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April 9, 2026 8:00am by Kokila Patel

General Debate 09 April 2026

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NeverMindTheBollocks

If you needed any more evidence that Hollywood is irredeemably woke, I see that the hagiography paid for by you and me has been nominated for not one but two Emmys, including, risibly, the outstanding politics and government category – who knew, etc.

Clarke says he’s bewildered. You and me, chum.

http://www.1news.co.nz/2026/04/08/clarke-gayford-bewildered-as-ardern-doco-lands-two-emmy-nominations/
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April 9, 2026 8:00am
Simon

Stunning victory by Iran. Iran defeated all of Israel/ US war aims and enhanced its own position bigly. Iran substantially better off now compared to when war started, with its 10 point plan.

US wants war over permanently as it was losing badly. Iran wants to secure its glittering victory. Watch out Israel.

Iran has got this. Remember these words well.
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April 9, 2026 8:02am
- Charlotte Wells
  
  In the words of that immortal Aussie philosopher ‘you’re dreaming’.
  
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  April 9, 2026 3:17pm
Damocles11

‘Iran has claimed that the US is in breach of its ceasefire agreement even as Donald Trump says the truce is in effect despite fresh explosions rocking America’s Arab allies and Tehran stating the Strait of Hormuz is closed.
Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf, speaker of Iran’s parliament, accused the US on Wednesday of violating three terms within the ceasefire agreement.
Two tankers were allowed through the strait this morning as the two-week ceasefire commenced, Iran’s semi-official Fars news agency reported, though it later said passage had been suspended ‘simultaneous with Israel’s attacks on Lebanon.’
Ghalibaf claimed that the US is in ‘non-compliance with the first clause of the 10-Point Proposal regarding the ceasefire in Lebanon.’
Beirut, the Lebanese capital, was under massive bombardment by Israeli forces.
An oil tanker has been returned back to Gulf waters after trying to pass through the strait of Hormuz, Reuters is reporting, citing Iranian news agency, SNN.‘
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April 9, 2026 8:12am
- rangitoto
  
  Has any actual written signed agreement been seen?
  
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  April 9, 2026 1:09pm
imalwaysright

Winston, on the Platform, said the Americans offered to help NZ to help fuel the Islands.

That’s not the same as supplying us though, but hopefully we will have the offer.

But where are the Chinese oil tankers?

Do they supply the Cooks?
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April 9, 2026 8:21am
- G the giant from Dunedin
  
  This is where everyone goes wrong. Chinese oil tankers you say, why would the islands want oil?, thata right, they get tankers with petrol in them, and i bet they come from the same places as NZ.
  
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  April 9, 2026 2:01pm
  - imalwaysright
    
    I should have said fuel tankers.
    
    But the problem is that the tankers don’t want to service the Islands because demand is high on easier routes.
    
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    April 10, 2026 11:26am
MCōs

An Auckland real estate vendor says apartment owners must sell now.
They’re hardly going to tell them otherwise
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/fuel-shortage-global-risk-and-election-could-drive-auckland-apartment-prices-down-agent/premium/4JOIVRST2FAZ7ELYKE5UXVXKJQ/
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April 9, 2026 8:25am
- Cassandra
  
  A paywall makes this meaningless. What is his case for selling? And won’t potential customers read his article and not buy?
  
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  April 9, 2026 8:30am
- burt
  
  You’d think that high fuel prices would be beneficial for inner city real estate rather than detrimental.
  
  Places further out of the city, that require longer commutes, would surely be impacted more than a property you can walk to most things you need?
  
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  April 9, 2026 8:50am
  - Colville
    
    Thanks. Saved me from typing the same comment.
    
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    April 9, 2026 10:42am
  - NeverMindTheBollocks
    
    Maybe the agent has a stock of suburban houses to move, with gardens for growing your own silver beet. Because, you know, when the supermarkets close through lack of supply brought on by the disappearance of diesel, you’ll be glad that you have home grown rations.
    
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    April 9, 2026 1:58pm
pdm

mrspdm and I walked the length of Courteney Place yesterday at about 6pm and again at 11pm. It is not the Dive we were led to believe.

We were pleasantly surprised.
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April 9, 2026 8:28am
Cassandra

“Pastor charged with manslaughter after man drowned during baptism.” Headline in The Telegraph. I gather the baptism has actually taken place so that’s some consolation.
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April 9, 2026 8:35am
- Cassandra
  
  The church is called Life Changing Ministries. Following the Mr death, the pastor is said to have recorded a video in which she claimed to have seen the grandfather in heaven “dancing with Jesus”.
  
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  April 9, 2026 8:38am
- kowtow
  
  No doubt the UK authorities find it easy, indeed perhaps a pleasure , to prosecute nutty Christian clerics .
  
  Other cults , not so much.
  
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  April 9, 2026 8:51am
- peterwn
  
  This will have Baptist and other similar pastors worried. At this stage few details have been released so what the issue was cannot be ascertained including whether he was given CPR. Possibly it was an unusual set of circumstances possibly including heart failure.
  
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  April 9, 2026 9:27am
- Colville
  
  Cassandra.
  Another version of we had to destroy the village to save it? 🙂
  
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  April 9, 2026 10:43am
Pope Punctilious II

Read colinxy’s lapidary indictment of the NZ right, and of the Nats in particular. There’s a bitter beauty to this article – it’s painful to read, but every word is true. A couple of highlights:

“The modern Right in New Zealand behaves like a board of accountants trying to run a civilisation”

“A party that fears being disliked cannot lead. A party that fears conflict cannot win. A party that fears the media cannot speak truth. The result is a Right that apologises for existing.”
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April 9, 2026 8:38am
- ISeeRed
  
  What a pleasure to read. Simple, straightforward language. Short sentences and paragraphs. Bullet points. (Alwyn Poole, please study.)
  
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  April 9, 2026 1:41pm
Damocles11

If “complete and total regime change” has occurred in Iran as Donald Trump insists it has, then why are people commenting here on ‘Mullahs’ as if they still have their hands firmly on the levers of power? What is the new governing arrangement in Iran and what is the new ‘regime’ called? Why do we continue to see belligerent statements from the same people in Iran, and is the ‘new regime’ not able to rein them in? How do the Iranian people feel about the new government and in what ways do they expect it to differ from the last one in terms of personal freedoms and human rights?
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April 9, 2026 8:40am
RoboRob

Good interview from Willis with Tova this morning.

It took her a while to get to it but finally Willis spelled out the truth, we are up against borrowing limits and any government spending has to be paid by either current tax payers or future ones.

Certainly handles interviews well. Now if only she could reduce government spending.
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April 9, 2026 8:47am
- kowtow
  
  All talk , no action.
  
  Massively bloated public service , still.
  
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  April 9, 2026 8:52am
- Pope Punctilious II
  
  Yes Willis is far more adept at handling the media than Luxon. Wouldn’t it be great if she was an actual conservative? As colinxy stresses in the article I’ve linked to in another comment in this thread, the NZ right needs to do far more than just balance the books.
  
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  April 9, 2026 9:14am
- R
  
  Government spending could quickly be reduced, if the MSM stopped telling the unthinking element of the community, that they are entitled to ‘FREE’; and started explaining basic economics Mr McCawber style, if the media understand economics themselves.
  
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  April 9, 2026 10:06am
  - Pope Punctilious II
    
    Blaming the media is just making excuses for the government’s weakness and timidity. The government needs to show leadership and act. And BTW, why is the government still funding the media?
    
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    April 9, 2026 1:34pm
  - RoboRob
    
    Oh, its always the medias fault. Cant balance the books, MSM to blame. Not polling well, MSM. Poor interview communications, MSMs fault. Doesn’t stand for anything, MSMs fault.
    
    Do you really think that its the MSMs fault that Willis hasn’t reduced government spending by a single penny?
    
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    April 9, 2026 1:46pm
    - R
      
      Robo, the media have considerable influence over what people believe. A large percentage of the population believe practically everything they hear on air or read, even when said people believe that they are still thinking independently.
      Our NZ media are not renown for impartiality, so there is justification in pointing the finger at media
      
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      April 9, 2026 4:04pm
    - Jack5
      
      RoboRob, relax. NZ’s not sinking in debt …
      
      NZ’s ratio of national debt to GDP is around 50 per cent, which isn’t bad after the Labour blow-out of the money supply during Covid.
      
      Our debt ratio is similar to Australia’s, and is small compare with Japan (237 per cent), Singapore (173%), America (123%).
      
      Australia’s debt:
      
      https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/DEBTTLAUA188A
      
      International comparison:
      
      https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/debt-to-gdp-ratio-by-country
      
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      April 9, 2026 5:07pm
- Quail
  
  RR.
  Well ,the remedies are in the Government’s and Willis’s hands!
  It is time they started to forget themselves and do what is good for NZ.
  MNZGA. (Make NZ Good Again.)
  Rather than just focusing on votes and getting re elected.
  On this blog there have been plenty of suggestions that could help balance the books ,and plenty of examples of waste that could be addressed.
  This Government appears not to have any positive ideas ,and certainly there is no apparent leadership!
  
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  April 9, 2026 9:46pm
Maggy Wassilieff

Is it too late to change the narrative?

https://pointofordernz.wordpress.com/2026/04/08/come-on-prime-minister-cant-you-drum-into-the-media-your-focus-on-merit-not-race/
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April 9, 2026 8:51am
- RoboRob
  
  I suspect it’s too late. Even If they remove the hapless Luxon and the public adore the new leader, they still need to get over the fact that National have failed to follow through with a large number of their promises. Trust is hard to win.
  
  It is going to be very difficult for National to run their traditional ‘we are good financial managers’ line for example. They will have good lines around crime and education but even in those areas there are weakness. For example they watered the three strikes law down so much it may as well no exist.
  
  Sadly our chances of keeping Labour out of power now revolve around NZF and Act picking up enough of the fleeing National voters and Hipkins continuing to be the labour leader. If I was a National List MP or marginal seat MP I would be very concerned.
  
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  April 9, 2026 9:44am
  - keepcalmcarryon
    
    The woke neutered drone faction is in charge of the Nats, Luxon, goldsmith, watts, Ducey absolutely useless.
    Vote em out until they return to the Conservative Party they are meant to be
    
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    April 9, 2026 9:47am
  - pdm
    
    RR the concern is no one at present, or until the decision is announced, can be sure Peter’s will not go with Labour.
    
    That 18months as PM is a bloody big bauble.
    
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    April 9, 2026 11:23am
    - R
      
      Only 18 months? Peter’s will sell his vote for the full term as PM, and his explanation to convince the Socialists to accept his offer; will be that his tenure will save Socialism for all NZers in future years
      
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      April 9, 2026 11:47am
      - RoboRob
        
        Well, not to defend Peters, but since he has been responsible for pulling National policy from the left to more centre right, what practical difference would it make if he instead pulled Labour to the right?
        
        Your whole ‘you must vote National or you get Labour’ line is tiresome and wrong. Being told you must vote for someone who has performed poorly becuase they are not the other guy just doesn’t wash. The Dems ran that line for Kamala, vote Kamala or get Trump, how did that work out for them? They would have been better to put up a better candidate instead.
        
        At some point the Nats are going to have to look at the polls and see that people are unhappy with them and work out why. Until they do this they are doomed. Perhaps losing a bunch of their mates and becoming a small player in a three way coalition with Act and NZF is what is required for them to wake up. The writing has been on the wall for the last two years and they have ignored it. I pointed out the issues with the polling and Luxon in Jan 2025. I am no political advisor but if I could see the issues coming, why couldn’t they?
        
        People can vote Act and not get Labour. I can vote NZF and not get Labour. Stop trying to use Labour as a stick to force people to vote for National.
        
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        April 9, 2026 1:57pm
      - Pope Punctilious II
        
        “Socialism” will be the least of our worries next time Labour gets in. It’s the prospect of a Maori ethnostate that should be losing sleep over.
        
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        April 10, 2026 8:44am
- R
  
  The media don’t focus upon, nor understand the concept and value of MERIT. They are still wedded to the philosophy of ‘be kind and feelz.
  The PM doesn’t have all day to explain, in single syllable words, what to many of us is obviously comprehensible.
  
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  April 9, 2026 10:01am
  - RoboRob
    
    Nationals issues are not the MSMs fault. Peters and Act dont have these issues and they aren’t any more popular with the MSM then Luxon is.
    
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    April 9, 2026 2:00pm
    - greybeard
      
      It is precisely because Luxon is managing the country, and the Coalition, so well that the leftwing MSM is constantly trying to undermine him.
      
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      April 9, 2026 2:48pm
      - Charlotte Wells
        
        We don’t want a manager. We don’t want the state of the country managed.
        
        We want the bullshit stopped.
        
        We want the decline halted.
        
        We want democracry restored.
        
        Luxon campaigned to do this. He lied.
        
        Luxon and his team can pack their bags and FRO.
        
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        April 9, 2026 3:23pm
      - Jack5
        
        Thought Roborob had a fever … he thinks NZ’s MSM is rational.
        
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        April 9, 2026 5:09pm
- herb1
  
  How can we expect the media to support merit when a majority of them have a job because of how they look and/or their political bent. If merit were important in the media there’d be a lot of paunchy grey haired smokers on TV news
  
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  April 9, 2026 12:23pm
imalwaysright

A group of ladies on the tv1 breakfast show were oohing and aahing over Arderns documentary, one called Gayford the nanny, and saying that it is up for an Emmy Award!
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April 9, 2026 9:00am
- Maggy Wassilieff
  
  Up for 2 Emmys!!!!!
  
  https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/591796/ardern-documentary-prime-minister-nominated-for-two-emmy-awards
  
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  April 9, 2026 12:22pm
  - NeverMindTheBollocks
    
    Clarkes home movie collection. Wooda thunk it.
    
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    April 9, 2026 2:02pm
  - imalwaysright
    
    One for each face…?
    
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    April 9, 2026 4:27pm
lastmanstanding

Full credit to Pakistan for the cease fire. However unless the Nukes missiles and SoH are sorted the war will have for nothing. I dont see the Iran regime giving up Nukes and missiles and they have seen the damage closing the SoH has done. Its going to be interesting to see the outcome bit I am not optimistic.
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April 9, 2026 9:05am
- Yvette
  
  So does Iran need a nuclear bomb capability, when enough missiles to blow every ‘enemy’ tanker out of the waters of the Strait of Hormuz will bring the world to it knees?
  
  Now figure out if a downtick or uptick means anything
  
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  April 9, 2026 9:14am
- Ra Henare
  
  Some thorts on the ceasefire.
  
  Both sides get 2 weeks to replenish weapons.
  
  Trump needs a win as the mid terms approach and continuing the war does not get him more votes, rather less votes.
  
  Iran is going along to generate more sympathy as the victim, given that Israel will break the ceasfire(It has a history) then Iran can say …see, you cant Trust Israel/USA)
  
  I see that initially Israel wants to keep bombing Lebanon, needless to say Trump aquiessed.
  
  Now Iran says deal needs to include Lebanon
  
  It seems that repeating a lie often enough seeps in to peoples brains..
  eg
  The lie put out by Israel, Iran wants to Nuke Israel…
  
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  April 9, 2026 12:34pm
  - Don Beckett
    
    There was never an agreement to cease resisting Hezbolloah – it was Iran – not Lebanon – that any arrangement was made with.
    The problem is, there are 3 different lists of demands – 2 from the Islamic Republic, written by 2 factions within the IRGC. So now, the IRGC is claiming that America breached the ceasefire, so commenced sending drones & rockets into Kuwait, UAE, Dohar, Saudi & Israel.
    Also, the radical element of IRGC say they never agreed to a ceasefire so now are claiming victory over the USA & Israel, & there is infighting between the 3 factions within the IRGC.
    This “ceasefire” will be over before it even reaches Friday – the negotiation day.
    
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    April 9, 2026 1:19pm
- rockape
  
  They will give them up or they will be taken away. Don’t doubt that!
  
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  April 9, 2026 6:33pm
pdm

Karl du Fresne has one of his excellent posts on the Tova interview as well.

It becomes clearer by the day that unless PM Luxon listens to advice he is doomed – doomed I say.
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April 9, 2026 9:12am
- peterwn
  
  But it may be dud advice in the wider political context.
  
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  April 9, 2026 9:29am
  - RoboRob
    
    Ani Obrian claims that Luxon refuses to take advice.
    
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    April 9, 2026 9:48am
    - MCōs
      
      I’m sure he does take advice, maybe not from her.
      He probably gets advice coming at him from all points
      
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      April 9, 2026 10:02am
      - RoboRob
        
        She says his PR team tell her he refuses to take their advice. As you say I am sure in other areas he does.
        
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        April 9, 2026 10:35am
      - Jack5
        
        Ani ~~Obrian~~ O’Brien … it’s helpful to know background of political commentators.
        
        From Ani O’Brien activity on the web in 2026:
        
        “Ani comes from a digital marketing background and most recently spent nearly a year working in Parliament for the Leader of the Opposition as Director of Digital. She has been heavily involved in women’s rights advocacy and is a founding council member of the Free Speech Union.”
        
        FSU? Good work, Ani.
        
        On X (Twitter) Ani wrote in 2024: “I’ve given votes to Greens, Labour, National & ACT (gen & elec) over the years. I worked in the Leader of the Opposition’s office in 2021.”
        
        The Leader of the Opposition then was Judith Collins.
        
        Background of Ani on X/Twitter:
        
        https://x.com/aniobrien/status/1788692448165687752
        
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        April 9, 2026 10:54am
      - Mod88
        
        Whoever advised that Mrs Luxon does that podcast promoting her husband needs to sacked quick smart before the Election.
        
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        April 9, 2026 11:19am
      - Jack5
        
        More background: Ani O’Brien’s experience with Sean Plunket:
        
        https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/484434/employee-alleges-broadcaster-sean-plunket-yelled-at-her-punched-desk
        
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        April 9, 2026 11:45am
      - R
        
        He takes advice from people who know what they are talking about, as do all good succesful managers; but not from Trade Union secretaries and egotistical activists
        
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        April 9, 2026 11:51am
      - MCōs
        
        So these supposed close personal advisors to the PM are sharing confidential information with O’Brien and she’s telling tales out of school?
        
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        April 9, 2026 8:25pm
      - Ghost
        
        some people will believe anything if it fits their agenda. these posts are just little tantrum’s that the govt, strangely enough to some doesn’t include act or NZ first, aren’t doing things as fast as they so badly biggly and beautifully want….. You would have to be stupid to believe his advisors are telling the media, including her, any such thing.
        
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        April 9, 2026 9:25pm
    - Damocles11
      
      …..unless it comes from John Key(?)
      
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      April 9, 2026 10:29am
      - R
        
        J.K…someone who knows and understands what he, and the employers are talking about
        
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        April 9, 2026 2:10pm
  - Pope Punctilious II
    
    Dud advice? How so?
    
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    April 9, 2026 10:16am
- MCōs
  
  I’m sure he listens to plenty of very good advice, but he’s just not a good politician, unlike his predecessors Messrs Key, Muldoon and Holyoake
  PM Luxon doesn’t instill confidence
  
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  April 9, 2026 9:42am
  - peterwn
    
    It is too late to change now. Do you want a Labour/Green led government?
    
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    April 9, 2026 10:23am
    - RoboRob
      
      Him staying isn’t helping avoid a Labour led government either.
      
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      April 9, 2026 10:36am
      - Jack5
        
        Roborob, you don’t like Luxon. You dislike him so much you’d see the Centre-Right coalition beaten rather than Luxon remain Prime Minister.
        
        You’re not… surely you’re not … Matthew Hooton?
        
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        April 9, 2026 11:13am
      - RoboRob
        
        @Jack5
        
        Yes I dislike him. I dislike him because he has performed so poorly that the useless Hipkins out polls him and could get back into power. I dread another Labour government. I am trying to point out that he is sinking the Nats.
        
        At this point I dont consider national a right (or even centre right) government. NZF is centre and they are to the right of National currently. I pray that Act and NZF get enough votes to form a coalition, with a severely reduced National. Ironically if this does happen were are likely to get more right wing policy.
        
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        April 9, 2026 2:07pm
    - Graeme Hall
      
      Never too late. Keep Luxon in place and National will continue to decline, although by the election and the way NZF is rising Peters might fancy his chances of picking National as a minority coalition partner.
      
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      April 9, 2026 11:12am
      - Pope Punctilious II
        
        And replace Luxon with whom?
        
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        April 9, 2026 1:37pm
    - Gravelroad
      
      I think we are going to get a Labour/Green government no matter who is leader of National , or Labour for that matter.
      Too many people never had it so good under the previous Labour government.
      They want that back – plenty of handouts and no responsibility
      They don’t care about productivity or paying bills as a nation.
      And they will support the Greens because they know about “conservation” and are on board with looking after people and taxing the rich until “the rich” have no money left – just like them.
      That’s only fair, eh.
      
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      April 9, 2026 1:01pm
  - R
    
    Previous PMs wernt confronted daily with activist marxist MEDIA persons, posing as representing the greater public interest.
    
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    April 9, 2026 11:53am
- R
  
  Too many ideologically deluded Doomsayers, unaware of the realities of NZ politics, on KB these days
  
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  April 9, 2026 10:11am
  - Pope Punctilious II
    
    The current “realities” of NZ politics are the result of the Nats’ historic failure to combat progressive capture of our institutions.
    
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    April 9, 2026 4:57pm
- imalwaysright
  
  The biggest symptom of Luxon’s failure is Labour.
  That National are still neck and neck with a Party that virtually destroyed the country tells us he is a political eunuch.
  
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  April 9, 2026 10:38am
  - ISeeRed
    
    He definitely is. But the brainwashing and gaslighting of the wider public by the partisan media is a big factor too.
    
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    April 9, 2026 1:43pm
  - RoboRob
    
    If only they were actually neck to neck. Labour is well ahead in the polls (29% ish vs 34% ish).
    
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    April 9, 2026 2:21pm
    - Jack5
      
      Someone explain MMP and coalition government to these guys.
      
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      April 9, 2026 4:46pm
Clyde

I presume some people saw that Hipkins person tell his media team (TVNZ) that Luxon’s response to Trump’s rhetoric was not strong enough. In his position he would have had Mahuta send a telegram to the White House. There is no doubt about it, Winston has delivered the gold standard in terms of Foreign Minister. Not afraid of flying, shows up looking good, sounding statesmanlike, talking sense. Can you imagine how NZ would be viewed with the Liemore rep appearing on the world stage? Who would it be? Waititi? Swarbrick?
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April 9, 2026 9:13am
- Flossie
  
  He didn’t seriously say he would have “sent a telegram”??
  
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  April 9, 2026 12:46pm
- RoboRob
  
  The Labour clowns hate the US, regardless of who the leader is. Trump could be airdropping food packages into Africa and they would be complaining it was ‘dangerous’ and should be left to the UN.
  
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  April 9, 2026 2:12pm
Paulus

If anyone believes that Iran will abide by whatever it wants which is time to reload all that it can.
Hisbollah are still being supplied by Iran in the Lebanon, and attaking Israel, as an excuse to carry on doing what they are.
These peple are in many cases ignorant, severely mental long term applicants, and will do anything to continue the war, with the US Democrat Public on their side hoping to get rid of Trump.
Hormuz supplies only 20% of the world’s oil.
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April 9, 2026 9:19am
- MCōs
  
  Hormuz doesn’t supply any oil.
  20% of the world’s oil passes through the Strait of Hormuz including 70% of the oil that goes to South Korea & Singapore primarily from Saudi Arabia and the UAE
  80% of our fuel comes from those countries
  Other countries supplies are not effected
  
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  April 9, 2026 9:53am
  - R
    
    Cheap smart Alec comment. If the SOH doesn’t (facilitate the) supply of oil, why has the price of fuel increased?
    
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    April 9, 2026 10:15am
  - Dudley Quaffquaff
    
    Not affected, maybe, but can those other countries produce and provide enough to make up for the 20% that isn’t getting into the global market? Because if they can’t, the global price has to go and stay high enough to reduce global demand by 20%
    
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    April 9, 2026 10:42am
Handyman

The Iranian rulers feel like they have won and are vindicated. They have seen off the US with fewer deaths than an average Iranian student protest.
We heard the Iranian Navy was sunk but now hear that the strait will be policed by the Iranian Navy. The Iranian Navy will be out this week planting mines everywhere but the narrow tanker lane.

I fear Trump has inoculated Iran from any future threats. They withstood the best the US had to give and stared down doing any real damage to the civil economy or the regime. They will take the coming oil money and shipping tolls to rebuild, They have outlasted Trump and will patiently await the return of a Biden or Obama.

They have achieved a huge victory with the US agreeing that the strait is Iranian sovereign territory. (China is watching regarding the Strait of Taiwan). From now on, Iran can turn off the Strait any time a western country makes demands, including those as part of the ceasefire.
They will develop ballistic missiles under the cover of a Iranian space program and have enough money to buy nukes off North Korea or China.
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April 9, 2026 9:35am
- Quail
  
  HM,
  Not as per the White House version!
  Apart from any thing else the SOH is international waters. Etc Etc.
  Depends on which version you believe.
  
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  April 9, 2026 1:46pm
I remember when

Wallaby warning for Hawke’s Bay: Like ‘rabbits on steroids’: HB Today.
“Thus far, there had been several reported sightings, but nothing confirmed.
Teleford said currently, the likelihood of wallabies populating Hawke’s Bay was low.”

Another slow news day.
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April 9, 2026 10:20am
- MCōs
  
  The quote was prefixed by ‘if they arrive in Hawkes Bay’
  
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  April 9, 2026 1:46pm
  - Manu-Rau
    
    I believe the word you are looking for is ‘prefaced’.
    
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    April 9, 2026 2:43pm
imalwaysright

Have noticed Labour being described as Centre Left, and National as Centre Right.

Since they both share the Centre, shouldn’t it be defined?

It seems that the shared principles of the Centre are Maorification of the entire country, the treaty, more Government, fewer businesses, and the Climate scam.

That doesn’t leave much else does it?
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April 9, 2026 10:28am
I remember when

Went to the local medical centre yesterday for an annual check-up.
While I was waiting I observed a number of patients, and their support, but was only able to indentify the probable religion of four.
They were in a group, all female, and they had varying degrees of headwear, from only hair and neck covered to only eyes being visible.
After Maori, are Islamic groups among the fastest growing and the most likely to demand ‘special’ legislation?
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April 9, 2026 10:37am
- MCōs
  
  The four women were probably wondering why you were staring at them
  
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  April 9, 2026 12:18pm
  - David Garrett
    
    MCos: I’m sure they knew exactly why they were being “stared at”
    
    As a segue, does anyone know if Muslim women can be physically exanined by a male doctor?
    
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    April 9, 2026 3:57pm
    - Don Beckett
      
      My first instinctive response was, ‘yes, women are chattles of men.’
      Then, Google gave me this response: ” It is generally permissible for a male doctor to examine a Muslim woman only if a female specialist is unavailable and the examination is necessary for treatment. The examination must be done in the presence of a mahram (husband or close relative) or another woman to avoid unlawful seclusion (khalwah), with the doctor looking only at the necessary area. ”
      Google is your friend. 🙂
      
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      April 9, 2026 4:17pm
    - MCōs
      
      At the medical clinic we attend there are some Muslim GPs so I suppose it’s not an issue for fussy Muslim patients.
      
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      April 9, 2026 8:14pm
- Dudley Quaffquaff
  
  That seems a pretty thin and shaky basis on which to build any conclusion at all
  
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  April 9, 2026 12:43pm
- Maggy Wassilieff
  
  I don’t know if religion is one of the collected statistics on new immigrants or new babies born in NZ, but there’s no doubt that the demographics of NZ are changing rapidly…and folks with (recent) Asian ancestry now outnumber the number of Maori in NZ.
  
  https://thespinoff.co.nz/society/21-01-2026/auckland-just-reached-a-major-demographic-turning-point
  
  https://www.stats.govt.nz/information-releases/national-ethnic-population-projections-2023base-2048/
  
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  April 9, 2026 1:07pm
  - MCōs
    
    I don’t recall that anyone ever questioned my Thai wife about her religion.
    Likewise nobody ever asked me about by religion when I went to work in Thailand or England or Indonesia
    
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    April 9, 2026 7:51pm
Swifty

Lots of wonderful diversity on display in South Auckland:

https://x.com/daveatherton20/status/2041845268585304474?s=46

And more:

https://x.com/kiwimum13/status/2041740378756542957?s=46
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April 9, 2026 12:28pm
- PeterTrentham
  
  Diversity is our strength.
  
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  April 9, 2026 2:35pm
Dudley Quaffquaff

Anybody know anything about NATO governance? Can Mark Rutte be sacked? He is enabling and encouraging a moron who is responsible for putting the whole world in great danger. Trump now appears to understand no more about what NATO is for and what the US would lose by withdrawing, than he did before today’s meeting. Rutte is either spineless and incompetent, or he is under hostile control. Perhaps he’s in the Epstein files? In any case, he is not serving the interests of the organisation he’s supposed to represent and needs to go
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April 9, 2026 1:05pm
- Ghost
  
  Right, nato is to blame huh, then you throw in the Epstein files, forgetting that guy in the Whitehouse who is heavily mentioned in them huh? Btw, when you spend your time as president attacking nato members, then putting tariffs on them, don’t cry because they follow the nato charter. NATO is a regional defense pact, it does not allow for them to join a foreign war started by the USA. But hey, invent things if that makes it easier for you to attack them. Epstein, sure, want to go look at the investigation into the 13 year old that trump sexually assaulted? Nope, thought not
  
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  April 9, 2026 11:50pm
Wairoa Native

There is an old saying: Kaua e mate wheke, mate ururoa. Don’t die like an octopus, die like a hammerhead shark.

It shouldn’t matter but because identity now shapes how voters judge politicians, thanks to 50 years of left‑leaning influence in media, Universities and schools, even those focused on policy are (sadly) forced to consider ethnicity. National needs to wake up and play the game according to realpolitik: understand how identity drives perception, and navigate it strategically, or risk being outmanoeuvred. That means get more Māori back in your party. It means get a leader who can stand up for National’s core principles (or stand up for something). You can’t rely on ACT and NZ First to do this for you anymore. As stated above in a comment, this post by Karl du Fresne is excellent. https://karldufresne.blogspot.com/2026/04/luxon-still-hasnt-got-hang-of-politics.html
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April 9, 2026 1:08pm
Yvette

When the United States Supreme Court said ‘Abortion’ is not addressed in the nation’s Constitution, so it was a matter for each State to consider, dopey “journalists” here ran after Luxon regarding our laws, which he said were set in stone.

Amongst this stupidity however Christopher’s Christian beliefs received attention and is probably reasonable to ask now if they DO interfere with some of his actions? – in as much as his hesitancy to remove ‘sacred’ // Treaty mentions from laws that do not need to mention them, and the biggest irony or mental dissonance I see, is his allowance of karakia before meetings and other intrusions of te Ao o Maori (the Maori religious world view) into what should be secular government functions and services.

In his own terms, what happened to Thou shall have no other gods before Me”, albeit for that to apply fairly, secularity would see “no Gods” – like no God of War for the Defence Forces?

What actually renders Christopher Luxon a figure head, whose head I can’t figure?
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April 9, 2026 1:47pm
Flossie

As has been mentioned before, Mrs Luxon should take a leaf out of Mrs Muldoon’s book and stay discreetly in the background and realise it’s her husband who was voted in, not her.
I felt exactly the same when Ardern was PM and her bloke put his two cents worth it.
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April 9, 2026 2:52pm
- Pope Punctilious II
  
  Agreed, it was cringe to see Luxon’s wife defending him.
  
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  April 9, 2026 3:20pm
- MCōs
  
  Plenty of partners show up in magazines and accompany them to various official occasions, but few over the years have given in depth interviews. They don’t have the political media skills.
  Norm Kirk’s wife was very reticent about appearing in public and he cut a very lonely figure at times.
  
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  April 9, 2026 5:05pm
MCōs

NATO IS NEVER THERE WHEN WE NEED THEM. TRUMP WANTED TO STEAL GREENLAND, DID NATO HELP? NO! TRUMP WANTED TO WIPE OUT AN ENTIRE CIVILIZATION, DID NATO HELP? NO! TRUMP DECLARED WAR ON BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN, DID NATO HELP? NO!
IF NATO DOESN’T PAY ITS SHARE FOR THE BALLROOM, IT’S OVER.
https://x.com/awesomenewsom/status/2042056990118105525?s=61
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April 9, 2026 4:41pm
greybeard

There seems to be some sort of a pattern or trend or connection here.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/motoring/360962228/ford-issues-ranger-and-transit-recalls-new-zealand

https://www.stuff.co.nz/motoring/360962324/consumer-reveals-its-most-unreliable-vehicles

https://www.stuff.co.nz/motoring/360959726/fords-suv-lineup-uncertain-brand-prioritises-utes-and-van
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April 9, 2026 5:10pm
Swifty

Just a brief glimpse of the musical guest joining us tonight at the Kiwiblog Supporters Club – Avondale Branch monthly meeting.

https://x.com/rickydoggin/status/2042093351420490199?s=46

She is travelling all the way from her home in Hamilton to be with us!

See you all tonight at the club rooms!
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April 9, 2026 5:44pm

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