificult to trace the source.
    
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    January 13, 2026 10:05am
  - mogg
    
    George Soros.
    
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    January 13, 2026 11:26am
  - Wandering Star
    
    “I wouldn’t discount the very real possibility that a lot of these people are being paid.”
    
    Unlike the current protests in Iran (and those similar instances which spring up periodically in the more “authoritarian” states we are assured are our common enemies), which are purely organic; not instigated, encouraged, and facilitated by external actors and various internal bodies working in concert with them; and are thus a clear message that the object of the protests is illegitimate and must go?
    
    “Oh no, these situations are not at all comparable” will be the response. Well, actually, they are completely comparable, as any objective assessment will conclude. They only seem distinct because of subjective attitudes.
    
    In the case of Iran, seemingly popular protest action is seen as clear evidence general popular discontent and a reason for the replacement of the ruling body (“will of the Iranian people” “throwing the oppressive shackles off” and so on). Whereas, in the case of the similarly seemingly popular action against ICE and the Trump admin, this is, by contrast, clearly manufactured and not evidence at all of any legitimate complaint vis a vis the ruling body.
    
    For the record, and unlike many who will resist my pointing out this obvious analytical inconsistency, I think that both the Iranian case and the anti-ICE case (and if fact, nearly all and in every case) are undoubtedly at least in part inorganic, well-organised and are being manipulated to achieve the desired ends.
    
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    January 13, 2026 1:03pm
    - Ra Henare
      
      I love how people swallow the Iran story without pause for thought.
      
      It would appear that many Mossad and CIA “”operatives”have been busy helping protestors …protest….
      
      Sort of like CIA spening millions if not billions manufacturing mass protest in UKraine to bring about regime change.
      
      When I ask knowledgeable people what/who will head the regime change in Iran(99% muslim) from the Mullahs. I get a blank stare?
      
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      January 13, 2026 3:06pm
      - Hollyfield
        
        Look up the Iran Prosperity Project which details the plan for a liberated Iran. Beginning with a referendum so the people can decide what type of government they want. https://fund.nufdiran.org/projects/ipp/about-the-project/
        Apostacy is punishable by execution, so almost everyone identifies as Muslim in the census. However GAMAAN (Group for Analyzing and Measuring Attitudes in Iran), an independent research group, found 32% Muslim. And many of those Muslims are not in favour of the oppressive Islamic State – I think I read that only 17% are in favour of mandatory hijab for example. According to scholar Shay Khatiri of Johns Hopkins University, “Islam is the fastest shrinking religion in there [Iran], while Christianity is growing the fastest”, and in 2018 “up to half a million Iranians are Christian converts from Muslim families.
        
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        January 13, 2026 6:38pm
- Nukuleka
  
  My Democrat friends in the US refer to their country as a ‘police state’, presumably because of the actions of ICE. They don’t recognize the legitimacy of the Trump presidency and oppose any policy his administration proposes no matter how valid or positive for the USA. Democracy to them is only valid when it goes their way.
  
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  January 13, 2026 8:38am
  - kowtow
    
    ‘when it goes their way.’
    
    By way of ballot rigging / harvesting etc.
    
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    January 13, 2026 8:53am
  - Gravelroad
    
    An academic (and socialist) friend here, who spent some time at US universities, says “how terrible” it all is because a person on the street might now be randomly asked by ICE agents to “produce their papers”.
    This to prove they are in the US for bona fide reasons and that they are not ripping off the US taxpayers.
    This is demeaning and unnecessary apparently.
    
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    January 13, 2026 8:54am
    - Local Miller
      
      And untrue
      
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      January 13, 2026 9:19am
      - All_on_Red
        
        Loved your work yesterday
        Great information
        
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        January 13, 2026 11:38am
    - rouppe
      
      Note the use of “might”.
      
      They project that something (that they’ve made up) may happen in the future, then shout about how this proves a lack of democracy.
      
      Similar to how Oprah declared at a Democrat rally before the election that “if we don’t vote now we may never get to vote again”.
      
      And how Democrats are shouting that citizens are being deported, when what that really means is minor children leaving with their illegal parents. The alternative being leave them in the care of Child Protection Services. No ones going to do that.
      
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      January 13, 2026 10:46am
  - R
    
    ‘Democrats ‘ democracy; a bit like Labour, Greens TPM democracy in NZ
    
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    January 13, 2026 9:52am
  - losingtheplot
    
    As opposed to how the party of No behaved in the Senate under Mitch McConnell? He (and the party) stacked the Supreme Court and then closed the door behind themselves for a generation. They played hardball, and you wonder why the other side is still pissed? They are still going to be pissed 20 years from now.
    
    I’m tired of hearing about my party = good, other party = evil.
    
    Leopard ate McConnell’s face in the end. True story.
    
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    January 13, 2026 1:31pm
- Colville
  
  Its just TDS being weaponised by the Dems.
  
  Toitū Te Tiriti was a reaction to ACT not the message. Same same.
  
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  January 13, 2026 8:57am
- Paulus
  
  As long as it is Anti Trump it doesn’t matter whatever it is, anything will do, and the media will be there to assist.
  Siimtlar in New Zealand now known by RNZ as the Motu, wherever that is !
  
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  January 13, 2026 9:00am
  - R
    
    Motu, is a small moat surrounding a small mind!
    
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    January 13, 2026 9:53am
    - kowtow
      
      Motu , a small word denoting a virtue signaller.
      
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      January 13, 2026 3:27pm
- slightlyrighty
  
  We now have ICE agents carrying out door to door searches in St. Paul.
  
  While I have no trouble with immigration enforcement, the manner in which it is being carried out is the issue at hand. The apprehension of those who are attempting to legalise their status at immigration courts, for example.
  
  There is also the fact that a 20,000 strong, militarily armed and masked force is now patrolling the streets, asking for papers.
  
  This is straight out of the authoritarian playbook.
  
  As a keen observer of history, I cannot help but see some disturbing parallels. I am the son of survivors of western Europe in WW2, and I find it disturbing that the US is going down this path.
  
  The end goal does not justify the means. As Ben Franklin said, “Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety”
  
  The current administration should be taking heed of those sentiments.
  
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  January 13, 2026 9:09am
  - Sweet Hitchhiker
    
    The voice of reason at last. Thank you, slightlyrightly!
    
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    January 13, 2026 10:25am
  - Don Beckett
    
    They are executing legitimate searches to find illegal immigrants – many of whom have a criminal history – and they have warrants for their arrest & deportation.
    That was a platform on which Trump was elected, and its only the Democrats who are weaponising their protests.
    
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    January 13, 2026 10:48am
  - artemisia
    
    It does rather depend on what ‘door to door searches’ actually means. If, for example, it is knocking on every door in the street just in case, that is definitely hard to justify and should be challenged. If, for example, door knocks are based on a list compiled from intelligence gathering, that is a whole different kettle of fish.
    
    Actual facts would help. Comparing to WWII doesn’t help without at least a few facts.
    
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    January 13, 2026 10:52am
    - slightlyrighty
      
      When you look at Trump talking up military takeovers of Greenland and saying that They should be taking it over, it has parallels with the likes of Mussolini saying that Albania and Greece should be part of Italy.
      
      Mussolini claimed rights over Albania and Greece based on fascist desires for Mediterranean hegemony, linking Albanians ethnically to Italians and claiming historical Roman/Venetian influence, leading to Albania becoming a protectorate and later an outright annexation in 1939, while his invasion of Greece in 1940 was fuelled by a perceived need to expand Italian power against perceived British/German influence and Greek weakness.
      
      In Much the same way that Trump is claiming Greenland against Russian and Chinese influence and citing European weakness as some sort of justification.
      
      When we look at how the Germans united various state security organisations under one banner with political motivations and sweeping powers, giving rise to the Gestapo, how can we look at the pathway of the DHS and it’s 20000 strong masked security force stopping people based on their appearance and demanding papers without seeing some similarity?
      
      Secret Police organisations don’t just suddenly appear, but evolve into being. We have all heard the saying that those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it, and the US seems to be on that pathway.
      
      There will be many here who think I am exaggerating. Fine. But at the risk of posting an obscure reference that many people wont understand, the Frog is in the pot of water, and the temperature is rising.
      
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      January 13, 2026 11:59am
      - sungsamning
        
        Every time, Trump makes a ‘mean tweet’ ; the usual suspects start clutching their pearls. Its a bit like Wiley Coyote v the Roadrunner. Trump being the Roadrunner.
        
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        January 13, 2026 12:15pm
      - All_on_Red
        
        ‘America has actually tried to acquire Greenland 3 other times, as early as 1867’
        https://fortune.com/2026/01/08/secret-history-american-efforts-to-acquire-greenland-civil-war-world-war-ii/
        
        Guess they were all Nazis too huh
        You’re funny.
        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVSRm80WzZk
        
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        January 13, 2026 12:41pm
    - sungsamning
      
      Facts and logic are ‘raycist’, and ‘undemocratic’. CNN told me so.
      
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      January 13, 2026 12:12pm
  - imalwaysright
    
    “…the son of survivors of western Europe in WW2.”
    
    Same here, but what has that got to do with America repatriating illegal immigrants ?
    
    Also realise that most of the Western world are the offspring of those who did survive WW2, and there are also many whose parents didn’t survive – at least ours survived.
    
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    January 13, 2026 11:22am
    - slightlyrighty
      
      The whole world is descended from those who survived WW2. My parents LIVED through the occupation by Nazi Germany, and grew up with the constant spectre of armed officials demanding papers.
      
      The manner in which ICE operates is very reminiscent of those organisations, and mission creep is resulting in these officers being increasingly deployed against Legal immigrants and US Citizens.
      
      Renee Good was not the first victim of ICE, and she won’t be the last unless the focus of ICE is brought back to enforcement which aligns with the Constitution, and the rights that it gives to all people, and not just citizens.
      
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      January 13, 2026 12:06pm
      - sungsamning
        
        It already does. Trying to run down an armed ICE agent tends to have FAFO type consequences.
        
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        January 13, 2026 12:17pm
      - kowtow
        
        If borders are not enforced then there is no nation , no constitution.
        
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        January 13, 2026 12:19pm
      - All_on_Red
        
        “mission creep is resulting in these officers being increasingly deployed against Legal immigrants and US Citizens.”
        I call bullshit on that claim too
        
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        January 13, 2026 12:29pm
      - imalwaysright
        
        “…mission creep is resulting in these officers being increasingly deployed against Legal immigrants and US Citizens”
        
        That’s the point of asking for documentation. A suspect is a suspect until they are shown not to be. How else can ICE determine bona fides?
        
        ICE aren’t the Nazis, and comparing them on the basis of asking for ID is extremely tunnel visioned and diminishes the actual atrocities done by the Nazis.
        
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        January 13, 2026 12:40pm
      - slightlyrighty
        
        All_on_RED.
        
        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ANj_eVURVL0
        
        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbMkjKAOTMs
        
        and these 2 stories are from CBS and FOX news.
        
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        January 13, 2026 12:57pm
  - All_on_Red
    
    “There is also the fact that a 20,000 strong, militarily armed and masked force is now patrolling the streets, asking for papers.”
    Sounds a lot
    What is your source for this ‘fact’?
    
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    January 13, 2026 11:36am
    - slightlyrighty
      
      how about the official ICE website? That good enough for you??
      
      https://www.ice.gov/about-ice
      
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      January 13, 2026 12:07pm
      - All_on_Red
        
        That says that 20,000 is their ENTIRE force, including support staff in 400 offices around the world.
        And for all of the USA
        You implied that was in St Paul
        How disingenuous of you.
        And I don’t believe they are going through streets door to door in every suburb.
        
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        January 13, 2026 12:28pm
      - RichardX
        
        All_on_Red
        That says that 20,000 is their ENTIRE force.
        For all of the USA
        You implied that was in St Paul
        How disingenuous of you.
        And I don’t believe they are going through streets door to door in every suburb.
        
        January 13, 2026 12:28pm
        
        Slightlyrighty did not imply it was in St Paul, you just read it that way.
        There is a whole paragraph about general immigration enforcement between the mention of St Paul and the 20,000 claim.
        
        How disingenuous of you.
        
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        January 13, 2026 12:38pm
  - NothingLeft
    
    Just how else are federal govt agents supposed to locate illegal immigrants in many cases hiding with assistance of a percentage of politically sympathetic/colluding US citizens and local Democrat political establishment that control the local police along with NGOs that benefit from the fraud enabled by these groups.
    
    Door to door drag-nets with high numbers of federal agents in areas with high number of illegals seems an eminently reasonable approach in the circumstances as they are operating in ‘hostile territory’.
    
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    January 13, 2026 11:37am
    - slightlyrighty
      
      The same way that any police force should. Legally and with regard for due process.
      
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      January 13, 2026 12:50pm
      - NothingLeft
        
        And if that is unaffordable? The process is punishing US taxpayers and rewarding the bad-actors (Dem politicians/ welfare fraud enabling NGOs etc)
        
        Biden/Dems opened the border and allowed millions of illegals in without any due process in contravention of established law in order to create an electoral advantage and opportunity to extract income from welfare/NGO finance fraud for corrupt Dem donor setup.
        
        But now the Dems insist that the admin who was voted in by public to end this illegality be required to follow ‘due process’ that costs $10’s of thousands per illegal and stymie it with red tape and other impediments that reduce their ability to undo the damage.
        
        Imposing that ‘due process’ cost for illegal aliens that are not even citizens with rights protected in US constitution at enormous cost and detriment to US taxpayers is not economically sensible and just serves to reward the people (Dem establishment) who shat on the law and further punish the population of US who were screwed over by it.
        
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        January 13, 2026 1:05pm
      - slightlyrighty
        
        Nothingleft.
        
        Are you seriously implying that Rights should be granted or denied on the basis of “affordability”?
        
        Is that why Trump called affordability a hoax?
        
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        January 13, 2026 2:48pm
    - virtualmark
      
      The Constitution forbids door-to-door type searches. Fourth amendment.
      
      You can only search a property (or vehicle) if any of:
      * You have a valid warrant, signed by a judge,
      * You are invited on to the property, or
      * There are exigent circumstances (ie you believe a serious crime has just been committed, or is about to be committed).
      
      That applies to ICE as much as it does to any Police force.
      
      (note that in the Renee Good shooting the ICE officer who had his hand through her drivers door window to try to open her car door was breaking this requirement).
      
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      January 13, 2026 1:02pm
      - NothingLeft
        
        Anyone is allowed to knock at your door, police included – and that can legally lead to probable cause for immediate search if that leads to reasonable grounds to believe there is a serious felony being committed (like harboring an illegal alien).
        
        ICE likely have lots of evidence like phone, tax, utility and other records etc that can give them evidential pointers of exactly where to look, with computer analysis methods likely able to winnow out where there are undocumented people living via eg utility consumption that doesn’t match with other occupancy information.
        
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        January 13, 2026 1:35pm
      - virtualmark
        
        Yes but no.
        
        Under US law anyone can knock on your door and ask to be let in. You are perfectly within your rights to say no and to ask them to leave your property. That includes police, federal agents etc.
        
        The only way they can *insist* on entering your property is under any of the 3 circumstances I listed above.
        
        Only yesterday there was a case where ICE wanted to interview a Doordash driver who was delivering to a house. The homeowner declined and asked them to leave the property. They had to.
        
        I doubt there would be little objection to targeted arrests of illegal immigrants based on phone, utility records etc. But in that case why do ICE target worksites, big box stores, gas stations etc?
        
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        January 13, 2026 2:23pm
      - artemisia
        
        Almost all of the named people arrested in the media as worst of the worst also have deportation orders against them. Some years old. And more recent – Fiscal Year 2025 (Partial): Through September 2025, immigration judges issued 528,333 orders for removal or voluntary departure.
        
        Could be millions still in place.
        
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        January 13, 2026 7:01pm
    - Paulus
      
      The New Zealand Motu has it is believed some 21,000 overstayers – ie illegal immigrants.
      Do we care ?
      
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      January 13, 2026 2:46pm
  - Philview
    
    The Mayor of St Paul took steps in 2017 to establish St Paul as a “Sanctuary” city. He did this to prevent the city’s employees from assisting the Federal Government on immigration issues. He sounds like a subversive who has done much to create these problems in his city.
    
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    January 13, 2026 12:54pm
  - Interested Party
    
    I understand that they have approved named person warrants for the arrest of criminal illegals (does not include the crime of just being illegal, but if you happen to be at the address you will also be picked up) hardly door to door
    
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    January 13, 2026 4:59pm
- MCōs
  
  Illegal immigration has been an issue in America for a very long time. Farmers were allowed to employ (exploit) a set number of seasonal workers from Mexico as long as they went back home again after their seasonal visas expired.
  However neither the farmers nor the workers necessarily wanted to stick to the rules and by the seventies it became a big political issue and has remained thus ever since.
  So now you get all these farmers who voted red and are dismayed when their workers disappear for one reason or another
  There are 21,000 overstayers in NZ. I wonder what they’re doing?
  
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  January 13, 2026 9:12am
  - RoboRob
    
    We should be removing our 21,000 overstayers. We have legal ways for farmers (or others) to bring in labour. It is a failure of the immigration department that we have that many overstayers.
    
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    January 13, 2026 9:40am
  - R
    
    Drawing welfare through the back door benefits, of which there are reams of legislation
    
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    January 13, 2026 9:55am
- AitchW
  
  Pretty much a symptom of the deep hatred for Trump amongst the left. Any excuse to take to the streets, set fire to a few cars, loot a few businesses…
  
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  January 13, 2026 9:30am
  - kowtow
    
    It’s much much deeper than hatred for Trump.
    
    Last time round the Marxist mantra was “in the era of Brexit and Trump”.
    
    That tells us this is a transAtlantic , and realistically glabal movement.Against the forces of conservatism , the small state , enforcement of basics like borders.
    
    This is why the lefty Luvvies and the vast majority of the media and indeed people of the alleged ‘right” who are virulently anti Trump too . The latter want mass migration ( legal or otherwise) to suppress wages , to keep the housing Ponzi going , to massage the GDP figures …….
    
    Hate Trump all one likes as a rather , potentially repugnant personality , who shoots from the lip , but he represents a new and I think important conservative movement standing up for old style western values .Which include robust defence policies , esp at a time when there are very powerful malignant forces at play.
    
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    January 13, 2026 11:17am
    - Paulus
      
      Wasn’t Trump this time legally elected as the President of the USA ?
      
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      January 13, 2026 2:48pm
  - sungsamning
    
    Agreed. However the George Floyd playbook isn’t working now. Americans aren’t buying it. Screaming ‘raycist’, and ‘dictator’ isn’t either.
    
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    January 13, 2026 12:19pm
- virtualmark
  
  The clear majority of US citizens want action on immigration. The concern is about the tactics.
  
  There is widespread centre-of-gravity support for:
  * Deporting violent non-citizens,
  * Tightening the southern border,
  * Faster processing of asylum cases,
  * A pathway to citizenship for the “dreamers”,
  
  Basically holding a firm line on immigration, but with some human compassion.
  
  But the US has historically prided itself on its values, morals and adherence to the law and the Constitution. The way that ICE is acting today cuts across that.
  
  I’d suggest that if ICE were to be better trained, show clear identification, not wear masks and observe the law then there would be little problem. But if they want to behave like a rogue paramilitary force then they will spark protests.
  
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  January 13, 2026 11:49am
  - sungsamning
    
    If they took off the masks, ‘activists’ would dox them, and endanger their families and neighbours. The ‘activists’ need to dial back the temperature, and rhetoric.
    
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    January 13, 2026 12:21pm
    - RichardX
      
      Of course you’re right….the chicken did come before the egg//
      
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      January 13, 2026 12:27pm
    - virtualmark
      
      If they took off their masks then presumably they would be more aware of the need to respect the law and the Constitution.
      
      Police in the US do not wear masks. The military in the US do not wear masks.
      
      And why are ICE in camo? Why do they not wear regular uniforms?
      
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      January 13, 2026 12:56pm
      - Interested Party
        
        What part of having an arrest warrant do you not understand
        
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        January 13, 2026 5:02pm
  - NothingLeft
    
    There are an estimated 14 million illegal immigrants in USA. Doing everything in accordance with Democrat preferences for process costs an estimated $90k per illegal meaning it would cost more than $1Trillion to process and deport them.
    
    And that is the true intent of Democrats – to make it fiscally impossible to undo their illegal effort to stuff the electorate with 3rd world immigrants who will vote for team blue and wreck the lives of US citizens.
    
    As a practical thing this is unaffordable and rewards the very group responsible for creating the problem (including much or most of the legal fraternity that will be paid to work in the courts etc processing this)
    
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    January 13, 2026 1:17pm
  - ISeeRed
    
    Does a country of 350 million really need more immigrants? Does it look like they’re running out of people?
    
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    January 13, 2026 2:01pm
  - Gary Benner
    
    Virtualmark
    
    ” not wear masks and observe the law then there would be little problem”
    
    In a ideal world there would not be a need for this, but with the ramped up rhetoric, the ICE Agents (including their families) are being doxxed and attacked.
    
    As with this whole scenario, law enforcement is not being allowed to fulfil it’s duty. So the whole system gets screwed around.
    
    You do not have to be a rocket scientist to realise that the politics has got out of hand, but it suits the Democrats to have this “theatre” played out in the streets.
    
    But it is what it is, and the law enforcement officers need to stay on message and follow the law and continue to arrest these people who have clearly broken the law.
    
    Meanwhile here in NZ we can only reach for the popcorn.
    
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    January 13, 2026 2:58pm
    - virtualmark
      
      Please provide evidence that ICE agents are being routinely doxxed.
      
      So far this is a claim from ICE management that has no factual support.
      
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      January 13, 2026 3:33pm
      - Interested Party
        
        Google it mate, a couple of cases is too many
        
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        January 13, 2026 5:04pm
  - Christopher Thomson
    
    “I’d suggest that if ICE were to be better trained, show clear identification, not wear masks and observe the law then there would be little problem. But if they want to behave like a rogue paramilitary force then they will spark protests.”
    
    I would suggest you don’t have a fucking clue what you are talking about.
    
    Each of those statements is nonsense and easily slapped down.
    
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    January 13, 2026 3:26pm
Jack5

Does Trump face his biggest battle yet, as the Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell makes a stand?

Trump is tackling Powell specifically on alterations to the Federal Reserve headquarters, but this is a stand-off over the power of the central bank.

Latin America, NATO, immigration — now into the heart of capitalism.

Shakespeare wrote four plays on Ancient Rome: Julius Caesar, Coriolanus, Antony and Cleopatra, and Titus Andronicus. But Trump’s got half a dozen on the current Roman Empire running at once — in real time as the geeks say.

https://apnews.com/article/federal-reserve-trump-subpoena-bf4fc6c690fa248fbc531bc9bc7f1758
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January 13, 2026 8:21am
- virtualmark
  
  Trump is fast-running turning the United States into Argentina.
  
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  January 13, 2026 11:50am
  - rangitoto
    
    He wants it to be like North Korea
    
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    January 13, 2026 12:02pm
    - virtualmark
      
      Fox News is already there with their “glorious leader” type coverage.
      
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      January 13, 2026 12:57pm
  - NothingLeft
    
    How do you suggest that Trump go about dismantling the tribalistically lawless Democrat regime infesting many areas of the US in the time he has?
    
    There is clearly enormous NGO mediated welfare fraud funneling money into Dem party and strong indications of massive electoral cheating in poor blue metropolitan areas backed by lawfare in jurisdictions where it is impossible to get non-partisan investigations or conviction against the preferences of the local ‘tribe’ due to politically appointed judges and tribally minded juries.
    
    If this situation is allowed to persist democracy will die in USA – democracy only works when people put state ahead of tribe in their allegiances, and that past ethical idealism appears to have now died in large sections of the US electorate.
    
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    January 13, 2026 1:45pm
    - virtualmark
      
      Once I read “tribalistically lawless” and “infesting” I just roll my eyes. Please talk like a reasonable balanced person.
      
      I’m sure there’s welfare fraud in the US, just like there is anywhere there’s a welfare system. I support any efforts to track that down and prosecute those responsible.
      
      It might surprise you to hear the Biden DoJ prosecuted over 90 people for that Minnesota welfare fraud. The key ringleader was a lady named Aimee Bock.
      
      There’s no evidence to show that money was channeled to the Democratic Party. If you do believe that then please explain to me why the *Biden* DoJ prosecuted them?
      
      Meanwhile, Trump is busy pardoning fraudsters, for example:
      * Trevor Milton: Securities fraud and wire fraud (pardoned December 2025)
      * Devon Archer: Securities fraud (defrauding Native American tribe; pardoned March 2025)
      * George Santos: Wire fraud, identity theft, and fraudulent campaign reports (sentence commuted April 2025)
      * Todd and Julie Chrisley: Bank fraud, tax evasion, and conspiracy (pardoned November 2025)
      * At least 20 others: Primarily Medicare fraud and other white-collar fraud cases
      
      You need to stop taking the red pills.
      
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      January 13, 2026 2:35pm
    - slightlyrighty
      
      The fact that you refer to a democratically elected state government as a regime simply belies your own prejudices.
      
      I wonder what side you would have been on in Germany in the 1930’s.
      
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      January 13, 2026 2:53pm
  - kowtow
    
    No that was Biden with the open borders to one and all from across the Rio Grande .
    
    Trump’s kicking them out .That’s what’s got ya’ll in such a tizzy.
    
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    January 13, 2026 4:40pm
- surfing
  
  Trump should disestablish the position and make himself responsible for setting interest rates.
  
  He might even do it. Just as he is willing to kill people in a peaceful independent country so that he can take their land and resources.
  
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  January 13, 2026 12:54pm
- Paulus
  
  Wait until Trump says we are out of the UN, and says – that’s our property – get out of all the free UN Buildings now.
  Plus the effect in New York of the hundreds if not many thousands of people involved in the corruption called the UN.
  
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  January 13, 2026 2:53pm
sungsamning

Lee Hanson said One Nation will stand candidates in Tasmania at state and local level. Good luck.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCav1HSvzQs

Lee Hanson announces One Nation will contest Tasmania’s state and local elections.
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January 13, 2026 8:35am
sungsamning

The administration recently cut the budget for NPR, and PBS. They do have other sources of income.

https://www.breitbart.com/the-media/2026/01/10/pbs-pulls-plug-on-weekend-news/

PBS Pulls Plug on Weekend News.
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January 13, 2026 8:35am
NeverMindTheBollocks

Shell Lane (The Terrace) bike rack report:

At 8.43am, no fewer than five bikes today. Things are looking up!

A cool, calm, dry morning in the Capital, ideal for cycling. Traffic is low, though the cafes are busy.
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January 13, 2026 8:43am
- pdm
  
  Bollocks it looks like 2026 could be a big year for that bike stand.
  
  Is 5 a record?
  
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  January 13, 2026 10:18am
RoboRob

I see our sole Aluminum manufacturer is considering closing due to the shortage of Gas. Question for Luxon and Watts, when are you actually planning on providing additional supply?

Its been over two years to get to the point of an announcement on what might be done. When is the proposed deep water port for shipped gas starting construction? Have you even got to the point of selecting a location & construction company? Is it even out for tender yet?

We knew this was an urgent situation 2+ years ago. We knew that because Watts said it was. So where is the actual urgent response?
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January 13, 2026 9:08am
- Notsofast
  
  LNG
  The champagne of energy
  Decouple media is the go to podcast for everything energy.
  
  https://youtu.be/kCpFCAhrwvs?si=llLdEqkrdHBtHge8
  
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  January 13, 2026 10:18am
- pdm
  
  RR when Luxn was called `The Bald Jacinda’ I thought the person saying that was on the right track.
  
  He is proving it by going down the announcement about announcement of announcements to follow.
  
  Watts of course is just out of his depth in all of his Portfolios – with Local Government being a disaster as Councils throughout the country walk all over him.
  
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  January 13, 2026 10:21am
  - BananaLlama
    
    Minister Watts has a very unfortunate name
    
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    January 13, 2026 11:03am
- Taieri
  
  Where is the money for all this coming from?
  
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  January 13, 2026 10:26am
  - RoboRob
    
    AFAIK zero money has actually been spent on anything yet. Thats my point! Sure there have been some consultants and liason on what should be done.
    
    p.s. energey supply and security is critical to a country. Its one area we have to spend on if required.
    
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    January 13, 2026 11:14am
- Jack5
  
  Roborob’s …our sole Aluminum manufacturer is considering closing due to the shortage of Gas ..
  
  The Bluff aluminium smelter uses electricity. What is the relevance of gas?
  
  Jacinda Ardern contributed most to NZ’s current shortage of gas by axing exploration of NZ’s promising oil and gas prospects.
  
  Is it the Government’s job to build a plant to restore imported LNG to gas? Shouldn’t the market see the prospects?
  
  When NZ gets such a plant, some of the gas our industry and homes use, perhaps all of it, will come from gas extracted from the coalfields of Queensland. This, while gas in NZ’s large reserves of coal is untapped.
  
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  January 13, 2026 10:41am
  - RoboRob
    
    I believe its our sole aluminium recycler. My bad.
    
    Energy supply and stability are the governments responsibility. That may mean, just providing stable laws that allow businesses to do the work. However Woods and JA sabotged our energy supply based on idealism. If we want a short term fix we probably need government intervention.
    
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    January 13, 2026 11:18am
    - R
      
      Short term! We need a ‘LONGTERM’ economic fix; like never again elect any form of MARXIST govt. Looking at you, TPM, LABOUR and GREENS
      
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      January 13, 2026 11:42am
      - Quail
        
        Bring back Muldoon’s growth focus!
        NZ has survived well on his energy Policies and builds for over half a century !
        The following Governments just keep re – arranging and socialising the profits from those hydro schemes until they have worn out!
        There has been no political commitment to growth, new builds or productivity since the Lange and Douglas,” reforms” and worse “Captains calls “ immigration etc etc have actually reduced productivity!
        Productivity and Growth are essential for NZ to have a stable NZD and healthy economy!
        No recent Government has put appropriate policies in place!
        
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        January 13, 2026 1:26pm
  - Bullion
    
    Did you know that there were 31 active exploration permits when the Govt stopped issuing new permits. These permits covered an area close to the size of the North Island. 22 were offshore permits. These permits are still active to at least 2030.
    
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    January 13, 2026 12:18pm
    - marcw
      
      Why would any company continue spending resources on exploration when the Ardern government had clearly indicated that the petro-chemical industry was unwanted here? They obviously realised that this wasn’t the time to be in NZ, when other world areas offered much greater opportunities. Even though Labour/Green are not currently in power, when they come back, then what? Nationalisation, like Venezuela?
      
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      January 13, 2026 12:45pm
      - Jack5
        
        Labour refuses to budge from Ardern’s anti-oil/gas exploration policy:
        
        https://www.odt.co.nz/business/pms-exploration-request-just-stunt-hipkins-rnz
        
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        January 13, 2026 1:18pm
    - Master Mariner
      
      Bullion a Heads up.
      They all handed back there permits and left upon the Great announcement from the “Anointed One”.
      Some quicker than others after they realised NZ un Stable Government.
      Incidently, the same as Venezuela and the cost to produce a bbl of Oil.
      
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      January 13, 2026 4:34pm
      - Bullion
        
        If there was a profitable amount of oil and gas to be had, then why just forfeit that?
        
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        January 13, 2026 5:49pm
- imalwaysright
  
  Clearly they have to wait until they are in Government before they can enact a plan, but it seems that they arrived in Government without one !
  
  They had plenty of time in Opposition, since Arderns announcement, to formulate Plan A and Plan B to at least a stage where the meetings with interested parties could have occurred immediately after formation of the Government.
  
  Same with every other problem that they knew about.
  
  Look at Trump. He and his team spent their downtime coming up with fixes which were enacted on Inauguration Day.
  Our PM doesn’t have that much power, but that doesn’t excuse the absence of ready to go plans.
  
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  January 13, 2026 11:03am
  - RoboRob
    
    Even if they did nothing in opposition, two years to come up with a ‘tepid’ plan……
    
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    January 13, 2026 11:19am
  - Taieri
    
    Our PM doesn’t have that much power
    ————-
    
    Our PM has actually much greater powers than the US president.
    Our PM is in control of not only the Government but also the entire Parliament. The US presidents can have hostile Congress and the Supreme Court.
    
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    January 13, 2026 11:55am
    - RoboRob
      
      100% this. Our government and PM in particular have much more power then The US house / senate and President combined. In the US the constitution and courts can hold the government back. In NZ NOTHING stops the government implementing law changes to enact whatever they wish to do.
      
      We have been misled for years , primarily by the right of politics, into thinking the government has limited power. We see it on this site in relation to this government over and over again. People keep saying, oh the government has no power to stop x department doing y action. That is bullshit. Any laws that stop the government taking action were implemented by the government and can be removed or amended as need be.
      
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      January 13, 2026 1:26pm
      - Christopher Thomson
        
        The timidity of this government, and previous National administrations, is why the country has continued on a downward spiral to becoming a socialist south-pacific shithole.
        
        All I need to do now is find a ‘S’ word to include the apartheid status they are creating.
        
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        January 13, 2026 3:35pm
    - virtualmark
      
      Yes and no.
      
      On paper it might seem that the PM has more power. But their power is more constrained than the US Presidents:
      * Firstly by Cabinet, who control the decisions on what actually gets implemented,
      * Secondly by their caucus, who can depose them at any time,
      * Thirdly by the Governor-General, who can dissolve Parliament if things get really bad.
      
      In the US system the President is less constrained day-to-day. Because their Cabinets are made up of tame appointees they are much weaker than our Cabinets. And impeachment is more of reputational threat than a genuine threat of removal.
      
      I suspect that a rogue NZ PM would be drop-kicked far quicker than a rogue US President would.
      
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      January 13, 2026 4:43pm
      - RoboRob
        
        Sadly no one will see this post. But I strongly disagree.
        
        The GG has zero power. They would NEVER disolve a government. They did once in Australia decades ago (when they had more power) and it almost led to Australia becoming a republic. The GG is a polically appointed meaningless figurehead these days.
        
        I didn’t argue the the PM had all the power, I said ‘our government and PM in particular’. The PM selects cabinet and cabinets are deathly scared of rolling the PM (witness Luxons reign). Yes if the PM turned out to be bat shit crazy they could be removed but my point is, in a functioning government, the PM and cabinet can do absolutely anything they want. There are NO constraints, asside from the GG who as I said above is appointed by the government and a meaningless figurehead.
        
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        January 14, 2026 9:01am
- Ghost
  
  Tenders closed last November. Who ever is selected has to have it operational by July next year
  
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  January 13, 2026 11:17am
  - RoboRob
    
    Thats great. Thanks Ghost, it looks like they are actually proceeding at ‘pace’ now.
    
    I will add that CoPilot says…
    
    ‘The government has sought bids, but public reporting does not indicate that a preferred bidder or winning port has been chosen(NBR).’
    
    The cost of the port could be around $100m. Funny that the process to decide what to do took longer then they expect construction to take!
    
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    January 13, 2026 11:24am
    - R
      
      Robo, you obviously don’t appreciate the magnitude of the economic and Social disaster that the Coalition inherited. The coalition has been working at pace, initially to determine where the hidden financial ideological minefields were located, and then neutralized them.
      
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      January 13, 2026 11:49am
      - sungsamning
        
        Yes, a lot of what they’ve done flies under the radar. Having a hostile MSM isn’t helping them get the message across. At minimum, TVNZ, and RNZ should lose their ‘news’ and ‘current affairs’ programes.
        
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        January 13, 2026 12:27pm
      - RoboRob
        
        Not at all. I understand the level of crap that Labour left NZ in. However the energy crisis was no secret and Watts / Luxon have taken a long time to decide what to do. Energy is a critical part of an economy and it should have been given importance.
        
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        January 13, 2026 1:29pm
- R
  
  Urgent?? The lack of a stable supply of gas, can’t be urgent since after Adern unilateral Captains Call closed of exploration; she and her sycophants sat for 6 years gloating over how they had ‘shafted the capitalist’ owned economy and did nothing about future supply. Twas only after the change of government did anyone start looking at the future!
  
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  January 13, 2026 11:35am
- virtualmark
  
  Unlikely to be a “port” as such. More likely to be a floating terminal just offshore Taranaki. The terminal will regasify the LNG and then have a subsea pipe connecting back to the current gas transmission network.
  
  So the LNG terminal infrastructure can be in place quite quickly (sail it in, hook it up) and can be removed equally quickly if/when it’s no longer needed.
  
  The challenge will be for the gentailers … do they invest in new 30-year life combined cycle equipment when it’s quite possible it will be stranded in 10-15 years? Would a new plant just end up being a peaker, in which case will the peak pricing be high enough and consistent enough to recoup the capital and operating costs?
  
  I suspect we won’t see any new thermal plants being constructed in NZ, and a significant slowdown in wind farms (basically just re-turbining existing sites). LNG will be more a solution for industrial gas users rather than electricity generation.
  
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  January 13, 2026 11:56am
  - Albie
    
    I see the Norwegians are not only drilling for new fields but it was reported today they are using new technology to recommission old fields, while next door the Brits are destroying their economy trying to achieve Net Zero.
    Am I correct in the assumption that our green Leftie luvvies are very pro Scandinavian countries and want us to emulate them? So what’s the oil and gas ban about then? Or are we just a bit selective about which Scandinavian countries we want to emulate.
    
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    January 13, 2026 2:19pm
    - virtualmark
      
      No argument from me. I think the Norwegians have been massively smart with how they’ve developed their oil resources and how they’ve socked the money away in a sovereign wealth fund. Oh that we would have done the same.
      
      It is fair though to laugh a little when the Norwegians then lecture about how much of their car fleet is EVs etc etc.
      
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      January 13, 2026 2:38pm
      - Master Mariner
        
        They are taught at school where there lunch comes from,
        Originally the fishing industry but now Oil & Gas etc.
        Why would you protest the hand that feeds you,
        NZ, Farmers, Fisherman, Forestry and Mining.
        Gee Labour have come a long way since the Coal strikes in Blackball.//
        
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        January 13, 2026 4:41pm
  - Paulus
    
    No, no ,thermals all the hot water and such is Maori owned and there would not be enough Koha to let it happen, unless they owned it all.
    
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    January 13, 2026 3:02pm
RoboRob

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/world/583882/what-led-jacinda-ardern-to-quit-an-appearance-at-adelaide-writers-week

I see a bunch of ‘writers’, including Jacinda, pulling out of a conference as a pro Palestine speaker is barred from attendance. Good on them for sticking up for free speech. My question would be, would they also have pulled out if a pro Isreal speaker was banned or does their support for free speech only go one way? Sadly I suspect the latter is true.
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January 13, 2026 9:16am
- Maggy Wassilieff
  
  Good old Jacinda, eh?
  
  Always a champion of ~~hate~~ free speech.
  
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  January 13, 2026 10:23am
- MCōs
  
  A pro Israel speaker wasn’t banned so we’ll never know
  
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  January 13, 2026 5:35pm
  - Quail
    
    Got her face on TV one though .
    Start of Labours election year.
    The next PM ???
    For NZ s sake I hope not!
    
    4 0
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    January 13, 2026 8:00pm
RoboRob

I see the death toll in Iran has risen to ‘at least 599’, https://www.1news.co.nz/2026/01/13/trump-says-iran-wants-to-negotiate-as-death-toll-rises-to-at-least-599/.

When will the people fighting for the Palestinians start calling for action against the Ayatollah? Can he be branded a war criminal too. Is this genocide* ?

I await with baited breath TPM and the Greens coming out with strong statements opposing the Ayatollah. Will they condem Russia, China and Qatar etc for their support of the Iranian government in the same way the criticised Trump and the US for their support of Isreal?

*I know its not but the dummies out there would consider it so.
26 4
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January 13, 2026 9:24am
- kowtow
  
  Given the Hamas/Hezbollah attacks on Israel were orchestrated by the Mullah regime , not to mention direct missile attacks by Iran on Israel as well as by Iranian proxies the Houthies , I don’t expect the Arab scarf wearing gang to be in the least bit supportive of the people of Iran in their life and death struggle against evil .
  
  In fact they are, at the very least, proxy supporters of the Mullah regime and the mass murder now being perpetrated .
  
  13 2
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  January 13, 2026 11:33am
- NothingLeft
  
  The loopy narcissistic left, evil or unconscious/ignorant misanthropes that they are, are only interested in supporting causes that increase chaos and suffering in the world. Hoping to burn it all down to somehow lift themselves up into authority. (not understanding that throughout history in the revolutions it is those that foment revolution that die in the greatest numbers)
  
  10 1
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  January 13, 2026 11:44am
- rangitoto
  
  “bated breath”
  
  4 0
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  January 13, 2026 12:17pm
  - marcw
    
    Yes, it’s a shortened form of “abated”.
    
    4 0
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    January 13, 2026 12:24pm
  - RoboRob
    
    Thanks 🙂
    
    3 0
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    January 13, 2026 1:31pm
TripeWryter

I was watching Sky News Australia for a bit last night.
There was an item about an academic of Palestinian and Egyptian parentage – Randa Abdel-Fattah – had been dropped from a writers festival in Adelaide because of sensitivities related to the massacre at Bondi Beach.
That had prompted a walk-out of other luminaries in protest against censorship.
Also half the festival’s board that runs it resigned.
Ms Abdel-Fattah should be congratulated.
Her being dropped has spared the people of Adelaide from being lectured by Peter FitzSimons and Dame Jacinda Ardern, who was booked to tell them all about … Kindness.
32 3
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January 13, 2026 9:31am
- pdm
  
  Fitzsimons can be a good listen at times unless he has changed and gone down the woke track.
  
  I used to enjoy his contributions to Radio Sport over the years.
  
  5 4
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  January 13, 2026 10:22am
  - gravedodger
    
    I lost interest when he adopted the hankie tied round his head initially I am guessing to hide a receding hairline.
    
    7 1
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    January 13, 2026 10:39am
  - kowtow
    
    Perhaps then he should have stuck to sports instead of becoming some sort of all knowing , lecturing lefty prick . Comes across as a right arrogant tosser.
    
    16 1
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    January 13, 2026 11:34am
  - mogg
    
    Fitzsimmons is a regular columnist at the SMH,
    otherwise known as Woke Central.
    
    12 2
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    January 13, 2026 11:37am
- MCōs
  
  The Adelaide Writers Week has since been cancelled.
  I remember the hue and cry when Don Brash was cancelled by Waikato University and similar other occasions. It’s not as if these people are calling for armed insurrection.
  
  1 0
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  January 13, 2026 5:32pm
  - Maggy Wassilieff
    
    I don’t recall Jacinda Ardern offering any protest when Don Brash was cancelled from speaking at Massey University in August 2018.
    
    Her support for free speech seems very recent.
    
    4 0
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    January 13, 2026 9:03pm
Chuck Bird

Does this mean [Mod – jist user her nane] Ardern supports Jew hating Palastiian Activists?

Jacinda Ardern pulls out of Writers’ Week as Abdel-Fattah’s lawyer speaks out

https://www.thenewdaily.com.au/life/entertainment/books/2026/01/12/jacinda-ardern-writers?ahe=bc484c0e441634acab6c8a3268c7a33f2947034d0d2b8805610530ab51abea2d&acid=2739932&lr_hash=ddf960ff1e29a536428d8fafcd071853
27 6
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January 13, 2026 9:33am
- RoboRob
  
  Are you surprised?
  
  20 0
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  January 13, 2026 9:41am
  - Jack5
    
    😲What if Jacinda Ardern resurfaced wearing a keffiyeh in NZ’s Parliament as a Green MP?
    
    12 2
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    January 13, 2026 10:23am
    - RoboRob
      
      Never happen. The Greens would never be in control of government and JA was only there for power. I suspect she has no interest in sitting around doing ‘drudge work’ as a Green MP when she could earn more on the touring network.
      
      13 0
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      January 13, 2026 11:27am
- grumpy
  
  Has [Mod – just use her name] Ardern ever accounted for the $50m she got from Melinda Gates?
  
  13 3
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  January 13, 2026 10:42am
- kowtow
  
  Ghost writers’ week.
  
  8 0
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  January 13, 2026 12:51pm
- Paulus
  
  She has pulled our as she realised she is not getting enough money by being there = too close to Aotyearoa as well.
  
  6 1
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  January 13, 2026 3:05pm
- cmm
  
  She just intelligent enough to realise hat her lies won’t overwhelm the truth this time.
  
  4 1
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  January 13, 2026 3:35pm
- JFAP
  
  Ardern gets a serve for her “breathtaking hypocrisy” in the editorial in today’s The Advertiser (Adelaide): “Ardern has seemingly sided with Dr Randa Abdel Fattah, who had previously declared that ‘if you are a Zionist you have no claim or right to cultural safety’. Ardern has not made a statement on her reasons but let us pose a simple question: In the aftermath of the Christchurch killings, would Ardern have approved of someone appearing at a New Zealand festival saying Muslims deserve no cultural safety? We very much doubt it.”
  
  5 0
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  January 13, 2026 6:13pm
Maggy Wassilieff

Oh dear..
Who knew that there could be consequences if you’re caught thieving other folks’ $$$$?

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/young-auckland-credit-card-fraudster-aaron-robie-fails-to-get-discharge-without-conviction/V37AMJQB75GNROLYYZW72THQZM/
25 0
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January 13, 2026 10:40am
- Swifty
  
  Good.
  
  17 0
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  January 13, 2026 11:55am
- cmm
  
  … but it’s awful. People might get the impression he’s dishonest!
  
  7 0
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  January 13, 2026 3:34pm
Jack5

New Zealand isn’t the only country where place names are political issues.

Edward Stourton, in the Telegraph, notes that Alaska, bought by the US from Russia, includes North America’s highest mountain.

In 1896, a gold prospector named it Mount McKinley in honour of the then Republican candidate for the White House. McKinley became the 25th President of the United States, and as well as favouring economic protectionism, led to the US colonising, Cuba, Guam, Puerto Rico, the Philippines, and Hawaii.

Stourton writes that, in 2015, the Obama Administration formally changed that to Denali in deference to local tradition. In January 2024, Donald Trump reversed that decision, and “Mount McKinley” it is again.
15 2
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January 13, 2026 12:22pm
- kowtow
  
  Obama , who re invigourated the Mullah regime with his dumb nuclear deal.
  
  Pfft .
  
  Today the people of Iran declare for Trump!
  Amazing.
  
  15 4
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  January 13, 2026 12:51pm
  - Mike
    
    You mean the deal under which Iran was meeting its obligations in return for more normal trading relations? The abandonment of which encouraged Iran to accelerate uranium enrichment?
    The debacle reminiscent of the US’s failure to honour the deal to orevent North Korea obtaining nuclear weapons?
    
    2 0
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    January 13, 2026 5:37pm
- MCōs
  
  “New Zealand isn’t the only country where place names are political issues.”
  Who’d have thought!
  When I was in Brisbane around 2005 there was a discussion because some people didn’t want a change to a place called Nigger Hill.
  
  2 1
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  January 13, 2026 5:21pm
  - NZer In Exile
    
    How is your example comparable to the NZ situation?
    
    1 2
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    January 13, 2026 10:41pm
grumpy

Wow! Do we still sell lamb to Iran? If so here come additional 25% tariffs to the US!
https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/2156902/donald-trump-warning-iran-putin
8 3
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January 13, 2026 1:09pm
Philview

Last year the British Labour Government signed over the sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius and will pay that country an annual £100 million charge in compensation. I advise Denmark not to use negotiators from the British Labour Government in any negotiations over Greenland.
20 1
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January 13, 2026 1:29pm
- RoboRob
  
  Or the Labour team that organised the purchase of NZ rail back from Toll !
  
  13 1
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  January 13, 2026 1:34pm
- mogg
  
  That agreement hasn’t been finalised yet, turns out even Labour backbenchers are against it, it could be yet another U turn by Sir Starmer.
  
  8 1
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  January 13, 2026 1:58pm
- Christopher Thomson
  
  That deal reeks of corruption.
  
  The Chagos goverment in exile have asked Trump to stop it.
  
  I think they will. The Diego Garcia base is there. To add to the mix the Mauritius government is aligned with China.
  
  5 2
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  January 13, 2026 3:41pm
kowtow

This is Bigly .

Mr Trump has just announced any country doing business with Iran gets 25% tariffs on business they do with the US.

I say good stuff . Stand for freedom and true human rights.
6 3
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January 13, 2026 1:50pm
- virtualmark
  
  So I’m just waiting for him to tariff Qatar and the UAE …
  
  2 2
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  January 13, 2026 2:39pm
  - Master Mariner
    
    Why ?
    It was the Americans who asked for Hamas senior Leadership to be put in Qatar in the first place.
    
    1 1
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    January 13, 2026 4:48pm
- MCōs
  
  It’s a pretty big list
  https://tradingeconomics.com/iran/exports-by-country
  Btw
  One of the countries is Thailand
  When all this craziness started a 36% tariff was imposed on that country later reduced to 19%
  My wife, being Thai, read that the Thais in California of which there are ~100k suddenly had to pay a huge increase in ingredients for Thai cooking imported from the old country because they’re not available in the US.
  Not the sort of thing one normally hears about until it effects oneself
  
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  January 13, 2026 5:08pm
Swifty

My opinion of Waititi can’t go any lower:

https://x.com/thenzrocketeer/status/2010228360132387255?s=46

Calling us every name under the Sun and accusing us of the most foul deeds and actions – but while living it up at our expense.

Grifter extraordinaire.
12 1
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January 13, 2026 2:09pm
- Ghost
  
  Wow, that’s an old video.
  
  2 2
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  January 13, 2026 2:21pm
  - MCōs
    
    Clearly not this time of year
    Probably about as fake as the entity that originally posted the video
    
    1 1
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    January 13, 2026 4:51pm
    - Ghost
      
      The video keeps popping up each year as if it is new. Here it is from June 2023
      
      https://www.facebook.com/groups/106049564684/posts/10160044188324685/
      
      June 2024
      
      https://waikanaewatch.org/2024/06/10/waititi-in-paris-dis-our-outfit
      
      2 1
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      January 13, 2026 5:07pm
    - Swifty
      
      Wrong. He’s posted all this footage to his own account where it’s been compiled.
      
      0 0
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      January 13, 2026 6:14pm
  - Albie
    
    That’s true Ghost, but it doesn’t hurt to be reminded in election year what they get up to when they are supposedly working for their “constituents” bro!
    
    4 1
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    January 13, 2026 4:57pm
    - MCōs
      
      Anyone know where the PM is?
      I don’t think it’s Te Puki!
      https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/christopher-luxons-social-media-suggested-he-was-in-te-puke-he-was-actually-overseas-on-holiday/FRXZPXKGOQYGV2GMWE2LZYNMLU/
      
      [The link is to a July 2022 Herald report. Holy Mod]
      
      0 0
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      January 13, 2026 6:05pm
    - Swifty
      
      Thanks, yes, that’s exactly why I posted it.
      
      0 0
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      January 13, 2026 6:17pm
    - Ghost
      
      Right, so a social media post that the vast majority of voters will never see, posted, what, 9 to 10 months before the election is reminding people what exactly? Most voters won’t remember what took place in parliament last month, you want them to remember this in 10 months?
      
      1 1
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      January 13, 2026 6:20pm
  - Swifty
    
    I wasn’t suggesting it’s new, in fact I’ve posted his Paris one on KB myself ages ago – not long after he posted it himself.
    
    I could have though been clearer that this is a compilation of historical stuff he’s posted.
    
    This was just a reminder.
    
    1 0
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    January 13, 2026 6:16pm
Philview

I just saw a photo of an Iranian woman lighting a cigarette from a flaming photo of Ali Khamenei. One of those iconic images that come from conflicts.
4 3
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January 13, 2026 2:32pm
- Wandering Star
  
  The propaganda power of the contrived emotive image, eh? One photo of a drowned Syrian toddler on a beach resulted in a million or more immigrants into Germany in 2015/16, now an image of an attractive Iranian woman lighting a smoke will lead to God knows what in the Middle East in 2026.
  
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  January 13, 2026 3:49pm
mogg

Another example of Jacinda type ‘kindness’.
A Bulgarian woman who was part of a gang which defrauded the UK benefits system out of £54 million, is now back in Britain and living on benefits.
8 2
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January 13, 2026 3:09pm
cmm

After an assault and death threats, no cop available to respond to a 111 call at whananaki. Some people say there are not enough cops in Northland.

Far easier, IMHO: just run a 10km fence from coast to coast somewhere near Te Arai or Brynderwyn and make the whole damn place into a penal colony.

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/former-nzme-executive-dallas-gurney-pushed-down-stairs-injured-in-whananaki-shop-attack/3BZXTBHOJFDDTJDIOH3A5AGHRQ/
10 1
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January 13, 2026 3:21pm
- Tauhei Notts
  
  I think Whananaki is Winnie’s home village.
  
  3 0
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  January 13, 2026 7:45pm
cmm

What did uncle cmm tell you at the time?

The $6M restitution over the NZ’s submarine HMNZS Manawanui was not enough. Whitey must pay more.

And this is going to be a cheque that gets cashed again and again… We’re going to see this come up again and again for the next many decades.

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/samoa-chief-suggests-returning-manawanui-compensation-to-nz-as-its-not-enough/NIJXJSJMFNGCFCS4LCCTX5HJ74/

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/samoa-chief-suggests-returning-manawanui-compensation-to-nz-as-its-not-enough/NIJXJSJMFNGCFCS4LCCTX5HJ74/
7 2
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January 13, 2026 3:31pm
- Master Mariner
  
  Your not kidding,
  You wait and see what the latest Australian Cruise ship that run aground in Indonesia will pay for Damage to Coral.
  That ship will continue to Leach hydrocarbons for Decades as it continues to break apart.
  
  What ever happened to the Looney Navy Chief statement ” We own this” ??
  Its an International scandal in Maritime circles, How did DEI work out for you ? NZ MSM Nothing to see here.
  Ever increasing Bribes.
  
  7 1
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  January 13, 2026 4:54pm
  - imalwaysright
    
    I heard that the lady who drove our boat into Samoa has been given another one to play with.
    Crew morale must be through the roof….
    
    9 1
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    January 13, 2026 6:32pm
    - Albie
      
      Last time I checked in with Grok the other day to see what’s happening with the court martial inquiry it sounds as though it was a systemic failure and no individual was to blame. I was initially surprised that no one’s ass has been hung out to dry so far for that “mishap” but that comes from someone ex military 40 years ago when mistakes had consequences.A lot has changed obviously since my time.
      
      5 0
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      January 13, 2026 8:57pm
- greybeard
  
  The Samoan equivalent of the NZ Treaty settlements ! I agree with you.
  
  4 1
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  January 13, 2026 4:54pm
Hugh Jarse

Does anyone know if the internal police “hygiene” report into the issues in the Firearms Safety Authority has been released publicly ?
5 1
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January 13, 2026 4:21pm
Ra Henare

I would like to thank the staunch 5 who downticked every comment I made in yesterday’s General Debate.
Obvious(to me) they had not read any of them

It confirms that I must be “”over the target”” by providing alternative views and “”gasp””….facts, that challenge “the narrative”” that so many believe without question.

I continue to be amazed how ideology is still entrenched in so many Kiwis(Read the sheeple, during Covid).

Or is it just a desire to belong to the believers/supporters tribe????
1 2
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January 13, 2026 5:15pm
- Swifty
  
  Were you related to Penny Bright by chance?
  
  2 0
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  January 13, 2026 6:31pm
- imalwaysright
  
  Ra
  Anonymous downtickers are irrelevant.
  Keep posting your opinions.
  
  4 2
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  January 13, 2026 6:38pm
- Christopher Thomson
  
  There are always some downticks from sad individuals that find pleasure in downticking every comment.
  
  Your first post was informative and those 2 should be ignored.
  
  Your second post contained opinion and you garnered 10 people who disagreed.
  
  Those after that were opinion and folks disagreed with your opinion.
  
  In each case there were other posts expressing a different opinion.
  
  Did you see that the 2 sad bastards popped up on your ‘still in jail’ post and the other information posts.
  
  So people disagree with your opinion and indicate so. Is that a problem?
  
  1 2
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  January 13, 2026 8:01pm
Swifty

Scott Adams is on his last legs and has clearly been grappling with Pascal’s Wager:

https://x.com/nicksortor/status/2010904960427303110?s=46
1 0
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January 13, 2026 6:29pm
greybeard

https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/360923810/christchurch-man-21-completes-pointless-24-hour-bike-ride-around-mcdonalds-drive-thru
And “Stuff” publishes yet another in a never-ending series of pointless articles.
And the irony of it obviously escapes them.
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January 13, 2026 6:31pm

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