About
Contact
Advertise

Facebook
Twitter

March 5, 2026 8:00am by Kokila Patel

General Debate 05 March 2026

Like this:

Like Loading…

Email
Facebook
Twitter
Comment159

Uncategorized
General Debate

Comments (159)

Login to comment or vote

artemisia

Bit surprising that a recently re-elected New Plymouth DC councillor was not aware of very basic employment practice wrt council discussion on the staff appointment the council is responsible for.

Senior council staff were asked to leave the room and the public was excluded from the discussion. One councillor – not a newbie – was very vocal in opposition, plus 3 other councillors voted with him. Surely councillors get basic training on their roles and responsibilities.

Or maybe the mayor is correct – it’s politicking.

Either way not what ratepayers should expect from their representatives.

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/588655/mayor-dismisses-rift-over-interim-chief-executive-debate-as-politicking
13 1
Log in to Reply
Report
March 5, 2026 8:14am
- greybeard
  
  They do get training. And probably handouts galore.
  
  6 2
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  March 5, 2026 10:02am
  - greybeard
    
    I mean information sheet handouts, not monetary handouts !
    
    6 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    March 5, 2026 11:36am
imalwaysright

“HMS Dragon is the only boat Starmer has stopped from crossing the Channel…”

(GB News)
28 3
Log in to Reply
Report
March 5, 2026 8:43am
Drone

President Donald Trump launched strikes on Iran based off a “good feeling” that the Iranian regime was planning to attack the US, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt has said. Let’s hope he never has a “good feeling” about New Zealand…
16 22
Log in to Reply
Report
March 5, 2026 8:43am
- G152
  
  Trump has set the US up for many many 911s.
  Anywhere any time if its American its a target
  
  9 13
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  March 5, 2026 9:26am
  - JackRabbit
    
    Assuming 9/11 was externally engineered.
    
    3 18
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    March 5, 2026 10:10am
    - imalwaysright
      
      One of the missile hits on an Iranian high rise looked suspiciously similar to a ‘plane’ hitting the WTC.
      
      I bet the Iranian high rise hasn’t suddenly dropped in to its own footprint…
      
      1 13
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      March 5, 2026 1:36pm
    - Sponge
      
      Oh for gods sake!
      
      17 3
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      March 5, 2026 1:37pm
    - imalwaysright
      
      https://youtu.be/c8ertNOf_VM?si=8jk4qIDLx79FuII7
      
      [Mod – include a description with links]
      
      0 6
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      March 5, 2026 1:43pm
      - imalwaysright
        
        Missile hitting Iranian high rise
        
        0 6
        Report
        March 5, 2026 4:26pm
    - David Garrett
      
      Oh dear…what was put in the water 25 or 30 years ago to give rise to conspiracy theories about absolutely everything?
      
      Do you believe the moon landings – all SIX of them – were faked too? If you do, here’s a great quote from retired astronaut Charlie Duke on the issue:
      
      “We went to the moon narn [Texas for nine] times…Why the hell did we fake it, narn times…if we faked it?”
      
      Game set and match – Duke
      
      11 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      March 5, 2026 2:52pm
      - Ghost
        
        I have a physio who is really good at what they do, or I wouldn’t keep going. Every time I go I’m educated on the earth being flat….. That the space station is a studio in the US and no one is in space…..
        
        5 2
        Report
        March 5, 2026 3:00pm
      - Inandout
        
        DG, and the tens of thousands involved in the NASA project were suddenly sworn to secrecy?
        
        7 0
        Report
        March 5, 2026 3:03pm
      - imalwaysright
        
        What has going to the moon got to do with destroying buildings and murdering people?
        
        0 7
        Report
        March 5, 2026 4:28pm
  - kowtow
    
    Rubbish . How is it Trump’s fault when these crazies have been fantasising about that type of murderous mayhem for 40 + years .
    
    Trump and Bibi are doing something that politicians of the west /UN have steadfastly stood back and allowed ; a nuclear armed terrorist theocracy ( who’ve now proven how prepared they are to destroy eveyrthing around them, including their own people)
    
    Footage available of the “religious ” police shooting indiscriminately at aprtment blocks where Iranian people are calling for their freedom .Meanwhile it appears the Kurds are mobilising .
    
    14 7
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    March 5, 2026 11:06am
- All_on_Red
  
  ‘…new information from Steve Witkoff has come to light that should change how they view this conflict. Witkoff, President Trump’s special envoy for Middle East talks, gave a stunning account on Fox News of how those pre-strike negotiations unfolded…
  In the very first meeting, Iran didn’t come in hat in hand. Witkoff said Iranian negotiators opened by declaring their “undeniable right to enrich all of their nuclear fuel” — and then dropped a bombshell. “In that first meeting, both the Iranian negotiators said to us directly, with no shame, that they controlled 460 kilograms of 60% [enrichment] and they’re aware that that could make 11 nuclear bombs, and that was the beginning of their negotiating stance. So that’s — they were proud of it.”
  https://pjmedia.com/matt-margolis/2026/03/03/this-detail-about-the-negotiations-with-iran-changes-everything
  
  25 5
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  March 5, 2026 9:30am
  - Drone
    
    Yeh, and bragging about this is a crime worthy of total annihilation. Hopefully that nuclear material was safely stored deep underground somewhere or the resultant radioactive contamination will make large areas of Iran uninhabitable for those that survive the HOLOCAUST…
    
    4 13
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    March 5, 2026 2:36pm
    - All_on_Red
      
      Bragging or threatening?
      Anyway, it is sufficient for the US to justify its actions.
      And the US Senate agrees.
      Your talk about ‘carpet bombing’ and total annihilation” is just nonsense and destroys what little credibility you have.
      
      8 6
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      March 5, 2026 3:07pm
  - mike
    
    Well, that reeks of bullshit, even before viewing saner reports.
    
    3 7
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    March 5, 2026 7:09pm
  - Handyman
    
    People may be aware of the Thucydides’ Trap from the Peloponnesian war between Sparta and Athens. It was also the impetus for the first world war where Germany saw Russia building cannons at a rate which would make them unbeatable in a few months’ time.
    The US had the same calculation. Should they wait until Iran had 100,000 missiles and drones (and probably nuclear bombs) or should they attack now?
    
    2. Re International law. The US has not signed the document allowing the ICC to overrule the US Supreme Court. and is not a signatory to the Law of the Sea. Think of International Law as being EU law which they think they can apply to all former colonies. Russia and China also laugh at the EU diplomats.
    
    5 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    March 5, 2026 8:15pm
  - Ra Henare
    
    and of course we have to believe Wikoff, without any confirmation or context.
    
    The FOG of war rolls in fast.
    
    1 4
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    March 5, 2026 9:26pm
- Charlotte Wells
  
  Drone, to quote you from yesterday;
  
  “……the destruction of a nation, the carpet bombing of cities and the the justification for an illegal war …..”
  
  Please explain this claimed destruction of a nation.
  
  Please explain this ‘carpet bombing’ with reference to similar examples from the Second World War.
  
  Please explain why this war is illegal. Simply replying that it is what others are saying is not an explanation.
  
  17 8
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  March 5, 2026 9:46am
  - Cassandra
    
    Technically it’s illegal but it’s also legitimate. And there’s been no carpet bombing. Warfare is much more targeted these days. Munitions are so expensive that an Air Force is not going to waste them. The targets are carefully selected and much of the weaponry is guided. Of course occasionally things go wrong – it’s high speed war – but only Moslem fanatics will target the innocent.
    
    18 5
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    March 5, 2026 10:23am
    - Charlotte Wells
      
      Put up the grounds why you say it’s illegal and let’s debate.
      
      My position is that it is legal. If such a thing as this can even be so black and white.
      
      7 6
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      March 5, 2026 12:13pm
      - Wandering Star
        
        Why was it illegal?
        
        A) It was not approved by Congress (although which acts of US agression these days are?); and
        
        B) There was no imminent threat from Iran on which to jusify any “pre-emptive”strike (an Orwellian euphemism for unprovoked war of choice). And even if there was an imminent threat to Israel requiring pre-emptive attack (and there wasn’t), there was certainly no such threat to America half a globe away; and
        
        C) It’s also illegal to deliberately target and kill a foreign head of state under international law.
        
        It’s not actually relevant at all what Iranian leaders have said (or what has been claimed they have said) over the last 40 years – people saying stuff does not in any way establish they are actually about to do something.
        
        If statements being equivalent to intended actions was the case, then Iran would be justified in pre-emptively attacking Israel, given the perfectly well expressed intentions of the Jews and of many US figures over those 40 decades. In fact, given Israel’s illegal nuclear arsenal of 300 warheads and history of attacking other nations when if sees fit, many of which are aimed at Tehran (and indeed, the very evidence on display over the last few days), its quite obvious where the threat of imminent attack rests, and its not coming from Iran.
        
        Anyone who remembers the outright lies that were used as a pretext to invade Iraq will see the almost identical (and identically fallacious) claims being made now, but with “Iraq” simply substituted for “Iran.”
        
        5 12
        Report
        March 5, 2026 2:10pm
      - Charlotte Wells
        
        “A) It was not approved by Congress ”
        
        You’re wrong about that.
        
        It doesn’t need approved by Congress.
        
        4 2
        Report
        March 5, 2026 5:04pm
      - Charlotte Wells
        
        “B) There was no imminent threat from Iran on which to jusify any “pre-emptive”strike”
        
        Iran has been attacking and killing US personnel for the last 40-odd years.
        
        In 2025 there were 10 Iranian sponsored terror plots against the UK.
        
        How many Iranian plots were there to assasinate the US president in the last year?
        
        The rest of that paragraph is just inane nonsense.
        
        4 2
        Report
        March 5, 2026 5:09pm
      - Charlotte Wells
        
        “C) It’s also illegal to deliberately target and kill a foreign head of state under international law.”
        
        You are wrong about the leader of Iran being killed.
        
        4 2
        Report
        March 5, 2026 5:12pm
    - Taieri
      
      but only Moslem fanatics will target the innocent.
      ————–
      
      After all they invented the concept of collateral damage…
      
      6 2
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      March 5, 2026 12:57pm
- David Garrett
  
  Drone: Yes…I listened to that with some incredulity – along with his lecture about how he had revitalised the American military “during my first term”
  
  True to form, absolutely everything he does is worth 10/10, he is never wrong, and every success – military and otherwise – is down to him personally.
  
  12 15
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  March 5, 2026 10:43am
  - Flossie
    
    Oh come on…only 10/10? His latest claim is 15/10!
    
    13 2
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    March 5, 2026 12:12pm
    - David Garrett
      
      Flossie: Very good! Perhaps his favourite movie is “Spinal Tap” (where their amps were turned “up to 11”)
      
      4 7
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      March 5, 2026 2:54pm
- Philview
  
  The extreme theocrats in Iran believe in a violent end time battle (Al-Malḥamat Al-Kubrawhich) and hence many commentators say they shouldn’t have nuclear bombs and is probably why they are currently firing missiles everywhere.
  
  8 4
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  March 5, 2026 11:36am
NeverMindTheBollocks

Rachel Hart illustrates the principle that offence cannot be given, only taken.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/360946524/hows-paw-air-nz-staffers-comment-left-ex-tv-presenter-self-conscious-and-miserable
19 2
Log in to Reply
Report
March 5, 2026 8:47am
- rouppe
  
  Exactly.
  
  The staff member was trying to be nice, and empathetic. I’m sure with a permanent disability it does get tiresome being asked about it all the time, but 99.99% of people with their arm in a sling would have a temporary injury.
  
  I remember I was working a summer job at a bottle store. It was closing time and I was asked to hold the door to stop last minute people coming in.
  
  As a bloke was leaving he joked with me, “nice to have someone holding the door”. I replied “don’t want customers getting their fingers caught!”
  
  He held up his hand which had four fingers chopped off about half way. “Too late!” he shouted with a laugh. I was mortified, but he put me at ease saying “you weren’t to know”.
  
  Now, it’s all offence taken.
  
  22 3
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  March 5, 2026 9:32am
  - pdm
    
    I know how you felt rouppe.
    
    In the late 80’s I was down at my bowling club and saw the 70 approx year old guy who looked after the green with a bandage on his hand including his index and middle fingers. I said to him:
    
    “George did you put your hand under your rotacut mower while it was going”
    
    That was exactly what he had done.
    
    Like you I felt a complete idiot but he took it in good part.
    
    8 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    March 5, 2026 12:42pm
    - imalwaysright
      
      “Like you I felt a complete idiot…”
      
      You didn’t stick your hand in a mower, the idiot did.
      
      6 2
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      March 5, 2026 4:32pm
- Swifty
  
  I’ve used ‘paw’, ‘wing’ and ‘pins’ to refer to limbs for decades, with absolutely nothing meant by it.
  
  Same as ‘chariot’ for car, ‘gourd’ for head or ‘cheese and kisses’.
  
  I think the woman is being far too precious.
  
  23 4
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  March 5, 2026 9:40am
  - Ian Boag
    
    I guess you would have to be there. The remark was made as a friendly quip but the butt of the witticism found it offensive and distressing. Fair enough – she’s the one with a useless arm. I would guess that the remark might not have been made if the remarker had known the situation …..
    
    16 2
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    March 5, 2026 10:04am
    - Swifty
      
      Nicely summarised Ian.
      
      6 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      March 5, 2026 10:24am
    - David Garrett
      
      Ian B: I would guess that the remark might not have been made if the remarker had known the situation ….
      
      That pretty much goes without saying I would have thought.
      
      14 1
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      March 5, 2026 10:55am
  - David Garrett
    
    Swifty: Yes indeed… and my daughter is disappointed that her complaint about her elderly Nana being forcefully ejected from a wheelchair at Auckland airport has prompted this complaint.
    
    Her exact words: ” An elderly lady getting ejected from a wheelchair and suffering concussion is rather different from someone wearing an arm splint”
    
    17 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    March 5, 2026 10:47am
  - Raphael
    
    I prefer to use “horseless carriage” for the car.
    
    4 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    March 5, 2026 11:14am
    - David Garrett
      
      Raphael: although it has now sadly fallen into disuse “misini saliote” (chariot machine) was the old Tongan word for “car”. Now it’s just the unimaginative “ka”
      
      4 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      March 5, 2026 3:10pm
- peterwn
  
  Her sense of humour on a 1 – 10 scale – minus 5.
  A real influencer would have no trouble batting off a such a comment and making everyone laugh.
  
  19 3
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  March 5, 2026 9:53am
- greybeard
  
  Key words to consider:
  “former TV presenter”
  “founder of food and lifestyle blog”
  “Hart reached out to Stuff”
  
  29 3
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  March 5, 2026 10:07am
  - David Garrett
    
    grey: It’s silly I know, but I find “reached out” bloody annoying…what the hell is wrong with “contacted”?
    
    But nowhere near as bad as “learnings”…That’s real fingernails on the blackboard stuff.
    
    9 2
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    March 5, 2026 3:14pm
- Raphael
  
  Good grief.
  
  I am left-handed and often refer to myself as being a “southpaw”
  
  I also often refer to my kids’ (who are all teens) hands as paws “That slice is mine, paws off”
  
  15 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  March 5, 2026 10:55am
  - David Garrett
    
    Raphael: Did you also know that you are, as a left hander “a sinstrel”?? Source of the word “sinister” I believe…some old superstition about lefties being agents of the Devil
    
    4 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    March 5, 2026 3:12pm
    - Raphael
      
      Yep. Sinister and Dexter. Left and Right.
      Which is where Dexterous comes from. And very loosely ambidextrous translates to two right hands.
      
      2 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      March 5, 2026 9:32pm
- lifesgood
  
  Rachel is a pathetic baby. Take offence all you like, Rachel. Nobody cares.
  
  9 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  March 5, 2026 1:55pm
- Local Miller
  
  Someone who is the “founder of food and lifestyle blog One Handed Baker” can’t be that precious about her disability. She’s used it as part of her brand, and now she’s complaining because someone was honestly asking how she was.
  I think she’s looking for publicity.
  
  8 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  March 5, 2026 3:56pm
Biscuit

Forgive me but I have hunted and hunted and can’t find any link to the Thought of the Day from Auntie Helen.

Can anyone give me a precis of it?
21 5
Log in to Reply
Report
March 5, 2026 8:55am
- sirknz
  
  Capitalism is bad, socialism is good, orange man is bad, Iran is good.
  
  36 6
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  March 5, 2026 8:59am
  - RoboRob
    
    Russia and China are good we should seek closer relations. US is bad we shouldn’t have anything to do with them.
    
    23 5
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    March 5, 2026 9:33am
    - igm
      
      But, but, but would they honour the treaty, or its current interpretation?
      
      5 2
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      March 5, 2026 2:49pm
- kowtow
  
  You’ll find it ,as usual , in the Herald editorial .
  
  Another go at Luxon re Iran .
  
  ps has anyone else noticed how relentlessly , repetitively pro Iran , nay not pro Iran , pro Mullah ,the NZME radio “news” broadcasts are.
  
  29 5
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  March 5, 2026 9:00am
  - mogg
    
    Green politics; while the IRCG in Iran have been machine gunning tens of thousands of protesters to death, there has been not one word of condemnation from the Green Party. Last night on TV3 news Marama Davidson was allowed plenty of time for her diatribe against Trump and Israel for ‘bombing Iran and killing innocent civilians in this illegal war’
    
    14 2
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    March 5, 2026 10:37am
  - keepcalmcarryon
    
    The mullahs in the MSM back at it.
    
    5 2
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    March 5, 2026 12:40pm
- pdm
  
  Have a look at the Herald Letters to the Editor Biscuit.
  
  She may have instructed hubby Mr Helen Clark to write a letter, without diclosure, under his maiden name Peter Davis.
  
  May not be today but if you keep looking one will appear because it has been a regular occurrence over the last 30 years or maybe more.
  
  25 4
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  March 5, 2026 9:01am
- AitchW
  
  Try “Brainfart of the day”.
  
  4 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  March 5, 2026 2:15pm
lastmanstanding

To those who say the Iran conflict is an illegal war I say how would you like your mother wife daughter or gay son living there? And if you down tick me I say why dont you go there and join the fight against the US and Israel.
42 8
Log in to Reply
Report
March 5, 2026 9:03am
- RoboRob
  
  This whole ‘legal war’ thing is pretty silly. When was the last time the UN authorised one country to attack another in advance of the conflict beginning? All the ‘legal wars’ are the ones where someone attacks a ‘good guy’ and the ‘good guy’ then defends itself. I.e Russia v Ukraine. Russias war is ‘illegal’ and Ukraines war is ‘legal’. Essentially the ‘global norms / laws’ thing is ‘wait until you are attacked. Thats a pretty shitty policy.
  
  The world has forgotten how things used to work. Back in the day the US would happily invade ‘problem’ countries. They established ‘military superiority’ and for decades the threat that the US might get involved kept bad guys in line. After the failures in Iraq and Afgahnistan the US people adopted a ‘no more wars’ stance. This led to ‘bad guys’ becoming more emboldened. Whilst I am not a fan of a US leader being able to attack any country it feels like, I hope after taking out Venezuela’s corrupt leader and now Irans, that the would will once again become stable under the threat of US action.
  
  25 6
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  March 5, 2026 9:17am
  - cmm (semi-retired edition)
    
    Quite.
    
    None of the UN’s actions are ever “wars” and when they do turn up they are as useless as tits on a bull.
    
    One may ask how they’re getting on in Sudan and DRC at the moment. They will continue to be ineffective until a large force just takes over.
    
    21 4
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    March 5, 2026 9:53am
    - imalwaysright
      
      The Maori Wardens of warfare.
      
      10 2
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      March 5, 2026 10:48am
  - kowtow
    
    It wasn’t just the Americans .
    
    The Soviets , in their various guises ( be it Russian , Chinese whatever) were donkey deep in the post WW2 “people’s liberation movements” across the former European imperial projects in Asia , Africa and S America . Violent , undemocratic and very nasty .
    But cos lefties worldwide were “sympathetic” to those causes and the media of course complicit , they tended to get a free pass. Mugabe V Rhodesia , a great example.
    
    And in fairness to the Brits ,they often tried to ensure democratic transitions , at great cost in blood and treasure , before scooting.
    
    Malaya and Kenya two very good examples .
    
    And talking of the international rules based order , and people’s freedom and sovereignty ,that was never applied to the oppressed people of occupied east and central Europe at the hands of the evil Stalinists .
    
    7 3
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    March 5, 2026 10:59am
  - Gary Benner
    
    I ask the simple question, what is a “war”. We all know that WWI and WWII, Vietnam etc were “wars”, but what actually constitutes a “war”.
    
    Is subterfuge taking over a country by dumping so called “asylum seekers” who then attempt to take over political control and exert influence against the current culture a “war”?
    
    Is gaining financial and other ownership of assets in a country to control it’s destiny a “war”?
    
    I’d like to know if this is a legitimate view, that non-lethal techniques (at the outset anyway) are just as wrong as lethal, military action?
    
    5 3
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    March 5, 2026 2:12pm
- Notsofast
  
  Natasha Hausdorf has just delivered an interpretation of international law, in which she points out that imminence was a concept from about 1840 and referring to canon balls rather than nuclear weapons.
  She says at about minute 28 there is
  
  “A misinterpretation of international law by a particular political class.”
  
  She is of course catching Helen Clark in this well mannered assessment.
  Well worth watching two completely civilised women who do not sound hysterical discuss this:
  
  34 minutes long
  
  https://youtu.be/t4vJwc3Onck?si=vOm-8oYAVzxNsX1-
  
  11 4
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  March 5, 2026 9:21am
- Ross Bayer
  
  lastman…,
  From time to time I visit this site hopeful that the conservative voice of NZ is articulating a reasoned argument on which right leaning people can rely to feel good about the world.
  Sadly the comments I see are increasingly the exact opposite of what could take to the dinner table and discuss with my teenagers and grandchildren as they are both uninformed and shallow as well as being racist and violent.
  The recent world events are something we need to be able to discuss with others but in order to do so we need to be both informed and take a broad view looking at both recent history and history over time.
  This conflict will change the world forever and not in a good way.
  Before I get to some of the detail let me say this is an illegal attack on a sovereign nation completely without any justification. Many people probably 5% of the worlds population have swallowed the CIA propaganda of the last 25 years leading up to this barbaric act and see the attack as a great event. The rest of the world who have not swallowed the koolaide can see it for what is is, an existential event for Iran and the 300 million Shia Muslims that may well galvanise both Sunni and Shia against a small state close to the med and a bully from across the Atlantic.
  How will it change the world you might ask, well the straight of Hormuz is now closed and this means that China and India will lose access to a significant proportion of their oil imports.
  The gulf states will lose access to food this will resulting in serious implications, no revenue, no food, no more propping up the US economy.
  Inflation will spread rapidly across the globe supply chains will seize up, COVID times on steroids, and here people are cheering on the bullies.
  Logistically the US and its partner, sorry master, cannot stay the distance.
  The ROW will not allow this action to continue as they know they will be next inline
  Recent history also tells us the the spread of democracy across the middle east, by Amwrecka, has left a trail of broken countries who exported millions of refugees across Europe causing huge fiscal problems for these countries.
  The implications for NZ are significant, how are we going to export product if airlines are grounded ships cannot pass through the Suez canal and freight rates skyrocket.
  We all need to stop taking the narrow view that my friends and I can do anything we like with no consequences
  THERE WILL BE CONSEQUENCES FOR ALL OF US FROM THIS
  
  8 21
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  March 5, 2026 10:13am
  - Taieri
    
    THERE WILL BE CONSEQUENCES FOR ALL OF US FROM THIS
    —————
    
    10 out of 10!
    
    7 3
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    March 5, 2026 1:04pm
  - Don Beckett
    
    A very extremist view – have you been taken in by Chloe ?
    You surprise me.
    
    13 8
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    March 5, 2026 1:11pm
    - Ross Bayer
      
      Hi Don, my post contains a number of FACTS and interpretation of those facts.
      I do not think a reasonable man would consider that because you do not like the family next door and maybe how they treat their children that you have any right to kill the parents and I would certainly not model this behaviour to my children
      History tells us the SHAH of Iran was a US supported regime that brutally controlled its citzens who eventually overthrew eventually the Regime installed their own system. AMWRECKA now wants to get the band back together again and any support of this from the west is not well placed and not inline with the wishes of the millions of people out on the streets each evening uniting against the bully…
      
      6 9
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      March 5, 2026 1:53pm
      - RoboRob
        
        A heads up.
        
        Your arguement loses validity when you call America, AMWRECKA . Some who might read and process your point will assume bias becuase of that statement.
        
        12 5
        Report
        March 5, 2026 3:06pm
      - kowtow
        
        ‘AMWRECKA’
        
        And you claim you want to get facts , reasoned views for your dinner table discussions ……bwa hahahaa.
        
        Comrade , good try but you ain’t foolin’ anyone.
        
        9 5
        Report
        March 5, 2026 3:08pm
      - Don Beckett
        
        So Ross, you’re okay with Iran taking hostage the American Embassy staff in 1983 & holding them prisoner for nearly 2 years ?
        You’re okay with Iran being the major sponsor of terrorism – Hamas, Hezbollah, Houthis – plus many other sponsored attacks across the world.
        You’re okay with the Mullahs of Iran proclaiming, since 1981 “Death to the Great Satan (USA), death to the little Satan (Israel” ?
        You’re okay with Iran having nuclear weapons, which they have openly stated that they would use them to destroy Israel & the USA ?
        Your comment may include facts, but you draw the wrong conclusions.
        But of course, it’s Orange Man Bad – Merica Bad.
        
        7 6
        Report
        March 5, 2026 5:51pm
  - artemisia
    
    Ross Bayer – Would you have a different view if it was only Israel attacking Iran?
    
    4 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    March 5, 2026 1:32pm
    - Ross Bayer
      
      no
      
      3 2
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      March 5, 2026 3:31pm
    - Ross Bayer
      
      Apologies Robo I will correct that Amerwrecka the country that has ruined/destroyed Syria, Iraq, Libya, Ukraine, Sudan, Somalia, Lebanon and is the most corrupt country in the world. Oh I forgot about their good friend Pinochet.
      
      2 10
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      March 5, 2026 3:36pm
- JackRabbit
  
  All wars are “illegal”.
  
  “Let’s fight each other, let’s bomb the hell out of each other’s countries.”
  
  “Righto, lets set the number of innocent casualties and the fiscal cost, and get the voters in each country to endorse it so we can proceed.”
  
  “Jolly good. And when it is over we can compare the innings and winnings down at the Fox and Ferret over a pint or two.”
  
  5 4
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  March 5, 2026 10:16am
Maggy Wassilieff

Mountain out of a molehill?

https://newsroom.co.nz/2026/03/04/tvnz-board-chair-rang-senior-minister-to-discuss-negative-coverage/

https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2019025597/politics-update-jo-moir-speaks-to-corin-dann

or time to dump TVNZ?
31 1
Log in to Reply
Report
March 5, 2026 9:17am
- imalwaysright
  
  Article :
  ‘”However, the minister (Goldsmith) later said he had not responded in any way to Barclay’s remarks, adding: “I just said, ‘Well that’s not for me to discuss,’ and then we moved on to other issues.’
  
  You would think the Minister would discuss a matter RAISED BY the Chairman of the Board of a company of which the Minister is a major shareholder?
  
  Bravely, Paul decided to do nothing…
  
  9 3
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  March 5, 2026 9:31am
  - RoboRob
    
    I dont believe Goldsmiths story of events. I think it likely he did discuss it but now feels it may have been inappropriate. Again, this is why governments shouldn’t run news agencies.
    
    10 3
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    March 5, 2026 10:53am
  - peterwn
    
    Da da da Defund TVNZ.
    
    3 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    March 5, 2026 6:54pm
- Gravelroad
  
  I saw that contribution by the smug Benedict Collins on TV1 news the other day re crime stats.
  It was clearly skewed to undermine the government’s efforts and support what the previous government had done.
  Am so accustomed to the subtle and not so subtle bias that it just didn’t seem to matter anymore.
  So didn’t mention it.
  Job getting done by the leftist media.
  And no signs of anyone pulling back on the reins.
  
  26 2
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  March 5, 2026 9:31am
  - imalwaysright
    
    Collins has successfully managed to combine the intellect of Paddy Gower with the sanctimony of John Campbell…
    
    31 3
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    March 5, 2026 9:42am
    - David Garrett
      
      Imalways: That is the comment of the day so far!
      
      Has anyone else noticed that Gower has clearly “had work” to fill some of the fissures on his face?
      
      13 2
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      March 5, 2026 10:57am
      - imalwaysright
        
        Botulism giving back to the community?
        
        5 1
        Report
        March 5, 2026 11:34am
      - David Garrett
        
        Imalways: I am reliably informed that he has most likely had “dermal fillers” – the facial equivalent of the “bog” the panel beaters use to finish off their work. Wanker.
        
        10 2
        Report
        March 5, 2026 12:12pm
      - wsk12345
        
        I don’t think you have fillers once. It’s like every few months as it disperses. He must earn a small fortune for it to be worthwhile.
        
        5 2
        Report
        March 5, 2026 1:10pm
    - Philview
      
      I think he is worse than John Cambell. He always has a scoffing tone to his voice that I find very irritating.
      
      12 2
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      March 5, 2026 11:43am
      - Charlotte Wells
        
        I have to say, Gower is probably the only person I would actually take pleasure in seeing totally humiliated in the public forum.
        
        7 2
        Report
        March 5, 2026 12:33pm
      - pdm
        
        You are right – even on the `bridge walk’ or whatever they call it at Parliament he (Collins) always has a patronising tone to his questions to Government Ministers.
        
        5 2
        Report
        March 5, 2026 12:54pm
      - imalwaysright
        
        Charlotte, try this:
        
        https://youtu.be/VWfnF16qmxw?si=Pf4CN8qDQ0lsrfnc
        
        [Mod – include descriptions with your links]
        
        3 2
        Report
        March 5, 2026 2:03pm
      - David Garrett
        
        Charlotte: A few years ago I was invited to a debate about penal policy on TV 3. When the young girl rang to arrange it I said “I hope Gower’s not around tomorrow – a meeting with him could turn out to be problematic”
        
        A couple of hours later a producer from TV 3 rang and canceled me…I had, apparently, been identified as “a workplace hazard” and had “threatened violence”. My pointing out that I was almost 65, and hadn’t done any such thing was all to no avail. The little petal also refused to say if he knew the definition of the word “problematic”
        
        7 2
        Report
        March 5, 2026 3:21pm
  - RoboRob
    
    Yes, this seems a case where TVNZ realised it was overboard on attacking the government re crime stats and decided to do another story to ‘balance’ the coverage.
    
    I am 100% sure Goldsmiths account of his response is total BS. You dont go from ‘mentioned in passing and I dont recall my response’, to ‘Well that’s not for me to discuss’. You would remember saying the second.
    
    That said. All this is a great example of why the government shouldn’t own news outlets. There are times the CEO might want to go to the owner for direction. In this case the owner is also the person you are constantly reporting on. Its just stupid and there is no need for NZ to own TVNZ or RNZ. They should have been sold years ago when they had value, they should be sold now while they still can.
    
    17 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    March 5, 2026 9:45am
- cmm (semi-retired edition)
  
  Just take away their taxpayer funded flotation device.
  
  If they can make it to shore, fine. If they can’t, fine.
  
  Although I am opposed to all corporate hand outs, I don’t object too strongly to a short period of hand outs to help an entity get established. But that should stop:
  * Once there is a free market competitor.
  * After 46 years of taxpayer mouth-to-mouth, TVNZ is still not breathing for itself.
  
  18 2
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  March 5, 2026 9:58am
  - MCōs
    
    TVNZ doesn’t get public funding except by way of NZ on Air for specific projects
    
    3 16
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    March 5, 2026 10:48am
    - RoboRob
      
      According to CoPilot the government gave TVNZ $19m in 2021.
      
      Also
      Government pours $11m back into TVNZ
      https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/government-pours-11m-back-into-tvnz/PTMIHPISLJGYB26X7NPRCADL5M/
      
      Yes its not common BUT as TVNZ weakens, due to the market, I expect that financial top ups from the owners will become a much more common event.
      
      There is also RNZ, the other new agency, which is massively funded by the government.
      
      15 3
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      March 5, 2026 10:59am
      - Ghost
        
        Wow, you have to go back to 2004….
        
        2021 you can blame on the government of the day causing business to spend less advertising due to the shutdowns.
        
        Last year they paid a $3.1 million dividend to the govt
        
        3 12
        Report
        March 5, 2026 11:26am
      - wsk12345
        
        That’s an absolutely miniscule yield- wasn’t TVNZ worth a billion a few years ago?
        
        8 1
        Report
        March 5, 2026 1:14pm
      - RoboRob
        
        @Ghost
        
        You missed this bit of my post …
        
        ‘Yes its not common BUT as TVNZ weakens, due to the market, I expect that financial top ups from the owners will become a much more common event.’
        
        Do you believe that the current trend away from TV advertising / viewing will reverse itself or increase in the next few years? Do you think TVNZs streaming services will be able to make up for that lost revenue?
        
        I think TVNZs bottom line will get worse in the coming years and the government dividend will disappear. They will likely need investment from their shareholders (the government) to reform the business.
        
        10 2
        Report
        March 5, 2026 1:19pm
      - Jack5
        
        Re : Ghost’s TVNZ dividend to the Government of $3.1 million.
        
        The 2025 accounts show TVNZ received a total of $5,339,000 from two Government entities, NZOA and TMP, which would be NZ on Air, and Te Mangai Paho, whose role is to promote Maori language and culture by providing funds for “broadcasting and production”.
        
        The TVNZ 2025 accounts add: “Transactions with other government agencies such as government departments, SOEs, and Crown entities are not disclosed as related party transactions, since such disclosure is not required.”
        
        TVNZ’s 2025 accounts’ include, in the cash flow statement, an item “receipt of programme funding $7.863 million.”
        
        Surely, one way or another, that’s from the State.
        
        8 1
        Report
        March 5, 2026 3:44pm
    - R
      
      SO!…..TVNZ does receive public funding. An independent business entity would fund its own projects; particularly if they are of the political ’employ people’ variety.
      
      6 1
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      March 5, 2026 3:45pm
KKNZ2025

There’s no corruption in NZ…/s

The Price of political access in New Zealand

https://x.com/bryce_edwards/status/2028993991690395723
9 1
Log in to Reply
Report
March 5, 2026 9:49am
Gulag1917

” ‘no more foreign wars,’
‘no more regime change'”
What happened?
4 5
Log in to Reply
Report
March 5, 2026 10:04am
- Charlotte Wells
  
  Trump is not doing regime change.
  
  He has openly said it is for th Iranian people to do regime change if they want.
  
  He has merely given them the opportunity.
  
  12 6
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  March 5, 2026 12:35pm
  - Ra Henare
    
    Charlotte, I can not believe you are so Naive as to believe trump is aiding this war to help Iranian People.
    
    Maybe you dont undertsand the reason for the attack on Venuzuala (nothing to do with Narcos) but to cut oil supply to China.
    
    If you doubt me. Look at the US “”playbook”” over the years. It all starts with the BS restoring Democracy, or helping the oppressed locals.
    
    Ask yourself why isnt the US invading other dictatorships that are murdering their own people (Myanmar springs to mind) …Oh ah, they dont have vast oil reserves/exports to China.
    
    Attack on Iran to keep Netenyahu happy and again squeeze Oil to China.
    
    Nobody seem to see the US fast depleting its missile/Bomb stocks as almost being an invitation for China to invade Taiwan if it wants.
    
    1 3
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    March 5, 2026 9:49pm
  - Gulag1917
    
    Regime change just like 1953,
    Why is the MAGA base deserting him?
    
    1 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    March 6, 2026 12:44am
- Charlotte Wells
  
  Trump is not going to be involved in ‘forever’ wars.
  
  He’s in, he’s out. Job done.
  
  7 6
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  March 5, 2026 12:36pm
  - MCōs
    
    Kind of slips off the tongue when you say it like that.
    
    2 2
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    March 5, 2026 8:19pm
  - Ra Henare
    
    ah, charlotte, now I understand.
    You are just a troll.
    
    2 3
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    March 5, 2026 9:50pm
  - Ghost
    
    are you talking about his sex life.
    
    2 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    March 5, 2026 10:07pm
- kowtow
  
  Bibi knew the Mullahs were making nukes , were prepared to us them amd someone had to stop it.
  
  It really is that simple.
  
  When these religious murdering ,genocidal theocrats ,wedded to an apocalyptic death cult constanly declare “death to israel, death to america” then one must take them at their word .
  
  And Bibi and Donny have called them out.
  Daniel 5;27
  
  You have been weighed in the balance and found wanting.
  
  10 4
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  March 5, 2026 12:43pm
  - MCōs
    
    He’s known that for awhile now
    https://x.com/owenshroyer1776/status/2026811589391696344?s=61
    
    4 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    March 5, 2026 8:21pm
  - Ra Henare
    
    haha. Netenyau has been badgering at least the last 5 Presidents (over 20 years) to attack Iran as they are close to making Nuclear bombs.
    
    Only Trump has been gullible.
    
    It seems that a nuclear bomb could be made by somebody with a billion USD and 5 years.
    You think the Iranians havent built a bomb in 20 years???!!!!
    
    Maybe they didnt want one.
    Some Say Ali Khamenei stopped it happening!
    
    So now he is no more.
    Expect Iran to work harder and faster to get Nuclear Bombs
    
    Remember that Iranians are experts at Chess. Ie thinking 5+ moves ahead
    
    Iran has 4,102 active chess players, while the United States has 3,925.
    
    1 2
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    March 5, 2026 9:59pm
- keepcalmcarryon
  
  Also bad news for you: Father Christmas isn’t real
  
  5 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  March 5, 2026 12:43pm
Swifty

All that’s wrong with the British political establishment:

https://x.com/daisysummer05/status/2029040779457343637?s=46

A nice serve.
7 1
Log in to Reply
Report
March 5, 2026 10:21am
- muzled
  
  That’s gold!
  
  Who is she?
  
  5 3
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  March 5, 2026 12:52pm
  - Don Beckett
    
    Bravo – make that lady Prime Minister.
    
    4 3
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    March 5, 2026 5:59pm
- David Garrett
  
  Oh dear…shouting and gesticulating at the camera…American style tele-journalism.
  
  1 10
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  March 5, 2026 1:40pm
- lifesgood
  
  Oh that we should have someone like this in NZ. Pipe dream I guess.
  
  5 2
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  March 5, 2026 2:11pm
- mogg
  
  She’s right, and most of it has been enabled by Tories like Boris Johnson. Stumbling Starmer is just carrying on in the same vein, he will have a warship in the Med to protect Cyprus in about two weeks time, UN permitting!
  
  8 3
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  March 5, 2026 3:50pm
  - Swifty
    
    I quite agree.
    
    The Conservatives have let Britain down badly.
    
    3 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    March 5, 2026 5:23pm
Swifty

I am lost for words.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/360946607/neighbours-say-they-begged-help-over-child-welfare-fears-agencies-insist-they-acted

Sickening.
11 1
Log in to Reply
Report
March 5, 2026 10:31am
- David Garrett
  
  Swifty: Indeed it is. And I have just written to the journo who wrote the piece advising her that OT can release the following information without in any way breaching the accursed Privacy Act, the most wrongly cited piece of legislation in NZ by far:
  
  I will say that in this case provision of the following information would NOT breach the Privacy Act: 1) the age and sex of the child in question; 2) His or her location at a provincial level – the content of your story suggests s/he is in the Waikato; 3) the number of times members of the public have contacted OT about this child; and lastly and most difficult to extract from OT: 4) the ethnicity of the child. Good luck with that one.
  
  Don’t hold your breath for any more detail emerging.
  
  14 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  March 5, 2026 12:34pm
- imalwaysright
  
  What a tragic treatment of a child.
  
  It shows how the public have been desensitized and frightened into a state where we no longer bypass the bureaucracy and steam in and boot some scumbags between the legs as an appetizer.
  
  9 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  March 5, 2026 12:40pm
  - David Garrett
    
    Imalways: I got an a polite acknowledgment from the journo who wrote that. She clearly is not going take my advice and demand to know how answers to the questions I have suggested would in any way breach the bloody Privacy Act.
    
    8 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    March 5, 2026 1:42pm
Swifty

B2 Spirit carrier fly by:

https://x.com/arsenico_bis/status/2029179689030304228?s=46

Pretty cool.
2 2
Log in to Reply
Report
March 5, 2026 10:35am
- Don Beckett
  
  The note below claims that it is computer generated.
  Maybe – but banking at that steep angle so close to the sea is a dangerous maneuver.
  
  5 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  March 5, 2026 1:22pm
  - Swifty
    
    I didn’t see that thanks Don.
    
    Grrrrr.
    
    4 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    March 5, 2026 2:26pm
Vidar

When Trump launched “Space Force” it was all a big joke because Orange Man Bad.

What Space force has been up to lately:

Midnight Hammer – Space Force Mission Delta 3 ran the electromagnetic warfare that blinded Iranian sensors. Providing the way for Trumps beautiful stealth bombers.

Operation Absolute Resolve – Space Command and Cyber Command disabled the Chinese and Russian air defenses. Trump called it the “discombobulator” (LOL).

Operation Epic Fury – Space Force and Cyber Command struck first. totally blinding the Iranians. They open corridors for the attack.

It has been amazing to watch.

Just part of the rebuild Trump did in his first term.

The lethality of the US is unbelievable.
10 6
Log in to Reply
Report
March 5, 2026 10:56am
- Charlotte Wells
  
  The lethality of the US is unbelievable.
  
  Certainly is to those sailors on the warship blown up by a US submarine.
  
  None of the handwringing and panty-wetting that so beset the poms when the Belgrano was sunk.
  
  6 7
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  March 5, 2026 12:39pm
- Charlotte Wells
  
  Talking about lethality; it now is being said that the 3 US jets were shot down by a Kuwaiti jet.
  
  That pilot only needs 2 more kills and he’s an ace.
  
  Further news, an Israeli pilot has shot down an Iranian YAK-130 jet over Tehran. The first air-to-air kill by an F-35 against a piloted adversary.
  
  4 9
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  March 5, 2026 12:40pm
  - David Garrett
    
    Charlotte: I’m not sure shooting down planes from your own side count towards acehood!
    
    11 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    March 5, 2026 1:43pm
David Garrett

I have written here and elsewhere often about the risk from Muslim immigration largely coming from the migrants children, meaning that no matter how carefully you vet the initial refugees, it is impossible to know how their kids will turn out.

It is encouraging to see that this is now recognised by the SIS:

https://www.stuff.co.nz/politics/360946840/nz-spy-chiefs-warn-extremism-risk-teenage-boys-dominate-investigations

However, I very much doubt this extract from the piece is the case:

“There is not a single ideology or single ethnicity. But what is common is that these are largely people who are spending a lot of time online engaging with quite violent content.

I am prepared to bet that the director is is being economical with the truth, and he should be called upon to identify – with numbers of the ethnicities – so far as they are able to determine them – of the teenage boys in question.

Before the lefties here clutch their pearls in horror, such data – simply being numbers and not names – would involve no breach of privacy or any other breach of “human rights”. I am prepared to bet the farm that although there might be the odd Matthew Lloyd in there, names like Ahmed Muhammed are much more frequent.

And when a Bondi occurs in NZ – as sadly I believe is inevitable – there won’t be a Matthew Lloyd among the terrorists.
11 2
Log in to Reply
Report
March 5, 2026 11:53am
- David Garrett
  
  Fuck…sorry guys…If a Mod is available please end the italics at the phrase “…engaging with quite violent content”
  
  Note to self: proof read more carefully, and don’t try to multi-task
  
  [Mod – done]
  
  9 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  March 5, 2026 12:06pm
  - David Garrett
    
    Mod: thank you Sir/Madam.
    
    9 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    March 5, 2026 12:35pm
- imalwaysright
  
  David Garrett,
  I would say that the tone of the article suggests that they are more focused on white men:
  “If you look at our current active investigations… it looks like a year 13 boys school, and the diversity you would see there.”
  I think they are looking for a white, 18 year old, academically accomplished, virgin male.
  If we look at the general tone of emasculation that has infected the country, there is no reason to think that the security services aren’t also infected.
  
  7 4
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  March 5, 2026 12:56pm
  - David Garrett
    
    Always: Yes, I read that bit…I call bollocks on it.
    
    To see what our future “looks like” we only have to look across the Tasman. I stand to be corrected, but I very much doubt there are many Matthew Lloyds from Kogarah harassing “immodest” young women at Sydney beaches.
    
    But when we have our Bondi – as sadly I believe is inevitable – what will change in NZ policy wise? Nothing.
    
    8 3
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    March 5, 2026 1:46pm
    - imalwaysright
      
      “– what will change in NZ policy wise? Nothing”
      
      That’s correct. NZ will adjust to the threat, by kneeling to the threat.
      
      The only thing more harmful to our children, than our crap teachers, are our parents who haven’t got the nous to identify those who want to harm their children right under their noses.
      
      7 3
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      March 5, 2026 2:13pm
- mike
  
  Isn’t it nice to read David Garrett agreeing with the SIS, although he could not, of course, agree with the part that challenges his prejudices.
  
  2 8
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  March 5, 2026 6:52pm
Swifty

Tomahawk missiles en route….

https://x.com/ryanafournier/status/2029248108408787183?s=46
3 1
Log in to Reply
Report
March 5, 2026 12:43pm
- Charlotte Wells
  
  There’s another video from Day 1 filmed in Iraq. About 30 go flying by.
  
  There’s another out there taken by an airline pilot that shows an Iranian fired missile.
  
  3 5
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  March 5, 2026 1:27pm
  - kowtow
    
    I don’t understand why people would red arrow that comment.
    
    2 2
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    March 5, 2026 2:57pm
Charlotte Wells

The good stuff keeps happening.

Ships weren’t transiting the Straits of Hormuz because the maritime shipping insurers declined to cover them.

Trump has announced he is forming a maritime insurance body to cover ships and will be providing US warships as escorts.
7 7
Log in to Reply
Report
March 5, 2026 12:54pm
All_on_Red

Thousands of Kurdish forces armed and supported by the US have invaded Northern Iran
The US is providing insurance and escorts for Tankers in the Straits of Hormuz and apparently shipping is slowly moving again
10 3
Log in to Reply
Report
March 5, 2026 1:25pm
- keepcalmcarryon
  
  Link
  
  4 2
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  March 5, 2026 1:36pm
  - All_on_Red
    
    Sure
    https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-15615347/Ground-invasion-launched-against-Iran-thousands-US-backed-Kurdish-fighters-storm-border.html
    https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/3/3/us-will-provide-insurance-for-ships-in-gulf-amid-iranian-attacks-trump
    https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c20zg54g5vvo
    https://edu.exceedlms.com/student/path/1606069-google-search-for-beginners
    
    3 4
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    March 5, 2026 3:01pm
    - keepcalmcarryon
      
      Al Jazeera , cheerleaders of Shia terrorists are not reliable sources of verifiable info on Iran (or Gaza) , granted I’ve seen this claimed now on a Murdoch Aussie news channel.
      The jury is out on if this is happening.
      
      2 2
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      March 5, 2026 8:18pm
- mike
  
  Surely this time the Kurds won’t be betrayed by the US?
  
  4 2
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  March 5, 2026 7:35pm
Yvette

Is this why Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has difficulty in answering questions about who started the war with Iran, it’s legitimacy and other tricky questions – he is not in the loop, and his office has to read the Times of Israel or the New York Times to know what is happening.

Maybe the following would be dismissed as a conspiracy theory except for September 17, 2024, when thousands of pagers distributed to the Hezbollah group were blowing up in homes, offices, shops and on frontlines across Lebanon, remotely detonated by Israel. Hezbollah had been firing rockets into Israel almost daily for nearly a year in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.
__________

Israel hacked into Tehran’s extensive traffic camera network in order to track the bodyguards of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other top Iranian officials ahead of Saturday’s assassination of the supreme leader, the Financial Times reported on Monday, citing two people familiar with the matter.
Iran’s cameras are believed to be part of the state’s surveillance apparatus, allowing authorities to identify and pursue protesters and regime opponents. But the Mossad, Israel’s spy agency, was able to co-opt the network for use against the regime, the report said.
The FT said Israel gained access to the cameras years ago, and found that one particular camera was angled in such a way that it showed where members of Khamenei’s security team parked their cars.
…
On the day of the attack, Israel and the US also disrupted cellular service on Tehran’s Pasteur Street, where Khamenei was assassinated, so those trying to reach the bodyguards and deliver possible warnings would receive busy signals, per the report.
…
“The CIA, which had been closely tracking Ayatollah Khamenei’s movements, learned that the supreme leader was planning to be at his residential compound in central Tehran on Saturday morning. Senior Iranian civilian and military leaders were also set to convene at the same location, at the same time. The CIA passed the intelligence to the Israelis, and leaders of both countries decided to kick off the war with a bold ‘decapitation’ strike in daylight.”
https://www.timesofisrael.com/report-israel-hacked-tehran-traffic-cameras-to-track-khamenei-ahead-of-assassination/
5 1
Log in to Reply
Report
March 5, 2026 1:39pm
- kowtow
  
  I’m reluctant to believe that the security services of Israel would reveal their sources/methods.
  
  8 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  March 5, 2026 2:56pm
Swifty

Look at how far our Maths PISA scores have fallen over the last 20 years.

https://x.com/afinetheorem/status/2029317431198421445?s=46

That’s what you get with state monopolies and next to no choice.

Escalating costs and lowering quality.

Every damn time.

And just wait till Labour and the Greens next get in, they’ll smash every single thing National has put in to turn things around – and will accelerate the slide.
8 1
Log in to Reply
Report
March 5, 2026 2:37pm
- Maggy Wassilieff
  
  Choose your reasons why…..
  
  https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/education/301022653/why-new-zealands-math-results-are-slipping-and-have-been-for-20-years
  
  6 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  March 5, 2026 4:23pm
- imalwaysright
  
  The kids are thick, but at least they don’t know how thick…
  
  2 4
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  March 5, 2026 4:44pm
NothingLeft

Really inciteful psychiatrist Hannah Spier runs a great youtube channel discussing the modern destructive impacts of psychology as it has been coopted to pander to (mostly female) patients and push destructive left wing victimhood narratives.

She provides really helpful guides on understanding actual pathologies and manipulations underlying various common victimhood claims and unearned-privilege that comes from claiming various issues – like ADHD and Autism that are frequently being sought as shields for narcissism. She also charts history of how various diagnosis have been invented and modified to provide tools and leverage for people with personality defects to exploit others.

Fascinating to see how much of it is just a scam being used to allow ‘sufferers’ to avoid accountability and enable manipulation of others.

She really takes no prisoners and has no patience for so much of the bullshit we see being peddled by pandering psychologists.

https://www.youtube.com/@psychobabblewithspier
7 2
Log in to Reply
Report
March 5, 2026 2:42pm
Swifty

Well, clearly Germany sees LNG as a key element of their energy security:

https://x.com/argmilei/status/2029316321528148013?s=46

Well done Argentina.
2 1
Log in to Reply
Report
March 5, 2026 5:18pm
Jack5

🥳Hick, hick hooray!

Fifty thousand bottles of Steinlager beer are being recalled after being marketed as alcohol-free, when they were not!

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/588750/alcohol-healthwatch-horrified-after-steinlager-beer-mislabelled
5 0
Log in to Reply
Report
March 5, 2026 5:26pm

Add a Comment Cancel reply

Login to comment or vote

« Hipkins desperately trying to deny fiscal reality

Wanting to ban billionaires from NZ »

Donations

You can now donate to Kiwiblog

Exclusive content from DPF on Patreon

Become a Patron!

Never miss a post

Email Address

Join 13K other subscribers

Highlights

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

Links

"For 40 years, NZers have been told that fewer councils mean better government. For 40 years, the evidence has refused to oblige."
Not PC
Let’s not celebrate copyright law extension
Utopia
They all do it…
The Standard
My Final Word: Jools Topp & the New Zealand We’ve Lost
The Daily Blog
The beat up about so called NZ freeloading
Point of Order
Word of the day
Hompaddock
Saturday’s Quick Hits
No Minister
Parliament fails to defend transparency
No Right Turn
Playing with numbers.
Kiwipolitico
Another non-tariff barrier
Offsetting Behaviour
Rugby Premiership Predictions for Round 18
Stats Chat
Budget 2026
NZCPR
UK Conversion Therapy Ban, Digital ID, Rallies, Elections
Bob McCoskrie's McBlog
A central banker’s fiction
Croaking Cassandra
THE WORKING FROM HOME RACKET BY PUBLIC SERVANTS
No Punches Pulled (Bob Jones)
Tory Whanau may have to sell Wellington mayoralty to make ends meet
The Civilian
The Accidental Engagement
Imperator Fish
Legal Beagle: Election '23: The Special Votes
Public Address
Get Vaccinated Tomorrow Or Shut Your Pie Hole
Cactus Kate
Making this movie might have been a mistake
Liam Hehir
Why I am retiring from political blogging
Kiwi FireWalker

[email protected]

PO Box 12270, Thorndon, Wellington 6144

Facebook
Twitter
FourSquare
Instagram
LinkedIn
Google+

Archives
Disclosure Statement
Editorial Policy
Privacy Policy
Complaints Policy
Comments Policy

Design by cre8d

%d

Share this:

Like this: