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February 2, 2026 8:00am by Kokila Patel

General Debate 02 February 2026

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General Debate

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NeverMindTheBollocks

So let me get this straight.

A woman in her 20s has claimed to have been trafficked by Epstein to Britain for sex with Prince Andrew.

Firstly, how does such a woman get to be “trafficked“? Was she tied up and shipped in a box? As for the sex – they’re consenting adults. And – we all know Andrew is a sleaze.

Frankly, she got an international trip to bang a prince in a palace. That’s just about as close to the American dream as she was likely to get. And – completely legal, by the way.

How is Andrew news any more?

Surely, in those millions of documents, there is reference to prominent Americans who deserve their time on the sun. Billy-boy springs to mind. Or is the US Dept of Justice running interference here?

http://www.bbc.com/news/articles/clymxxlm3xzo
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February 2, 2026 8:02am
- Ghost
  
  Do you think anyone that is trafficked is in a position to give consent?
  
  Plenty of files on both bill gates and bill Clinton have been released.
  
  Andrew is news because more came out on him.
  
  Are you trying to defend Epstein and the people that used his illegal services?
  
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  February 2, 2026 9:12am
  - Swifty
    
    Please explain ‘trafficking’ – a definition would be good.
    
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    February 2, 2026 10:52am
    - Gravelroad
      
      There is little doubt that many, if not most, of the girls/women who turned up at Epstein various party destinations were/are professional prostitutes.
      There will have been younger ones who were not.
      I doubt that professional prostitutes would allow themselves to be “trafficked” in the sense that they were captured and whisked away on planes to distant countries against their will.
      They all will have been paid.
      
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      February 2, 2026 12:38pm
      - Ghost
        
        no, none of them were professional prostitutes. Not sure why people like you spread false information. You should probably spend a moment reading the many articles from his victims.
        
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        February 2, 2026 2:35pm
      - Ra Henare
        
        I think a better noun would be groupies. ie Like girls who chase rock stars to get an opportunity to shag them and live the high life for a nano second.
        
        Prostitues indicates a person planning to have sex for money(not fame or excitement)
        
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        February 2, 2026 4:18pm
    - Ghost
      
      why don’t you go read the account of his victims swifty,
      
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      February 2, 2026 2:37pm
      - Sweet Hitchhiker
        
        Ghost, if you’re so concerned about young victims of “sex trafficking” why don’t you take an interest in what goes on here in NZ? Some years ago my neighour told me he had seen his cousin dropping off her 15 year old daughter to a carpark where a certain gang were running underage prostitutes. I called CYPS unsure how to describe what we suspected was happening. The social worker I spoke to said, “so mum’s a pimp? We have hundreds in Auckland!” These “mums” have so many kids, it would be hard to arrange care for them if they were locked up. Maybe you could help. 🙂
        
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        February 2, 2026 4:20pm
  - I remember when
    
    Ghost.
    Andrew is news because more came out on him.
    
    Only more of what we already knew and expected.
    A new photo of Andrew looking less than regal somehow renewed calls for him to ‘come clean.’
    
    Regardless of our thoughts about Andrew, no charges have been laid, illegality is disputable and apart from being royal little of interest to the general public.
    
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    February 2, 2026 11:22am
  - Paulus
    
    Since when has a attractive young woman offering herself for sex for money be deemed to be illegal – Under what law – Oh I forgot in the US easy for political gain to just get some pinhed judge to change the law as requited by the payers.
    Brothels and Prostituti0n have not been illegal for a couple of thousands of years.
    We hear that these young things where they would have sex with a man for large sums of money been dragged physically (in Champagne fuelled private jets too) all over the world.
    As for Clint0n there are many more aspects of his sex life not explored as money counts.
    He came here in 1999 and was belived not lonely either to smoke a Cigar.
    Maxwell says she has a list of some 25 men worldwide top men whom she could name but won’t.
    Hope she does not commit suicide !
    The Lady Lawyer is one of the richest in the USA and is controlling the current outputs of what is said of some thousand Epstein y0ung women – now older, who were captured, chained and exploited against their will albeit for a price in what is considere the oldest profession in the world and am sure continues currently all over the World including New Zealand.
    Andrew is a media side step but has he committed a crime ?
    If so what please. but it sells media.
    Millions wow of papers appear to be obfuscating anything of real interest but it is all about money, no matter how earned.
    
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    February 2, 2026 12:09pm
    - Ghost
      
      its amazing how many males on this blog find nothing wrong with the sexual exploration of young girls and victims, instead victim blame. Make you wonder why
      
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      February 2, 2026 2:38pm
      - NZer In Exile
        
        I think you’ll find they are discussing the merits or the lack thereof of the what we do or don’t know thus far about the alleged events. Quite a different thing to what you are rushing to accuse people of. Perhaps hold your horses and let people discuss?
        
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        February 2, 2026 2:47pm
      - Sweet Hitchhiker
        
        You finally got something right with “sexual exploration”, Ghost!! 😀😃
        
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        February 2, 2026 4:04pm
  - NZer In Exile
    
    Ghost: “Are you trying to defend Epstein and the people that used his illegal services?”
    
    You are trying to shut down a legit question re the meaning of “trafficking” using the hyperbolic straw-man technique. EG “Have you stopped beating your partner”?
    
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    February 2, 2026 1:37pm
- David Garrett
  
  Nevermind: I don’t know anything about this “woman in her 20’s” but at first glance you make excellent points.
  
  Even Guiffre’s experience – at age 17 – is problematic; assuming the age of consent in the UK is 16, no crime was committed – at least not by the royal formerly known as Prince A.
  
  And Yes, it has become crystal clear that “Randy Andy” is a sleaze ball.
  
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  February 2, 2026 9:22am
  - imalwaysright
    
    DG
    The US Mann Act prohibits transport across State lines and the US border for purpose of prostitution. It doesn’t state a minimum age.
    If the girls came from outside the State in which they had sex then the facilitator and the user would be subject to arrest.
    
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    February 2, 2026 10:25am
    - NZer In Exile
      
      Knowingly going on a paid sugar-daddy trip (to do, ahem, “massages”) and traveling across states isn’t quite the same as forcing someone through deception or force into prostitution then shipping them slave style off to some prison island. I personally do not know what the truth is. It kind of seems unlikely that people THAT wealthy would have a problem paying prostitutes (or “escorts”) *WILLING* to do what they wanted. It would seem to be exceptionally dumb and risky to those reputations to actually exploit girls through deception. I’m wondering if some of these girls got pissed off after the fact that they didn’t get more money for their services, given the wealth of these men,
      
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      February 2, 2026 1:46pm
  - Ghost
    
    yes a crime was committed
    
    UK
    Sexual Offences Act 1956:
    Indecent Assault
    
    USA
    The Mann Act (White-Slave Traffic Act of 1910
    TVPA (Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000
    
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    February 2, 2026 10:55am
    - NeverMindTheBollocks
      
      Do those Acts apply to Andrew’s situation in this case? He’s not a US citizen, and the offences took place outside of the US.
      
      It may be that Epstein or Maxwell could be charged, but not Andrew.
      
      Perhaps it would have been easier just to outsource the entire event to a local hooker.
      
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      February 2, 2026 2:21pm
      - Ghost
        
        you do have the ability to read the two uk laws that were broken by andrew.
        
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        February 2, 2026 2:44pm
      - Paulus
        
        In which case some tens of thousands of people in the sex industry in the UK should be prosecuted along withn their clients.
        
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        February 2, 2026 3:19pm
  - Sweet Hitchhiker
    
    We don’t actually know that Andrew is a “sleazeball”.
    According to what I remember reading over the years, he was a faithful husband, a devoted father and son, and even his deceased sister in law said she would have preferred to marry him.
    And yet he is despised by all, unlike the brother who caused so much pain to his young wife and children.
    
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    February 2, 2026 3:10pm
- Wandering Star
  
  The issue of the sexual liaisons facilitated by Epstein, whether underage or not, is really not the main point: Epstein and Maxwell were Israeli intelligence assets getting powerful people into compromising positions so that pressure could be applied to them for the benefit of a foreign state. In other words, the taudry and titilating goings-on were merely in service of a higher political aim. It makes no real sense to assume that Epstein was acting strictly in the service of his own ends independently.
  
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  February 2, 2026 9:45am
  - Don Beckett
    
    Your obsession with Israeli Jewish intrigue is becoming very tedious and boring, and is overtly anti – Semitic. It would be great if you could give it a rest for a few days.
    
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    February 2, 2026 11:23am
    - Southern Raider
      
      Unfortunately that’s all he has. If there is no Jews it’s not news according to Wandering Star.
      
      As soon as I saw a post about Epstein I knew I would scroll down and WS would be making one of his Jew hating conspiracy theories. He didn’t fail to disappoint.
      
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      February 2, 2026 11:59am
    - JackRabbit
      
      A few years would be better.
      
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      February 2, 2026 1:07pm
    - ISeeRed
      
      “The Jews” is Wandering Star’s equivalent to the Grand Unified Theory in physics.
      
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      February 2, 2026 1:40pm
    - Wandering Star
      
      How about you just address my very pertinent point, Don? Sticks and stones and all that.
      
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      February 2, 2026 2:08pm
      - Don Beckett
        
        I used no sticks or stones, just asked a rational question. If your point is pertinent, you are deluded.
        
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        February 2, 2026 3:34pm
    - Ra Henare
      
      Don, applying the same logic.
      You jumping on the anti Semetic bandwagon whenever anybody references Israel could also do witha rest.
      Being Anti Israel is not being anti semetic!!!!!!!!!!!!
      
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      February 3, 2026 5:24am
  - NothingLeft
    
    He may have been an equal opportunities compromat trader/blackmailer involved with many different intelligence agencies to keep himself out of jail.
    
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    February 2, 2026 11:24am
    - Wandering Star
      
      Maxwell’s father was a lifelong Israeli intelligence asset and lionised for it. I don’t think his beloved daughter was working for the Chinese or the Russians, particularly when you also consider which country benefits most from controlling wealthy Americans.
      
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      February 2, 2026 2:13pm
  - Gussy Fink-Nottle
    
    Does it make any more sense to assume that they all fell for it, and gave no indication whatsoever to any of their peers that the guy wasn’t all he appeared to be?
    
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    February 2, 2026 12:11pm
- Jack5
  
  NeverMindTheBollocks’s … How is Andrew news any more?
  
  If the Royal family wasn’t fodder for the tabloids print and and electronic, the Royals might have have been discarded.
  
  The Duke of Pork is its current rotten apple. He’s thick compared with his great-grandfather, King Edward VII, “Dirty Bertie.”
  
  Edward VII, Queen Victoria’s eldest son, had to wait until he was 59 before becoming king.
  
  Historians seem to think that he performed well as king, and a lot of Paris prostitutes also rated him.
  
  You can see at the link that follows the chair that Edward VII (king from 1901 to 1910) had at a famous French brothel.
  
  https://2sistersgarlic.com/the-scandalous-love-chair-of-king-edward-vii/
  
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  February 2, 2026 10:35am
- Handyman
  
  The response of the left to human trafficking depends on who did it. Whether it is offering someone of age a business proposal to travel and have sex with strangers or violently kidnapping, throwing to back of trucks and sold to gangs for illegal brothels, or gangs raping hundreds of underage girls in the UK, the response is the same:
  “it depends who did it?”
  The left turns out in thousands to defend rapists, paedophiles and sex traffickers such as Kimar Garcia but erupt in indignation for anyone in a photo with Epstein. (unless it is a Clinton).
  Trump threw out Epstein form his club for treating staff poorly, but the Clinton’s invited Epstein to their daughter’s wedding.
  .
  
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  February 2, 2026 10:49am
  - rouppe
    
    The response of the left to human trafficking depends on who did it.
    
    For example the Labour Youth conference in 2018.
    
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    February 2, 2026 3:12pm
- kowtow
  
  Until the # mob was given so much prominence by the left controlled media , the Hollywood concept of the “casting couch” phenomenon was well known , despite being sleazy , and for many “stars”it seems the route to fame and fortune ( and no doubt for counltess others not so much )
  
  But everyone knew about it and no one sang .
  
  On that basis should Oscars awarded on the dubious basis of “sex appeal” etc be cancelled .
  
  Should eveyone stop listening to Virgin records or travelling on his planes , given Branson seems to be donkey deep with Eppy etc
  
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  February 2, 2026 11:01am
- Nobby2
  
  Bollocks, Completely agree, it wasn’t illegal and she was over consenting age, so no story. Perhaps she wanted the encounter to put on her CV. No different to a propstitute being pimped to a member of the Royal family.
  
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  February 2, 2026 11:51am
  - Paulus
    
    Money Money Money !
    
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    February 2, 2026 3:20pm
Southern Raider

The Opportunity Party has just appointed Iain Lees Galloway as General Manager. Union organise and disgraced politician.

This will either sink them even lower or just steal some Labour votes.

Can’t understand the logic of that appointment.
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February 2, 2026 8:06am
- R
  
  Lee’s Galloway is looking to the significant salary that an opposition party leader will receive if he can get himself elected as a list MP.
  
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  February 2, 2026 9:28am
- Colville
  
  If anyone doesn’t know who Galloway is…just search “odious” on Wikipedia.
  
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  February 2, 2026 10:47am
- Philview
  
  He was happy to throw away his political career to protect his Government over the Sroubek file. There was something going on there and still is per recent reports.
  
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  February 2, 2026 11:21am
- NZer In Exile
  
  I was listening to a woman form that party being interviewed on Te Platform. Sounds like they won’t be going anywhere fast any time soon.
  
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  February 2, 2026 1:51pm
KKNZ2025

yet another example of why the NZ Police, Legal & “Justice” systems are widely held in contempt by the people they are expected to protect:
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/former-student-stalked-harassed-teacher-then-had-an-affair-with-her-husband/DGCV2OIDX5HZZCUSIBUV4KXK5Q/
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February 2, 2026 8:08am
David Garrett

Uncomfortably hot in the Kingdom…the price we pay for 25C days in the winter while you are all freezing down there!
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February 2, 2026 8:18am
- pdm
  
  Supposed to hit 33c in Hastings today.
  
  Hopefully clear heat, no humidity.
  
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  February 2, 2026 8:42am
  - David Garrett
    
    pdm: Yep, it’s the humidity that kills us up here…only 73% today which is low for this time of year.
    
    8 1
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    February 2, 2026 9:23am
    - pdm
      
      I know GD. I take it this time of the year in Nuku’alofa is very like Suva when we lived there 1974 to 1977.
      
      You do acclimatise though.
      
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      February 2, 2026 9:39am
- Maggy Wassilieff
  
  My naked ladies are starting to show – one in full flower…. Autumn is on the way.
  
  17 2
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  February 2, 2026 8:52am
  - Justitia
    
    Yep, the cicadas are now singing their ‘summer is ending’ song.
    
    15 0
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    February 2, 2026 9:03am
- NZer In Exile
  
  Tonga @30C max day and @25C min at night at the moment?
  
  Does a fan do the trick or you need full aircon?
  
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  February 2, 2026 2:55pm
Nigel Kearney

Some good news to start your week:

https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/news/world/un-secretary-general-says-global-body-is-at-risk-of-fiscal-collapse
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February 2, 2026 8:23am
- artemisia
  
  Not sure how many people are paid by the UN one way or another, but there are estimates of well over 100,000.
  
  As with any enterprise, financials under stress are a good time to ask people – ‘Tell me what you did last week, and why’.
  
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  February 2, 2026 8:30am
  - AitchW
    
    When you look at UNRWA, the body which knowingly employed Hamas members, stored munitions for Hamas, held Israeli hostages in its facilities and whose schools teach Gazan primary kids to aspire to martyrdom and the genocide of Jews, you have to wonder how deep the rot goes, and if we shouldn’t withdraw now.
    
    26 2
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    February 2, 2026 9:19am
    - Ra Henare
      
      AitchW, I thing you missed out a fact.
      It was. Some members of UNRWA, not the body.
      
      2 1
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      February 2, 2026 4:24pm
  - David Garrett
    
    art: Tell me what you did last week, and why’.
    
    Back in the day, when Brierley was taking over companies every week, apparently each middle manager of each swallowed up company had to submit a one page of summary of what value s/he added to the company, and why s/he should be kept on.
    
    IIRC 70% found they no longer had a job after their submissions were reviewed.
    
    22 2
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    February 2, 2026 9:26am
    - R
      
      Wonder it the Coalition government could apply through Brierly fiscal principal to the Civil Service! Oh, 10000 less jobs in Wellington, maybe the government has applied same.
      
      11 1
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      February 2, 2026 9:33am
      - Handyman
        
        The Herald headline implied government job cuts, and the union “economist” also blamed deep government cuts. He even stated if Labour was in government, there would have been 14,000 more civil service jobs created in Wellington, so really 24,000 jobs cut by this government.
        
        However, read on and find the buried truth – the 10,0000 job cuts were in the private sector. There was no reporting on the negligible reductions in the civil service.
        
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        February 2, 2026 11:31am
    - imalwaysright
      
      One of the biggest drags on any company is the ‘Human Resources’ department.
      
      Their main aim seems to be the security and longevity of the HR department.
      
      23 1
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      February 2, 2026 10:30am
      - NothingLeft
        
        They serve as the wokeness political commissars in both public and commercial organisations, and as gatekeepers of hiring and promotion ensure woke supremacy.
        
        7 1
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        February 2, 2026 12:01pm
      - NZer In Exile
        
        Don’t forget infecting the company with lots of woke crap as well. Oh and pissing everyone in the company off. Sort of like your in-house woke Stasi service. Got a problem with an A-grade a-hole in the company? Well report it to HR and they’ll fire YOU as well.
        
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        February 2, 2026 1:56pm
      - Paulus
        
        Years ago in the UK I scrapped a Personel Department and left selection to the Department Manager requiring staff.
        Worked as they could see who would fit in to their work.
        
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        February 2, 2026 3:24pm
    - Colville
      
      DG
      LOL.
      Yeah like council staff….the bulk of their time is spent in “meetings” (read : circle jerk sessions) with other “managers”.
      
      13 2
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      February 2, 2026 10:50am
      - NZer In Exile
        
        I can tell you that is the case with middle managers in a lot of corporations. Endless meetings and nothing gets fixed all the same. WTF?
        
        7 1
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        February 2, 2026 1:58pm
    - zulumonster
      
      I read a book on the UN back in the 90’s … I remember the statement that ~ 80% of the UN’s costs went in HO bureaucracy and the rest to actual projects.
      And based on my observation of a number of those projects in Africa in the early 90’s, there would certainly be a large number of them that were not cost effective (putting it politely).
      
      13 1
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      February 2, 2026 11:04am
    - Paulus
      
      I remember when I worked in Wellington years ago of a known so called major Finance operation whereby a Bank Manager blocked their lending application – then a short while later he was offerd a job out of all prortion to his Bank job – which he took under wife pressure, with a super title and was given a super office with nothing to do all day except read reports and the papers, until lunch until he was made redundent.
      The so called Finance operation which made two Swiss millionaires got what they wanted.
      
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      February 2, 2026 12:24pm
  - Prince
    
    Where are they on Iran ? Or is that all up to Trump to solve ? What is the purpose of the UN anymore ?
    
    8 3
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    February 2, 2026 9:29am
- Maggy Wassilieff
  
  Wonder if the UN folk know how to organise a good sausage sizzle fundraiser?
  
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  February 2, 2026 8:38am
  - Ian
    
    Well, with Jacinda (or those aspiring for her) wanting to be in line for Secretary-General, she could use those skills she demonstrated at Waitangi Day breakfast all those years ago to storm up a sausage sizzle. Though with the UN maybe imploding, maybe she won’t be so keen anymore to be in line…
    
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    February 2, 2026 8:52am
    - R
      
      Her tank must have nearly run out of fuel again, all those public speaking engagements
      
      13 2
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      February 2, 2026 9:35am
    - nigel2010
      
      but you are not allowed sausage sizzles any more meat production is upsetting the planet and LPG is definitely a no no, hold on my eggs and bacon are ready and im famished and im buggered if im ever going to eat bugs and tofu
      
      13 2
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      February 2, 2026 10:13am
      - David Garrett
        
        Nigel: Much as I dislike the idea of death, I like the idea of eating insects a whole lot less…I hope I am no more when that becomes necessary.
        
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        February 2, 2026 11:18am
      - Cassandra
        
        DG: unless you opt for cremation I think the insects will get you first. My plan is sprinkle on the local park where my dogs roamed.
        
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        February 2, 2026 12:03pm
      - keepcalmcarryon
        
        Global boiling actually
        
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        February 2, 2026 12:19pm
    - Paulus
      
      Hasn’t Sec Gen job gone to a South American Lady ?
      
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      February 2, 2026 12:25pm
    - Ra Henare
      
      There is NO WAY that Jacinda would be considered secretary General.
      
      Consider.
      Informal Criteria and Conventions
      Regional Rotation: The position traditionally rotates among UN regional groups. Since Eastern Europe has never held the office, there is strong momentum for a candidate from this region in the 2026 selection. There is also a strong push for a Latin American SG (hence 2 women nominees from there)
      
      Language Skills: Fluency in English and French, the two working languages of the UN, is highly valued. France has historically opposed candidates who cannot speak French.
      
      Diplomatic Profile: Candidates are typically experienced diplomats, former foreign ministers, or senior UN officials—rarely former heads of state.
      
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      February 2, 2026 4:42pm
  - pdm
    
    Actually this is a huge opportunity for Jacinda if appointed UN General Secretary.
    
    They way she destroyed the New Zealand economy and way of life – she could have the United Nations completely wound up and forgotten by years end.
    
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    February 2, 2026 9:43am
    - imalwaysright
      
      It would take them ’til years end to translate her maiden speech into English.
      
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      February 2, 2026 10:44am
- RockyJ
  
  But, but, but, what will Jacinda do for a job when she grows up?
  
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  February 2, 2026 8:39am
  - pdm
    
    I thought she had completed an apprenticeship in Fish and Chip wrapping.
    
    That should stand her in good stead and provide opportunities for her.
    
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    February 2, 2026 9:46am
    - Don Beckett
      
      Food parcel distribution in Gaza…..
      
      14 2
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      February 2, 2026 9:51am
  - R
    
    No sign of her growing up, at this time.
    
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    February 2, 2026 10:02am
  - Albie
    
    What would Cindy do? How about follow in Helen’s footsteps and issue statements and commentary on all insundry, enthusiastically delivered to us an by an adoring fawning media.
    
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    February 2, 2026 10:13am
- Cassandra
  
  For those concerned about the future of the UN: “The U.N. is not leaving New York, and it’s not leaving the United States, because the U.N. has tremendous potential,” said Pres Trump, who suggested that he could quickly reverse the organization’s financial fortunes if the agency reached out. “If they came to Trump and told him, I’d get everybody to pay up, just like I got NATO to pay up, right? All I have to do is call these countries. If the head of the U.N. would call the president of the United States, I would make the appropriate phone calls and they would send checks within minutes,” he said.
  
  While consistency is not a DJT trademark, it appears that the Sec Gen can relax.
  
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  February 2, 2026 9:06am
  - sungsamning
    
    There are times when I wish he’d shut up.
    
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    February 2, 2026 2:28pm
- R
  
  Very good news! The UN is a corrupt ideological TROUGH
  
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  February 2, 2026 9:30am
- sungsamning
  
  So, what’s the downside? Can the city turn it into something useful? Say a homeless shelter.
  
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  February 2, 2026 2:23pm
- rouppe
  
  The UN is a failure.
  
  It was set up to stop wars. It hasn’t prevented a single conflict, and where they got involved in peace keeping they didn’t accomplish that either.
  
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  February 2, 2026 3:18pm
  - MCōs
    
    The UN was setup with the the aim of Preventing Future Wars: The primary goal was to save succeeding generations from the “scourge of war” following the immense destruction of WWII.
    Maintaining Global Peace: The UN was designed to promote international peace, security, and diplomatic dispute resolution.
    Human Rights and Development: The charter sought to encourage respect for human rights, fundamental freedoms, and international law.
    International Cooperation: It was created to help nations collaborate on global problems, including humanitarian aid, economic, social, and cultural issues.
    
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    February 2, 2026 10:09pm
Southern Raider

Just saw a picture of a cliff danger sign on a local community group. Sign has just been put up by the local Council.

First words under the picture is “Pari” and then under that “Cliff Edge”.

Maybe someone needs to go to Worksafe and make a claim Council isn’t fulfilling their H&S responsibilities by having the words on a danger sign prioritised in Te Reo instead of English.

Or does this suggest the Council believes the 0.5% of the population who can understand what “Pari” means are most at risk?
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February 2, 2026 8:26am
- Yvette
  
  Southern Raider, your argument presented in this comment of course follows through to”Kura: School” and anything else where Willie Jackson’ scurge, the Tyrrany of the Majority, applies – that among other things, those who can read and understand English trump those who can’t.
  Especially if you roar by a school at over fifty and a glimpse, if that, is all you get of “Kura …”
  
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  February 2, 2026 9:16am
- R
  
  Another Council that has failed on Public Communication. The basic understanding that ‘Effective Communication’, should be in the language and titles/terminology that is most universally UNDERSTOOD by said PUBLIC
  
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  February 2, 2026 10:05am
- Paulus
  
  Tauranga is now called Tauranga Moana by the media after the tragedy.
  
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  February 2, 2026 3:27pm
imalwaysright

Kiwis get emotional and pick sides in overseas conflicts while our own country is on its knees.

Maybe its time we sort ourselves out before we try to sort others out.?
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February 2, 2026 8:49am
- Southern Raider
  
  I think you will find a strong correlation between those who are trying to drag the Palestinian weekly protests out and those against any economic opportunities NZ has eg mining, oil and gas
  
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  February 2, 2026 9:18am
- Mike
  
  Most people can care about more than one thing at a time.
  
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  February 2, 2026 11:11am
  - imalwaysright
    
    Define ‘care’.
    Kiwis pick a side that looks most likely to be the ‘right’ one, or the one that appeases those they admire in the hope of currying their favour. There is very little ‘care’ involved.
    Combine that with a general ignorance of the nuances of their current cause and you end up with a gaggle of halfwits pretending otherwise.
    
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    February 2, 2026 12:37pm
    - Mike
      
      Simply that it’s possible for NZ to govern itself adequately and be a good global citizen as well
      
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      February 2, 2026 5:12pm
  - NZer In Exile
    
    Yes lefties can prance about supposedly caring about a lot of fashionable causes at the same time, while hypocritically ignoring more dire issues not fashionable with their poser peers.
    
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    February 2, 2026 2:03pm
  - R
    
    Wasn’t very obvious at the!0 2020 election booths!
    
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    February 2, 2026 5:34pm
Maggy Wassilieff

You do have to wonder about the quality of teaching these year 12 and year 13 students received in their 4-5 years at secondary school.

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/585646/ncea-hurdle-trips-up-15-000-students

Did they ever write essays/stories that were marked?

Were they ever taught basic arithmetic and regularly checked that they could carry out simple calculations?
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February 2, 2026 8:49am
- Nigel Kearney
  
  The questions are not hard, here is an example:
  
  https://www2.nzqa.govt.nz/assets/Uploads/32406B-1-exm-2025.pdf
  
  The maths is nothing more than basic arithmetic and figuring out what is being asked is not too difficult either. Apart from the silly question about lines of symmetry, it is a test of basic life skills more than anything.
  
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  February 2, 2026 9:05am
  - Cassandra
    
    It’s a good test of basics. Agree with the symmetry question being silly. One other thing: I know Gina, she wouldn’t pay a cent.
    
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    February 2, 2026 9:15am
  - imalwaysright
    
    Hard to believe that the test is for Year 10, 15yrs olds.
    Its more suited to being a Secondary school entrance exam for 12/13 yrs olds, but NZ doesn’t test new entrants.
    Primary schools in NZ have become kindergartens.
    
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    February 2, 2026 9:53am
  - Jethrod
    
    Plus you get a lesson in comprehension.
    
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    February 2, 2026 11:10am
    - nova
      
      I agree the test is easy, and all students should be able to pass. I have a small issue with the level of comprehension required, as it makes it harder to assess the numeracy skills of student who don’t speak english as a first language.
      I have even more of a problem with questions such as “The graph below shows a person’s blood sugar levels. This person went for a one-hour run, starting at 2:30 p.m Did the run cause their blood sugar level to drop?”, as there is no way to determine causation from the graph. But I don’t think the person writing the question was expecting an essay on scientific method.
      
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      February 2, 2026 1:17pm
  - Local Miller
    
    Having taught maths at year 10, 11, 12 level and homeschooled kids to year 13 level, I would consider this test very basic for even a year 8 or 9 student. If this is the standard for NCEA Level 1 Statistics then our education system is well and truly stuffed!
    
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    February 2, 2026 1:53pm
    - Nigel Kearney
      
      In no way are these intended to be NCEA level maths questions. They are not even intended to be challenging for year 10 students (the year before NCEA).
      
      The intent is just to make sure students have a minimum level of numeracy to justify them being awarded NCEA credits in non-maths subjects.
      
      The complaints are coming from schools who were handing out credits in basket-weaving or similar and are now concerned they won’t be able to keep doing that.
      
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      February 2, 2026 2:14pm
      - Don Beckett
        
        When looking at those exam questions, they are the sort og problems we learnt to resolve in Standards 5 & 6 – ie. Forms 1 & 2 or earlier.
        Just as Local Miller said.
        
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        February 2, 2026 2:20pm
      - Paulus
        
        Baskets will still be assessed for a qualification leading to a job !
        
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        February 2, 2026 3:29pm
    - sungsamning
      
      NCEA = No Credible Educational Attainment.
      
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      February 2, 2026 2:31pm
  - rouppe
    
    Those are year 12 questions?
    
    They should be year 9 questions at best
    
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    February 2, 2026 3:43pm
- Southern Raider
  
  Having kids across multiple school ages it’s clear NZ has a teaching quality issue.
  
  Some teachers are absolutely amazing and should be paid double as you can see the increased engagement and learning achievements they enable.
  
  However too many fall into
  1) they just can’t teach. They may actually know their core subjects well but they can’t engage with students and can’t explain the basics so students can understand and progress
  2) they are dumber than their students. Far too many aren’t actually competent in the basics and lean on English/Literacy because they don’t understand maths and science
  
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  February 2, 2026 9:22am
- artemisia
  
  A whole lot of principals interviewed in that article, Maggy. Almost all unrelentingly negative. And that is usual for principals and their union in the media these days.
  
  Maybe that is media bias. But maybe that is principals underperforming but trying to shift the blame to somewhere, anywhere, else. Preferably somewhere vague like poverty and co-requisites.
  
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  February 2, 2026 9:25am
- David Garrett
  
  Maggy: I gave up on that about half way through…is there any mention of the teachers having failed as well as the pupils? (“Students” go to uni, not high school)
  
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  February 2, 2026 9:31am
  - TripeWryter
    
    David Garrett:
    Absolutely correct.
    Someone explained to me 25-30 years ago that schoolchildren were called ‘students’ to give them some dignity.
    ‘Pupils’ was authoritarian.
    Calling children in kindergartens and day cares ‘students’ is just dumb.
    
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    February 2, 2026 9:41am
  - MCōs
    
    Student
    a person formally engaged in learning, especially one enrolled in a school or college; pupil:
    Pupil
    a person, usually young, who is learning under the close supervision of a teacher at school, a private tutor, or the like; student.
    
    According to this particular dictionary either word applies to school children, but student for tertiary education
    
    As for placing the blame for students/pupils coming up short squarely on teachers and their unions, I think is simplistic when there are clearly other factors at play.
    
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    February 2, 2026 10:08am
    - Cassandra
      
      MCos: what are these other things and how important are they? Parents, of course, are a huge influence. Ethnic culture too, Chinese and Jews for example. But the ethos of schools is massive.
      
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      February 2, 2026 10:19am
    - AitchW
      
      You forgot Akonga…
      
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      February 2, 2026 11:49am
      - Paulus
        
        Who is she ?
        Does she bite ?
        
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        February 2, 2026 3:30pm
  - Maggy Wassilieff
    
    You can use a calculator…..
    
    Seems teachers now have to pass some very basic level of numeracy…..
    
    The numeracy test (60 minutes) will involve basic mathematical concepts, such as addition, subtraction, finding equivalent fractions, multiplying decimals, understanding place value, and converting common fractions, decimals and percentages.
    
    The pass mark for this numeracy test is 80%.
    
    https://www.teachersinstitute.org.nz/online-resources-for-enrolment
    
    But, but, but…. it looks like that very basic maths requirement might turn folks away from applying for Teacher Training:
    
    https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/558750/fears-new-teacher-maths-requirement-will-halve-enrolments-worsen-shortages
    
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    February 2, 2026 10:20am
    - pdm
      
      Maggy asking for a friend.
      
      Is there a special criteria for blondes?
      
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      February 2, 2026 10:46am
    - imalwaysright
      
      From first link :
      
      “Fibonicci Numeracy Tests”
      
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      February 2, 2026 10:58am
      - Nigel Kearney
        
        Can we please wait until teachers can spell in English before we complain about misspellings in Italian?
        
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        February 2, 2026 2:16pm
      - imalwaysright
        
        Nice one Nigel
        
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        February 2, 2026 4:37pm
- Dougal10
  
  Some of the teachers are just filling desks , local school has a math teacher teaching level 2 , not one kid passed 1 of the calculus/algebra math papers , even the ones that got excellence in physics and chem , her foreign qualifications were obviously fudged . Hard to motivate a child that hasn’t been taught properly .
  
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  February 2, 2026 10:01am
  - david
    
    “If the pupil hasn’t learnt, the teacher hasn’t taught” – ANON
    
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    February 2, 2026 2:30pm
- R
  
  The answers Maggy, are NO, NO and NO. This, is but one of the many shortcomings in our Education system, that Erica Stanford is trying to correct.
  Hopefully the nation will support her in her efforts.
  
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  February 2, 2026 10:15am
- imalwaysright
  
  Porirua College principal Ragne Maxwell said “The concern really is that some people are failing who are literate and numerate,”
  
  ‘Literate and numerate’ are an odd choice of words to describe 15 year olds.
  
  Usually we would talk about early primary pupils achieving literacy and numeracy competence, but it seems now that it is a benchmark for pupils twice their age.
  
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  February 2, 2026 10:16am
- Handyman
  
  The solution is to require teachers of fact based subjects to sit the external exams they teach.
  Everyone knows there would be a dearth of maths teachers if the incompetent maths teachers were banned from the subject.
  This reminds me of the bonus pay John Key proposed to recognise particularly good teachers. The union howled “what about the poor teachers?”
  
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  February 2, 2026 1:17pm
In Vino Veritas

After the news of the UN imploding from overspend, and Trump’s rhetoric toward both the UN and NATO, I thought this article on NATO might interest a few.
https://bradschaeffer.substack.com/p/nato-americas-unacknowledged-welfare
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February 2, 2026 9:18am
- Christopher Thomson
  
  I have to disagree with some of his assumptions, however I have said on this blog that Europe’s socialism is based on US money.
  
  Yet they are still running short and are resorting to ever more desperate taxation.
  
  It’s all going to collapse and, as the saying goes, you can vote your way into socialism but you can only shoot your way out.
  
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  February 2, 2026 1:56pm
Yvette

~~Prince~~ Andrew
The disclosures also have revived questions about whether long-time Epstein friend Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly known as Prince Andrew, should cooperate with US authorities investigating Epstein.

Even if extradited to the United States would that not be under American law and Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor could plead the Fifth Amendment, like Al Capone
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February 2, 2026 9:19am
PurplePen

I see Aroha has been used in branding in the company that’s using it is being asked for compensation for use of the word. Words like aroha or motu are increasingly put on a pedestal through artificial insertion into English. This isn’t organic language growth; it’s a top-down shift driven by government and corporate bodies performative use, designed to signal “cultural competence” rather than reflecting genuine everyday use. It creates a “sacred” status for these words. By elevating them this way, they become effectively untouchable and immune to the kind of critique or casual use applied to standard English.
This backfires as or for maori it doesn’t, as maori then can treat these words as proprietary assets. If you sacralise a word for branding or political optics, you validate the idea that the word is a “trademark” rather than shared language. This leads directly to groups seeking compensation or “permission” for their use. You can’t have it both ways: if a word is too “special” to be challenged, it ceases to be common vocabulary and becomes a commercial asset. This artificial elevation has turned everyday communication into a dispute over ownership.
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February 2, 2026 9:59am
- imalwaysright
  
  Pp,
  A KB poster yesterday mentioned that MPI cited ‘Maori data Sovereignty’ as a reason to withhold information related to an OIA.
  Not sure which Act of Parliament conferred Sovereignty upon Maori data, maybe its the same Act that gives them Sovereignty over their words?
  
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  February 2, 2026 11:30am
- Yvette
  
  Who owns the word “Aroha”? To whom would compensation be paid? If compensation clears the word for use, how does it affect or influence that use? The short answer is likely, “It doesn’t.” So, what’s the compensation for? And if the word is a Maori ‘taonga’, who exposed it to English (world-wide) usage.
  
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  February 2, 2026 11:55am
  - NeverMindTheBollocks
    
    Tikanga!
    
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    February 2, 2026 7:01pm
- NZer In Exile
  
  It’s as if the whole thing is simply a giant con job. The people pulling this shit obviously think those without Maori heritage are soft-target idiots not worthy of any respect.
  
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  February 2, 2026 2:09pm
Yvette

GP visits – Labour 3: National Coalition 11
While Labour are going to tax the rich and give every New Zealander three free visits to their doctor, are the Coalition going to cut in shortly and point out that with 12 month prescriptions they will save prescriptees 11 visits a year to the doctor so you now have that many visits within your previous budgeting without it costing you any more than before, so Labour can get stuffed.

Did you follow? Or come to your own creative conclusions?
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February 2, 2026 10:00am
imalwaysright

Smiling Zombie Alert:

GP doctors and Nurse Practitioners can now diagnose and prescribe drugs for ADHD….
7 1
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February 2, 2026 10:35am
- Jack5
  
  Entertainment airheads are announcing middle-age self-diagnosis of ADHD almost daily.
  
  I’m sorry for authentic sufferers of neurological conditions such as autism. They will suffer in the inevitable public counter-response.
  
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  February 2, 2026 3:35pm
virtualmark

Anyone else watch the Texas special elections that happened over the weekend (NZ time)?

As I said in November … “Basically, they’ve spread the GOP vote more thinly across a new mix of electorates in the idea that they can afford to skinny down their winning margins in the ruby red seats in order to tip a few purple ones red.

But what that ends up doing is that you become more vulnerable to a swing against you.

Trump is more unpopular than any President in living memory. The swing in the Latino vote alone, let alone the youth vote, should be starting to worry Governor Abbott and Mike Johnston.”

Gerrymandering can hurt you as quickly as help you.
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February 2, 2026 10:48am
- Lance
  
  GoP seem to be textbook Dunning-Kruger in action
  
  In the words of Dick Emery
  “Dad… I think I got it wrong again”
  
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  February 2, 2026 11:04am
  - mogg
    
    “You are awful”
    
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    February 2, 2026 2:18pm
    - Don Beckett
      
      “But I like you……” 🙂
      
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      February 2, 2026 3:40pm
- kowtow
  
  Apparently very low turn out ,cos the election basically has zero relevance to anyone except Dems who spent up bigly .
  
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  February 2, 2026 11:07am
  - alwyn.a
    
    I really don’t think you read the story properly.
    
    From the Wall Street Journal I learnt that the Republican candidate spent $1,000,000 while the Democrat spent $177,000.
    
    If $177,000 is bigly I would think that $1,000,000 on a losing campaign is ginormous.
    
    Still, what can we expect. Trump himself doesn’t understand arithmetic so why should we expect more from his followers?
    
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    February 2, 2026 12:20pm
    - kowtow
      
      I’ll see your 177k and raise you 500 k
      
      From the Texa Tribune.
      ‘Outsiders have also been spending on the race. VoteVets, a progressive national veterans PAC, poured in roughly $500,000 to boost Rehmet.’
      
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      February 2, 2026 2:54pm
  - virtualmark
    
    The interesting result was the election for the Texas State Senate. That seat is in a GOP stronghold and has been held by the GOP since the seat was established in 1992 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texas%27s_9th_Senate_district)
    
    The GOP candidate out-spent the Democrat candidate 10-to-1 (US$2.4m vs US$240,000 https://fortworthreport.org/2026/01/26/republican-budget-tops-2-5m-in-race-for-texas-senate-district-9-records-show/).
    
    The GOP won the district by +20% in 1992. Then Trump won that area by +17% in the 2024 Presidential election. But now the Dems have won it at +15%.
    
    If that level of swing was to hold true in November then Texas is at least purple, if not leaning red.
    
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    February 2, 2026 2:27pm
    - Christopher Thomson
      
      You’re getting overexcited and not looking at the full story.
      
      The state legislature doesn’t sit until 2027.
      
      The candidate has to win the proper vote in November this year to take a seat.
      
      It was a pointless election with a low GOP turnout.
      
      There was a republican vote split.
      
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      February 2, 2026 11:37pm
  - MCōs
    
    That’s a Trump level brush off, kowtow
    
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    February 2, 2026 5:08pm
- MCōs
  
  Texas has the largest number of undocumented migrants, principally from Mexico working in the fields for rock bottom renumeration.
  Those people might not be able to vote, because they’re not citizens, but if they suddenly disappear it upsets the local economy
  Trump might chuck some money at them, but smells a bit like communism.
  
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  February 2, 2026 11:36am
  - Mike
    
    But I thought all the illegal immigrants were in blue states for voter fraud.//
    
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    February 2, 2026 12:23pm
  - Graeme Hall
    
    California, becoming known as Mexifornia, has the largest number of illegal aliens.
    
    https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/1893554732
    
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    February 2, 2026 12:27pm
    - MCōs
      
      You could be right for what it worth because figures are all over the place
      California, Texas & Florida appear to be the big three
      https://immresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/50-states-by-imm-share.png
      
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      February 2, 2026 2:33pm
- Christopher Thomson
  
  1 democrat candidate was running against 2 Republican candidates.
  
  Without the vote splitting it would have been a clear win to the Republicans.
  
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  February 2, 2026 11:32pm
Master Mariner

https://www.marineinsight.com/shipping-news/china-issues-warning-over-australias-plan-to-take-back-darwin-port/

What the article misses is that there is a RAAF and a RAN Navy base beside it.

This will be interesting to follow.
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February 2, 2026 11:01am
- keepcalmcarryon
  
  It’s been playing out for years after the dopey probably corrupt decision by NT liberals back then to sell the lease to China.
  Don’t forget the US marine base in town either.
  
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  February 2, 2026 12:23pm
- Taieri
  
  And the US Marine Rotational Force – Darwin. That’s up to 2500 soldiers.
  
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  February 2, 2026 2:38pm
I remember when

Waiohiki Marae:
The Mongrel Mob, particularly the Notorius chapter, has a long-standing connection to the Waiohiki area and Waiohiki Marae.
The presence of the gang at the Marae has caused friction with local authorities.
The relationship between the Mongrel Mob and the Waiohiki community remains a sensitive issue, with ongoing scrutiny regarding the balance between the gang’s community engagement efforts and their criminal activities.
Denis O’Reilly, although he is Black Power, lives there and often speaks on behalf of the gangs.
Waiohiki and Moteo, Puketapu, are said to be sister maraes.

Sixty years ago members of the marae and local Taradale community would meet at the local on Friday and Saturday.
There was no obvious friction and friendships were common.
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February 2, 2026 11:38am
sungsamning

Israel, Greece, and Cyprus are best buddies in the Med. Now, Israel has recognized Somalia. Its easier for them to strike the Houthis, and Iran. turkey has ambitions in the region. They’re not best pleased.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRu0KC63hHg
Israel vs Turkey: the Somaliland Gambit!
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February 2, 2026 11:40am
- Cassandra
  
  Actually Israel has recognised the breakaway (from Somalia) Somaliland. It was the former British part, joined to the Italian bit to form Somalia in about 1960. Oil and water did not mix.
  
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  February 2, 2026 12:09pm
  - Mike
    
    You mean spaghetti and roast beef.
    
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    February 2, 2026 12:26pm
  - sungsamning
    
    Yes, that’s right. Somaliland is a functioning democracy. Somalia, not so much.
    
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    February 2, 2026 2:36pm
sungsamning

What’s the difference between a ‘conspiracy theory’ and the truth? Is it as little as six months? Podemos Secretary General Ione Belarra and the party’s leading Member of the European Parliament, Irene Montero, openly embraced the project of demographic displacement as an electoral strategy. The illegal immigrants are doing jobs Spaniards won’t do. Like voting for globalists.
https://www.breitbart.com/europe/2026/02/01/leftist-leader-hails-great-replacement-of-conservatives-with-illegal-migrant-amnesty-in-spain/
Leftist Leader Hails Great ‘Replacement’ of Conservatives with Illegal Migrant Amnesty in Spain.
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February 2, 2026 11:40am
- Taieri
  
  To put it into context, Podemos currently holds 5 seats out of 350 total in the lower chamber of the Spanish Parliament and no seats in the Senate. Also 2 seats in the European Parliament.
  
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  February 2, 2026 2:57pm
Swifty

Oh look! Regulatory interventions lead to unintended (but perfectly foreseeable) consequences:

https://x.com/ericcrampton/status/2018042850676822195?s=46

MPs, particularly Labour and Green, should take note.

But they won’t.
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February 2, 2026 11:44am
I remember when

Accusations of Bullying, Favouritism and Excessive Drinking: TV One News.
Billy Meehan, the New Zealand Boxing team coach, is stated to have erred.
As a sport, boxing seems to be especially prone to conflict between factions.
It is even less of a sport with a single direction forward than most and is always fighting for its place.
Many of the coaches have a long assocation with the sport, fight to be economically viable and have their own way of doing things (the right way).
They also are not necessarily as aware of sensitivities as they might be.
It doesn’t mean there aren’t problems and that they shouldn’t be properly investigated.
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February 2, 2026 11:59am
- OlderChas
  
  Last night one of the “news” shows announced that the President (or CE?) of Boxing NZ is Meehan’s wife.
  
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  February 3, 2026 9:05am
Swifty

Massive gaps in the cyber-security of our health systems according to this fellow:

https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/360932663/jenga-tower-why-nzs-health-cyber-security-leaving-patients-exposed-expert

So dispiriting if true.

Our politicians and civil service can’t even manage what we’ve got currently – but as citizens we constantly gave politicians and vested interests calling for more government, more regulation, more control, more money.

More, more, MORE!
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February 2, 2026 1:31pm
Christopher Thomson

If anyone was wondering how Venezuela is doing; the new president has signed into law the process to privatise the oil industry.

Effectively taking them back to 1976.
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February 2, 2026 1:58pm
- Chris Scott
  
  Christopher Thomson
  If anyone was wondering how Venezuela is doing; the new president has signed into law the process to privatise the oil industry.
  
  Effectively taking them back to 1976.
  
  Yeah, I can see Exxon and ConocoPhillips rushing back to invest billions 😛 More likely to see Sinopec or CNPC I’d say.
  
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  February 2, 2026 9:55pm
  - Christopher Thomson
    
    Isn’t Trump already talking deals with the CHiComs? I think I saw that somewhere today.
    
    Imagine controlling their oil and being able to cripple their economy before they invade Taiwan.
    
    It didn’t work out so well when the US and A strangled Japan’s oil.
    
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    February 2, 2026 11:39pm
Swifty

There are some who think there should be no mining in NZ whatsoever.

In recent months, I’ve engaged online with both an ex-Green MP and someone employed by Greenpeace NZ discussing this and both say no mining should be allowed in NZ. (Demand for gold, for example, should be met by recycling gold already mined and above ground.)

When I mention all of our lives, including theirs, are thoroughly and completely dependent on mining occurring somewhere in the world, they shut up and decline to engage further.

(It’s funny, when I put this same argument to another woman online late last year, just a random NZer, she expressed genuine surprise, I think she thought I was being stupid as she said “What do you mean, I recycle and drive an electric car.” I don’t think she had given a moment’s thought to her total dependency on mined minerals for all the products and services she relies on every single day of her life. True story.)

So therefore it seems deeply hypocritical to me for people to happily accept the benefits of mineral mining overseas but then call for the total ban of that mining here in NZ. Not to mention the loss of incomes, economic growth and resilience, skills development, jobs etc that it brings.

No-one wants to see NZ despoiled by irresponsible mining, certainly not me, but there are countless examples of responsible mining performed overseas which show it can be done well and with minimal impact on our environment.

Done well, these are opportunities worth pursuing.

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/585700/australian-mining-giant-santana-minerals-granted-road-mine-road-access-despite-protest

I really fear for our future if our economic growth is stymied and prevented by the two-faced ‘No’ people. I note Sam Neill taking a negative stand on this – he who has built his entire career and amassed significant wealth on an industry completely and utterly dependent on advanced technologies requiring mining the earth.
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February 2, 2026 2:08pm
- Notsofast
  
  Chatgpt estimates 50 thousand tons of rock need grinding to build an A380 for Sam to get around with his special talents. Ask Sam which country should grind their rock for him.
  
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  February 2, 2026 5:07pm
- Quail
  
  Swifty.
  Nigel , don’t you mean?
  Just saying!
  
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  February 2, 2026 7:44pm
Southern Raider

Govt has a major problem.

The economy is squeezed by interest rates which are high due to inflation, and so consumers don’t have money to spend on retail, hospitality, tourism and construction.

But inflation continues to rise because items outside of any real consumer control keep going up in double digits. So consumers get more squeezed on each side by mortgage payments, insurance, rates and utilities. These aren’t really discretionary items and the increases are out of control, while at the same time wages are flat to going backwards.

In last week I’ve had health insurance up 18% and just got a utility email saying power is going up 16% to 25%. How can a daily fixed charge increase by 25% and it’s somehow the consumers problem to resolve inflation?
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February 2, 2026 2:58pm
Jack5

Multicultural “war” looms in the UK’s scenic back blocks.

National “diversity” plans drawn up by the Government department DEFRA, say the countryside, as a “white environment,” will become irrelevant in a multicultural society.

“National landscapes,” previously called “areas of outstanding beauty” and their local councils have committed to diversity targets, reports the Telegraph behind its pay-wall.

Suggestions from the department include marketing material for the regions “featuring people visibly from ethnic minorities, and written in community languages”.

The department says dogs should be kept under tighter control as some groups are scared of them.

The newspaper reports “the Chilterns National Landscape team has set out proposals that include community outreach schemes to attract more Muslims to the area, particularly from nearby Luton.”

DEFRA is the UK’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
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February 2, 2026 4:03pm
Yvette

In relation to possible Pike River charges, can anyone be charged with anything that was not law already at the time of the disaster?
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February 2, 2026 5:48pm
Swifty

A very good Partridge piece on judicial (Supreme Court) activism.

https://lawnews.nz/general/environmental-law/the-anatomy-of-usurpation-climate-clinic-aotearoa-v-minister-of-energy-and-resources/

Are we ruled by a democratically-elected Parliament or by the judiciary?
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February 2, 2026 6:18pm
Swifty

Ructions at MUMA continue:

https://x.com/kaiviti_cam/status/2018195420380586250?s=46

Jackson’s wife stood down apparently.
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February 2, 2026 7:44pm
Quail

SR,
You are absolutely right.
Inflation is out of control .
It all depends on how it is measured Local government has its own measure, which is little better.
It will be interesting if the new RB governor lifts the OCR as technically she should!
Or will she follow the politicians saying “ nothing to see here”it’s election year
Her first major test!
We watch with real ( self) interest!
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February 2, 2026 7:57pm

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