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March 16, 2026 8:00am by Kokila Patel

General Debate 16 March 2026

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All_on_Red

‘During an interview with MS NOW on Saturday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi responded to claims that he told the U.S. that Iran had enough uranium to make multiple nuclear weapons by saying that he did say they had enough material that, if enriched further, could make ten nuclear weapons,’
‘I said that we have 440 kilos of 60% enriched material, and that was not a secret, that is what is mentioned in the reports of the IAEA. So, I said that, look, this is mentioned in the report. This, if enriched more, can be good enough for ten bombs, as your own experts [claim].’
https://www.breitbart.com/clips/2026/03/14/iranian-foreign-minister-admits-mentioning-nuclear-bombs-like-witkoff-said-claims-it-wasnt-a-threat/
Theres video in the link of him saying this. Hopefully this is enough evidence for those who tried to discredit this news with the usual ‘fog of war’, ‘no evidence so untrue’ rubbish.
[Mod – deleted];
‘Gullible Russian Propagandists hurt most’.
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March 16, 2026 8:11am
- Simon
  
  Iran winning. If petrol prices spike then inflation rises and RBNZ has to raise interest rates. In debt fuelled neolib NZ economy this is a disaster. Then Chris “ I am economics” Luxon will get blamed for straights of Hormuz being closed to Western oil.
  
  MSM will run with Hipkins being able to handle straights of Hormuz and the third world NZ will then vote for Labour.
  
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  March 16, 2026 8:25am
  - Jethrod
    
    So when will Hipkins announce the re-instatement of Marsden Point?
    That would be definitely his first firm policy!
    
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    March 16, 2026 9:24am
    - stewmar
      
      Jethrod, how would reopening marsden point make a blind bit of difference if there is no crude oil to process there?
      
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      March 16, 2026 11:00am
      - septic skeptic
        
        It wouldn’t be his objective to actually re-open it and refine crude. The objective would be to win votes. Like kiwibuild. If it gained some votes then the policy would be a success. Just like Winston abolishing the Maori seats or moving shipping from Auckland to Whangarei.
        
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        March 16, 2026 12:20pm
      - Jethrod
        
        Ah, but, Hipkins probably doesn’t realize that.
        
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        March 16, 2026 1:03pm
      - Wairoa Native
        
        Actually NZ produces some oil. In 2024, production was around 18,675 barrels per day (≈6.8 million barrels/year). Produced in NZ: ~13,000 barrels/day (recent estimate) Used in NZ: ~159,000 barrels/day.
        
        So quite a big shortfall. Technically it would make a ‘blind’ bit of difference though. If we had people looking for it we might find more
        
        Of course:
        
        In 2018, the government led by Jacinda Ardern banned new offshore oil and gas exploration permits as part of climate policy. Existing fields could keep operating, but no new offshore exploration areas were allowed.
        
        In 2026, companies have begun applying for new exploration permits after the law change.
        
        One company has already submitted the first application since the ban ended.
        
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        March 16, 2026 3:02pm
  - Burtland
    
    labour lite will reduce fuel taxes, increase debt and continue to keep interest rates as low as they can – this is what the debt laden NZ majority wants – otherwise they will commit political suicide and full-fat labour will do it anyway
    
    might as well kick the debt down the road for the next government and live with labours mess – and stay in power
    
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    March 16, 2026 9:47am
    - Quail
      
      The danger of inflation is too often inflation is simply used by Governments to reduce their debts,
      Milton Friedman postured that inflation is a tax. Clearly it is.
      This makes a Government reducing inflation by balancing the books , reducing spending etc something that won’t happen.
      
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      March 16, 2026 3:40pm
  - Paulus
    
    Luxon is to blame fo everything that the media can find to try and pin on him we including the closing of Hormuz.
    
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    March 16, 2026 10:52am
    - Hugh Jarse
      
      NZ MSM are investigating a link between Luxon and a bald headed male running away from a grassy knoll in a Dallas some years ago, Maiki is releasing more this evening.
      
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      March 16, 2026 12:43pm
  - Phronesis
    
    It’s not quite that simple. When governments print large amounts of money, such as during covid, then inflation is inevitable and raising interest rates has some effect on reducing demand. When the inflationary pressure is supply side, as with oil price increases, then there is little point in raising interest rates. The higher prices themselves reduce demand across the economy as people have less money to spend.
    
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    March 16, 2026 10:57am
  - kowtow
    
    What’s the panic about ?
    
    The Iranian FM has announced the S of Hormuz is open to all but US and Israeli shipping.
    
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    March 16, 2026 11:57am
    - R
      
      How do you explain the non US nor ISRAELI ship attacked in thd S O H?
      
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      March 16, 2026 12:25pm
      - kowtow
        
        I’m not explaining nuffink.
        
        I’m reporting what the media reported the Iranian FM said …..so it must be true , it’s in the media and it’s a religious regime afterall.Innit.
        
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        March 16, 2026 1:01pm
    - keepcalmcarryon
      
      Some people are getting very very rich by inciting panic buying.
      
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      March 16, 2026 1:00pm
- Dudley Quaffquaff
  
  I have several empty bottles, some lighter fuel and some old rags. Not proof that I’m planning to make Molotov cocktails
  
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  March 16, 2026 8:51am
  - All_on_Red
    
    Comparing possession of lighter fluid and some bottles to 440kilos of 60% enriched material is probably one of the silliest comments ever made.
    
    ‘60% enriched uranium is classified as Highly Enriched Uranium (HEU) and is primarily a proliferation concern, representing a technical step away from 90% weapons-grade, allowing for rapid nuclear weapon production. While it can technically fuel compact research or naval reactors, its high concentration serves little to no civilian energy purpose. ‘
    
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    March 16, 2026 10:46am
    - Wandering Star
      
      The problem with your argument is that it presupposes that Iran has no right to produce nuclear weapons, which would only be emulating the US and Israel.
      
      If, like me and other realists, you understand that nuclear weapons are the only factor deterring US-Israel attacks on Iran (especially when directed towards regime change), then you have no problem with Iran developing their own nuclear weapons, so you have no qualms about them having the capability of doing so.
      
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      March 16, 2026 1:51pm
      - [email protected]
        
        Nuclear proliferation is not something we should be happy about with anyone, let alone Iran under a bloodthirsty regime.
        
        We were on the course to reduce nuclear capability but now seem to be back to ratcheting that up once again. And don’t forget it isn’t just US or Israel teaching the lesson that being nuclear capable is a necessary thing.
        
        Ukraine serves as a good example of Russia teaching the same lesson given how they behaved after Ukraine voluntarily gave up the old Soviet nuclear stockpile.
        
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        March 16, 2026 3:36pm
      - waikatosinger
        
        Iran has no rights. People have rights. Iran is not a person.
        
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        March 16, 2026 4:29pm
      - Ra Henare
        
        Wandering.
        Stop using logic.
        Commenters here rely on emotion.
        
        Pakistan and India have nukes and frequent border clashes. (one currently under way) havent used nukes.
        Russia has nukes, didnt use them when Ukraine “”invaded””
        Israel has them and didnt use them when Iran attacked them.
        
        The hsyteria seems to be based on an emotional idea that Iran would randonmly use them to destroy Israel? USA?
        
        Of course bears of little brain would have forgotten about the dictate of mutal assured destruction.
        Iran would cease to excist if it used a nuke against Isarel.
        
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        March 16, 2026 5:58pm
      - Wandering Star
        
        “Iran has no rights. People have rights. Iran is not a person”
        
        So Israel doesn’t have a right to exist, then?
        
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        March 16, 2026 7:47pm
- david in Aus
  
  This is well known for the past two decades. You seem to want to justify a war which is against NZ’s interests.
  
  If Iran were to develop nuclear weapons, it will be a threat to Israel. Similar to Pakistan’s nuclear weapons being a threat to India. But not to the wider world. Iranians have been rational and not suicidal.
  
  If this war continues has the potential to escalate to a reconfiguration of the international order.
  If Trump destroys Iran’s oil industry, the retaliation will cause a global economic recession. The lack of oil may cause Europe to reconsider their relationship with Russia, and Ukraine will be expendable. The Gulf countries will no longer see the US as the guarantor of security.
  
  This war is seriously against NZ’s national interest. This may be an economic disaster for NZ if the war continues for another month.
  
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  March 16, 2026 9:36am
  - Wayne1749
    
    Agree.
    
    The basic fact is this: not a single country in the world — including Iran’s own neighbours — has concluded that Iran poses such a threat that it justifies going to war.
    
    The idea that Iran is some kind of crazed, ISIS-style state bent on threatening the world is simply nonsense. Major powers with completely different political systems — Russia, an Orthodox Christian country; China, officially atheist; India, a major regional power — all deal with Iran normally and clearly do not regard it as an existential threat.
    
    So let’s be honest about what this actually is.
    
    This is an Israel-first war.
    
    It is not a war demanded by the international community, and it is certainly not a war in the interests of most countries on earth. It is a war being driven primarily by Israel’s strategic priorities.
    
    And it is definitely not in New Zealand’s interests. In fact, it is already working directly against us — as rapidly rising fuel prices clearly demonstrate.
    
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    March 16, 2026 10:56am
    - Interested Party
      
      You obviously have not followed the news over the last 4 decades.
      
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      March 16, 2026 11:14am
      - Wayne1749
        
        You haven’t rebutted a single fact.
        
        It is you who should follow the news.
        
        The United States backed Saddam Hussein during the Iran–Iraq War—providing intelligence and support while Iraq waged a brutal invasion that killed hundreds of thousands of Iranians.
        
        This in addition to engineering coups to steal their oil in the 1950s.
        
        And then people like you will wonder why Iranians shout ‘death to America’
        
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        March 16, 2026 11:29am
      - Wandering Star
        
        It’s fair to say that watching the news for 4 decades is probably the very reason why you harbour the distorted belief that Iran is hellbent on regional destruction, when you’d probably have a much better grasp of reality if you just switched off the “idiot box” as some call it.
        
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        March 16, 2026 1:58pm
    - In Vino Veritas
      
      Wayne, you say that Interested Party hasn’t rebutted a single fact. The problem is, hardly any of your post is fact. It is your personal opinion.
      
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      March 16, 2026 11:50am
      - Wandering Star
        
        Which parts are not fact?
        
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        March 16, 2026 1:55pm
      - In Vino Veritas
        
        WS, where to start…..
        (1) “not a single country in the world — including Iran’s own neighbours — has concluded that Iran poses such a threat that it justifies going to war”. The UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, Iraq and Qatar are all allowing the USA to attack Iran from their countries. And Iran has committed acts of war against those countries because of that. The UK has also provided bases and offered warships.
        (2) “The idea that Iran is some kind of crazed, ISIS-style state bent on threatening the world is simply nonsense”. Other than Hamas, the Houthis, Hezbollah, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, Badr Organization, Kataib Sayyad al-Shuhada, Fatemiyoun Division, Zaynabiyoun Brigade, Saraya al-Ashtar and Saraya al-Mukhtar among others. Then there’s the IRGC, who arm and train all sorts of Islamic groups around the world.
        (3) Major powers with completely different political systems ….. all deal with Iran normally and clearly do not regard it as an existential threat. Just because Wayne says that, it doesn’t make it true.
        (4) “This is an Israel-first war”. Wayne’s opinion.
        (5) “It is not a war demanded by the international community”. No one demands war, but this is just Wayne’s opinion. He, nor you, have no idea what France, Germany, UK etc want geopolitically.
        (6) “and it is certainly not a war in the interests of most countries on earth”. That may be true, but it may not.
        (7) “It is a war being driven primarily by Israel’s strategic priorities”. Wayne’s opinion again.
        (8) “And it is definitely not in New Zealand’s interests”. In Wayne’s humble opinion. Though I might concede in the short term only. Just because fuel prices have gone up now, does not mean that the war will not have positive effects for NZ.
        Is that enough for you? Just a question to you and Wayne. Have either of you ever spent any meaningful time in the Middle East? Or do you just make your observations from the news?
        
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        March 16, 2026 3:35pm
    - Gussy
      
      Iran poses no threat worthy of war, while chanting death to America, swearing to wipe Israel off the of the map, and developing nuclear capability?
      
      Of course, China doesn’t see Iran as an existential threat China. They are very supportive for them be so to others.
      
      Sure, let’s be honest about what it actually is – Israel’s survival, and constraining an increasingly belligerent China. Not necessarily in NZ’s direct interest today.
      
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      March 16, 2026 12:45pm
      - Wayne1749
        
        “increasingly belligerent China”
        
        How many bases overseas does China have. How many bases does the US have, some very close to China.
        
        And if China, an atheist country can have good relations with Iran, why can the West not have good relations with Iran.
        
        Stop slurping up the mainstream news like fact – delivered to you courtesy of the Epstein ruling class.
        
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        March 16, 2026 1:11pm
  - All_on_Red
    
    “Iranians have been rational”
    Sure- thats why they have been firing missiles and drones haphazardly at 16 Countries in the ME
    //
    And the US wont destroy Kharg Island.
    If anything they will seize it and take control of Iran’s main source of income. That threat seems to be taken seriously by Iran and I would suggest it will cause them to back off on trying to blockade the SoH.
    
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    March 16, 2026 10:59am
    - Wayne1749
      
      Under the circumstances, it is perfectly rational for Iran to target countries that host US military bases. If you allow your territory to be used as a platform for American military operations, you inevitably become part of the battlefield.
      
      The episode also exposes how little protection those bases actually provide. Washington is scrambling to send defensive missiles to Israel—pulling them away from the Arab states that host US forces in the first place. Israel first, as always.
      
      It would not be surprising if many Arab governments start questioning the wisdom of hosting American bases at all.
      
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      March 16, 2026 11:14am
    - david in Aus
      
      Iranians bombing US allies in the gulf is rational. It got the response it wanted. They are saying, there is a price to being close to the US.
      
      They have not mined the straits of Hormuz. They are exporting more oil now than before the war. That is rational. They have not bombed desalination plants, which is the nuclear option.
      
      The next steps in escalation will be bombing others oil infrastructure. This will guarantee no quick resolution. Loss of 20% of energy for a year is depression territory. Covid era restrictions, but this supply destruction and not demand destruction. You cannot print money.
      
      In a war, the first casuality is the truth, the second casuality is the bond market. Interest rates will sky rocket. In economies with record debts, that is an ugly combination.
      
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      March 16, 2026 11:17am
      - In Vino Veritas
        
        NZ Government bond rates have already jumped David. 10 year rates by 17 basis points in a week, almost unheard of.
        
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        March 16, 2026 11:53am
    - Spoff
      
      “If anything they will seize it and take control of Iran’s main source of income”
      I don’t think even the whack-job Hegseth would make such an attempt. Go look at a map and explain how to occupy a small island just 25k from the heavily armed Iran mainland without a secure supply line in this day and age of drone and missile warfare.
      
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      March 16, 2026 12:01pm
      - mike
        
        Perhaps All_on_Red shares Hesgeth’s fantasies about triggering Armageddon .
        
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        March 16, 2026 12:25pm
      - Wayne1749
        
        Hegseth is a joke, the guy is insecure ooo rah kick their asses. The guy is a class A moron, to paraphrase him “the straits of Hormuz are safe to transit except for Iran firing missiles at it”
        
        Problem is he is one of those Christian Zionists, a Christian heresy by the way, who wants to usher in the end times via this mad war.
        
        The religious fanatics are not in Iran. They are in Washington and Israel.
        
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        March 16, 2026 1:20pm
      - NZer In Exile
        
        Mike provide a link to Hesgeth himself saying or writing he has fantasies about triggering Armageddon. Or this is just more childish lies.
        
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        March 16, 2026 3:45pm
      - Spoff
        
        US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth talking in 2018 about the ‘miracle’ of reconstructing the 3rd Temple of Solomon, the place where the Antichrist will be worshiped according to our Orthodox Christian faith.
        https://twitter.com/i/status/2028976990007476265
        
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        March 17, 2026 2:51am
    - R
      
      TRUE A on R. The attacks on Iran have been surgical targeting of MILITARY assets, of which the Mullahs are one. The simple residents of Iran, are not respected by the Mullahs, who are not of original PERSIAN ETHNICITY.
      
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      March 16, 2026 12:31pm
      - Hard Cheese
        
        “surgical targeting of MILITARY assets”
        
        Like killing 156 school children with a Tomahawk missile?
        
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        March 16, 2026 5:20pm
    - Ra Henare
      
      Iranians have amongst the worlds highest population of senior chess players.
      
      “”been firing missiles and drones haphazardly at 16 Countries in the ME””
      
      Far from haphazardly they are ALL strategic.
      Aimed NOT at the countries themselves but at American/Israeli targets within them.
      
      Ie Hotels with US Servicemen, Radar systems, US serviceing units in Ports and airfields.
      Random in Israel yes, seemingly to provoke fear and economic punishments (population in bomb shelters for extended periods mean they are not working.
      
      If you believe that the US will seize and control oil in Kharg island I have a bridge you should be interested in.
      
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      March 16, 2026 6:07pm
      - Jack5
        
        Ra’s chess players as a guide
        
        Three of the ten top-rated players in the world are from the US, none of the ten are from Iran. The highest-ranked Iranian is at No. 26.
        
        https://www.chess.com/ratings
        
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        March 16, 2026 8:59pm
- RichardX
  
  So Trump lied after the earlier strikes. Good to know.
  
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  March 16, 2026 9:59am
- Hugh Jarse
  
  I don’t have a problem with dealing to Iran to contain the enriched uranium and terrorist funding threat from Iran. It’s been clear for many years that Iran has been pursuing enriched uranium.
  
  I do have a problem with burning the house and most of the neighbourhood down to eradicate an infestation of cockroaches in a corner of the kitchen in what seems to be a campaign that is growing organically and doesn’t appear to have consider the strategic threat that is the Strait of Hormuz on 20% of global oil supplies with consequential impacts on the world economy. And no I am not a gullible Russian propagandist AOR, but I do have a good memory and a reasonably intuitive bullshit radar from any source.
  
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  March 16, 2026 10:06am
  - Ra Henare
    
    Iran has had enriched (60%+) uranium for some years. But no bomb. They are not that stupid/lack of expertise. They were hampered by the Previous guys fatwa prohibiting making a bomb(erased by Israel on 28th Feb)
    
    Of course the nuclear program started with US assistance 🙂
    
    Iran’s uranium enrichment program began covertly in the mid-1980s during the Iran–Iraq War, driven by security concerns and a desire for energy independence. Although Iran’s nuclear ambitions started under Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi in the 1950s with U.S. support through the “Atoms for Peace” program, the enrichment efforts were revived post-revolution with foreign assistance.
    
    After Trump cancelled the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action which allowed inspectors. Iran basically gave them the finger and ramped up enrichment program.
    
    Dont forget Netenyahu has been doing the “”Iran will have a bomb soon”” rhetoric since 1997
    
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    March 16, 2026 6:14pm
- Damocles11
  
  ‘As Iran says no to a ceasefire, the Iranian foreign minister mocked Trump for “begging” the likes of the United Kingdom and China to send ships to open the Strait of Hormuz as global oil prices continue to rise.’
  
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  March 16, 2026 10:36am
- virtualmark
  
  “If enriched further” is a key phrase. Lot of work still to do to get it to 93-94% weapons grade.
  
  So is the distinction between a nuclear device (which could be the size of a minivan, weigh over a tonne and you’re not sure it will go bang when you ask it to) vs a nuclear bomb (which would be the size of large suitcase, weigh less than 200kg and definitely go bang on demand).
  
  So is the question of conducting any testing without everyone knowing about it.
  
  So is the question of how you might deliver it. Iran is years away from having an ICBM.
  
  So there has to be a lot of doubt about the stated rationale that Iran might have attacked the USA within weeks.
  
  Not saying the mullahs are nice people, or that I wouldn’t celebrate if they were overturned. Just not at all convinced there was a sensible reason to attack Iran at this time.
  
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  March 16, 2026 10:38am
  - Wayne1749
    
    Nothing wrong with the Mullahs….in Iran.
    
    Muslims inside Western countries imposing their stuff on Western countries. NO.
    
    Muslims doing Muslim things in Muslim countries? NONE OF OUR BUSINESS.
    
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    March 16, 2026 11:15am
    - Spoff
      
      Muslims doing Muslim things:
      https://youtu.be/s2bUgICvCQs
      https://youtu.be/sZly-YU6FIM
      
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      March 16, 2026 12:27pm
      - Wayne1749
        
        Iranian women are beautiful
        
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        March 16, 2026 1:12pm
    - Flossie
      
      If your neighbour is beating his wife is that then none of your business? It’s just a thug doing thuggish things and you should keep your nose out?
      
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      March 16, 2026 12:29pm
      - Wayne1749
        
        Well then, the US has highest incarceration rate in the world by a country mile.
        
        It is far safer for women to walk the streets in many Muslim countries than it is in NZ. In NZ rapists routinely get home detention for rape.
        
        Muslim countries should invade NZ to save our women eh?
        
        As for the so called 30,000 protesters claimed to be killed in Iran —-utter bullshit.
        
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        March 16, 2026 1:13pm
      - Wandering Star
        
        If you deal to every known wife beater in town, then that shows your commitment to the principle of opposing domestic violence. If, however, you ignore some instances, and actively facilitate others, this calls into question your commitment to opposing wife-beating, and raises the prospect that your intervention is motivated by something else besides your stated pretext.
        
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        March 16, 2026 2:06pm
      - waikatosinger
        
        How about we just rejoice at one wife beater getting taken down, and not insist that the person doing it pass some sort of purity and consistency test first.
        
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        March 16, 2026 4:34pm
    - Gussy
      
      Iran are running proxies, exerting friction in Western countries anyway.
      
      Over the last decade, China’s military doctrine has evolved from internal to external facing. Prosecting hybrid warfare now, too.
      
      We could hide under the bed, but it’s in the post.
      ‘You may not be interested in war, but war is interested in you’.
      
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      March 16, 2026 5:17pm
  - NothingLeft
    
    Actually very little work left to enrich 60% U235 to 93-94%. At 60% enrichment 90% of the necessary enrichment work has been done.
    
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    March 16, 2026 1:06pm
    - [email protected]
      
      Yup. That is my understanding as well.
      
      And given that power generation requires about 5% enrichment then this fiction that Iran is purely persuing nuclear power alone should be well dead.
      
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      March 16, 2026 3:44pm
    - virtualmark
      
      A little while ago I had a chat with an old workmate who’s a nuclear engineer. He thought it would take something like 1-2 years to get from 60% to >90%.
      
      If the Iranians had 400kg of 60% U235 that’s a total of 240 kg of U235. A modern bomb from a country like the US, or France or similar, who’ve had plenty of time to refine the design, apparently uses about 25kg of U235. But he thought a rough device would need more like 50-60kg (the Hiroshima bomb had 80kg). If you assume you have to use one in a test, then assuming that test is successful you might then have enough U235 left over for 3 or 4 crude early-generation bombs?
      
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      March 16, 2026 4:03pm
artemisia

Welfare and other government funding fraud in New Zealand. Are the cases caught and prosecuted the tip of a fraud iceberg? It’s not just Minnesota and California and not just covid. Though MSD had this to say about just one specific example – covid wage subsidy fraud.

A total of 56 people have been sentenced in wage subsidy cases, and another 48 people are still before the courts as part of MSD’s programme of work on wage subsidy fraud and integrity. Since the scheme started, more than $830 million in wage subsidies has been repaid.

Repayment of nearly a billion in wage subsidies does not mean it was all fraudulent of course, but some of it was, and MSD reports that 7,870 allegations of wage subsidy misuse have been resolved. A handful reached the courts. (Allegations, but how many allegations turned out to be actual ‘misuse’, aka fraud?)

New Zealand is a small country with a lot of taxpayer funding out there. This is just one example of public funding fraud – 7,870 allegations of misuse – how much more is out there that is significant but not big enough to attract the SFO. And who is looking, and who is reporting back to we-the-taxpayers.

https://www.msd.govt.nz/about-msd-and-our-work/work-programmes/wage-subsidy-integrity/2026/wellington-woman-imprisoned-for-covid-19-wage-subsidy-fraud.html
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March 16, 2026 8:14am
- Simon
  
  Biggest welfare fraud is the bloated useless public sector. Nearly one in four people in employment work for govt. Produce nothing except waste.
  
  Then one in eight working age on permanent welfare.
  
  The productive of NZ just can’t carry National’s massive welfare state anymore.
  
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  March 16, 2026 8:20am
  - Jethrod
    
    That will earn you at least 5 list seat lifts!
    
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    March 16, 2026 9:16am
  - igm
    
    None of these PSA-protected leeches were penalised like private sector employees during the Covid debacle in fact, many were given promotions and wage increases . . . really rubs it into those that worked hard and failed to survive.
    
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    March 16, 2026 9:35am
  - R
    
    It’s not NATIONALS welfare state Simon, it’s the product of MARXIST labour’s indoctrination of simple minds
    
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    March 16, 2026 1:07pm
  - NothingLeft
    
    Health and education aren’t waste, and that is most of public sector. But central govt with it’s >60k head count is twice as big as it needs to be to provide core services to same level they were 25 years ago.
    
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    March 16, 2026 1:09pm
- wsk12345
  
  They were at least somewhat proactive with the wage subsidy. I was mandated out by my clients none of whom I had ever met in person. I applied and got the first round and later a second. I then cancelled the second as I got some work. As a result of doing that I got an audit call from MSD. I explained and they said that’s fine. Never heard anything else. I wonder if they audited any people who just kept it and worked.
  
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  March 16, 2026 8:23am
- NeverMindTheBollocks
  
  I would expect the frauds to be largely (though not completely) centred on newer New Zealanders. Why? Because some of them come from low trust societies, where advantage is taken if it’s just sitting there. Being able to speak English is a proxy for but not an absolute understanding of our country’s cultural norms.
  
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  March 16, 2026 12:49pm
Simon

Business idea to run pass people;

Input appreciated. Don’t copy it! Until I am up and running at least.

Got this idea from S Korea on a visit last year. Works well up there.

Shops with no staff. Usually dairies, selling fast moving consumer items. Customer goes into shop selects item go to counter and scans item and make payment at terminal. No one in the shop such as cashier or anyone. It’s clever, saves on staff costs of course and people just pay at the terminal. They are common across S Korea. But have not seen any in NZ yet. Strange.

Thinking of opening 5 or 6 across Auckland. As a start. I just don’t see how this can miss.
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March 16, 2026 8:15am
- Jethrod
  
  Surely that was all said in jest!
  
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  March 16, 2026 9:18am
- Maggy Wassilieff
  
  Folks are pretty honest in S.Korea.
  
  The system would only work in NZ if the pay terminal controls the exit.
  
  Although I reckon it wouldn’t take too long for a NZ crim to figure out how to remove the product and exit with it without paying.
  
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  March 16, 2026 9:24am
  - Wayne1749
    
    Similarly, I remember staying in some co-living hotel when I visited Hong Kong. Was astounded at how people left personal belongings including laptops about the place. Would not work in Auckland.
    
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    March 16, 2026 11:00am
  - Wayne1749
    
    Or simply crash the terminal and sprint out.
    
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    March 16, 2026 11:01am
- Simon Arnold
  
  First check with your local supermarket or petrol station on how they do it.
  
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  March 16, 2026 9:27am
  - sirknz
    
    They factor in the shrinkage percentage and spread that cost over all the items in the shop, tied into a mass of cameras with a combination of facial recognition and licence plate scanning every time you pull into one of their sites..
    
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    March 16, 2026 11:18am
- imalwaysright
  
  The real question is are you brave enough to leave it unmanned?
  If not, then it will effectively still be staffed.
  
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  March 16, 2026 9:57am
- Burtland
  
  your idea is just a robot vending machine
  
  think milkrun (woolworths) does this but includes delivery – shopping for the pyjama crowd
  
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  March 16, 2026 10:13am
- Phronesis
  
  The interesting thing is that Korea has gone from a country with a standard of living far far below NZ in the 1950’s to being far far above us now. All in the space of a persons lifetime. Yet, as Simon points out, they have always behaved and continue to behave with high standards of personal integrity.
  
  All this despite not having the enormous benefits of multiculturalism and an intergenerational welfare state.
  
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  March 16, 2026 11:12am
  - imalwaysright
    
    Phronesis,
    I’ve noticed that kiwis still consider countries not in the top 5 as inferior to us.
    Willful ignorance is a bitch…
    
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    March 16, 2026 12:12pm
    - Wayne1749
      
      what ratings in the ‘top 5’.
      
      Those ‘peaceful’ countries stats focus on woke garbage metrics …….in terms of safety and security for women, a woman’s right to walk the street late at night with almost complete freedom from fear, East Asian countries are far ahead of NZ and other western countries.
      
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      March 16, 2026 1:18pm
  - NothingLeft
    
    Standard of living in South Korea is actually pretty shit. Very long work hours, extremely family-unfriendly (which is why their population is collapsing)
    
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    March 16, 2026 1:12pm
  - R
    
    Not have benefits of……..therin lies the reason for the rise of Korea. Not willing to work, no income and NO WELFARE. Good work ethic in Korea, may be something to do with their practice of religion also
    
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    March 16, 2026 1:13pm
- sungsamning
  
  I visited one one in Jeonju Korea a couple of times in 2012. The first time, I thought the assistant had popped out for a few minutes. I didn’t notice any others between 2014 and 2016.
  
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  March 16, 2026 11:12am
- sirknz
  
  Good old high trust, mono-cultural societies. There is no way that some of the special people or some of our more ‘honest’ immigrants wouldn’t strip it clean within 5 minutes of opening.
  
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  March 16, 2026 11:21am
  - imalwaysright
    
    Don’t forget the Freedom Shoppers friend… the cops don’t man the till until the bill is over a grand.
    
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    March 16, 2026 12:17pm
  - Wayne1749
    
    To be honest, most of the migrants NZ receives are reasonably law abiding.
    
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    March 16, 2026 1:19pm
- artemisia
  
  Amazon Go and Amazon Fresh stores, using ‘Just Walk Out’ tech. All closed or soon to close.
  
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  March 16, 2026 11:52am
kowtow

Does the legacy media want to create chaos.

Today’s frontpage Herald headline ;

‘Panic as pumps run out- again”

As with the scamdemic the media love to stoke panic and irrationality among suggestable people .I wonder why.
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March 16, 2026 8:17am
- Wayne L Sexton
  
  It is pushing people to rush out and hoard (retailers say 15-20% extra demand right now), which burns through the onshore buffer faster—government reporting 28 days on shore , could feel like 22 days or less with the spike.
  It is obvious the media is hyping chaos, to force the government’s hand
  
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  March 16, 2026 10:09am
  - R
    
    What ELSE do you expect from a Marxist ideological MSM, factually accurate journalism?
    
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    March 16, 2026 1:15pm
  - R
    
    Media badley want their WELFARE P I J F reinstated
    
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    March 16, 2026 1:17pm
- Paulus
  
  Because the so called media are actually pathetic in trying to stir up trouble to sell more media !
  In doing so we are seeing a new left wing Labour led Government in November because that is their target in showing they are the rulers of Aotearoa.
  Tova will be back very soon – I have missed her vitriol, so watch out Maiki.
  
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  March 16, 2026 10:58am
- Handyman
  
  Panic buying petrol only delays the next refill. If usage doesn’t change then things will even out over the next few weeks.
  Petrol cannot be hoarded (widely) so it is quite different from the toilet paper hoarding during covid.
  
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  March 16, 2026 11:42am
Gravelroad

So who else saw the feeble attempt at another hit job on Luxon on Te News last night?
An allegation that he had asked to be made some sort of Pacific Island chief.
No proof offered, just speculation.
Thought better of reporter, Barbara Dreaver, to include this unless she was absolutely sure of the truth of it.
Ms Dreaver is held in very high regard by many, especially by women – who regard her as almost next to a saint.
I don’t care if Mr Luxon wants to be a Pacific Island chief, or someone else wants him to be, but don’t speculate because of politics in election year.
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March 16, 2026 8:23am
- pdm
  
  Audrey Young is apparently also having another go at who Luxon’s replacement might be in todays Herald.
  
  Like rust they don’t sleep.
  
  No link because it is paywalled.
  
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  March 16, 2026 8:40am
  - peterwn
    
    And the journos fail to inform their audience of the consequences of changed leadership at such a late stage. In doing so they become political mouthpieces for their political views rather than informing their audience of all relevant aspects of the situation.
    
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    March 16, 2026 8:48am
  - AitchW
    
    Will she run a story about Hipkins’ replacement?
    Or Davison’s?
    What about Peters’ ?
    
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    March 16, 2026 9:07am
    - MCōs
      
      In the case of Winston Peters; there’s little point in speculating about a replacement. He’ll stay as long as he’s able and the next leader probably isn’t in parliament yet.
      
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      March 16, 2026 10:16am
      - Drone
        
        MCos probably hasn’t been born…
        
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        March 16, 2026 12:32pm
      - Ghost
        
        The clone is already in development, Winston will transfer his alcohol pickled brain into it when it’s finished
        
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        March 16, 2026 12:46pm
    - grumpy
      
      Or the missing $30B, or an accounting for Jacinda’s $US30m from Melinda Gates?
      
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      March 16, 2026 1:16pm
      - Ra Henare
        
        Just a point. Jacinda didnt get the $20 mill from Melinda.
        She got the job of recommending where it went. She doesnt sign the cheques.
        
        Meanwhile i love Black Dog Tavern
        
        https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/news/national/black-dog-tavern-s-jacinda-ardern-book-burning-divides-customers-experts/
        
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        March 16, 2026 6:23pm
  - R
    
    Audrey’s columns are irrelevant ideological drivel these days. Time she retired to a hobby, gardening perhaps.
    
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    March 16, 2026 9:15am
  - MCōs
    
    It’s not just Audrey Young speculating about a change of National Party leadership.
    FYI
    She more or less infers he’s safe in the top job, because there ain’t nobody else.
    Of course if the Nats lose the election he’ll be gone by lunchtime.
    In the meantime the the Samoan Matai title is the least of his problems
    
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    March 16, 2026 9:27am
  - Paulus
    
    Are you suggesting Audrey is like rust – gettiing rustier more quickly though ?
    Just Pathetic !
    
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    March 16, 2026 11:05am
    - Scooter
      
      Audrey [Mod – deleted] Young. I despair of these women, so called journalists. They should grab their degrees like the women did with their bras in the 60’s and burn them. The only thing a university degree has given women is an easy path to mediocrity, and thinking they are more superior to everyone else.
      
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      March 16, 2026 1:00pm
      - Taieri
        
        The only thing a university degree has given women is an easy path to mediocrity
        ————
        
        Marie Curie is a perfect example of the said mediocrity.
        
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        March 16, 2026 4:07pm
- Boy Geoff
  
  There’s an undeniable Coalition of the Willing among media outlets to bring the government down.
  
  On another note, I note that Ani O’Brien is on X making strange cryptic comments about someone regarding alcohol use?
  
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  March 16, 2026 8:43am
  - pdm
    
    Given Ani O’Brien is, from what I have seen and heard from her, `upfront and honest’ she will not be making such inferences lightly or without evidence.
    
    One wonders who will emerge as the culprit.
    
    I suspect most regulars on here have over indulged in alchol consumption at some stage in their lives. I have but, not for 20 or maybe even 30 years though.
    
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    March 16, 2026 10:23am
    - Boy Geoff
      
      Upon re-reading Ani’s post, it appears that she’s aware of a little somebody who might not have quite done the right thing regarding an ex partner. However the little somebody (or more likely, their minders) will try and discredit the ex partner, possibly through accusations of alcohol problems, etc., etc…
      
      What would I know, though.
      
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      March 16, 2026 10:33am
  - alex Masterley
    
    Mr Hipkins seems to be excited about something, according to Stuff. Could be a storm in a wine glass.
    
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    March 16, 2026 2:17pm
    - JJ56
      
      Perhaps the reason Winston won’t go with Labour if Hipkins is the leader?
      
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      March 16, 2026 2:37pm
    - Mobile Michael
      
      If substantiated or even remotely true, he’s finished. (I’ve seen a screenshot – it’s incredibly selfish behaviour that has been alleged to have happened on multiple occasions.
      
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      March 16, 2026 3:46pm
- Sweet Hitchhiker
  
  I am congenitally incapable of voting National, but Mr Luxon is quite obviously a very nice man and it is sickening seeing him being abused every night on the telly.
  I for one would love to see him be made a Samoan chief.
  All those aekaes opposed to this need to take a running leap into the nearest lake!
  
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  March 16, 2026 9:02am
  - Paulus
    
    If Luxon goes or is forced out both, of which I doubt as media shit infers we will cease to vote National, but who I do not know, but little Labour boy no damn way, he may be forced out first.
    Ther are a couple quiet intelligent ladies there.
    Watch for one:-
    Camilla Vera Feslier Belich is a New Zealand lawyer, trade unionist and politician. She has been a Member of Parliament, representing the New Zealand Labour Party, since 2020.
    
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    March 16, 2026 11:14am
- Maggy Wassilieff
  
  Dreaver and Stuff seem to credit the PM of Samoa with originating the claim that Luxon requested the Matai title.
  
  Why they would want to believe the Samoan PM over our PM’s Office is beyond me.
  
  The Samoan PM seems to have a reputation for being a fantasist:
  https://www.samoaobserver.ws/category/samoa/118904
  
  https://pmn.co.nz/read/political/samoa-prime-minister-s-conspiracy-case-ruling-postponed
  
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  March 16, 2026 9:05am
  - MCōs
    
    He’s now changed his mind.
    
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    March 16, 2026 10:18am
    - Maggy Wassilieff
      
      More likely Samoan politics was at play and our dumb journalists at Stuff, RNZ and TVNZ lacked the background knowledge to realise that.
      
      The quality of investigative journalism by our MSM journos/editors is at rock bottom…. Gullible Fools or Disinformation propagators?
      
      but hey, they’ve had 3 days to run with a story painting Luxon in a bad light……what’s not to like?///
      
      https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/589693/samoa-confirms-luxon-did-not-request-matai-title
      
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      March 16, 2026 11:59am
  - Graeme Hall
    
    When you look at the globe and distances involved, a New Zealander asking to be called a Matai is like an Egyptian asking to be called a Czar. Samoans are no more our neighbours than Egyptians are neighbours of Russia.
    
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    March 16, 2026 11:01am
    - MCōs
      
      America, for reasons I don’t understand, attach the unofficial label ‘Czar’ to a least one of their prominent civil servants
      https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cjw1pn4lwjqo
      
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      March 16, 2026 3:13pm
  - nathie
    
    Seems like “common sense” has gone missing again as far as the MSM is concerned.
    
    Like, why on earth would PM Luxon want to be a Matai Chief?
    
    It just doesn’t pass the sniff test! But somehow (“we are not biased”) TVNZ believed it and ran with it.
    
    Clearly TVNZ is lacking “common sense” – another Editorial fail (the buck stops with them).
    
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    March 16, 2026 12:03pm
    - MCōs
      
      Why indeed?
      Yesterday he couldn’t even pronounce my tie; now he is one!
      
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      March 16, 2026 3:17pm
    - Ghost
      
      Should you not believe something the Samoa PM says in a radio interview? Why blame no media for the Samoa PM making that statement
      
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      March 16, 2026 3:19pm
      - Maggy Wassilieff
        
        Should you not believe something the Samoa PM says in a radio interview?
        
        1. Was he quoted accurately?
        
        2. Was he translated accurately?
        
        3. Does he have a history of making up crap?
        
        4. Did any Journo try and confirm with Officials in the Samoan PM’s Department whether there was any truth in the statement that the PM of NZ had requested a Matai title?
        
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        March 16, 2026 3:46pm
      - Ghost
        
        here is the interview, maybe someone here can translate it
        
        https://pmn.co.nz/read/political/row-over-chiefly-title-clouds-start-of-luxon-s-samoa-tour
        
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        March 16, 2026 3:56pm
- R
  
  Rest assured Gravel, this election year, there is going to be no end of speculative mischief making articles in our media. Particular in relation to PM Luxon. As our media, even after 25 years of coalition government, don’t understand that a PM is no longer the lone font of all decisions. Despite Arderns theatrical performances.
  
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  March 16, 2026 9:08am
- amospicton
  
  Agree Gravelroad – it just smelt wrong. Subsequently both Luxon and MFAT denied any request was made. Waiting for the apology…..waiting……
  
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  March 16, 2026 9:09am
- AitchW
  
  Hosking comments from time to time that the media here hunt as a pack. It’s a good analogy.
  But not only do they hunt as a pack they also swallow uncritically any criticism of the government and its members.
  So when one reporter makes up a story that Luxon asked for a title, the rest pick it up and run with it enthusiastically.
  Goebbels would have been proud of them.
  
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  March 16, 2026 9:11am
  - MCōs
    
    Hosking is part of the media
    The Samoa bizzo will be forgotten about in five minutes.
    The real drama is going to be the consequences of the Iran/US/Israel war
    
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    March 16, 2026 10:25am
- imalwaysright
  
  The request from our end was that we be given plenty of notice of upcoming events initiated by the Samoan Government.
  
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  March 16, 2026 9:13am
- OlderChas
  
  I read somewhere that – Samoa offered him the title and he accepted some time ago. Recently, he requested that the bestowing of it could be held during his current visit. So yes, he requested for the tile to be bestowed AT A PARTICULAR (and convenient to him) TIME. But our attack dog media twisted it to look like Luxon asked for the title – not just the time it would be given. C’mon media – the truth, nothing but the truth, AND THE WHOLE TRUTH.
  
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  March 16, 2026 12:14pm
  - R
    
    TRUTH, AND THE WHOLE TRUTH! …..well beyond the ethical instincts of our MSM.
    
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    March 16, 2026 1:26pm
PaulP

I reacall the controversy around Whanau Ora funds going to fund/sponsor Moana Pasifika Rugby.

I see the University of Otago is sponsoring The Highlanders. What the heck is our taxpayer funding of the University doing flowing our to a rugby team? They are significant shirt sposnors so must be a decent chunk of coin.
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March 16, 2026 8:28am
- Burtland
  
  Grant Robertson loves rugby
  
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  March 16, 2026 10:18am
- pdm
  
  Maybe it is just Robbo chipping in portion of his salary.
  
  Shit was that a pink pig flying past the kitchen window.
  
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  March 16, 2026 10:26am
- MCōs
  
  They have been sponsors for years as has the Brumbies sponsors been University of Canberra
  In fact this was chewed over on this forum years ago
  
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  March 16, 2026 10:29am
  - Graeme Hall
    
    Does that make it more acceptable? We see a man whose financial incompetence ruined our economy, and is now paid $750,000 pa to be a figurehead of Otago University, funnelling tax money into a professional rugby team.
    
    In case you feel like paying more tax (I wont hold my breath) so Grant can funnel it to rugby, here is the Treasury account for your donations.
    
    https://www.treasury.govt.nz/sites/default/files/2024-01/oia-20230390.pdf
    
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    March 16, 2026 11:17am
peterwn

Ministry of Justice proposes new tax on all bank users.
https://www.interest.co.nz/banking/137604/citing-nexus-between-all-other-money-laundering-and-banks-ministry-justice-proposes
“Citing a ‘nexus between all other money laundering and banks,’ the Ministry of Justice proposes banks pay lion’s share of AML levies”

At present the budget for dealing with anti money laundering has to go through the usual estimates and budget process and is met through taxation and other Government revenues. It is ‘public benefit’ expenditure, that is it does not benefit those using banking services, indeed it is a pain in the backside for bank customers, so much so that another branch of Government is making it easier to open bank accounts by removing constraints that particularly affect some people who find it difficult to produce ID and verifiable address information.
The suggestion has two advantages for Ministry of Justice (which I regard as a rather peculiar department with a law unto itself and mechanisms to limit accountability) – it can claim ‘savings’ when pressured by Government to do so, and it provides an alternative money stream with lessened external oversight.
So collecting money in this way for what is purely a ‘public benefit’ is another ‘tax’ which a government will not admit is on increase in general taxes.
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March 16, 2026 8:40am
- AitchW
  
  One has to wonder whether the AML hoops through which we have to jump are simply another Labour government imposition which achieve very little for a great deal of admin.
  
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  March 16, 2026 9:13am
  - peterwn
    
    Yes, and the bureaucrats in their comfortable positions do not properly test ideas to ensure they are applicable and reasonable to all, specifically those near the base of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs.
    
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    March 16, 2026 10:25am
  - KKNZ2025
    
    The banks customers will ultimately pay for our countrys’ kowtowing to the USAs incessant attempts to tax US citizens on their global income.
    
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    March 16, 2026 11:37am
  - slijmbal
    
    @Aitch
    
    AML is hugely ineffective. There have been several studies and, while one should treat cost modelling with a pinch of salt, the sheer magnitude of the numbers would probably be within an order of magnitude.
    
    Typical estimates are $USD150-200 billion costs per year world wide and less than 1% of the laundered money stopped. It does let our government track every dollar you move offshore though.
    
    I did contracts for 2 of the large banks in the last few years and received compulsory training in AML. All aimed at smaller players IMO.
    
    Typical of governments. They feel they have to be seen to do something and more often than not that something is completely ineffective and in fact detrimental.
    
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    March 16, 2026 1:43pm
Yvette

Te Papa
On 10 March 2026, the Wellington District Court dismissed all criminal charges that had been laid against a man named Te Wehi Ratana. The charges Ratana was facing were for his role in the vandalism of an exhibit at New Zealand’s national museum, Te Papa, on 11 December 2023.

Without any detailed reasoning being available for the dismissal of this crime John McLean now asserts –
Te Papa leadership and staff allowed and enabled the vandalism.
https://www.brashandmitchell.com/post/john-mclean-wrecking-race-hustler-gets-a-free-pass

… For balance we sought a view on the above from a former curator at Te Papa and received the following:
Surely the point about this case is that vandalism from tangata whenua is somehow okay, and the logic of this is that we have a racially divided legal system. Were I to smash up the vandalised panels as a protest against the vandals, I’m pretty sure I’d be fined! I have a passionate belief in something called the rule of law, where all people of all ethnicities and backgrounds are equal before the law. Sadly, it is being abrogated here.”

The fact that charges were actually dismissed apparently means the charges may not be reinstated and would probably prejudice any charges bought against te Papa administration.

However someone like Winston Peters or David Seymour should perhaps explain the position and that of the tikanga evidence Te Ururoa Flavell

Integral to Ratana’s escape from justice was his uncle, Te Ururoa Flavell, an ex-Maori Party MP. We don’t know exactly why the Court let Ratana off the hook. We do know that Flavell provided “expert” “tikanga” evidence in support of Ratana’s defence, bollocks that the Court was evidently all too keen to take on board. Flavell came up with some sort of nepotistic advocacy in favour of his annoying nephew, which the Court clearly gulped down.

Considering the Trojan Horse introduction of tikanga to New Zealand law (R v Ellis) is this a case which, although not progressing legally, should not be allowed to just fade away?
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March 16, 2026 8:54am
- AitchW
  
  Perhaps it’s time that “tikanga” was documented.
  It is, after all, a set of Stone Age mores. How hard could it be? ( I know, lashings of koha and kai moana would be needed).
  A job for the Ministry of Maori Affairs perhaps?
  Once documented there can be no challenge to the set of tikanga because, apparently, Maori culture and language is sacrosanct and it can never change.
  
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  March 16, 2026 9:18am
  - Paulus
    
    But, But, But,
    Tikanga can mean whatever you want, and change if you like by the minute to suit the outcome you want.
    Expect to see it used in ordinary New Zealand requirements at any time.
    
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    March 16, 2026 11:20am
    - R
      
      Reminds me of the children’s story, Alice in Wonderland. Quite appropriate in many corners of NZ now.
      
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      March 16, 2026 1:35pm
    - Yvette
      
      We don’t know exactly why the Court let Ratana off the hook. We do know that Flavell provided “expert” “tikanga” evidence in support of Ratana’s defence …
      Paulus: Expect to see it used in ordinary New Zealand requirements at any time.
      
      I don’t know how well ’tikanga’ will progress.
      John Tamihere, in his role as President of Te Pāti Māori, has consistently stated that the party operates as a “tikanga-based movement” guided by ancestral wisdom rather than Pākehā political conventions.
      
      And the Court ruled against te Pati Maori’s supposedly tikanga based moves.
      Flavell provided “expert” “tikanga” evidence and it is reasonable to assume that was a factor in the dismissal of Ratana.
      
      2 > nil, against Court (law) tikanga so far
      
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      March 16, 2026 2:10pm
Nikola Donatello

Even by New Zealand standards this is a dumb journalist. Well evidenced by her columns.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/politics/360951056/would-be-week-drive-ev-thanks-nothing-coalition

The latest spike in petrol prices has increased my petrol bill by about $15 per week and I do a lot of driving. Many folk it will be less than $10.

So in response she is advocating a subsidy for EVs that cost hundreds of millions and transferred those hundreds of millions to mainly wealthy people.

People have stopped buying EVs because they can only make sense if massively subsidised. If you compare the lifetime costs of a small petrol hybrid to an equivalent sized EV the picture is stark.

Then in the column she has the audacity to condemn the government for importing LNG.

There is a psychology about petrol prices. They are on billboards. Literally. So folk exaggerate their impact. Let’s compare it to something else. Rates increases by local government. Or the cost of servicing the debt incurred by the last government.

This is clown show journalism.
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March 16, 2026 8:55am
- Im Right
  
  Expect the anti coalition rhetoric to step up a few gears Nikola, election year…and as the election looms closer, the lefty bias of these ‘journalists’ and the platform they are using (newspaper or TV) will increase.
  For example releasing Labour/Green/Maori party statements in full, with no dissection of them is a common trope.
  Any statements from the coalition parties are dissected and under the microscope word for word.
  It’s frustrating to see, it’s frustrating to know it’s been happening for years.
  
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  March 16, 2026 9:06am
- [email protected]
  
  “People have stopped buying EVs because they can only make sense if massively subsidised. ”
  
  Quote: In 2025, the market showed signs of recovery. New BEV sales increased by 13%, and PHEV sales doubled compared to 2024. By September 2025, EVs made up 13% of total vehicle sales, up from 6% in early 2024.
  
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  March 16, 2026 9:12am
  - Nikola Donatello
    
    Quote from where?
    
    What are the BEV sales now compared to the subsidised bubble?
    
    Also I did not mean that BEV sales have fallen to zero. As if I need to say that.
    
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    March 16, 2026 9:38am
- Burtland
  
  by Verity Johnson – STUFFs biggest clown
  
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  March 16, 2026 10:26am
  - Philview
    
    There was a post on linkedin a couple of months ago where she complained about all the hate she is getting. The comments underneath were a lovefest of how wonderful she is. However if people are triggered by her articles and start sending her personal abusive emails they need therapy.
    
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    March 16, 2026 1:55pm
- Hugh Jarse
  
  Your first and last sentences are all that is required to describe this opinionated pole dancer Nikola.
  
  PS I think she is an opinion writer not a journalist.
  
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  March 16, 2026 10:28am
- pdm
  
  ND – you are a braver man than I Gunga Din to read anything Verity Johnson writes or has published.
  
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  March 16, 2026 10:30am
- sirknz
  
  Absolutely nothing has stopped that dingbat from buying an EV, other than the fact that her business isn’t making any money as evidenced by some of her earlier opinion pieces.
  
  And today’s forced simile has to be the worst one she has ever written.
  
  But she seems to fervently believe that the people at the bottom of the heap should be subsidising her and her friend’s new vehicles.
  
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  March 16, 2026 12:07pm
- Prince
  
  She’s not a journalist, she’s an ‘Opinion Writer’.
  And that opinion is invariably ‘I hate National, I love Labour’.
  Don’t bother reading her trash.
  
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  March 16, 2026 2:51pm
peterwn

“Braden Jane discharged without conviction after Arrowtown bar assault”
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/589627/braden-jane-discharged-without-conviction-after-arrowtown-bar-assault
It was a moderately serious assault that was claimed to be provoked (the accused did not call any witnesses) and discharge without conviction would generally not be available for this. Possibly the only reason it was granted is because the victim had ‘no view’ on the matter, possibly meaning he does not want to see the accused’s overseas employment prospect affected. So the accused was damn lucky in this case. The accused was ordered to pay the victim $5,000 reparation. However there are the costs of ambulance, medical treatment, etc which would be partly met by ACC. In such cases the accused should be required to reimburse ACC for such costs.
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March 16, 2026 8:58am
tknorriss

The government should be caning Labour and the Greens with a big stick at the moment over the oil situation.

Their decision to cancel oil and gas exploration and allow the closing of Marsden point hasn’t aged very well in light of current events.

Energy security should be made a major election platform. The government should seek cross party support for oil and gas exploration in NZ and the reinstatement of the refinery.

I think voters might be quite receptive to that message at the moment, and it would put the left into a quandry about what to do about it.
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March 16, 2026 9:12am
- AitchW
  
  Except that the media will find a way to blame the current government for the shortage!
  
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  March 16, 2026 9:19am
- rouppe
  
  The government should seek cross party support for oil and gas exploration in NZ and the reinstatement of the refinery.
  
  Labour would never do that, simply for political reasons.
  
  The Marxist Greens and racist Nationalist Maori Party would simply use it for 6 months of marches and shouting.
  
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  March 16, 2026 9:43am
  - tknorriss
    
    That is the point. It forces them into a dilemma. The idea is for them to be painted as anti-national security rather than pro environment.
    
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    March 16, 2026 11:46am
    - rouppe
      
      Or…
      
      The Greens would say we should have mandated electric cars and then we wouldn’t be affected. Yes I’m aware liquid fuels are widely used in all manner of industry, the Greens would just ignore that and counter reasoned argument with more shouting.
      
      The racist Maori Nationalist Party would say that colonialism had made them dependant on petrol cars, and the Treaty of Waitangi promises them preferential access at preferential prices.
      
      It would be a shit show.
      
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      March 16, 2026 1:04pm
- Quail
  
  Thought for the day, those who voted for Ardern and the “ captains call” should all purchase a horse , cycle or some other form of transport that does not require use of oil.
  And those who opposed that crazy concept should have free access to all the oil that is now available!!
  
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  March 16, 2026 9:59am
- Nobby2
  
  tk you are another one who has not got the message that the closing of the Marsden Point Refinery was a commercial descision made by the private owners of the refinery. The Govt had no financial or governance rights in the refinery, so had no say or responsibility in the descision on whether to close it or keep it open. The Govt would not get cross party support for oil & gas exploration in NZ given the policy and views of labour, the greens and the partly maori party. What we need to do is increase our national storage capacity for our imported oil products.
  
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  March 16, 2026 10:51am
  - tknorriss
    
    Yet, my understanding is that the company asked the government first, who didn’t raise any objection. So, saying it was only a commercial decision isn’t quite correct.
    
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    March 16, 2026 11:47am
  - sirknz
    
    iT waS A coMmeRcIal DecISon
    
    Despite those making the commercial decision asking on a number of occasions “Are you sure it’s not a strategic asset?” and then several months after the decommissioning process had started the labour government then asking if it was too late to stop the decom process…
    
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    March 16, 2026 12:12pm
- Burtland
  
  the voters are going to have to get used to soaking in Ardern’s dirty bathwater – to do anything about much of it is electoral suicide – and its critical to keep the wreckers out of power
  
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  March 16, 2026 10:57am
- Paulus
  
  But you know it is Luxon’s fault !
  
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  March 16, 2026 11:22am
- Nikola Donatello
  
  “the reinstatement of the refinery.”
  
  That may be impossible or possible only with government investment of hundreds of millions.
  
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  March 16, 2026 11:22am
  - Flossie
    
    Even if it was opened, where does the crude oil come from?
    As has been previously asked.
    
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    March 16, 2026 12:41pm
    - tknorriss
      
      The point is that having a working refinery means that oil can come from a wider range of sources. As it is, we need to bring in the specific stuff we need, which limits the options a lot more.
      
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      March 16, 2026 2:47pm
      - Taieri
        
        The point is that having a working refinery means that oil can come from a wider range of sources
        —————
        
        Depends. Different types of crude require different refining processes and as follows different set up. It is doubtful that a small refinery such as Marsden Point could have been arranged for that.
        Having said which, I think it was a big mistake to close it as it provided NZ with additional options in times such as present.
        
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        March 16, 2026 4:17pm
- kowtow
  
  To be fair , there’s a much bigger picture here.
  
  Since the oil shock of the early ’70’s , the Islamic occupation of Iran in ’79 , the Iran/Iraq war , Houthi attacks on shipping in the region ( in solidarity with the Mullahs etc ) that region has been inherently unstable and unreliable in terms of the essential product , the regular and reliable delivery of oil /gas and associated products.
  
  At the same time the west has gone down the road of “environmentalism” , the prevention of new oil exploration , the failure to build or upgrading of refineries , the decommisiioning of nuke plants and the absolutely bonkers notion of “net zero” .
  
  This country could be largely energy independent . Coal cold power our power stations , in collaboration with our hydro .
  
  We could have invested back in the day in coal to fuel plants , especially in Southland . We still can .
  
  Instead the great and the good of National , who’re wedded to ‘trade with the clean net zero mongers’ ( who have access to nuke energy ) and the best they can come up with is a billion $ on imported LNG , which has also gone through the roof just now and is also dependent on imports .
  
  Coal is our answer.
  
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  March 16, 2026 12:09pm
imalwaysright

Has Paul Eagle been given a new income stream yet?
Or has he been charged with corruption?
Could go either way in NZ
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March 16, 2026 9:42am
Libertarians are right

The IRD’s recent attempt to go after shareholder loans was weird.

When a company gives a loan to a shareholder (or related entity), the shareholder has to pay interest to the company at the FBT interest rate (which is currently 5.77% but a year ago was 8.41%). That interest is taxable income to the company and only claimable to the shareholder if it has a direct nexus to income (which it normally doesn’t). If they don’t do this, the IRD treats the loan as a deemed dividend (what they tried to do with this rule change).

There is nothing wrong with how this works. It is entirely fair (not really – they should work out deemed interest, not a deemed dividend as that’s really punitive but the rules are there and it’s the shareholder’s fault if they don’t do it correctly).

The IRD however want these advances to be treated as deemed dividends to the shareholders (income in the shareholder name, not an expense in the company). This is entirely unreasonable.

Their argument is that companies shut down with the shareholder owing the company money but that doesn’t actually legally happen. When a company closes down they have to distribute retained earnings as dividends already. Capital reserves can be distributed tax free. Those two items clear out the shareholder advance.

So the problem is people that close down their companies without declaring out their retained earnings. There is no reason for the IRD not to catch these people – the IRD doesn’t allow companies to be struck off without a clean balance sheet. So I don’t understand where the issue they were trying to fix existed.

It’s a gift to the Left though. They get to run around saying how the “Right” blocked an attempt to make things fairer. Most people have no idea how these things work and assume the IRD was being reasonable so they will score political points with this.
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March 16, 2026 9:51am
- Tauhei Notts
  
  I think the problem is the 39% tax rate. In the past shareholders were credited with a salary to get their Current Account with the company to remain in credit.
  Nowadays that salary attracts tax of 39% compared with the 28% company tax rate.
  So the company lends some dough to the high earning shareholder, rather than credit that shareholder with a salary.
  If the company is wound up any part of that loan to the shareholder left unpaid must be treated as a dividend.
  
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  March 16, 2026 11:25am
  - Libertarians are right
    
    That makes some sense but overdrawn current account interest is cumulative and can get out of hand very quickly (you would pay interest on this year’s drawings every year). AND the tax still has to be paid when the dividends are actually declared. It’s a timing difference at best.
    
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    March 16, 2026 1:02pm
BeaB

When I start to fool myself we live in a free society, someone like David Wilson, Clerk of the House whatever that entails, shows he alone has the power to decide on which media I am allowed to access the NZ Parliament.
We now know from the Covid inquiries that Arden, Robertson, Hipkins, Verrall and Bloomfield all lied to us. We now know that our suspicions were well-founded that their decisions were not based on so-called scientific evidence.
And now the omnipotent Clerk of the House can shut me out of one of the world’s biggest social media platforms. When did we citizens surrender our rights?
Where is the Speaker? Has Gerry always just been a big marshmallow inflated with windy bluster?
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March 16, 2026 10:17am
- rouppe
  
  He hasn’t shut you out from X, he’s stopped posting to X.
  
  Because… Musk.
  
  Dumb decision, but you still have full access to the platform
  
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  March 16, 2026 1:58pm
- Ghost
  
  It’s social media. I don’t use so social media for anything other than staying in touch with a few people, yet I still know what is going on with parliament and government. If you cared about what was going on you wouldn’t be relying on what is posted on x by the clerk.
  
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  March 16, 2026 2:08pm
peterwn

This will be something exercising the minds of Chris, Nicola and Bish – how to make the most political capital out of this. If Chris tries daily stand-ups on TV (Jacinda style) he would face a media walloping. However there must be another way.
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March 16, 2026 10:22am
- imalwaysright
  
  Nicola on Q&A looked almost emaciated.
  Politics aside, she should watch her health. Her temples are looking sunken which indicates decreased muscle mass in that area.
  Nothing wrong with carrying a few extra pounds.
  
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  March 16, 2026 10:42am
  - MCōs
    
    It’s tough for woman MPs in NZ. They’re either too fat, too thin, high pitched voice . . . .
    
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    March 16, 2026 4:40pm
    - imalwaysright
      
      Thinking more about her wellbeing than her looks.
      
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      March 16, 2026 8:38pm
    - Ghost
      
      yeah, there are always those who sink to commenting on a politicians looks, or how they speak, etc, its a sad part of politics that some can’t just focus on the politics
      
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      March 16, 2026 8:43pm
- Paulus
  
  He is in Samoa and Tonga this week.
  
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  March 16, 2026 11:23am
  - David Garrett
    
    Paulus: I note regarding Luxon’s matai title in Samoa, we have a “he said/they said” situation.
    
    Stuff initially reported that Luxon had “requested” that a matai title be bestowed on him in Samoa. Luxon’s staff then “corrected” that to claim that Luxon had said only IF such a title was to be bestowed, they needed to know the protocol surrounding such an award – which was fair enough.
    
    However the Samoans then responded by once again claiming Luxon himself had sought the title – there was no question of the Samoans bestowing it voluntarily.
    
    Unless I have missed something, that’s where things stand – and frankly they put Luxon in a very poor light. I imagine things are somewhat tense in Samoa this morning.
    
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    March 16, 2026 12:09pm
    - David Garrett
      
      I see I have indeed “missed something”; the Samoan government now says Luxon didn’t ask for the title to be bestowed – but suggested this was common practice when a foreign government head visited. Somehow I don’t think that’s the last we will hear of this story.
      
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      March 16, 2026 12:20pm
      - Maggy Wassilieff
        
        It’s a beat-up here in NZ because our MSM journos don’t Know a damn thing about Samoan politics or the character of the current Samoan PM.
        
        It’s also extraordinary that our MSM journos and Labour Party Deputy – Carmel Sepuloni didn’t have contacts in Samoa who could have figured out that our PM NEVER requested a Matai title.
        
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        March 16, 2026 1:28pm
      - Boy Geoff
        
        Hey Maggy, there’s no way that Carmel would have asked for a few little story embellishments through her contacts, is there?
        
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        March 16, 2026 2:27pm
Inandout

What’s the bet our MSM are wishing NZ had these insane laws over social media. Who would want to be a cop in the UK
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vaaOnSBaABo
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March 16, 2026 10:30am
Damocles11

‘The U.S. Embassy in Baghdad urged all American citizens to leave Iraq immediately on Saturday after the embassy was attacked overnight for the second time since the war with Iran started.
The warning said militias allied with Iran had carried out numerous attacks on targets associated with the United States, including diplomatic facilities, American companies and hotels frequented by foreigners. It recommended Americans travel overland to neighbouring countries because commercial flights were not operating, and warned them not to come to the embassy or a U.S. consulate in the city of Erbil, in northern Iraq.‘
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March 16, 2026 10:30am
Burtland

are household power users being rorted by the power industry?

ComCom put up power prices to consumers recently to pay for grid strengthening – at the same time Genesis robbed the tax payer of $200M to “improve energy security” as the same players spilled excess dam capacity and supported hyperscale data centres in Auckland.

And yet Transpower now says it is confident the national grid could meet the energy needs of the DataGrids new 280MW AI monster.

This AI monster will consume 280 MW of power, roughly a third of Manapouri’s output that it shares with Tiwai Point smelter.

Transpowers Matt Webb GM of grid development green washes the development – “there were a number of significant Southland wind projects going through the consenting process, along with solar projects”

so is DataGrid going to turn their AI monster off when “the sun dont shine and the wind dont blow” – what about during Manapouri maintenance ?

worse DataGrid seems to be Singapore company

the power industry is playing us and ComCom for a fool

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/business/589629/ai-illiterate-nz-at-risk-of-being-left-behind-as-data-centre-plans-move-forward
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March 16, 2026 11:41am
Handyman

During the first oil shock New Zealand brought in carless days.
Not mentioned in recent media was New Zealand’s ability to run cars on Natural Gas, after an easy engine conversion. It was not the perfect solution, but it saved the country billions in overseas oil costs at the time, and gave people certainty of supply.
We could easily do that again. Oh wait! Some genius banned natural gas in New Zealand.
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March 16, 2026 11:51am
- David Garrett
  
  Handyman: Back in the distant day I recall driving HQ Holden cabs which had been converted to run on CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) and LPG (Liquified Petroleum Gas). The former were gutless – even more so when carrying a load – but the latter were next to indistinguishable from driving an ordinary petrol car.
  
  CNG is long gone, but I think LPG is still available? CNG was only ever available in the North Island, but lots of Christchurch cabs ran on LPG…mostly duel fueled IIRC.
  
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  March 16, 2026 2:05pm
  - MCōs
    
    LPG was quite popular for a time when petrol was expensive, but probably not particularly economical for a private vehicle when one does the arithmetic
    Furthermore
    The gas tank took up a lot of space in the boot.
    
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    March 16, 2026 4:23pm
    - Jack5
      
      Vehicles using CNG in NZ boomed between 1970 and 1985, with about 100,000 conversion kits about. Then the subsidy was removed and CNG use dived.
      
      Are there NZ vehicles still powered by it?
      
      The difference between CNG and LPG that David Garrett notes, is spelled out at this Australian web site:
      
      https://www.elgas.com.au/elgas-knowledge-hub/residential-lpg/lpg-vs-cng-compressed-natural-gas-methane/
      
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      March 16, 2026 5:35pm
      - peterwn
        
        Big problem with CNG is a whole lot of tanks were coming up for ‘survey’ and the cost of survey was such that owners simply abandoned CNG. Then as use diminished servos decommissioned their CNG dispensers. A CNG fill needed forecourt assistance as it was unlawful for an untrained person to dispense CNG.
        
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        March 16, 2026 6:29pm
David Garrett

Check out this childishness from Stuff, quoting Luxon:

“Which I think is actually not a bad move because it just means that countries can’t stockpile, and, and, and that’s important.” [emphasis added]

Everyone repeats an “and” now and again – especially when being interviewed by a hostile media. Twenty years ago they would have edited out the repetitions of “and” but these days they can’t stop themselves – anything to make the right, and Luxon in particular, look bad.
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March 16, 2026 11:52am
- nathie
  
  Soooo that’s the the same media that edited Jacinda’s word-soup like “akshuwly” and “yip” and the “Labour Pardy” into coherent speech!
  
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  March 16, 2026 12:10pm
  - Maggy Wassilieff
    
    I refude dat.
    
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    March 16, 2026 1:30pm
    - BeaB
      
      Double jeoprardy
      
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      March 16, 2026 1:38pm
      - Hugh Jarse
        
        Nuffink to see here, Jepradise. And they had the cheek to take Simon Bridges to task over his kiwi accent.
        
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        March 16, 2026 3:16pm
    - Jack5
      
      The Coalition’s paying for making only token changes to boards of State-owned media, and for not cutting off millions to other State-subsidised media.
      
      Meanwhile, at NZME, owner of the NZ Herald and ZB talk radio, investor Jim Grenon is still in a lonely fight to moderate the Leftism.
      
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      March 16, 2026 2:08pm
Damocles11

‘Brigadier General Ali Mohammad Naini, spokesperson for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has dared the US to send their ships into the Strait of Hormuz.
“Didn’t Trump say that Iran’s navy has been destroyed? If so, let him send his ships into the Persian Gulf if he dares,” Naini said oin a report carried by the semi-official Tasnim news agency.
“The Strait of Hormuz is under Iran’s full control, and any aggression will be met with a decisive response.”’
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March 16, 2026 12:53pm
- kowtow
  
  Apart from the quotes , what’s your point.
  
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  March 16, 2026 3:12pm
- NothingLeft
  
  $1000 Ukraine style fpv drones with fiber optic guidance are unjammable and now have 50km range. Iran has got at least some (likely from Russia) and there is no defense other than high tech point defense weapons (radar controlled guns and lasers) that most ships don’t have.
  
  Opening Hormuz will require US Navy taking up station along Iranian coastline and shooting everything that moves, or taking down Iranian regime.
  
  If not then other option is to run convoys with armed defensive perimeters.
  
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  March 16, 2026 4:15pm
  - Jack5
    
    50km of optic fibre for $1000?
    
    Duck AI tells me that the current bulk price for 30km is $US720 to $US$870 per kilometre for 30km.
    
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    March 16, 2026 11:20pm
  - Jack5
    
    Whoops! In my 11.20 post, I was confused reading the “AI assist”.
    
    The cost suggested, converted to NZ dollars, would be about $1500 for 50km of optic wire.
    
    The drone cost would be on top of that. It’s still a cheap weapon.
    
    Fujikura, of Japan, is the biggest maker of cheap fibre, but isn’t the world’s biggest fibre maker over all. Its share price in Tokyo as this is posted is the equivalent of $NZ275.90.
    
    How it will benefit from a drone war is confused because Fujikura is diversifying with an $NZ3.2 billion investment into American AI.
    
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    March 16, 2026 11:45pm
Jethrod

It appears that Christopher Hipkins ex-wife is having her say on X (Twitter) about the trials and tribulations of being involved with her ex-husband. Mind blowing revelations about his conduct whilst married and after the separation.
Good enough that David Farrar has comment about it, raising the double standards Labour had over Don Brash’s affair in the early 2000’s.
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March 16, 2026 1:20pm
Gravelroad

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/360951389/black-ferns-sevens-storm-new-york-final-after-dominating-hosts-USA
Watched this live.
Didn’t think the Black Ferns sevens could pull it off given the score at half time.
But they did.
Full credit to them for never giving it up.
Won in last minute.
Suggest that the mens sevens team have a good look at the replay and reassess their attitudes to winning and losing.
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March 16, 2026 1:29pm
- MCōs
  
  The difference is that the coach of the women’s team can call on the best rugby players in the country whereas the coach of the men’s team can’t, by a long way.
  
  The women’s sevens team are easily NZ’s most successful sports team year on year – entertaining to watch both on and off the field
  
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  March 16, 2026 4:06pm
Bobba Fret

Nothing like a woman scorned

https://www.stuff.co.nz/politics/360951683/chris-hipkins-rejects-social-media-claims-made-ex-wife
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March 16, 2026 2:34pm
- kowtow
  
  He’s more cooked than an Ayatollah’s turban in a bunker busted by the Israeli air force.
  
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  March 16, 2026 3:25pm
Philview

An interesting call to prayer at Tottenham Hotspur Football Club. Will this help their team?

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/JR3ApDlS6ho
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March 16, 2026 2:36pm
Damocles11

Seems Karl Marx was a typical left wing hypocrite, saying one thing while having the morals and integrity of an alley cat.

– Failed to Practice What He Preached: Despite writing extensively on the exploitation of the working class by the bourgeoisie, Marx lived for long periods on the generosity of Friedrich Engels, whose father was a wealthy factory owner.
– Fathered a Child with the Maid: Marx had an illegitimate son with Helene Demuth, the family’s housekeeper who was never paid wages. To avoid a scandal that would damage his reputation as a family man and revolutionary leader, he convinced Engels to claim paternity of the child.
– A “Filthy” Lifestyle: Reports from contemporary spies and acquaintances described his home in London as chaotic and filthy, with broken, tattered furniture and intense disorder.
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March 16, 2026 3:01pm
Sparrow

Can bloggers much cleverer than me explain how inflation figures are calculated. The reason for my question has been generated by the Treasury’s worst forecast for impending inflation of 3.7%. As having suffered double digit increases in rates and insurances and seen supermarket costs escalate every week how do we get inflation rates in the 3 to 4% range. What’s the basket of costs they measure they are certainly not my basket of costs.
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March 16, 2026 3:19pm
- greybeard
  
  I agree: many thousands of items may go up in price but only those we actually buy have any meaning. eg. The price of a new car may increase due to inflation/exchange rates but as far as I am concerned that is irrelevant: I have never, and will never, buy a new car. And many people will never buy any of the hundreds, or thousands, of the different products available in a supermarket.
  
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  March 16, 2026 4:38pm
Damocles11

Speaking from aboard Air Force One, Trump said:
“Really, I’m demanding that these countries come in and protect their own territory, because it is their territory … they should help us. You could make the case that maybe we shouldn’t be there at all, because we don’t need it. We have a lot of oil.”

I’m sorry, this is just indefensible. He started the conflict without consulting anyone except BN and now he wants to push his allies to the front of the queue and put their ships and sailors lives in harms way. And it is not about who ‘has oil’, it’s about the overall oil price and the impact of that on the global economy, the stock market, and his popularity ratings.
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March 16, 2026 4:00pm
- Tom Barker
  
  Do you think Trump himself believes the risible nonsense he spouts, or does he just hope his supporters do so? (His henchmen, of course, are expressly forbidden from questioning even a single word of it.)
  
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  March 16, 2026 8:08pm
Hugh Jarse

Make no is take the gallery and the media will have know of this relationship. While they knew that the likes of Maiki has been chasing the PM through Wellington airport like a little dog demanding to know whether he was going to resign over a poor poll result and a poor media interview. In the meantime the leader of the opposition has been given a pass over a series of missteps that should be sackable, but hey he is Miami’s boss at the end of the day.
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March 16, 2026 4:08pm
Jack5

Just call me Schmiddy ..

Is this the greatest long form of the name Schmidt or Smith?

Chris Luxon has been at a cabinet meeting with Western Samoa’s Prime Minister – SLa’aulialemalietoa Polataivao Leuatea Fosi Schmidt.

Wikipedia names him as Susuga Laʻaulialemalietoa Leuatea Polataivao Fosi Schmidt.

A Wikipedia entry on Mr Schmidt is complete with an allegation of AI doctoring of a photograph of him with Winston Peters.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La%CA%BBauli_Leuatea_Schmidt
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March 16, 2026 4:32pm
greybeard

https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/360951725/auckland-worker-discovers-diesel-siphoned-out-his-truck-prices-rise

“Perenara began to question whether he actually filled his tank on Thursday, but had photo evidence of himself at the gas station, where he sent a photo of the “outrageous” price to his friend.”
– I am sure that if he purchased fuel he would have absolute proof of the transaction: credit/debit card entry, printed receipt, whatever. I think he should prove his purchase as without it this article looks a bit dodgy.
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March 16, 2026 4:36pm
- Ghost
  
  his employer pays for the furl up to a certain level of millage. So no, he wouldn’t have the purchase details, the company would.
  
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  March 16, 2026 7:13pm
Ghost

The US president wouldn’t say which countries will be part of the coalition he wants to police the Strait of Hormuz to provide security for oil tankers and other commercial ships passing through it.

But he said he won’t forget the countries that decline to help — specifically namechecking British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who he said initially declined to put British aircraft carriers “into harm’s way”.

“Whether we get support or not, but I can say this, and I said to them: We will remember,” Trump said.

Article

To save money and lives that could be lost if Iran attacks the naval ships, we will hopefully be putting our hands up and telling Trump that we will be sending the HMNZS Manawanui
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March 16, 2026 6:43pm
- imalwaysright
  
  It only needs two snorkels.
  Give the lady a chance to redeem herself. All she has to do is type I R A N into the autopilot…
  
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  March 16, 2026 8:49pm

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