General Debate 05 June 2026

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CJames

As well as unusual ads running within blogs like this one (I don’t think I will ever buy a McHale haybaler or watch Netshort movies so they don’t seem personalised), has anyone else noted there seems to be some very strange ad placements on podcasts. As an example, on Erick Erickson’s, there are a lot of ads from the Electoral Commission for Maori to choose which electoral roll to be on. Does a very rightwing Christian conservative really have liberal Maori listeners? Don’t they know about Erick’s opposition to race based electorates (majority minority Districts)? Or was this just blind pepperpotting by some ad agency, putting them anywhere to filling a quota?
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June 5, 2026 8:01am
- wsk12345
  
  Yes! I get the maori roll ads on a heap of different podcasts i listen to and which i am 100% certain that precisely zero radical or ignorant young maori listen to (being the only maori that want separatism).
  
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  June 5, 2026 8:20am
- yobi
  
  I think you’ll find these ads are placed there on purpose to remind you that part maori are still the chosen ones no matter your opinion.
  
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  June 5, 2026 8:47am
- BarryB
  
  Agree. The main thing about these ads seems to be that they want to annoy the watcher.
  I suppose the blog operators have to supply what the advertiser wants – ie screen location, difficulty to get past, difficulty to click the ‘close’ etc. Seems to me that blog/website operators are charging low prices and many will accept any sort of stupid condition.
  For me I use a Browser that block all adverts – I was literally driven to it by the annoying ads.
  For you – do a search (yes on google) and it will give you a list of browsers that block adverts – some do it automatically others need extensions or a change of settings.
  By the way – I have no idea McHale baler is – Ive never seen the advert…………
  But one advert that makes me think is the one on TV and Youtube for colon cancer. Whoever it is aimed at must be really, really, really stupid that it takes so many reminders to do something to save your health……………..
  
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  June 5, 2026 8:50am
- Ghost
  
  google uses your digital footprint with the ads you see.
  
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  June 5, 2026 8:55am
  - cmm (semi-retired edition)
    
    Not all ads are served via Google.
    
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    June 5, 2026 9:05am
- lastmanstanding
  
  Some of us recall the 1984 election when Labour avoided campaigning on Rogernomics so as not to frighten the horses.
  Will Labour try the same trick in 2026. Will Barbaranomics look like this?
  1. Family home subject to CGT at the marginal rate with exemption for lower 80% by value. Wont bring in much tax with prices flatlined but threshold wont be raised same as income tax rates so over time more homes will be captured.
  2. Kiwisaver. Same as family home but share trading profits will attract CGT from day one. Deduction of losses not allowed.
  3. Other share and investment portfolios same rules as Kiwisaver.
  4. As already signalled residential rental property and baches captured.
  5. Commercial and industrial properties subject to CGT.
  6. Trust tax rate currently 39% over $10K income raised to 50%.
  7. New income tax rate of 50% for incomes over $250K.
  There are probably others I have missed. Remember the Greens need $80 billion tax to pay for their promises and Labour wont be far behind. I just hope enough of my fellow citizens understand Governments all of them are looking to raid you hip pocket BIG TIME.
  
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  June 5, 2026 9:17am
Cassandra

Armchair strategists throughout academia and the media have criticised Epic Fury, America and Trump.

Condoleezza Rice has a different view; she argues that the war has degraded Iran’s conventional capabilities, decimated its economy, smashed its remaining proxies and brought the Gulf States closer together.

“Iran is far weaker today than it was in February,” Rice writes. “No amount of Iranian propaganda can mask this reality. America’s near-term goals should be to keep it in that weakened state, to strengthen the region’s political realignment, and to make certain that President Trump’s promise that Iran will never possess a nuclear weapon is fulfilled.”

Now, the remaining goals of reopening the Strait of Hormuz and dealing with Iran’s nuclear material may take time, but Rice says “time is on the side of the US and its allies.”

No matter what your views on this are, what is undeniable in my opinion is that Iran is a rogue state and must be prevented from acquiring nuclear weapons.
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June 5, 2026 8:01am
- kowtow
  
  “No amount of Iranian propaganda can mask this reality.”
  Yep despite the best efforts of most of the west’s msm , just as they did when Iran proxy , Hamas, was doing the Mullahs’ bidding.
  
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  June 5, 2026 8:12am
- Ross Bayer
  
  Cassandra,
  Condolezza Rice isn’t she still looking for those WMDs in Iraq, or maybe covering up for CIA torture prisons?
  All the credible sources i have seen suggest IRAN has won the war and has US in a place that is not going to end well for the planet
  
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  June 5, 2026 8:28am
  - David George
    
    “All the credible sources”
    Do tell.
    
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    June 5, 2026 8:37am
    - Ross Bayer
      
      How about
      Professor Jeffrey Sachs
      Col Douglas MacGregor
      ex CIA Analyst Ray MacGovern
      Ex CIA analyst Larry Johnson
      Professor Mearsheimer
      Max Blumenthal
      Col Lawrence Wilkerson
      Pepe Escobar
      Ex Marine Scott Ritter
      now over to you but the view doesnt count neither does Mark Levin
      
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      June 5, 2026 8:53am
  - colina
    
    Sources please
    
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    June 5, 2026 8:37am
  - Rodney Hide
    
    Hi Ross
    
    Good on you.
    
    You remind me of “Comical Ali”. “Baghdad is safe. The battle is still going on. Their infidels are committing suicide by the hundreds on the gates of Baghdad. Don’t believe those liars”. “Authentic sources—many authentic sources”.
    
    Rodney Hide
    
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    June 5, 2026 8:44am
    - Ross Bayer
      
      Rodney,
      Like many current or x politicians your lack of knowledge of world events is scary, see my list of sources above .
      
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      June 5, 2026 8:55am
      - Rodney Hide
        
        Hi Ross,
        
        Let’s not trade sources. Just tell me the metric by which Iran has won the “war”.
        
        Rodney
        
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        June 5, 2026 9:04am
  - Philview
    
    Sources in the Russian military have since said they removed the high tech weaponry out of Iraq. I think it was there but don’t believe there was an imminent threat.
    
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    June 5, 2026 8:54am
    - Ross Bayer
      
      Phil,
      I have a bridge for sale looks like you would be a keen buyer
      
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      June 5, 2026 9:04am
- cmm (semi-retired edition)
  
  I think that the biggest effect is driving a very big wedge between Sunni and Shia Muslims.
  
  While this does, indeed weaken Islam as a bloc, it might also lead to unintended consequences like Sunni vs Shia squabbling becoming more intense through out the world).
  
  Even in Christchurch there are low-ish key hostilities with Shia Muslims celebrating the Mosque attacks. Maybe those will escalate. Time will tell.
  
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  June 5, 2026 9:10am
- Scott
  
  I’m disappointed with the dragged on negotiations and the seemingly inconclusive end to the war. The Ayatollahs and the Generals are still in power. The regime can say they defeated the Great Satan.
  
  Americans haven’t actually won a war since 1945. You can’t negotiate with the Ayatollahs. They don’t want money and prosperity for their country. They want to destroy Israel and preferably the United States as well. They are powered by an apocalyptic religious vision of the most militant version of Islam.
  
  The thing about wars is they only really end with victory. One side must win and one side must lose. And the side that lost must acknowledge they have lost. They must realise they have been defeated. As in 1945.
  
  Otherwise this conflict in Iran is but a way station in an ongoing conflict. Iran will take years but they can rebuild and rearm.
  
  Which will be a shame for the middle East and a shame for the people of Iran, most of whom want to be free. Hopefully one day they will rise up and take back their Persian nation.
  
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  June 5, 2026 9:13am
Scooter

You have to wonder what is going on with sentencing and our judges when a mongrel mob member gets 7 years for killing a guy by stomping on his head. Apparently he can be out in 3.5 years. Another case the guy gets 5 years. Is intimidation involved with judges or are they simply giving up on any sort of punishment and siding with the leftist no sentence no time point of view.

https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/news/nathan-te-hana-sent-to-prison-after-repeatedly-stomping-on-flatmates-head/

https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/360987223/cold-case-killer-jailed-seven-years-fatal-act-thuggery-harmless-man
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June 5, 2026 8:14am
- MCōs
  
  I was on a jury where a bunch of guys were convicted of manslaughter for a killing every bit as violent as that one.
  They got something like two years from memory.
  That was at least forty years ago
  
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  June 5, 2026 9:03am
imalwaysright

The ‘gifting’ of Maori names to Publicaly owned organisations seems to actually be ‘grifting’.

The new Wellington water company is apparently paying $50k (initially) per annum, to lease the name.
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June 5, 2026 8:18am
- pdm
  
  Says a lot about the respect and concern that new Wellington Water outfit (buggered if I know its name) has for the people paying their water bills.
  
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  June 5, 2026 8:46am
  - yobi
    
    I’ve got a name they can have for free:
    Wellington Water
    
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    June 5, 2026 8:50am
Philview

TVNZ News reported on the Henry Nowak’s murder last night. They finished their report saying the killer said he was the victim of a racist attack and acted in self defence. To report this alleged provocation after it has been discredited in court gives the appearance that TVNZ is suffering from the same bias as the British police.
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June 5, 2026 8:49am
MCōs

Stuff could be banned from parliament for publishing the photo shown in this article of a minor cabinet minister taken from a spot where the photographer is entitled to be while the minister is way down a corridor out of bounds to the fourth estate.
There is another photo in the article taken from a similar spot of the PM, Governor General & Speaker himself, which didn’t cause outrage. Indeed there is a security guard by that open door whereas in the offensive photo the doors are held open by cabin hooks.
My guess is Gerry has replaced the door attendant with a cheaper option as directed by Nichola
https://www.stuff.co.nz/politics/360988039/stuff-journalists-could-be-banned-parliament-over-hallway-photo
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June 5, 2026 8:50am
- pdm
  
  MCos I think Louise Upston is a bit more than a `minor Cabinet Minister’ as you imply.
  
  She is ranked at no5 by National, Leader of the House and holds 5 portfolios of which Social Welfare and Tourism are the most prominent.
  
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  June 5, 2026 8:54am
- peterwn
  
  How do you define a ‘minor’ Cabinet Minister and why is that Minister allegedly more insignificant than other Cabinet Ministers? They all get the same pay (apart from the leader and deputy leader).
  
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  June 5, 2026 8:56am
- Nukuleka
  
  Who’s Nichola?
  
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  June 5, 2026 8:57am
  - peterwn
    
    She pops up when Nicola is otherwise engaged.
    
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    June 5, 2026 9:02am
- nova
  
  There was no reason for the second photo to cause outrage, the PM and party were walking towards the camera, to make an announcement on the tiles, and it was very much like a ceremonial procession. I’m not sure if the photo of Louise Upston is that big a deal either, but it is materially different. It is a photo taken of someone not expecting to be photographed, in a private place, and used for the purpose of making them look like they are evading the camera.
  
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  June 5, 2026 9:00am

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