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April 26, 2026 8:00am by Kokila Patel

General Debate 26 April 2026

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NeverMindTheBollocks

Publicly funded academic health researchers are at it again, this time railing against utes. Predictably, their solution involves more tax.

I’ve got a different idea. Defund academic health researchers, and reduce tax on utes.
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April 26, 2026 8:16am
- CJames
  
  A good idea is to ask those researchers (or even reporters) how many people they know own utes? That is proper utes, not SUVs or pimped up Raptors/ SR5s. After all, sales data shows Hiluxes and Rangers have been in the top selling vehicles for decades.
  It is almost certain that none of the people questioned know owners, let alone have one. It will show what a central city bubble they live in. What the say and write isn’t reflective of reality of life in NZ.
  As the utes are almost always provincial towns/ rural, a vast majority of their driving will be on open road. Many of these aren’t well maintained, being narrow, windy and big drops on the road edge. In contrast, EVs will be mainly within 50/30km zones. The consequences of crashes in the different areas are totally different. How did they correct the data for that? Or did the even know there was a difference
  
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  April 26, 2026 9:37am
  - CJames
    
    “our research showed that about two thirds of ute trips are happening in cities,”. So if the rural dweller comes into town for the day, once a week, that will probably be the biggest distance the vehicle does. Is that rural or “city” driving? I suspect their definition of city includes places like Te Awamutu, Taupo, Ashburton or Rangiora where they are the service centres for the surrounding rural communities.
    
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    April 26, 2026 9:44am
  - Dougal10
    
    Our roads have got so rough traditional suv’s like highlanders and rav4s dont cut it anymore you basically need a truck or a truck wagon to go down a gravel road on way to town
    
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    April 26, 2026 9:49am
  - Nobby2
    
    CJ,
    The researchers also need to tell us what their definition of a ute is.
    
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    April 26, 2026 11:33am
- AitchW
  
  “Academics” hate farmers and tradies.
  They hate anyone who is succcessful and self reliant while they bury their heads in the taxpayer trough.
  Defund them!
  
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  April 26, 2026 9:38am
  - artemisia
    
    Not sure about hating farmers and tradies. I have both in the fam and the tradies do quite a bit of work for academics and teachers. Quite good clients as they have decent incomes and not much practical.
    
    There is a meme circulating. Kid – Dad, talk me though changing a tyre. Dad – Get the boyf to help. Kid – He doesn’t know how. Dad – Step 1 Dump the boyf.
    
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    April 26, 2026 10:07am
- Handyman
  
  Some people still haven’t got over the removal of the ute tax.
  By the same logic there should be a tax on:
  — e-scooters for all the ACC claims.
  — cycles because of the cost of cycle lanes.
  — women because they linger longer on super.
  — fat people because they are the greatest load (literally and financially) on the health system.
  — academics for wasting money that could be spent on the health system. (A professor costs the same as an ED surgeon).
  
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  April 26, 2026 9:55am
  - Taieri
    
    Be careful what you wish for. Tax-everything-people’s invention is unlimited.
    
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    April 26, 2026 10:53am
- O C Smith
  
  Dumb academics who will not acknowledge who pays the taxes that fund them!
  
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  April 26, 2026 1:26pm
NeverMindTheBollocks

Adding the URL

http://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/593401/researchers-call-for-ute-tax-citing-burden-on-health-system
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April 26, 2026 8:17am
- Yvette
  
  A gap in research that the researches seem to have missed is “Why do people buy utes?”
  
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  April 26, 2026 9:42am
- Dougal10
  
  I don’t think they understand crash test data, and are just making assumptions . Most new vehicles to get 5 star ratings which has pedestrian’s in mind get a very flat nose so the pedestrian doesn’t get hit low down and are more likely to be carried forward or bumped off rather than going over the bonnet head first.
  
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  April 26, 2026 9:56am
- Ian
  
  I can’t see any utes in that photo of a sea of cars – only a couple of light trucks. What are these researchers on about?…
  
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  April 26, 2026 4:51pm
David Garrett

Good morning from the Kingdom…very pleasant up here this morning…enjoy your day down in the land where you can actually do things (other than church) on a Sunday
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April 26, 2026 8:25am
- Sir Cullen's Sidekick
  
  Hello DG – how is the fuel situation in the Kingdom?
  
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  April 26, 2026 12:08pm
- Ra Henare
  
  and hello from the Kingdom of Wonder, where Sunday is just another day. Banks are open as are most commercial enterprises. Needless to say Government departments(and schools) are on a day off.
  
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  April 26, 2026 2:01pm
NeverMindTheBollocks

If anyone feels that they don’t need their Super, then in addition to simply not applying for it, you are also able to donate to Share My Super.

http://www.1news.co.nz/2026/04/26/charity-founder-liz-greive-on-poverty-wealth-and-her-advice-to-women/

http://www.sharemysuper.org.nz/
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April 26, 2026 8:27am
- KKNZ2025
  
  FYI Ian Boag
  
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  April 26, 2026 9:59am
  - Ghost
    
    Do you think that perhaps the pension would be better for New Zealanders if it was targeted at those who actually need it? The elderly who struggle to power their home. The elderly who in winter go without meals because of the price of power, or end up in hospital because they can’t heat their home. They could get a little bit more if the wealthy weren’t putting their hand out for this benefit. How long do you think a country deep in financial shit can continue down that path?
    
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    April 26, 2026 10:09am
    - Flossie
      
      Why should those of us who made the effort and sacrifices to buy a home and save a bit now have to again sacrifice to subsidise those who had probably the same opportunities and chose instead to blow it one way or another. Make the thrifty responsible for the slackers and shy would anyone bother to try and “get ahead”?
      
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      April 26, 2026 12:16pm
    - Fender
      
      That would depend on the actual case wouldn’t it.
      If your elderly and poor is it because you made terrible decisions your whole life, is it because you holidayed every year instead of saving for retirement, is it because you paid for countless tattoos cosmetic surgeries etc
      Did you sit unemployed faking a sickness benefit
      If any of these or many of the other reasons are valid then answer is no , go ask your family to help
      
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      April 26, 2026 12:23pm
      - Paulus
        
        In today’s World Helen Clark and her cronies, ensured that families no longer exist so dream on.
        Selffishness is the watchword today as we see all the time.
        ME, ME,ME !
        
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        April 26, 2026 2:41pm
    - NeverMindTheBollocks
      
      Even in the age of integrated business systems, any form of means testing will inevitably lead to the employment of additional bureaucrats.
      
      Not really a good outcome.
      
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      April 26, 2026 1:45pm
    - Dudley Quaffquaff
      
      No, I don’t. Means testing creates complexity and counterproductive incentives.
      
      Government has to employ an army of accountants and bureaucrats to nose into, and pass judgement on, the details of people’s lives, while those people employ other accountants to try to find loopholes and encourage their clients to manage their money in ways that aren’t particularly efficient or desirable in order to avoid means testing (eg Australia, where pensioners are incentivised to put as much of their savings as possible into the best possible house because your primary residence isn’t counted in means testing). And the result is that people who’ve managed their finances effectively and responsibly are penalized while those who’ve pissed it all away get more.
      
      Under a flat rate system such as NZS, nobody will starve, which is as it should be in a civilized society, and those who save more earlier, will see more benefit later, which is as it should be in a fair society
      
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      April 26, 2026 3:26pm
      - Ian Boag
        
        Means testing creates complexity
        
        Rubbish – if you are talking about income testing it’s a breeze – IRD/MSD share data. They use it for abating benefits. Income testing the pension would be just more of the same.
        
        Asset testing is a bit – not a lot – harder. The Australians let you have a house plus $1m give or take a bit. The reason you wouldn’t get too carried away with accountants and stuff is that the amount you “save” is not a lot.
        
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        April 26, 2026 3:45pm
    - Ian Boag
      
      How long do you think a country deep in financial shit can continue down that path?
      
      Forever. We oldies deserve/have earned it. (Mostly) paid tax all our lives. Kids can fund a handout for us so there. Too bad there is no “pension fund” containing our “contributions”.
      
      I find it ironic that Winston – the pension defender – has a salary of about $300k and gets it.
      
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      April 26, 2026 5:22pm
Maggy Wassilieff

How are folks enjoying the revamped Morning Report on RNZ?

I managed about 10 mins before the incessant chatter between the hosts drove me to the off button.
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April 26, 2026 8:31am
- pdm
  
  Not a problem for mrspdm and I Maggy.
  
  Our radio alarm comes to life at 5.55am weekday mornings just in time for Hosking’s lead in with the 5am announcer (Ryan Bridges these days) and we stay on that station until Jamie Mckay finishes the Country at 1pm when the house radio is turned off.
  
  If I can I try to catch a couple of hours of HDPA from 4pm but, that does not always happen for various reasons.
  
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  April 26, 2026 9:03am
  - greybeard
    
    Same for me, pdm.
    The Country is a must-listen, as are Andrew Kelliher & Catherine Field on Hosking’s show. HDPA is generally OK but seems to lose the plot occasionally. Barry Soper is great.
    
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    April 26, 2026 12:27pm
  - Graeme Hall
    
    If you like to start the day with ZB’s Hosking, you get ads, ads, plus ads.
    
    About every 30 mins you get 2 mins of news, 4 mins of “sport” + ads, a Met Service summary +ads, then a couple of cycles of 3-4 mins of Mike + ads. Plus you get to hear about Mike’s personal life (yawn), and how he likes money, billiards, world travel, Formula one, and The “Wahs”.
    
    On the other hand, the correspondents are generally good.
    
    RNZ with Jawn Campbell coupled with random bursts of Manglish is tortuous, so that leaves a music station or a podcast.
    
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    April 26, 2026 6:10pm
- Burtland
  
  employing campbell has probably burnt-off the rest of their older audience – even ANZAC day has been maorified
  
  campbell appears to have been on a 4 month tax payer funded holiday
  
  Jim Mora cant be too long for the bin
  
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  April 26, 2026 11:05am
- NeverMindTheBollocks
  
  I’ll have another go at replying … Ingrid Hipkiss’s inane comments annoy me. I want her to tell me the news, and ask questions that are neither loaded nor politically biased. Her off-the-cuff comments add no value, although to be fair, it’s by these that you know her. For example, she blithely stated one day that she had never been on the Cook Strait ferry. How can a New Zealander, whose role is to understand the country and reflect it back to itself, have not imbibed this quintessential experience?
  
  John Campbell’s manner, to me, comes across as unctuous. I think it’s intended to come across as empathetic, but it feels insincere. And, I have not forgotten his interviews with people living in cars and under bridges in the lead up to the 2017 election, that completely ceased once Jacinda became PM.
  
  There’s also the portentous / pretentious message about RNZ being the news you can trust. Has no one told them that if you have to say it, you ain’t got it?
  
  So, no, not a fan of the state-owned broadcaster that is part funded by me.
  
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  April 26, 2026 11:14am
Scott

Labour in the UK, having been great supporters of mass immigration, including mass illegal immigration, may be starting to have second thoughts:

https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-15764947/Labour-Birmingham-heartlands-Starmer-faces-wipeout-local-elections.html

They are losing seats in their heartland in places like Birmingham. And it’s not because voters have gone to the Tories or even Reform. They have gone to independents who are pro Gaza.
Some areas are now over 80% Muslim and those people are voting pro Gaza.

This is important for us as well. We have brought in over a 20 year period about a million people from Asia. Who can predict how they will vote and what issues will motivate them?

I would like to see us stop mass immigration. The odd doctor or engineer is fine. But where Britain goes we often follow. Do we really want to change our electorate beyond all recognition?
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April 26, 2026 8:32am
- Gussy
  
  We need more than the odd doctor or engineer, Scott.
  Without our friends from the Philippines, NZ hospitals and construction sites would grind to a halt (visit either and tell me it isn’t so).
  
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  April 26, 2026 11:59am
  - Fender
    
    Places like dubai need and use construction workers too, many times more
    They provide temporary work and housing and then they return , they don’t get to stay and bote etc
    
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    April 26, 2026 12:26pm
  - Scott
    
    Gussy, while I agree with you about Filipinos why is this so? Why are the hospitals so busy? Could it be the over 1 million people we have imported in 20 years?
    Like if our population was still around 3.8 million would that be so bad? Maybe mass immigration is the cause of many of our troubles? Maybe we need more doctors and nurses because we have imported more people?
    
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    April 26, 2026 12:27pm
    - Gussy
      
      I guess you’re right Scott – immigration begats immigration, but we’re not sufficiently replacing ourselves anymore. And it’s great for GDP, apparently.
      
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      April 26, 2026 2:55pm
    - greybeard
      
      Too fat. Too drugged. Too boozed. That is why they clog up our hospitals.
      
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      April 26, 2026 5:18pm
- ISeeRed
  
  Stopping is only the first step. Remigration of the undesirables is the second. Mass remigration.
  
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  April 26, 2026 5:38pm
Cassandra

There’s a very good interview report on POLITICO with HR McMaster, to the effect that:
1. Hormuz is as much Europe’s war as America’s.
2. Don’t be put off by Trump’s language
3. The war has been going on for 47 years and has been facilitated by the weakness of successive American and European governments.
4. It’s got to be fought now, before it’s too late.
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April 26, 2026 8:33am
- KH
  
  No Cassandra. If the USA and Europe had just left the Persians and Arabs alone for the last few centuries there would be no war.
  To keep repeating the same mistakes is nuts.
  
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  April 26, 2026 8:49am
  - Cassandra
    
    A bit late for that. You do reap what you sow but we’re stuck with what we’ve got, not what it should have been.
    
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    April 26, 2026 9:39am
    - KH
      
      Keep up the same thing Cassandra.
      The only time you can start is from now. It would soon settle down if the yanks just up and went home.
      
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      April 26, 2026 9:46am
      - Cassandra
        
        Nonsense. The Iranians and some Arabs are determined to destroy Israel. If they all simply recognise Israel’s right to exist in peace then it will indeed settle down. Let’s start there.
        
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        April 26, 2026 11:52am
  - David George
    
    It’s 14 centuries since Mohammed demanded the conquest of the world in the name of Allah – that’s well before the USA even existed and Europe was deeply divided and poorer than China.
    The brutal Islamic wars of conquest of Persia, Egypt, the Levant, West Asia, southern and Eastern Europe, North Africa, India, Iraq and so on don’t count?
    
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    April 26, 2026 9:52am
    - In Vino Veritas
      
      Don’t be daft David. When it comes to Muslim Arabs, you are only allowed to go back in time to when it suits their sycophants.. Everything they did before then is fine, now they are terribly oppressed. Bit like Maori history only started in 1840.
      
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      April 26, 2026 10:18am
    - Taieri
      
      It’s 14 centuries since Mohammed demanded the conquest of the world in the name of Allah
      ———–
      
      “We have heard that half a million [Iraqi] children have died. I mean, that is more children than died in Hiroshima,” Stahl said. “And, you know, is the price worth it?”
      “I think that is a very hard choice,” Albright answered, “but the price, we think, the price is worth it.”
      
      After all:
      “We are the indispensable nation. We stand tall and we see further than other countries into the future, and we see the danger here to all of us.”
      
      And Iraq is still fucked up.
      
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      April 26, 2026 10:20am
  - Paul
    
    Astonishing historical ignorance:
    (1) Muslim conquest of Spain and parts of France from 711, finally driven out in 1492.
    (2) Muslim conquest of eastern Europe, getting to Vienna in 1683, gradually driven back until 1922.
    Yes, Europe conquered parts of the Muslim world during the crusades (1095-1291), and under rising Western/decaying Muslim power from the late 18th century. But the idea that there would be no war if the West had just left the Muslim world alone is absurd.
    
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    April 26, 2026 10:50am
    - kowtow
      
      ‘Europe conquered parts of the Muslim world during the crusades’
      
      Actually recovering Christian lands.
      
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      April 26, 2026 11:09am
    - In Vino Veritas
      
      After the Muslims were defeated at Granada in 1492, they, and Jews were given a choice, convert to Catholic or leave. To sort out the Muslims, the Spanish stating eating pretty much only pork (and if you shop in a supermarket in Spain today, most of the meat is still pork). Many Jews fled to North Africa, with a good few paying, then being taken out to sea and dumped overboard. There are only 3 medieval synagogues left in Spain. Spain only repealed the 1492 Alhambra Decree (re expulsion of Jews) in 1968.
      
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      April 26, 2026 12:09pm
  - NeverMindTheBollocks
    
    It’s commonly forgotten that Turkey, the Levant and Palestine were all Christian for 400+ years, until the Islamists invaded and conquered the place.
    
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    April 26, 2026 11:17am
    - Taieri
      
      Turkey, the Levant and Palestine were all Christian for 400+ years, until the Islamists invaded and conquered the place
      ————-
      
      Actually, the Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire, which initially covered the areas that you mention, endured until 1453, which is much longer than 400+ years. By then it was of course just a fraction of its former glory. The Ottoman Turks were not so much interested in the spread of Islam as in pure conquest for material and political gains. The Eastern Orthodox Church retained its autonomy (and its lands) in exchange for supporting the new rulers. The Ottomans were very pragmatic, with many non-Muslims even achieving relatively high positions provided they remained loyal and paid their taxes.
      
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      April 26, 2026 4:59pm
  - Michael Sommerville
    
    If you followed the philosophy of the Clerics in Iran, you would know that they want their version of Islam to rule the world.
    
    Therefore, if they were “just left alone” they would find their task so much easier to complete.
    
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    April 26, 2026 11:27am
  - Flossie
    
    “If” and “should have” are beside the point now. We have to deal with the situation as it actually is.
    
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    April 26, 2026 12:19pm
  - mandk
    
    Problem is that the Moslems haven’t left the Iranians and Arabs alone.
    
    They have been Islamified and war-like.
    
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    April 26, 2026 1:45pm
- septic skeptic
  
  If all that were true (IF) then surely the US would have to do a ground invasion and actually win the war. Bombing alone really doesn’t solve anything. Of course deep down you all know it’s not true and Trump is a corrupt idiot way out of his depth. Surrounded by yes men.
  
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  April 26, 2026 8:52am
- Simon
  
  Nutjob Israeli govt turning on Turkey and puppets in EU following. Once Israel gets rid of the wanted war criminal leading it things can get better.
  
  Iran has the backing of China / Russia. Mad dog Israeli govt needs to go. That is the real regime change.
  
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  April 26, 2026 9:02am
  - David George
    
    The war is on hold as Iran’s economy further collapses, its oil storage chocka, its unpaid troops deserting and the leadership in disarray.
    They’re screwed.
    Nobel peace prize to Bibi and Trump.
    https://youtu.be/Kvl4F9RLdJ8
    
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    April 26, 2026 10:01am
    - All_on_Red
      
      Meanwhile other supply channels are opening up
      ‘A record armada of crude oil tankers is steaming toward the U.S. Gulf Coast in April 2026. Maritime intelligence from Windward shows roughly 171 crude tankers en route—well above the typical monthly average of about 110. Market data firm Kpler reports that 28 Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs), each capable of hauling up to 2 million barrels, have already been fixed for May loadings alone, compared with a normal monthly average of just five.’
      https://energynewsbeat.com/crude-oil/tanker-fleet-knocking-at-the-gulf-of-america-but-what-are-they-buying-and-for-whom-tanker-fleet-knocking-at-the-gulf-of-america-but-what-are-they-buying-and-for-whom/
      
      And the Sauds have increased pumping Oil to the Red Sea
      ‘According to Saudi Aramco, the world’s largest oil exporter, “in the next couple of days,” it would be shipping about seven million barrels of oil per day through 750 miles of pipelines to a terminal on the Red Sea, which would bypass the Strait of Hormuz entirely. Before the Iran conflict and the effective closure of the strait, the pipeline system carried about 2.8 million barrels a day. Because oil tankers need to be repositioned to the West Coast for loading, it is taking time to reach full capacity.’
      https://www.instituteforenergyresearch.org/fossil-fuels/gas-and-oil/saudi-arabia-moves-to-fill-its-east-west-pipeline-to-capacity-adding-oil-supply-to-markets/
      Be nice if some of all of this is heading to Singapore.
      
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      April 26, 2026 10:19am
      - Taieri
        
        Market data firm Kpler reports that 28 Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs), each capable of hauling up to 2 million barrels, have already been fixed for May loadings alone, compared with a normal monthly average of just five.’
        ————-
        
        Currently, the Luisiana Offshore Oil Port is the only Gulf port with the capacity to handle fully laden VLCC vessels. All other ports are not deep enough and require ship to ship transfers offshore. Louisiana Offshore Oil Port can handle 3 VLCC’s at any given time. Originally, it was designed as primarily an offloading facility, but can also load. Depending on the loading rate it can take up to 48 hours to fully load a VLCC vessel.
        
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        April 26, 2026 10:35am
      - Taieri
        
        Details of Gulf of Mexico crude export terminals:
        https://view.argusmedia.com/rs/584-BUW-606/images/CRU-guide-Argus_Media_Gulf_Coast_Ports_Guide.pdf
        
        Plenty of storage, but shipping capacity in most of these ports is generally limited to vessels up to Suezmax size.
        
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        April 26, 2026 10:44am
    - Taieri
      
      The war is on hold as Iran’s economy further collapses
      ———–
      
      So far it is holding, at least according to this:
      
      https://michaeldsellers.substack.com/p/iranian-oil-revenue-is-up-40-since
      
      This bloke doesn’t appear to be one of Trump’s great fans, but his analysis is still worth reading.
      
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      April 26, 2026 10:57am
      - All_on_Red
        
        If you cant ship it then you cant sell it
        Which is the point of the Blockade.
        Which is holding.
        https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/us-forces-detain-iran-linked-tanker-tifani-with-ceasefire-talks-on-edge/ar-AA21pa9F
        https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/dramatic-moment-marines-board-iranian-37040220.amp
        https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/us-intercepts-three-iranian-oil-tankers-asian-waters-sources-say-2026-04-22/
        
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        April 26, 2026 12:17pm
  - Jethrod
    
    Oh , who are the 5 agreeing with you, perhaps they’ve changed camps?
    
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    April 26, 2026 11:24am
  - BananaLlama
    
    Plenty of nutters here as well Simon that think Iran will be the only gulf producer forced to cap wells.
    
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    April 26, 2026 12:36pm
- Ra Henare
  
  Lats night I watched a movie (on netflix) about Iraq and the Oil for Food program. Starred Ben Kingsley. Backstabbing for beginners. Recommend it!!
  Based on fact.
  
  Note: I was via VPN in Dubai, as had been researching Middle East. Netflix gives a different menu of videos depending on where you are.
  
  It was like watching a rehash of the current Iran conflict. The leading up to(ie years of US involvement , mass destruction and attempt to rehabilitate. 10 billion a year!!!
  
  Needless to say massive corruption and manipulation, no humanity and of course Israel’s hand in the whole event. ie screaming about weapons of mass destruction as a cover for their true intent.
  
  Is Iraq any better off, is the middle east better off.
  
  I suspect the same scenario will play out here.
  
  US Generals are not known for their Geo Political nonce. IMHO.
  
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  April 26, 2026 2:27pm
NeverMindTheBollocks

Merton College Library in Oxford is celebrating its 750th birthday. For context, that’s about as long as Maori settlers have been in NZ.

http://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20260423-the-enchanting-story-of-oxfords-medieval-library
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April 26, 2026 8:34am
- greybeard
  
  Great article, thanks.
  
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  April 26, 2026 9:36am
KH

Great photo story (CNN) from Iran. Shows humans in a war.
https://edition.cnn.com/2026/04/25/middleeast/iran-war-portraits
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April 26, 2026 8:46am
- NeverMindTheBollocks
  
  These are the real victims, of both the Mad Mullahs and the US & Israel.
  
  The Iranians I know are wonderful people, educated, hard-working and charming.
  
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  April 26, 2026 9:28am
  - CJames
    
    The Iranians I know hate the current regime in the country. They still have family there so they get regular updates. And they are very pro-Israeli/ USA. Look at the actual Iranian rallies in places like UK not the nutjob white progressive ones. That support is a fact that few media report.
    
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    April 26, 2026 9:49am
    - Taieri
      
      The Iranians I know
      ——–
      
      And how many Iranians do you know? All 92 million of them?
      I know only two. They don’t live there any more and one is married to my partner’s cousin. Before the current war they used to visit Iran every year. They are not particularly religious, don’t say much about the regime and just take it as one of the facts of life. But they are definitely not pro-Israel and don’t seem to think that Iran’s problems can be solved by external agents.
      
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      April 26, 2026 10:12am
      - NeverMindTheBollocks
        
        I know several. They are not religious, visit family when they can, and loathe the Mullahs and the regime. But like many of us, they are in two minds about the war, and worry about their loved ones being bombed.
        
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        April 26, 2026 10:57am
  - Paulus
    
    Persia was until the Mullahs took over and can be again if they are not killed by their so called vicious army of Moslem supporters their Iranian Martyrs.
    
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    April 26, 2026 2:52pm
Paulus

We watched TVNZ 6pm News last evening and thought back that this is the Fifty Fith ANZAC day where we have participated at our local seriously moving service.
What came to us is how thanks to TVNZ we see the Country divided even more than ever with almost everything being heavily Maori interspersed, whether from different parts of New Zealand, London or Le Quesnoy as examples, whereby we see stomping painted Maori exerting their role in the current advent of ANZAC Day, as some 16% of the current population.
Of course some participated but why heavily highlight and promote their current Maori revolution and rebellion thanks to TVNZ.
ANZAC Day was for all New Zealand as one Nation, but by appearances no more.
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April 26, 2026 9:29am
- pdm
  
  Will New Zealand ever come to this – post by my colleague Tom Hunter at No Minister.
  
  https://nominister.wordpress.com/2026/04/25/the-sand-in-our-mouths-the-land-in-our-eyes/
  
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  April 26, 2026 9:46am
- Cassandra
  
  Maori participation in WW1 was modest. Some tribes refused entirely. More went to WW2 and subsequently. Almost all you read about WW2 is the Maori Battalion which was but one of 10 or more battalions let alone all the rest of the Army. In Vietnam I think about 30% of all veterans were Maori.
  
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  April 26, 2026 9:50am
  - Maggy Wassilieff
    
    Some tribes refused entirely.
    
    Mainly Waikato-Tainui and others affiliated to the Maori King movement (Kingitanga)
    
    https://nzhistory.govt.nz/war/first-world-war/conscientious-objection/maori-objection
    
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    April 26, 2026 11:09am
    - NeverMindTheBollocks
      
      To be fair, you can understand why. 1914 was only 50-odd years since the Land Wars and confiscations – well within living memory.
      
      It wasn’t just Maoris in NZ either. There was a real reluctance among the Southern Irish to volunteer for WW1.
      
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      April 26, 2026 11:23am
      - kowtow
        
        ‘There was a real reluctance among the Southern Irish to volunteer for WW1’
        
        That is a dreadful and untrue smear .
        
        The Irish , nationalist and unionist joined the colours in huge numbers , as volunteers.( conscription was never applied to ireland)
        
        That was in addition to the approx 20,ooo already serving in the regular army and ( AI) ‘Including reservists and other personnel called up immediately, the total number of Irish soldiers in the British Army at the outbreak of war was around 50,000 to 58,000’
        
        They were subsequently joined by three new ‘Irish’ divisions . 10th , served at Gallipoli. 16th and 36th .The latter two fought side by side at Messines.
        
        Again AI
        ” Over the course of the entire war (1914–1918), it is estimated that around 200,000 to 210,000 Irishmen served in the British forces. ”
        
        Lest we forget.
        
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        April 26, 2026 12:44pm
  - KH
    
    My uncle who was there said the Maori unit was only any good when winning. And in the quiet time in Trieste in 1945 they were not allowed in town as they could not behave.
    
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    April 26, 2026 12:51pm
  - Nūhaka Native
    
    A little over 2000 Māori served in WW1. About 100,000 New Zealanders (so 1 in 10 of the NZ population at the time).
    
    As it happens, my wife’s great uncle (Māori) was killed at Gallipoli.
    
    Her grandfather (Māori) served in WW2 (North Africa and Italy). NZ Regular army, not the Māori Battalion.
    
    My Great uncles (Māori), one served in the Pacific, the other in North Africa and Italy, one in the NZ regular army, the other in the NZ Air Force.
    
    My own great-grandfather (Māori) fought with the New Zealand contingent in the Boer War; his father (Māori) fought for the British in the New Zealand wars.
    
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    April 27, 2026 12:51am
- Handyman
  
  On ANZAC morning! RNZ celebrated with a long segment about all those objectors who refused to serve in WW1. Oh how noble they were and how mean they were treated by the families of soldiers getting killed in the war.
  Disgusting.
  
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  April 26, 2026 10:12am
  - Ghost
    
    Here is RNZ Anzac day broadcasts, they had very good coverage. Perhaps people have forgotten what the day is about, looks like a whingefest today
    
    https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/anzacday/20250425
    
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    April 26, 2026 11:37am
- NeverMindTheBollocks
  
  There’s a story on RNZ today about Pacific Islanders going off to war. It’s fine for this to be covered, and the story of the Maori battalion, and the conchies, and nurses.
  
  But, the one glaring omission, despite making up the vast majority of NZ’s contribution, is the paucity of stories about the regular Pakeha NZ forces, their efforts, successes and failures.
  
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  April 26, 2026 11:28am
- Nobby2
  
  Paulus, Well said, you have expressed my concerns as well. I agree completely with all of your perceptions, thoughts and comments which you have expressed better than I could.
  
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  April 26, 2026 12:03pm
- OlderChas
  
  Also watched the news. Saw a speaker named as Dame Helen Winkleman who was described as “Administrator of the Government”. Can anyone tell me just what that is?
  
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  April 26, 2026 2:58pm
  - Maggy Wassilieff
    
    Can anyone tell me just what that is?
    
    The Chief Justice/Acting Governor-General
    
    The G-G was at Gallipoli…so when she’s out of the country the Chief Justice takes on that role..
    
    https://www.dpmc.govt.nz/publications/about-administrator-government
    
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    April 26, 2026 5:51pm
    - OlderChas
      
      Thanks Maggy. I thought she was the Chief Justice but assumed she had retired or whatever they do and taken up some new role as “Administrator of of the Government” and had never heard of that role before. So why not just call her the Acting Governor General?
      
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      April 27, 2026 8:43am
rouppe

Damien Grant has a fairly accurate assessment of the leadership shermozzle hiring National. (Odd url but I think it works)

https://www.stuff.co.nz/politics/360970010/generic-breaking-template

He clearly states the nub of the problem: that the various ministries can’t be trusted. Bishop trusted his in RMA reform, and it shows in bad legislation, late. Erica Stanford didn’t trust hers in education reform and it shows in clear improvements in standards and a reform well on its way.

It reinforced for me a variation of what I’ve been saying for awhile now: National (ministers) haven’t been ruthless enough. And by not being ruthless enough, showing that neither Bishop nor Luxon have what it takes to be pm at this moment in time.
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April 26, 2026 9:45am
- peterwn
  
  Chris Luxon is PM at the moment, those who claim he is ‘not suited’ have no standing to make that claim. He is reading the room OK, it is just that he is not reading the room the way people like. He is not going to try and put the boot into RNZ and TVNZ, since they will open right up on him. He dealt with Tova because she over-stepped the mark and he recognised there would be some but controllable fallout. What Tova forgot to realise is she needs the Prime Minister on her slots more than the PM needs her. Also he had Jacinda’s precedents on his side.
  Again it all comes down to people on the sidelines thinking they know more about tactics and strategy than he does. They think he is not a good politician, but he has demonstrated otherwise. He successfully put together the current coalition without giving too much away and has succeeded in holding it together. He succeeded in getting Labour to swallow a rat and support the FTA with India. He would have sensed that Labour support in the Indian community would take a fall if Labour refused to sign and played that card. He has made a reasonable job of boxing Chris Hipkins in. Chris H and his Labour team are too scared stiff of putting their policies on the table.
  
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  April 26, 2026 12:01pm
  - rouppe
    
    Apart from the India FTA which I agree is a welcome and needed economic boost your rebuttal does not address the core of my comment, which is that ministries are defying their ministers, and those ministers are not being ruthless enough.
    
    Just look at what happened during Ardern’s regime. Those that didn’t toe the line on Te Ao Maori, LGB etc ideology, journalist activism, climate change and more were (ruthlessly) expunged from public service. From Nikola’s job advertisement examples we know it’s still happening.
    
    What has the coalition done about any of that? Next to nothing. Regarding the economy, it was maintained at the same level, leaving us exposed to this next shock. The public service is still at similar levels to those at the last election.
    
    Not enough ruthless activity by ministers in their ministries.
    
    This is my opinion, sure, but my standing is the same as any other: I live in this environment.
    
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    April 26, 2026 12:29pm
    - artemisia
      
      It does depend on whether public servants are now doing different things. Like less back office, comms, morning waiata …. more front line, smarter hiring and resourcing.
      
      There was a recent report for example about Health NZ saving millions by scrubbing old websites. Smart, assuming redeployment of existing resource.
      
      Family member just left a public service role because there was not enough work despite asking for more. They wanted the person to stay.
      
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      April 26, 2026 1:49pm
Ghost

for goodness sake. Oh well, the publicity will give it good sales.

This propaganda rule especially applies to video games where young men are most likely to be exposed. The recent release of the sci-fi action game “Pragmata” has caused a significant stir on social media, triggering the feminist gestapo and enraging them. In response, they have launched a disturbing (and revealing) propaganda campaign to associate the game with “pedophile content”.

Article
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April 26, 2026 9:54am
Jack5

Anonymous ~~sources~~ bullshit ..

Former ACT MP Rodney Hide shoots down political commentators claiming to be quoting “anonymous sources”:

” … anyone in politics or media citing anonymous sources is peddling unreliable speculation. Full stop. Real evidence has names, documents, or on-the-record quotes. Shadowy “impeccable sources” are for political operators wanting the headline without the accountability.”

Hide’s commenting at the Brash and Mitchell blog on radio jock Mike Hosking citing five National MP’s being “leakers” on alleged dissatisfaction with Chris Luxon’s leadership.

Veteran ACT leader Richard Prebble used the attribution “anonymous sources” as part of a technique of “making news” into performance art, says Hide.

However, Prebble did this as a politician. “Journalists and radio hosts citing anonymous sources are doing politics, not news reporting.”

https://www.brashandmitchell.com/post/rodney-hide-hosking-s-impeccable-sources-pure-prebble-theatre-zero-substance
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April 26, 2026 10:30am
- nathie
  
  Sorry O/T – I think I’ve missed something, what has happened to the “Bassett” and “Hide” aspect of the blog’s name?
  
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  April 26, 2026 11:58am
  - Ghost
    
    https://www.brashandmitchell.com/post/bassett-brash-and-hide-announcement
    
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    April 26, 2026 12:19pm
    - nathie
      
      Ta for that 🙂
      
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      April 26, 2026 3:17pm
Jack5

Waltzing Matilda and a Government stuff-up

An Anzac song might be an appropriate link for today. I had to settle for a remotely Anzac song.

I found the Bold Fusilier, an old British song whose melody was adopted for Waltzing Matilda.

The performance is interesting in two ways.

First, it’s artificial-intelligence generated music, “singer” and all.

Second, and unrelated to Waltzing Matilda, it has grown from a failed British internet campaign against extremism — Pathways, a campaign aimed at youth. It was cancelled because of reaction 180-degrees opposite to its goal.

The internet video campaign featured an AI-generated non-binary Charlie character contrasting with an “extremist” girl character, Amelia. She has views the project wants to warn kids away from.

However, Amelia was co-opted by the on-line Right. The campaign was a 180-degree stuff up.

Here’s Amelia singing the original song (recruiting for Marlborough), whose melody was used for Waltzing Matilda:

https://youtu.be/6jEY_5ITGJI?si=rOER96q4ZfT9q2Yt

And here Amelia’s singing on YouTube something that would likely fire up the Far Right, a song said to be based on a Kipling poem:

https://youtu.be/hpqj28pd8KI?si=TOpixiyIseJJOlfr
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April 26, 2026 12:45pm
Ghost

trump speaks after a shooting scare

https://www.stuff.co.nz/world-news/360847326/associated-press-live-feeds
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April 26, 2026 2:41pm
- Ghost
  
  https://www.nytimes.com/live/2026/04/25/us/trump-correspondents-dinner-shooting
  
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  April 26, 2026 2:47pm
- Ghost
  
  California teacher arrested
  
  https://x.com/rawsalerts/status/2048234697474404569?
  
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  April 26, 2026 4:23pm
greybeard

https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/360970635/kids-woke-screaming-familys-villa-and-business-destroyed-freak-wellington-flood
I knew there would be mention of Givealittle here.
But they do have insurance, so why ask for charity ? They can afford trips to Sydney, and a dog.
This is not a good look. But other people should pay for their life, it appears.
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April 26, 2026 6:54pm

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