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January 15, 2026 8:00am by Kokila Patel

General Debate 15 January 2026

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General Debate

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Poppax8

Congrats Blackcaps! Hope it does not impact on the FTA 🙂
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January 15, 2026 8:12am
- Fender
  
  Rumours are theres an announcement due from nzru today about robertson
  
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  January 15, 2026 11:44am
  - igm
    
    MSM ran a pro-Robertson narrative from the time Foster was selected. Best they keep their noses out of next selection.
    Where is Dave Rennie these days?
    
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    January 15, 2026 12:59pm
    - Colville
      
      Foster was pretty poor (Schmidt saved his arse)but Razor hasnt been much better with some bizarre choices keeping out of form old players and he is now gone.
      
      Jamie Joseph?
      
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      January 15, 2026 2:12pm
      - pdm
        
        THe NZRFU is going to look sick if Joseph turns them down.
        
        Why would he want to take on such an arrogant player group? Many of whom would not have lasted a training session under the Great Fred Allen.
        
        I agree re the older players though – Reiko Ioane for example was past his use by date in 2024 as a player.
        
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        January 15, 2026 3:35pm
      - Colville
        
        pdm.
        With respect but..
        Players today would eat eat alive the players of 30 years ago let alone 100 years. Bigger faster fitter and just professional in their training and habits. A coach from back then would not know what to do with them.
        Modern training isnt a kick about and then down to the pub like back in the day.
        
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        January 15, 2026 3:52pm
  - leoj
    
    The ABs concentrate more on the haka than their playing.
    
    Time to drop it and alter the focus.
    
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    January 15, 2026 7:03pm
cmm

Yet again, people want to be absolved of the consequences of their actions. They want the convenience and want someone else to blame.

Of course the system puts a hold on funds to ensure that you can pay for what you buy. They tell you that and it is common sense.

They also tell you it might take a while to reverse (my understanding is that this is mostly the case if you pay with credit card).

But no, there must be someone to blame. It can’t be the person pressing “fill” instead of choosing a fixed amount.

And of course if you do just want to fill and don’t want $199 held, then pick a number just a bit higher than your tank capacity. For example, if your tank can only take $75 of petrol then choose $80.

Of course, if you don’t like the deal, go to a regular petrol station and pay at the counter with card or cash.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/360924432/pay-pump-nightmare-woman-paid-53-petrol-and-then-199-vanished-her-account
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January 15, 2026 8:16am
- slightlyrighty
  
  2 things however.
  
  It’s not commonly known that this is how it operates.
  
  and surely it would be a better system to be able to cover up to the available balance on the card? The system should be able to do that?
  
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  January 15, 2026 8:21am
  - cmm
    
    That is not what they were whining about.
    
    The hold is placed, but is then removed. In the mean time that held money is not available. If you had $300 in your account, $199 was held and then you spent only $50, then there is $250 in your account but you would only be able to spend $101.
    
    All people need to do is press one or two buttons to select a fill amount and the problem goes away.
    
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    January 15, 2026 9:03am
    - Chuck Bird
      
      I press fill at other stations and do not have that problem.
      
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      January 15, 2026 9:08am
      - Local Miller
        
        You aren’t aware of the problem. If between reserving the limit and the time the reserve is removed you don’t do a transaction larger than the remaining available funds, you’ll probably never notice the reserve.
        
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        January 15, 2026 9:21am
    - peterwn
      
      The hold should have been removed IMMEDIATELY, not at the merchant’s pleasure.
      
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      January 15, 2026 10:21am
      - Local Miller
        
        The reserve is normally remove IMMEDIATELY after the funds have been cleared for all parties.
        
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        January 15, 2026 10:59am
      - peterwn
        
        Local Miller – ‘normally’ is not good enough.
        
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        January 15, 2026 6:53pm
  - RoboRob
    
    The screens tell you that it will put $200 on hold and it might be helf for a few days. They also ask you to confirm you understand this. At least the NPD machines do. For people who fill their tank at self service stations this is commonly known.
    
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    January 15, 2026 9:05am
  - rouppe
    
    You are told this at the pump every time you do it.
    
    The gas terminal doesn’t know the remaining credit on your card. It achieves confidence that you can pay by putting a hold transaction on your card. The hold transaction is for the amount you specify. “Fill” is specifying $200 or $250
    
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    January 15, 2026 9:22am
- kowtow
  
  I do my best not to visit sites like $1uffed.
  
  Might help put them out of their misery sooner .
  
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  January 15, 2026 8:24am
  - Ra Henare
    
    Of course, as a counterpoint. It means you have a closed mind? Ie not reading widely with different points of view.
    
    Falls in to the same category as banning books because you dont like what you might read.????
    
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    January 15, 2026 2:47pm
    - Don Beckett
      
      Not necessarily – they are so predictable in what they write that it can only be classified as drivel.
      
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      January 15, 2026 3:46pm
      - Ra Henare
        
        so,only half a closed mind
        
        .
        
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        January 15, 2026 8:55pm
- Colville
  
  Who has their credit card so close to the limit that this matters?
  I always enter $200 as max, the tank takes maybe $130ish ..but the credit card takes (I think ) $16,000… FFS.
  
  But this is from $1 Stuffed…yesterday they had a headline story about some trees that got damaged in Remmers in 2024 during a house removal…. truly riveting !!
  
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  January 15, 2026 8:25am
  - AitchW
    
    Plenty of people live on credit. A significant number also use their credit card for pretty much every purchase then pay it all of on the due date.
    If you’ve had a couple of unusual purchases (a new fridge and a new washing machine, say) and your credit limit is only 5 k or 10 k, then you can run pretty close to the wind.
    
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    January 15, 2026 9:38am
    - Paulus
      
      Whilst you talk about card purchases have you noticed (probably not) that the Banks now include in the statement for each transaction if you pull it up, a Bank specified allocation, as per their system, as to what you spent your money on.
      Mine for example specifies my daily Coffee as Food and Beverages.
      Every transaction is now allocated by them.
      I did not ask them to do this – they just did it.
      Why don’y they mind their own business and just act as a Bank ?
      
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      January 15, 2026 11:25am
      - marcw
        
        It’s actually a great budgeting assistance measure. An account code is assigned to each of your payees (salary, insurance, rent, gardening, supermarket etc), then if the banks app is well designed, you can print out a summary of your income and expenses for whatever period you select. I’m sure all you Kiwibloggers are very concientious about budgeting, but some people need all the help they can get, and they may be suprised at how much they spend on coffees each month if they can easily access this informattion.
        
        If you are suggesting the bank staff all look at your expenditure on the weekly town visit Paulus, you would be wrong.
        
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        January 15, 2026 12:33pm
      - Don Beckett
        
        The danger is, as with digital currency & bank control, you can be told what to spend your money on, and be blocked when you exceed you allocation. Perfect for a totalitarian state – that we have been warned about, and is starting to happen in marxist/socialist countries.
        Danger Will Robinson – Danger.
        
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        January 15, 2026 12:45pm
- redeye
  
  So we fill up at NPD in Motueka most weeks and use the ‘fill’ option. I have never noticed any on-hold amount in my bank account.
  
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  January 15, 2026 8:55am
  - cmm
    
    Do you use a credit card or a debit card? There might be a difference.
    
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    January 15, 2026 8:59am
    - Local Miller
      
      I use a debit card and I’m aware of the hold. You’ll only notice it if you check your available balance before the hold is removed or do a transaction higher than the available balance (i.e. that cuts into the hold)
      
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      January 15, 2026 9:24am
    - peterwn
      
      There is no problem with a credit card unless the hold absorbs most of your credit limit. If you are using a credit card as a convenience rather than borrowing money, you would have a reasonable amount of headroom available. With a debit card, it is a ‘hold’ on your current bank account, and the amount locked up would be a real bother for some people.
      
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      January 15, 2026 10:36am
- pdm
  
  A Gull Station and another unattended Petrol Station are closest to where I live in Hastings.
  
  I never use them.
  
  I use Caltex in Karamu Road which is usually 1 to 5 cents a litre cheaper than either on any given day. What is more I can fill or put in whatever $$ value I choose then go into the counter and pay.
  
  Cheaper, simpler and it works for me.
  
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  January 15, 2026 8:56am
  - RoboRob
    
    In Christchurch, and I assume most other places, the NPD stations are around 20-30c cheaper then full serviced stations, even with discount vouchers. An added bonus is not having to have a voucher or queue to pay.
    
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    January 15, 2026 9:09am
- ISeeRed
  
  This happens at my Pak’n Save fuel site but AFAIK only for overseas credit cards. When the tourist speaks poor English, it can be quite a challenge explain what has happened.
  
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  January 15, 2026 9:40am
- peterwn
  
  “Yet again, ~~people~~ Z/U-Go want to be absolved of the consequences of their actions”.
  There, corrected for you. Z/U-Go should (and claim they normally do) release the ‘hold’ immediately the fuel transaction is completed, not days after. It is doubly obnoxious that the customer is charged for the value of the petrol AND the hold. Where the ‘hold’ is delayed the customer should Consumer Affairs who should take legal action against the merchant. A few stinging fines should sort the matter out.
  
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  January 15, 2026 10:04am
  - R
    
    NZ has a MORAL Compass problem, well highlighted by the regular references to, particularly petrol stations , where ‘low life’ fill the car petrol tank knowing that they can’t afford it: and then drive off. Businesses are not part of the WELFARE system
    
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    January 15, 2026 10:29am
    - peterwn
      
      This is irreverent to the main issue raised.
      
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      January 15, 2026 12:10pm
- Dudley Quaffquaff
  
  Proof once again, as if proof were needed – being poor is expensive
  
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  January 15, 2026 10:16am
Dudley Quaffquaff

As a New Zealander who was born in the UK, I see I am now going to have to renew my UK passport, which expired a few years ago, if I want to go there for a visit. I won’t any longer be able to get in on the strength of a visa in my New Zealand passport.

I’m not as badly off as people who came here as children and have never held a UK passport, it’s likely to be a lot more difficult for them to get the paperwork together. But it’s still a substantial expense and faff for something I might use twice or maybe thrice.

Why is the UK government doing this? What is the benefit to them / the harm they are trying to avoid? They surely don’t make that much profit out of the fees chargeable for renewing passports?

Also, presumably I will now need to travel with two passports? Which one do I show on leaving/arriving in which country?
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January 15, 2026 8:21am
- pdm
  
  DQ when we lived in the UK for two years 2009/2011 I had British and NZ passports.
  
  I used the British Passport anywhere in the EEC and the NZ one outside of.
  
  Seemed to work okay but, it may be different now of course.
  
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  January 15, 2026 8:59am
  - Dudley Quaffquaff
    
    No doubt, but this is about a new rule which is to be introduced, or rather is to start being strictly enforced, as of next month, for public policy reasons which remain opaque to me.
    
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    January 15, 2026 9:40am
    - Don Beckett
      
      Your problem is Dudley, that you are a WASP. If you were an illegal migrant from Syria, Turkey or Somalia there would be no problem. 🙂
      
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      January 15, 2026 10:49am
    - chaffnz
      
      Not opaque or really policy related specifically.. It’s just a technical issue they haven’t been able to overcome and now can’t be bothered. I am going to wait until the 26 February and see if it survives the furor that will probably occur as I do not want to incur the cost of both the passport, colour photocopying of two other passports (100 pages +?) and then postage.
      
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      January 15, 2026 9:26pm
  - G152
    
    Used my NZ passport throughout Europe without a problem
    
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    January 15, 2026 9:51am
    - Dudley Quaffquaff
      
      Blimey, reading comprehension is a bit thin around here.
      
      Your previous experience of being able to travel around Europe on a New Zealand passport, has no relevance at all in a discussion about a new rule which is going to restrict the ability of a particular sub-group of NZ passport holders, those born in the UK, to visit the UK.
      
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      January 15, 2026 10:29am
  - peterwn
    
    But following Brexit, a British passport is about as useless as tits on a bull, unless you want to enter the UK.
    
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    January 15, 2026 10:08am
- cmm
  
  It seems crazy, but is common. Many countries require, or at least prefer, that you enter the country using that country’s passport if you are a citizen.
  
  If you cross the channel illegally in a rubber boat you don’t need any passport at all.
  
  The other option is to revoke your UK citizenship.
  
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  January 15, 2026 9:07am
  - Dudley Quaffquaff
    
    I gather revocation is even more expensive than a passport renewal, although it might work out cheaper if you’re expecting to live long enough to renew your passport more than twice
    
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    January 15, 2026 9:36am
  - kowtow
    
    Cross illegally and get put up in a hotel .
    
    Win win.
    
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    January 15, 2026 9:47am
  - virtualmark
    
    The US has this same rule … if you are a US citizen then you have to use your US passport to enter and exit the US.
    
    If you have other citizenships/passports then you can’t use those to enter/leave the US.
    
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    January 15, 2026 10:54am
    - kowtow
      
      That’s been the case for some time .
      The UK thing is new and as DQ asks would be interesting to know why.
      
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      January 15, 2026 11:48am
    - Flossie
      
      That’s not right. My family leave to come to NZ on their NZ passports, and return to their home in USA using their US passports. Their last trip was one week ago.
      
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      January 15, 2026 1:20pm
      - virtualmark
        
        “Requirements for U.S. citizens holding dual nationality 
        
        You must enter and leave the United States on your U.S. passport. You are not allowed to enter on your foreign passport based on U.S. law. ”
        
        https://travel.state.gov/en/international-travel/planning/personal-needs/dual-nationality.html
        
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        January 15, 2026 2:46pm
      - Flossie
        
        They didn’t try to re-enter the US on their NZ passports.
        
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        January 15, 2026 3:45pm
- RoboRob
  
  I know someone in a similar position. The UK govt made it a slow, nightmare to get documentation together and as you say, it was expensive.
  
  I dont get it eithe, although I hear that somecountries require citizens to be in the country to renew passports etc.
  
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  January 15, 2026 9:13am
  - peterwn
    
    Several years ago I helped a friend get a British passport and as I had a British passport (now expired and I do not want to renew) I could sponsor her. She had a photo taken at a pharmacist but the system would not take it. I suggested she went to a professional photographer which she did. Still no joy. In desperation I hung a white sheet on the garage door and took a photo with my phone. First attempt failed but second attempt – success! I then scanned and printed the whole of the NZ passport for her.
    
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    January 15, 2026 10:19am
- Sparrow
  
  I have not travelled to the UK for many years used my NZ passport no visa. Do you now need a visa to enter the UK on a NZ passport.?
  
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  January 15, 2026 9:23am
  - Dudley Quaffquaff
    
    You did, but as from next month they won’t give you a UK visa for your NZ passport if you were born in the UK. You have to get an actual UK passport
    
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    January 15, 2026 9:35am
  - peterwn
    
    Thanks to the internet, soft visas (as I call them) are becoming pretty common. USA started it, then Canada. Now EU, Britain and New Zealand and some other countries require them. The New Zealand one is the most obnoxious in my view as it is used to collect a hefty tax allegedly to spend on tourism.
    
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    January 15, 2026 10:29am
    - Dudley Quaffquaff
      
      Yes, the UK now requires them. But they won’t give them to people who were born in the UK. Such people have instead to acquire a UK passport.
      
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      January 15, 2026 11:39am
  - chaffnz
    
    No you didn’t need a VISA. Now you need an ETA.
    
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    January 15, 2026 9:23pm
- AitchW
  
  A Labour government runs the UK. Labour governments love to complicate your life. I too was born in the UK, but am a New Zealand citizen with a New Zealand passport, and I have retained my UK citizenship. (To be honest I don’t know if you can even give it up!)
  This new rule is just a bureaucratic circle jerk in my opinion.
  
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  January 15, 2026 9:42am
  - peterwn
    
    You can give up UK citizenship but the fee is greater than applying for a British passport.
    
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    January 15, 2026 10:11am
    - Christopher Thomson
      
      You only have to give up once.
      
      How often do you renew the passport?
      
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      January 15, 2026 4:31pm
- MCōs
  
  From a practical point of view a U.K. passport is handy to have if you’re going over there. It means you can work, stay as long as you like etc.
  You can’t work on an NZ passport and there’s a time restriction
  
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  January 15, 2026 9:45am
  - Dudley Quaffquaff
    
    And if I were intending to work, or stay, in the UK for an extended period, it would be fair enough to expect me to reestablish my credentials and entitlement to do that as a British citizen. But if I’m just going for a short visit – what’s the purpose of making it more difficult for me to do that, than it would be for a New Zealand citizen who was born in New Zealand, or indeed in China, or India, or Russia?
    
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    January 15, 2026 10:34am
- Neebone
  
  “Also, presumably I will now need to travel with two passports? Which one do I show on leaving/arriving in which country?”
  
  Good question. I left NZ on my British passport and when I returned they stopped me at the border because I didn’t have an NZ visa for re-entry. They gave me a week’s grace to produce my NZ passport. That was in 1982, things might have changed but make sure you can get back into your own country.
  
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  January 15, 2026 10:52am
  - Dudley Quaffquaff
    
    As I understand it, you show your passport on leaving the country because the airline wants to make sure that you’ll be able to get off at the other end and they’re not stuck with you. This implies that I must use my UK passport on leaving NZ for the UK, as well as on arrival in the UK.
    
    But then by the same logic I’d have to use my NZ passport for the journey back. The NZ government has its suspicions aroused by KiwiDud arriving back in NZ without ever having left it, while the British government thinks that BritDud is still in the UK when he isn’t. Does this matter? Do I get into trouble in either country?
    
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    January 15, 2026 11:49am
    - peterwn
      
      You must leave a country using the same passport as you enter it. This is especially as the countries you are visiting often note details of your passport on entry and reconcile exiting with entries. Even if you were able to leave an a different passport, your exit may not be noted against your entry and you then will become on overstayer. You would then face a problem if you make a subsequent visit. It may be that when you check in for your flight you will need to present one passport for the country you are about to enter, but then present a different passport to immigration of the country you are leaving.
      
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      January 15, 2026 12:37pm
    - chaffnz
      
      You don’t have to use your UK passport to leave NZ, you have to show it to the airline staff. When they first rolled out the ETA you could show them an expired passport, but from 25 Feb you need a current one.
      
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      January 15, 2026 9:21pm
- Ra Henare
  
  Canadians have had to do this for at least 5 years.!!!
  Ie show their Canadian passport if entering on NZ passport.
  
  Also, presumably I will now need to travel with two passports? Which one do I show on leaving/arriving in which country?
  
  If you cant work that out…here is the simple solution.
  
  Depart NZ with Kiwi passport, arrive in UK with UK passport
  Depart UK with UK passport, arrive NZ with Kiwi passport.
  
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  January 15, 2026 2:50pm
- chaffnz
  
  I don’t think we’ve ever needed a VISA to enter the UK. Dual nationals are now being screwed simply because they have rolled out the ETA system which can’t ‘handle’ us, and the easiest way for them is to just mandate carriage of a UK passport or certificate of entitlement. It’s purely to get onto the plane in your departure country, and wont have much affect at the other end. It sucks.
  
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  January 15, 2026 9:19pm
- jonno1
  
  My son and family, living in the UK, use their NZ passports to visit NZ, and their British passports to return. Both parents were born in NZ, children in UK.
  
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  January 15, 2026 9:24pm
Frank the tank

Is this the year we see all the bad guys tumble?
Maduro now possibly Khamenei?
Have the wars in Ukraine and Gaza crippled the axis of evil and now they can get picked off one-by-one?
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January 15, 2026 8:22am
- sungsamning
  
  Maybe Cuba next. No free oil from Venezeula, and no other foreign sugar daddy in sight.
  
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  January 15, 2026 9:57am
- Ra Henare
  
  You forgot to add the Main Terrorist in Chief from the largest terrorist force in the world.
  
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  January 15, 2026 2:52pm
  - Christopher Thomson
    
    He did, Khamenei was right there.
    
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    January 15, 2026 4:34pm
    - Ra Henare
      
      Havent seen Khamenei ordering shooting up of civilian boats and kidnapping a foreign President 🙂
      Did I miss something.
      
      A counterpoint.
      Apply Trumps logic to Khamenei, and the world looks different. ie Secure Defence of your country by firing off weapons offshore at existential threats???
      
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      January 15, 2026 9:04pm
Tomtoddy

The next year or so are going to be increasingly turbulent on the international economic front. China is very deliberately slowing it purchases of US Treasury Bonds undermining the greenback’s position as the world’s reserve currency.

China is leveraging its substantial and growing gold reserves to provide backing for more and more international transactions in yuan. A massive oil deal in yuan with Venezuela was planned and is now unlikely. But the shift is happening.

No sudden changes that impact NZ are likely from these moves but generally funding international trade is going to become more expensive, dealing across borders more chaotic, international interest rates will rise and, in many ways, we are poorly prepared for such eventualities.

We still need to find how to increase our productivity and our wealth to reduce the impact of what will be an increasing number of external economic shocks. What started with Nixon removing the gold standard has gone a full circle – China is using its trade dominance to reinstitute the tried and true measure. The inevitable tide has turned and the USA decline will continue, slowly but surely. We are still on her coattails.
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January 15, 2026 8:27am
- kowtow
  
  ‘We are still on her coattails.’
  
  Tell us where should we be then .
  
  No fence sitting please .
  
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  January 15, 2026 8:35am
  - Tomtoddy
    
    We stay on her coattails. No sudden changes are required. But change is occurring and to ignore it is dangerous. The USA’s economic dominance is in decline and the relative strength of the dollar is slowly diminishing. Not overnight but the trend is obvious and continues.
    
    We need to work harder to develop trading and other ties with India, BRICs, S.E.Asia, Japan, eastern Europe. Spread our risk away from China. Work harder at strengthening our economy against external shocks. Ensure corporates building branded exports have the best possible environment to do so. (Sadly, the Fonterra sale of brands is a huge backward step – Ok for them and good for farmers in the short terms but bad for the country).
    
    The world is becoming more multi-polar, and we need to be sufficiently flexible rather than ideological to survive and hopefully thrive.
    
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    January 15, 2026 9:35am
    - Dudley Quaffquaff
      
      These are all things we should be and should have been doing anyway, whether your analysis of the global situation is right or not
      
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      January 15, 2026 9:42am
    - kowtow
      
      TT
      
      Agree re diversification.
      Can’t be reliant on any market overly .
      
      However , from a philosophical point of view , important to align with nations that share our broad values ; democracy , rule of law , capitalism , individual rights etc
      
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      January 15, 2026 10:46am
    - Ra Henare
      
      You talk about the decline of the American Empire (I agree) like previous empires (Roma, British etc etc) All empires decline.
      
      So which will be the new empire. My money would be on China.
      They have already conquered much of Africa and Asia. Not with guns and bullets but with dollars and legal control.
      The first Empire built with monetary weapons and no military intervention at all.
      
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      January 15, 2026 2:57pm
- Scott
  
  The USA is now in the ascendancy. Inflation is down, employment is up and billions of dollars of investment is flowing into the USA. China does need to be curtailed but the idea of inevitable Chinese dominance and inevitable American decline is defeatist talk. I have seen videos of empty Chinese cities and population decline in China.
  
  China may not be as strong as people think?
  
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  January 15, 2026 8:36am
  - Taieri
    
    China may not be as strong as people think?
    —————-
    
    It’s on the verge of collapse.
    At least, according to some internet sages…
    
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    January 15, 2026 9:23am
  - kowtow
    
    To answer your question.
    
    Drones are the go to thing of the moment .
    
    They have huge quantities and furthermore , through our “free trade” policies with them , our de industrialisation and our carbon nuttiness , ‘we’ have gifted them the massive , even perhaps overwhelming industrial capacity to pump out potentially hundreds of thousands more ,to win any future war . And much else besides.
    
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    January 15, 2026 9:33am
  - Ra Henare
    
    Scott,
    And the USA about to drown in its debt with interest payments on said debt passing one Trillion dollars.
    
    Did you also see videos of the Millions of homeless in USA?
    Empty NEW Chinese Cities have been around for at least 20 years that I am aware of. Capitalism went mad and the CCP didnt step in to stop it.
    
    Population Decline, grasping at staws are we?
    More homework required Scott.
    USA is also in population Decline
    
    United States Population Estimates (2016–2024)
    2024 (intercensual estimate): 340,110,988
    2023 (intercensual estimate): 336,806,231
    2022 (intercensual estimate): 334,017,321
    2021 (intercensual estimate): 332,099,760
    2020 (census): 331,449,390
    2019 (intercensal estimate): 330,226,227
    2018 (intercensal estimate): 328,529,577
    2017 (intercensal estimate): 326,353,340
    2016 (intercensal estimate): 324,353,340
    2015 (intercensal estimate): 321,815,121
    
    China suffers from immense Western propaganda.
    A visit to China might give you a different insight.
    
    The same as anti USA propaganda within China might have you belief that USA is sliding down the decadence mudslide to oblivion.
    
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    January 15, 2026 9:12pm
- RoboRob
  
  Biden kicked this off when he took financial action against Russia using at least the SWIFT system. Suddenly the world realised that the US wasn’t a benign and reliable actor. Countries realised that relying on the USD and US banking systems for international dealings could be dangerous. Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) decided to pull away from using the USD and try something else.
  
  The result is two plus years of the USD weakening. The irony is, that trading in say the YUAN, has exactly the same issues as trading in the USD. You are somewhat at the whim of China. Whilst Trump is ‘unstable’, long term I know who I would rather trust.
  
  p.s. This is also a factor in the massive move to gold / silver / Cryto. People have forcast the drop in value for the USD and want to hold wealth in more ‘stable’ locations. If and when the USD stabilises I expect and exodus from Gold and a related sharp drop in its value.
  
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  January 15, 2026 9:20am
- Simon
  
  NZ is cooked. Just look at the garbage in Wellington and the scum who abuse and attack nurses etc in ED. They are the same system.
  
  The system produces scum which attack ED staff means steady state of decline for NZ. The red lights are flashing across the country.
  
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  January 15, 2026 9:43am
  - imalwaysright
    
    It would be interesting to know how many of last years school leavers will engage in paid employment.
    A life on Social Welfare is becoming a more common ‘career’ choice among college pupils.
    Expect more scum on our streets and in our EDs, this is an existential and growing problem.
    
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    January 15, 2026 10:19am
    - Scott
      
      Imalways – I share your concerns. I think we need to reconsider the incentives we have in place. Many years ago I finished my university studies and bummed around for a few months. However it wasn’t long before I was summoned to the Labour department, was given an opportunity to do community based work for the local Y. I got back into work on a community scheme for a year, then got a job in the public sector and moved on from there.
      
      Some assistance to school leavers to find work is good. But the option of long term welfare should not be an option for them.
      
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      January 15, 2026 11:46am
    - Ghost
      
      https://economics.infometrics.co.nz/article/2025-02-improving-school-leaver-destinations
      
      Article from last year
      
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      January 15, 2026 11:53am
      - imalwaysright
        
        Very good report. Thanks.
        Sad to see 1 in 5 young people on the dole 5 years after leaving school, another statistic is that those on the dole at a young age average about 18 years on the benefit. Basically a double life sentence.
        What a waste of life.
        
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        January 15, 2026 12:27pm
      - rjay
        
        The sad number inferred from the report is the number of students who undertook tertiary education that ended up as a NEET after that study.
        
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        January 15, 2026 12:40pm
  - Albie
    
    Simon, it’s easy to get hooked on the notion that we are cooked. New Zealand is still in the top 5 most peaceful countries in the world to live in I read in an international survey yesterday. Number 3 if I remember correctly.
    Yes we do have some of the worst stats in the world for child abuse, and thuggery and poor behaviour are reported on gleefully by Te Media Pahti it seems daily.
    However, most of this can be put down to a relatively small number of our “First Nation’s” people who also happen to re- offend continually.
    
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    January 15, 2026 10:34am
    - kowtow
      
      It can be tempting to place the blame there but from my totally non scientific observations , court page readings etc I can assure you that there’s a huge constituency of what our better off American cousins might call “trailer trash” and they are not First Nations .
      
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      January 15, 2026 12:57pm
    - Ra Henare
      
      I think you mean New Zealanders of Maori descent
      
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      January 15, 2026 9:15pm
- All_on_Red
  
  China only holds 2.6% of US Treasury Bonds
  
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  January 15, 2026 11:05am
BeaB

After the regrettable Orr era, it is a worry to find we now have another Governor of the Reserve Bank exercising such poor judgement. The US law action is over perjury and fraud involving a US$3 billion building, not the management of the nation’s money. And even if it were, it is no business of NZ officials.
Winston Peters was correct to rebuke her. I would go further and question whether she is fit for the job if she intends to use her position here to posture on the world stage.
And if she and her peers are so keen to support other central banks there are plenty of countries they could start with. Not led by Trump of course, which is obviously why they all piped up so self-importantly.
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January 15, 2026 8:28am
- pdm
  
  BB.
  
  Was it Peters job to rebuke her?
  
  Should he not have got Willis to do that and make the public announcement.
  
  It looks like manipulative electioneering to me – but, that is the Peters way 100%.
  
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  January 15, 2026 9:02am
  - cmm
    
    It is also a foreign affairs matter because a foreign entity and relationship is involved, so yes, it is within WP’s wheelhouse.
    
    Besides we know Willis would have pussy-footed around it.
    
    As you say though, WP only does what serves WP.
    
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    January 15, 2026 9:38am
  - Paulus
    
    But you know Peters’s thoughts on the roles of senior women or most women really.
    
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    January 15, 2026 2:24pm
- wsk12345
  
  No idea what you are talking about – lots of us don’t routinely read MSM, so a link or explanation would help.
  
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  January 15, 2026 9:05am
  - greybeard
    
    A simple Google search “Governor of the Reserve Bank” will quickly tell you all you need to know. Go down to “Top stories”.
    
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    January 15, 2026 10:00am
    - wsk12345
      
      And a link would hep so we dont have to go to stuffed – it’s generally all in the title of the link.
      
      I did a search btw, came up as 19 hours ago. Didnt appear in top stories.
      
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      January 15, 2026 10:37am
      - All_on_Red
        
        Powell has refused to provide information about where the $3 B spent on the alterations to their offices has gone.
        All the DOJ has sent is a subpoena requesting that information as they see conflicts in his Testimony about it.
        Powell is lying when he claims he has been indicted.
        Now if our Governor of the Reserve Bank thinks that ‘Bank Independence’ means that spending by the Bank on renovations ($3 BILLION!) cannot be scrutinised then she is a moron and should be sacked.
        https://www.breitbart.com/economy/2026/01/11/doj-fed-investigation/
        
        And people should provide links. That has always been the etiquette on this Blog
        
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        January 15, 2026 11:03am
      - BeaB
        
        I think this woman is using us as a stepping stone to one of the big organisations. A few years here and she’ll be off like most of the other foreign appointments. But she has to make her name among the big boys and signing a letter like this is a great way to get noticed.
        Of course it may just be bad judgement but, whatever, she should be told to pack her bags now.
        
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        January 15, 2026 12:12pm
- Dougal10
  
  Didn’t Orr wast millions on his building fit out , its a pity our government didn’t bring charges against him for the gross waste of taxpayers dollars from his position of privilige .
  
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  January 15, 2026 9:06am
  - kowtow
    
    Not to mention turning a once secular and much respected institution into some sort of Mumbo Jumbo , jungle tribal semi religious Disneyfied South Seas laughing stock exhibition.
    
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    January 15, 2026 9:28am
    - artemisia
      
      Nomination for Quote of 2026.
      
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      January 15, 2026 9:56am
      - sungsamning
        
        Seconded.
        
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        January 15, 2026 10:00am
    - marcw
      
      Mustn’t say “mumbo jumbo” kowtow, you’ll have the BSA on your back. Can you afford the lawyers fees?
      
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      January 15, 2026 12:54pm
      - kowtow
        
        Can you afford the lawyers fees?
        
        No, but if it comes to it I’d help prove that legal adage and be my own client ……..
        
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        January 15, 2026 1:01pm
- kowtow
  
  I see her excuse is along the lines of “independence of central bankers”
  
  I look forward then to the very public clean out of all the treatyism that was imposed on her institution during the highly interventionist Ardern/Robertson regime.
  
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  January 15, 2026 9:09am
  - Prince
    
    ‘Independence of central bankers’ surely applies to banking matters.
    How would you feel if she came out supporting Act, or TPM at the election ?
    
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    January 15, 2026 2:50pm
- imalwaysright
  
  Do central bank exist for the benefit of the citizens, or for the banks?
  We have a floating exchange rate that is determined by interested traders in the rest of the world, what use is the central bank?
  
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  January 15, 2026 9:45am
  - Taieri
    
    what use is the central bank?
    ————
    
    Regulation of money supply and maintenance of financial stability (inc. inflation control).
    
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    January 15, 2026 10:24am
    - imalwaysright
      
      Cheers.
      Note to Mrs Breman : “Regulation of money supply and maintenance of financial stability (inc. inflation control).”
      
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      January 15, 2026 11:10am
- Simon
  
  Orr operated under Covid economic conditions, implemented by Labour which were fully supported by National. Only when he had to increase interest rates to deal with inflation did Orr fall out with the National party. Neoliberal clown show all around
  
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  January 15, 2026 9:46am
  - mogg
    
    He caused inflation by being to slow to raise rates and followed up by being to slow to reduce rates.
    That was during Ardern’s free money period, and
    “government spending doesn’t cause inflation”.
    
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    January 15, 2026 11:49am
    - slijmbal
      
      As far as I can tell the Reserve Bank has a very consistent history over decades of performing actions like interest rate hikes significantly late. This precedes Orr – it was particularly lagging under his watch.
      
      So, inflation gets out of control as they move too slowly and then they have to ramp rates up higher and faster than they otherwise might, which then crashes the economy and they hold the rates too high for too long. They are measured on inflation and overshooting is ‘safe’ in terms of that measurement once the problem has started. Bad for the economy though, obviously. I believe they even had a review at one point that said something on similar lines though not as blunt.
      
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      January 15, 2026 2:26pm
- MCōs
  
  The Governor of the Reserve Bank added her signature to a letter signed by 14 central bankers and counting.
  Have the others been admonished by their foreign ministers or are we forever going to sit on the fence, never taking sides in the big issues of the day under this Foreign Minister?
  Jerome Powell was appointed by President Trump. Maybe he thought he would toe the line just like all his other flunkies.
  Well here’s a guy who put country first
  Shock Horror
  What happens over there effects the central banks world wide including NZ
  
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  January 15, 2026 10:24am
  - wsk12345
    
    Next you’ll suggest we follow all those other country numpties that stood up for Hamas recently
    
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    January 15, 2026 10:39am
  - Quail
    
    Mcos,
    Absolutely correct.
    The independence of reserve banks is essential to maintain and ensure stability of worlds “fiat”( pretty much every )currencies.
    These are currencies that actually make world trade possible.
    The Governor of the RB deserves the support and thanks of us all !
    She has done her job!
    
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    January 15, 2026 10:49am
    - Quail
      
      Perhaps you downtickers would prefer the past ,where the Minister of Finance ( sometimes PM) actually set the Exchange rate themselves?
      And their “ creeping peg “ policy which embedded inflation after the change from a Gold Standard.
      Political control gone mad.
      More examples of failed socialism!
      
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      January 15, 2026 12:55pm
  - Christopher Thomson
    
    Powell was appointed by Trump in his first term.
    
    He was reappointed for a second term by Biden.
    
    I would note; Trumps first term was undermined by multiple bad-actors, including Obama, Clinton, and a plethora of deep-state players. Many of the appointments during the first term have been proven to be working against the administration.
    
    The hiatus between administrations has allowed the identification of those dishonest appointees to be identified and their services dispensed with.
    
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    January 15, 2026 4:50pm
- Beach Haven expat
  
  Presumably she’s still on her probationary period so maybe a little review session followed by being kicked out the door is an option?
  
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  January 16, 2026 2:05am
Scott

It looks like military action against Iran by the USA is imminent –

“According to Reuters, US military action in Iran may begin within the next 24 hours.

US personnel have been advised to leave the US military’s Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar by Wednesday night.

Al Udeid Air base is the Middle East’s largest US military base, housing around 10,000 troops.

Iran says it will hit US bases in the area if attacked.”

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2026/01/reuters-us-military-action-against-iranian-regime-may/

We know that Iran security forces are shooting protestors and thousands have been killed. Trump warned this was a red line and it looks like military action is going to happen probably within the next 24 hours.
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January 15, 2026 8:31am
- Philview
  
  Now that he has been so public in his statement he has to follow through. I am curious what the Iranian response will be as they say have terror networks in various countries ready to strike. If these networks exist it would be good to see them exposed.
  
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  January 15, 2026 9:13am
  - RoboRob
    
    I am surprised that the US has decided to become involved. I am sure there is a deeper reason then just ‘protecting Iranian protestors’.
    
    I will be very interested to see what the US actually does. It wont be a boots on the gound military invasion. It might be strikes on IRG headquaters & government communications. If the US has any details of renewed nuclear activity I am sure they wont hesitate to take the excuse and destroy them.
    
    With regards to Irans response. That will likely be some strong words and a salvo of missiles at Isreal.
    
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    January 15, 2026 9:27am
    - Wandering Star
      
      “I am surprised that the US has decided to become involved. I am sure there is a deeper reason then just ‘protecting Iranian protestors’.”
      
      As Israel’s preferred tool for reshaping the Middle East in their favour for the last 40 years, the US has never not been involved in Iran for all that time.
      
      Because most people have such low tolerance for thinking and observation, they think this is a series of sporadic developments, rather than a continuous and concerted campaign aimed at inducing regime change.
      
      This latest phase goes back at least to 2018 when Trump threw out the Iran nuclear deal at the behest of his Jewish donors, and has continued through assassinations, industrial sabotage, NGOs and intel subversion, and even direct military bombing activities on occasion.
      
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      January 15, 2026 1:04pm
      - RoboRob
        
        You know the jews aren’t behind every world even right?
        
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        January 15, 2026 2:42pm
- rangitoto
  
  Trump has backed down now that his boss Putin has advised him that the executions have stopped.
  
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  January 15, 2026 10:13am
  - Ghost
    
    Has he? 8 air tankers were in route to Diego Garcia yesterday
    
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    January 15, 2026 11:06am
    - kowtow
      
      Is that the place Starmer is handing over to Mauritius with no real ties to native Chagosians and lumping UK taxpayers with years of ongoing costs.
      
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      January 15, 2026 12:31pm
      - Christopher Thomson
        
        Yup, that’s the place.
        
        And a strong whiff of corruption around the deal to boot.
        
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        January 15, 2026 4:53pm
    - Ghost
      
      Not confirmed yet, but there are some posts claiming US B2 bombers have bombed targets in Iran
      
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      January 15, 2026 1:02pm
- virtualmark
  
  US military action in Iran would likely be counter-productive. It would give the mullah’s legitimacy in saying that the protests are driven by the US and Israel.
  
  A better path would be for the US to use soft tools like the Voice of America to send up-to-date free-to-air news broadcasts into Iran. The regime there has shut down most news, the internet, etc and so it’s hard for the protestors to coordinate and to get more people out on the streets.
  
  Pity then that DOGE and Kari Lake have basically shut down Voice of America …
  
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  January 15, 2026 11:00am
  - All_on_Red
    
    Sure, Radio messages will make all the difference
    //
    
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    January 15, 2026 11:08am
    - virtualmark
      
      Seems odd then that the military use them all the time to coordinate. And civilians use them in emergencies to find out what’s happening.
      
      The value of VoA would be getting accurate up-to-date news into the country to help the protestors coordinate.
      
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      January 15, 2026 11:16am
      - All_on_Red
        
        Sure, the Iranians are gonna tune their Crystal Radio sets to listen to VoA
        I love the way you push this nonsense just so you can criticise Trump
        There must be a name for that sort of obsession
        //
        
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        January 15, 2026 12:54pm
      - Jethrod
        
        There are virtually no airlines flying over Iraq, according to Flightradar 24, only 2 planes, Mahan Air, a privately owned Iranian airline, so perhaps the world’s airlines flying scared?
        
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        January 15, 2026 1:15pm
      - virtualmark
        
        Red,
        
        There’s this new technology called satellites. You have a dish on the side of your house to watch TV. But it can also pick up the radio.
        
        Iranians used to be able to tune into the VoA on the following settings … https://www.dthsat.com/VOA-Persian
        
        My understanding is that that VoA service has been shuttered in the last 12 months.
        
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        January 15, 2026 2:40pm
      - All_on_Red
        
        Sure
        There’s this new technology called Starlink which is there (courtesy of Musk) which is far superior to VoA
        (hint, it allows images to get out to the world so we can see whats happening)
        But hey you stick to your idea that radio messages from VoA will make all the difference to those rioters facing bullets…
        
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        January 15, 2026 4:40pm
      - virtualmark
        
        Yep, and apparently the Israelis have been trying to get as many Starlink terminals in as possible. Great idea.
        
        But bombing Iran will just harden the resolve of the security forces. And right now the key step that will take protests across the line to revolution is carving the security forces away from the mullahs, not driving them closer to the mullahs.
        
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        January 15, 2026 6:00pm
      - Ra Henare
        
        The value of VOA would be getting accurate up-to-date news into the country to help the protestors coordinate.
        
        I think you mean up to date propaganda from the US Administration.
        
        You do realise that Voice of America was created to pump up the USA image and attack communism (and all the other isims)
        
        I see the Senate is proposing to refund VOA after Trumps attempt to shut it down(Victim of Dodge)
        
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        January 15, 2026 9:26pm
  - NothingLeft
    
    Voice of Soros (similar to eye of Sauron). was about as balanced as BBC, RNZ, NPR and other far left captured propaganda organs. All are better consigned to the dust bin of history.
    
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    January 15, 2026 2:29pm
- Northshoredoc
  
  Whilst the adminstration can’t be open about its plans and strategy in relation to Iran prior to the fact, I hope there’s something that will curb the excesses of the current iranian regime and not lead to the ongoing or worsening of the slaughter of the protestors and general population.
  
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  January 15, 2026 11:34am
  - Ra Henare
    
    Yes, and of course using that logic. (Slaughter of protestors/general population
    
    The USA should apply the same measures to Myanmar, ??? Haiti, Ecuador and others.
    
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    January 15, 2026 9:29pm
grumpy

Still, total silence from the politicians and activists who proudly supported Hamas in the phony “genocide” when faced with Iran now openly murdering an estimated 20,000 citizens.
Swarbrick, Minto etc. should never again be quoted by media on anything.
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January 15, 2026 8:34am
- AitchW
  
  Swarbrick, Minto etc should never have been quoted in the first place!
  
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  January 15, 2026 8:50am
  - Biscuit
    
    Dunno Swarbrick’s ‘excuse’ for her (welcome) latest silence but I hear that Minto’s megaphone is in for its regular 50,000 shouts service…
    
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    January 15, 2026 9:41am
- kowtow
  
  The hypocrisy is astounding.
  
  Where too are the so called “mainstream” commenters te media love to trot out , the Robert Patmans and Helen Clarks .Who espouse the nice sounding “international rules based order” that doesn’t and never existed.
  
  The Mullah regime , in addition to oppressing and murdering its own citizens , in the name of religion, exports terror across the globe .
  
  Is a huge supporter ( along with other big regimes that we love to trade with ) of the Russian war effort in Ukr .Which is targetting civilians , like the Mullahs do.
  
  Seeks nuclear weapons ( with the aid of like minded authoritarian dictatorships) , is a UN /EU sanction buster and sponsors constant war on many fronts against Israel and international Jewry .
  
  If Trump whacks ’em , the whole Global Left Wing Conspiracy ( thank you Hilary) and other TDSers will go into overdrive , at the moment it’s still just a cautious whimper from their propaganda machine , aka the legacy media.
  
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  January 15, 2026 8:51am
- cmm
  
  They are the same people who were silent on the Muslim forces killing Christians in South Sudan.
  
  At this stage there is so little reliable evidence so the 20,000 is probably way off. Still we know there are lots of bodies building up.
  
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  January 15, 2026 8:53am
  - grumpy
    
    CBS just updated to 20,000. BBC on Tuesday was 10,000.
    
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    January 15, 2026 11:13am
  - Gussy Fink-Nottle
    
    Tells you all you need to know about the source of funding and interference that so successfully and completely propagandised our affluent white liberals.
    Those suckers were being played. Simple as that.
    
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    January 15, 2026 5:15pm
- MCōs
  
  How many people have been killed in Iran, did you say and is your number just a guess with a zero added for emphasis?
  Whatever it is it’s a lot, by all accounts.
  By all accounts a lot of people have been killed in Gaza too.
  https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-01-14/iran-protests-death-toll-official-says-2500-killed/106226744?utm_source=abc_news_app&utm_medium=content_shared&utm_campaign=abc_news_app&utm_content=link
  
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  January 15, 2026 9:10am
  - kowtow
    
    There’s no equivalence.
    
    The Mullahs are murdering their own citizens who want prosperity and freedom.
    Israel was engaged in a justified war of defence / protecting its kidnapped hostages.
    
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    January 15, 2026 9:25am
  - RoboRob
    
    This is a government killing its own people. Quite different to military action between two governments (Isreal and Palestine).
    
    Not everything is about Isreal. However since you raise it, lots of people complained loudly about the killing in Palestine, thoes same people are dead silent on Iran. Could it be because Iran supports Hamas and hates Isreal and the USA, so by proxy they like Iran?
    
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    January 15, 2026 9:32am
    - David George
      
      Yes, pretty much, Rob.
      What to do when the patron of the terror they supported goes on yet another bloody rampage?
      It well and truly negates their delusion of Islam as victim rather than perpetrator.
      It’s that reality they can’t handle
      
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      January 15, 2026 10:26am
  - grumpy
    
    Don’t bother looking to our media for numbers, they are in the Hamas/Iran tank.
    As of yesterday
    BBC Persian 10,000
    *CBS. 12,000
    Iran International 12,000
    Internal sources 20,000
    *CBS just gone with 20,000
    
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    January 15, 2026 11:09am
- Lummox
  
  And we are not hearing much from the UN and the EU.
  It seems that they still want the USA to be the World’s police, at the same time as criticising Trump for everything he does.
  
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  January 15, 2026 9:40am
  - Ghost
    
    sure we are, perhaps you need to read the news more
    
    The European Parliament has condemned Trump’s demands
    
    The UN experts saying he must respect international law
    
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    January 15, 2026 4:03pm
grumpy

Iran all but admits it was behind the assassination attempts on Trump
https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/2157866/iran-trump-world-war-3
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January 15, 2026 8:37am
- cmm
  
  I think drawing that conclusion is highly speculative.
  
  Saying ‘Bullets won’t miss this time’ is vastly different to saying “bugger we missed last time, but not next time”.
  
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  January 15, 2026 8:57am
  - grumpy
    
    That is not what they said….. at last one of the would be assassins had ties to Iran. “This time it will not miss the target”.
    
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    January 15, 2026 9:09am
    - Wandering Star
      
      Explain the Iranians’ motive for assassinating Trump, when doing so would seal the Iranian regime’s fate.
      
      Only in the deluded, propagandistic fever dreams of the State Department and the Netanyahu regime would Iran ever want to attack the United States in any way.
      
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      January 15, 2026 1:29pm
  - RoboRob
    
    There are multiple reports of Iran putting out ‘hits’ on Trump and other US players. Iran have publicly bragged about it. A number of ‘hitmen’ have been arrested over the last few years.
    
    Whilst Iran might not have been behind either Trump assasination attempt, they certainly want to assasinate him.
    
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    January 15, 2026 9:34am
    - Wandering Star
      
      Why would Iran want to kill Trump or any US president, when it would guarantee harsh retaliation? You could see why the Israelis would do one of their patented hits and blame Iran, though, and for exactly the same reason.
      
      Accordingly, if any “Iranian” attack were to occur in the US or on US forces, Israel would be the number one suspect, because more deeply involving the US in Iran benefits them, and them only.
      
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      January 15, 2026 1:26pm
      - RoboRob
        
        Ask the Iranians. As I said, they have publicly bragged about it.
        
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        January 15, 2026 2:41pm
      - Wandering Star
        
        “Ask the Iranians. As I said, they have publicly bragged about it.”
        
        Where are the multiple reports wherein they brag about having put out “hits”?
        
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        January 15, 2026 3:12pm
      - RoboRob
        
        @Wandering
        
        There is this thing you can use called the internet…
        
        https://www.ndtvprofit.com/world/iran-issues-direct-assassination-threat-against-trump-on-state-tv-amid-escalating-unrest-10752990?utm_source=copilot.com
        
        https://www.politico.com/news/2024/11/08/donald-trump-iran-assassination-plot-00188498?utm_source=copilot.com
        
        https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/iran-airs-chilling-assassination-threat-to-trump-on-live-tv-this-time-bullet-wont-miss/ar-AA1UdryN
        
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        January 15, 2026 5:00pm
- MCōs
  
  From the Express
  
  “14 hours ago19:39 Antonio Scancariello
  US military intervention in Iran could start within 24 hours”
  
  I guess we’re going to find out if the USA is going to escalate the situation before our day is done
  
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  January 15, 2026 9:16am
  - kowtow
    
    “Escalate” ?
    
    Most eloquent .
    
    The sooner the evil Mullahs are gone the better.
    
    9 7
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    January 15, 2026 9:22am
    - MCōs
      
      You have a better word?
      It’s basically an internal Iranian problem confined within their borders thus far
      
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      January 15, 2026 9:59am
      - kowtow
        
        As you have so much confidence in the murderous Mullah regime , why not take them at their word .It’s not internal at all . It’s Israel and USA’s doing .
        
        On the basis of the Mullahs word , which must carry weight as they are religious folk afterall , this is no internal issue at all . It’s international .
        
        Great Satan , White House , Mossad.
        
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        January 15, 2026 12:36pm
      - Wandering Star
        
        There’s internal discontent and protest in any country – do you think they all need to be regime-changed? Nobody claims Judeo-American interference is the sole cause, but their practice is to stoke discontent and direct it in favourable directions. They don’t care about popular discontent (they are at least partly responsible for it, particularly through years of harsh economic sanctions), but they certainly instrumentalise it.
        
        As I noted the other day, there have been significant protests and discontent directed at Trump – if this is the standard, should the Iranians do regime change in the States? Don’t 50% of the people of the US who oppose Trump deserve to have their dreams of freedom realised?
        
        Looked at in this light, the “popular protest” argument for Iranian regime change starts to look very spurious indeed.
        
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        January 15, 2026 3:19pm
slightlyrighty

Do you think that Trump might go to war to take Greenland, and then use that as a pretext to cancel the Mid-Terms?
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January 15, 2026 8:42am
- amospicton
  
  Is this a serious question? The odds on Trump actually invading Greenland are about the same as me, a 72kg 60 year old playing tighthead prop for the All Blacks. It’s a bluff….if NATO decide to park more military in Greenland then Trump gets what he wants without having to pay for it.
  
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  January 15, 2026 9:04am
  - slightlyrighty
    
    I do hope you’re right and I’m wrong.
    
    We will see.
    
    5 8
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    January 15, 2026 9:23am
    - All_on_Red
      
      Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
      Thats hilarious
      
      6 4
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      January 15, 2026 11:09am
      - Lance
        
        So Red
        If Trump does invade Greenland will you admit he is a megalomaniac or will you just parrot out one of the MAGA slogans of the day?
        
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        January 15, 2026 1:38pm
      - Don Beckett
        
        The deal with Denmark over Greenland has been done already.
        
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        January 15, 2026 3:57pm
  - RoboRob
    
    Totally agree. Media reports out this morning have Demark saying talks with Vance went well and they are exploring options. Could it be that Trump was waving a big stick (like he always does) prior to negotiations to help the US get better results? Surely not.
    
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    January 15, 2026 9:36am
    - imalwaysright
      
      Maybe Trump will offer a royalties deal or a partnership agreement.
      
      I bet if he offered the Greenlanders the same deal the Maori got with the Treaty of Waitangi they would take it.
      That was a sweet deal.
      
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      January 15, 2026 12:38pm
  - Graeme Hall
    
    @Atmospiction
    
    Polish your boots. Go back to the gym. The way the All Blacks are behaving you could be called up soon.
    
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    January 15, 2026 11:13am
- grumpy
  
  By then Denmark will be falling over themselves to give him total control over Greenland for military and security reasons and that is all he wants.
  In business, Denmark are known as ruthless negotiators but in Trump have met their match.
  
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  January 15, 2026 9:08am
  - MCōs
    
    During the Cold War America had considerable military bases in Greenland, which they subsequently reduced. It’s not as if the latter hasn’t been receptive to the idea in the past.
    I suspect it’s their natural resources Trump has his beady eyes on, but at the cost of damaging the local environment which the locals want to protect
    
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    January 15, 2026 9:24am
    - RoboRob
      
      There is also a number of massive ‘Space launch’ advantages in woning Greenland. Does it matter why the US really wants it? They do, the question is can the make a deal with Denmark like they did with Russia when they bought Alaska.
      
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      January 15, 2026 9:38am
      - MCōs
        
        America purchased Alaska from Russia in 1867.
        Times have changed in the interim
        That was only twenty two years after Texas became the 28th state
        
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        January 15, 2026 10:02am
      - Dudley Quaffquaff
        
        The US already has a deal with Denmark. They have had for years, it allows them a far greater military presence there than they currently have, and neither the government of Denmark nor that of Greenland has ever been anything other than scrupulous and respectful in abiding by its terms.
        
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        January 15, 2026 10:38am
      - RoboRob
        
        @MCos
        
        Nothing has changed. Countries can still buy / sell /swap territories.
        
        The most recent example of a country selling or exchanging a territory is Saudi Arabia’s purchase of Tiran Island and Sanafir Island from Egypt in 2017
        
        https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_territory_purchased_by_a_sovereign_nation_from_another_sovereign_nation
        
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        January 15, 2026 10:41am
      - RoboRob
        
        @Dudley Quaffquaff
        
        Trump wants to change the deal. It’s really simple but people just cant see past ‘orange man bad’.
        
        As I posted about its not uncommon for nations to do deals on territory. If this thas the UK trying to purchase an Island from say Fiji, would we be all up in arms?
        
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        January 15, 2026 11:06am
      - All_on_Red
        
        Quite right RoboRob
        The US is concerned that over time Denmarks sentiment about US access to Greenland might change due to political change within Denmark.
        Hence why they are seeking a more ‘permanent’ solution.
        
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        January 15, 2026 11:11am
      - NothingLeft
        
        There aren’t enough sun synchronous launches to justify a greenland launch site. Kodiak launch site in Alaska already exists at high latitude.
        
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        January 15, 2026 2:41pm
      - Taieri
        
        If this thas the UK trying to purchase an Island from say Fiji, would we be all up in arms?
        ————–
        
        We were very upset over the Chinese overtures to Cook Islands…
        
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        January 15, 2026 4:12pm
      - virtualmark
        
        Greenland too far from the equator to be a quality space launch location. You either end up with a high inclination orbit (normally very undesirable) or you burn a lot of energy changing course (which then limits the weight you can put into orbit).
        
        Ideal location is on the equator with clear space to the east. Hence NASA choosing to launch from Florida’s east coast and SpaceX choosing to launch from the southern-most point in Texas (if you look on the map there’s a narrow passage from there through the gap between Florida and Cuba that’s almost due east … Bahamas? Who needs the Bahamas?)
        
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        January 15, 2026 6:10pm
    - grumpy
      
      During WW2, the US took over Greenland after Denmark welcomed the Nazi in a matter of hours, not even days.
      
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      January 15, 2026 11:05am
      - BeaB
        
        Was it six hours? Almost immediate capitulation to the Germans by Denmark.
        
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        January 15, 2026 12:00pm
      - fightingtemeraire
        
        Remember the brave Norwegian soldiers who sank the Blucher in Oslo Field and the Danes who organised the evacuation of the Danish Jews across to Sweden.
        
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        January 15, 2026 2:45pm
- kowtow
  
  Talking of dangers to democracy .Any comment on the many local elections being cancelled across England , mostly by Labour , who fear wipeout at the hands of Reform.
  
  ps For the record . Trump is being most intemporate and is going the wrong way about the right thing , acquiring Greenland .
  
  I find it extraordinary how everyone and his dog has an opinion over Trump’s belligerent attempts to secure the US mainland , while one of our largest trading partners militarises/colonises the Pacific and South China Sea , with barely a whimper from the [Mod – we can debate without childish name calling]
  
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  January 15, 2026 9:19am
  - Philview
    
    I think the same, the deeds of China are invisible. I would bet if the US does take over Greenland the US Democrats will not reverse it. From what I have read Biden’s team were also concerned about Greenland but were looking at an approach of working with Denmark but didn’t get around to doing much.
    
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    January 15, 2026 10:01am
  - mogg
    
    At the time local election cancellation was “a one off”
    Now it has become a twice off.
    
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    January 15, 2026 11:58am
- Damocles11
  
  The US fatherland needs Greenland for Lebensraum.
  
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  January 15, 2026 10:03am
  - Cassandra
    
    Not funny, Damo.
    
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    January 15, 2026 10:37am
- AitchW
  
  No.
  
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  January 15, 2026 10:50am
- virtualmark
  
  Trump can’t cancel the midterms.
  
  The brief overview is:
  * The Constitution says elections are matters for the states, not the federal government.
  * The “blue” states, like California, will presumably continue to run their elections as scheduled.
  * It’s possible the most “red” states, like Texas, will come under pressure from Trump to mess with the elections. Maybe. But that will still be a decision for those States to make … Trump can’t instruct them to do anything.
  
  Meanwhile, the law says:
  * All members of Congress lose their seats at the end of 2025.
  * New members are sworn in at the start of January.
  * Because Speaker Johnson also technically loses his seat at the end of 2025 there is no Speaker as such and so the new members are sworn in by the Clerk of the House (ie Johnson can’t mess with the swearing in).
  * The ruling party is that party that has a majority of the quorum … not necessarily a majority of all the seats.
  * So if, say, the GOP and/or “red” states boycotted the election then you’d expect the Dems would still win seats and would then have a clear majority in a reduced House.
  * This would make the Dems the ruling party in Congress.
  
  Basically the GOP’s only path in the midterms is to ride-or-die and try to win at the ballot box.
  
  I do expect Trump will contemplate things like using ICE and others to do threatening things, perhaps seize voting machines etc etc. It will likely be a shitshow. But I don’t see a clear path to actually stopping enough of the election to matter.
  
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  January 15, 2026 11:08am
  - RoboRob
    
    Your legal description appears correct but I do wonder what makes you think Trump will attempt direct physical intervention by ICE (of all agencies) to stop people voting?
    
    Trump says a lot of shit but to my knowledge he hasn’t talked about using ICE to block Dems from voting. Is this just becuase you dislike Trump and ICE?
    
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    January 15, 2026 11:43am
    - virtualmark
      
      I expect that Trump will try to disrupt the midterm elections.
      
      I doubt he will be able to find enough pretexts to do things like invoke the Insurrection Act, federalise the National Guard etc.
      
      That leaves his most “to hand” force of people as the FBI and ICE. The FBI has no role in elections and so it’s hard to see how you could deploy them. But it seems the Trump admin are investing in ICE to be a paramilitary force at Trump’s beck and call. So I suspect ICE is the easiest force that Trump could use. Not sure just what to do though, because ICE’s powers are strictly limited to immigration matters.
      
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      January 15, 2026 12:07pm
      - RoboRob
        
        FYI, Trump has exactly the same control over the FBI as he does ICE.
        
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        January 15, 2026 1:37pm
      - virtualmark
        
        Yes he does. But the FBI are tasked with federal criminal matters and the midterm elections aren’t that. More importantly the typical FBI recruit has a law degree. I suspect it would be hard to get them to knowingly do something illegal.
        
        Meanwhile ICE seem more willing to exceed their legal authority.
        
        Time will tell.
        
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        January 15, 2026 2:44pm
- Christopher Thomson
  
  It is if your mind is a off balance as Joy Behar.
  
  Her lunacy adds to my opinion that too much Botox to the face affects the brain.
  
  https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=26100816949503767
  
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  January 15, 2026 5:03pm
sungsamning

Chatham House is mildly concerned about President Trumps policies, and actions. They’re alarmed at his little tiff with Jerome Powell. He is upsetting the WEF apple cart.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JldAwSDKB0

Chatham House Panic: “Trump Destroyed the West”
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January 15, 2026 10:26am
- MCōs
  
  Hardly a little tiff, but Donald Trump is from New York and the banter can be boisterous thereabouts
  
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  January 15, 2026 1:53pm
sungsamning

Sanctuary cities won’t cooperate with ICE. So, President Trump is going to cut federal funds. I wonder if that will bring them to heel.
https://nypost.com/2026/01/13/us-news/trump-says-sanctuary-cities-and-states-will-lose-federal-funds-on-feb-1/

Trump announces sanctuary cities and states will lose federal funds on Feb. 1.
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January 15, 2026 10:29am
- RoboRob
  
  Ironicly, if said states would work with ICE the way they have in the past, incidents like the woman being shot would disappear. The current situation is dangerous for ICE and citizens, going back to the situation where police worked with ICE and politicians didnt rile up citizens to think they are storm troopers / nazis, would make everyone safer.
  
  ICE are doing the job the law sets out. If people are unhappy with the law they should push for it to be changed NOT act as vigilantes.
  
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  January 15, 2026 11:11am
rouppe

Several Minnesotans have been killed by illegal immigrants, and not one word has been uttered about them by Tim Walz, Jacob Frey or Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan.

Curious that.

The last couple of days has had me thinking. The organised protests where people are blocking the road, seems to me very akin to using human shields. Democrat Party organisers are using people as human shields to protect killers, rapists, and child sex offenders.

Unfathomable…
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January 15, 2026 10:50am
- virtualmark
  
  Has it ever occurred to you that the majority of the US population want to see action on illegal immigration (polling consistently shows this), but they might disagree on the *methods*?
  
  Take a look at this photo of Greg Bovino … https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/10-251007-mh-politics-gregbovinointerview-10072025-145.jpg?c=original&q=w_860,c_fill/f_webp
  
  What does that outfit and pose remind you of? Are we really failing an open-book history exam?
  
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  January 15, 2026 11:13am
  - RoboRob
    
    Until there is a law change, ICE are simply enforcing the law. People should seek law change rather then vigilantism. ICE are not the issue, the law is.
    
    Personally I dont see the law as a problem either. If people are in a country illegally, immigration should remove them. This is true in NZ as well, although immigration NZ appears somewhat ‘useless’. The real issue is that the open borders policy (in contrivention if the law) has flooded the country with these people. If there were 1000 people it wouldn’t be an issue, they would be gone. The problem is there are millions.
    
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    January 15, 2026 11:52am
    - NothingLeft
      
      Estimated 14 million illegals. Cost of letting one in; ~$0, cost of removing them in alignment with the procedural preferences of the Democrat party that let them in; ~$90k. Cost of removing those illegals would be about $1.3trillion and would require 100s of times more lawyers, judges, courts, administrators etc than what there are currently – a political and logistical impossibility. They are in effect trying to cement their preferred illegal outcome by means of slow processing.
      
      Democrats are forcing demographic change, via extra-legal enablement of 3rd world immigration, on US population who have clearly signaled via voting and polling that they do not want it. Same as is happening in Europe.
      
      Allowing Democrats to achieve their destructive goal in this manner is bad for the USA (that will be destroyed by it over medium-long term) and by extension the world as they will no longer carry the burden of protecting globe from despots.
      
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      January 15, 2026 2:55pm
      - artemisia
        
        Most US people and Europeans don’t want those open borders. Am sure that is true, but don’t they realise enough of them are quite likely to vote for more and more illegals? I just don’t get it.
        
        Recent article on large numbers of immigrant teachers in the US, one said many were providing intensive support to large numbers of non English speaking children of illegals.
        
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        January 15, 2026 3:48pm
    - sungsamning
      
      Dems need illegals to boost the population in a given city so there are more blue Congress seats. Some businesses want cheap labor.
      
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      January 15, 2026 4:37pm
  - Libertarians are right
    
    This is literally why the Left let things get bad. People are stupid and are unwilling to admit that broad answers are needed when things get this bad. They then use that anger/discomfort to reach for more power.
    
    The fact is that the previous ICE methodology could not fix the problems created by Biden so the Republicans either had to leave it as it was or be way more aggressive. As you say, the people agree with what they’re doing, they just don’t want to see it.
    
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    January 15, 2026 1:59pm
    - MCōs
      
      There’s all sorts of charts and graphs on the internet, but they seem to indicate the number of illegal immigrants hasn’t changed much for the last twenty years.
      
      2 4
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      January 15, 2026 2:50pm
      - NothingLeft
        
        rubbish. For decades it was around half a million year, then Democrats started to force borders open in last half of Trumps term – preventing boarder wall build and policing etc via their control of congress, and under Biden it went up to 2-3million a year.
        
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        January 15, 2026 3:05pm
      - RoboRob
        
        Thats just pure misinformation. There are published records for known border crossings, 2016 Trump set a record with the lowest border crossings in decades and Biden 2020 set records with the highest ever.
        
        https://www.newsweek.com/trump-biden-immigration-border-record-charts-data-1925985
        
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        January 15, 2026 5:07pm
      - MCōs
        
        The total in the country hasn’t changed, however
        There’s obviously more to the situation than just those coming in.
        People die, people go back again, people are deported, people are legalized . . .
        Why does it concern you anyway?
        About thirty years ago I worked illegally elsewhere for a few years and there was no detrimental effect on anyone, paid taxes, so I’m not complaining.
        
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        January 15, 2026 9:29pm
  - rouppe
    
    Yes, it has occurred to me.
    
    It’s also occurred to me that the *methods* employed by the protesters – who are doing it more out of anti Trump sentiment than anything else – also deserve examination.
    
    A reverse search of the image showed me that the outfit is a standard part of the border patrol uniform. What is your purpose using that image? And making a non definitive, dark suggestion?
    It very quickly *occurred* to me that your posting it in isolation is intended to influence, direct, invoke a certain reaction.
    
    Has that occurred to you?
    
    And by the way, the methods have been to arrest people with deportation orders. It has escalated to the situation it has now in no small part due to the actions of the people protecting predators.
    
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    January 15, 2026 2:20pm
  - virtualmark
    
    RoboRob … ICE are clearly going beyond their legal authorities. They may have the objective of enforcing immigration law (which would be a good thing) but they are overstepping their powers.
    
    Libertarians … “the Left let things get bad”. The Biden administration requested Congress approve a big increase in funding for immigration enforcement. This was in late-2023, early 2024. Senate approved it. House didn’t, largely under pressure from Trump who wanted to run on immigration as an issue.
    
    Personally I think one of the main immigration problems in the US is that it’s a political football rather than a problem to sensibly solve.
    
    Rouppe … in the last 48 hours we’ve had:
    * Joe Rogan refer to ICE as the Gestapo
    * Kristi Noem stand at a podium with the message “One of ours, all of yours” (Google it),
    * Confirmation that an ICE prosecutor who messaged “Migrants are all criminals” and “All blacks are foreign to my people” has been reinstated
    
    That’s just the last 48 hours.
    
    To me, more importantly, the US is rapidly becoming a country where you have to carry your ID with you at all times, because the Federal government can ask you for your papers and if you can’t produce them they throw you in jail. Is that the land of the free? Or is that the sort of thing you see in repressive countries?
    
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    January 15, 2026 2:58pm
    - rouppe
      
      A lot of these tactics would not have to be employed if those that are currently protecting murderers and kiddy fiddlers were not doing what they’re doing.
      
      It is one thing to stand clear and record the activity of the Police, it is another to stand in their way, block roads, scream insults in their face, dox them and threaten them.
      
      Certainly the USA is a place I’ll seek to avoid at the moment, even for transit travel. Especially since you have to provide passwords to your social media to get an ETSA.
      
      But to look at the actions of ICE in isolation is crazy. You have violent criminals in that country, that everyone wants out. Sanctuary cities deliberately refused to help in that cause. Therefore ICE has to be more prominent. Action, reaction. Leading to more action and more reaction.
      
      What’s the alternative? Ask nicely? The actions of Judge whats-her-face show that doesn’t work. Blame for the situation cannot lie solely at the feet of ICE.
      
      I’d still leave the sanctuary cities completely and overtly alone, and let them wallow in the filth, crime and murder they so clearly want.
      
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      January 15, 2026 4:23pm
    - Christopher Thomson
      
      Do explain in what way ICE are going beyond their legal authority?
      
      3 2
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      January 15, 2026 5:12pm
      - virtualmark
        
        Christopher, their only special legal powers are in connection to immigration.
        
        They are not allowed to randomly ask people for their ID, or to enter properties or houses or vehicles (all 4th Amendment).
        
        They are not allowed to stop people from recording them, or following them in public spaces, or blowing whistles or whatever else they’re doing (all 1st Amendment).
        
        They do not have general powers of arrest or detainment (those are police powers, not immigration powers).
        
        They are not allowed to detain people on the basis of an “ICE administrative warrant” – they must have a judicial warrant signed by a judge.
        
        They are not allowed to detain US citizens (2025 Supreme Court case), although granted it must be hard to sort that out if the person isn’t carrying documents that prove they’re a US citizen.
        
        In everything other than immigration matters they only have the same powers and rights as any US citizen.
        
        A day or two ago ICE had to send out a legal refresher to all these points. You can read screenshots of it at https://www.kenklippenstein.com/p/immigration-agents-terrified-by-ice among other sites.
        
        2 2
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        January 15, 2026 6:19pm
      - Christopher Thomson
        
        “They are not allowed to detain people on the basis of an “ICE administrative warrant” – they must have a judicial warrant signed by a judge.”
        
        Wrong.
        
        And that’s just one . The others are just as incorrect.
        
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        January 16, 2026 1:16am
    - virtualmark
      
      “A lot of these tactics would not have to be employed if those that are currently protecting murderers and kiddy fiddlers were not doing what they’re doing.”
      
      So you’re go on releasing all the Epstein files then? None of us should want to protect kiddy fiddlers right?
      
      Look I favour a firm line on immigration. But ICE have jumped the shark. US public opinion is now majority opposed to ICE. If you have Joe Rogan calling them the Gestapo then Trump is losing. He thought ICE going full mental would be a political winner for him but it’s turning out to be the opposite.
      
      Here’s a suggestion or two:
      * Have ICE wear ID and not wear masks,
      * Have ICE act in Texas, where there’s a few million illegal immigrants, instead of Minnesota, where the estimate is there’s about a hundred thousand,
      * Have ICE focus on those immigrants with criminal records.
      
      I don’t think many Americans would object to that, or protest against it.
      
      2 3
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      January 15, 2026 6:04pm
Graeme Hall

Lots of earnest discussion in an RNZ article about Elon Musk’s Grok presenting hypothetical images of various people undressed. I’d be more worried if it made the staff at RNZ and our polticians and our media seem more intelligent.

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/world/584109/the-x-factor-grok-deepfakes-and-why-nz-is-still-using-elon-musk-s-x
9 4
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January 15, 2026 11:25am
- Ghost
  
  I’d hope we don’t go down the path of banning grok because some people may use it to create illegal material
  
  What could follow
  
  Banning cars because some people speed, drive dangerous, or drive under the influence of alcohol and or drugs?
  Banning knifes because a few people have used them to attack others
  Banning alcohol because of the damage that does in society
  Banning artists from painting naked images of Andrew little. *vomit*. Wonder what would happen if an artists painted Ardern naked….
  
  13 3
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  January 15, 2026 11:34am
  - RoboRob
    
    Sadly the UK and/or EU are busy trying to shut X down over this.
    
    8 2
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    January 15, 2026 11:53am
    - NothingLeft
      
      The petit tyrants of Labour in westminister know they are all for the chop, and their party for the dust-bin of history at the next election as the least popular govt in UK history, and so are trying to cement themselves into power more permanently. Similar is patterns at play in Germany and France as the repressive/fascistic left work to subvert democracy.
      
      6 2
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      January 15, 2026 1:10pm
  - NZer In Exile
    
    Grok finds a bit too much truth for lefties to handle so of course they’ll try to shut it down.
    
    4 2
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    January 15, 2026 2:09pm
- Tauhei Notts
  
  If somebody uses Grok to produce pictures of Helen Clark, Megan Woods and Nanaia Mahuta in bikinis, then, and only then, would I object to Grok.
  
  10 2
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  January 15, 2026 1:49pm
- sungsamning
  
  C’mon man! Musk is a capable chap, but there are limits to what is possible even for him.
  
  4 2
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  January 15, 2026 4:41pm
BeaB

Even the master of the U-turn had to admit in Parliament that that X and Grok were doing nothing illegal but his totalitarian impulses mean he is still trying to find an excuse to ban them.
Hate Trump=hate Musk=hate X.
Too many politicians hate and fear social media and too many in the MSM see it as a threat and egg them on.
7 4
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January 15, 2026 11:55am
- kowtow
  
  When one considers the low quality and scheming charcteristics of the pollies involved , foremost Albanese ( and copied by useless international labourites) one must consider it’s just another cynical ploy to show all how virtuous they are , while actually achieving SFA.
  
  Yes Minister was an instructional documentary to these types.
  
  5 3
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  January 15, 2026 12:49pm
NothingLeft

After 35 year break the new and improved Stasi are back in Germany:

Germany was the scene of some of the 20th century’s worst tyranny but today’s German leaders have only noble intentions for oppression. Berlin’s Best and Brightest™ “improved” democracy by turning politicians into a privileged caste. After a conservative editor mocked a top German law enforcement official by posting a meme showing her holding a sign, “I hate freedom of opinion,” he was convicted and sentenced to seven months in jail for “abuse, slander or defamation against persons in political life.” The editor is on probation while the sentence is suspended but many other Germans have been locked up for similar offenses.

And I see UK has banned Dutch right-wing influencer Eva Vlaardingerbroek from entering because she doesn’t support UK govt policy regarding 3rd world illegal immigants
https://x.com/EvaVlaar/status/2011429728885047517

The western experiment with freedom and democracy is rapidly being destroyed by Big-Govt Autocrats working to trying to usher in a new dark age of repressive govt.
8 2
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January 15, 2026 12:49pm
- MCōs
  
  The U.K. voted for Brexit so they had more control over their border and that’s exactly what Eva Vlaardingerbroek wants for her country
  
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  January 15, 2026 9:14pm
Swifty

I wonder if we understand the implications of this yet:

https://x.com/michaelaarouet/status/2011490242922967093?s=46

We’ve lost the ability to know who we’re dealing with online.
5 2
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January 15, 2026 12:54pm
Swifty

NZ Labour’s proposals for graft, corruption and blatant vote buying continue apace:

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/584114/election-2026-labour-proposes-game-changing-streaming-levy-to-fund-local-productions

Guess who will all now swing in behind Labour for the election.
8 1
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January 15, 2026 1:00pm
- MCōs
  
  I’m waiting to see if Winston is going to extend the Goldcard to include free air travel!
  
  3 0
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  January 15, 2026 3:10pm
  - Ghost
    
    Air travel, shit, he should be shooting for the stars, free space travel
    
    2 0
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    January 15, 2026 7:14pm
- Burtland
  
  chances are it just provokes a trump tariff backlash
  
  0 0
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  January 15, 2026 7:07pm
MCōs

Well it seems Razor has been cut
7 1
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January 15, 2026 1:57pm
- Biscuit
  
  He had a record of 20 wins and 7 losses during his tenure, achieving a 74% win rate from 27 Test matches.
  
  You never really felt he could produce sides that were anything better than that…
  
  5 1
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  January 15, 2026 2:12pm
  - MCōs
    
    The loss to SA at Wellington was shambolic.
    After that the slope just got more slippery
    
    2 0
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    January 15, 2026 6:45pm
- MCōs
  
  Two years ago I never thought it would come to this, but there must have been people in the Crusaders setup who had their doubts or maybe they couldn’t see passed all the silverware
  I wonder who will be the next poor sod down the chute
  Whoever it is it’s like a new PM; 20% of the pundits think you’re an idiot even before you start.
  
  5 0
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  January 15, 2026 2:29pm
  - Biscuit
    
    MCōs, one of the few times I agreed with Comrade Helun was when she commented that, even in the landslidiest of landslide election wins, at least 40% of the electorate disagreed with the winner.
    
    6 0
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    January 15, 2026 2:59pm
- alex Masterley
  
  Indeed.
  Who is next for the poisoned challis?
  I hope Jamie Joseph doesnt take the role as if he does he will be lauded by the media as the next big thing and then when there are hiccups lambasted by the same media. And he will get absolutely no support from the lanyard wearers in the NZRU.
  I think Robertson will be happer to be away from the pressure cooker rather than inside.
  
  5 2
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  January 15, 2026 2:45pm
  - MCōs
    
    Razor knew what he was in for one way or the other.
    I would suggest he’d be bitterly disappointed.
    Coach of the ABs is the toppermost of the poppermost for a Kiwi coach and now he’s in the wilderness
    
    5 0
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    January 15, 2026 3:05pm
  - marcw
    
    Jamie Joseph, head coach of Highlanders in 2025, eliminated in the quater finals by Brumbies. A legend in his own mind maybe.
    
    5 1
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    January 15, 2026 3:24pm
  - Philview
    
    Crikey, this morning they were talking about a review and now he is gone by lunchtime. Something about his style has caused ripples with other coaches who have previously quit.
    
    6 0
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    January 15, 2026 3:29pm
- imalwaysright
  
  Apparently some of the senior players weren’t happy with him.
  Similar to the recent netball coach episode maybe?
  
  Hopefully this isn’t the start of a trend where the players select the coach.
  
  8 2
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  January 15, 2026 2:59pm
  - pdm
    
    Would anyone really want to take on the job when the players are now dictating to the NZRU who coaches them.
    
    I think Robertson has been hard done by but, by the same token he has paid a price for being `Foster Lite’ wth some of his selections and team performances have reflected that.
    
    Will Richie Mo’unga stay on in Japan now?
    
    4 2
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    January 15, 2026 3:41pm
    - imalwaysright
      
      Maybe install Raelene Castle as coach for 6 months.
      That will recentre their perspectives.
      
      6 0
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      January 15, 2026 4:09pm
      - Burtland
        
        Netball 2.0
        
        1 0
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        January 15, 2026 7:17pm
  - zulumonster
    
    The players were happy enough with the previous coach, so it’s not a decision based on on-field results then.
    
    2 1
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    January 15, 2026 5:43pm
  - Dougal10
    
    Last time players got this cocky didn’t we completely bomb out of a world cup in the quaters?
    
    3 1
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    January 15, 2026 6:03pm
  - greybeard
    
    As we still don’t know why the netballers complained about Taurua ( and probably never will ) you cannot compare the two situations. Robertson lacked international coaching experience and made questionable selections ( just look back at the public’s comments re this ). Too many players were required to be “hybrids”, especially those asked to fulfil wing, fullback and 1st five positions with equal effect. Just rubbish. All positions require dedicated specialist players in my opinion, so that they can properly deal with their opposites.
    
    2 2
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    January 15, 2026 7:15pm
- virtualmark
  
  Given his record with the Crusaders I thought he’d do better than he has with the ABs.
  
  Not sure he’s had the best cattle though. Not saying this isn’t a “good” AB side. But I don’t know how many of 2025’s ABs could force their way into, say, the 2011 or 2015 RWC squads. Savea, Roigard, Jordan? I doubt 2025 Beauden could, even though 2015 Beauden was a great impact player.
  
  Meanwhile this seems to be a generationally great ‘Bok side.
  
  Always puzzles me that no NZ coach seems to have coached a good counter to the rush defence. Seems like other test nations have been hitting us with that for at least 6-7 years now and we still struggle to counter it.
  
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  January 15, 2026 4:47pm
rouppe

Does anyone else find this odd?

https://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/360924443/if-you-have-british-passport-what-you-need-know-if-you-want-go-uk

I have a nz passport. I can go to the UK with an ETA.

A person with dual nz UK citizenship can’t go to the UK on their nz passport with an ETA. They either need to also have a valid UK passport or have a certificate of entitlement in their nz passport.

The only reason I can think of is to restrict access to public services, but if a UK citizen enters the UK on a nz passport they should be treated the same as me, including less access to services, not have to do something completely different.
2 1
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January 15, 2026 2:29pm
Hugh Jarse

I don’t really take much notice of rugby these days but the scapegoating of one man/position in a much wider management team always interests me. The behaviour and performance of senior All Blacks, Scott Barrett in particular leaves a lot to be desired and they need to be assessing their own performance. This scenario strikes me as similar to that Mark Hammett faced in taking on the Wellington Lions years ago and that faced by Dame Noelene recently. The conflicts between Hammett and the Lions senior players were legendary. Player power in action. Good luck to the next AB coach.
8 2
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January 15, 2026 2:57pm
Don Beckett

I suspect something is going down in Iran right now – there appears to be a complete news black out, after reports a few hours ago of jets taking off in Iran & Israel, US Air Force flying tankers flying north west from Diego Garcia etc. etc.
Time will tell, as it always does.
3 2
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January 15, 2026 5:25pm
David Garrett

A distinct change in police practice now they have a proper commissioner

https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/360924930/four-arrests-firearms-seized-relation-gang-members-funeral
10 0
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January 15, 2026 5:31pm

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