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March 20, 2026 8:00am by Kokila Patel

General Debate 20 March 2026

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General Debate

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BarryB

The BRILLIANCE OF DONALD TRUMP continues to shine through…….
On the weekend some BYD retailer in New Zealand sold a new EV car every 6 minutes……..

Now I challenge any proponent of the electrification religion to come up with a better promotion of EVs than Trump has been able to achieve.
Think about it – wipe out supply of oil and guess what – EVs become desirable.
Mind you – worldwide – think of whats going to happen to electricity prices……

But seriously – it may all turn out to be a disaster in the long run – but the simplicity
of the idea of stopping oil supplies is so effective. Even though I think that EVs are the biggest scam this century, the prospect of some place like Iran getting the atomic bomb technology is a danger worth almost any price.
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March 20, 2026 8:02am
- Damocles11
  
  So Trump upended global oil supplies to increase EV usage? 4D chess people, is there nothing this far-sighted genius cannot achieve. 😊
  
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  March 20, 2026 9:39am
  - David Garrett
    
    Damo: In response to the Japanese PM complaining about not being warned about Gulf III the Village idiot apparently said “They didn’t warn us about Pearl Harbor” How to piss off ur leading trading partner and ur biggest ally in Asia. Excellent
    
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    March 20, 2026 9:56am
    - jkt
      
      Tramp is a genius.
      
      One can ignore reality, but the consequences of reality is … higher fuel prices.
      
      I love BarryB’s subtle dig … but most people need your brutal comment!
      
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      March 20, 2026 10:12am
    - Scott
      
      Honestly David you are way too sensitive. Trump is at times a cheeky smart arse even with foreign leaders. But it was a joke. Everyone could tell it was a joke. Is the Japanese prime minister really going to get mortally offended by a joke about something that happened 80 years ago? Cmon man. 🤔
      
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      March 20, 2026 10:13am
      - David Garrett
        
        .Scott: Ah,I don’t think so… the remark apparently prompted a stunned silence. The man is a highly dangerous joke
        
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        March 20, 2026 10:24am
      - virtualmark
        
        And yet no one laughed.
        
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        March 20, 2026 10:27am
      - Scott
        
        There was laughter in the room. Cmon man. I know you are a sensitive soul but this is ridiculous.
        
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        March 20, 2026 10:53am
      - Cassandra
        
        Scott and David are both right. A paradox wrapped in an enigma.
        
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        March 20, 2026 11:44am
      - AitchW
        
        That was the height of buffoonery. Trump might be better than Harris, but he’s still an oaf.
        
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        March 20, 2026 12:33pm
      - Scott
        
        It’s important after all this time to try and understand Trump. Yes he did a smart arse joke. Yes there was some laughter in the room.
        But this is boss man energy. He’s the president of the only super power in the world. He’s running the show and this off colour joke is a way of showing he’s running the show. He knows he can get away with this.
        And the war is going well, the evil mullahs are being defeated, Venezuela has gone. Iran will go. It cannot survive massive bombing every night. Cuba is going.
        
        The west is winning. Yay the west. We’re part of the west. Stand up for your side!
        
        With the Iran mullahs gone, the Venezuelan socialists gone and the communist Cubans gone the world will be a better place. 😎
        
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        March 20, 2026 12:48pm
      - Wandering Star
        
        “Is the Japanese prime minister really going to get mortally offended by a joke about something that happened 80 years ago.”
        
        He wouldn’t be the first. There’re people who have been hounded into bankruptcy, and worse, due to mortal offense being taken about comments made as to 80 year old history.
        
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        March 20, 2026 1:44pm
      - All_on_Red
        
        Virtualmark says, “And yet no one laughed”
        If you look at the video in this link you can clearly hear people laughing
        https://redstate.com/nick-arama/2026/03/19/sweet-moments-with-japanese-pm-and-trump-n2200426
        Why cant you tell the truth VM?
        
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        March 20, 2026 4:33pm
      - Ian Boag
        
        @Scott
        
        It’s a great thing that Bibi and Don have started a war with these folk who have not rolled over and surrendered and show no signs of doing so.
        
        It would just be vaguely interesting I suppose if it wasn’t about to seriously impinge on our economy here. Thanks Bibi. Thanks Don. Think good thoughts for them next time you fill the car. There is a serious possibility that we will sort of run out in a couple of months.
        
        You get that message that the Quataris mentioned that fixing the damage to their LNG stuff will only take 2-3 years. Yep – years.
        
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        March 20, 2026 7:26pm
    - BarryB
      
      Well perhaps the japanese reporter has learned that knowing a bit about history would help prevent the asking of rather stupid questions. – its abig hole in the knowledge of reporters world wide it seems.
      
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      March 20, 2026 10:14am
      - Dudley Quaffquaff
        
        What exactly was the stupid question? Consulting with allies before, and preferably instead of, kicking off a war in the Middle East would have been the sensible, adult, intelligent, responsible thing to do. Is it really so unconscionable to wish that the President of the United States might have thought of that?
        
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        March 20, 2026 11:43am
      - Andrew Worth
        
        What was the ultimate result of Japan’s clever surprise attack at Pearl Harbor?
        
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        March 20, 2026 12:00pm
      - herb1
        
        Like Trump you seem to be confusing sharing intelligence with an Ally versus an enemy .
        
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        March 20, 2026 3:54pm
    - rouppe
      
      While that question was asked, it wasn’t asked by the Japanese PM it was asked by reporters. Who we know, world wide, among others, are afflicted with TDS.
      
      https://www.1news.co.nz/2026/03/20/trump-jokes-about-pearl-harbour-in-meeting-with-japans-pm/
      
      That pretty poor accuracy for a grammar stickler.
      
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      March 20, 2026 10:23am
      - Paulus
        
        Mountain out of a Molehill to keep the media from doing anything truthful or correct.
        
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        March 20, 2026 2:44pm
      - David Garrett
        
        Rouppe: “THAT pretty poor grammar “? A wee note old boy: when criticizing another for poor usage it pays to make sure yours is perfect
        
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        March 20, 2026 6:06pm
    - Don Beckett
      
      Trump hasn’t wiped out oil supplies. Tankers are still getting through the SoH, but only those acceptable to Iran. They have kept most of the infrastructure in place. Saudi is piping oil across to the Red Sea.
      This is a temporary set back, and the oil companies are price gauging as hard as they can. If we have 7 weeks fuiel supplies available, why have prices suddenly skyrocketed ?
      
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      March 20, 2026 10:35am
      - R
        
        Oil companies lack a MORAL COMPASS. Very common with large conglomerates
        
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        March 20, 2026 10:43am
      - Ghost
        
        so you aren’t going to put any blame on the stock and commodities markets?
        
        Also worth noting, that supply isn’t going to be back to normal when this war ends, its going to take several months
        
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        March 20, 2026 10:48am
      - jkt
        
        Basic economics.
        
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        March 20, 2026 10:53am
      - All_on_Red
        
        The US now has A10’s and AH64’s patrolling the coast of the SoH and nearby Islands blowing up everything which moves
        Iran is still firing some missiles but way down on previously (95% down?)-there seems to be some places operating independently- as you expect since central control by Iran has collapsed
        Not sure the closure will go on much longer
        We will see
        
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        March 20, 2026 11:48am
      - Taieri
        
        Tankers are still getting through the SoH
        ————-
        
        All three of them…?
        
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        March 20, 2026 11:50am
      - NothingLeft
        
        “Oil companies lack a MORAL COMPASS”
        
        Oil company employees have a fiduciary duty to their shareholders to make money. If they didn’t put their prices up then they would be at a disadvantage compared to those that did as they would have to restock at higher prices sooner.
        
        If you think they are screwing us then I suggest you invest in them as obviously they will be wildly profitable as a consequence of this disruption.
        
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        March 20, 2026 12:37pm
      - Handyman
        
        Re price gouging.
        Oil companies don’t set oil prices. In the same way Fonterra does not set the price of milk powder and your local jeweller does not set the price of gold.
        For internationally traded commodities, it is customers who set prices.
        
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        March 20, 2026 12:47pm
      - Taieri
        
        For internationally traded commodities, it is customers who set prices
        ————-
        
        In many cases, customers are the price takers, particularly in the oil markets when the availability of substitutes is low or non-existent and demand exceeds supply.
        
        (Clicked “report” by mistake – sorry)
        
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        March 20, 2026 1:31pm
      - Taieri
        
        they would have to restock at higher prices sooner.
        ————-
        
        But they obtain the stock in order to sell it, not to keep it. And when they restock at higher price their retail price increases correspondingly to reflect it.
        
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        March 20, 2026 1:44pm
      - Graeme Hall
        
        Taieri: Tankers are still getting through the SoH
        All three of them…?
        
        The BBC reported last night in an effort to suggest how useless the American efforts are that Iran is shipping as much or even more oil through the SoH than before, as well as tankers heading for India & China.
        Make of that what you will
        
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        March 20, 2026 2:09pm
      - Paulus
        
        Prices have gone up because the domestic supplier are just plain greedy, and the media love it to kick the elected Government
        
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        March 20, 2026 2:46pm
      - Ra Henare
        
        Of course its not the oil companies that set the price…duh
        Its the marketplace, where people buy and sell commodities on perceived value.
        
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        March 20, 2026 11:40pm
    - Andrew Worth
      
      Trump was so proud of surprising everyone, including his allies, pointing out how it was Japan’s strategy to surprise America at Pearl Harbor. Does anyone other than Trump think that Japanese surprise attack was a good idea?
      
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      March 20, 2026 11:53am
      - jkt
        
        Well, at least the Japanese thrived after absorbing two Nuclear bombs and much humiliation!
        
        Let’s just hope we do not see a repeat performance. On the brink? Doomsday clock ….
        
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        March 20, 2026 1:01pm
      - Wandering Star
        
        Trump and Netanyahu’s latest attack was not a surprise attack at all. It’s arguably been 45 years in the making, but definitely on the agenda since 2018 when Trump ripped up the Iran nuclear deal at the behest of the Jews during his first term. Since then, they’ve been engaged in a constant campaign of low-level warfare against Iran, be it assassinations, cyber attacks and other attempts to weaken the Iranian regime.
        
        After their 12 day war last year (fallaciously attributed as a response to October 7th, but always intended long before), the only thing that’s a surprise is that they took so long between their aggressive attacks on the Iranians.
        
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        March 20, 2026 1:58pm
      - kowtow
        
        I sense some straws being clutched here.
        
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        March 20, 2026 2:42pm
    - Colville
      
      DG.
      You of all people should understand that the USA does not give one flying fuck for the feelings of the Japanese, a sentiment echoed by the Chinese. Actually the Chinese hate the Japanese a bit more than the Yanks IMHO.
      
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      March 20, 2026 12:28pm
      - Dudley Quaffquaff
        
        And the consequence of Trump not giving a flying fuck is that the US now has no friends except Israel and Russia
        
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        March 20, 2026 12:53pm
      - Taieri
        
        the USA does not give one flying fuck for the feelings of the Japanese
        ———-
        Currently, the USA don’t seem to give one flying fuck for the feelings of anyone. Shouldn’t be surprised then that no one wants to cooperate with them.
        
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        March 20, 2026 1:46pm
      - Ra Henare
        
        Can I rephase that a bit.
        Trump adminstration NOT USA.
        
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        March 20, 2026 11:41pm
    - Ghost
      
      Thing is, if this was a democrat, people would be attacking him. Some do not hold Mr Trump to the same standards they held other presidents
      
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      March 20, 2026 12:51pm
      - Scott
        
        Ghost, you are so right. No one ever attacks Trump. He’s had such a cushy ride these past 10 years. Someone should write a mean story about him, someone should accuse him of something, someone should try and stop him!
        
        Cmon people let’s band together and protest Trump. Why is no one doing it? 🤔
        
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        March 20, 2026 1:30pm
      - Ghost
        
        As I said, but you obviously do not understand, those like yourself refuse to hold trump to the same standards as you held previous presidents.
        
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        March 20, 2026 1:41pm
    - Nookin
      
      Actually, David, he said that “They did not warn Me about Pearl Harbour.
      It is all about himself. Life, for Donald, is all about egocentric hallucination
      
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      March 20, 2026 1:41pm
    - NZer In Exile
      
      The Japanese PM is no hyper-sensitive woketard.
      I’m sure she knows Trump has a certain jarring style and takes it in her stride.
      
      Oh and with most of Trump’s actions, there is the chorus of the sky is about to fall. And then it doesn’t happen. Hopefully he’ll come through in that regard with the current military action.
      
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      March 20, 2026 7:32pm
- Simon
  
  Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
  It’s not Trump wrecking everything it’s that rogue nation Israel. It’s them. Trump is just their puppet
  
  It’s Israel.
  
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  March 20, 2026 10:05am
  - Scott
    
    Simon you are so right. It’s all a vast Jewish conspiracy. Wandering will be here shortly to tell us all about it. 🙄
    
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    March 20, 2026 10:14am
    - septic skeptic
      
      There are some very compelling arguments that that Israel, vis AIPAC, had bribed the US to start this war. Likely also blackmail and that is probably related to Epstein – but evidence for that is harder to get. It’s really beyond arguing that politicians are beholden to donors, Israeli interests are the biggest donors, and Netanyahu has wanted this war for 40 years.
      
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      March 20, 2026 10:58am
      - Taieri
        
        Netanyahu has wanted this war for 40 years
        ———–
        
        40 years ago Netanyahu was the Israel’s ambassador to the UN. He didn’t become PM until 1996.
        
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        March 20, 2026 12:24pm
      - MCōs
        
        30 years then
        
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        March 20, 2026 12:33pm
      - Wandering Star
        
        Netanyahu has wanted this war since the day he was born, probably even before, regardless of that he only became PM in 1996.
        
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        March 20, 2026 2:05pm
      - Paulus
        
        I believe that Israel would have preferred to be left alone, but so many want to totally destroy from the last hundreds of years, it they have to hold firm.
        
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        March 20, 2026 2:50pm
    - Simon
      
      ” It’s all a vast Jewish conspiracy.”
      
      When IDF soldiers gang raped a prisoner, which was subsequently state sanctioned, it was an IDF lawyer ie a Jew, who whistle blew this terrible crime.
      
      Sorry it isnt the Jews. Its the appalling Israeli govt which is wrecking the ME.
      
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      March 20, 2026 11:38am
      - jkt
        
        Slight improvement in rational thinking.
        
        Ever heard of the Christian Zionist project?
        
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        March 20, 2026 1:07pm
      - Wandering Star
        
        You’re right Simon. As the saying goes, “it’s not all Jews, but it’s always the Jews.” While still hyperbolic, this is the essential formula for understanding the last 3,000 years.
        
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        March 20, 2026 2:08pm
    - Wandering Star
      
      First intelligent thing you’ve said in quite a while, Scott.
      
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      March 20, 2026 2:02pm
  - jkt
    
    Thanks.
    
    I have finally learned the difference between anti semitism and anti Zionism and anti Jewishism.
    
    I hate what is happening to the Iranian people and to the populations of Israel, the West Bank and Gaza.
    
    Ignorance is bliss 😇….. but debilitating.😵‍💫
    
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    March 20, 2026 10:23am
- R
  
  Without OIL, there won’t be any EV cars produced either
  
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  March 20, 2026 10:37am
  - MCōs
    
    Maybe not, but electricity powered vehicles already on the streets, cars, bikes, motility scooters, will keep going for a bit longer.
    If the petrol and electricity both run out things will be a bit testy
    
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    March 20, 2026 12:39pm
    - jkt
      
      The economic case for owning an electric car was strengthened by Mr Tramp.
      
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      March 20, 2026 1:08pm
    - NZer In Exile
      
      Mostly cashed up posers with a second “real” car. Pretty useless as a general purpose daily driver for the masses.
      
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      March 20, 2026 7:37pm
- R
  
  One EV every six minutes……..REALLY!
  
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  March 20, 2026 10:39am
  - BarryB
    
    from:
    https://www.carexpert.co.nz/car-news/byd-sell-80-cars-in-a-day-as-fuel-prices-surge-in-new-zealand
    
    BYD New Zealand say they have seen a ‘major upswing’ in demand after reportedly selling one new car every six minutes over a single day last weekend.
    
    As fuel prices surged past $3 per litre in New Zealand, more Kiwis are looking at electric vehicles to combat the cost of commuting. BYD says it noticed this first-hand, selling 80 new vehicles on Saturday – equivalent to one vehicle every six minutes during dealership trading hours.
    
    BYD New Zealand general manager Warren Willmot attributes the surge to two main factors: the company’s expanding model lineup and rapidly rising fuel prices due to the conflict in the Middle East.
    
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    March 20, 2026 1:54pm
  - NZer In Exile
    
    Don’t worry, the far left and the stupidly wet centre-right will make electricity unaffordable too.
    
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    March 20, 2026 7:40pm
- David George
  
  Fortunately the hold outs are finally realising that Iran’s blockade of the SOH must be countered.
  Another six nations have agreed to help in at least some way.
  https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/6-us-allies-step-up-to-reopen-hormuz-as-iran-conflict-chokes-global-oil-lifeline/ar-AA1YZLTG
  
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  March 20, 2026 10:59am
  - Dudley Quaffquaff
    
    What is desperately need here is for intelligent adults to have an intelligent, adult conversation. Here are some of them offering to do it. It’s a lifeline for Trump and if he has a single brain cell left he’ll take it
    
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    March 20, 2026 11:46am
    - Wandering Star
      
      A central pillar of Zionism is never engage in self-critique and never admit fault. This manifests in the sort of behavior we’re all acquainted with by now.
      
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      March 20, 2026 2:10pm
      - NZer In Exile
        
        You have a few gullibles falling for your incessant crap. Not many though.
        
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        March 20, 2026 7:41pm
      - Wandering Star
        
        It’s not “my incessant crap,” it’s just the truth, and you don’t like to hear it. Because it’s the truth, expect more “gullibles” to adopt my true views, and reject your false views.
        
        It’s amusing, but flattering, that you think I’ve convinced or influenced these people, rather than their just realising the facts of the matter.
        
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        March 20, 2026 8:44pm
    - NZer In Exile
      
      Wandering’s gems in just this topic:
      
      “Trump ripped up the Iran nuclear deal at the behest of the Jews during his first term.”
      
      “Netanyahu has wanted this war since the day he was born, probably even before.”
      
      “As the saying goes, “it’s not all Jews, but it’s always the Jews.” While still hyperbolic, this is the essential formula for understanding the last 3,000 years.”
      
      “A central pillar of Zionism is never engage in self-critique and never admit fault.”
      
      Looks very much like the butt-hurt obsessive anti-Jew/Israel hatred one often hears from many people from the middle east and surrounds. It’s all about one other religion believing Israel is an abomination for simply existing amongst the Muslim nations. Every time Israel has to defend itself, these people try to turn things around and blame Israel. And what really riles them up is that apart from being constantly being attacked for existing, Israel is a not an oppressive shit-hole for it’s law abiding citizens, unlike many nations surrounding it.
      
      The other cohort spewing this kind of devious crap are gullible and usually young quasi-Nazis swallowing rabbit-hole conspiracy BS on this topic hook, line and sinker.
      
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      March 21, 2026 3:30pm
  - jkt
    
    Let’s hope they use this predicament to drive a bargain that benefits the Iranian and the Ukrainian people.
    
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    March 20, 2026 1:13pm
  - Paulus
    
    Surely the EC members involved have not formed a committe yet under President Ursula de Leyen, remember she was Defence Minister in Germany and a failure, hence she got shifted to the EC.
    
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    March 20, 2026 2:54pm
  - Drone
    
    Maybe they’ll get Trump and Netanyahu to stop bombing Iran.
    
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    March 20, 2026 7:05pm
artemisia

Too expensive to smile: Calls grow for universal, Te Tiriti-consistent dental care

According to the latest Ministry of Health survey, 47 percent of adult New Zealanders reported not visiting a dentist due to cost, with even higher rates among Māori and Pasifika.

Must be election year. So only half of the adult population is able to plan for personal health care. The other half can’t all be on low incomes. In any case, if they are then there is free dental money available from WINZ for those on low incomes, not repayable. Strangely this was not mentioned in the article written by Maori News journalist Layla Bailey-McDowell.

Did I mention election year?

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/te-manu-korihi/590123/too-expensive-to-smile-calls-grow-for-universal-te-tiriti-consistent-dental-care
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March 20, 2026 8:05am
- Simon
  
  NZ can’t carry the National party anymore.
  
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  March 20, 2026 8:06am
  - G the giant from Dunedin
    
    They can’t carry whinges but they have to
    
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    March 20, 2026 9:47am
  - R
    
    The country has far far less capacity to carry, and recover from, another period of MARXIST mismanagement!
    
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    March 20, 2026 10:45am
  - NZer In Exile
    
    Simon: “NZ can’t carry the National party anymore.”
    
    Again, what party would you recommend? Why the reticence to answer?
    
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    March 20, 2026 7:42pm
- Maggy Wassilieff
  
  Indeed
  
  You don’t have to be on a benefit to qualify.
  
  https://www.workandincome.govt.nz/eligibility/health-and-disability/dental-treatment.html
  
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  March 20, 2026 8:14am
  - MCōs
    
    From my reading of the terms and conditions if you have a couple of grand in the bank you don’t qualify.
    
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    March 20, 2026 9:04am
    - Paulus
      
      So if serious Dental work is required that surely is what your bank savings are for – emergencies ?
      
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      March 20, 2026 9:23am
      - MCōs
        
        You miss the point.
        One has to be in a what I would call a pretty parlous situation to get money from Winz for dental treatment as suggested above.
        
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        March 20, 2026 9:46am
      - wsk12345
        
        Not true Mcos. There is a $1k entitlement for at least those on the DPB. As I said above (?) I know someone who gets her teeth whitened each year on it.
        
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        March 20, 2026 10:01am
      - Ghost
        
        you cannot get it for cosmetic reasons. Its for fillings, tooth extractions, infections
        
        It does not include:
        
        regular dental check-ups
        cosmetic treatment
        scale and polish, and teeth cleaning (unless this treatment is required because of gum infection)
        cast restorations
        orthodontic treatment
        molar root canal treatment
        dentures
        
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        March 20, 2026 10:05am
      - wsk12345
        
        It shouldn’t Ghost. But unless it’s been tightened up by National, there is a work around that allows it.
        
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        March 20, 2026 10:18am
      - rouppe
        
        “One has to be in a what I would call a pretty parlous situation to get money from Winz for dental treatment”
        
        Isn’t that the bloody point of welfare?
        
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        March 20, 2026 10:28am
      - Ghost
        
        for that to happen the Dental Clinic would be committing fraud. To get paid they send the bill to WINZ detailing the work done, WINZ then pay.
        
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        March 20, 2026 10:31am
      - Colville
        
        Ghost? Fraud?
        Like the acupuncture clinic treating a mate of mine for his back. Back was OK months ago but he still has weekly appointments till July. ACC wrote the chq!
        
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        March 20, 2026 12:31pm
      - Ghost
        
        I had a physio like that,every appointment i had he booked to ACC. It made me uncomfortable, so I went elsewhere
        
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        March 20, 2026 1:10pm
    - jkt
      
      If you have money in the bank then you need a bit of nous to play the game in order to get the extra charity paid for by hard working NZ’ers.
      
      Someone has, below, already steered you in the direction. Their is no virtue in playing the system … but I guess it take all sorts.
      
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      March 20, 2026 10:31am
  - Ghost
    
    I think it should include regular dental check ups, then they can catch the problems before they turn into a more expensive job.
    
    6 4
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    March 20, 2026 9:49am
    - Cassandra
      
      Too expensive. NZ is not rich. This never ending demand for more is totally unrealistic. Unless there’s a trade off eg saving elsewhere in the welfare budget.
      
      17 3
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      March 20, 2026 10:03am
      - Northshoredoc
        
        Bring back prescription fees on the 58 million annual prescriptions – it’d help fund a few more new pharmaceuticals or subsidise a reasonable amount of denatl care.
        
        Of course no government will do it – too scared to take away pointless free stuff.
        
        Same with tertiary freebies, working for families etc etc etc
        
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        March 20, 2026 10:35am
      - NothingLeft
        
        We could afford universal dental care it if we didn’t have to pay for Maori wonderfulness + grievance industry and a ridiculously bloated public sector.
        
        16 1
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        March 20, 2026 10:36am
      - Spam
        
        I propose a wealth tax that will fund three “free” dentist visits per year.
        
        8 2
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        March 20, 2026 11:32am
      - Taieri
        
        eg saving elsewhere in the welfare budget
        —————-
        
        Or elimination of waste spending. Yes, I know, it’s very unrealistic to expect that…
        
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        March 20, 2026 1:34pm
      - Paulus
        
        Is Dental treatment for under 18 year olds still free – albeit nothing in life is free though.
        
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        March 20, 2026 2:57pm
      - pejhay
        
        Two ticks Nats, but taxes on fuel, which I understand make up a good proportion of the pump price, are mainly percentage based. The Govt tax take at the moment is well above what they would have expected. “We can’t provide relief.” – well you could if you kept that tax take to a fixed amount rather than boost it higher with the barrel price…
        
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        March 20, 2026 10:41pm
- Blog-aholic
  
  In the UK the NHS fully funds dentistry for some groups and subsidises for everyone else. With that taken into account 60% of adults do not go to the dentist.
  The reason is not cost/availability it is fear.
  You cannot throw money at a fear problem and hope it helps.
  School clinics in NZ primary schools were not known as murder houses for no reason.
  
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  March 20, 2026 8:15am
  - pdm
    
    Very good points blog-a.
    
    Those treadle machines scared the hell out of me.
    Plus the Dental Nurses operating them were not noted for their sympathy and caring manner.
    
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    March 20, 2026 10:08am
    - R
      
      The dental nurses I attended in 1950’s were pleasant and empathetic. Much like a older sister.
      
      5 0
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      March 20, 2026 10:50am
      - Paulus
        
        Annette King was a Dental Nurse remember !
        
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        March 20, 2026 2:58pm
- NeverMindTheBollocks
  
  It’s all the fault of those damn colonists forcing Coca Cola down the throats of indigenous children.
  
  Wait, what?
  
  28 1
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  March 20, 2026 8:18am
  - MCōs
    
    When I was a kid we ate tons of lollies, drank gallons of soft drink, and had a mouth fill of fillings executed with no anesthetic at the murder house at Waimataitai School in Timaru.
    These days the buggers murder my bank account without anesthetic.
    
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    March 20, 2026 10:04am
    - Northshoredoc
      
      Lol good days MCos I remeber them well.
      
      4 0
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      March 20, 2026 10:37am
      - Cassandra
        
        Nightmares.
        
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        March 20, 2026 11:47am
    - NeverMindTheBollocks
      
      The dental clinic that my school attended is now known as Premier House.
      
      I can’t walk past the place without thoughts of fear and loathing.
      
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      March 20, 2026 8:41pm
- Damocles11
  
  The Left has been agitating for free dental care for a while now. We have a situation now where the Left either play dumb about, or don’t care about, the parlous state of New Zealands fiscal position. We are borrowing money hand over fist and the broader economic system simply does not allow for extending State largesse into new areas which will involve very high levels of cost. The Lefts agenda has always been ‘creeping socialism’; slowly but surely through incremental steps, more and more of what was previously ‘user pays’ is instead taken over by the State, with all the attendant cost burdens accruing to the taxpayer. We simply cannot afford it, and a lot of socialistic programmes have been implemented that the country already can’t afford and that the State is borrowing to fund. We are struggling to foot the bill for National Superannuation, let alone increasing State responsibility to pay for any and all needs of any and all New Zealand citizens. Your kids need lunch? The taxpayer will pay for it. You need to organise childcare? The taxpayer will pay for it, or subsidise it? Your teeth need fixing? The taxpayer will pay for it. And now here comes Chippy promising 3 free doctors visits a year, for everyone – millionaires and paupers alike. We cannot go on like this!
  
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  March 20, 2026 8:33am
  - MCōs
    
    It’s not called National Superannuation anymore. That was the name used by the National government that introduced the scheme as an election bribe back in the seventies.
    It’s called New Zealand Superannuation now.
    
    3 18
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    March 20, 2026 9:17am
    - Cassandra
      
      Rename Labour Day!
      
      17 1
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      March 20, 2026 10:04am
    - Damocles11
      
      [Mod – deleted, take your own advice] No debate of the actual content of the post
      
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      March 20, 2026 10:17am
  - R
    
    Do these SOCIALIST spend thrifts not realize that once they have embedded COMMUNISIM into NZ; they will only get a minimum health service and standard of living; after the elite members of the politbureau have satisfied their own needs.
    Ask what benefits have been made available to the hoipoloi following the largese of the ongoing TREATY SETTLEMENTS.
    
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    March 20, 2026 9:23am
  - Yvette
    
    Yesterday while waiting for an x-ray, I spoke to an elderly Maori woman, whose partner was having a PET scan, which I had never heard of before – sounds like, dogs can’t operate MRI machines? But cats can! – anyhow she said for her and her partner it was not a matter of access for them to health services, but when those services found how much both drank and smoked they were left more to their own devices (or just vices).
    
    Is this stereotyping – including obesity – or a major problem ? And if the latter, is dangling free dental care and other medical foibles a display of not understanding the audience anycase – so limited voter appeal and earning perhaps more distain than support?
    
    (And along with AI, is spellcheck becoming more creative …? Bugger!)
    
    11 3
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    March 20, 2026 9:23am
    - Maggy Wassilieff
      
      Cats can is very clever but your AI spellchecker needs to move into the 21st century if you wish to post clean (distained) copy.
      
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      March 20, 2026 9:42am
    - G the giant from Dunedin
      
      That is a crock of shit, when I got my hips done, and I am a big man235 ks at the time, life style was never mentioned, they never asked about drinking but I think they asked if I was a smoker, no where was I told that I could be ruled out if I smoked, and many people who are heavy smokers I know have never been over looked for care
      
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      March 20, 2026 9:51am
      - Ghost
        
        No. I know of a woman here who needed two knee replacements and the surgeon wouldn’t do them until she lost weight. It’s common because they want to reduce the risks and protect the replacement
        
        Arthritis NZ cover this
        
        Why is it important to be a healthy weight before joint replacement surgery?
        
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        March 20, 2026 10:00am
      - imalwaysright
        
        A caller to the Platform last year said he wasn’t allowed on an organ transplant list unless he had the covid jab.
        Not sure there would be much research supporting that requirement.
        
        7 3
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        March 20, 2026 10:13am
      - wsk12345
        
        Yup and also not allowed to receive a donated organ unless you take the Covid jab. I removed my donor status as a result, permanently as it’s on the driving licence. No way am I being a donor if I and my family are not also entitled to receive an organ if needed.
        
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        March 20, 2026 10:24am
      - R
        
        G potential patients won’t be overlooked, BUT they will be given appropriate healthcare advice as necessary, to ensure that the operation(?) will be successful. Up to the individual then, I.e personal responsibilty, a missing trait in many people.
        
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        March 20, 2026 10:57am
      - Nikola Donatello
        
        “No way am I being a donor if I and my family are not also entitled to receive an organ if needed.”
        
        Surely if you needed an organ transplant you would just get vaccinated? What is the problem?
        
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        March 20, 2026 3:41pm
      - wsk12345
        
        Nikola, i dont know if i would. I guess i would make that decision if it arose, which i dont anticipate given my age and health. I was offered a blood transfusion after an operation where i had no blood loss and declined it. I know too many people injured by the covid jab to rake the risk if it’s not life or death.
        
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        March 20, 2026 4:27pm
    - peterwn
      
      A PET scan is like a CT scan except that instead of X-rays for the radiation, the patient is injected stuff that is very slightly radioactive which produces the radiation to be detected via the tissues etc being examined. The radioactive stuff is prepared in a small cyclotron near Wellington Airport so it can be flown to other centres and used before the radioactivity decays too much. There may now be other cyclotrons elsewhere.
      In case anyone is worrying about the radiation effects of X-rays, CT and PET scans, far smaller ‘doses’ are needed than in the old days. This is because electronic sensors are now used (including the small ‘plates’ the dentist puts inside your mouth) are far, far more sensitive than traditional photographic films. The advances in such technologies in recent years is just amazing and will only improve further. One great outcome is that cancers such as melanoma can be nipped in the bud (for example if you have scalp melanoma, you are given scans to see if it is popping up elsewhere).
      
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      March 20, 2026 10:13am
      - NothingLeft
        
        PET scan (looking for antimatter positrons emitted by a radioactive tracer) is a pretty solid all-body dose of radiation several years of normal life equivalent. But given that it is used to search for metastasized cancer (where most growth is happening) the radiation is not what is going to kill you.
        
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        March 20, 2026 10:42am
    - rouppe
      
      “A positron emission tomography (PET) scan is an imaging test that uses radioactive material to diagnose, monitor and treat a variety of conditions and diseases. Doctors use it to find tumours, diagnose heart disease and brain disorders and other conditions.”
      
      Combined with:
      “she said for her and her partner it was not a matter of access for them to health services, but when those services found how much both drank and smoked”
      
      Tells me that maori have plenty of access to health care, they just don’t want to make changes for self care, resulting in very expensive public health care expenses.
      
      Nothing to do with Treaty Articles.
      
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      March 20, 2026 10:36am
      - Paulus
        
        Where can PET scans be written in the so called Treaty ?
        Ok then create Tikanga.
        
        1 1
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        March 20, 2026 3:03pm
    - Yvette
      
      Thank you to those who have explained a PET scan. I should have enlarged on “which I had never heard of before” by admitting I have since consulted Dr Google for an explanation.
      
      But concerning a stereotype ruling out of some medical services because of smoking and drink, I did have a sense that it was partly self-determined and also a question on most clinic forms, which is memorable because it fits with the frame “I have this dis-ease because of lifestyle so I am underserving” – more mental “self re-colonization”?
      
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      March 20, 2026 1:26pm
  - Ian Boag
    
    We can afford to subsidise property “investment” with interest deductibility and no CGT. We can afford to pay pensions to oldies with income of over $100,000 and/or assets of some millions. We can afford tax cuts that benefit high earners more than low earners ….
    
    Free dental care? Priorities I guess. I doubt if there are enough dentists to make it work anyway.
    
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    March 20, 2026 9:55am
    - Cassandra
      
      We’re not subsidising property investment; it’s allowing a legitimate deduction of a business expense. Telling porkies aka BS, doesn’t help your argument.
      
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      March 20, 2026 10:08am
      - Ian Boag
        
        And no tax on the main profit – the capital gain. Deductibility is fair enough if the profit is taxed.
        
        7 4
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        March 20, 2026 11:49am
      - slijmbal
        
        @Ian
        
        the rules around treating capital gains as income are the same for shares, property, bitcoin, businesses, farms etc. There is a weird interpretation around whether one purchases something for ‘income’.
        
        If I trade i.e. do frequent transactions in any specific asset type the IRD then decides I am doing it for income at which point I would pay income tax on any gains. Frequent is a hard definition to find so it is open to intepretaion.
        
        Property is treated more harshly than almost all other asset types as there is a brightline test.
        
        The only asset type that is arguably treated more harshly are overseas investments, excluding Australia. Here Cullen’s oxymoronically named Fair Dividend Scheme kicks in and one is treated as having an income of 5% of the asset value regardless of any true income. It is essentially a wealth tax and an envy tax.
        
        I do have to laugh at the nonsense spewed about property investment claiming it receives a tax subsidy (see above) or is an unproductive investment. Property provides a service i.e. somewhere to live or house a business. That is highly productive.
        
        “We can afford tax cuts that benefit high earners more than low earners ….” again with the emotive misrepresentation. The vast bulk of income tax is paid by a small number of tax payers. They pay a lot of tax – top 3% of earners pay 24 % of income tax – the top 9% pay 41% of all income tax. Considering how wasteful governments, especially Labour ones, are giving them some relief from the incessant attacks on their income will give them greater amounts because they pay so MUCH more. We are taking less of their money not giving them money.
        
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        March 20, 2026 12:59pm
      - Yabster
        
        That just incorrect Ian- like any other business the profits are taxed- no the capital gain in most cases are not taxed-the exact same treatment if a business is sold. (like if you sold your little business) You have been told that many times but you continue to repeat bs -why is that?
        
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        March 20, 2026 1:02pm
    - Damocles11
      
      Ian, when the Left are offering free this, that, and the other to get votes, what are the Right supposed to offer? “Yes, they will give you free dental care, but we can offer you fiscal responsibility.” It’s no contest. It amazes me that people continue to ignore this basic point: the Right must offer something tangible. Offer ‘free stuff’ and you are to all-intents-and-purposes just another Left wing party. That leaves tax cuts. Offer tax cuts and the “WHY ARE YOU OFFERING TAX CUTS?! WE CAN’T AFFORD TAX CUTS!!” brigade become energised.
      Political debate and discourse in New Zealand usually ignores two simple statements of fact:
      1/ Offering tax cuts is a matter of political necessity for parties on the Right.
      2/ The current government has decided that it has no option but to continue the baked-in spending trajectory handed to it by Labour. To do otherwise would to plunge the country into deep recession, since GDP includes government spending. Every Labourite (and everyone else) should consider that when they criticise the current government for increasing our national debt.
      
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      March 20, 2026 10:30am
    - rouppe
      
      The proposed CGT only applies to residential landlords. Not industrial landlords. Not commercial landlords. Not storage unit (for residential property) owner landlords.
      
      It’s not a CGT. It’s a residential landlord tax. A CGT would include your knowledge, your private investments, or the actuarial value of your government pension.
      
      My neighbor collects a government pension from decades as a public servant.
      It’s guaranteed, ie it doesn’t go down as a result of a global shock like Iran, like my investments have.
      It’s inflation adjusted every year, unlike my investments.
      
      Every $100,000 of income from a scheme like that has an actuarial value of about $2,000,000. CGT that too.
      
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      March 20, 2026 10:42am
      - Ian Boag
        
        My neighbor collects a government pension from decades as a public servant.
        
        So what? So do I and for the same reason. It is a contributory thing where I paid into an account for me. The amount I get is related to what I had paid in. I left in the early 90’s.
        
        Now at age 80. I run a moderately profitable business. I collect my dole every fortnight because I can. I’m just happy that the country can afford to pay it to people like me.
        
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        March 20, 2026 11:55am
      - peterwn
        
        “Not industrial landlords. Not commercial landlords.”
        This acknowledges two things.
        1. Many businesses lease their premises because they consider they are not in the business of owning property. If CGT was potentially payable then owners would ‘bake in’ CGT provision when considering new developments thus increasing the cost of doing business.
        2. Much commercial is indirectly owned by a large cross section of owners especially including Kiwisavers in ‘balanced’ and ‘growth’ funds. They would effectively end up paying CGT.
        
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        March 20, 2026 12:37pm
      - rouppe
        
        @Ian: The “so what” is that such a pension has a capital value attached to it. Therefore it should attract a capital gains tax.
        
        If you are on a similar scheme, it has nothing to do with how much you paid in, it is calculated as a percentage of your average salary in the 5 years before you retired.
        
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        March 20, 2026 1:02pm
      - rouppe
        
        @Peter
        
        “Many businesses lease their premises because they consider they are not in the business of owning property.”
        
        Errr what? You can’t lease a property to someone unless you own it…
        
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        March 20, 2026 1:04pm
      - Dougal10
        
        Civil service pensions with built in inflation adjustments should be taxed as income as it is paid out.
        
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        March 20, 2026 1:16pm
      - mogg
        
        Did you know that your neighbour paid tax on his pension contributions when they were being made, and now he is taxed again at 30% on his four weekly payments when they are paid out. His 30% tax rate now is regardless of his current marginal tax rate.
        
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        March 20, 2026 2:57pm
      - artemisia
        
        GSF annuities are paid free of tax in NZ and Australia. They are TTE – taxed taxed exempt.
        
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        March 20, 2026 3:02pm
      - Ian Boag
        
        I guess if you want to make a CGT apply to the actuarial value of a pension …. CGT normally is collected when an asset is sold …. so I’m not quite sure how it would be levied. But do fill me in please
        
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        March 20, 2026 3:27pm
      - Quail
        
        R,
        Fascinating that your neighbors “public service “ pension is inflation adjusted .
        Two tier result —- Them and us!
        Politicians on ZB ware boasting today that NZ wage increases have exceeded inflation rate for the past three years.
        Have they not heard that the wage / price spiral is a major driver of inflation?
        The compounded inflation rate has destroyed the purchasing power of the NZD .
        
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        March 20, 2026 7:58pm
      - Paulus
        
        But of course any Capital Gains tax, realised or unrealised,will not include those of purported of Maori descent.
        Like Council rates first.
        
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        March 21, 2026 2:52pm
  - NZer In Exile
    
    Remind me why Optical and Dental are orphaned from general public medicine? Seems like an irrational anomaly to me.
    
    3 1
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    March 20, 2026 7:45pm
- Grumpy Silver Top
  
  Inclusion of te tiriti in the headline says it all.
  
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  March 20, 2026 8:39am
- Scott
  
  Thanks for linking to the article artemesia. The article from Radio NZ has served to make us all dumber:
  – Given the millions we spend already on health care and our rising national debt and how bad our govt accounts are, how can we possibly consider spending millions more on tax payer funded dental care for adults?
  – The name of the country is still New Zealand
  – There is no requirement in the Treaty of Waitangi to have the same outcomes based on race. The treaty gives Maori people the rights of British subjects, the same as everyone else, not more rights than everyone else.
  – Reference to Maori people pre colonisation having excellent teeth are ludicrous. There was no health care, no dentists, the average life expectancy was around 30 and James Cook met some very old Maori men who were in fact around 40.
  – Dental care by Maori, for Maori is a plea for separate state funded Maori dentists. As if there is such a thing as Maori dentistry? Also would it be acceptable to ask for white dentists for white people? Of course not!
  
  Indeed the whole article is of that far left, neo Marxist persuasion that sees oppression and racism at every turn and despises traditional New Zealand and won’t even use the actual name of the country.
  
  Why a centre right government would continue to own and subsidise such a media outlet is beyond me?
  
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  March 20, 2026 8:40am
  - pdm
    
    `The name of the country is still New Zealand’.
    
    I copped what seems to be a permanent ban from commenting at Stuff for pointing that out twice in two days about 10 days ago.
    
    Maybe the fact that I added both times that Aotearoa was a mythical place contributed.
    
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    March 20, 2026 9:41am
    - David Garrett
      
      Pdm: Why on earth would you bother commenting on Stuff? You must have too much time on ur hands…or be a masochist
      
      25 1
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      March 20, 2026 10:01am
      - pdm
        
        Probably a bit of both DG.
        
        Other than commenting on Rugby and Cricket it was always a challenge to get a comment past their moderators.
        
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        March 20, 2026 10:11am
  - Northshoredoc
    
    Good Lord I agree 100% with Scott – I need a cup of tea and a lie down.
    
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    March 20, 2026 10:40am
    - Scott
      
      Northshore – welcome to the dark side 😊
      
      4 2
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      March 20, 2026 12:51pm
      - Northshoredoc
        
        Scott – I am expecting a blue moon tonight.
        
        4 0
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        March 20, 2026 7:12pm
- Nikola Donatello
  
  It is notable that people like this call for ever increasing entitlements, such as free dental care and increased availability of medicines. Yet these same people advocate policies that make New Zealand poorer.
  
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  March 20, 2026 8:43am
- mandk
  
  Linking this to the Treaty is absurd.
  
  If Matauranga Māori is so wonderful, why can’t they use it for the dental treatment they need?
  
  After all, an infusion of kawakawa should cure anything.
  
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  March 20, 2026 8:48am
  - Paulus
    
    But it is the costs of the wailing Maori persons in attendence during the Tikanga treatment which is where the costs apply.
    
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    March 21, 2026 2:54pm
- kowtow
  
  You guys are heartless!
  
  AI says ;
  
  ‘A smile is considered priceless because it is a powerful, universal expression of joy and kindness that costs nothing to give yet provides immense value to both the giver and receiver. It acts as a natural, non-monetary gift that fosters connection, boosts happiness, and offers comfort, often described as a “natural remedy” for fatigue and sorrow.’
  
  Surely if we could all confidently smile , universal peace and happiness would break out .Bigly .
  
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  March 20, 2026 9:04am
- Southern Raider
  
  Someone needs to have the balls to come out at state
  
  You want cheaper gas and electricity, cheaper produce, more health care etc then let us mine the country for minerals and commission a lignite to gas plant in Southland.
  
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  March 20, 2026 9:09am
  - Paulus
    
    In addition to that we need longer holidays and shorter working days but still getting the same or more money for what is being done !
    
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    March 20, 2026 9:25am
- cmm (semi-retired edition)
  
  What we need it treaty led dentistry based on Mātauranga Māori. Or maybe some whales can sing to your tooth and make it better.
  
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  March 20, 2026 9:11am
  - Damocles11
    
    Dentistry based on traditional Maori practices would involve chewing on fern roots, which isn’t advisable since they wear out human teeth in double-quick time.
    
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    March 20, 2026 10:32am
- wsk12345
  
  An acquaintance of mine was on thr DPB. She got $1000 debtal per ann
  Without question. Her teeth were great so she used it for whitening. Something can’t afford, even as I save up for my $4k root canal.
  
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  March 20, 2026 9:57am
- Nigel Kearney
  
  My teeth are fine and I have been to the dentist three times in the last 40 years. If there was no charge I would go more, but I don’t consider it value for money at current prices. So I guess that would make me one of the people who does not visit a dentist due to cost.
  
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  March 20, 2026 10:07am
Simon

It’s not the fuel prices or supply which is the crisis it’s the grossly stupid govt response to these issues which will be the crisis. Just look at those National party clowns.
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March 20, 2026 8:05am
- Damocles11
  
  Just hurling abuse isn’t in any way, shape, or form a cogent argument. You have to state which aspects of the government response you are unhappy with, and why. Since this is an evolving crisis, the government response is still evolving, and a considered fact-based approach from government is the right one. The typical Labour approach of fire-hosing many billions of dollars of taxpayer cash in all directions in a completely untargeted manner may be the approach you favour, but that doesn’t mean it is the correct one. Overcook the fiscal response and you will invariably see an inferno of rising inflation to rival the conflagration of a Qatari gas field when it has been hit by an Iranian missile.
  
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  March 20, 2026 10:39am
- Jethrod
  
  No , he’s working on upping his list seat allocation, but it tends to go up and down.
  
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  March 20, 2026 12:45pm
NeverMindTheBollocks

Shell Lane (The Terrace) bike rack report:

At 8.22am, just the two bikes today.

A cool, calm, dry morning in the Capital, ideal for cycling.

It’s very quiet out there. All those government head office workers WFH to save petrol (for the weekend).
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March 20, 2026 8:22am
- kowtow
  
  Friday , in Wellington .I’m surprised anyone’s in the office . All will be “working” from home.
  
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  March 20, 2026 10:58am
  - imalwaysright
    
    I’m surprised anyone is in Wellington…
    
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    March 20, 2026 1:42pm
    - kowtow
      
      I’m not .It’s the biggest sinecure in the country . If they weren’t there they’d have to look for real work.
      
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      March 20, 2026 2:46pm
Damocles11

The Middle East has erupted in flames with tit-for-tat attacks on gas fields, and Iranian attacks on refineries and oil infrastructure. An Iranian attack has done “significant damage” to Ras Laffan, the Qatari hub responsible for a fifth of the world’s liquefied natural gas (LNG). Operation Epic Furry is in danger of going completely off the rails, and Gulf nations and US allies will be questioning the true extent of US power and resolve when the US is unwilling or unable to secure the Strait of Hormuz for the safe shipping of oil and gas, and seemingly unable of preventing Iran from continuing to perpetrate extremely damaging attacks against the Gulf states.
The Gulf states forging close ties with the US and host US bases on their soil on the understanding that the US would safeguard their security. If the US cannot live up to their part of the bargain, the Gulf states will be seriously thinking about the implications of that.
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March 20, 2026 8:23am
- Cassandra
  
  As a former military planner I am amazed that the US didn’t sort this before opening fire. Rubio and Hegseth should have been working the pollies and Cane the generals well before the opening salvo.
  
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  March 20, 2026 10:13am
  - Dudley Quaffquaff
    
    As an observer of Trump and Hegseth I am not amazed at all.
    
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    March 20, 2026 10:19am
  - jkt
    
    As a former military strategist, I will offer that they may have considered this and decided this is why they needed to attack Iran now do that Iran will close the Hormuz …
    I just wonder why the Americans do not occupy Kargh Island to protect the infrastructure for the Iranian people.
    
    Do not read anything into the fact that Israeli jets and not bombing Kargh Island.🤗
    
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    March 20, 2026 10:40am
    - Cassandra
      
      Perhaps. But it was the wrong decision.
      
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      March 20, 2026 11:52am
      - jkt
        
        Of course it was the wrong decision.
        But I love it when I see sycophants squirm.
        
        Bondi, Gabbard …… the fight for democracy continues.
        
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        March 20, 2026 1:19pm
- virtualmark
  
  Fun to see the video interviews with Gulf Arab leaders bemoaning that the money they have “invested” with Kushner etc hasn’t brought them any security.
  
  Meanwhile Qatar must be thinking they’d have got something more than this for their US$400m gift of a 747 to Trump.
  
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  March 20, 2026 10:30am
  - marcw
    
    They didn’t seem to mind the income they recieved from the 7 Hamas terrorist financiers they accomodated while the IDF was defending Israel from Gaza attacks.
    Speaking of those “leaders”, where are they now? Qatar must be a bit pissed that, having protected these terrorist supporters in their apartments for years (and tipped them off at the last minute to the Israeli bombing attack late last year), that their home country is now bombing the host. Such gratitude.
    Maybe they have departed with their money to Russia like Assad?
    
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    March 20, 2026 11:10am
  - virtualmark
    
    And now the PM of Qatar is in a press conference where he wonders aloud if Trump is a servant of Putin.
    
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    March 20, 2026 4:10pm
- Scott
  
  Damocles, for you the sky is always falling. The war in Iran is going very well. The USA and Israel can bomb at will. The Iranian leadership has been decimated.
  Last I checked the Nato allies are getting into line about policing the Straits of Hormuz.
  The war has been going what, about 2 or 3 weeks?
  It’s going brilliantly, Trump is a genius, the Ayatollahs are all but gone. Hopefully there will be a new day in Iran soon and the Persian people will rise up to claim back their country.
  The middle East will be a much better place without terrorist supporting Iran.
  It’s going very well. Relax. The sky is not falling. 😎
  
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  March 20, 2026 11:05am
  - Taieri
    
    It’s going very well.
    ————-
    
    It is indeed. To the point where the closest gas station was out of fuel yesterday.
    
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    March 20, 2026 1:39pm
    - Graeme Hall
      
      The CEO of some national transport organisation explained that they would need double the number of petrol tankers to distribute sufficient fuel to keep the stations in fuel because of panic buying. No panic buying – then with normal deliveries there would be plenty of fuel available.
      
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      March 20, 2026 2:28pm
      - Hard Cheese
        
        Oops, sorry mods – reported by accident. My apologies Graeme.
        
        [Mod- Don’t worry. Reported posts are ignored because some people abuse the system and report posts they don’t like]
        
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        March 20, 2026 4:00pm
      - Taieri
        
        No panic buying – then with normal deliveries there would be plenty of fuel available.
        ————-
        
        Just drove past the Mobil gas station down the road. All diesel bowsers “out of service”, same as yesterday.
        
        I’m running a diesel car. Have always kept its tank full and also keep 20ltrs can as a reserve – last filled before the current crisis. With only unavoidable driving I’ll be OK for a couple of months, but if people have to drive for work I’m not surprised that they are stocking up. Not even so much because of prices but to make sure that they have enough juice to remain mobile.
        
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        March 20, 2026 4:06pm
  - Hard Cheese
    
    So well that Trump is begging other countries to help open the Straits of Hormuz. And a country whose navy and airforce have been obliterated have shot at and damaged the wonder plane F-35. Remarkable!
    
    2 or 3 weeks now, is it? How is that rising up to claim back their country going?
    
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    March 20, 2026 3:21pm
    - Scott
      
      Cheese – the uprising hasn’t happened yet but it still looks very much on the cards. The security forces are being bombed, the Ayatollahs are being eliminated and drones are patrolling the skies to protect the people.
      Scott predicts a successful uprising over the next month or two. Possibly with the Royal son as an interim leader?
      
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      March 20, 2026 4:03pm
      - Hard Cheese
        
        What evidence do you see that an uprising is on the cards? Or is it just your “prediction” based on the colour of socks you’re wearing today? In a month or two the petrol situation here will be pretty dire and so will the world’s economy – waiting for something that might well never happen.
        
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        March 20, 2026 7:06pm
Souvlaki

Wellington.Scoop » PM working from hospital, while his 4-year-old daughter is treated https://share.google/NE83boY4veVs8R8SY

Pffft no prob divulging family medical information before last election when he perceived a political sympathy advantage from his kids misfortune!!!
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March 20, 2026 8:25am
- AitchW
  
  Is Hipkins just not very bright? Does he not remember all the fluff pieces his comms people organised? Does he not know that the internet remembers everything?
  
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  March 20, 2026 8:55am
kowtow

Last night HDPA ,who said she didn’t agree with the content , went on to read out a rather lengthy , apocalyptic piece from some Oz blog or other about the end of civilisation as we know it due to the relative shortage of a few oil tankers from the ME .

Why bother ?

Other than to spread fear and panic .

Like the media did during the scamdemic .

Here we go again.

No doubt these are the type of people who have those ‘Keep Calm Carry On’ mugs and posters all over the place to show how cool they are .
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March 20, 2026 8:34am
- Wayne L Sexton
  
  It’s not apocalyptic, it’s arithmetic.
  
  49 days of cover as of March 15. Panic buying running at 1.5-2.5x normal consumption. That puts us around 32 days by Monday. The last confirmed ship arrival is March 30. Three more ships that would add 5-6 days haven’t confirmed sailing from Asia yet. After that, the pipeline is currently empty.
  
  The refineries those ships load from in Singapore and South Korea just watched Israel hit Iran’s South Pars gas field and Iran retaliate by bombing energy infrastructure across Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. That’s the feedstock those refineries need to make the fuel we import — because we closed our own refinery and dismantled it.
  
  Nobody’s saying civilisation is ending. But “keep calm and carry on” only works if the ships are actually coming. Monday’s briefing has one question that matters: have the 3 ships left port?
  
  You don’t need an Oz blog for that. Just a calculator.
  
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  March 20, 2026 9:06am
  - Paulus
    
    It is reported this morning that NSW drivers are in a blind panic over fuel for their vehicles going crazy to fill up with long queues.
    The media burst out with headlines that Fuel stations have run out of fuel.
    Forgive the accurate number but in NSW the are some 3,900 Fuel stations, and guess what, 2 ran out of fuel.
    
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    March 20, 2026 9:32am
    - Wayne L Sexton
      
      You’re looking at the wrong end of the pipe. Two stations running dry isn’t the story — it’s 3,900 stations all being topped up at once by people pulling demand forward.
      
      That fuel came from somewhere. It came from the buffer between what’s in the country and what’s arriving by ship. Every litre bought today out of panic is a litre consumed earlier than planned, which means the existing supply runs out sooner.
      
      The chokepoint isn’t the pump. It’s the tankers that haven’t left Asian ports yet. Watch that space.
      
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      March 20, 2026 9:46am
      - virtualmark
        
        It’s not when people fill up, it’s when people burn it by driving around.
        
        Filling your tank with gas just shifts the storage site from the gas station to your car’s tank. There’s still the 50-or-whatever days of fuel in country – you’ve just changed where it’s stored.
        
        Meanwhile with prices elevated people drive less and so what would normally be, say, 50 days of fuel at normal usage rates stretches out slightly to be, say, 55 days. Not enough to solve the problem, but not the end-of-civilisation-as-we-know-it story the media loves.
        
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        March 20, 2026 10:34am
      - Wayne L Sexton
        
        Sure, if you look at it statically and ignore the looming factors—the war, the shipping chokepoints, and refineries running at a failing 60% efficiency. That drop in efficiency is what’s actually throttling our imports. You’re also ignoring how panic-hoarding misallocates fuel, keeping it out of the system until it’s too late.
        As of this past Monday, we had 49 days of fuel. Even if high prices manage to cut driving by 10%, you’re only stretching that supply by a few days. So, as of today, we’ve essentially traded a systemic collapse for 50 days of fuel. It’s a band-aid on a bullet wound.
        
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        March 20, 2026 2:04pm
    - kowtow
      
      The media did the same thing in the UK a number of years back .
      
      created a nationwide ‘crisis’
      
      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2021_United_Kingdom_fuel_supply_crisis
      
      You really do have to wonder if these media people want chaos.
      
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      March 20, 2026 9:51am
      - Wayne L Sexton
        
        Completely agree kowtow, the media has poured petrol on this — no pun intended. The UK 2021 crisis is the textbook case of coverage creating the very panic it’s reporting on.
        
        But the UK had a distribution problem, not a supply problem. The fuel was there, it just needed drivers to move it. This is different. The question here isn’t logistics — it’s whether the fuel exists in the pipeline at all beyond the end of March. The media made the demand spike worse, but they didn’t close the Strait of Hormuz or bomb the refineries’ feedstock supply.
        
        Blame the media for the panic. But the arithmetic doesn’t care about headlines.
        
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        March 20, 2026 10:19am
      - R
        
        MSM love chaos. It provides headlines, sells media content; and is an ideological opportunity for malicious information propagation.
        
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        March 20, 2026 12:00pm
      - Paulus
        
        Why wonder, the media in New Zealand are pushing hard for chaos.
        
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        March 20, 2026 3:11pm
- Tricati
  
  She’s gone down in my estimations some what – seemed to be a chair leader to replace Luxon, and has very shallow analysis of issues, or maybe cherry picking parts to suit a narrative.
  
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  March 20, 2026 9:22am
  - Cassandra
    
    I think cheers better than chairs. 😇
    
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    March 20, 2026 10:15am
    - David Garrett
      
      Cass: Thank you a fellow grammar and usage Nazi! Nice to know I am not alone!
      
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      March 20, 2026 10:31am
      - Cassandra
        
        I’m not anywhere near you on grammar but I do proofread obsessively.
        
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        March 20, 2026 11:55am
  - greybeard
    
    She is away today. Not the first time she has had a day off after a bad day at the office.
    
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    March 20, 2026 4:49pm
Tomtoddy

So I committed this serious crime. Judge said 5 years in the nick. However he deducted 10% because I was old, another 10% because my father used to whack me with a razor strop, another 10% because I said I said I was very, very sorry, another 20% because I did a course on Te Tiriti, another 20% because my family is poor, another 10% because I promised to do restorative justice, another 10% because I came from Ruatoria, anther 10% because I stuttered, another 10% because I was stressed from my ex coming home so the Judge ended up doing time and I headed home.
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March 20, 2026 8:35am
- pdm
  
  TT – it sounds like you will be in credit for the rest of your life.
  
  Feel free to rape, pillage and murder at will.
  
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  March 20, 2026 8:40am
  - kowtow
    
    Claim refugee status and you can.
    
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    March 20, 2026 9:00am
- David Garrett
  
  Tom: That’s absolutely brilliant mate…you should get paid for it!
  
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  March 20, 2026 9:13am
- imalwaysright
  
  A NZ judge is the best defence lawyer you can get.
  
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  March 20, 2026 12:04pm
- Colville
  
  To.
  Farrk you must be old if Dad uses a razor strop 🤣
  
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  March 20, 2026 1:40pm
Southern Raider

Yesterday I was in the Auckland CBD.

The media will never report it, but there was a kind of busy buzz back. Lots of people in the streets walking around from tourists to business people to families.

And the one big thing missing I noticed? Homeless beggars and drunks. It was like overnight with the move on orders they have all just disappeared.

Such a long overdue measure from a Govt, but it is making a massive difference. I don’t expect any updated reports after the initial media bias.
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March 20, 2026 8:58am
- Don Beckett
  
  But but but – the Salvation Army said…..cruel….uncaring…
  
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  March 20, 2026 10:55am
- NothingLeft
  
  To deal with homelessness:
  
  Build a big barracks in the countryside. If you are found wasted on the streets with no home then you get sent there there with access to basics of life, food, clothing, bathrooms and individual lockable rooms. TV/internet. Also re-habilitation support with on-site medical care.
  
  But also freely available drugs and alcohol – you can have as much as you want, unto death if that is what you choose.
  
  You don’t get to leave unless you stay clean for 3 months.
  
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  March 20, 2026 11:10am
  - Taieri
    
    Quite a number of them have psychiatric problems. But we no longer have psychiatric hospitals where they belong.
    
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    March 20, 2026 12:32pm
    - Paulus
      
      Who closed the Psychiatric Hospitals please ?
      Don’t remember it was National.
      
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      March 20, 2026 3:14pm
      - Taieri
        
        It was Big Jen if I remember correctly.
        
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        March 20, 2026 4:10pm
    - greybeard
      
      Mental health problems are often quoted as being the main factor in these vagrants’ activities.
      For some this may be true but: if they are affected by hard drugs then it is not a mental problem but a physical addiction problem.
      Same as smoking cigarettes. Or drinking alcohol.
      
      This “mental health” reason is simply too often a convenient excuse.
      
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      March 20, 2026 4:52pm
- Isobar
  
  You do realise the move on orders are nothing but a press release at the moment?
  
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  March 20, 2026 11:56am
  - kowtow
    
    Who knew the bums are avid consumers of our failing msm. About right though.
    
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    March 20, 2026 2:06pm
Southern Raider

We are back in Covid times

Last night One News had at least 3 items on fuel and at one point 6 journalists with live crosses around the country reporting about queues and empty pumps.

There is a price issue at the moment not an imminent fuel shortage disaster. The media are driving the irrational panic
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March 20, 2026 9:00am
- kowtow
  
  Another problem is there’s an unfortunatly relatively large block of very stupid people around .
  
  This is the demographic who gave Ardern and Co her absolute majoridy under MMP as a reward for ‘saving’ them during the scamdemic , but who then quickly turned on her for locking them up for a week or two longer than they wanted to be.
  
  These will be the same people who blame Luxon for the inflation they caused by electing a Fabian regime.
  
  These are the [Mod – give the casual racism a break] , the folk now queuing up to save a few cents at the pump and hoarding it in their uninsured basements and garages.
  
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  March 20, 2026 9:41am
- Nikola Donatello
  
  So why do you watch such rubbish?
  
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  March 20, 2026 3:43pm
Tauhei Notts

This morning’s N.Z. Herald’s editorial piece makes reference to a recent Nelson rape case.
The editorial seems weird to me. The great thing about Kiwiblog is that some place somewhere a Kiwiblog contributor will put us all in the picture. I hope that happens.
Kiwiblog teaches me more than any N.Z. newspaper ever will.
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March 20, 2026 9:09am
- David Garrett
  
  Tauhei: Spot on Sir…Stuff is only good for the quizzes these days (13/15 this morning)
  
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  March 20, 2026 9:18am
  - pdm
    
    Well done DG.
    
    I only managed 9.
    
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    March 20, 2026 9:47am
    - Cassandra
      
      Ditto. Surely it should be grape!
      
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      March 20, 2026 10:20am
      - David Garrett
        
        Cass: Yeah that one got me too.
        
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        March 20, 2026 10:33am
      - Hard Cheese
        
        Giving someone the pineapple doesn’t sound very friendly to me
        
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        March 20, 2026 2:57pm
- Maggy Wassilieff
  
  I suspect it’s about this trial that the Judge halted because the Jury started asking creepy questions about the victim
  
  https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/crime/sex-trial-halted-after-jury-pursues-womans-sexual-history-and-underwear-queries/7FQYPKPA4NCXHJAUAMLD634FOM/
  
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  March 20, 2026 9:35am
  - Gravelroad
    
    “How many times had she had sex with a man prior to this situation with Mr [suppressed]?” they asked, followed by, “Her underwear— is it a typical style and colour she wears daily, or only for special occasions?”
    Yep, that’s creepy all right.
    Even for Nelson.
    
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    March 20, 2026 9:49am
    - David Garrett
      
      Gravel: UT would be interesting to know what she was wearing in court…some if my daughter’s friends routinely dress like hookers
      
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      March 20, 2026 10:36am
      - Dudley Quaffquaff
        
        It’s still not OK to rape them
        
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        March 20, 2026 11:49am
      - Cassandra
        
        of?
        
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        March 20, 2026 11:56am
      - BeaB
        
        They can wear what they like and you and every other man must keep your hands to yourself unless there is clear consent. It’s not difficult.
        Unless you want your daughter’s friends covered up. A burka apparently does the job very effectively to quell the uncontrollable lusts of Muslim menfolk.
        
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        March 20, 2026 12:38pm
lastmanstanding

Looks like the plan is to chopter Marines from USS Tripoli onto Kharg Island and turn off the oil taps. Trump has told Israel to stop bombing oil installations. The deal will be if Iran opens the SoH the taps get turned on and the oil installations dont get bombed. As always back channel talks will be seeking a moderate leadership who can be dealt with. The longer term plan will be to wean Iran off China and Russia and to the US and the West. There is plenty of investment dollars sloshing around to rebuild Iran. Not all of its 90 million people are religous nut cases. Most want to live in peace and prosperity. I might be totally wrong only time will tell.
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March 20, 2026 9:12am
- kowtow
  
  ‘Most want to live in peace and prosperity.’
  
  Who knows .
  
  Here in NZ a very sizeable left wing voting block want our lives to be completely controlled by the neo clerics of Fabian labour , loony Greens and racist maori party .Which would result in even more division and increasing national impoverishment .
  
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  March 20, 2026 9:19am
- waripori
  
  Could be a good plan. Would have been better if it had been thought of at the beginning rather than tacked on half arsed when things are not happening as Trump imagined they would.
  
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  March 20, 2026 9:20am
  - Cassandra
    
    Absolutely. Seizing Kharg should have been a priority. PLus lots more eg a coalition.
    
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    March 20, 2026 10:23am
    - kowtow
      
      In fairness had they ( Bibi and Trump) let anyone else in on it , that meeting of the Mullah and his henchmen , wouldn’t have happened and they wouldn’t have been able to pull off that particular coup ……which I think was what they were gambling on . A quick decisive strike to the head , and thedn a new leader installed and world peace reigns supreme .
      
      Alas.Not to be.
      
      We may never know the truth of this affair.
      
      They still argue about why Adolf didn’t finish off the BEF at Dunkirk. And no it wasn’t a cabal of Jewish bankers controlling the Nazis.
      
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      March 20, 2026 11:07am
      - Cassandra
        
        Never interfere when your enemy is making a mistake.
        
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        March 20, 2026 11:58am
    - Charlotte Wells
      
      How about aircover for the marines by degrading the Iranian missiles and drones and getting air supremecy first?
      
      A good tactic I would suggest.
      
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      March 20, 2026 5:42pm
      - Ian Boag
        
        Brilliant. Noone will have thought of that. Drop Don and Bibi a line 🙂
        
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        March 20, 2026 6:34pm
  - All_on_Red
    
    There is video of Trump saying in 1988 that if he was in charge he would take control of Kharg and other islands, then use the loss of income to make Iran change
    
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    March 20, 2026 11:42am
- cmm (semi-retired edition)
  
  Yup, they want Iran West aligned and not BRICS aligned.
  
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  March 20, 2026 9:20am
- MCōs
  
  “Most want to live in peace and prosperity.”
  Don’t we all!
  
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  March 20, 2026 9:24am
- Charlotte Wells
  
  Indeed the plan is to chopper troops ashore.
  
  There are Youtube videos about it being moved to the area. Along with the Iwo Jima 2,500 marines should be enough to secure the island.
  
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMy69tl25r8&t=380s
  
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  March 20, 2026 5:40pm
kowtow

In New York the Hamas/Hezbollah proxies chant Death to America / Death to Israel , freely .
In Tehran protesting gets you shot or publicly hanged .

https://www.timesofisrael.com/old-fashioned-antisemitic-tropes-and-trendy-anti-zionism-converge-at-al-quds-day-rallies/
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March 20, 2026 9:12am
cmm (semi-retired edition)

I am not at all intereseted in the gossippy he-said she-said details of Hipkins’ hapless lovelife. What I find interesting is the political splatter.

It is interesting to me that not a single “Labour Leader” is standing by their brother in arms. Not a peep from Sepuloni, Woods, etc etc.

I suspect they have more behind the scenes knowledge than we have and don’t want to be anywhere near the inevitable explosion.
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March 20, 2026 9:19am
- imalwaysright
  
  They are taking out the trash.
  Remember Winston said he won’t form a coalition with a Hipkins led Labour party. The recent poll showing them ahead of National looks like the trigger point, when the interview with the ex happens Hipkins will resign and one of the women will take over.
  
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  March 20, 2026 12:17pm
  - BeaB
    
    I’m praying for Sepuloni and Ginny to step up. The dream team.
    
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    March 20, 2026 12:39pm
    - Paulus
      
      Yes, agreed, both go around in a dream !
      Watch Party favourite Camilla Belich, and to whom she is married.
      
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      March 20, 2026 3:22pm
  - Paulus
    
    Get the latest poll up to date please !
    
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    March 20, 2026 3:17pm
Maggy Wassilieff

Labour’s problem or our problem?

The disease is that New Zealand never developed the coalition culture that MMP requires and Labour, more than any other party, has actively chosen not to build it.
….

There is no pre-election transparency about who would govern with whom. There is no structural argument about what a centre-left government would look like or who it would include.

https://www.interest.co.nz/public-policy/137705/whether-chris-hipkins-survives-week-almost-beside-point-labour-has-no?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email
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March 20, 2026 9:32am
Positan

Further to the “dismissal” of charges against the individual who effected the damage to the Te Papa exhibit – are we ever going to be informed as to why the offender, with a criminal history such as he possesses, was accorded such unbelievably lax treatment?

Given the indisputable facts of the incident, is there any intention to inform the general public as to why such leniency was extended – let alone, even dreamed of being accorded – and if not, WHY NOT?

Are there any plans to have new charges laid against that transparently guilty offender so that the unbiased/neutral/even-handed image of NZ justice as once-perceived, and still absolutely demanded by most New Zealanders, may be redeemed?
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March 20, 2026 9:38am
- pdm
  
  Is it possible to OIA the Solicitor General?
  
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  March 20, 2026 9:51am
  - peterwn
    
    Much of the work of the Solicitor-General’s office is legally privileged, so would not be subject to OIA.
    
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    March 20, 2026 10:16am
- peterwn
  
  Was a similar one some years ago. On ANZAC day some years ago, during an ANZAC service someone set fire to a flag in the grounds of Government Building which is opposite the Cenotaph. Charge was dismissed as it was considered freedom of expression despite it being an insult to those at the service. The prosecutors missed a trick – Government Building and its grounds are part of the Conservation Estate and a permit is always required to light a fire in or near any part of the Conservation Estate. This is particularly relevant as the Government Building is made of wood and you do not want anyone lighting fires anywhere near it. So the flag burner should have been prosecuted under DOC legislation.
  
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  March 20, 2026 10:34am
- kowtow
  
  Have you folloewd Plunket’s Platform on this.
  
  Here’s a taste , in case you haven’t.
  
  https://theplatform.kiwi/podcasts/episode/david-harvey-on-the-te-papa-treaty-vandalism-charges-dropped
  
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  March 20, 2026 10:51am
Paulus

It is reported that one of Winston’s main election details will be a binding referendum on the continuation of Maori Seats.
A Winner in my books, but I would rather not vote for Winston anyway, as he as a Maori cannot betrusted.
Winston first and all for Winston.
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March 20, 2026 9:38am
- pdm
  
  Yep Paulus.
  
  Eighteen Months as Prime Minister is by far the biggest BAUBLE he has ever had in his sights.
  
  Given it is unlikely ACT will allow it his only option will be to go with Hipkins, or whomever is in the hot seat for Labour.
  
  Peters has form so I don’t discount it happening.
  
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  March 20, 2026 9:53am
  - peterwn
    
    I think Winston would recognise that this bauble would be a step too far. This would be a rat that neither major party political leader would be prepared to swallow. Give him a car with the CR 1 number plate, give him the PM suite in the Beehive (complete with exclusive PM lift), but the title – NO!
    
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    March 20, 2026 10:20am
    - Cassandra
      
      Remember the Treasurer/Minister of Finance fiasco? How about creating a title?
      
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      March 20, 2026 10:28am
      - peterwn
        
        It worked then, but if Winston raised it in 2017, then it did not happen since Robbo would have been sufficiently powerful that he could have successfully resisted it. Perhaps it might have cost Robbo a billion or two in slush fund to successfully resist it.
        
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        March 20, 2026 10:42am
    - Quail
      
      Thought Winston already had a LTD ( Ford ) from a previous stint in power?
      Does he want (need ) another?
      
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      March 20, 2026 8:29pm
  - MCōs
    
    Winston Peters will never be Prime Minister; neither will any of the other minor party leaders, Maori or pakeha.
    If for no other reason than the egos of the main parties wouldn’t let it happen
    Of course one of those minor parties could become the major party at the end of the year.
    Lord help us all!
    
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    March 20, 2026 10:30am
- NothingLeft
  
  Maybe we could nominate him as next leader for Iran. Winston and his decades of bullshit ‘bottom lines’ are just proof of how thick/forgetful NZF voters are.
  
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  March 20, 2026 10:45am
- Eastlander
  
  It’s a rotten idea. If it happens and ‘retain’ scrapes out a win then the damn things will be secure for a generation or more. If they are to be abolished then it ought to be done through Acts of Parliament, complaints and consequences be damned. Away with talk of mandates – a government with a Parliamentary majority has the right to do anything to anything.
  
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  March 20, 2026 11:06am
  - Cassandra
    
    Bugger democracy eh? But I get your point. Better via a referendum though.
    
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    March 20, 2026 12:04pm
    - Eastlander
      
      I would say firstly that governments of New Zealand have frequently made decisions of great import without troubling voters with referenda. I’d say secondly that the genius of the pure Westminster system is we have Parliament as the supreme authority to make and unmake law untrammelled by any other power center, and having this system we ought to use it. And I’d say thirdly that those who truly wish the Maori seats retained are ethnic enemies and it’s a failing of the law that they should have any involvement in our supposed democracy.
      
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      March 20, 2026 4:14pm
- Ghost
  
  So, can you tell us the results of the last referendum on Maori seats that Winston campaigned on? How many times does Winston have to promise this and not follow through until you stop believing him?
  
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  March 20, 2026 12:15pm
  - Ghost
    
    Peters said he wouldn’t use “silly phrases” like “bottom lines” but he made it clear the referendum wasn’t negotiable.
    
    “My strategy is to tell everybody out there that you won’t be talking to NZ First unless you want a referendum on both those issues at the mid-term mark of this election.”
    
    Article
    
    And what we know is he never even mentioned it in negotiations
    
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    March 20, 2026 12:21pm
rouppe

Shane Jones is also dangerous

New rules have quietly been proposed that would remove commercial minimum legal-size limits for a range of popular fish species, including snapper and trevally,

That’s bloody outrageous.
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March 20, 2026 11:04am
- kowtow
  
  Great . NZF recreational fishing vote to go to Seymour .
  
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  March 20, 2026 1:17pm
- greybeard
  
  This will come back to bite him: the financial connection is just too obvious this time.
  
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  March 20, 2026 1:24pm
- keepcalmcarryon
  
  I don’t know how this can’t be seen as obvious naked corruption.
  Where are the Nats and ACT? Weak Nats stammered they’ll look at making the marine reserves marine reserves again if they get back in. Won’t matter if the trawlers have killed all the juvenile fish of course.
  The rules on politucal donations must change.
  
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  March 20, 2026 1:39pm
  - Quail
    
    The issue as discussed on radio.
    The problem caused by commercial fishers is that with inevitable bulk catching techniques there are a lot of smaller ( illegal) fish caught.
    These smaller fish once caught die, and are thrown back into the sea.This is waste .
    So the fishermen need to catch substantially more fish than they would if the permit was based on weight rather than numbers!
    This mean the present system is actually more likely to deplete the fish stocks.
    Sounds interesting??
    
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    March 20, 2026 8:49pm
- Ghost
  
  remind me what Shane Jones and Winston did when Ardern made her captains call on oil and gas? They are both dangerous.
  
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  March 20, 2026 4:01pm
Gary Benner

An interesting video to watch on what is happening in the UK and USA regarding the rise of Islam.

A recent interview between Glen Beck (American Podcaster – conservative US media personality) and Tommy Robinson, giving a history of Tommy’s life (originally as Stephen Lennon), how he came to be the leader of the resistance against increasing Islamic influence in the UK, why he changed his name, and how it has affected him and his family in many ways.

What I didn’t realise is that while having very working class roots, he was previously a successful businessman, with a family and quite some assets.

It gives some background as to the mood change in the UK and rise of Rupert Lowe’s Restore Britain, which has now more members than the Conservative Party. Also the involvement in young men politically.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eOqy47xh2b4
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March 20, 2026 11:18am
- NothingLeft
  
  Robinson is remarkably brave – deserves huge respect for taking a stand as he has with massive target on his back from woke establishment that have persecuted him using all the tools at their disposal as well as the Islamist nutjobs.
  
  That sort of putting-life-on-line for ideals bravery is deserving of political leadership.
  
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  March 20, 2026 12:54pm
- MCōs
  
  I think a few biographical details have conveniently fallen through the cracks . . . . .
  
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  March 20, 2026 1:51pm
  - Tom Barker
    
    Indeed. Certain prospective voters might be a little deterred by candidate “Robinson’s” numerous criminal convictions (violence, financial fraud, immigration fraud, drugs…) and his three (so far) prison sentences. Unless, of course, they shared his enthusiasm for inciting race hatred.
    
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    March 20, 2026 1:59pm
    - Gary Benner
      
      Tom, anyone who stands up to anything these days gets an intense amount of sunshine focused on their lives. And I’d challenge anyone to claim their lives are that squeakly clean to withstand that.
      
      As to the “criminal convictions”, well the latter ones are all concocted as explained in the video. Go watch it!
      
      What is more important is the message that he now stands for, and understanding that in the context his life, where he grew up, the what was “normal” there at that time, not what is or was in your lifetime.
      
      Having been in the UK recently, from London, to the north and south, everything he purports is real. It has undergone a massive change, and not for the better.
      
      We all need to learn from this. Japan is still “japanese”, China is still “chinese” (I was there also so can assure you it is!). But Western countries appear to be the target for societal overthrow by immigration, then rapid population growth (of the immigrants), and then political upheaval. The UK is well down this track.
      
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      March 20, 2026 3:21pm
    - Swifty
      
      Race hatred Tom?
      
      You can’t be referring to Muslims because they’re not a race, so you must be referring to Pakistanis I guess – those that are almost singularly responsible for the mass rape and abuse of hundreds of thousands of English and Sikh girls over decades and while their community watches in almost complete silence if not actively shielding them.
      
      Is it those folk you are referring to?
      
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      March 20, 2026 3:32pm
    - Eastlander
      
      There is no race hatred practiced in England except by hostile migrants against the native population.
      
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      March 20, 2026 4:19pm
    - NothingLeft
      
      Funny when you look into it how many of his convictions are clearly a result of left-wing bureaucrats going after him with every tool they have. Certainly he has broken the letter of the law on numerous occasions, but police and judiciary have singled him out for special attention, in depth investigation of all aspects of his life, instances of arrest-then-find-cause and most severe punishments possible to try and shut him down.
      
      This has become the standard operating system for left wing bureaucrats/establishment ‘blob’ to go after critics of immigration/open boarders and Islamism in Europe. Prosecuting Le Pen in France, attempts to outlaw AfD in Germany, Martin Selner in Austria, Geert Wilders in the Netherlands and so on for many many others.
      
      Clear pattern of elitist tribal lawfare by the repressive and civilizationally destructive left wing European establishment.
      
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      March 20, 2026 7:17pm
- Philview
  
  It has been interesting to read of Islamic countries buying the main deep sea ports in the UK and also some key infrastructure in London.
  
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  March 20, 2026 2:02pm
- Paulus
  
  Too late to restore Britain as the next elections along with the media will tell all !
  Following which I would be unsure as to the position of the Monarchy.
  
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  March 20, 2026 3:26pm
mandk

How are liberals going to be able to reconcile this with their belief that Charlie Kirk was evil?
https://www.stuff.co.nz/world-news/360944966/iran-war

The cognitive dissonance might cause some heads to explode.
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March 20, 2026 11:21am
Bobba Fret

It is good to hear that the government are going to look at targeted relief for those most hit by the fuel cost. I think that is me because I have a V8./
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March 20, 2026 12:57pm
- peterwn
  
  Get 4 cylinders de-commissioned.
  
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  March 20, 2026 1:41pm
- Handyman
  
  National has failed to point out that the price of petrol has not reached the average level during the Ardern regime.
  Labour are acting like this is an unprecedented event and the government “must do something”. “In living memory” for journalists is not much more than a goldfish so it is not headlined in media reports.
  For fun, the government should lead by example and put a cap on MP’s travel, which would not impact any National or ACT MP’s but severely impact the Maori and Green MP’s.
  
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  March 20, 2026 3:01pm
- jkt
  
  Vote greens or labour and hope that NZ first go with them and receive $8,000 to upgrade to a Tesla ….
  
  You clearly need help from your over taxed neighbours.
  Let’s do this!🥴
  
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  March 20, 2026 3:56pm
greybeard

https://www.stuff.co.nz/world-news/360953839/albanese-confronted-protesters-lakemba-mosque
Why on earth would Albanese visit a mosque ?
What did he expect would happen ? either muslims would protest at Australia’s support for US/Israel or non-muslims would protest at his apparent support for Islam.
The man is a total idiot.
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March 20, 2026 1:30pm
- Sweet Hitchhiker
  
  GB, obviously Albanese brought it on himself!
  A bit like those silly people at Bondi thinking they could practise their religion openly in public.
  Total idiots all of ’em….
  
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  March 20, 2026 7:35pm
rouppe

I find it a little bit interesting that after NATO complains they might not be able to rely on the USA, they become the unreliable ones when it came to the Strait of Hormuz.

I know, I know, the Iran conflict is not of their making and all that. But if Europe gets into trouble now, who has been the unreliable one?
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March 20, 2026 1:50pm
- Dudley Quaffquaff
  
  NATO is a defensive organisation whose members are committed to come to the assistance if any of them is attacked. Nothing in this provides any basis for expecting them to come to the assistance of a member that attacks somebody else
  
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  March 20, 2026 2:27pm
- Crafty
  
  Europe is not perfect by any stretch but it’s a bit rich to expect them to spend all that money and take all risk with their armed forces when they had no say or warning of this conflict. And the way they are spoken to is pretty rough, to be honest the way he is fragmenting the west with his behaviour towards their own allies is very concerning.
  
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  March 20, 2026 3:10pm
- Hard Cheese
  
  How about not slapping tariffs on them, threatening to invade their territories, insulting them, abandoning military support and attacking other countries out of the blue? That might be a small clue why they find the US unreliable…..
  
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  March 20, 2026 3:39pm
  - rouppe
    
    What military support did they abandon?
    
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    March 20, 2026 5:26pm
- rouppe
  
  Yes, all good points.
  
  But I’ll bet a servo pie that it will be brought up down the track.
  
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  March 20, 2026 5:25pm
Swifty

Media manipulation, a brief analysis:

https://x.com/americandebunk/status/2034607013255086174?s=46
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March 20, 2026 2:34pm
Swifty

Western countries importing Islam are conducting civilisational suicide:

https://x.com/drewpavlou/status/2034801353542001071?s=46

Aussie PM gets it both barrels at Lakemba mosque.
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March 20, 2026 2:49pm
- Jack5
  
  What Swifty was talking about … Aussie PM Albanese gets a rough time at a mosque.
  
  https://www.stuff.co.nz/world-news/360953839/albanese-confronted-protesters-lakemba-mosque
  
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  March 20, 2026 3:56pm
  - Swifty
    
    They’ll be dictating Aussie foreign policy before too long.
    
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    March 20, 2026 5:55pm
  - Sweet Hitchhiker
    
    Apparently the Australian PM’s crime was shaking the hand of the Israeli PM, who according to the protesters, has “the blood of millions on his hands”.
    I think these Muslims need to take a break from praying five times a day and read a bit of history.
    (To ascertain who really has “the blood of millions on their hands.”)
    But who would dare suggest it…
    
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    March 20, 2026 7:28pm
Swifty

Massive gender gaps favouring women in hiring practices at Aussie Universities:

https://x.com/jameslnuzzo/status/2034780291706102006?s=46

If this was reversed it would be a national scandal.

And I wonder how NZ universities would compare?
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March 20, 2026 3:25pm
Swifty

Crime over representation in Denmark by country of origin:

https://x.com/jonatanpallesen/status/2034697418134999505?s=46
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March 20, 2026 4:07pm
- Sweet Hitchhiker
  
  My paternal grandparents emigrated to NZ from Denmark exactly 100 years ago.
  I would love to visit someday, but it seems like it could be somewhat hazardous with these current stats.
  
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  March 20, 2026 7:42pm
Jack5

NASA is transmitting live from the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida as Artemis 2 nears roll-out to the launch pad ahead of its launch in a few weeks for a test flight around the Moon. The rocket is nearly 100 metres high.

The 10-day space voyage will test systems ready for men again to land on the Moon.

The big beast on the move might be worth a look.

https://www.youtube.com/live/ED2nbfb3NbE?si=JY2wex9PemYpk4DL
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March 20, 2026 4:23pm
- NothingLeft
  
  A dead-man-walking. Artemis is being progressively cancelled. Nasa wasted $70 billion over 2 decades on this and rockets leading up to it with end result being a colossally expensive and fragile rocket system that will will be flown a couple of times at best.
  
  Meanwhile SpaceX has swooped in and spent perhaps 10-20% of that budget in a third the time to produce a fully reusable rocket with a few percent of the launch costs.
  
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  March 20, 2026 7:23pm
Rumblestrip

Slow news day today… 😜
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March 20, 2026 4:35pm
Swifty

Dems versus Republicans % in faculty of elite US Universities:

https://x.com/basedmikelee/status/2034513810267009431?s=46

How does 95/5 sound?
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March 20, 2026 4:40pm
- NothingLeft
  
  Left wing Academia delenda est. It is a diseased organism that is poisoning civilization with conflict manufactured by useless sophistry.
  
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  March 20, 2026 7:25pm
greybeard

https://www.stuff.co.nz/politics/360953858/student-unions-say-theyre-turning-away-hungry-students-food-banks-go-bare
Dear God, what a lot of left-wing stirring rubbish.
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March 20, 2026 6:33pm
keepcalmcarryon

NZ Government soft launches digital ID.
Voluntary, for now, of course
https://www.stuff.co.nz/politics/360954006/users-new-government-app-will-soon-be-able-drive-or-buy-alcohol-without-needing-physical-id
Nothing to see here.
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March 20, 2026 6:41pm
- cmm (semi-retired edition)
  
  Voluntary… until it isn’t.
  
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  March 20, 2026 8:55pm
Prince

Amazing, people love free stuff. Who would have guessed ?
2 1
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March 20, 2026 7:10pm
- cmm (semi-retired edition)
  
  Remember the old days when people understood that charity and hand outs were for those in dire need and not just a freebie?
  
  Now tens of thousands of people get the Christmas lunches because it is a free feed with no need to cook and clean up.
  
  This really is a cultural issue – a shift from the culture that charity comes from to one where people just take.
  
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  March 20, 2026 8:57pm
  - Sweet Hitchhiker
    
    cmm, aren’t you from South Africa where talented people can make immense salaries and keep most of it because there is virtually no social welfare? And isn’t the result of this attitude of not sharing the wealth around, that those same wealthy people rolling in it need to spend fortunes on security to protect themselves from the have-nots who will break into their palaces and rob them of their possessions and even their lives?
    I know which system I prefer….
    
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    March 20, 2026 9:19pm
Ghost

The Executive Office of the President has registered the aliens.gov domain, a quiet but unmistakable step toward a potential public portal for declassified materials on unidentified anomalous phenomena.

This follows Trump’s directive to release all related government files related to alien and extraterrestrial life, UAP, and UFOs.

Article

will be interesting to see what is actually released, but I wouldn’t expect much from the USA, although Trump’s ego makes it interesting as he finds a way to cement a place in history.
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March 20, 2026 7:38pm
Sweet Hitchhiker

NL, if you are referring to the older Le Pen, he was a total pr**k who minimized the Holocaust. Geert Wilders can’t stay long in the same place or he will end up like Theo Van Gogh, Pym Fortuyn and others who dared to criticize the excesses of Islam. One freezing night there was a threat against his life and his police guard had to race to the roof of his abode completely starkers to defend his life. What dedication 👏 🤔
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March 20, 2026 9:12pm
Ghost

The US has launched an offensive to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

Washington has deployed low-flying jets and Apache helicopters to strike Iranian vessels and drones near the shipping lane.

The waterway, which serves as a conduit for a fifth of the world’s oil, has been all but closed after Tehran threatened to attack any ship using the strait with armed boats, mines and cruise missiles.

Article
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March 20, 2026 9:47pm

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PO Box 12270, Thorndon, Wellington 6144

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