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February 24, 2026 8:00am by Kokila Patel

General Debate 24 February 2026

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General Debate

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kowtow

NZME Herald today pulling out all the stops to show how woke it is.

Two page spread on execrable Mallard , back from Ireland, along with lots of flattering photos and then Guy Body , cartoonist , siding with the evil Ayatollah Mullah regime against Trump ( shown as a gangster) .
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February 24, 2026 8:11am
Chuck Bird

Has anyone noticed how well Pauline Hanson and One Nation are doing on a national and state level?
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February 24, 2026 8:18am
- Michael Johnston
  
  Yes. Something like it is happening in most Anglosphere countries – One Nation in Oz, Trump in the US, Reform in the UK. Even NZ First is getting a lift in our polls, albeit less than these others. These parties are not all the same, but all share nationalist leanings. And apart from Trump, who took over an existing party, their success is coming at the expense of long-dominant centre-right parties. National would do well to take heed.
  
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  February 24, 2026 8:28am
- Wandering Star
  
  Pity they’ve completely toned down the rhetoric since the 1990s, when it’s really needed the most, and when the electorate is ripe for it.
  
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  February 24, 2026 8:42am
- lastmanstanding
  
  One Nation is leading in South Australia which has a bye election coming up and are running Labor close in Victoria which has State elections at the end of the year. It appears the Aussies have had enough of Labor and the Coalition lying to them and now want a Government that will defend the shores from immigrants especially Muslims. On that note the Labor Government are lying about the 34 Isis brides and their kids in a camp in Syria who want to come home. Albo and Burke are saying the Government arent doing anything to “facilitate” their return yet reports are the Government has issued passports which are with a Muslim mate of Burke who is in Syria arranging their return. Again on that note I wonder if there are any NZ Isis brides in the camps or who have already returned. The useless MSM should be grilling the Government but instead they are silent. Must not upset the Muslims now.
  
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  February 24, 2026 9:18am
- Notsofast
  
  Yes.
  Note she stood alongside Posie Parker when they both tried in vain to knock common sense into down under trans cultists.
  
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  February 24, 2026 9:27am
Flossie

Those dismissing the current polls as just a protest vote should be taking Pauline and her party a whole lot more seriously. Obviously Australians are concerned about the level of immigration from countries that do not share Australian values.
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February 24, 2026 8:26am
- pdm
  
  Is it correct to link Peters with Hansen and Farage as Parties surging in Polls?
  
  Does Peters fit with the other two?
  
  I am not sure he does because he seems much more abrasive and cantankerous than the other two Leaders.
  
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  February 24, 2026 8:29am
  - cmm
    
    There are never any perfect candidates. You always need to make a choice based on the options in front of you and your hot button issues.
    
    Abrasive and cantankerous or not, people will look for people saying the right things and look past some traits.
    
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    February 24, 2026 8:37am
    - kowtow
      
      Traits.
      
      In Peters’ case ; all talk . Action , not so much.
      
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      February 24, 2026 8:48am
      - Paulus
        
        You forgot the Peter’s Piss and Wind part !
        
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        February 25, 2026 2:14pm
    - Gravelroad
      
      Saying the right things and actually doing the right things are two different scenarios.
      Mr Peters is going great guns at the moment – similar as to his past campaigns.
      Then he abandoned all those hopeful supporters and cravenly took the power bait offered by Labour and Ms Ardern.
      Would he do that again if it suited?
      Of course he would.
      
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      February 24, 2026 8:56am
      - peterwn
        
        If Winston continues to play his cards right a knighthood and Washington (or London) are his for the asking (although he is most likely to stay in politics until his health gives out).
        
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        February 24, 2026 9:00am
      - mogg
        
        Thinking back to the Covid days, who is the biggest proven liar, Winston or Hipkins?
        
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        February 24, 2026 10:39am
      - Nikola Donatello
        
        Winston is not going to be any ambassador. He is on record as saying that politicians should not appointed to any ambassador roles.
        
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        February 24, 2026 1:05pm
      - Flossie
        
        Winston is on record as having said a whole lot of things that a) were going to happen that didn’t, and b) were not going to happen but did. He varies.
        
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        February 24, 2026 1:08pm
    - artemisia
      
      Voters say they want leaders who say what they will do, and then they get it done. In New Zealand that’s until they get to the ballot box and vote for what’s best for their wallet. Right now.
      
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      February 24, 2026 8:59am
  - KKNZ2025
    
    Peters is a lot more intelligent than either
    
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    February 24, 2026 8:46am
    - AitchW
      
      Peters is cunning, not sure he’s especially smart. His abrasive, snarling, sarcastic, contemptuous behaviour surely is to disguise crippling insecurity.
      
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      February 24, 2026 5:34pm
      - Paulus
        
        Do you think it is the underlying heritage Tikanga in him which is why he is what he is. ?
        Untrustworthy.
        
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        February 25, 2026 2:16pm
      - NZer In Exile
        
        Cripes AitchW
        . That was a wee bit over the top.
        
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        February 25, 2026 4:03pm
  - Flossie
    
    Abrasive and cantankerous could well be applied to Ms Hanson on occasion too!
    
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    February 24, 2026 9:01am
  - Im Right
    
    @PDM
    Winnie is nothing like the other two, Winnie is a tup thumper on the hustings, a lamb when in charge.
    Never forget he said at the 2017 election his mandate was to get rid of the maori seats….crickets!
    This time he wants a referendum, which will undoubtedly show more than 50% want them gone, BUT would take 75% of parliament to vote for them to be abolished…NEVER GONNA HAPPEN (and he knows this all too well)
    Winnie is a great MP for picking at scab that NZ voters are concerned with, but when voted in the scab has a plaster put on it and forgotten.
    He’s been doing this rinse and repeat scenario for 40 years. (And it clearly works for him, why would he ever change his MO)
    
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    February 24, 2026 9:03am
    - pdm
      
      imr – not quite right re Maori Seats.
      
      Apparently only more than 50% is required to get rid of them and they could also be gone by the end of next week if the Government was so inclined.
      
      In saying that I am working off what both David Seymour and Brooke van Velden said last week.
      
      I agree with what you say about Peters though.
      
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      February 24, 2026 9:51am
      - alwyn.a
        
        Yes, only a 50% margin is required.
        There are only six things in the Electoral Act that are entrenched and require a 75% vote to change. The six do not include anything about the Maori seats.
        
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        February 24, 2026 10:04am
      - Im Right
        
        Ok, I stand corrected PDM
        I was under the assumption 75% of MPs had to vote in favour of certain constitution policies for it to pass into law.
        Thank you….that makes me feel better it’s just 50% lol
        
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        February 24, 2026 10:42am
    - Dougal10
      
      I am a bit on the fence about the maori seats , it’s quite nice that the racists have somewhere to go and vote that dosen’t affect our electorate MPs
      
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      February 24, 2026 10:10am
    - Wairoa Native
      
      Point of order… the Māori seats in New Zealand’s Parliament are not currently entrenched in the way that some other electoral provisions are. That means they can be changed or abolished by an ordinary majority vote in Parliament (a simple majority of MPs), rather than requiring a special super-majority. The Coalition could vote to get rid of them now and pass it if all 3 parties agreed.
      
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      February 24, 2026 2:46pm
  - G the giant from Dunedin
    
    And he could go with the woke as quick as Flash Gordon, we shall never forget
    
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    February 24, 2026 10:33am
  - Raphael
    
    Farage is down in the polls since Restore Britain launched.
    
    Speaking as an immigrant to this fair land (and a citizen for the last 13 years), if we had a Restore NZ party, I would be seriously considering voting for them.
    
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    February 24, 2026 10:38am
    - mogg
      
      Latest IPSOS polling shows Reform still at 30%,
      Restore nowhere, not even a mention.
      
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      February 24, 2026 11:05am
      - Wandering Star
        
        Reform are morphing into Tories 2.0. They are really there to absorb and redirect the huge popular discontent and dissullusionment. Farage is Establishment through and through, so he’s not serious about getting done what needs to be done in the UK. He is well known for banishing anyone to his right (which is a lot of people, given that he’s a centrist). Case in point, Rupert Lowe. Restore look far more hardcore than Reform, but they’ve only just launched. I predict that over time people will increasingly realise that Farage and his MOR policies just aren’t up to it, and will get behind Restore.
        
        As I’ve noted many times, the Establishment right’s biggest threat is and has always been from their right, not from their left.
        
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        February 24, 2026 1:47pm
      - NothingLeft
        
        no polls yet done including the option of Reform.
        
        I’d guess that they won’t be able to achieve anything more than sapping Reform’s lead and neutering Farage – handing power back to the center left.
        
        A great pity as they are probably the only chance UK has of surviving as a western power.
        
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        February 24, 2026 3:02pm
      - mogg
        
        Farage seems MOR to you because for the past 18 months the two major parties have been trying to out Farage the Farage. Unlike you they know that he single handedly took on the EU and won out.
        Your clear display of ignorance when it comes to the Tories is vey clear, it’s Badenoch who is copying Reform not the other way around. Even Starmer has resorted Farage like language “ we are becoming an island of strangers”. There is aGorton by-election on Thursday, an overwhelmingly hard left seat, 30% of the vote is Muslim, Labour now holds the seat with more than 50% vote share. Reform are know equal favourites to win.
        
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        February 24, 2026 3:15pm
    - Sir Henry Morgan
      
      Yes. Restore Britain are the real deal.
      
      Farage has his good points, but he showed his true colors when Brexit won. Rather than stick around and work to finish the job he ran for cover. He is big on promises and weak on delivery. He also seems narcissistic and incapable of playing well with others. Finally, he’s basically establishment or desperately wants to be – he even panders to Muslims. Packing Reform full of Tory defectors might help win power (though that’s to be seen), but is guaranteed not to deliver real change.
      
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      February 24, 2026 4:16pm
- Paulus
  
  Australia too late now like New Zealand, but far worse so far !
  
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  February 24, 2026 9:04am
cmm

Rules for thee but not for meeee.

If these allegations are true then we have some serious problems on our hands.

Even if they are not true we still have problems.

We look on in amazement at all the Epstein shenanigans, but let us not forget that such corruption is everywhere – perhaps not just as brazen and at a smaller scale.

Heck, even doing a cash job or “mates rates” is really a form of corruption.

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/mcskimming-claims-andrew-coster-advised-him-to-file-harassment-complaint-against-woman/NLP2CLDX6NESTHAFHBDEOL7DDY/
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February 24, 2026 8:33am
- peterwn
  
  As far as the Herald article is concerned – who cares? Seems to be part of a smear attempt against the current Police Minister who had the misfortune to inherit the whole mess.
  
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  February 24, 2026 8:56am
- imalwaysright
  
  Article-“The charge against the woman was withdrawn in the Wellington District Court in September, because McSkimming did not wish to give evidence.”
  
  That’s odd considering he told many people his side of his sordid story but was a bit too shy to tell the judge.
  Were the charges against the woman his and Coster’s way of punishing her with the process ?
  
  Still hard to believe that McS faced a trial over watching porn. A cynical person would suggest that the actual crime was much worse and a deal was done to protect the guilty.
  
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  February 24, 2026 9:12am
  - sirknz
    
    “Still hard to believe that McS faced a trial over watching porn.”
    
    It involved kids, and animals, that should be straight into [deleted].
    
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    February 24, 2026 10:02am
  - cmm
    
    If the person laying the complaint is not prepared to then be a witness it sounds rather like a case of malicious lawfare.
    
    If our top cops are really giving their colleagues advise like that then a head or two need to roll.
    
    And no pensions.
    
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    February 24, 2026 11:00am
    - peterwn
      
      “And no pensions.” This is like imposing a fine equivalent to the ‘present value’ of the pension. A Monte Carlo croupier snapped at an awkward customer on his retirement day and lost his pension. Is that fair?
      
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      February 24, 2026 2:30pm
      - imalwaysright
        
        Yes, the rules are clear, especially for a cop.
        
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        February 24, 2026 3:41pm
Tom Barker

Do these sound like the words of a rational human being?
“The supreme court (will be using lower case letters for a while based on a complete lack of respect!) of the United States accidentally and unwittingly gave me, as President of the United States, far more powers and strength than I had prior to their ridiculous, dumb, and very internationally divisive ruling. For one thing, I can use Licenses to do absolutely “terrible” things to foreign countries, especially those countries that have been RIPPING US OFF for many decades, but incomprehensibly, according to the ruling, can’t charge them a License fee – BUT ALL LICENSES CHARGE FEES, why can’t the United States do so? You do a license to get a fee! The opinion doesn’t explain that, but I know the answer! The court has also approved all other Tariffs, of which there are many, and they can all be used in a much more powerful and obnoxious way, with legal certainty, than the Tariffs as initially used“
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February 24, 2026 8:48am
- Northshoredoc
  
  At least the often mentioned autopen didn’t write this kind of nonsense.
  
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  February 24, 2026 10:50am
  - David Garrett
    
    Northsore: Indeed…the man is clearly impaired, and getting worse as we watch on.
    
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    February 24, 2026 3:07pm
- peterwn
  
  “The supreme court (will be using lower case letters for a while based on a complete lack of respect!)”
  See:
  http://www.austlii.community/wiki/NZLawSG/NZLawStyleGuide/
  section 1.1.5
  
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  February 24, 2026 2:35pm
Swifty

Hipkins’ state of the nation speech summarised:

https://x.com/creativededuct/status/2026000964872773700?s=46

Yep.
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February 24, 2026 8:49am
- peterwn
  
  And Nicola’s summary – Hipkins speech like ‘lump of jelly’ filled with sentiment.
  
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  February 24, 2026 10:18am
OlderChas

I stumbled upon a TV show last night about a UK hospital emergency dept featuring a woman who had a seriously damaged ankle suffered in a car crash. Turned our it was her son driving (and I think someone else was killed in the crash).
The driver was convicted of drunk driving and dangerous driving and sentenced to 7 years in prison.
Can we have that sentencing judge working here in NZ for a few years please?
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February 24, 2026 8:55am
- peterwn
  
  There must have been a fatality for a 7 year sentence.
  
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  February 24, 2026 10:19am
Paulus

And World Wide to see the dissolution of the British Monarchy after many hundreds of years.
It is said that the end was when our Queen passed away.
And they appear to be sucessful using Randy Andrew as the catalyst.
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February 24, 2026 9:07am
- lastmanstanding
  
  I suspect Charles will abdicate at some point. Its becoming clear he and his mother the late Queen were well aware of Andrews behaviour. Why did they pay 12 million pounds so he didnt have to go to Court. Handing over to William and Catherine will draw a line under the affair and present a new younger generation to shore up the Monarchy. The current polls in the UK have only 43% support well down from the 60%/70% before the Andrew saga. The official reason will be Charles ill health and this cant be helping him with the strain of having to deal with his wayward brother. I also suspect Andrew will face further charges around sex trafficing and money laundering. It will get a lot worse for him.
  
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  February 24, 2026 9:24am
  - Gussy Fink-Nottle
    
    Often though the old dear was aiming to outlive Charles, seeing William as the better option.
    
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    February 24, 2026 9:54am
  - peterwn
    
    The British Monarchy has lasted over 1200 years and has suffered worse crises than the Andrew situation. The current crisis is not of the current King’s making, and he just cannot send Andrew off to The Tower as his ancient predecessors could have.
    
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    February 24, 2026 10:26am
    - cmm
      
      There is a difference though. These days people are under 24/7 limelight. It is far harder to brush things under the carpet.
      
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      February 24, 2026 11:03am
      - Gussy Fink-Nottle
        
        Indeed. Plus The Blob has a high degree of antipathy toward The Firm.
        Add inventible changing demographics , the UK could be more caliphate that constitutional monarchy in, say, 100 years time.
        
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        February 24, 2026 11:39am
  - Cassandra
    
    Abdication unlikely IMO. Windsors don’t abdicate now.
    
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    February 24, 2026 10:32am
    - NeverMindTheBollocks
      
      Charles had to wait 70 years for the job. No way he’s quitting.
      
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      February 24, 2026 6:52pm
  - Clyde
    
    Things will get particularly messy if Andrew gets to court along with that Mendalson fellow financial wangler. Meanwhile that absolute cow Fergie is apparently in some $800k per week wellness centre and their entitled daughters continue their programme of holidays. Charles should probably abdicate to allow a much leaner “firm” under William. Really does make one wonder the continued value of the Monarchy ……
    
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    February 24, 2026 11:58am
  - MCōs
    
    Maybe William was well aware too.
    
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    February 24, 2026 12:35pm
  - David Garrett
    
    lastman: I think it might be even worse than you say. I have just watched a YouTube of some guy who seems to know his onions saying that 75% of those recently surveyed in the UK – no source given – now believe Charlie must abdicate. If Andrew is charged, and resorts to the “Burrell defence” (google is your friend) his position will indeed become untenable, and abdication would have to quickly follow.
    
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    February 24, 2026 3:10pm
  - Paulus
    
    Stop dreaming- Andy used and was used by prostitutes arranged for him by the Brothel Madam but traffickig – get real – he hasn’t the brains.
    
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    February 25, 2026 2:20pm
- AitchW
  
  William and Kate are well liked and seem pretty stable. They may attract some renewed support for the monarchy.
  If the monarchy were to fail all of the Commonwealth countries would need to (presumably) elect presidents.
  Is that why Ardern seems to be everywhere one looks recently?
  
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  February 24, 2026 5:41pm
redeye

Hipkins doesn’t seem to have impressed many with his State of the Nation speech. Bryce Edwards called it “A Speech full of slogans but short on substance”
But one of the better reviews was from Brett Norling who among other things pointed out;-

Then, he was critical of the little that has been done by this government in two years to fix these problems and specifically quoted this governments policy as “be patient”.
Then ironically, at the end in questioning stated how if they are the new government, that they won’t be able to fix it all in only 3 years…

https://x.com/truereckons1/status/2025772706688647323?s=20
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February 24, 2026 9:08am
- Gravelroad
  
  Mr Hipkins is a sheep in wolves clothing.
  (Sorry for the implied insult to sheep).
  
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  February 24, 2026 10:26am
  - Philview
    
    The opposite of the Fabian sheep/wolf logo for delivering radical change by stealth.
    
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    February 24, 2026 1:19pm
  - NZer In Exile
    
    Hard to tell what he stands for, if anything. I can only ascertain he makes certain noises that sound acceptable to the baying woke mob.
    
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    February 25, 2026 4:07pm
- Colville
  
  A blob of jelly is a better descriptor 🙂
  
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  February 24, 2026 10:28am
- peterwn
  
  You do not need firm policies, you only need the gift of the gab. Jacinda Arden clearly showed this.
  
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  February 24, 2026 10:31am
  - RoboRob
    
    For a large percentage of the population is really is much more about the feelz then results or sound policy.
    
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    February 24, 2026 10:40am
    - Gravelroad
      
      Yep, many people want feel safe, special, understood and have their personal life “journeys” validated.
      They want big government to look after them.
      The economy and related governance matters?
      No thanks.
      That’s for someone else to work out.
      
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      February 24, 2026 10:58am
- R
  
  ‘fix in only 3 years’……of course not, it tok Ardern,zhipkins and Robertson only 6 years to nearly destroy the country. That’s why we need the competent experienced NATIONAL government, with a mandate to REPAIR, over a period of 25 years.
  There are now TWO generations of voters who have been ideologically lead to believe, that access to OP’s money, is all that is required to provide Comrade Clarke’s Socialist NIRVANA
  
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  February 24, 2026 11:20am
- AitchW
  
  Even the left seems to be underwhelmed by his “State of the Nation” speech.
  
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  February 24, 2026 5:43pm
Swifty

Authorised by the Aotearoa Green Party:

https://x.com/matuakahurangi/status/2026002720831029512?s=46

//
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February 24, 2026 9:13am
Nukuleka

Paulus: not sure who is meant by ‘World Wide’ nor who the ‘they’ are. A little more context would help. The royal family has historically survived greater issues than the peccadilloes of Andrew Mountbatten- Windsor. The popularity of William and Kate will ensure that the monarchy will survive.
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February 24, 2026 9:17am
- imalwaysright
  
  “…the peccadilloes of Andrew Mountbatten- Windsor. ”
  
  Like the McSkimming case, we only know what we have been told.
  What they might call a peccadillo we might see as horrific abuse of a person.
  
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  February 24, 2026 9:25am
  - mogg
    
    I would say proclivities rather than peccadillos.
    
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    February 24, 2026 1:46pm
- Flossie
  
  Absolutely. The abdication of Edward followed by his Nazi associations was pretty serious.
  
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  February 24, 2026 9:33am
  - peterwn
    
    So was James II skipping the country.
    
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    February 24, 2026 10:29am
- MCōs
  
  “peccadilloes”
  Now there’s a word one doesn’t normally associate with the middle to lower classes, which in NZ’s case is everyone
  The difference between Andrew and the King who abdicated is that the latter didn’t (allegedly) give away state secrets or (allegedly) have sex with very young girls. He wanted to marry a divorcee and saw some merit in the Third Reich, which a lot of British & American people did at the time
  
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  February 24, 2026 9:54am
  - Maggy Wassilieff
    
    that the latter didn’t (allegedly) give away state secrets
    
    It pays to have an active PR department
    
    https://www.cbc.ca/documentaries/the-passionate-eye/historians-believe-the-duke-of-windsor-actively-collaborated-with-the-nazis-during-the-second-world-war-1.6635225
    
    https://www.open.edu/openlearn/history-the-arts/history/world-history/former-king-wanted-england-bombed-and-anglo-german-alliance-archives-reveal
    
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    February 24, 2026 10:25am
    - Gravelroad
      
      Yes.
      For those interested- read “Traitor King- the scandalous exile of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor”, by Andrew Lownie.
      Andrew just a learner by comparison.
      
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      February 24, 2026 11:20am
  - David Garrett
    
    MCos: I think Edward rather more than “saw some merit” in the Third Reich. In fact I think it would be fair to call him – if not an actual Nazi – then a Nazi sympathizer. What would have happened if he remained King doesn’t bear thinking about.
    
    (WS will be along shortly to tell us how Britain would have been much better off with Edward on the throne rather than his brother.)
    
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    February 24, 2026 3:14pm
- Colville
  
  Scandals in the past havent had mobile phones around to take 1000 photos of every lurid moment, that stuff gets on front pages!
  
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  February 24, 2026 10:30am
rouppe

In terms of usa politics, if you want to apply the label “mentally unfit” to anyone, Robert De Niro fits the bill better than anyone.

He’s claiming, without evidence, that Trump won’t leave at the end of this term, won’t accept mid term results, and is calling for proactive massive – and inevitably violent – protests to counter this fantasy he’s conjured up.
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February 24, 2026 9:34am
- MCōs
  
  Mentally unfit for what?
  
  In terms of those predictions regarding not accepting mid terms results and not leaving at the end of his term . . . . .
  He’s got form on not accepting accepting anything that goes against him.
  
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  February 24, 2026 10:02am
  - Cassandra
    
    De Niro is unhinged regarding trump.
    
    12 5
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    February 24, 2026 10:38am
    - Im Right
      
      Yes, Cassandra….was it childish of me to laugh and be pleased he lost half his wealth in a divorce and is now taking on terrible roles whilst in his 80’s (and ruining his acting reputation) just for the money?!
      Well, I don’t care, it makes me happy…..being childish I suppose.
      
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      February 24, 2026 11:59am
      - MCōs
        
        I don’t think you’ll find the old chap camped out on the mean street of the Auckland cbd anytime soon
        
        2 2
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        February 24, 2026 6:24pm
    - Northshoredoc
      
      Trump is unhinged regarding Trump.
      
      2 3
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      February 24, 2026 4:23pm
  - RoboRob
    
    ‘He’s got form on not accepting accepting anything that goes against him’
    
    Thats just simply not true. On every occasion a court has ruled against Trump he has complied with the ruling. The latest example being Tarrifs but there have been hundreds of others. Yes in some cases he has been able to use other legal methods to pursue his policy, again Tarrifs being a good example. Even in the infamous January 6 case, he followed the law and stepped down. His threats of a third term are simply a joke he knows will drive the TDS people, like De Niro, crazy.
    
    Joe Biden had a slightly different version, he publicly stated that his studen loan repayment pause was not legal but he would do it until a ruling forced him to do otherwise. I.e. he knowingly broke the law knowing his policy could exist for the n months it would take for the supreme court to rule.
    
    12 3
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    February 24, 2026 10:49am
  - Charlotte Wells
    
    “He’s got form on not accepting accepting anything that goes against him.”
    
    Y0u have lots of examples to back this up?
    
    5 3
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    February 24, 2026 12:22pm
- herb1
  
  No evidence but a pretty reasonable guess based on his present behaviour. Of course there’s the argument that his current financial irregularities, such as $500 mill investment in his personal crypto company followed days later by sale of banned computer chips to a related company to his crypto depositor, his UAE property deals , his related party deals in Alaska with Russian Govt sources ,etc, will be placed under a microscope,if he steps down
  
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  February 24, 2026 10:12am
  - NothingLeft
    
    None of which are of any concern to him given he can just pre-emptively pardon himself and anyone else he cares about prior to end of his term as Biden did for Hunter etc. A shit/corrupt power that should be ended.
    
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    February 24, 2026 3:10pm
Yvette

The Coalition Government will reverse measures taken in recent years which have eroded the principle of equal citizenship, specifically we will:
■ Confirm that the Coalition Government does not recognise the United ations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) as having any binding legal effect on New
Zealand.
https://assets.nationbuilder.com/nzfirst/pages/4462/attachments/original/1700784896/National___NZF_Coalition_Agreement_signed_-_24_Nov_2023.pdf.

Did that happen yet? Time is running out.
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February 24, 2026 10:21am
- pdm
  
  Yvette.
  
  Just like the removal of Maori Seats and cementing in English as an Official Language Winston will be holding this up until as close to Election Day as possible.
  
  There will be better baubles on offer if he enhances his vote and gets into a position where he can get into negotiation with Labour as well as National after the election.
  
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  February 24, 2026 11:37am
- RoboRob
  
  You could also ask about…
  
  ‘Reduce Core Crown expenditure as a proportion of the overall economy’
  
  and
  
  ‘Investigate the reopening of Marsden Point Refinery. This includes establishing a Fuel Security Plan
  to safeguard our transport and logistics systems and emergency services from any international or
  domestic disruption
  
  and
  
  ‘Require the electricity regulator to implement regulations such that there is sufficient electricity
  infrastructure to ensure security of supply and avoid excessive prices.
  
  and
  
  ‘Reform the Fleeing Driver laws to curb the increase in fleeing driver incidents
  
  and
  
  ‘Removing concurrent sentences for those who commit offences while on parole, on bail, or
  whilst in custody’
  
  and
  
  ‘Introduce the Protection for First Responders and Prison Officers legislation which will create a
  specific offence for assaults on first responders which includes minimum mandatory prison sentences (I guess they did this, it is introduced but not passed in any form).
  
  and
  
  ‘Commit that in the absence of a referendum, our Government will not change the official name of
  ew Zealand’
  
  and
  
  ‘Ensure all public service departments have their primary name in English, except for those specifically
  related to Maori
  
  and
  
  ‘Require the public service departments and Crown Entities to communicate primarily in English –
  except those entities specifically related to Maori
  
  [The bulk of this comment appears to be a copy & paste job. Care to acknowlege the source? holy mod]
  
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  February 24, 2026 12:25pm
  - RoboRob
    
    Downvotes for qouting the coalition policy agreement?
    
    Is this yet another example of NDS (National party Defence Syndrome)? I don’t know why we expect people on the left to be convinced by facts and logical arguments when some here refuse to apply the same rules when discussing our own ‘team’.
    
    6 1
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    February 24, 2026 12:50pm
  - RoboRob
    
    Sorry MOD. I was referencing the initial posters document. Perhaps I should have been clearer.
    
    https://assets.nationbuilder.com/nzfirst/pages/4462/attachments/original/1700784896/National___NZF_Coalition_Agreement_signed_-_24_Nov_2023.pdf.
    
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    February 24, 2026 12:51pm
greybeard

https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/360942716/child-struck-car-christchurch-seriously-injured

The headline reads:
“Neighbour lifted car to free trapped child as mother cried for help”

When I first read it I thought he lifted the car by brute strength, as had been recorded many times in the past – adrenalin enables people to become almost superhuman.

But no, in true “Stuff” fashion, we find that the headline is misleading and in fact the neighbour located and used the car’s jack to free the girl.

Not quite the same thing.
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February 24, 2026 11:34am
Yvette

Andrew, succession
Over the next 36 years, until Andrew is 100, the most likely change in the line of succession isn’t subtraction , but addition. George, Charlotte, Louis, Archie and Lilibet may all have children in their own possible families, and each of those children would go ahead of Andrew. The line flows downward before it flows sideways.

So why does the media ask David Seymour dopey questions, except that they hope for a dopey answer.
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February 24, 2026 11:36am
- cmm
  
  Yup, exactly right. If you’re only 8th chances are it is going to get worse and worse. There was a time when he was perhaps second or third. It would be extremely unlikely that 8th would have to step up and do the job.
  
  According to my batshit crazy aunt with dubious research skills, I was once 78th in line. Assuming she was correct (a long stretch) I would now likely be somewhere in the high hundreds with all the pesky kids and grandkids that have popped up since the 1970s.
  
  She loved the “fact” she was royalty and used that to avoid any sort of work and demand that the world should give her anything she wanted.
  
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  February 24, 2026 1:19pm
  - Paulus
    
    Hasn’t Australia just knocked Andrew off the Sucession list for Australia, which will shortly become a Republic anyway.
    
    4 2
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    February 24, 2026 2:00pm
    - MCōs
      
      Not quite —
      Australia and New Zealand are not averse to him being removed from the list. It takes concerted agreement from about fourteen countries before the UK can pass a law to remove him altogether.
      If there’s one hold out I suppose he gets to hang on to something
      
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      February 24, 2026 6:18pm
- AitchW
  
  Removing him from the line of succession is purely symbolic, a cynic might say virtue signalling.
  For a man like Andrew used to the life of a royal playboy this very public fall from grace will be devastating. If he were to choose the easy way out it would provide conspiracy theorists with endless hours of increasingly fanciful speculation.
  
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  February 24, 2026 5:52pm
Swifty

Pay equity proponents lobby that they all be given taxpayer-funded pay equity consultancy roles:

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/587745/advocacy-group-calls-for-equal-pay-amendment-act-repeal-independent-pay-equity-unit

I say again, of all the loony ideas to come from the left in recent years, pay equity is easily one of the worst.

Taking pay decisions out of the hands of business owners and putting them into the hands of people with no skin in the game, and who suffer no consequence when wrong, is a road to ruin.
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February 24, 2026 1:04pm
- NeverMindTheBollocks
  
  Any time teachers want to be paid the same as doctors, they’re welcome to apply to Med School.
  
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  February 24, 2026 7:02pm
Jack5

Police from China are to appear in Honiara, in the Solomon Islands.

They will be based in Chinatown, with a station at the school run by the local Chinese Association.

Police from China will not run the station, just “visit” it, according to the association.

Australia’s ABC notes China has also used overseas police stations before to monitor and intimidate diaspora groups.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-02-24/chinese-police-establish-temporary-post-solomon-islands/106376922
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February 24, 2026 1:06pm
Swifty

I encourage people to go and see Tau Henare’s X account. Yesterday, as but one example, he says when he sees Seymour speak he immediately thinks of Adolf Hitler.

Henare, I remind folk, is on Auckland Council’s Independent Maori Statutory Board.

In these times of high tension, labelling your political opponents as literal Nazis is highly irresponsible, as well as being completely untrue.

Why our news media doesn’t challenge this gross irresponsibility I just don’t know. At times I wonder if they agree with him.
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February 24, 2026 1:26pm
- Albie
  
  If wanting all people to be treated equally regardless of race is something Hitler espoused Tau Henare might have a point.
  
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  February 24, 2026 1:45pm
  - Swifty
    
    One of Henare’s supporters yesterday labeled Seymour ‘Goebbels’.
    
    What has happened to these people that they spout so much demented rubbish?
    
    Especially as it fuels such hatred and menace in the minds of others.
    
    12 1
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    February 24, 2026 2:39pm
- greybeard
  
  Tau Henare’s knowledge of Hitler was probably gleaned from “The Dirty Dozen”.
  
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  February 24, 2026 4:43pm
  - NeverMindTheBollocks
    
    Just begs for a Downfall spoof
    
    3 0
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    February 24, 2026 7:03pm
- Graeme Hall
  
  Used to read “Big Toe” Henare’s Twitter account (as it was then called) and it was patently obvious he was only interested in following the money by lobbying for Govt jobs that required little-to-no-work and a tan – Maori climate change adviser and the sort.
  
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  February 24, 2026 5:41pm
mogg

Interesting UK news; Mandy has been arrested, UK govt emails have been found in Epstein’s inbox 8 minutes after Mandy received them. Starmer has nowhere to hide, documents show that he was warned in advance about giving Mandy access to sensitive govt info, which he then ignored, but he still claims ‘I didn’t know’. This has to be the end of him.
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February 24, 2026 1:55pm
- NothingLeft
  
  Starmer won’t resign, he’s a shameless fabian zealot.
  
  And no one else wants the PM job ahead of May council elections that will be an electoral wipe out for Labour.
  
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  February 24, 2026 3:17pm
Ra Henare

Why majority Government are crap in NZ.

During the reign of a certain Female PM there was a Minister, Jan Tinetti, who signed off on changing the wording on NZ passports. (2021)

Instead of NZ being the First Text on the Cover!!!
ie the official name of this country!!!
It was replaced by “”URUWHENUA Aoteraoa”

So what happened to NZ First and putting English names before Maori names?

Brooke van Velden(current Minister) get your ACT together Girl and cancel this activist crap.

In the meantime amend the Passport Act 1992. To define what the wording on the Passport will be to stop activists desecrating passport covers. Then using the passport to claim Aoteroa is an offical name for this country.
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February 24, 2026 2:52pm
Swifty

Pay equity is now a human right apparently:

https://www.stuff.co.nz/politics/360942787/former-mps-release-scathing-review-governments-pay-equity-law-changes

Who knew that? Who has ever heard of that before?

Hell, it’s almost as if they’re just making it up as they go along. Inventing human rights to bolster their political ambitions.
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February 24, 2026 4:02pm
Albie

Ra, what do you think goes through the mind our Foreign Minister The Right Honorable Winston Peters every time he presents his passport on his world travels: “Dang, THAT’S something I MUST get around to sorting out!” Yeah, right!
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February 24, 2026 4:16pm
- NeverMindTheBollocks
  
  I’m sure Winston has a flunky to hand his passport to Immigration as he swishes his way through the Diplomatic channel.
  
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  February 24, 2026 7:05pm
- Ra Henare
  
  Albie, I suggest his current passport(Like mine) was issued before 2021 and still has the original wording.
  
  SO he would be unaware of the changes.
  
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  February 24, 2026 7:57pm
Maggy Wassilieff

Too late in the day for a grammar lesson?

I don’t expect our journos to know the difference between an attributive adjective and a predicative adjective….and to know that the adjective alive is NEVER used attributively, but I do expect them to recognise that the phrase some alive patients is wrong.

“A hack of medication platform MediMap has led to some alive patients being marked as deceased,”

https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/360942766/live-reaction-major-hack-nz-medical-platform-sees-patients-marked-deceased
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February 24, 2026 7:50pm

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