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April 14, 2026 8:00am by Kokila Patel

General Debate 14 April 2026

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General Debate

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NeverMindTheBollocks

NZ public health advocates have long celebrated the success of increasing tax on tobacco as a policy, pointing to decreasing smoking rates over time.

The thing is, the numbers they measure come from legal sales. In recent times it’s become clear that black market sales are increasing rapidly; these are unmeasured and therefore do not appear in the official statistics.

It follows that we can give very little credence to the effectiveness of public health measures in this area, which in turn calls into question the entire policy approach to smoking reduction.

http://www.rnz.co.nz/news/business/592262/retail-nz-wants-rigorous-crackdown-by-government-on-illicit-tobacco
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April 14, 2026 8:01am
- Bullion
  
  Its not just sales but other forms of research which show declining use, its how we can see smoking rates for different demographics.
  
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  April 14, 2026 10:56am
NeverMindTheBollocks

Radio NZ has finally managed to get John Campbell on board for Morning Report. To celebrate, they’ve tweaked their continuity tune to be even more portentous/ pretentious, and have introduced a voiceover over saying ‘Radio New Zealand – News and Information You Can Trust’ or some such.

Is RNZ Management unaware that if you have to say it, you haven’t got it? Perhaps they should get some advice from a more savvy media organisation.
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April 14, 2026 8:01am
- David Garrett
  
  Never mind: Are you sure they said “Radio New Zealand “? AFAIK it has been just RNZ for years..the only country ever mentioned is some place called Aotearoa
  
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  April 14, 2026 9:04am
  - In Vino Veritas
    
    Some place called “Aotearoa” David? Whilst I am with you, wouldn’t you say that if it is called that for long enough, it becomes a place called “Aotearoa”, sort of like “Palestine”. At least “Aotearoa” is supposedly a country, not just a province.
    
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    April 14, 2026 9:45am
    - Prince
      
      Unlikely. How long have TVNZ newsreaders been spouting some maori words as they head to a break ? Have you ever heard them anywhere else ?
      
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      April 14, 2026 12:30pm
    - gravedodger
      
      IVV you are not suggesting Palestine as a “Province” are you?
      Historically Palestine is more a generic name for the area including Lebanon, Western Syria, Israel and Jordan that ebbed and flowed under many occupying empires including Roman and Ottoman.
      The modern Palestine is a recent creation that has a measurable history only a fraction of the Jews who suffered many a migration across Europe over centuries seeking an existence and North America more recently.
      
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      April 14, 2026 12:53pm
      - In Vino Veritas
        
        Yes GD, I am. If you want the history of the place. The Romans renamed the province of Judea, Palaestina in 135AD after the 2nd Jewish revolt. They did that to (1) humiliate the Jews since the Philistines were their mortal enemies and (2) to try and sever Jewish ties to the area.
        The Ottomans called what was roughly Israel, the Mutasarrifate of Jerusalem. And there were administrative areas (provinces) in Syria (Damascus, Aleppo), Lebanon (Beirut), Iraq (Baghdad), Mecca and Medina (Hejaz) and so on. They were considered provinces. And Ottoman administration records barely mention “Filastin” (which was their interpretation of the Roman province of Palaestina).
        
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        April 14, 2026 2:40pm
      - Don Beckett
        
        IVV. All correct –
        but, the Romans called it ‘Palestrina’ – you forgot the ‘r’ 🙂
        
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        April 14, 2026 5:19pm
- R
  
  Perhaps RNZ should consult, and contract, Mike Hosking!
  
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  April 14, 2026 9:12am
  - David Garrett
    
    In vino: Oh Yes, Red Radio are very much in the forefront of trying to change the name of the country by stealth. If no political party or lobby group doesn’t act soon it will be too late.
    
    It is already very common to hear just “Aotearoa” and not “Aotearoa/New Zealand”. I have already outlined a couple of times how Mt Egmont disappeared from the lexicon and the map of New Zealand.
    
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    April 14, 2026 1:04pm
    - In Vino Veritas
      
      I think I am one of the few that still call it Mt Egmont DG. I remember calling it so in front of teachers when my kids were at College and was asked what I was talking about.
      The same thing will happen with Mt Cook. Starts as being Mt Cook|Aoraki and has now flipped. Kids seldom hear it called Mt Cook so it will change eventually.
      
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      April 14, 2026 5:59pm
  - David Garrett
    
    R: Way back in the day – late 80’s IIRC – Hosking was a presenter on Morning Report…back when the station was called “Radio New Zealand” and not RNZ
    
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    April 14, 2026 1:05pm
- sungsamning
  
  If Goebbels was in charge of RNZ; a lot of their staff would be lifting mines on the Eastern front. They’re not very convincing.
  
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  April 14, 2026 9:18am
- Wairoa Native
  
  I’ve always found John Campbell unlistenable in anything he’s done. RNZ Morning Report used to be a constant for me for many years. But for the last 10 years the lameness of the show and the bias of the reporting or interviews makes it unlistenable. You are supposed to be reporting the news, you are not meant to be advocates for a cause when you are a journalist.
  
  Bring back the halcyon days of Geoff Robinson and Sean Plunket.
  
  Putting one of our most clearly biased, ‘speaking truth to power’, journalists into Morning Report is not the way to garner trust in your audience RNZ.
  
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  April 14, 2026 11:05am
- Graeme Hall
  
  RNZ could not have hired a worse morning show presenter even if they tried. In my completely unbiased opinion, Jawn Campbell is pretentious, affected, and a creep (thanks Helen Clark), apart from that he remains a left-wing stoolie.
  
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  April 14, 2026 11:31am
Cassandra

A recent Spectator article included news that sums up the Middle East problem: Even the Pakistani government – whom Vance thanked for their role in mediating – is not as impartial as we would like to believe. Its foreign minister declared in a since-deleted post: “Israel is a curse for humanity. I hope and pray people who created this cancerous state on Palestinian land to get rid of European jews [sic] burn in hell.”

If you take a short term view then there is an argument that Israel was founded at the behest of Europeans. Chaim Weizmann, Ashkenazi, was born in Russia, for example. But what is now called the West Bank was the Kingdom of Judea before Christ and of course a thousand years before Mohammed was born. And since Jews tended to stick together Weizmann could probably have traced his roots back to Moses! And half of Israelis are Sephardic anyway.

As long as Moslems think like that Pakistani then the Middle East will know no peace. I wonder if he ever contemplates the Macedonian claim to the recently (1949) invented Pakistan?
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April 14, 2026 8:05am
- Simon
  
  Wrong. Not only Moslems
  
  South Korean President Lee Jae Myung today accused Israel of failing to “reflect” on allegations of rights abuses by its forces, after Israel decried him for amplifying social media “disinformation”.
  
  The Seoul leader irked Israel’s foreign ministry this week with his comments on a social media video with a caption purporting it showed Israeli soldiers torturing and pushing a “Palestinian kid” off a roof.
  
  “I need to look into whether this is true, and if so, what measures have been taken,” Lee said Friday on X.
  
  South Korea calling out war criminal Israeli military and govt.
  
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  April 14, 2026 8:20am
  - Cassandra
    
    So, Simon, you think that if Moslems cease attacking Israel and Jews that Israel and the Jews will continue to attack Moslem countries? Note that, for example, Israel has longstanding treaties with Jordan and Egypt and no attacks. Your evidence for your view welcomed.
    
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    April 14, 2026 9:31am
    - KH
      
      The kill ratio of Israel killing people v people killing Israelis must be 100 to 1.
      (perhaps much more)
      If you don’t agree, what’s your number?
      
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      April 14, 2026 10:26am
      - Notsofast
        
        The number is irrelevant.
        Israel has used its superior discipline and intellect to defend its people and eliminate the barbarians.
        Discuss.
        
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        April 14, 2026 10:38am
      - artemisia
        
        Did you take into account the Iron Dome?
        
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        April 14, 2026 10:47am
      - In Vino Veritas
        
        What sort of laughable point is that KH? Are you saying that if Israel is attacked by Hamas for instance, and say, 10 people are killed, when Israel retaliates, they should only kill 10 members of Hamas?
        Even if the ratio is 100 to 1, so what?
        
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        April 14, 2026 10:54am
      - Interested Party
        
        Yeah – blowing up buses and putting babies in ovens isn’t the most efficient means of killing Israelies
        
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        April 14, 2026 11:23am
      - KH
        
        Vino: So What? Are you serious? Sadly yes.
        Killing 70,000 people is murderous. Unless you consider them to not be people.
        Noting that many here have that view.
        
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        April 14, 2026 12:07pm
      - cmm (semi-retired edition)
        
        Kill ratios are irrelevant to anything.
        
        It is like comparing the kill ratios of the police to that of the burglars. One is justified, the other is not.
        
        You might try to say that Israel use excessive force to achieve their goals. That would be a semi-reasonable (but I think incorrect) opinion.
        
        Terrorists fight asymmetrical warfare using their own people as human shields. That is the cause of most of the deaths.
        
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        April 14, 2026 12:50pm
      - In Vino Veritas
        
        War is a bitch KH. When one side loses, they tend to suffer much heavier casualties than the winners. So yes, I am serious. In this instance, Hamas start a war with by the way, the support of Gazans. So they cannot have a bloody sook when they start losing and getting killed. Don’t start a war is the answer.
        
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        April 14, 2026 6:03pm
  - Charlotte Wells
    
    While some initial, unverified reports suggested a child was thrown, the incident appears to involve the bodies of three Palestinian men already killed in a firefight. Reports indicated the individuals were dead before being pushed off the roof.
    
    Easier, and quicker, than carrying the bodies down the floors.
    
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    April 14, 2026 10:09am
    - david in Aus
      
      That is where moral standards differ around the world. Throwing bodies of children off the roof is considered disgusting by many cultures. There is inherent dignity in people. They are not considered rubbish to be disposed of.
      Perhaps a cultural difference between Israel’s supporters and Koreans.
      
      Also, bombing the funeral of the person you killed is also considered beyond the pale by many cultures. Obviously, it a cultural norm in Israel.
      
      Shaking my head. My sympathies that were there after October 7th have been exhausted. If anything there is outright hostility to that state. There is little moral common ground.
      
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      April 14, 2026 11:07am
      - Charlotte Wells
        
        Children, what children?
        
        Did you not read anything before spouting nonsense?
        
        It was 3 Hamas soldiers. That’s 3 adult male fighters that got shot. They were dead, bereft of live, pushing up the daisys.
        
        It dates back to 2024.
        
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        April 14, 2026 11:49am
      - Don Beckett
        
        You’re watching too much propaganda.
        
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        April 14, 2026 12:27pm
      - Charlotte Wells
        
        By-the-by, your sensibilities would take a real hammering if you were ever to serve in combat.
        
        Just how soft, squishy, and messy the human body is would be brought to your reality real fast.
        
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        April 14, 2026 1:54pm
Maggy Wassilieff

NZ Greens – disconnected from the folks on Struggle Street

Te Moke says the Greens don’t have a true understanding of what it’s like to come from an economically deprived urban area, and the cultures of Māori and Pasifika who live there. At a delegate meeting, when he answered questions from that perspective, “a lot of the time I got confused looks”.

“Because I’m nothing like them, it was very hard to connect with them.”

https://newsroom.co.nz/2026/04/13/high-profile-green-candidate-withdraws-candidacy/?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email
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April 14, 2026 8:08am
- rouppe
  
  From that article I read that Te Moke is more extreme than the Greens.
  
  Te Moke says he always presents an honest version of himself – something that would make it easy to deflect attacks on his character by political opponents. At a meeting of Green Party candidates, he says he took the same approach, and realised his ideas might be a little too far afield for the Greens.
  
  And
  
  Te Moke also wants a New Zealand constitution with Te Tiriti o Waitangi at its core, “so it can’t be touched”,
  
  With no description of what a “constitution with Te Tiriti o Waitangi at its core” means. Because I’m pretty sure my idea of that is the opposite of what his idea is.
  
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  April 14, 2026 8:34am
  - KH
    
    If we acknowledge the treaty then it’s 100% Crown Sovereignty.
    
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    April 14, 2026 10:28am
  - Paulus
    
    When we become a Republic, which may not be too far away as people think, we will have to have a Maori New Treaty as we will have no Crown, so our Constitution will follow.
    
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    April 14, 2026 2:28pm
    - Quail
      
      Paulus.,
      No NZ would not need another treaty.
      New Zealand has just one people so one republic!
      And one law for all!
      
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      April 14, 2026 7:44pm
- H. Upmann
  
  He has interesting policies I thought Green would take with both hands and give him a top list position; “Te Moke thinks the voting age should be lowered to 16, with voting rights extended to prisoners.”
  
  “Te Moke also wants a New Zealand constitution with Te Tiriti o Waitangi at its core, “so it can’t be touched”
  
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  April 14, 2026 8:37am
  - Nikola Donatello
    
    On the last policy, fine. Draft a New Zealand Constitution. Not word salad. An actual constitution based around the Treaty. Then we can debate it. But no he is not capable of doing that because he has no developed ideas.
    
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    April 14, 2026 9:09am
    - imalwaysright
      
      Why would a spent treaty from 1840 have any relevance to a Constitution in 2026, particularly when one of the original signatories has been assimilated by the other?
      
      Do we want a Constitution written for us, or for our ancestors?
      
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      April 14, 2026 9:40am
    - Ra Henare
      
      Does anybody truly believe, given NZ politics, that Parliament could draft and pass in to law a meaningful constitution.
      That ship has sailed.
      
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      April 14, 2026 12:09pm
  - pdm
    
    Now here is some hypocrisy or is it confusion from the Green camp.
    
    1. They want to give prisoners the vote.
    2. Why – when they are going to abolish prisons.
    
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    April 14, 2026 9:51am
- Gravelroad
  
  “look at me, look at me, look at me – and if you don’t agree with me and do as I say, I will take my bat, ball and treaty and go home.
  So there!”
  
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  April 14, 2026 9:05am
- RoboRob
  
  He has a valid point. TPM has a lower social economic supporter base whereas the Greens are the party of wealthy / academic woman. Te Moke would probably be better off in Labour, National or TPM.
  
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  April 14, 2026 9:17am
Ghost

This could get interesting

The tanker U-turns follows unconfirmed reports that China has warned the US not to block/intercept Chinese ships/tankers, or face consequences that could potentially include military provocations.

China’s Defense Minister Dong Jun reportedly sent a message to the Trump administration and the U.S. Navy emphasizing Beijing’s intent to continue operating in the Strait of Hormuz and uphold its agreements with Iran. “Our ships are moving in and out of the waters of the Strait of Hormuz. We have trade and energy agreements with Iran. We will respect and honor those agreements and expect others not to interfere in our affairs” adding that “Iran controls the Strait of Hormuz and it is open for us.”

Article

This was also an interesting video. The Iran War Expert: The Most Dangerous Stage Begins Now
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April 14, 2026 8:11am
- imalwaysright
  
  China have a point.
  If the roles were reversed the US would make the same statement .
  
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  April 14, 2026 8:35am
- Tom Hunter
  
  Interesting that China, which historically imported somewhere around 225,000 barrels per day from the U.S. before Trump, and which dropped that number down to essentially zero since early 2025, is now on tap to import 600,000 barrels per day.
  
  Were I China I’d want to be sure I had the Iranian oil flows back before pissing off Trump, which likely means China is going to put even more pressure on the Iranian leadership (whatever’s left of it).
  
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  April 14, 2026 8:37am
  - SGA
    
    @Tom Hunter – “Were I China I’d want to be sure I had the Iranian oil flows back before pissing off Trump, which likely means China is going to put even more pressure on the Iranian leadership (whatever’s left of it).”
    
    Elaborate please, Tom. I can’t see how this follows from your previous paragraph (which makes it look as though China is quietly defying Trump’s objectives).
    
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    April 14, 2026 9:07am
    - Tom Hunter
      
      Apologies for the late reply, and without being insulting, I don’t see how you can’t follow the one from the other, so I’ll put it another way.
      
      Every day the Strait of Hormuz stays closed China has to buy more oil from the USA and Iran grows more desperate.
      
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      April 14, 2026 9:55pm
      - SGA
        
        I read your previous paragraph as inferring that China has *deliberately* been increasing its oil purchases from Iran over the last 12 months as a tacit support of the regime (or a subtle challenge to the USA). Hence, I wasn’t sure why they’d feel obliged to put “more pressure” on Iran’s regime.
        
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        April 15, 2026 7:44am
  - RoboRob
    
    Which is exactly why Trump is blocking the SOH. He is ‘encouraging’ China to help end things.
    
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    April 14, 2026 9:19am
    - david in Aus
      
      Imagine if the Chinese navy starts escorting Chinese oil tankers carrying Iranian oil, it could get really interesting. Would the Chinese take that risk? By emulating the warship escorts by US and allies in the Iran Iraq war of the 1980’s, China would be signifying they are the ascending power for international order.
      
      If the US backs down, it would be the most humiliating loss of face for US power.
      
      The Americans have lost their important allies: Five eyes, NATO, Korea, Japan… China may be tempted to rub Trump’s face. The loss of US prestige would be palpable.
      
      These may be the unforeseen consequences. Once you start a long war, you never know what the outcomes will be.
      
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      April 14, 2026 9:31am
      - Master Mariner
        
        David in Aus,
        The first thing that happens is they arm shipping with Military “Guards”.
        In the Chinese and Russian ships, they will be instructed to resist any Boarding attempts.
        Foregone conclusion.
        Standard practice for Piracy ( Which this clearly is if attempting to Board in International Waters from a Legal perspective).
        
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        April 14, 2026 11:18am
    - Charlotte Wells
      
      Yes, and helping forstall the possible invasion of Taiwan.
      
      [Mod – deleted]
      
      China has reserves that would be likley to run out by early June at the current rate of use.
      
      China has to decide if it wants to its military to use reserves to invade or if it wants to keep civilian industry functioning.
      
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      April 14, 2026 10:24am
      - imalwaysright
        
        What are their reserves and their consumption rate?
        
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        April 14, 2026 11:43am
      - Charlotte Wells
        
        Date to run out of oil is around 8 June.
        
        Reserves are 1.1 to 1.2 million barrels.
        
        As for the idea that China will force the blockade. It’s a foolish idea.
        
        There’s a big difference between bullying Phillpino fishing boats and confronting the US Navy.
        
        The US will fight back, and they know how.
        
        To rephrase the deleted sentence from earlier;
        
        “Amateurs discuss tactics, professionals discuss logistics.”
        
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        April 14, 2026 12:03pm
      - imalwaysright
        
        “Reserves are 1.1 to 1.2 million barrels.”
        
        Do you mean billion?
        They use 16 million barrels daily.
        
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        April 14, 2026 1:29pm
      - Don Beckett
        
        China gets a lot of oil from Russia, pipelines run from Eastern Russia (Siberia) directly to China.
        
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        April 14, 2026 1:31pm
      - Charlotte Wells
        
        “Do you mean billion?”
        
        Yes, yes I do.
        
        My only defence is I was in a too much of a rush.
        
        China doesn’t get enough oil via the pipeline. It is a vulnerable target.
        
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        April 14, 2026 1:57pm
  - Paulus
    
    Easy blow up Kharg Island, Irans oil delivery depot, and Hormuz will be useless.
    
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    April 14, 2026 2:31pm
    - Don Beckett
      
      Be better to just take it over & control most of Iran’s oil. The danger then would be Iran using what missiles it has left to blow the island up. It’s only a small island.
      
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      April 14, 2026 3:25pm
- Damocles11
  
  Sounds like Iran has called Trump and want to make a deal –
  
  ‘Donald Trump said Iran wants to make a deal and that he will not come to any agreement that allows Tehran to have a nuclear weapon.
  Trump said that talks had hit a roadblock related to nuclear issues and that a “blockade” of ships transiting the strait of Hormuz had begun.
  He said that Iran had “called this morning” and that “they’d like to work a deal.” Reuters could not immediately verify the claim.’
  
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  April 14, 2026 9:01am
  - Drone
    
    Trump’s bullshit to manipulate the financial markets again and again..
    
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    April 14, 2026 4:23pm
- gravedodger
  
  I am clearly in a minority who understands a waterway with Iran on one coast and Oman and The UAE on the other side might have shared rights, so while Iran seeks to use the entire Straight waters as it’s weapon is questionable at least?
  
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  April 14, 2026 1:10pm
  - Charlotte Wells
    
    It’s worse than that.
    
    “Iran seized the island of Abu Musa on November 30, 1971, just two days before the United Arab Emirates was formally established and following the withdrawal of British forces from the region. While Iran and the Emirate of Sharjah initially reached a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for shared control, Iran quickly established complete military control over the island.
    
    Although Sharjah (now part of the UAE) had a memorandum of understanding with Iran to share administration of the island in 1971, Iran has been accused of violating this agreement and holding full control. The UAE continues to challenge this occupation and seeks a peaceful resolution.”
    
    This would be a good place for the US to take back.
    
    The anti US & Israel baying mob do not care about that.
    
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    April 14, 2026 2:00pm
  - Charlotte Wells
    
    Wiki lilnk;
    
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seizure_of_Abu_Musa_and_the_Greater_and_Lesser_Tunbs
    
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    April 14, 2026 2:10pm
  - keepcalmcarryon
    
    Iran, the major sponsor of middle eastern terrorism via hezbollah, Hamas and the Houthis, directly responsible for events like the Lockerbie bombing and October 7 in Israel, responsible for using asymmetric warfare in the strait of Hormuz?
    I don’t think anyone is surprised they’ll use any questionable tactic, it’s what they do ?
    
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    April 14, 2026 2:48pm
- In Vino Veritas
  
  I don’t think America is blockading the Straits. I’ve read somewhere they are blockading all ports of Iran.
  And China are the last people to be making demands of who controls what given their efforts in the South China sea. And obviously they are overlooking Oman’s control of the Straits bordering their country.
  
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  April 14, 2026 6:06pm
Maggy Wassilieff

Is anyone celebrating World Quantum Day today?
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April 14, 2026 8:15am
- Ian
  
  I’m not
  
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  April 14, 2026 8:22am
- pdm
  
  I have never heard of it.
  
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  April 14, 2026 8:23am
- Mod88
  
  Quantum Physics says you can be in two places at the same time. That could be a very handy ability to have.
  
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  April 14, 2026 8:26am
  - imalwaysright
    
    You might need to have a word with yourself Mod88, I don’t think that’s what it is.
    
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    April 14, 2026 9:00am
  - Tauhei Notts
    
    Does John’s brother, David Tamihere give lectures on Quantum Physics?
    
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    April 14, 2026 9:16am
  - pdm
    
    That would bring an end to alibis mod.
    
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    April 14, 2026 9:54am
- Euan
  
  No it’s not a big thing.
  
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  April 14, 2026 8:27am
- Tom Hunter
  
  I haven’t observed it yet.
  
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  April 14, 2026 8:32am
  - imalwaysright
    
    I can’t find my cat…
    
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    April 14, 2026 8:36am
    - virtualmark
      
      It’s in the box
      
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      April 14, 2026 10:07am
      - imalwaysright
        
        Are you sure?
        
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        April 14, 2026 10:54am
      - virtualmark
        
        Yeah, it’s definitely in the box.
        
        Hasn’t moved for a while though.
        
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        April 14, 2026 11:40am
- kowtow
  
  I simply don’t have the energy to.
  
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  April 14, 2026 8:32am
- SGA
  
  I both am and am not 😉
  
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  April 14, 2026 8:39am
- David Garrett
  
  Talking of various obscure “days” what has happened to the annoying little man who used to remind us all of same? Is he on a holiday or has he spat the dummy again and flounced off?
  
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  April 14, 2026 8:42am
  - pdm
    
    ?
    
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    April 14, 2026 8:48am
    - David Garrett
      
      Pdm: Mikey Many Names was always fond of reminding us of “World X day” …usually a day noone had ever heard of
      
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      April 14, 2026 9:08am
      - imalwaysright
        
        Apparently World X Day is part of World Alphabet Month.
        
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        April 14, 2026 9:15am
      - Cassandra
        
        I even beat him to the punch occasionally. World Gin Day. Or was it Negroni Day? He seems to have gone. Or is he Simon? Or Star?
        
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        April 14, 2026 9:36am
      - pdm
        
        Thanks DG.
        
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        April 14, 2026 9:55am
  - Nikola Donatello
    
    Too obscure for me.
    
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    April 14, 2026 9:07am
  - MCōs
    
    I used to find some of those saints’ days he mentioned quite interesting.
    They dated back to medieval times and those obscure people, as he told it, often went through some pretty torturous ordeals because of their faith.
    
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    April 14, 2026 10:04am
    - kowtow
      
      The problem was he wasn’t doing it out of genuine interest . It was mockery , so essentially trolling.
      
      I fail to see how he was allowed to get away with that.
      
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      April 14, 2026 11:05am
      - imalwaysright
        
        They did get the odd discussion going.
        His motive is irrelevant.
        
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        April 14, 2026 11:46am
    - Ghost
      
      Some people prefer an echo chamber on the blog. He adds something different here
      
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      April 14, 2026 11:49am
      - David Garrett
        
        Ghost: No, he didn’t. He was a classic troll who almost never offered any kind of coherent argument.
        
        7 5
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        April 14, 2026 1:10pm
      - imalwaysright
        
        Yes, contrarians are necessary on a site like this. Otherwise its just a knitting circle.
        
        5 5
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        April 14, 2026 1:41pm
      - Ghost
        
        get over yourself garrett. you never shut up about him. You have turned a post about World Quantum Day into your attraction to mike, you are the troll
        
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        April 14, 2026 1:45pm
- Flossie
  
  I was going to Maggy, but I had nothing suitable to wear.
  
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  April 14, 2026 9:13am
  - Maggy Wassilieff
    
    It’s come as you aren’t.
    
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    April 14, 2026 10:25am
    - Charlotte Wells
      
      String something together?
      
      A string bikini?
      
      I don’t know, it’s the best I could do.
      
      4 1
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      April 14, 2026 2:04pm
artemisia

Health NZ scrubs internet of old websites has saved millions and is not done yet. Well done HNZ.

By the end of March, HNZ estimated it had saved $21.4m in one-off savings from not having to upgrade platforms, and ongoing savings from lower hosting and support costs, reduced duplication and improved staff productivity. And still more savings to come they say.

Looks like quite a bit of those systems were inherited from previous consolidations, devolutions, distributions, re-consolidation, rinse and repeat …. Must be more organisations that could take a good look.

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/592205/health-nz-scrubs-internet-of-old-websites
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April 14, 2026 8:30am
- redeye
  
  But it’s just recently been completely restructured.
  In the middle of a pandemic was not the right time to undergo a complete overhaul of health bureaucracy? Who would have thought?
  
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  April 14, 2026 8:49am
  - RoboRob
    
    Thanks Hipkins
    
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    April 14, 2026 9:25am
  - Philview
    
    It should have prompted robust questioning from the media. I suspect Jack Tame on Q&A would have asked questions but TVNZ News and RNZ would have watered down to minimise wider public awareness of the debate.
    
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    April 14, 2026 9:25am
imalwaysright

The ANZ Chief economist told dairy farmers to “think before rushing out and spending todays payout”.

The term patronising prick came to mind, and then the term condescending prick joined it.
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April 14, 2026 9:08am
- RoboRob
  
  I suspect most farmers are a damn site better with their money than the ANZ economist.
  
  I doubt she even has 6mths of cash stored up to cover a loss of income, farmers need to deal with years of low / no income from draughts etc.
  
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  April 14, 2026 11:23am
  - KH
    
    Close the door. The draughts are annoying.
    
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    April 14, 2026 12:19pm
    - RoboRob
      
      Im on a roll today !
      
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      April 14, 2026 1:22pm
- Paulus
  
  The Banks are rubbing their hands today as they get first Divi into the money.
  
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  April 14, 2026 2:33pm
sungsamning

Orban is gone as the leader of his party. The Fourth Reich have broken out the Champers. The Tisza party have won. However; its a tad more nuanced than that. The new leader [P. Magyar] used to be in Fidesz. There was a nasty divorce and a scandal. Then the ‘intelligence agencies’ tried to frame Orban over phone calls to Russia. [Magyar is a nationalist too. So DEI, and mass immigration won’t be a thing. Its Fidesz repackaged.]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGHyMK3xreg
Hungarian election was a referendum on Orbán as a person, not a change in ideology.
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April 14, 2026 9:15am
- Wairoa Native
  
  Now that Péter Magyar is in power, Hungary is likely to move closer to the European Union than under Viktor Orbán.
  
  He’s talking a lot about anti-corruption, transparency, and rule of law reforms basically the things the EU has been demanding to unlock frozen EU funding.
  
  If he follows through, Hungary has a real chance of getting that money flowing again, but it’ll come down to whether the reforms actually stick.
  
  Potentially Orbán could wait for the government of Péter Magyar to struggle and then win back power if voters become dissatisfied enough with how things turn out with the EU, DEI, and mass immigration (which are on the cards).
  
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  April 14, 2026 1:19pm
  - MCōs
    
    “Hungary is likely to move closer to the European Union”
    Hungary is a member of the EU. You can’t get closer than that
    
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    April 14, 2026 2:01pm
    - Charlotte Wells
      
      The policies were less EU and leaned toward Russia.
      
      Now they are turning westward looking.
      
      Nobody said they weren’t part of the EU.
      
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      April 14, 2026 4:28pm
sungsamning

Susan Kokinda argues that President Trump has “put the empire on notice” by exposing what she calls a decades-long British-run extortion system centered on the Strait of Hormuz. She says Trump moved to break the alleged protection racket by undermining Lloyd’s of London’s role in maritime insurance, pushing the U.S. to provide coverage, and enforcing an “all or none” approach to Iran’s oil sales. [Pay our protection, or Iran will break your windows. Irans money, and crypto flows are being investigated. The Dubai washing machine is ‘under maintainence’. A lot of roads lead to the City of London. The UKs War Book hasn’t been updated since the 90s. They relied on Washington/NATO. Then Trump began asking questions.]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBxif0k4d-k
EXPOSED: Trump Names the Hidden War — Britain Has No Cards Left.
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April 14, 2026 9:15am
- Damocles11
  
  The US is now waging an economic war on ‘Britain’. Interesting.
  
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  April 14, 2026 1:25pm
  - sungsamning
    
    Not Britain; the City of London and its capers.
    
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    April 14, 2026 2:21pm
  - Charlotte Wells
    
    Nobody needs to wage war on Britain.
    
    They are ripe for the picking.
    
    How ripe I hear you ask? They have a Prime Minister that hates his own country. They have a navy that takes weeks to put a frigate to sea for it to break down immediately. They have an army with more horses than tanks.
    
    A sanctioned Russian tanker was escorted through the English Channel by a Russian warship. THe only boat the poms had was an unarmed fleet resupply ship that tailed along behind it.
    
    Three Russian Akula class subs loitered over the com’s cable in the North Atlantic unmolested.
    
    Should Argentina be of a mind to do so, they could retake the Falklands. There’s no Magaret Thatcher to assemble and despatch a naval Taskforce within days. Starmer, an oleaginous lawyer, would sell-out the Islands and pay the Aregentinians billions for the pleasure.
    
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    April 14, 2026 4:37pm
Yvette

The invention of history
An invented history has been taught to at least two generations of schoolchildren. It includes the reinterpreted Treaty of Waitangi as a ‘partnership’ and a sacred covenant (hence the need to remove secularism). Accurate, verifiable accounts of the past are replaced by tales of oppressor and oppressed. Most Māori were as committed to building a new nation as were the colonists. A comprehensive history of New Zealand education makes that clear.
https://www.brashandmitchell.com/post/elizabeth-rata-neotribal-capitalism-and-co-governance

Treaty of Waitangi as a ‘partnership’ and a sacred covenant (hence the need to remove secularism) – does this mean the Treaty, required, actioned and written and translated, and explained by Europeans, with no Maori input at all recorded, is as infallible and as sacred as the Bible – “hence the need to remove secularism” to allow this religious approach, complex as it is: that te Ao o Maori (the Maori religious world view) accepts the sacred covenant that is the Treaty.

Meanwhile of two Prime Ministers, one believes the Maori didn’t ceed sovereignty and the other believes they did. And the Prime Minister before both of these, didn’t know what was in Article 1, did she.

“Riddle me, riddle me, rot-tot-tote!  
If you’ll tell me this riddle, I’ll give you a groat.”
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April 14, 2026 9:19am
RoboRob

Pathetic interview with Hipkins on Breakfast today. They gave Chris Chang the interview (not Tova who asks difficult questions). Hipkins claimed that Labour had it harder dealing with COVID (the gaul of the man to bring up the COVID response) then national does with the Oil crisis. Then criticised the government for not laying out a plan weeks ago detailing what would happen if oil supplies failed. Did he miss the fact that the government did exactly that weeks ago? Was there any follow up from Chang, nope.

Goldsmith / National should have done somehting about TVNZ / RNZ years ago. The coalition is now going to reap the rewards of their own inaction. Having Campbell back on RNZ is an obvious statement from RNZ. Luckily their listening base continues to decline so the damage isn’t too severe.
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April 14, 2026 9:24am
- Philview
  
  Michael Laws did a good segment yesterday on John Campbell’s extraordinarily biased response to the Coalition Government coming to power in 2023. Campbell per his essay supports the Balkanisation of New Zealand and establishment of Tribal Sovereignty.
  
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  April 14, 2026 9:34am
- Cassandra
  
  RNZ is an echo chamber but it should be demolished.
  
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  April 14, 2026 9:38am
  - RoboRob
    
    If only the right was in power and in a postion to do so. Oh wait…
    
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    April 14, 2026 9:51am
    - imalwaysright
      
      You mean the centre right. Very similar to the centre left.
      
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      April 14, 2026 9:54am
      - RoboRob
        
        What is this centre right you speak of 🙂
        
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        April 14, 2026 10:57am
      - imalwaysright
        
        RR
        If you hold the centre left up to a mirror you will see the centre right…and if you squint hard you can see Chloe in the background!
        
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        April 14, 2026 12:19pm
- Charlotte Wells
  
  It’s ‘gall’.
  
  – “Having the gall” means possessing the audacity, nerve, or impudence to do something rude, unreasonable, or disrespectful. It describes a shocking lack of shame or awareness, often used when someone acts entitled despite inappropriate behavior. –
  
  Gaul is one of the names for the region we know as France.
  
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  April 14, 2026 10:15am
  - RoboRob
    
    Ooops
    ‘The Asterix of the man to bring up COVID’ 🙂
    
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    April 14, 2026 10:58am
  - greybeard
    
    I noted that as well, and was waiting for DG to do the honours.
    
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    April 14, 2026 11:12am
    - RoboRob
      
      Considering the vast numbers of typos and grammer errors in my posts I am stunned I dont get slammed by DG on a regular basis. Perhaps he doesn’t read my posts to avoid the ‘stress’ of having to deal with all the poor english 🙂
      
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      April 14, 2026 11:20am
      - David Garrett
        
        Robo: I was in court this morning, so KB wasn’t in the front of my mind.
        
        But as an aside, generally there are fewer errors here than on Stuff, which I mostly read for the trivia quiz (11/15 today).
        
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        April 14, 2026 1:14pm
      - RoboRob
        
        @DG
        
        You know you really shouldn’t read Stuff. I’m sure there are quizzes elsewhere you could do that dont give Stuff revenue.
        
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        April 14, 2026 1:24pm
      - Flossie
        
        Got to brag DG…14/15 for me today!
        
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        April 14, 2026 2:55pm
  - Charlotte Wells
    
    I only did it as the definition described that horrid little man to a ‘T”.
    
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    April 14, 2026 4:39pm
Paulus

Tuesday again
Why am I puzzled
Well every Tuesday the NZME owned papers have an extra called Travel which shows the World and where to go to get the very best that is on offer.
I look and see the very best and the prices these travel agents and principals have to offer.
Wow – the costs are somewhat as they would say – Specials with xtras.
But why do we hear that poverty is growing exponentially daily and that this country is effectively bankrupt so why can this publication Travel be worthwhile.
Am told Auckland Airport is, as usual, packed with travellers going around the World.
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April 14, 2026 9:27am
- Damocles11
  
  They will be public servants, council employees, people involved in the property and banking industries, the corporate management elite, well-off boomers spending their windfall property gains, and anyone else currently insulated from the consequences of New Zealands managed decline. It’s the band playing on while the Titanic sinks.
  
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  April 14, 2026 9:56am
rouppe

Further evidence that the UN is completely broken.

ECOSOC (United Nations Economic and Social Council) nominated the Islamic Republic of Iran to the U.N.’s Committee for Program and Coordination Wednesday, a body that helps shape policy on human rights, women’s rights, disarmament and counterterrorism.

The nomination is widely expected to be finalized, as the United Nations General Assembly typically approves such recommendations without a vote.

At the same session, ECOSOC elected China, Cuba, Nicaragua, Saudi Arabia and Sudan to the Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations, which oversees accreditation and access for thousands of NGOs operating within the U.N. system.
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April 14, 2026 9:49am
MCōs

A year or so ago when the previous pope died President Trump put a picture on social media depicting himself as a pope.
Now after a scathing attack on Pope Leo he puts a picture on social media depicting himself as a *ahem* doctor; although some mistook it for Jesus Christ.
Curiously after a few hours it was deleted.
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April 14, 2026 9:49am
- MCōs
  
  https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c17v8y0z9z2o
  
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  April 14, 2026 9:53am
- Damocles11
  
  He’s clearly a doctor, minus the stethoscope, scrubs, or any other of the traditional indications that someone is a doctor. You can also tell he is being portrayed as a doctor by the brilliant golden light emanating from his hands. But seriously, put your MAGA shoes on and say it with me now: ‘it’s so much fun watching Trumpy lie and send the libtards into a lather, their heads spinning in fury as Trumpy runs rings around them, chortle, snort, guffaw.’
  
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  April 14, 2026 10:02am
- virtualmark
  
  I don’t know many doctors with glowing hands. And there’s an odd figure above Trump’s head, in the centre …
  
  And the sick chap in the bed has a passing resemblance to Jeffrey Epstein. Maybe Trump is channeling Jesus resurrecting Lazarus?
  
  Trump has broken the US evangelical churches. Or rather they were already broken and Trump has brought that into the open.
  
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  April 14, 2026 10:10am
- Northshoredoc
  
  Malignant narcissist behaves like a malignant narcissist, hardly surprising.
  
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  April 14, 2026 10:15am
- Taieri
  
  He needs a doctor. Urgently.
  
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  April 14, 2026 10:50am
- Philview
  
  It reminds me of the days that Jacinda Ardern donned a hijab and walked among us. There was one photo that was particularly framed around the sun glistening through glass and gave her an angelic effect that the media loved showing us.
  
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  April 14, 2026 11:16am
  - lifesgood
    
    There was also a widely published photo of Andrew Little standing at a doorway with the brick surround forming a halo around his head. It was so obviously contrived to make him look like the angelic saviour of NZ. Didn’t work, thank goodness.
    
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    April 14, 2026 11:40am
- kowtow
  
  When I saw it I had a lol , but seriously folks , while it’s appallingly unpresidential , unprecedented etc in these crazy times ( what times aren’t?) can’t you just enjoy it for what it is ;
  
  a classic Trump troll . He’s trolling the Pope for goodness sake , his latest perceived opponent . it’s what he does .
  
  Should he ? No of course not .
  
  Meanwhile if it were anyone else having a go at the ‘Whore of Babylon” the majority of secularists here would actually be enjoying any insults directed at Catholics.Afterall you spend a lot of time , when not suffering TDS , suffering from Rome Fever and the “dress wearing paedophiles of the Vatican” are fair game . Innit!
  
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  April 14, 2026 11:24am
  - SGA
    
    @Kowtow – well, no. It is very odd for a President to post images of himself as Jesus Christ. Seriously. It is more worrisome than entertaining. If Ardern, say, had chosen to post a similar image of herself as the Virgin Mary, you’d have been over it like a rash – fair?
    
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    April 14, 2026 11:50am
    - Don Beckett
      
      He’s not portraying himself as Jesus. Trump doesn’t have a beard or dark hair.
      
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      April 14, 2026 12:32pm
      - SGA
        
        Well, if he had added that then no-one would have recognised him as Christ (and we couldn’t have that!)
        
        7 4
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        April 14, 2026 12:37pm
      - Don Beckett
        
        A lot of people don’t/can’t recognise Christ anyway. 🙁
        
        7 4
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        April 14, 2026 1:36pm
      - Paulus
        
        But we now know that Jesus was what we also know as a Woman.
        
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        April 14, 2026 2:40pm
    - kowtow
      
      Ardern didn’t need to, the media basically painted her as our saviour .
      
      NB; I have called it unpresidential and unprecedented . Fair?
      
      And yes it’s incredibly odd etc Literally incredible.
      
      But let’s face it , he’s doing what evryone else is doing to a greater or lesser degree. Using social media to troll individuals he sees as “enemies” . At least he’s simply trolling them on social media.
      
      His enemies on the other hand have literally done all in their power to jail him , some have gone as far as to get many from the intelligence community to lie that he was some sort of Russian agent , others have tried to kill him!
      
      Like I say , ’tis but a bit of fun. No one has lost their head over it . Like the French and English did to their royals , something celebrated to this day .
      
      Now that’s serious.
      
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      April 14, 2026 1:27pm
      - SGA
        
        @kowtow – But he’s not “everyone else” nor is he “some”, he’s the POTUS.
        
        To be completely serious, I think he has become more erratic over time. To such extent that even people such as Tucker Carlson, Majorie Taylor Greene, Candace Owens, Alex Jones, Joe Rogan, and Piers Morgan are now shaking their heads in disbelief. You might not like these people, but they are hardly wishy-washy leftists.Portraying himself as Christ feeds into that – it’s not clever, it’s not particularly funny – it’s a bit stupid in place like the USA.
        
        At this point, I am wondering if Trump diehards are the proverbial frogs in the steadily heated waters.
        
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        April 14, 2026 2:22pm
      - Don Beckett
        
        No-one has lost their head over it, Kowtow, but plenty of people have lost their shit over it. 🙂
        
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        April 14, 2026 3:29pm
      - Charlotte Wells
        
        “such as Tucker Carlson, Majorie Taylor Greene, Candace Owens, Alex Jones, Joe Rogan, and Piers Morgan”
        
        Now that’s a real gallery of folks that need help.
        
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        April 14, 2026 4:42pm
  - MCōs
    
    Maybe so
    However
    His offsider Vance is catholic
    6/9 Supreme Court justices are catholic
    24/100 senators are catholic
    His wife is a catholic
    Religion is a big deal over there
    
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    April 14, 2026 12:07pm
    - MCōs
      
      https://x.com/thetnholler/status/2043892756670480754?s=61
      
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      April 14, 2026 3:43pm
- Ghost
  
  He is mistaken for Jesus christ superstar a lot. I was at the gp the other day, trump came on the TV, someone behind me said, ” Jesus christ, shut up”.
  
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  April 14, 2026 12:15pm
Flossie

An item on the OneNews website offers ways to save on grocery shopping. All mildly interesting until the part that advises that Aldi often have savings on…. Seriously? Just lifted off an overseas – maybe Australian – site and not even edited to be relevant to this country.
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April 14, 2026 10:21am
- Cassandra
  
  TVNZ is rubbish.
  
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  April 14, 2026 10:35am
  - kowtow
    
    Even their best product , Country Calander, has become wokery , where ever they can get it in.
    
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    April 14, 2026 11:17am
    - imalwaysright
      
      Has CC become an advertorial programme?
      They all seem to have a product to sell.
      Its still good, but as you say the wokery forms the backdrop.
      No one ever mentions the Climate Scam.
      
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      April 14, 2026 11:55am
    - Ra Henare
      
      Maybe only the woke have money???
      
      You do know that subjects on Country Calendar pay very large sums of money to be “”on”” Country Calendar.
      
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      April 14, 2026 12:26pm
      - kowtow
        
        AI says otherwise.
        
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        April 14, 2026 1:17pm
      - Don Beckett
        
        Never thought of that. But I’m sure it wouldn’t apply to those Maori enterprises often shown – they would ‘receive’ money.
        
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        April 14, 2026 1:38pm
      - imalwaysright
        
        “I’m sure it wouldn’t apply to those Maori enterprises…”
        
        Why not?
        
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        April 14, 2026 1:53pm
      - Flossie
        
        I doubt that. Friends were on a year or two back and didn’t pay.
        
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        April 14, 2026 2:04pm
imalwaysright

National MP wants to cut off taxpayer funding for gangs | RNZ News https://share.google/3G4fio1LanGra6a1u

Article written by Amanda Gillies, the Ardern fan girl who used to read an autocue on tv3 breakfast program.

That the RNZ took it upon themselves to hunt out academic hacks to argue AGAINST defunding gangs say it all.

How about a members bill to defund RNZ and sell tvnz?
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April 14, 2026 10:27am
- Flossie
  
  Who would want to buy TVNZ!
  
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  April 14, 2026 10:50am
  - imalwaysright
    
    Probably RNZ would be stupid enough. Goldsmith would think it a great idea…
    
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    April 14, 2026 10:56am
  - RoboRob
    
    Which is why it should have been sold a decade ago. There was no need to have a state owned TV station and it still had some value.
    
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    April 14, 2026 11:16am
- RoboRob
  
  Spotted that. Talk about RNZ living in a bubble, I imagine even with their left leaning audience 90+ percent dont support funding Gangs.
  
  Oh and re a members bill to defund RNZ. Waste of time. National has publicly stated they dont want to do it, so the bill will fail. Might be good politics for NZF or Act I guess.
  
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  April 14, 2026 11:02am
  - Paulus
    
    Is PIJF now finished ?
    
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    April 14, 2026 2:42pm
- RoboRob
  
  Oh and why does this need to be a members bill? Wasn’t cutting funding to gangs a core National party policy?
  
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  April 14, 2026 11:17am
  - imalwaysright
    
    Apparently its “one step at a time” to fulfil election promises….
    
    With that size of Public Service they could have fulfilled all election promises by the week before Christmas 2023!
    
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    April 14, 2026 11:59am
Master Mariner

Finally a bit of truth,
“Time to Plan for Months of Oil, Gas Shortage”
https://oilprice.com/Energy/Energy-General/Time-to-Plan-for-Months-of-Oil-Gas-Shortage.html

The big unknown in escalation is the threat or potential threat of attacking Desalination plants in
Gulf States. It bounces around the 50% mark for drinkable water supplies.
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April 14, 2026 10:34am
MCōs

The mid term elections in America will be held four days before our general election in November.
That’s just under seven months away.
I’m glad I’m not one of the poor sods that has to come up with detailed policies for any of the NZ parties for the election.
There is no telling what fuel prices, inflation, unemployment, will be by then. Maybe there will be a scarcity a fuel, medicine, fertilizer, new Range Rovers!
Maybe everything will be back to normal.
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April 14, 2026 10:35am
- Quail
  
  MCos,
  Take your point —- but detailed policy manifestos are ,sadly ,irrelevant today .
  New Governments have to consult with their coalition partners .This creates a “ get out of jail free card” and policy changes are certain. Anything a bit difficult just gets binned.
  MMP is a total disaster!
  
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  April 14, 2026 11:08am
- Damocles11
  
  Expect a swathe of new bribes that the country can’t afford, more Maorification and co-governance, and more attempts by the MSM to shove the Overton Window leftwards towards further racial division & economic ruination. It’ll be a standard NZ election in other words.
  
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  April 14, 2026 11:14am
- RoboRob
  
  With regards to NZ party policy my understang is the following…
  
  Labour -> Doesn’t plan on having any detailed policy. Will campaign on broad ideas that will be fleshed out once in power.
  
  Greens -> Never need detail or accuracy for their policy, their members always give them a pass as does the MSM. Will just be the usual, wealth tax and freebies (doctors, dental, education) etc.
  
  TPM -> Only have one policy. Non Maori bad, we need our own state.
  
  Act -> Likely just re hashing last elections policy basket with a ‘more’ emphasis. I.e. charter schools good, we want more. Treaty principles need to go / be defined here is our new bigger plan.
  
  The remaining two parties are the hard ones. NZF is in a tricky spot. Normally they go for things that a small percentage of the population really love, however with their new larger voter base they will need to be carefull to not turn people away.
  
  National. I really have no idea. They could re run last elections policy but since they didn’t follow through with much of it, that could be dangerous. They could go hard and lean into getting the economy right / debt down (we wanted to go to the voter base before we went hard) but it would be a hard push to trust they would follow through. The one policy I see on the horizon is around retirement / super although I’m not really sure its a big vote winner. A poster here (R) last year claimed that National has a pile of exciting policy to energise the voter base. Lets see.
  
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  April 14, 2026 11:15am
  - MCōs
    
    “Labour -> Doesn’t plan on having any detailed policy. Will campaign on broad ideas that will be fleshed out once in power.”
    That’s the best anyone can do right now for the reasons I outlined above.
    
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    April 14, 2026 12:20pm
    - RoboRob
      
      Also their system every election 🙂
      
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      April 14, 2026 1:26pm
  - Damocles11
    
    As regards National: “fool me once” and all that.
    
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    April 14, 2026 1:29pm
  - Paulus
    
    I believe that the incomng last Coalition Government had no idea of the seriousness of New Zealand – both financially, morally, and the attitude of the Public Service – for which at a 1.6% increase Roche should resign, as he is continualy being bamboozled, mainly by high paid feminists, who also love the exhortations of Maori..
    
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    April 14, 2026 2:48pm
  - mogg
    
    Labours plan is higher govt spending, higher taxes more debt and high inflation. Just like before.
    
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    April 14, 2026 3:58pm
Master Mariner

A very good analysis on the SOH Blockade ( In effect an act of War).
“Strait of Hormuz and Dueling Blockades – The United States and Iran Block Access to the Persian Gulf”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xddTUc14iOw
A couple of important points not covered above.
1. How do they propose boarding ships. By Helicopter and Millitary and /or by boarding from Sea.
2. Where would they take the ships once “illegally arrested”. How would they get them there ?
3. Have they considered the ships will be manned with Military personel, Especially Russian and Chinese ships. This will be a Standard procedure going forward.
4. It will depends on Insurers and Where Arbitration will be settled, ie US or UK. Likely Big difference in outcomes.

This is powder keg waiting for a match. Anyway some food for thought.
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April 14, 2026 11:07am
- virtualmark
  
  My take as well.
  
  If I’m China I send a plane of Marine Corps troops to Iran and tell them to ride home on the tankers. Low-key first step that complicates any US plans to board the ships.
  
  If the US moves to increase tensions further then my next step is to send a few of my naval ships to the Persian Gulf to escort a convoy of tankers back to China.
  
  I just don’t see how a US Navy blockade can stop that without triggering a tense conflict with China.
  
  To be fair … I also think China (and the EU, India, Japan, Australia etc) should be working harder on a diplomatic solution to all this. I suspect Trump and Iran both want an off-ramp. But Pakistan isn’t a strong enough facilitator.
  
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  April 14, 2026 12:44pm
- Paulus
  
  London War Risks Insurance is very different to that of ordinary Marine Insurance.
  The War Risk cover would be Reinsured (wholesaled) by at least some US Specialists such as Berkshire Hathaway.
  
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  April 14, 2026 2:51pm
surfing

A world leading council, with world leading budget…

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/wellington/wellington-city-council-flies-in-australian-consultants-over-sludge-minimisation-project/4WCTEEENOVDUBO3TYIKOQLR3DQ/

But how does anyone afford to live in Wellington? These numbers are astounding!

Reminds me of the US city that went bankrupt over it’s incinerator build. The Harrisburg incinerator… the wellington sludge plant….hahaha.
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April 14, 2026 12:18pm
- keepcalmcarryon
  
  How fitting.
  
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  April 14, 2026 2:52pm
Don Beckett

The latest from Tousi, posted about 8 hrs. ago. Talks about the blockade – all ships from Persian gulf countries will be allowed through, except for those leaving Iranian ports.
And the IRGC have come back crying to Trump that they want to re-commence talks – plus more.
May answer questions some here have been posing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JP-5uu7Lv30
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April 14, 2026 12:24pm
- Ra Henare
  
  You do realise that Tousi TV is a US Shill 🙂
  
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  April 14, 2026 12:31pm
  - kowtow
    
    Better that than being a Basij boy.
    
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    April 14, 2026 3:00pm
- MCōs
  
  Eight hours ago is an eternity in Trump Time
  He could have changed direction multiple times in that span, insulted all the blacks in America, pardoned Tiger Woods . . . .
  
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  April 14, 2026 1:02pm
Swifty

Donny blesses the masses and heals the sick…

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/world/592307/donald-trump-s-ai-jesus-image-sparks-backlash-as-pope-leo-responds

Heh. Further evidence he’s the world’s best troll.
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April 14, 2026 1:44pm
- Ghost
  
  bless him, trying to heal mr epstein
  
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  April 14, 2026 1:50pm
Bobba Fret

When will they stop killing their children (or whanau as they would say)?

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/crime/auckland-mum-stormy-ryder-pleads-guilty-to-disabled-toddlers-homicide-inside-takanini-home/EYUFI7KYB5FCNJBB55CKHLLFOU/
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April 14, 2026 2:19pm
- Scooter
  
  She even had home visits from healthcare or social workers and turned them away. And yet we’re told Maori are disadvantaged when it comes to healthcare.
  
  “However, appointments were either cancelled or visitors were turned away from her home 29 times, and on six other occasions, she would only speak with the visitors outside her home.”
  
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  April 14, 2026 4:41pm
Ghost

what sad pathetic piece of shit would do this.

Six ambulances were rendered inoperable after an offender broke into emergency station compounds and slashed their tyres.

Article
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April 14, 2026 3:37pm
- Jethrod
  
  And who would downtick for God’s sake!?
  
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  April 14, 2026 4:16pm
greybeard

If any more of these new Chinese EVs arrive in NZ I think we should be thinking of learning Cantonese or Mandarin just to keep up. There seems to be a new one every couple of days.
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April 14, 2026 4:40pm
- kowtow
  
  Why bother. Everything you say in the vehicle will be translated into those languages back in HQ , and where you been.
  
  There’s a reason lots of the world’s leading militaries don’t allow EV’s into their bases .
  
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  April 14, 2026 5:04pm
Jack5

Will Australian soldiers accused of crimes in action in Afghanistan become Ned Kelly-type legends? Aussies in particular seem to have a soft spot for controversial “heroes”. Their saying, game as Ned Kelly, demonstrates that.

When an English migrant to Australia, Harry “Breaker” Morant, was executed by firing squad in 1902 during the Boer War, he became something of a folk hero. Morant was accused of executing Boer prisoners. His fame or notoriety continues. There’s been a film about him.

Australia’s current most decorated soldier, Ben Roberts-Smith VC, is in prison awaiting trial on charges of murdering prisoners in Afghanistan. Also awaiting trial on a charge of murdering an Afghan prisoner is Australian SAS veteran Oliver Schulz, who has pleaded not guilty.

Some Australians oppose the charges, and of these, some will likely see as Woke petrol on the political fire, the Leftist Albanese Government appointing its first female Army chief, Lieutenant-General Susan Coyle.

In Britain, investigations and charges also continue into alleged crimes by British soldiers during the Northern Ireland “troubles”.

In both countries public opposition will undoubtedly rise to troops going to fight in counter-insurgence or “peace” actions abroad.
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April 14, 2026 5:37pm

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