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April 8, 2026 8:00am by Kokila Patel

General Debate 08 April 2026

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General Debate

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Scott

Mehdi Parpanchi is executive editor at Iran international TV, so he is an actual Iranian with deep knowledge if what is happening in his country:

https://parpanchi.com/p/the-last-feather-why-the-islamic

He confirms the scale of the massacre of the Iranian people by the Ayatollahs in the mass demonstrations against the regime:

“what has been been described as the deadliest crackdown in the history of the Islamic Republic. Reports by Iran International said security forces, including the IRGC and regional proxy forces, used lethal force that killed around 36,500 people in forty-eight hours. What followed became known as the January Massacre.

The scale of the violence shattered another narrative on which the regime had long depended: the narrative, sold both at home and abroad, that the Islamic Republic still ruled with some measure of public consent. A state that still commands genuine consent does not need to kill on such a scale to clear the streets. And crowds do not reach this level of sacrifice if fear is still doing its work. Mass killing on this scale means that tens of thousands were prepared to remain in the streets despite tear gas, gunfire, and death. It means fear had begun to break.”

According to the writer the Iranian regime commands only about 10% support.

One can only hope that this tyrannical regime meets its doom at the hands of the Israelis and the Americans. It will be good for everyone when Iran is defeated along with its terrorist proxies in Lebanon and Gaza and Yemen.

Apparently the Crown prince is seen as a credible alternative and may take on the leadership once the Ayatollahs fall. The Iranian people are by all accounts a hospitable and cultured people who would thrive once the Ayatollahs are replaced.
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April 8, 2026 8:01am
- kowtow
  
  No matter how many young people the Mullahs rape ,torture and hang , there’s a constituency here , on kiwiblog , who simply don’t care and actually side with those lunatics , because ; Israel /Trump.
  
  Literally incredible.
  
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  April 8, 2026 8:38am
  - Northshoredoc
    
    Surprisingly a proportion of the commenters on this blog can despise the rulers of Iran and think that the actions of the USA and Israel were poorly conceived at the the same time.
    
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    April 8, 2026 9:34am
    - Cassandra
      
      Some of us can walk and chew gum simultaneously. Iran should be reined in but perhaps a coalition should have been assembled. I’m surprised that nobody has supported Trump. Iran is a menace to us all.
      
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      April 8, 2026 10:04am
      - Charlotte Wells
        
        The big players in Europe, ergo NATO, have done deals with Iran to hamper the US in exchange for oil.
        
        Leading the charge are, of course, the French.
        
        Why would the US take the risk of trusting any of those appeasers and quislings?
        
        Also, the vaunted HMS Dragon has docked in the Med’ as it has broken systems and can’t proceed.
        
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        April 8, 2026 10:14am
    - David George
      
      I’m not so sure about that Doc,
      there does seem to be a mental block operating with many people* with regard to the monstrosity that is the Islamic Regime. Ask them what they know of it and they seem able to willfully ignore the mass murders, the brutal repression and their regional and proxy terror and war. Or perhaps they’re misinformed.
      Ask them what should be done about it and they have no realistic answer to that either.
      
      *speaking generally, not KB commentators specifically.
      
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      April 8, 2026 10:13am
      - Charlotte Wells
        
        To some, Trump could shit gold nuggets and somehow he would still be a deranged toddler that is ruining the world.
        
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        April 8, 2026 10:17am
      - Ghost
        
        And to some, you refuse to hold this president to the same standards as others. You become as bad as those who ignored Biden’s problem and covered up for him. Some actually can support Trump where he is right and call out where he is wrong, those Americans who do that are the true patriots, not the fluffers
        
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        April 8, 2026 11:06am
      - Ross Bayer
        
        David,
        your comments are a reflection of your knowledge my guess is that you are unaware of the history of Persia.
        Do you not understand or have any knowledge of the Shah of Iran and how this American puppet who was a brutal ruler was thrown out by the people of Persia and Trump and Bibi want to get the band back together with a new puppet. sadly supported by useful idiots
        
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        April 8, 2026 1:31pm
      - Charlotte Wells
        
        Ghost “you refuse to hold this president to the same standards as others.”
        
        That’s because they aren’t the same.
        
        If Trump was incompetent, senile, and pushing the same policies then he would be judged the same.
        
        However, as he is none of the above then he isn’t being judged to those standards.
        
        You’re saying that because Trump isn’t Biden we should still treat him like Biden.
        
        That is just silly. Surely you can see that.
        
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        April 8, 2026 1:44pm
      - Ghost
        
        [ Mod – come on – a post devoted solely to slagging off (at length) another poster – doesn’t qualify as debate ]
        
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        April 8, 2026 1:54pm
      - David George
        
        Thanks Ross,
        I know a bit about the overthrow of the Shah, our family were friends with an Iranian family that fled the country before the revolution. Nicer people would be hard to imagine, bright, community minded and, wow, so good looking. They were persecuted by Islamists because they were Baha’i.
        
        There was a lot of anti government terrorism and violence from Marxists and Islamists throughout the 70’s that culminated in the Shah going into exile. It wasn’t brutal oppression and murder of unarmed protesters like the IIRG are doing now.
        When the dust had settled the Islamists rounded up the Marxists, students, teachers and trades unionists that had helped with the overthrow and executed , tortured, imprisoned and terrified the lefties into death or submission.
        Useful idiots indeed.
        https://x.com/i/grok?conversation=2041738783595622601
        
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        April 8, 2026 4:53pm
      - Ghost
        
        So you are going to claim that holding presidents to the same standards isn’t the same. That’s rather stupid, but hey, to be expected. You are a dying breed, Candace Owen, Alex Jones, Tucker, Shawn Ryan, all turning against trump
        
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        April 8, 2026 5:23pm
    - R
      
      Joseph Goebels would have been pleased to have had the level of PROPOGANDA INDOCTRINATION success, that the activists have achieved within the ranks of the unthinking anti-establishment element in NZ
      
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      April 8, 2026 10:17am
    - rockape
      
      So what was your plan? Keep talking while they keep progressing towards being nuclear armed?
      
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      April 8, 2026 12:01pm
  - Damocles11
    
    I don’t think destroying the power plants and bridges of Iran and sending the people “back to the stone ages where they belong” is the answer.
    
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    April 8, 2026 9:43am
    - R
      
      That won’t happen.
      
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      April 8, 2026 10:12am
      - rangitoto
        
        Trump appears to have chickened out after talking to Pakistan.
        
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        April 8, 2026 11:52am
    - Charlotte Wells
      
      It would, however, be a perfect way to stop reinforcements getting to a troops landing site.
      
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      April 8, 2026 10:18am
    - Graeme Hall
      
      Worked for Clinton against Serbia. Back to the stone ages was the threat at the time. Knock out the power plants, knock out the bridges and next thing you are living in the middle ages. Serbia sued for peace – ethnic cleansing is not much chop when you have to ride in a donkey cart.
      
      Search assist gives this summation. Note the resemblance to Trump’s actions. Note the similar consequences. Note the media lauded Clinton at the time.
      
      “Bill Clinton was the U.S. President during the NATO bombing of Serbia in 1999, which was part of the Kosovo War aimed at stopping ethnic cleansing against Kosovar Albanians. The intervention was controversial, as it was conducted without explicit UN approval and led to significant civilian casualties and destruction.”
      
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      April 8, 2026 4:22pm
  - Simon
    
    “The 25th amendment would be good about now.”
    
    https://x.com/dpfdpf/status/2041592832964882578
    
    He is right. Trump has lost it.
    
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    April 8, 2026 10:12am
    - Charlotte Wells
      
      He is wrong.
      
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      April 8, 2026 10:19am
- lastmanstanding
  
  Will it be another TACO? We will find out at 2pm today.
  
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  April 8, 2026 8:40am
  - rangitoto
    
    Trump has chickened out as expected.
    
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    April 8, 2026 11:53am
    - Charlotte Wells
      
      You mean accepting a peace offer is chickening out.
      
      It’s a tough audience today.
      
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      April 8, 2026 1:45pm
      - rangitoto
        
        Trump: do as I say, or I will bomb you back to the stone ages
        
        Iran: best I can do is this 10 point plan where you give us everything we want
        
        Trump: deal!
        
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        April 8, 2026 3:10pm
    - Tom Hunter
      
      One of the main symptoms of Trump Derangement Syndrome is that Trump is anything you want him to be at any time.
      
      In the morning he’s a genocidal lunatic, by the evening he’s a cowardly pussy.
      😉
      
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      April 8, 2026 2:02pm
- David George
  
  Thank you Scott, excellent analysis.
  I remember seeing video from about five years ago of a broad courtyard walkway in Iran used mainly by students. The Islamists had placed two large flags, America and Israel, across its centre for the people to walk over. They didn’t, they refused, they walked around the edges.
  I thought then, and even more so now, that these people are hated, that they will be overthrown one day.
  https://www.thefp.com/p/how-america-broke-the-iranian-regime
  
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  April 8, 2026 9:29am
  - Don Beckett
    
    Watching Mayah Tousi a couple of weeks age & saw live the people being killed. With Starlink open, he gets live cell phone videos from people, & you could see the people protesting, then hear the rattle of machine guns, & people falling, dead or wounded.
    The the IRGC went through the hospitals, dragging out the wounded & killing them – in some cases torturing them first.
    A dreadful bunch of people. The Crown prince Razi Pahlavi has been quietly organising a citizen resistance movement called the Immortal Brigade, and they are being armed clandestinely by Mossad & the CIA, so that when the time is ripe there will be an uprising. Time will tell.
    
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    April 8, 2026 10:36am
- Wayne1749
  
  Blindly believing propaganda from dissident groups is absurd. Iranian international TV is, I believe, an overseas channel that supports the restoration of the monarchy.
  Dissidents will always wildly exaggerate atrocities, and of course governments will minimize them.
  Believing dissidents only is like getting your view of the national government only from labour or green sources.
  
  One thing that is utterly clear though. There was an insurrection armed and fomented by the US and Mossad. Trump and the Israelis have admitted to as much. So there are deaths on both sides, not a one sided massacre.
  
  The Islamic Republic is hugely popular, an overwhelming majority of Iranians supported the revolution 47 years ago, and the ‘regime’ maintained support during the 8 years of the Iran/Iraq war.
  
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  April 8, 2026 11:19am
  - David George
    
    Wayne: “The Islamic Republic is hugely popular”
    Do you have a source for that proclamation?
    
    https://gamaan.org/2025/08/20/analytical-report-on-iranians-political-preferences-in-2024/
    
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    April 8, 2026 12:33pm
  - SGA
    
    @Wayne1749 “The Islamic Republic is hugely popular, an overwhelming majority of Iranians supported the revolution 47 years ago, and the ‘regime’ maintained support during the 8 years of the Iran/Iraq war.”
    
    Sorry, but I think that you are misinformed -everything that I have read and heard in private conversations with 5 or 6 Iranians over the last 10 years says the opposite. It’s popular with a sizeable minority (20%-30%), and they have the power and the guns.
    
    Iranians supported the revolution*against” the shah, but that’s different from wanting what took its place. Revolutions are often most motivated *against* regimes that are failing the people (French, Russian, Iraninan) rather than *for* a specific alternative per se. The replacement is often just the best “organised” of the alternatives.
    
    And, of course, Iranians rallied together against the Iraqi invasion – that’s what happens in those situations.
    
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    April 8, 2026 12:48pm
    - Taieri
      
      And, of course, Iranians rallied together against the Iraqi invasion – that’s what happens in those situations.
      —————-
      
      Just as they would against potential American invasion.
      Bullets don’t discriminate between supporters and opponents of regime…
      
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      April 8, 2026 1:38pm
      - SGA
        
        @Taieri – Perhaps, but I am not sure that the motivation would be as intense; the Iraqis are long standing foe. Saddam Hussien’s father-in-law, Khairallah Talfah, authored a pamphlet titled “Three Whom God Should Not Have Created: Persians, Jews, and Flies” in 1940. Saddam had it republished in 1981.
        
        Also, Iranians have had decades of this regime by now, and it has inflicted extreme violence against recent uprisings. I am not sure how enthusiastic this regime would be about giving guns to a lot of its people?
        
        Just random thoughts.
        
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        April 8, 2026 2:47pm
  - Ross Bayer
    
    Wayne
    posting comments contrary to the useful idiots is a waste of your and my time, many even downticked my comments re the Shah and how DJT is wanting to get the band back together with another puppet.
    They seem unwilling to accept logic only get their info from maddow or The View maybe CNN
    
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    April 8, 2026 2:53pm
  - Charlotte Wells
    
    “an overwhelming majority of Iranians supported the revolution 47 years ago”
    
    And as soon as they came to power the theocracy slaughtered all the other supporters.
    
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    April 8, 2026 3:16pm
- Ra Henare
  
  I always like to look behind any of these random commenters.
  
  Seems this Guy has made a good living in the west. Showing up in media as an Iranian Expert.
  
  IMHO. Just another grifter with an Opinion.
  
  https://www.linkedin.com/in/mehdi-parpanchi-92655444/
  
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  April 8, 2026 12:47pm
Damocles11

‘Public servants are now paid $17,600 more a year than people in the private sector, and every single government department has a higher average salary than private-sector New Zealanders.
To make it worse, bureaucrats’ salaries are also growing quicker. Between 2020 and 2025, departments’ average salaries rose 21.37 percent, almost fifty percent more than the 14.49 percent growth in the private sector over the same period.’

https://www.taxpayers.org.nz/bureaucrat_salary_leaderboard
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April 8, 2026 8:02am
- Notsofast
  
  There is your labour vote in a nut shell. These lucksters spend their lives with certainty of money in the bank on a given day, 12 months a year.
  This money comes from the risk takers, and the trend is far worse than the super problem, when you consider an ever expanding cohort along with this salary inflation.
  
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  April 8, 2026 8:59am
  - Paulus
    
    But is not the problem in that many who have done so well undern Ardern will again vote to continue the largesse.
    Nothing else matters to so many of the one time 52% who voted for Ardern.
    
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    April 8, 2026 9:39am
    - Drone
      
      Many public servants on above average wages continue to work past the age of 65 collecting government superanuation as well as a regular wage.
      
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      April 8, 2026 1:50pm
  - Albie
    
    And how many in this land of milk and honey spend their whole lives being supported in part or in full by the taxpayer, go on to national superannuation at 65, and then get further supplementary assistance for rental accommodation etc?
    
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    April 8, 2026 10:15am
- David George
  
  Most of the stuff they do (bugger all) can be done by AI now – heaps cheaper and no woke BS, no strikes no tantrums.
  
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  April 8, 2026 9:11am
  - Quail
    
    DG,
    It is not just the salaries, the cost to taxpayers is more than double that when the fact these “civil servants “ are spending taxpayers money on whatever project is in favour (eg SIA regimes or similar slush funds ) is taken into account.
    The Bureaucracy cost is huge!
    
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    April 8, 2026 9:33am
    - pdm
      
      Not to mention half of or them malingering by working from home 3 or 4 days a week.
      
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      April 8, 2026 10:56am
    - NeverMindTheBollocks
      
      Not to mention the waiata discount, where a measurable portion of time is spent on the daily song-song.
      
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      April 8, 2026 11:38am
  - Ra Henare
    
    And they are pushing back against AI.
    
    I have written to two Minsiters of MSD(One Lab, One Nat) regarding an upgrade to one of their menial systems.
    
    In both cases the gatekeepers have replied that the Minister appreciated my comments and my suggestions have been passed on to the appropriate(IT) department.
    
    Ie “”straight to the pool room”” rubbish bin.
    
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    April 8, 2026 12:52pm
- herb1
  
  I wonder how many of these public servants support and campaigned for pay equity, except when it involves their pay
  
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  April 8, 2026 9:27am
  - imalwaysright
    
    The best way to get rid of the pay equity scam is to reduce the salaries of the higher paid to the level of the lower paid.
    Equity is equity.
    
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    April 8, 2026 10:26am
    - septic skeptic
      
      Yeah but the issue is that equity isn’t equity. A lot of the male dominated jobs are far more demanding, dangerous and generally more valuable than the female dominated “equivalent”.
      
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      April 8, 2026 11:20am
      - Charlotte Wells
        
        Nurses reckon that should have pay equity with cops ‘cos the jobs are the same.
        
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        April 8, 2026 1:48pm
- virtualmark
  
  Unpopular opinion (but based on being a private sector person with considerable real-life contact with the public sector) … the problem is with the culture rather than with the pay.
  
  The public sector has the same mixed calibre of people as you also see in large private sector organisations I’ve also had contact with, such as the major banks, power companies and the likes of Fonterra. A small-ish number of A grade performers, quite a few B grade performers, and the occasional drop kick performer.
  
  The good people aren’t paid enough. The others are over-paid. But the overall public sector pay scale is lower than in, say, a major bank even though the calibre of people is the same.
  
  The real problem with the public sector is from the top. Politicians #1 priority is to not be landed with a scandal. Their main goal is to avoid any potential for bad news. So the role of the public sector is largely to manage political risk rather than to optimise for the national good. That leads to caution, paralysis, and carrying on doing what you’ve always done because to try anything new would be to risk having it fail.
  
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  April 8, 2026 9:28am
  - Damocles11
    
    The problem is with the culture, and the pay, and the fact that the number of public servants has increased under this government not decreased.
    
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    April 8, 2026 9:46am
    - Paulus
      
      Figures released recently show a 1.6% numerical increase – not the 2% reduction they were expected to do, and vacancies are readily advertised and available.
      
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      April 8, 2026 2:33pm
  - Taieri
    
    The good people aren’t paid enough. The others are over-paid.
    ————
    
    What amount would be “enough”?
    And what constitutes “over-paid”?
    How do we determine which is which?
    
    Now, which one is over-paid?
    Which one is not being paid enough?
    
    The NZ PM is being paid $498300 (2024)
    The DCC CEO is being paid $491086 (2024-2025)
    
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    April 8, 2026 10:02am
    - Quail
      
      Taireri
      Yes , there is about a million dollars we could save right there!
      Get rid of MMP also and that would get rid of half of the politicians ,their entourage and their salaries.
      Utopia?? Hah ha
      
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      April 8, 2026 12:30pm
      - Taieri
        
        Prime Minister vs council Chief Executive
        Which position is more important?
        
        There’re plenty of aberrations of this kind in NZ. In my view, no person holding a public sector position, be it elected or appointed, should be paid more than the Prime Minister.
        
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        April 8, 2026 1:42pm
      - Ian Boag
        
        A million dollars! Wow! The pension only costs $68m/day …. 🙂
        
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        April 8, 2026 7:28pm
    - virtualmark
      
      And the CEOs of our 4 big banks get paid at least $2m pa.
      
      Their direct reports (Tier 2) get paid around $1m-$1.5m pa.
      
      In turn their direct reports (Tier 3) get paid around $500k-$800k.
      
      Trust me, the calibre of people in the banks is not hugely different from those in the public sector.
      
      Personally, based on my experience, I would cut the number of people in the public service quite hard, but liberate the good performers to focus on true value-add national-good stuff and pay them *more* than we currently pay them.
      
      But one challenge we have as a country is we are focused on the cost of things, but not their value. Penny wise, pound foolish. This is why we can’t have nice things.
      
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      April 8, 2026 2:05pm
  - Paulus
    
    For example and I may wrong but do not Teachers get an automatic scale pay rise for all every year, irrespective of whatever the Unions get for them as well ?
    
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    April 8, 2026 2:30pm
    - Ian Boag
      
      an automatic scale pay rise for all every year
      
      Not uncommon all over the place in the private sector – not so much a “scale” but the net effects are similar.
      
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      April 8, 2026 7:29pm
- Wairoa Native
  
  That’s the ‘communist’ state of New Zealand these days.
  The “iron rice bowl” 铁饭碗 a secure, stable job with guaranteed income and benefits, with little risk of being fired. The term comes from China under Mao Zedong, describing a system of lifelong employment that provided workers with dependable, virtually unbreakable livelihoods.
  
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  April 8, 2026 10:00am
  - Charlotte Wells
    
    The sort of future that attracts the dullards and the unambitious.
    
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    April 8, 2026 1:51pm
NeverMindTheBollocks

The Teaching Council thought that it was ok to operate without any of your actual teachers on its governing body.

Reps for early childhood, primary and secondary teachers all resigned and by law needed to be replaced. The Council demurred, until challenged by the NZEI.

“Our concern was that the council hadn’t even told teachers who have paid over many decades for the council and for their certification processes that all the teacher elected members had resigned,” said NZEI national secretary Stephanie Mills.

Complete failure.

http://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/591713/teaching-council-replaces-vacant-seats-on-governing-body
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April 8, 2026 8:02am
- I remember when
  
  Without any actual teachers on its governing body.
  
  Isn’t that the real thing about unions, they only attract the dissidents.
  The rest of their members are only there for the pay rises and the time they get off doing union work .
  
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  April 8, 2026 9:01am
  - Cassandra
    
    It’s not a union; it’s the regulatory body.
    
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    April 8, 2026 9:20am
  - rockape
    
    Certainly applies to the Nursing union. Oh that’s not a union either. They just call strikes and oppose any right wing or centerist government.
    
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    April 8, 2026 12:16pm
    - Ian Boag
      
      I think they end up negotiating with whatever gummint. Strikes are pretty much a last straw when a year or so has elapsed since the last contract ended and gummint is offering 1.5% or so ….
      
      Mrs Rocko is obviously far enough up the food chain that this is not a problem in your house 🙂
      
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      April 8, 2026 7:32pm
pdm

Co Governance seems to be in full flight at Far North District Council and Local Government Minister Simon Watts ignores it

Councillor Davina Smolders is a lone voice (like Steve Gibson in Hastings and the Councillor in Dunedin) and in this video she tells Duncan Garner what is going on and it is horrific.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ontS2Pf_nWA
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April 8, 2026 8:08am
- Gravelroad
  
  Yes, I must admit that I seriously underestimated the National led government’s ambition and resolve to basically make few, if any, changes to Labour’s set-up around pushing and facilitating co-governance.
  You live and learn, as the saying goes.
  Won’t make same mistake next time.
  
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  April 8, 2026 8:23am
  - Nikola Donatello
    
    Yes it is just shocking. People feel rightly betrayed.
    
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    April 8, 2026 8:37am
    - Paulus
      
      Except the many who benefit from this position and there are many who want it to continue.
      
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      April 8, 2026 9:42am
  - Wairoa Native
    
    I guess that’s why the latest Curia Poll for April 2026 shows this.
    
    Party support:
    • Labour: 33.4% (down 1 pt)
    • National: 29.8% (up 1.4 pts, still under 30%)
    • New Zealand First: 13.6% (up 3.9 pts)
    • ACT: 9.0% (up 1.5 pts)
    • Green Party: 7.8% (down 2.7 pts)
    • Te Pāti Māori: 2.6% (down 0.6 pts)
    • Others / small parties: around 3.9%
    
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    April 8, 2026 10:24am
    - rockape
      
      Remember the ACT and NZ first rise in vote has been at the expense of National. The right v left vote hasn’t really changed much since JKs days.
      
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      April 8, 2026 12:19pm
  - Paulus
    
    Can we co-0pt Trump please !
    
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    April 8, 2026 2:35pm
- imalwaysright
  
  A man from the Tax Payers Union on the Platform posed the question whether National will campaign AGAIN on getting rid of co governance, maorification, and three waters?
  
  Over two years on and we still have all three.
  
  What will Luxons campaign slogan be: “We’ll do it this time! Pinky promise”
  
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  April 8, 2026 8:29am
- RoboRob
  
  Minister Watts is a clone of Goldsmith. Neither are ‘action men’. Both have sat on their hands on all of their portfolios. I’m not sure if they just dont care or if they just don’t have any motivation.
  
  It is great that Watts has been removed from energy, where he has done almsot nothing. It is bad that it took almost three years for Luxon to realise he was doing nothing. Of course it may be that he was only removed as punishment for supporting Luxons ‘opponents’.
  
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  April 8, 2026 8:53am
  - imalwaysright
    
    RR
    Thinking that these people are incompetent, lazy, or blinkered is exactly what they want us to think.
    
    We seem to be blind to the obvious conclusion that they are actually effectively carrying out THEIR policies.
    
    Unfortunately, their policies are the opposite of the ones they promised us.
    
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    April 8, 2026 9:24am
    - RoboRob
      
      Yeah, its just hard to tell in most cases. Based on Goldsmiths comments re the BSA it seems he..
      
      a) Is quite happy with the BSA
      b) Thinks there are only three media outlets in the country in the Platforms situation
      c) Thinks there are much more important issues to deal with
      
      Based on the above, its not that his agenda is anti Platform, he is just pro the status quo and cant be bothered dealing with what he considers minor issues.
      
      I see the above attitude with all his and Watts portfolios. Watts thinks local govt is fine, energy is fine and nothing needs to be changed.
      
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      April 8, 2026 9:42am
      - imalwaysright
        
        Its possible Goldsmith is positioning to abolish the BSA and replace it with the equivalent of Arderns Disinformation Project.
        You couldn’t get a ciggy paper between Nat and Lab at present.
        
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        April 8, 2026 9:59am
      - Pope Punctilious II
        
        I think the problem with Goldsmith is that he’s spineless and terrified of being called a racist, like so many of the Nats.
        
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        April 8, 2026 10:18am
Damocles11

Maybe another TACO coming up. Iran has human shields on bridges and around power plants now. No end to this fiasco in sight.
‘President Donald Trump will give a response to Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s proposal to extend today’s deadline for Iran by two weeks, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told NBC News.
“The president has been made been aware of the proposal, and a response will come,” she said.
Sharif also asked Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz for two weeks as a gesture of goodwill.’
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April 8, 2026 8:21am
- kowtow
  
  ‘Iran has human shields on bridges and around power….”
  
  The same people will be waving royalist flags and chanting “Javid shah” before too long.
  
  There’s evidence that an awful lot of Persians really admire Trump/Netanyahu.
  
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  April 8, 2026 8:42am
  - Charlotte Wells
    
    There is video available of the population centers around the area of the recovered pilot that shows the steets jammed with cars and people to block the IRG.
    
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    April 8, 2026 9:39am
    - kowtow
      
      Exactly , and yet the TDS media wanted us to believe that all of Iran was out to hunt him down . Simply not true.
      
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      April 8, 2026 10:35am
  - Taieri
    
    There’s evidence that an awful lot of Persians really admire Trump/Netanyahu
    ————-
    
    Could you provide it?
    
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    April 8, 2026 10:00am
    - David George
      
      GAMAAN’s June 2024 Survey core finding on the regime: A significant majority opposed the continuation of the Islamic Republic.
      Support for the principles of the Islamic Revolution and Supreme Leader: Dropped to 11% in 2024 (down from 18% in 2022).
      Most respondents favored a different system—e.g., secular republic, constitutional monarchy, or decentralized democracy. About 89% expressed preference for a democratic system overall.
      
      This is not a survey of support for the war, obviously, but it does indicate that about 80 million Iranians want rid of the Islamist Regime.
      https://gamaan.org/2025/08/20/analytical-report-on-iranians-political-preferences-in-2024/
      
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      April 8, 2026 10:27am
      - Taieri
        
        Thanks.
        
        I’ve read the whole report. On the face of it, it is quite credible. The only problem is that being conducted online with self-selection sampling it was not random and it might have been affected by the selection bias, which would affect the representativeness of the sample. The authors of this report claim that the methods they used provide a representative sample. Perhaps…
        
        Still, the results are quite illuminating; undoubtedly, a significant opposition to the current regime exists, the question is, whether this opposition can translate into an actual change of the regime and what form would an alternative regime adopt? Also, as it is very unlikely that the Islamic regime would voluntarily relinquish its hold on power, what would be the human cost of such a change?
        
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        April 8, 2026 11:19am
      - SGA
        
        “A significant majority opposed the continuation of the Islamic Republic” isn’t the same as “an awful lot of Persians really admire Trump/Netanyahu”. It’s much more nuanced than that 🙂
        
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        April 8, 2026 1:11pm
      - Paulus
        
        Presumably the figures represent mostly Iranian women ?
        
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        April 8, 2026 2:37pm
    - kowtow
      
      See above.
      
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      April 8, 2026 10:35am
  - Ra Henare
    
    Kowtow, evidence?
    You mean all the Persians NOT living in Persia.
    
    Note: Persians only make up 61% of Iran Population.
    
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethnicities_in_Iran
    
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    April 8, 2026 12:57pm
  - David George
    
    Before striking the railway infrastructure in Iran, Israel directly called the Iranian train station managers. They warned them to evacuate all personnel and stop civilians from boarding the trains.
    Why? Because the Islamic Republic had maliciously CUT THE INTERNET to keep citizens in the dark and put them in danger!
    
    Think about this staggering contrast: The IRGC begs families to send their children to act as human shields, while Israel makes direct phone calls to bypass the internet blackout and save Iranian lives.
    
    This is the most humane method of war against the most inhumane terrorists on earth.
    
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    April 8, 2026 1:32pm
  - Ian Boag
    
    evidence that an awful lot of Persians really admire Trump/Netanyahu.
    
    For some of us who have unsuccessfully sought such evidence – maybe you might share it …. 🙂
    
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    April 8, 2026 7:35pm
- David George
  
  Straight out of the Islamist’s death cult playbook -human shields, woman and children, as a deterrent and/or propaganda fodder.
  
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  April 8, 2026 9:00am
  - RoboRob
    
    Really puts all the claims of Isreal bombing schools and hospitals into perspective. Those schools and hospitals were strategicly located around military targets to protect them. Shows how much the Iranians / Palestinians care about their people.
    
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    April 8, 2026 9:03am
  - Wayne1749
    
    No evidence these people were forced, but rather this is most likely a spontaneous and courageous stand to highlight the barbarity of the Zionist and American aggressors.
    
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    April 8, 2026 2:27pm
- Charlotte Wells
  
  “Iran has human shields on bridges and around power plants ”
  
  There’s a name that describes that action.
  
  Dare you say it?
  
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  April 8, 2026 9:40am
  - Don Beckett
    
    Surely not – “War Crimes” ?
    
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    April 8, 2026 10:44am
    - Charlotte Wells
      
      On that; has anyone decried Iran closing the Straits of Hormuz as the war crime that it is?
      
      Does it even matter to anyone that the parts fo the Strait that are being mined are actually Omani territorial waters, Iran thereby violating a sovereign nation?
      
      I am left with the impression that war crimes only matter if the slur can be used against the US and Israeli administration.
      
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      April 8, 2026 1:58pm
  - Wayne1749
    
    Only if forced. And there is no evidence of that
    
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    April 8, 2026 2:28pm
- Damocles11
  
  ‘US senator Ron Johnson, a close ally of Donald Trump, warned on Monday that the US president would lose his support if he struck Iran’s civilian infrastructure, as a small chorus of Republican unease begins to grow.
  Speaking on the John Solomon Reports podcast on Monday, Johnson said: “I do not want to see us start blowing up civilian infrastructure.” He added: “I hope and pray that President Trump is just using this as bluster.”’
  
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  April 8, 2026 9:56am
- imalwaysright
  
  ‘Human Shields’ ?
  
  Humans don’t make good shields.
  But they are very useful as political sacrifices.
  
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  April 8, 2026 12:25pm
artemisia

The Social Investment Agency has commissioned an independent external review of its procurement practices.

In addition – In an earlier OIA released to RNZ, the SIA confirmed there had been two employment investigations over the last 12 months.

Carefully correct responses from the SIA at this early stage, but allegations, reviews and resignations indicate something almost certainly lies beneath.

Am personally in support of the Social Investment approach, and very good that it is focused on outcomes rather than inputs. But the long term nature of outcomes achieved or not, together with the somewhat experimental approaches (likely justified at this early stage) does open the door for fudging around the edges. Or worse.

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/591695/minister-for-social-investment-expects-govt-agencies-to-comply-with-procurement-rules
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April 8, 2026 8:25am
- Gravelroad
  
  I thought NZ, being the hugely wealthy little country that it is (sarc) already had a large array of “social investment” taxpayer funded schemes available?
  Many wide ranging welfare benefits, working for families, universal super etc.
  How long can a nation of five million keep sustaining huge social welfare payouts with no extra money coming in?
  Always makes me smile when politicians respond by saying that they “expect” govt agencies to comply etc. Using the descriptor “expect” is a passive term of which those spending the money will take no notice. At all.
  Why would they?
  There appears to be no accountability for the hundreds of millions being given away – and very few measurable results.
  
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  April 8, 2026 9:04am
  - Charlotte Wells
    
    Over regulation, heavy taxation, and social redistribution make a nation poorer, not richer.
    
    Is there any political party in New Zealand that can turn this around?
    
    Do we wait to become Cuba without the rum, cigars, or climate?
    
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    April 8, 2026 9:42am
    - Jethrod
      
      So if we wait , we get DB Export, Marijuana rollies and meth.
      
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      April 8, 2026 10:58am
      - Steve Otto N Shore
        
        Already have that. Got more goodies????
        
        3 1
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        April 8, 2026 3:36pm
  - Paulus
    
    It has just been reported that the UK Social Welfare payments are greater that the Tax Income, for the first time.
    
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    April 8, 2026 9:50am
    - MCōs
      
      The UK is expecting to spend £323.1 billion in 2025-26 on social security. Tax receipts for the previous year were £836 billion. £309.4 billion income tax. £171 billion vat tax £89.6billion corporation tax
      
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      April 8, 2026 11:36am
      - Charlotte Wells
        
        Hence why they are taxing everything, including the air that we breathe.
        
        UK farmers are about to be taxed 27% tax on fertilizer.
        
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        April 8, 2026 2:00pm
  - artemisia
    
    This one is supposed to be different – based on data and early intervention to head of later issues before they become intractable. And very ezpensive.
    
    In this case ‘there is no try’ is wrong IMO.
    
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    April 8, 2026 10:58am
Ghost

A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again. I don’t want that to happen, but it probably will. However, now that we have Complete and Total Regime Change, where different, smarter, and less radicalized minds prevail, maybe something revolutionarily wonderful can happen, WHO KNOWS? We will find out tonight, one of the most important moments in the long and complex history of the World. 47 years of extortion, corruption, and death, will finally end. God Bless the Great People of Iran!

Truth social

Unhinged lunatic threatens other unhinged lunatics.
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April 8, 2026 8:30am
- Yvette
  
  US President Donald Trump warned “a whole civilization will die” in Iran if the country does not heed his cutoff time to open the Strait of Hormuz, as Tehran reported US-Israeli attacks on its infrastructure were already underway.
  
  “a whole civilization will die” seems a more accurate definition of genocide than that bandied about by some Maori activists.
  
  But why would Trump do that without first strike-ringing and isolating Teran, striking highways, railways and bridges and stormwater drains, but perhaps leaving some access for humanitarian aid, and resorting to the WW II tactic of dropping hundreds of thousands of pamphlets for the general population. They of course sit there without probably the means to time an overthrow which needs some co-ordination. But there is plenty Trump can do before genocide.
  
  However it yet remains a question: Have forces outside Iran yet killed more civilians than the Iranian regime and it agencies have killed themselves?
  
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  April 8, 2026 8:38am
  - Philview
    
    Iran’s Government is causing major economic damage in the world and has to be persuaded somehow. I am not hearing of other Western leaders bringing diplomacy to this situation.
    
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    April 8, 2026 9:23am
    - Taieri
      
      Iran’s Government is causing major economic damage in the world
      ————–
      
      Up to the 27th of February 2026 the Iran’s Government wasn’t causing any economic damage to the world. What’s changed?
      
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      April 8, 2026 9:58am
      - Philview
        
        Iranian proxies attacked Israel 7th October 2023 and this has been building up steam since.
        
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        April 8, 2026 11:15am
      - David George
        
        The Iranian regime has damaged the global economy prior to the 2026 Iran war primarily through its support for proxy militias (especially the Houthis in Yemen), repeated threats and actions disrupting key energy chokepoints like the Strait of Hormuz and Red Sea, and a sophisticated sanctions-evasion apparatus that sustained destabilizing activities. These behaviors created volatility in oil markets, inflated global shipping and insurance costs, disrupted supply chains, and contributed to higher inflation and trade frictions—effects felt worldwide in higher consumer prices, delayed goods, and reduced economic growth forecasts. While the regime itself faced heavy sanctions, its actions imposed externalities on trading partners, energy importers, and global markets. Here are the main channels, based on documented pre-2026 impacts.
        
        Scale of disruption: The Red Sea/Suez route normally carried ~12–15% of global seaborne trade (including ~20–30% of container traffic and significant oil flows). Houthi attacks (over 100–190 incidents reported in the first year alone) caused transits to plummet: Bab al-Mandeb traffic down ~50–65% year-over-year by 2024, Suez Canal passages down ~30–70%, with over 2,000 ships diverted by early 2024.
        
        csis.org +1
        
        Economic costs: Ships rerouted around the Cape of Good Hope added 10+ days and ~$1 million in extra fuel/labor per voyage. Container freight rates surged (e.g., Drewry’s World Container Index roughly doubled from ~$1,521 to ~$3,777 per 40-ft container in late 2023–early 2024; Asia-Europe routes saw even steeper spikes). Insurance premiums for Red Sea voyages jumped sharply (cargo rates from ~0.6% to 2% of cargo value, plus war-risk add-ons). Suez Canal revenues (vital foreign currency for Egypt) fell ~40%.
        In summary, while not the sole cause of any single crisis, the Iranian regime’s deliberate policies of proxy support, chokepoint coercion, and sanctions circumvention created measurable, recurring economic harm through higher costs, uncertainty, and disrupted flows—long before the 2026 escalation. These patterns were well-documented by maritime analysts, energy markets, and international financial institutions.
        
        https://x.com/i/grok?conversation=2041683225366708654
        
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        April 8, 2026 1:08pm
      - kowtow
        
        Not to mention Houthi piracy on Red Sea shipping.
        
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        April 8, 2026 1:18pm
  - David George
    
    No, not by a long way, Yvette.
    Some say as many as 100,000 Iranians mowed down in the streets or beaten to death in custody or executed this year alone.
    Ordinary Iranians are safer in the middle of a full blown war than under there monstrous government.
    
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    April 8, 2026 9:41am
    - Don Beckett
      
      Once again, Trump blows his mouth off as part of his usual tactics – but this time has really over-egged the pudding.
      But once again, as the Americans say, “Don’t take Trump literally, but do take him seriously”.
      
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      April 8, 2026 10:51am
      - Charlotte Wells
        
        It would appear we have peace in our time (to misappropriate that phrase).
        
        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8uZIdhmh_2A
        
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        April 8, 2026 12:22pm
  - Charlotte Wells
    
    A civilization can be erased without genocide.
    
    Vide the UK and Europe.
    
    Fling open the gates and welcome the barbarians.
    
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    April 8, 2026 9:50am
    - Taieri
      
      Fling open the gates and welcome the barbarians
      ———–
      
      Foreign born population:
      
      UK 16% (20/21 census)
      Europe 10.4% (1st January 2025)
      New Zealand 28.8% (2023)
      
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      April 8, 2026 11:26am
- RoboRob
  
  My expectation is that while the Iranians are building human shields around bridges and power plants, Trump will do something else. Likely taking / taking out Kharg Island.
  
  In past major military actions trump has attacked the day before the talks were due to end, giving the element of surprise. This talking up taking out power stations and bridges might just be a diversion.
  
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  April 8, 2026 8:57am
  - MCōs
    
    Im picking that if his threat later today fizzles out Trump’s support will dwindle even further
    Winston on Morning Report inferred his bark is worse than his bite.
    
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    April 8, 2026 9:13am
    - R
      
      Winston was politicking for WINSTON this morning.
      
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      April 8, 2026 10:33am
      - MCōs
        
        He’s a smart politician
        He even poked the PM in the eye
        
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        April 8, 2026 12:04pm
  - david in Aus
    
    Can someone explain the rationale for why Americans will take Kharg Island?
    My case against it are:
    -they can achieve the same aims by blockading Iranian crude oil tankers.
    -this will increase oil prices, when they just desanctioned Iranian oil to lower oil prices.
    -this will result in unnecessary casualties.
    
    This is most likely a feint, it makes no logical strategic sense to take Kharg Island.
    
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    April 8, 2026 9:30am
    - virtualmark
      
      If you blockade ships on the open sea then you are drawing in other countries who own the ships, and other countries (like China) that own the cargo, and you’re starting to flirt with legal issues around the law of the sea. Gets messy and risks things snowballing into bigger problems.
      
      For example what if China then decides to send its own naval vessels to escort its oil cargos? Do you maintain the blockade?
      
      Attacking Kharg Island limits the complexity to just carrying on attacking the country you’re already in conflict with.
      
      Not saying I think attacking Kharg is rational or worthwhile. Just trying to place it in context with the alternatives.
      
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      April 8, 2026 9:43am
    - Charlotte Wells
      
      There is no rationale to take Kharg.
      
      As has been explained the real control of the strait is the island of Hormuz and the adjacent few.
      
      It’s nice red herring to keep the uncritical masses busy.
      
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      April 8, 2026 9:54am
      - Don Beckett
        
        They attacked Kharg earlier this morning before the announcement of the ceasefire because the IRGC were re-occupying and re-supplying the island with military equipment. So they got dealt to again.
        
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        April 8, 2026 4:02pm
  - Ross Bayer
    
    Robo,
    Thanks for your insightful comments and those of your fellows such as David George obviously very well informed
    We all need to be greatful that Donald and Bibi at great personal cost are saving the people of Iran, just like George Bush saved the people of Iraq and Barack and Hillary saved the people of Syria, these latter countries are so much better off now without a functioning government and the power blackouts.
    I have been unfortunately listening to the wrong people such as professors , ex marines retired US army veterans and CIA intel staff and have got it completely wrong.
    Do not click on any of the attached links as these intelligent articulate people have clearly got this all wrong, war criminals are the preferred source of info
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J7JDMRg_rJ4
    https://www.youtube.com/live/ux4ctbyhb9o
    
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CLaQIYqtUFA
    
    https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=YRskSFo191Y
    
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    April 8, 2026 9:31am
    - RoboRob
      
      Kent, the ex CIA guy was telling us a few days ago that the USA was trying to kill the missing pilot. Just becuase you worked for the CIA or military doesn’t give you super powers when you leave.
      
      My comment is based on observed reality. Trump doesn’t talk about military plans in advance he repeatedly calls those people fools. All of this military interventions have been unexpected and surprises. Why would he now change to telling his enemy his plans and not do something surprising?
      
      I’m sorry you can roll out experts all you want but they are just as likely to be wrong as I am. Do you remember the medical experts during COVID? Did their expertise make their guesses more accurate?
      
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      April 8, 2026 9:50am
      - Charlotte Wells
        
        Was that the CIA that swore the Biden laptop was Russian misinformation?
        
        Yes, yes it was.
        
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        April 8, 2026 9:55am
      - RoboRob
        
        @Charlotte Wells
        
        50 ex CIA experts!
        
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        April 8, 2026 11:42am
- virtualmark
  
  At this point in history the US President with the codes to launch nukes is more dangerous than an Iranian ayatollah who might one day have a nuke.
  
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  April 8, 2026 8:58am
  - Interested Party
    
    [Mod – debate without abuse]
    
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    April 8, 2026 9:39am
  - In Vino Veritas
    
    Yep virtual, and he’s had six years to blow the world up so must be close to pushing the button. And according to the Democrats he’s destroying democracy in the USA. Already had 6 years and it seems as democratic as it ever was. And he’s going to make himself King. And he’s going to imprison all those who oppose him. And he’s going to turn the military against the people. And he’s a fascist. And, and, and.
    Funny how all these things and so much more are considered normal and OK by many, but when he bloviates “a civilisation will end” he’s an unhinged nutter. Funny world we live in.
    
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    April 8, 2026 11:01am
    - virtualmark
      
      IVV … he is an unhinged nutter.
      
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      April 8, 2026 2:07pm
- MCōs
  
  Now I read Pakistan is involved as some sort of mediator to get things back to a political status quo that existed before America/Israel attacked Iran
  
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  April 8, 2026 9:04am
- Charlotte Wells
  
  Unhinged lunatic gets peace deal.
  
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8uZIdhmh_2A
  
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  April 8, 2026 12:24pm
  - Ghost
    
    No, what they’ve got, thanks to other countries is a two week cease fire.
    
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    April 8, 2026 12:26pm
    - Wairoa Native
      
      The Strait of Hormuz is currently open on a limited basis following the recent two‑week ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran. Iran has agreed to allow ships to transit safely under military supervision, primarily for essential goods, though normal commercial traffic remains restricted. Passage requires coordination with Iranian authorities, and some ships may still face conditions or delays. While this temporary arrangement eases tensions and enables partial shipping, the strait has not returned to pre‑conflict levels of activity.
      
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      April 8, 2026 2:31pm
      - Don Beckett
        
        The opening is unconditional.
        
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        April 8, 2026 4:04pm
- Ra Henare
  
  and of coures TACO Trump this morning has decided to extend the deadline for 2 weeks.
  This guy is a joke.
  
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  April 8, 2026 1:00pm
imalwaysright

Pythonesque story of the day….
Residents in a Mosgiel street are desperate for a pedestrian crossing and traffic warnings to protect the kids.

They resorted to painting their own.

Instead of sorting out a proper crossing, the Council have spent thousands painting over the citizens efforts and called the cops !

Police notified after DIY crossing and safety messages appear on suburban street | Stuff https://share.google/TR1pXCE2M4PrFDT4N
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April 8, 2026 8:58am
- peterwn
  
  Hopefully they used proper road marking paint.
  There is a legal issue here. AFAIK any designated pedestrian crossing needs to be added to a schedule in DCC bylaws (or if a state highway in NZTA bylaws). Otherwise any attempt to prosecute a driver driving through the crossing without giving way to pedestrians could fail, Also beacons and lighting are required.
  Years ago Auckland University students were frustrated with the lack of a pedestrian crossing in Princes Street and painted one themselves. Unfortunately the type of paint used damaged the road surface so the area had to be resealed. Council sent the bill to the Students Association.
  
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  April 8, 2026 9:41am
  - imalwaysright
    
    Yes, crossings are subject to regulations. Its also a fair bet that most Councils will know the regs and could get a junior worker to arrange it.
    We seem to spend more money planning things than actually doing them.
    
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    April 8, 2026 10:41am
Sparrow

In no way am I defending the evil dictatorial regime in Iran, but I have a question. Why is it OK for Israel to have nuclear weapons but not Iran?. Both are sovereign nations nomatter what you might think of their regimes.
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April 8, 2026 9:06am
- Cassandra
  
  Their behaviour. If the Islamic world left Israel and Jews alone violence would diminish.
  
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  April 8, 2026 9:25am
  - MCōs
    
    I don’t think it’s quite that simple.
    
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    April 8, 2026 9:36am
    - Charlotte Wells
      
      Yes it is.
      
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      April 8, 2026 10:00am
    - Cassandra
      
      Do enlighten us then.
      
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      April 8, 2026 10:12am
      - Charlotte Wells
        
        For Mcos; please show any matter where Israel has used violence when it has not been under attack.
        
        Can you point out any Israeli state initiated attack on any of its Islamic neighbours that wasn’t in response to an actual or imminent threat.
        
        If you can, list them all.
        
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        April 8, 2026 12:16pm
  - imalwaysright
    
    If the Israeli government left America alone the violence would diminish.
    
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    April 8, 2026 10:12am
- Philview
  
  Iran’s current regime are an extreme islamic cult who desire an apocalyptic war to bring about the emergence of a supreme global leader called Mahdi. Nuclear weapons in their hands would be concerning.
  
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  April 8, 2026 9:28am
  - R
    
    …..concerning, AND devastating for the middle east.
    
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    April 8, 2026 10:40am
    - artemisia
      
      Yes, and a nuke armed and travelling, whether reaching target or not, will result in immediate shock and awe. And some.
      
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      April 8, 2026 1:12pm
- MCōs
  
  The reasoning is that one of them is an irresponsible loose cannon.
  North Korea is pretty wild, but nobody’s ever had a crack at their nukes.
  
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  April 8, 2026 9:28am
  - RoboRob
    
    Because once a country has nukes they become immune to attack. If you think a country is going to get nukes and that they are bad actors you have to take them out BEFORE they get nukes.
    
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    April 8, 2026 9:53am
  - In Vino Veritas
    
    No one has had a crack. They don’t need to MCos. There is no credible evidence that NK has miniaturized warheads that can be mounted on missiles. Also, with China so near NK, the Chinese would be the recipients of a decent chunk of fallout if the Americans retaliated against a launch from NK. That is the last thing China would want, so there’s a decent chance the Chinese will keep Fat-Boy under control.
    
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    April 8, 2026 11:13am
- imalwaysright
  
  Here’s another question, what do the people of the countries involved in this shit show want?
  
  I bet very few citizens on either side want this.
  
  That being the case, it seems that ‘Governments’ now initiate conflicts without public mandate. The only roles the public have are to either pay the bill or be a target.
  
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  April 8, 2026 9:33am
  - Charlotte Wells
    
    It would seem that 90% of Persians (will they revert to that after the change) do want this.
    
    Thye say that the current regime is supported by 10% of the population.
    
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    April 8, 2026 10:01am
    - Taieri
      
      will they revert to that after the change
      ————
      
      Unlikely. Persians are only approx. 61% of Iran’s population. The second largest ethnicity are Azerbaijanis (approx. 16%).
      
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      April 8, 2026 11:31am
      - zulumonster
        
        Fair point when you consider the dominant ethnicity of NZ is about the same percentage as the Azerbaijanis .
        
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        April 8, 2026 12:49pm
    - imalwaysright
      
      I think we are saying the same thing, the Iranian people would rather the Regime capitulated than engage in the conflict.
      
      But yes, its called a regime for a reason, that reason being regimes don’t particularly care about public mandates.
      
      The Western governments however are supposed to be democratic and therefore should be obliged to get a public mandate before initiating conflict.
      
      I’m guessing that the citizens in all of the countries involved would say no to conflict.
      
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      April 8, 2026 12:10pm
- virtualmark
  
  It’s a question of whether you think a country wants nuclear weapons either:
  (a) as a defensive weapon to deter other countries from attacking them, or
  (b) as an offensive weapon they can use to attack other countries.
  
  Rightly or wrongly the world largely thinks Israel is an (a) and that Iran would be a (b).
  
  There was a lot of concern that North Korea was a (b) but really North Korea is a:
  (c) as a deterrent to possible attempts by other countries to overthrow the incumbent regime.
  
  I suspect Iran is also a (c). The #1 goal of every authoritarian regime is regime survival. The mullahs and the IRGC have seen what happened to Gaddafi and to Saddam and what hasn’t happened to North Korea.
  
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  April 8, 2026 9:35am
  - RoboRob
    
    Well said. I think the Iranians are in the b category but you are right they could just be after a (c).
    
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    April 8, 2026 9:55am
  - Wayne1749
    
    “Rightly or wrongly the world largely thinks Israel is an (a) and that Iran would be a (b).”
    
    The ‘world’ manifestly does not think that. No countries in the world , including the Gulf states supported this war being launched. Orthodox Christian Russia , and atheist China have good relations with Iran, as do non Islamic countries like Cuba, and Venezuela. This proves that the Iranian ‘regime’ can get on with countries that are not it’s correligionists, and it proves that other countries with their own self interests do not fear Iran on account of Iran being an Islamic Republic.
    
    The ‘world’ is much more than Israel and the US, or even the wider West. The majority of people in the world support Iran, because Iran is resisting foreign military aggression.
    
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    April 8, 2026 2:21pm
    - virtualmark
      
      Well, I was responding to Sparrow who asked “Why is it OK for Israel to have nuclear weapons but not Iran?. Both are sovereign nations no matter what you might think of their regimes.”
      
      Your comment talks about how Iran has allies. Yep, true. And the Russian ally has helped Iran’s nuclear ambitions (Bushehr reactor), and China its rocketry ones. I doubt either fear an Iranian nuke.
      
      But the current conflict initiated by Israel and the US is largely because they don’t trust a nuclear Iran. Quietly neither do the Gulf states or Saudi Arabia. Neither does the West at large (see the JCPOA).
      
      Just because the Iranian regime can “get on” with a few other countries doesn’t mean that it’s not a threat to another group of countries.
      
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      April 8, 2026 3:16pm
      - Ian Boag
        
        Russian ally has helped Iran’s nuclear ambitions (Bushehr reactor)
        
        Bushehr is a power plant ….
        
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        April 8, 2026 7:42pm
    - Charlotte Wells
      
      Utter nonsense.
      
      What you state is so abusrdly wrong I struggle to know which part you would truely believe and which I should address first.
      
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      April 8, 2026 3:30pm
- David George
  
  The Ayatollahs are Shi’ite Twelvers that believe that the twelfth (hidden ) Imam (Muhammad al-Mahdi) will return to usher in the global Caliphate. An apocalypse and the destruction of the Jews, in particular, is a necessary precursor for his return.
  They are insane.
  
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  April 8, 2026 9:54am
  - Wayne1749
    
    If that is the case why is Judaism a recognized faith with representation Iran’s parliament, and there are synagogues inTehran?
    
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    April 8, 2026 2:23pm
- Paulus
  
  Because the likelyhood of Israel using it are non existance by far far less than Iran doing so to eliminate Israel.
  Israel is Defesive, Iran are Offensive
  
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  April 8, 2026 9:55am
- R
  
  The Israeli regime is far more stabile than the Mulahs IRGC regime
  
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  April 8, 2026 10:38am
herb1

How many people think that America , who rail against foreign interference in their elections, have sent their VP to interfere in Hungarys election, 5 days before voting, is the height of hypocrisy
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April 8, 2026 9:30am
- virtualmark
  
  Does make you wonder who Vance works for.
  
  I don’t recall a US vice-president ever inserting themselves into another country’s election campaign before. And then Vance takes that highly irregular step to support Russia’s #1 stooge and spoiler in Europe, who seems to be on the way to losing the election this weekend.
  
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  April 8, 2026 9:39am
  - Wairoa Native
    
    What one person calls a ‘Russia stooge’ may simply be a nationalist, anti mass immigration, right of centre politician. It’s all in the eye of the beholder.
    
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    April 8, 2026 11:00am
    - virtualmark
      
      You need to read more.
      
      Victor Orban got his start as the bagman for Semion Mogilevich – the “boss of all bosses” in the Russian Mafia – back when Mogilevich was living in Vienna. Orban’s job was to literally take suitcases of cash to corrupt politicians and police on behalf of Mogilevich.
      
      Then Orban’s political career was bankrolled by Mogilevich and the Russian mob, almost certainly at the behest of the FSB (it’s very hard to say where the Russian mob ends and the FSB begins).
      
      As PM of Hungary Orban has consistently pushed Russian lines and Russian interests in the EU. Wherever possible he has vetoed EU initiatives that don’t please Russia – such as help for Ukraine. Here’s an example from just a few weeks ago … https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-hungary-leak-russia-peter-szijjarto/
      
      So yes, Orban is a Russian stooge. So is Robert Fico in Slovakia.
      
      So it’s very curious why Vance would choose to actively campaign in Hungary on behalf of Orban. Cui bono?
      
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      April 8, 2026 2:13pm
      - virtualmark
        
        Slight correction … Mogilevich was living in Budapest, not Vienna. Mogilevich’s wife is Hungarian.
        
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        April 8, 2026 3:03pm
  - Hard Cheese
    
    Doesn’t matter. JD Vance is a charisma vacuum, he’s the kiss of death for any campaign.
    
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    April 8, 2026 10:22pm
I remember when

Taxpayers’ Union-Curia Poll – April 2026:
Perhaps I missed it, but TV3 seems to forget to tell us how the results would impact on an election.
Strangely, that seems to be compulsory when the direct of polls is to the left.
Still at least the results were shown clearly and showed that NZ First were flying, perhaps that was enough.
The political editor seemed to be on holiday and failed to show.
National up (handling of fuel crisis?), Labour were down (Hipkins problems?) and the Greens down (fossil fuel kick-back?).
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April 8, 2026 9:36am
- MCōs
  
  Nats up 1.4%
  I suppose when you’re in the twenties there’s only one way to go.
  Who knows what will happen this year, but if they do nothing in the face of rising prices they will stay in the twenties.
  Their traditional voters might be able to cope, but more than that are needed
  
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  April 8, 2026 10:04am
TripeWryter

The first post here today mentioned the killing of about 36,000 Iranians protesting against the regime – by their government.
I have read that it was on January 8-9 in the streets of Tehran and other major cities.
It does incense me that our media ignore this.
They report the current death toll of the bombing by the US and Israel.
They wring their hands in sanctimonious wailing for the schoolgirls killed by a stray bomb or missile.
Many more schoolgirls would have been among the 36,000 people shot down in the streets and hospitals in January for protesting for civil rights that we in The Great White Imperial So-called Christian Liberal West take for granted.
I wonder if Stuff – particularly concerned about 200 children killed by an American bomb or missile – has bailed up the Iranian Ambassador to New Zealand and asked him about how come 36,000 people were shot down in the streets – in two days.
In two days.
The last politician in this country who challenged the Iranian Ambassador about his government’s human rights record was the-then Green Golriz Gharaman. And she did it in Farsi.
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April 8, 2026 9:41am
- Wayne1749
  
  Perhaps because the numbers are unproven and likely to be pure bs?
  
  What is I indisputable is Mossad and the US were trying to foment an insurrection and were providing arms to the insurrectionists.
  
  This was not security forces shooting innocent protesters simply for protesting. This was armed conflict caused by the West.
  
  Further even if 36 thousand had actually been killed by the ‘regime’, that would not justify military aggression by the US.
  
  Does China, say, have the right to conduct military strikes on the US, and then justify it tby saying far more Americans are killed by Americans than China’s hypothetical strikes? All countries and people, or at least most, have killed more of one another than have been killed by foreigners. That does not justify military intervention by foreigners.
  
  Further in those very rare cases where military intervention is justified, that is decided and agreed by the international community, not two rogue countries, Israel and the US who appoint themselves sheriff and deputy sheriff.
  
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  April 8, 2026 12:18pm
  - TripeWryter
    
    Wayne: I appreciate your scepticism, which, I think is reasonable, and which I gave a green tick.
    In my previous posts on this I have always qualified the total – eg., ‘depending on who’s counting’.
    I think 36,000 is reasonable and suggests an appalling scale of killing in two days.
    I have not mentioned what you did about the role of the US and Israel because I don’t know. It would not surprise me if true, for example.
    
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    April 8, 2026 2:05pm
  - Swifty
    
    It’s honestly quite fascinating how you completely overlook Iranian-sponsored violent aggression and terrorism throughout the region since 1979 – directed firmly at not only Israel but also other nation states throughout the region.
    
    Not to mention the numerous Iranian-backed terror attacks on US people, troops, military assets and facilities over the same period.
    
    All attacks which the Islamofascists have sworn to continue.
    
    It’s quite fantastic how you can ignore all this and put about the notion that the US and Israel have attacked an innocent and peaceful Iran absolutely out of the blue and for no legitimate reason at all.
    
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    April 8, 2026 2:06pm
    - TripeWryter
      
      Swifty: is that reply directed at me or Wayne or …?
      
      [His reply is clearly at Wayne, otherwise it would be nested under your comment. holy mod.]
      
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      April 8, 2026 5:15pm
      - TripeWryter
        
        Thanks, holy mod …
        
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        April 8, 2026 6:31pm
I remember when

“Dallas Stars ban fan after group made apparent Nazi salute at game.”
Is it time to stop jumping every time some idiot decides to prove they are one.
Does the reaction almost guarantee that some clown will think it is a clever idea.
Nothing succeeds like getting a reaction.
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April 8, 2026 9:46am
imalwaysright

If 80% of the world oil supply is NOT affected then why is the price so high?
12 4
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April 8, 2026 9:52am
- Ian Boag
  
  Just economics 101 – price/demand in the presence of reduced supply …
  
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  April 8, 2026 7:45pm
Paulus

It appears in our NZME rag that the NZ on Air/PIJF has been replaceed by “Local Democratic Reporters”.
Not sure they know what Democracy is though !
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April 8, 2026 9:59am
Pope Punctilious II

If you still can’t figure out why the Nats and Luxon are failing to convince voters, watch this painful interview of Luxon by Tova O’Brien, who asks how many Maori MP’s are there in the National cabinet.
https://www.1news.co.nz/2026/04/07/luxon-quizzed-on-cabinet-reshuffle-maori-representation/
It’s practically a repeat of Judith Collins being floored by a similar question 5-odd years ago.

What O’Brien is of course insinuating is that the Nats are racist. National leaders should know they’re going to get this “gotcha” question from so-called journalists. They should prepare for questions like this, but Luxon’s bumbling and defensive response shows he hadn’t prepared adequately.

As Maori are on average poorer than non-Maori Kiwis, and as Maori culture is highly collectivist, it’s no surprise that Maori gravitate more to Labour than to the Nats. There’s no great mystery to it, though it would probably be unwise of Luxon to follow the line of argument I’ve set out here. How should he respond instead? The safest option is probably to stress that he and the Nats are focused on putting MP’s in the roles they’re best suited to, without consideration of identity; and then to stonewall O’Brien’s insistent yapping.

The sight of Luxon being bullied and manipulated by O’Brien underlines his inadequacy for the role of PM. It’s desperately sad for this country that there’s no clear replacement-in-waiting. But more generally, the Nats really need to stop being defensive about the makeup of their caucus and cabinet, and go on the offensive.
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April 8, 2026 10:38am
- RichardF
  
  He needs some media training from Winston.
  
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  April 8, 2026 11:28am
  - RoboRob
    
    Apparently, according to insiders (via Ani Obrian), he refuses to take on media training advice.
    
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    April 8, 2026 1:37pm
- Wairoa Native
  
  You are quite right—National doesn’t need to be defensive. They had a Māori leader and a Māori deputy leader a few years ago (but made the strategic mistake of getting rid of both). The answer from Luxon should have been that there are more people who whakapapa Māori in the coalition cabinet as full cabinet ministers than in any previous NZ cabinet. It’s pretty straightforward. Neither Peters nor Seymour would have missed this (both are Māori themselves, of course).
  
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  April 8, 2026 11:51am
  - RoboRob
    
    Thats an answer but not the right one.
    
    Does it matter what ethnicity a cabinet member is? The left believe in needing n woman, n Maori etc. That is stupid. Do we need a significant number of asian MPs? A large chunk of the population is of asian decent after all.
    
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    April 8, 2026 1:37pm
    - Wairoa Native
      
      Of course it doesn’t matter what ethnicity our MPs are they can represent all of us. I’m sure Winston Peters or David Seymour would have made that clear. But by pointing out the fact our current government has more Māori in the cabinet than any previous government it would prove the question was based on a flawed premise.
      
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      April 8, 2026 4:13pm
- RoboRob
  
  As I said yesterday, if you have a clearly defined ideology and some political nouse Tovas ‘gotcha’ questions were pretty easy. This was illustrated today when Chris Hipkins easily evaded similar (harder) questions.
  
  The simple response, for a right wing party, was ‘It doesn’t matter how many Maori, Female, disabled or blue MPs are in cabinet. We are focused on the best person for the job not identity politics’.
  
  The problem was Luxon either doesn’t actually believe that or was too afraid to say it. Based on his actions to date I would suggest it was both. That is the entire problem with the current top line National line up, they would all fit in well in the Labour party and are all terrified to say what they really think (aside from Stanford).
  
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  April 8, 2026 11:53am
- Swifty
  
  I completely agree Pope.
  
  He should be able to flick off those questions like a mossie – but no. Not even after well over two years in the PM role and longer as National leader.
  
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  April 8, 2026 1:51pm
- nathie
  
  I seem to recall former PM Ardern not knowing what the Treaty of Waitangi Articles were (even though Willie Jackson did his best to whisper the Principles to her).
  
  Didn’t see Tova (or Jessica or Maiki or Jenna et al) try a “gotcha” on her about it later on. Hmm I wonder why that would be?
  
  Sure Luxon could have done better (and at the same time I can give him some leeway for not being a political beltway apparatchik), but surely he has a media minder that preps him on these Identity Politics “gotcha” type questions when fronting up to leftie turd like msm. If not, why not?
  
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  April 8, 2026 2:35pm
  - Pope Punctilious II
    
    So true nathie. But as I said, Luxon should know the media will be looking to catch him out, and prepare accordingly. Bottom line is he’s not on top of the job. A politician who can’t handle the media won’t last long in the job.
    
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    April 8, 2026 3:50pm
- Paulus
  
  Woweeeee
  She is back – watch out Maiki she will kick ass.
  
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  April 8, 2026 2:48pm
grumpy

Since the NZ Herald decided to infect Facebook, it has become obvious what a deranged lot their commenters are. A huge proportion of made up Maori identities. Thanks for identifying what we are up against.
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April 8, 2026 10:56am
Cassandra

Two week ceasefire of Hormuz is opened. The world is experiencing turmoil because of the war. But think this through – the current turmoil is nothing compared to what will happen if Iran gets the bomb.
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April 8, 2026 11:04am
- imalwaysright
  
  If anyone used a nuclear bomb they would cease to exist very quickly.
  
  The possession of a bomb is a red herring, the Iranians could cause much more damage through terrorist attacks on western infrastructure.
  
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  April 8, 2026 11:45am
- MCōs
  
  If Iran gets the bomb
  Mr Netanyahu has been waving that big stick for decades
  There were no wmd
  There is no monster behind that door
  
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  April 8, 2026 11:53am
- Wayne1749
  
  Iran was nowhere close to getting a bomb and further they have long said they won’t get a nuclear bomb, and there is a religious fatwa against it.
  Nonetheless they would have every right to obtain a bomb now, given what has happened.
  
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  April 8, 2026 12:20pm
  - rockape
    
    Are you an expert on Nuclear bombs that you know that. Why please tell were they enriching uranium 10 times that required for power generation. I have only limited knowledge having been involved in uk special safety (response to nuclear accidents ) and as an instructor in Nuclear biological and chemical defence, so will be pleased to have my knowledge broadened..
    
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    April 8, 2026 12:52pm
    - Hard Cheese
      
      Why have they had 400+ kg of 60% enriched uranium for so long when it would be a simple step to enrich to 90% and produce weapons? I put it to you that they were never interested in having nuclear weapons, they simply wanted to be in a position of being able to quickly have them as a deterrent.
      
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      April 8, 2026 2:10pm
      - Don Beckett
        
        The mad Mullahs would contradict you , and their successors.
        
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        April 8, 2026 4:15pm
      - Charlotte Wells
        
        To deter who, and why?
        
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        April 8, 2026 4:58pm
      - Hard Cheese
        
        @Charlotte Wells
        
        Israel, clearly. And with good reason as it turns out.
        
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        April 8, 2026 10:25pm
  - David George
    
    The almost half a ton of 60% enriched uranium they already have can easily be included in ballistic missiles (that they already have) and detonated over Tel Aviv or Dubai – a dirty bomb.
    They could also hide the missiles in an ordinary freighter or aircraft and detonate it anywhere in the world – New York say.
    
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    April 8, 2026 1:21pm
    - Paulus
      
      Or as they would like, detonate over New York or via a freighter in the port.
      
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      April 8, 2026 2:50pm
Gary Benner

Our fuel prices at the pump skyrocketed on the threat of war. Now there is a threat of peace and the Straits of Hormuz open are they going to go down in the same way?

Somehow I doubt it.

From http://www.gaspy.nz:

Unleaded 91
$3.499
28 day change: upward 70.86 cents / 25.39%
Diesel
$3.834
28 day change: upward 153.43 cents / 66.72%
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April 8, 2026 11:45am
- MCōs
  
  Brent Crude is pretty much unmoved at $109/barrel
  Maybe tomorrow
  
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  April 8, 2026 12:00pm
  - 70andstilllearning
    
    Actually around mid USD$ 90’s /Bbl which is a similar % drop to WTI.
    
    https://tradingeconomics.com/commodities
    
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    April 8, 2026 12:37pm
  - Gary Benner
    
    A midday today Brent Crude is at US$95.02, so some downward trend.
    
    https://tradingeconomics.com/commodity/brent-crude-oil
    
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    April 8, 2026 12:41pm
    - MCōs
      
      Same at 2.30pm
      That’s about 10% and one would expect not likely to go up.
      Do that mean fuel comes down 10% too?
      
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      April 8, 2026 2:28pm
- Stu2
  
  After almost 6 weeks of limited crude supply to the asian refineries, it is going to take some time for them to be back to normal.
  
  I expect continued competition for refined product in Asia/Oceania, even as the feedstock price drops.
  
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  April 8, 2026 12:37pm
- Paulus
  
  But remember only 20% of the World’s oil comes through Hormuz.
  
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  April 8, 2026 2:51pm
  - Dudley Quaffquaff
    
    Which means the global price has to stay high enough for 20% of demand to be destroyed.
    
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    April 8, 2026 5:41pm
Taieri

Diesel
$3.834
28 day change: upward 153.43 cents / 66.72%
—————

This is not correct.
Paid 150.7 cents/litre on the 7th of March.
Price at the same station today is 379.9 cents/litre

Increase 152%
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April 8, 2026 12:01pm
Charlotte Wells

Looks like a peace has been agreed.
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April 8, 2026 12:08pm
- septic skeptic
  
  So Trump can be nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize again, for ending this stupidly devastating war?
  
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  April 8, 2026 3:14pm
rouppe

The news say that Iran maintains control over the Strait of Hormuz.

I know Iran CAN block the Strait, but since Oman and UAE are on the other side of the Strait, don’t they own half of it? They must surely have exclusive economic zone right too?

And how do all those supposed mines disappear?

In addition I see that Iran would impose a fee of US$2 million per ship. Just what I thought would happen. But how? Are they going to put a naval checkpoint on the Strait?
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April 8, 2026 12:37pm
- Hard Cheese
  
  They don’t need a physical checkpoint. The ship’s insurer won’t insure it for passage unless they have confirmation from Iran that they’ve paid the $2 million and aren’t at risk of being hit by a missile.
  
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  April 8, 2026 2:16pm
greybeard

This week’s examples of how people from some cultures treat their fellows.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/360961776/five-workers-owed-147000-after-minimum-wage-and-holiday-pay-breaches

and

https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/360961619/your-common-enemy-new-zealand-government-lawyer-helped-client-flout-foreign-buyer-ban
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April 8, 2026 2:05pm
Maggy Wassilieff

Oh, so very true:

Luxon still hasn’t got the hang of politics

“I’m not going to play that game,” Christopher Luxon said – rather lamely – when Tova O’Brien asked him how many Maori National MPs were in his cabinet.

“It’s not a game,” countered O’Brien, doubtless trying hard to conceal her glee at having so easily caught the prime minister out.

Oh, but it is a game. The game is called scalp-hunting and it’s commonly practised by journalists and broadcasters who mistakenly think their role is to make politicians squirm.

https://karldufresne.blogspot.com/2026/04/luxon-still-hasnt-got-hang-of-politics.html
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April 8, 2026 2:11pm
- Pope Punctilious II
  
  Hopeless from Luxon – he needs to SHOW so-called journalists he won’t play along, not tell them. After more than two years in the role of PM, he’s still a sitting duck in interviews.
  
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  April 8, 2026 2:17pm
  - septic skeptic
    
    Not to worry Pope, it can’t be long before he is rolled now. He will be remembered as the most politically inept Prime Minister ever. Also the one who kept the he puapua pot on the boil ready and waiting for Labour to get back and complete the job. He should be a hero of the Maori soveriegnty movement.
    
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    April 8, 2026 3:12pm
    - Pope Punctilious II
      
      But his most likely replacement is Willis. Sure she’s much more adept at handling the media, but she’s also a self-confessed “teal” who has intimated she has little interest in pushing back against treaty ideology and “Maorification”.
      
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      April 8, 2026 7:31pm
  - Maggy Wassilieff
    
    Yep, I despair.
    
    If Luxon can’t immediately express a simple belief in the quality of a person irrespective of their ancestry/religion/gender, etc, then he’s in the wrong job.
    
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    April 8, 2026 3:25pm
- Scooter
  
  How embarrassing, he named James Meager who isn’t in cabinet and forgot Tama Potaka who actually is in cabinet, has a Maori name and looks Maori. Now it’s being reported all through the media, this a few months from the election when he desperately needs some good PR news. But I agree he should have shut her down with a simple reply like you said MW.
  
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  April 8, 2026 3:31pm
Colville

So Trump has agreed to pay Iran full compensation for the damage done in the war as part of his peace plan?

Is that a joke I am not understanding?
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April 8, 2026 2:27pm
- Charlotte Wells
  
  The 10 points aren’t the end producct.
  
  They are a starting point.
  
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  April 8, 2026 3:41pm
- rockape
  
  It’s just duff news from mainstream media. Go on give us a clue where you found that information.
  
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  April 8, 2026 5:10pm
Don Beckett

The deal is available on line, check it out. It says nothing about compensation, & nothing about Iran having total control of the SoH.
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April 8, 2026 4:20pm
greybeard

Anyone watching the current moon-looping mission , and who appreciates the immense amount of technological input into this event must surely look back at the supposed “moon landings” from 1969 onwards with more than a bit of doubt.

1. JFK said in his speech 12th September 1962 at Rice University in Houston:

“We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard,” The president promised to put a man on the moon before the end of the decade.

During the 1960s “Space Race” between USA and USSR the USSR was well ahead, having been the first to do all sorts of things ( Sputnik 1957, dog in space 1957, man in space 1961, etc etc ) and this pissed-off the Americans no end. They were desperate for a victory of some sort. They had stolen most of the brilliant Nazi space scientists but were still trailing their arch-enemies.

In 1963 JFK was assassinated and in the last year of the decade, 1969, the Americans were credited with the first moon landing, just as he had predicted.
And promised.

And at this point the doubts begin. To save time , from Wikipedia comes this summary:

“After being sent to the Moon by the Saturn V’s third stage, the astronauts separated the spacecraft from it and traveled for three days until they entered lunar orbit. Armstrong and Aldrin then moved into Eagle and landed in the Sea of Tranquility on July 20. The astronauts used Eagle’s ascent stage to lift off from the lunar surface and rejoin Collins in the command module. They jettisoned Eagle before they performed the maneuvers that propelled Columbia out of the last of its 30 lunar orbits onto a trajectory back to Earth.[8] They returned to Earth and splashed down in the Pacific Ocean on July 24 after more than eight days in space. “

Perfect!. No problems!. Just a routine event!.
Saturn V worked fine, the three-day trip to moon orbit was uneventful, the Eagle had no problems landing, the Eagle’s return ascent stage worked perfectly, the reunion with the command module went without a hitch, Eagle was jettisoned in a routine fashion, Columbia command module was taken out of orbit perfectly and the well-publicised and recorded return to earth was the icing on the cake.
Jolly good show.

And total rubbish.

If it was so easy to achieve in 1969 then why has it not become a routine event since ? With all of the huge advances in technology ? And accrued knowledge ?
And international co-operation ?

2. https://www.stuff.co.nz/world-news/360887102/help-arrives-chinese-astronauts-stranded-space-after-ship-damaged

“China’s space program has made steady progress since 2003. It has built its own space station and has a goal of landing a person on the moon by 2030.”

But but but ! – surely America landed people on the moon back in 1969 ? why has it taken 56 years for China to attempt this ?
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April 8, 2026 7:40pm
- Don Beckett
  
  That conspiracy theory has been debunked over the past 50 odd years dozens of times – but yet you persist.
  
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  April 8, 2026 9:52pm
- Ghost
  
  agree, total rubbish. Your post that is. Eagle had problems in its descent, it suffered a computer overload. It overshot the landing site, which caused it to be low on fuel. China’s missions to the moon and mapping of the moon have shown the American missions were real, they have photographed each landing site.
  
  There is no race to the moon any more, china isn’t trying to beat anyone, they are doing the necessary work to prepare to put a base in the moon,
  
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  April 8, 2026 10:15pm
westernScientist

seriously? ok: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lunar_Laser_Ranging_experiments Do you think the US send an unmanned mission, and then pretended humans went? the Russians sent unmaned rovers to the moon like 5 years later, that is way harder than sending a human. Or do you just think that no one has ever gone there? The reason that no people have gone back is because it is really expensive and there is no point. That is why the soviets stopped trying once the Americans had got there, why bother? the only reason to go is to say ‘you’ got there first
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April 8, 2026 8:48pm
Albie

Greybeard, just wondering what your thoughts are on 9/11 being an inside job? And do you think contrails are in fact dispersing mind control drugs?
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April 8, 2026 8:55pm

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