General Debate 18 June 2026

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Cassandra

Minister Shane Jones went to a mining conference. So he should. I’ve attended lots of carefully selected conferences. Some are good, some not so and lots of people attending just treat them as recreation. If Jones got value then this was a good idea.

Cabinet approved a budget of $32,000 which included premium economy flights but omitted any provision for transport while in Canada. He flew business and hired a limo for three days. Total bill $30.000 over budget.

Totally unnecessary ammo for the Opposition.
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June 18, 2026 8:01am
- Im Right
  
  Yup Cassandra, 5 mths out from an election, NZ in a cost of living crisis (as per the left) and Jones totally oblivious to the optics of ‘Having a limo on standby 24/7’ – as per this mornings headlines.
  Foot/bullet/gun with this one, Winnie will be on the defensive.
  
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  June 18, 2026 8:19am
- Nikola Donatello
  
  Can you provide a link?
  
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  June 18, 2026 8:20am
  - Nikola Donatello
    
    I found it. A couple of questions.. It says two people went. Who was the second person?
    
    The hotel bill of more than $13,000 seems astronomical. This is not London or Paris.
    
    Shane Jones may have been affronted by having only premium economy airfares approved. So he just went ahead and booked business fares.
    
    Then the limo.
    
    Yes a terrible look. Sure the conference may have been worthwhile but it is not as demanding as a busy trip with back to back meetings with international governments. The fact that it was a somewhat cushy trip likely explains the approval of premium economy airfares rather than business.
    
    The limo was insane. He could have taken an Uber to the conference venue
    
    I agree that there is a good case for him to be required to repay the excess costs.
    
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    June 18, 2026 8:37am
    - RoboRob
      
      Shane has history around hotel bills. Perhaps it is hard to find a hotel with porn now.
      
      What an idiot. Limos, business class and 13k accommodation…. as G the Giant would say FFS. Once Labour, always Labour.
      
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      June 18, 2026 8:46am
    - pdm
      
      ND – Todd McClay could do between 3 and 5 trips to Canada for that cost.
      
      What is more Todd McClay would have got better results too.
      
      Oceana Gold and Rua Gold people could both have been met in New Zealand.
      
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      June 18, 2026 9:02am
- pdm
  
  Seems to me he should be personally refunding most, if not all, of the extra $30 odd thousand dollars he over spent.
  
  The labour blood still flows through his body.
  
  To sum the extra spending in a word – GRANDSTANDING.
  
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  June 18, 2026 8:26am
NeverMindTheBollocks

I see the Wellington Town Hall is about to reopen, following its estimated $330m rebuild.

One hopes that the ceremony consists of no more than a red ribbon, a pair of scissors and a short speech.

No Maori name appears to have been grifted, which is a small mercy.
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June 18, 2026 8:01am
- Nikola Donatello
  
  No such luck. Wellington Town Hall is now Te Whare Whakarauika.
  
  “Drax Project and friends to ignite grand opening of Te Whare Whakarauika”
  
  https://wellington.govt.nz/news-and-events/news-and-information/our-wellington/2026/06/opening-act-announced-for-town-hall
  
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  June 18, 2026 9:05am
Southern Raider

Cornwall Park posted earlier this week saying they regularly receive questions about why it’s called One Tree Hill when there is no one tree on the hill.

They explained who originally planted some Monterey Pines and that over decades only one tree flourished and the rest died.

They then went on to say that tree was removed for H&S reasons as it was damaged and dying. And that the Iwi had planted several natives and the strongest will be left in place once they grow a bit more.

What major fact did the Trust leave out and that they were getting savaged over in the post comments?

Of course they ended up turning the comments off so the question couldn’t be raised.
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June 18, 2026 8:11am
Gussy

Re the Admiral Grigorovich incident in the English Channel. ..
Yesterday’s post drew well-considered, though mostly antithetical responses. I consider myself better informed.
However, the crew of the yacht have made a statement at odds with the MOD’s.

Russians have a proverb ‘He lies like an eyewitness’. The crew may be lying, or simply mistaken. Or maybe the Russians took the opportunity to swing their dicks.

‘British couple describe moment Russian warship fired warning shots near them | BBC News’:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=63tCF3ZncvE

@4 minutes
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June 18, 2026 8:19am
NeverMindTheBollocks

Shell Lane (The Terrace) bike rack report:

At 8.29am, just the two bikes today.

A cool, calm, dry morning in the Capital, ideal for cycling.

In answer to questions, offhand the bikes that appear are a mixed bunch, from dungas to family cargo bikes. Without paying attention to detail, it looks like there’s one hardy regular, which is gone by evening.

In terms of e-bikes, there are one or two. However, in addition to the locking mechanism, there is the monitoring camera that added to the cost of the bike rack and which presumably deters thieves and miscreants.
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June 18, 2026 8:30am
Gravelroad

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/360994312/turkish-state-broadcaster-drops-veteran-world-cup-commentator
Feel a bit sorry for this Football commentator- from Turkey.
I am not a great follower of football, so when the NZvIran World Cup game started I thought the players in the white strip were the All Whites too.
It was a confusing look. All Whites playing in black.
And the Iranians in white.
Yes, I understand it was their alternate gear, but maybe not black next time?
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June 18, 2026 8:37am

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