About
Contact
Advertise

Facebook
Twitter

July 8, 2026 8:00am by Kokila Patel

General Debate 08 July 2026

Like this:

Like Loading…

Email
Facebook
Twitter
Comment157

Uncategorized
General Debate

Comments (157)

Login to comment or vote

NeverMindTheBollocks

Yesterday’s cycleway argument rumbles on.

The arrogance and pomposity of Wellington Council is unbelievable. “It’s generally agreed that, in most large cities, it is not guaranteed that tradies, residents or anyone else will have convenient parking.”

And “Tait wrote to the council to complain about the lack of disability parking in the area. They responded and said they were within the law.”.

“The law is that you have to have a disabled park per 50 parks, or something…
“And I said ‘yeah, but you took out all the bloody parks, of course you’re within the law because there’s no longer 50 parks on Aro St’ “.

Council say that they consulted extensively. Yeah, right. Sure, they spent plenty of money, made nice little videos, conducted surveys, and then went ahead and did exactly what they were always going to do.

Cyclists claim that they need urban cycleways because they are vulnerable road users. The cycleways themselves mean that the rights of vulnerable people who need easy access parking, such as the elderly, the disabled, mothers with small children etc are overridden.

When able-bodied cyclists have greater rights than the disabled, then the balance is wrong.

http://www.rnz.co.nz/news/community/684515/tradie-charging-up-to-30-percent-more-for-clients-on-streets-with-no-parking

http://www.rnz.co.nz/news/community/682852/woman-forced-to-park-across-bike-lane-so-disabled-husband-can-get-into-home
40 2
Log in to Reply
Report
July 8, 2026 8:01am
- Nūhaka Native
  
  Today, I have just the appropriate observation on hand:
  
  “Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron’s cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end, for they do so with the approval of their own conscience.” C.S. Lewis.
  
  30 2
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  July 8, 2026 10:08am
- imalwaysright
  
  It appears that electric bikes are actually classed as mopeds under the law.
  
  That means the rider needs a driver license.
  They must wear a motorcycle crash helmet.
  The moped must be registered and have a rear number plate.
  They CAN’T use cycle lanes!
  
  https://search.brave.com/search?q=nz+moped+laws&source=android&summary=1&conversation=094b2c95349304524cfb20cdcc11adb652b9
  
  10 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  July 8, 2026 10:14am
  - Taieri
    
    It appears that electric bikes are actually classed as mopeds under the law.
    —————
    
    No. They are power assisted cycles.
    
    “A power assisted cycle has an auxiliary electric motor with a maximum power not exceeding 300W and is designed to be primarily propelled by the muscular energy of the rider.”
    
    https://www.nzta.govt.nz/vehicles/vehicle-types/low-powered-vehicle-requirements
    
    5 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    July 8, 2026 12:25pm
    - imalwaysright
      
      Thanks for that T, but you can see from my link that most electric bikes would also qualify as a moped.
      
      It seems that the recent regulation, specific to bikes and scooters, is designed more as an exemption from moped designation.
      
      3 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      July 8, 2026 2:01pm
      - Taieri
        
        most electric bikes would also qualify as a moped
        ———–
        
        The NZTA definition is pretty clear. And it’s their interpretation that matters.
        
        0 0
        Report
        July 8, 2026 2:45pm
- R
  
  So the cyclists claim that they are vulnerable to other traffic; Perhaps, they could examine their arrogant behaviour whilst riding within the traffic. Anyone would think that they believe the roads are for their use only.
  
  20 2
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  July 8, 2026 10:26am
  - imalwaysright
    
    Looked up cyclist deaths for 2005 (pre cycle lanes).
    10 cyclist deaths
    28 pedestrian deaths.
    
    Seems that pedestrians are at greater risk, so why the cycle lanes…
    
    10 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    July 8, 2026 11:20am
    - R
      
      28 pedestrian deaths, that’s why footpaths are built alongside streets. Cycle lanes only increase the chances of pedestrian deaths, due to the arrogant behaviour of some cyclists.
      
      4 1
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      July 8, 2026 1:02pm
  - Steve Otto N Shore
    
    AND!!! Cyclists do not pay for the bloody roads. Taxpayers do!
    
    10 2
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    July 8, 2026 1:43pm
    - Taieri
      
      Cyclists do not pay for the bloody roads. Taxpayers do!
      ————–
      
      Are cyclists in NZ exempted from paying tax?
      
      1 2
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      July 8, 2026 2:48pm
- Prince
  
  Does Wellington still think it is a ‘large city’ ?
  
  11 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  July 8, 2026 10:28am
  - Steve Otto N Shore
    
    It is larger than Eketahuna
    
    6 2
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    July 8, 2026 1:44pm
    - NeverMindTheBollocks
      
      That’s just cruel!
      
      0 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      July 8, 2026 3:03pm
Cassandra

Canada has increased its defence spending to 2% of GDP and has committed to reaching 5% by 2035.

As part of the increase Canada has chosen a German defence company to build its navy’s new submarine fleet, in the largest military procurement deal in Canadian history, a 12-vessel contract.

Canada’s current submarine fleet is four, of which only one is currently available.

This is a major change for Canada which has, for years, scrimped on defence. Interesting that the first really big acquisition is naval, persuaded by the sea lanes opening to the north.

NZ remains at 1.2%, with a stated intent but no plan, to get to 2% in 5 years.
30 2
Log in to Reply
Report
July 8, 2026 8:01am
- kowtow
  
  Not to mention Carney ditching his once bigly commitment to nutty climate carbon stuff , despite his previously being a bigly acolyte on the world stage.
  
  Easy when you run unelected quangos , different when need to keep power and snout in trough.
  
  14 6
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  July 8, 2026 8:13am
  - imalwaysright
    
    Guns is the new gravy train.
    More fear mongering to relieve us from our wealth.
    
    4 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    July 8, 2026 10:40am
  - David Garrett
    
    Kowtow: I believe you are, like me, a man of mature years? If so, why use stupid made up words like “bigly”? I expect that from my grandchildren, not mature adults.
    
    4 19
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    July 8, 2026 11:22am
    - kowtow
      
      It’s a Trumpism , is simply a bit of fun but seems to work as a trigger for people who have a problem with “the baby in the Oval Office ” or some other such immature and clearly incorrect term that otherwise mature people seem wont to use here.
      
      Goose gander and all that .
      
      15 1
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      July 8, 2026 11:35am
    - Im Right
      
      Sheesh DG, this is Kiwiblog not a court of law, we already have a moderator, are you applying to be the wording and spelling moderator?
      Not everyone has a law degree on here, nor the inclination to have a dictionary on hand when posting.
      
      11 2
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      July 8, 2026 12:02pm
    - Cassandra
      
      It’s a Trumpism, DG. used to make a point and, almost, part of the lexicon these days.
      
      11 3
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      July 8, 2026 12:17pm
      - David Garrett
        
        Cass: Well, it being a “Trumpism” makes sense since much of he says and does doesn’t….but it isn’t and never will be part of my lexicon!
        
        But thanks anyway
        
        8 7
        Report
        July 8, 2026 12:35pm
    - leoj
      
      Visiting and posting here is voluntary.
      
      If uncomfortable, you know what to do.
      
      12 3
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      July 8, 2026 12:23pm
      - kowtow
        
        Quite right and once upon a day it was about “fomenting happy mischief” and not taking oneself so very , very seriously.
        
        13 0
        Report
        July 8, 2026 12:53pm
    - Ra Henare
      
      Why insult other commenters David?
      
      11 1
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      July 8, 2026 1:56pm
- Gulag1917
  
  The reason for the increase is the US which acts like a bully. Alberta independence movement is led by an American and the US are taking advantage of the situation.
  
  3 2
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  July 8, 2026 12:53pm
Benedict Yu

“We’re going to die trying to do something,” Luxon said.”

https://www.stuff.co.nz/politics/361003311/national-labour-and-subscribe-our-new-bill

It will be interesting to see how this plays out.

Is there evidence that there is such harm from social media that the PM should ‘die trying’ to stop young people accessing it?

I can think of many reforms that I would have instead preferred him die trying to implement.

The other thing is that our online world changes so fast as to make regulating access tricky. Will “social media” as we know it now exist in ten years?

I recall the New Zealand government desperately setting up a three strikes regime to combat illegal music and content piracy. Around 2010. Shortly afterwards the problem largely disappeared because of the emergence of so much legal content. For example Spotify killed music piracy.

In summary, I am not convinced that this is a good idea. I am even less convinced that the Government could ever make it work.
41 4
Log in to Reply
Report
July 8, 2026 8:03am
- Michael Johnston
  
  There is enough evidence implicating social media as a factor in youth anxiety and depression to convince me that it is undesirable for children and adolescents to use it. A legal ban is not the answer. A ban would be impossible to enforce and vain attempts to make it enforceable would result in egregious impositions on the privacy of adult users. It would also open the door to internet censorship in the name of protecting young people.
  
  25 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  July 8, 2026 8:13am
  - rouppe
    
    Children are at risk from nangs.
    Children are at risk from glue sniffing.
    Children are at risk from ferals at bus stops.
    Children are at risk from ideological teachers.
    
    Let’s ban all those too.
    
    Obviously an unrealistic suggestion.
    
    17 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    July 8, 2026 11:20am
    - muzled
      
      I dunno, I quite like the idea about banning idealigical teachers…
      
      8 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      July 8, 2026 1:17pm
    - Spoff
      
      The realisation that no-one is free from ideology doesn’t usually dawn until one nears 8 decades of experience, if at all.
      
      2 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      July 8, 2026 2:23pm
- imalwaysright
  
  “I can think of many reforms that I would have instead preferred him die trying to implement.”
  
  Very good, there would be many who would agree.
  
  Luxon is beginning to make more emotive declaratory statements such as his refusal to discuss nuclear power, treaty principles bill, and now this.
  
  Is he trying to appear strong and decisive?
  
  In reality, he is beginning to look more like Ardern every day.
  
  24 7
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  July 8, 2026 8:13am
- Frank the tank
  
  Exhibit 1 – your honor why National are in the 20s.
  
  Is the Prime Minister tone deaf, not intelligent enough to read the tea leaves or too embedded in liberal inner-city wokeness to understand this is a vote-loser?
  
  Great news for Act and NZ First though
  
  32 3
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  July 8, 2026 8:15am
  - RoboRob
    
    I dont know that it is a vote loser BUT it is interesting what the very few things that PM Luxon believes strongly in are.
    
    18 3
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    July 8, 2026 10:04am
    - rouppe
      
      I see you have listed them…
      
      8 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      July 8, 2026 11:21am
      - RoboRob
        
        lol
        
        I went to list them but the only other that came to mind was his opposition to the treaty principles bill. The time he yelled out to some dude on the street, don’t worry we will stop it, its never happening.
        
        9 0
        Report
        July 8, 2026 11:48am
      - leoj
        
        Luxon is good for ACT.
        
        5 0
        Report
        July 8, 2026 12:25pm
      - RoboRob
        
        @leoj
        … and NZF and Hipkins.
        
        Hipkins would have been replaced as Labour leader if Luxon hadn’t been polling so badly. It is highly unusual for a first term PM to be beaten or matched by the opposition leader in preferred PM polling. Especially unusual when the opposition PM himself was voted out of government.
        
        6 2
        Report
        July 8, 2026 1:44pm
    - Gussy
      
      A low-rent version of John Key, sans charisma, sans rhetorical ability.
      NZ needs something more than a competent manager right now.
      Perhaps he’ll do a Kemi, get his dander up, and start fighting.
      By Christ, there’s plenty of material.
      
      8 2
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      July 8, 2026 12:16pm
    - Steve Otto N Shore
      
      Luxon is looking at the ‘out’ door.
      No? Have a closer look, he is trying to exit gracefully.
      
      5 2
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      July 8, 2026 1:53pm
- Dougal10
  
  This is what concerns those who have crawled there way to the top of the national party . The whole broad church attitude sometimes gives you small minded 3 issue leadership, it used to be a lot worse but apart from the 2020 anomaly, coalition partners create more balance.
  
  12 3
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  July 8, 2026 8:15am
- pdm
  
  `I can think of many reforms that I would have instead preferred him die trying to implement.’
  
  Me too BY.
  
  The system for replacing 3/5/10/All/Mahuta Waters is one. Everything I have seen so far suggests the outcomes are going to result in big, big, rates increases by another name.
  
  Co Governance of Councils and Government Departments by stealth is another.
  
  And those two are just for a warm up.
  
  38 4
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  July 8, 2026 8:21am
  - mike
    
    Two points:
    1. One would hope that the government could deal with more than on issue at a time.
    2. Just because you don’t care about harm caused by unregulated social media doesn’t make it trivial.
    
    9 35
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    July 8, 2026 8:33am
    - gravedodger
      
      Did putting Hustler and Playboy in Plastic wrappers at news stands stop teenagers reading them, I don’t think so. Who does one turn to to fix internet and appliance hitches, the neighbours teenagers of course.
      
      28 4
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      July 8, 2026 8:42am
      - peterwn
        
        That was to stop people reading them at the news stand and then not buying a copy. National Business Review did the same when it had a print edition.
        
        12 0
        Report
        July 8, 2026 10:02am
      - rouppe
        
        A friend has said that certain graphics calculators are now banned in exams because kids have figured out how to put AI clients on them…
        
        7 0
        Report
        July 8, 2026 11:23am
    - Benedict Yu
      
      You actually drew that conclusion from reading my comment?
      
      14 4
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      July 8, 2026 8:52am
      - mike
        
        Yes
        
        I can think of many reforms that I would have instead preferred
        
        4 13
        Report
        July 8, 2026 9:17am
      - Jethrod
        
        Always points and preferred items, never solutions.
        
        8 0
        Report
        July 8, 2026 9:52am
    - nova
      
      “Unregulated” is not quite true. There are lots of existing laws such as Harmful Digital Communications Act. However it is not clear how effective that have been, and there are cases of lawfare where a “victim” uses it to set the state on someone they don’t like. The social media ban doesn’t seem to have been that effective in Australia, what makes us think we can do better? There is no doubt that social media can be harmful, but so can eating too many lollies. And why stop the ban at social media, why not the entire internet. Should we ban under 16’s from libraries? The real problem with the ban is it is virtually impossible to enforce. For it to work the entire planet has to move to a digital ID and allow the state to track everything we do online.
      
      10 3
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      July 8, 2026 8:57am
- KKNZ2025
  
  Australia can’t make it work
  https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/world/684189/australia-s-teen-social-media-ban-fails-to-clear-first-hurdle-in-age-checks-study
  
  14 2
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  July 8, 2026 8:42am
  - David Garrett
    
    KK: Even with my limited understanding of the digital/internet world, I could not see how the Aussies could possibly make a ban on underage users work.
    
    13 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    July 8, 2026 11:28am
    - Frank the tank
      
      Reminds me of an approach to a certain virus…….
      
      0 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      July 8, 2026 3:57pm
- Nūhaka Native
  
  Parents could just actually be parents and prevent their kids from using social media. It is easy to buy and install proxy software on phones and laptops/PCs that enables you to stop kids from accessing websites, set online time limits and prevent the installation of software. That’s what any business or government department does at any workplace. It won’t stop other kids from showing your kids images or websites, but my kids don’t use social media, and they don’t seem to miss it.
  
  12 3
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  July 8, 2026 10:19am
  - Ghost
    
    The last thing you want to put on your child’s devices is proxy software if you want to limit their use….
    
    Putting parental filtering on their devices will do jack shit as well, so easy to bypass a child could do it
    
    3 8
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    July 8, 2026 11:13am
    - Nūhaka Native
      
      So are you bypassing your work computer/network security or proxy? Please do educate us. No parental control software is completely impossible to bypass, especially for tech savvy teenagers. But using device controls, administrator passwords, and some network filtering makes it far harder. Just as important, though, is talking with your kids about why the limits are there. By putting them on in the first place, you have that conversation.
      
      10 1
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      July 8, 2026 11:32am
- Phronesis
  
  The most visible form of harm from social media would have to be the trans epidemic. Trans kids are largely a product of social media. Their massive increase in numbers perfectly matches the rise of social media.
  
  The right should campaign for the ban on this basis, which will force the left to vote against it.
  
  Of course it’s not actually about the kids, it’s about controlling the online world.
  
  12 2
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  July 8, 2026 10:36am
  - artemisia
    
    Couple of trans in the extended family. One has ‘lived’ mainly online for several years, says almost nothing about it. Significant mental health issues.
    
    11 2
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    July 8, 2026 12:54pm
- keepcalmcarryon
  
  Luxon again is showing himself exactly the same as the Starmers, Albos and Hipkins of the world , he’s in lock step with Labour and fighting hard for his wet liberal censorship but not the more important stuff.
  Cheers Luxo I’ve got kids too, social media is a problem for kids but censorship by governments is not the answer.
  Thanks for letting us know another reason to not vote National, didn’t need one to be honest but there we are. Why not team up with Labour, you are exactly the same after all.
  
  14 5
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  July 8, 2026 10:46am
- Ra Henare
  
  I have also started to read Stuff since the change of editor.
  
  I read both Stuff & Herald websites (front pages) each day.
  
  It seems to me that Stuff has better general news coverage, and The Herald exists on Gossip type articles with a couple of small international news items..
  
  4 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  July 8, 2026 2:03pm
Pope Punctilious II

Ani O’Brien loses the plot. Trading on her fame for something as personal as fertility treatment is on the nose.
https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/help-us-start-our-family-ani
3 14
Log in to Reply
Report
July 8, 2026 8:17am
- rouppe
  
  I did a quick search regarding lesbians and family planning.
  
  Lesbians don’t need expensive ivf treatment unless both parties have fertility problems.
  
  Certainly it has a better hit rate, but it’s not required.
  
  Since I don’t know their personal situation, I don’t know what the underlying conditions are, but my uncertainty prevents a donation
  
  6 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  July 8, 2026 11:28am
Pope Punctilious II

Does anyone know how much this film cost taxpayers? The credits say it was supported by RNZ and TVNZ. I know a few stars and constellations, including the Pleiades – can I have a free trip to Antarctica too? But perhaps worse than the expense is this promulgation of nonsense about Maori voyaging to the Antarctic. Prelude to a treaty claim?
https://docedge.nz/events/ranginui-call-of-the-ice/
25 2
Log in to Reply
Report
July 8, 2026 8:26am
- imalwaysright
  
  Its odd that they would go to Antarctica, but not Australia.
  
  Wouldn’t it be more instinctual to follow their sun god?
  
  8 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  July 8, 2026 10:45am
- Nūhaka Native
  
  ‘Never let the truth get in the way of a good story’
  
  Debunked by Māori scholars here:
  
  On the improbability of pre-European Polynesian voyages to Antarctica: a response to Priscilla Wehi and colleagues.
  September 2021 Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand 52(5):1-7
  DOI:10.1080/03036758.2021.1973517
  Authors:
  Atholl Anderson
  Australian National University
  Sir Tipene O’Regan
  Puamiria Parata-Goodall
  Michael Stevens
  
  Abstract:
  
  “It is argued that a key assertion referring to frozen seas has a different and more probable interpretation and that there are no compelling traditions of Antarctic voyaging. In addition, Polynesian voyaging through the circumpolar westerlies would have little chance of success, and archaeological evidence of Polynesian voyaging does not extend south of about 50° South. It is concluded that Antarctic voyaging by pre-European Polynesians seems most unlikely.”
  
  https://www.researchgate.net/publication/354548967_On_the_improbability_of_pre-European_Polynesian_voyages_to_Antarctica_a_response_to_Priscilla_Wehi_and_colleagues
  
  11 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  July 8, 2026 10:54am
- Maggy Wassilieff
  
  can I have a free trip to Antarctica too?
  
  Ah… but do you have a Great great grandfather who wrote down all his star knowledge in a 400-page book that is now tapu and can’t be seen and translated by anyone but you?
  
  I was given strict instructions by my grandfather about how I was to care for the knowledge. He spoke about it as if it were a living being with a life force of its own. He told me not to worry about the tapu attached to the book as he would protect me from this. What he was most insistent about was that I did not share the manuscript with anyone else. His eyes narrowed when he looked at me and said, “This book was written by the hands of your ancestors. They were tohunga and they were tapu. Do not give this book to anyone, do not share it with anyone. This is for you alone.”
  
  https://newsroom.co.nz/2021/02/23/the-lost-scrolls-of-matariki/
  
  18 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  July 8, 2026 11:40am
  - Nukuleka
    
    There are lies and then there’s just bs.
    
    21 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    July 8, 2026 11:55am
  - Master Mariner
    
    Be interesting to know what Route the Great Navigating Guru used. Maybe it was the smoke from the South Island when set ablaze that ended up in sediments at the tip of Western Antarctica ( South of Patagonia).
    Regardless it was not a Straight Line due to Wind , currents and Swell.
    The simple truth would be that they would had to Circumpolar Antarctica to arrive back in NZ. Now that would make Shackleton a mere trainee.
    Don’t get me going about Out riggers either, As they would of lasted 5 mins.
    Does not any one question the sheer stupidity of this suggestion ?
    
    6 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    July 8, 2026 2:09pm
- Inandout
  
  Commonly known as Lost Scrolls of Tapu. Never breathe a word of what is written (white man invention) just use the paperwork to your advantage. What absolute crap.
  
  13 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  July 8, 2026 12:43pm
  - Paulus
    
    And they did invent Paper ! – I though the Chinese did that but they are large part Chinese from Taiwan as accepted.
    
    4 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    July 8, 2026 2:40pm
    - Maggy Wassilieff
      
      they are large part Chinese from Taiwan as accepted.
      
      Not so….
      
      The ancestral group of people on Taiwan that gave rise to Polynesians are of Austronesian origins….
      
      not the same lot of folks who gave rise to Han Chinese on Mainland China (and who only began to arrive in Taiwan in the 13th Century).
      
      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austronesian_peoples
      
      5 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      July 8, 2026 4:50pm
  - OlderChas
    
    What are they written on? When did Maori discover that things could be written down? What language are they written in? What were they written with?
    I give in.
    
    0 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    July 9, 2026 10:15am
imalwaysright

The ‘Maori visited Antarctica’ professor and the doco producer were just on tv1.

They were saying it was so cold that they could only stay outside for 10 minutes at a time.

They really are thick.
38 1
Log in to Reply
Report
July 8, 2026 8:37am
- peterwn
  
  Don’t remember Kim Hill or David Farrar complaining about the cold when they were down there.
  
  12 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  July 8, 2026 9:59am
- nova
  
  Maybe if it wasn’t for colonialism they would have been able to stay out in the cold for much longer???
  
  24 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  July 8, 2026 10:09am
  - Quail
    
    Beyond any reason, obviously utter rubbish yet our Governments take notice and impose their views on all NewZealanders
    Really clearly demonstrates the quality of leadership in New Zealand today!!
    
    2 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    July 8, 2026 3:28pm
- Master Mariner
  
  Interestingly enough the Indigenous People of Patagonia have different Genes to combat the cold.
  Tierra Del Fuego, Translates as the Land of Fire.
  Obviously because its so bloody cold.
  Did the great sailing Navigator carry a fire on his great feat of exploration expedition?
  Where did he make Landfill ? Ross Ice shelf and track hundred of Km to get to the Continent ?
  
  3 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  July 8, 2026 2:15pm
artemisia

Workers claim BNZ boss threatened to cut annual leave over office return Herald today, not paywalled.

Allegedly, anyway.

An ex-employee described BNZ as a “toxic” workplace …. “They have become a terrible organisation to work for. In the end, I was actually glad to be redundant, as at least I got a payout and could leave that toxic place.”

Discussions on restructures and any associated redundancies happen behind closed doors. I’ve been at several. “Toxic” or poorly performing employees are well known.
21 2
Log in to Reply
Report
July 8, 2026 8:44am
- Cassandra
  
  Seems to me that BNZ staff have very good conditions. If I worked there I’d want to be in the office.
  
  16 2
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  July 8, 2026 9:01am
  - MCōs
    
    The article doesn’t have the complete picture.
    While the benefits outlined seem to be generous they are part of the overall package.
    
    5 4
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    July 8, 2026 9:25am
    - Cassandra
      
      Well, in that case it seems to me that BNZ staff have a very good overall package. Which includes some really good conditions such as six weeks leave. I got five weeks in the Army but that was compensation for very long hours at times.
      
      14 1
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      July 8, 2026 9:53am
  - greybeard
    
    All the negative comments seem to come from union people. Possibly prompted by union reps, for the media. I would say the benefits as stated are very generous.
    
    20 2
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    July 8, 2026 9:50am
- Reg Perrin
  
  Step son started there as a Grad and seems really happy. 6 Weeks leave is pretty good. In work places there are always people that have been there too long.
  Sometimes you need to recognise that its you, that has been at a place and its time to move on
  
  20 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  July 8, 2026 9:21am
- NeverMindTheBollocks
  
  Employers should have the right to set the basic terms and conditions of employment, including whether and when employees have to turn up to the office.
  
  Now, some terms could be onerous, such as being arbitrarily told to move to an out of town office. However, there are employment laws covering that sort of thing.
  
  My view is that if you don’t like new terms of employment then shake the dust off your sandals and go & find a better job.
  
  19 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  July 8, 2026 9:22am
imalwaysright

“National has said it wants to initiate seven more trade deals, if re-elected.”

Why don’t they do it now?

Why don’t MFAT email the relevant counterparts in each of the seven countries and shout them a trip to NZ to discuss trade?

Why does this have to be an election promise, this is the Governments actual job.
10 3
Log in to Reply
Report
July 8, 2026 9:11am
- RoboRob
  
  National are flagging their success in getting an Indian FTA in only three years, which many thought impossible. They are flagging that if re elected they will continue to work hard on FTAs for NZ. Good on them and a smart move to reinforce that.
  
  12 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  July 8, 2026 10:10am
  - imalwaysright
    
    They have about 1800 staff at the Ministry, my point is why can’t they target multiple markets at the same time?
    They should be looking for, and exploiting, such opportunities on a daily basis.
    
    10 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    July 8, 2026 10:24am
  - Paulus
    
    Did not the Indian FTA agreement start some eleven years ago ?
    
    3 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    July 8, 2026 2:44pm
    - Jack5
      
      Work on the India-NZ FTA began in March last year, according to the source that follows.
      
      What’s your basis for the agreement starting “some eleven years ago”?
      
      https://www.1news.co.nz/2025/03/17/nz-and-india-to-start-free-trade-negotiations/
      
      0 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      July 8, 2026 9:28pm
- R
  
  ‘why don’t they…….Because zNational are NOT the government; they are part of a governing COALITION. Remember there is a ‘HANDBRAKE’ member in this coalition, looking out for his own interests.
  
  6 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  July 8, 2026 10:38am
  - Paulus
    
    And both partners are doing very well for themselves and damn the Coalition.
    
    1 2
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    July 8, 2026 2:45pm
  - imalwaysright
    
    “‘why don’t they…….Because zNational are NOT the government..”
    
    “National has said it wants to initiate seven more trade deals, if re-elected.”
    
    1 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    July 8, 2026 6:27pm
- mandk
  
  They have to wait because Winston Peters is sure to sound the alarm about thousands of Liechtensteiners flooding into NZ.
  
  4 2
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  July 8, 2026 10:44am
- keepcalmcarryon
  
  Will they read these agreements or just go with the vibe like the Indian deal. This can’t be difficult.
  
  6 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  July 8, 2026 10:50am
Nūhaka Native

Chris Trotter, on The Platform with Sean Plunket yesterday, is ‘fearful’ of a win for the Left in New Zealand in November and what it will mean for freedom of speech and expression here. For someone long associated with the political left and who was a supporter of the Labour Party, that’s quite an indictment of where the left in New Zealand is today.

He points out that our news media here are no longer interested in protecting those rights and are attacking anyone effectively doing that, like the ‘unhinged’ reaction to Michael Laws standing for New Zealand First in Waitaki from several news outlets.

Made me think of this old quote:

“Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron’s cruelty may sometimes sleep; his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end, for they do so with the approval of their own conscience.” C. S. Lewis.

See what he had to say here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OsyIaKKaOgA
28 3
Log in to Reply
Report
July 8, 2026 9:22am
- RoboRob
  
  You know things are bad on the left when Trotter is praying for National to get back in! I wonder if he will actually vote for National, could he bring himself to do so? If he believes what he is saying, and I am sure he does, he should be voting National to prevent it.
  
  I know a number of lefties who are very unhappy with Labour, Greens & TPM. However as far as I can tell, not a one of them would actually vote National. They either abstain or vote NZF as far as I can tell. I know one voted for the Maori Party when the Maori Party (as opposed to TPM) were somewhat sane.
  
  17 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  July 8, 2026 10:17am
  - Pope Punctilious II
    
    Trotter will probably vote for NZF, the nearest thing we have to the old left – left-leaning economically, and socially conservative.
    
    7 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    July 8, 2026 10:29am
  - R
    
    ‘Know a number……’ reminds MD of a comment I heard early this century ‘ I like many of Nationsls policies, but I’m voting for Helen because she is a woman’.
    A measure if the intellect and political comprehension of many of the countries electors.
    
    4 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    July 8, 2026 10:43am
  - keepcalmcarryon
    
    He leans conservative left and more likely NZ First for him.
    Good on him for not being rusted on to any ideology and having both eyes open. Hes hated by the left for it.
    
    8 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    July 8, 2026 10:52am
  - rouppe
    
    Unfortunately they’ll likely vote top, which is presenting themselves as centrist, but who will 89% likely coalition with Labour
    
    9 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    July 8, 2026 11:39am
    - RoboRob
      
      89%, surely your are understating the odds! More like 99%
      
      8 2
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      July 8, 2026 11:50am
    - muzled
      
      He’s openly stated he now votes Winston first. He did so at the last elections.
      
      5 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      July 8, 2026 1:21pm
  - Paulus
    
    Will be a low turnout then the s…t will hit the fan.
    
    3 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    July 8, 2026 2:47pm
- Raphael
  
  for someone who is on the Left, Trotter has also been very vocal about the needs for free speech.
  He is a Leftist of past eras, I don’t think he likes the Modern Left.
  
  25 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  July 8, 2026 10:17am
  - imalwaysright
    
    For a Leftie, he’s alright…
    
    12 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    July 8, 2026 10:28am
  - Phronesis
    
    Trotter actually knows what he believes in. He doesn’t blindly support the left he supports certain ideas. As the political spectrum has shifted so far to the left he now finds himself in the centre.
    
    9 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    July 8, 2026 10:44am
    - Pope Punctilious II
      
      It’s not as simple as that. Trotter still supports socialism. But he is horrified by radical identity politics, which is the moving spirit of the contemporary left.
      
      9 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      July 8, 2026 1:05pm
      - Phronesis
        
        Every political party in NZ supports socialism, they only disagree on how much socialism they support.
        
        0 0
        Report
        July 8, 2026 5:18pm
  - R
    
    Perhaps Trotter has realised that his past support and promotion of LEFT policies are the reason for today’s social and economic problems
    
    7 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    July 8, 2026 11:27am
- Pope Punctilious II
  
  I seriously doubt the NZ left wants to impose a tyranny “for the good of its victims”. The current iteration of the left wants NZ to become a Maori ethnostate. The blueprint was there in He Puapua, and a 2023 discussion document proposing “Safer online services and media platforms” appeared to contemplate differential rights to free speech depending on ethnicity. This is very much in line with Herbert Marcuse’s idea that only the “oppressed” deserve free speech.
  https://www.dia.govt.nz/media-and-online-content-regulation
  The Waitangi Tribunal has proposed automatic citizenship for anyone of Maori descent, irrespective of where they live, another idea likely to appeal to the next left-wing government.
  
  16 3
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  July 8, 2026 10:26am
  - Wairoa Native
    
    I’d argue that’s exactly what you just described: “A tyranny for the good of its victims.” A government based on the modern left’s worldview of identity, intersectionality, and critical race theory, enforced by curtailing free speech and a compliant media. Their idea of nirvana.
    
    6 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    July 8, 2026 1:24pm
Notsofast

A free Palestine activist wants to liberate New Zealand along with other countries.
The closer you look the worse it gets for the west. I would be interested if Green policy includes liberating New Zealand, along these lines. Gad Saad calls it suicidal empathy.

https://x.com/i/status/2074353944646607087
20 5
Log in to Reply
Report
July 8, 2026 9:39am
- Nukuleka
  
  I would encourage people to watch this activist’s video. The worrying thing is that his utter nonsense is cloaked in such apparently rational and reasonable tones. I have no doubt that many academics in our universities would agree with his lunacy.
  
  13 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  July 8, 2026 10:11am
  - Phronesis
    
    Interesting that the very first weapon for destroying the West that he names is climate change.
    
    7 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    July 8, 2026 10:48am
  - Tom Hunter
    
    I have no doubt that many academics in our universities would agree with his lunacy.
    
    That’s because they invented the theories: Post-Colonialism, De-Colonisation, “Stolen Land”, White Privilege, Identity Politics, etc, etc.
    
    And now the smart Muslims, knowing that their own shite doesn’t sell so well in the West, are cloaking it in these theories, knowing that Western Leftists will love it.
    
    Mind you, it’s hardly new. As ColinXY points out here about the founder of the Muslim Brotherhood:
    
    The Brotherhood emerged from a Sunni Islamist milieu heavily influenced by Wahhabi puritanism. But its most transformative figure was Sayyid Qutb, whose writings became the ideological backbone of modern jihadist movements.
    
    Qutb’s significance lies not only in his theology but in his methodology. Before becoming the Brotherhood’s chief ideologue, Qutb was deeply influenced by Marxist–Leninist theory. He admired Lenin’s concept of a disciplined revolutionary vanguard and adapted it to an Islamic framework.
    
    Thus, even while the Brotherhood remained anti‑communist, it adopted:
    
    – Leninist organisational discipline
    – Marxist revolutionary sequencing
    – vanguardist elitis
    – the belief in a small, ideologically pure cadre guiding the masses
    
    This is why the Brotherhood’s structure resembles a political party more than a religious movement.
    
    15 3
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    July 8, 2026 10:50am
    - Master Mariner
      
      Interesting enough there seems to be a battle about the stranglehold Muslim Brotherhood has over all Muslim countries outside of Egypt where it all originated from.
      The Mantra from the Founder was to convert One person at a time, Village by village.
      If you want to eliminate Islamic extremism in the World then I do not know why they have not taken out HQ in Egypt ?
      
      4 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      July 8, 2026 2:24pm
mogg

The ginger whinger/petulant prince, has lost his high court case against Associated Newspapers, which owns the UK Daily Mail. The court now has to decide how the £50 million costs will be divided up between the defendants.
12 5
Log in to Reply
Report
July 8, 2026 9:46am
- RoboRob
  
  Couldn’t have happened to a nicer guy.
  
  16 2
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  July 8, 2026 10:18am
Rusty

Talking about banks, those old buildings they vacate end up becoming good places for restaurants and bars.
8 1
Log in to Reply
Report
July 8, 2026 9:56am
- SWIM
  
  Mmmmm !! Logan Brown !
  
  2 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  July 8, 2026 10:39am
- Taieri
  
  Or “entertaintment” places like this one:
  
  https://www.stilettos.co.nz
  
  3 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  July 8, 2026 12:32pm
  - OlderChas
    
    One has to wonder how you “stumbled upon” this advertisement Taieri! Hmmmmm and I can’t find any reference in the ad (or is it a website – I’m old lol) to it being in an old bank building? lol
    
    0 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    July 9, 2026 10:28am
MCōs

I notice Nigel Farage has resigned his seat in parliament and will stand for the vacant position all over some dubious financial jigery pokery.
Sounds like the main parties have ignored the circus
8 4
Log in to Reply
Report
July 8, 2026 10:34am
- virtualmark
  
  And it looks like his only opponent in the by-election will be Count Binface!
  
  4 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  July 8, 2026 10:44am
- kowtow
  
  The main parties are afraid of having their arses handed to them in the democratic process.
  
  Instead the Establishment will continue to keep their attack dogs in the msm howling at the chances of real change and real fixes to the UK’s many problems that the two main parties have created .
  
  4 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  July 8, 2026 11:03am
- Nukuleka
  
  Time will tell whether this was a foolish act of hari kari on the part of Farage or whether history will see it as a brilliant political master stroke. However you disparage the man Farage has perhaps been the most influential political figure in the UK since Margaret Thatcher.
  
  15 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  July 8, 2026 12:11pm
  - virtualmark
    
    Farage is dodgy af. I suspect he knows the current Parliamentary investigation will bring to light bad dealings that badly dent his prospect as an MP. So his strategy is to force a byelection and then stare down Parliament saying “20,000 people just voted for me so up yours”.
    
    3 7
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    July 8, 2026 12:30pm
    - kowtow
      
      ‘Farage is dodgy af’
      
      And the others are squeaky clean?
      
      9 1
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      July 8, 2026 12:57pm
- nigel2010
  
  and the MSM are all ready up to their dirty tricks Sky news uk sent a camera crew around to his daughters place stuck a camera in her face and gave the address, how low can the press get i thought families are of limits
  
  7 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  July 8, 2026 2:40pm
  - NothingLeft
    
    MSM are tribal left. Fawning sycophancy for left, seething hatred and no-holds-barred for right.
    
    2 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    July 8, 2026 5:58pm
Jethrod

The Auckland Islands has various other names, Maungahuka (snowy mountain) being one. They are around 50° S and the kapa having been blown down there (the area is known as the Furious Fifties) thought “bugger this, we have seen a new continent, which has snow on it” let’s do a bit of Mahi and get back to the hangi, where it will be warm, this pretty plurry cold.”
The Campbell Islands are at around 52° S so even worse. Bluff to Auckland Islands is around 465 k and Bluff to Antarctica is around 2400 k.
Incidently on the long hard slog back to the land of Ngai Tahu, they were overtaken by Capt James Cook on the Endeavor who told , “hi chaps have just been to the great white continent and have called it Antarctica, toddle pip”
With the assistance of Google Chrome, Google Earth and Google Maps, plus intuition.

Must be read with skepticism and treated as //.
12 0
Log in to Reply
Report
July 8, 2026 10:43am
- OlderChas
  
  Have been to both Auckland and Campbell Islands Jethrod. Plurry, PLURRY cold And the scrub grows horizontally because of the winds. And the warships I was serving in at the times were enclosed, solid steel, and powered with (then) modern steam engines or turbines driving twin propellers. For the two or three days as we approached and departed all hands were banned from the upper deck due to the risk of being swept overboard.
  Lovely places to paddle an open canoe to, dressed in grass skirts and a dogskin cloak!
  
  0 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  July 9, 2026 10:37am
virtualmark

Anyone else watching the strange goings on in DC about Mitch McConnell?

He had a massive heart attack at home in mid-June. Rushed to hospital. No news since then but lots of rumours he is brain dead and only being kept alive by machines. His wife, Elaine Chao, was in China at the time and has only come back to DC two days ago (what a loving concerned wife!). His kids have deleted all social media and gone radio silent.

Very strange.
12 1
Log in to Reply
Report
July 8, 2026 10:47am
- All_on_Red
  
  ‘A spokesperson for Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said he had spoken with McConnell by phone on Monday and that the two had a “lengthy and substantive conversation that covered a variety of topics, including national security.” As leader, Thune is generally kept up to date on illnesses and absences in his conference as he has to navigate vote counts and his narrow 53-47 majority.
  
  Wyoming Sen. John Barrasso, the No. 2 Senate Republican, had a 20-minute conversation with McConnell on Tuesday, according to a spokeswoman. The two discussed Senate races ahead of the midterm elections, the Supreme Court and other topics, the statement said.’
  https://apnews.com/article/mcconnell-health-hospital-senate-21a76f059653c6c713e660abb7722c5e
  ‘Jennings, a former adviser to McConnell, said he’d spoken to the long-serving former Republican Senate leader, who remains hospitalized.’
  ‘Jennings said on Tuesday that he and McConnell spoke about several topics, including the new sexual assault allegations rocking the Maine Senate race and the evolving ceasefire with Iran.
  
  “He’s still recovering in the hospital,” Jennings said. “ I told him we want to see him back at work as soon as possible.”
  https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/mitch-mcconnell-health-update-scott-jennings-b3010715.html
  
  Maybe you need better sources than Laura Loomer
  
  ‘Monday, MAGA activist Laura Loomer waded into the discussion. Loomer, a far-right conspiracy theorist with a long history of making racist statements and embracing bizarre falsehoods, tweeted that a “high level source close to the White House” told her that the Kentucky senator was “brain dead” and “not coming back” to Washington. Loomer’s credibility issues are well known.’
  
  4 2
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  July 8, 2026 2:59pm
- MCōs
  
  I read cardiac arrest, which is far more serious than a heart attack
  https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/06/us/politics/mitch-mcconell-health-hospitalization.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share
  
  0 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  July 8, 2026 5:40pm
Damocles11

‘Explosion are being reported in Iran’s southern port cities, reports say, after the US military announced it launched a series of strikes against Iranian targets.
The attacks come after three merchant ships were struck in the waters off Oman.
In a statement posted to social media, US Central Command said American military forces launched the strikes “to impose heavy costs for targeting and attacking commercial shipping crewed by innocent civilians in an international waterway”.
“Iran’s demonstrated aggression was unwarranted, dangerous, and a clear violation of the ceasefire,” the statement said.’

https://www.stuff.co.nz/world-news/361003661/three-tankers-hit-strait-hormuz-us-revokes-lice
7 3
Log in to Reply
Report
July 8, 2026 11:19am
- Master Mariner
  
  Not quite true, The MOU relinquished control to the SOH to Iran and Tolls etc.
  https://insights.windward.ai/
  What is becoming apparent now, There is No Sour Crude arriving in the US refineries. All tankers heading to Asia.
  Interesting fact to me , Was how much the US Military need , More so with the War still going on.
  They have priority over civilian use. It will be an interesting 3-4 weeks in what’s announced.
  
  1 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  July 8, 2026 2:36pm
- All_on_Red
  
  The Tehran Two Step continues.
  Like a really naughty child they are going to keep getting smacked until they behave.
  Eventually it will dawn on Iran that the world has already started changing so all the oil needed can be sent without using the SoH.
  Then Iran will be VERY vulnerable to Blockade.
  I thought this was interesting.
  https://edition.cnn.com/2026/07/06/economy/the-fight-for-the-future-of-opec-begins-now
  https://oilprice.com/Latest-Energy-News/World-News/Saudi-Arabia-Eyes-Major-Red-Sea-Pipeline-Expansion-to-Bypass-Hormuz.html
  
  5 3
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  July 8, 2026 3:12pm
  - All_on_Red
    
    The movie is out
    ‘US Central Command has released footage of a series of powerful strikes against Iran.
    The strikes reportedly hit more than 80 targets, including Iranian air defence systems, command and control networks, and its anti-ship missile capabilities.
    More than 60 Islamic Revolutionary Guard boats were also reportedly hit in the strikes.’
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9rME7wXOmBQ
    They will be down to rowing Dinghys soon.
    
    5 3
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    July 8, 2026 3:36pm
    - NeverMindTheBollocks
      
      I thought Trump had already wiped out all of the air defence systems, command and control networks, and its anti-ship missile capabilities.
      
      Where did these ones come from?
      
      1 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      July 8, 2026 6:22pm
NoCash

About the Chinese missile test… I’ve just learned that the US did two tests this year as follows, I can’t recall any outcry back then…

On March 3, the U.S. fired a Minuteman III ICBM across 6,700 km into the Marshall Islands.

On May 20, the U.S. fired another Minuteman III into the South Pacific.
4 0
Log in to Reply
Report
July 8, 2026 11:52am
Ghost

Oh great, you can now cause an accident in NZ and the judge won’t do fuck all if it could harm your life in the USA

Chia-Jo Chao pleaded guilty to a careless use of a motor vehicle causing injury charge in the Timaru District Court on Tuesday that stemmed from an intersection collision on Saturday on State Highway 8 about 15km east of Timaru.

“The courts are aware that in the current climate of the United States, the conviction in New Zealand for a Taiwanese person trying to get back into the States could pose significant difficulties.

Article
9 2
Log in to Reply
Report
July 8, 2026 12:30pm
- cmm (semi-retired edition)
  
  You would think a person would think through the cause and effect stuff a bit more.
  
  But clearly if you want to commit crime with few consequences, then NZ is the place to do it.
  
  10 2
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  July 8, 2026 1:02pm
cmm (semi-retired edition)

Aotearoa, where life is cheap but living is expensive…

A gang member who “just wanted to fight” kills someone with a king hit and ends up convicted of manslaughter.

3 years and seven months, so will be out in under 2.

What a bloody joke!

What happened to the “get tough on crime” King Hit legislation? Up to 15 years for assault causing injury and up to a life sentence if there is death.

This was clearly just bullshit legislation to gaslight the populace.

There is clearly no real intent to get tough on crime!

https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/361003621/community-leader-and-family-man-killed-gang-associate-who-just-wanted-fight
19 1
Log in to Reply
Report
July 8, 2026 12:51pm
- RoboRob
  
  Wont give Stuff my click but if this is the story I heard on the radio recently, I believe the issue is that the king hit happened before the new legislation came in. However the real issue is there should be no need for such legislation, the existing assault / manslaughter laws allow a judge to hand out a fitting punishment. The issue is the judges.
  
  11 2
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  July 8, 2026 1:53pm
  - imalwaysright
    
    That’s right, the existing law is sufficient.
    
    Its getting to the point that the Police and the Judiciary will only enforce law that is tailor writtten for specific criminals and their specific crimes.
    
    However, if they don’t like the look of a Joe Bloggs, they don’t seem to have much trouble reciting an encyclopedia of charges with which to make his life miserable.
    
    4 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    July 8, 2026 2:18pm
  - greybeard
    
    “The issue is the judges”.
    For years I have maintained that lenient sentencing from judges is because they, and/or their families, are threatened by gangs and therefore compromised.
    
    1 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    July 8, 2026 7:28pm
    - Ghost
      
      yes, for years you have made up a fantasy that is just pure bullshit. How about instead of pushing fairy tales and bullshit you write your mp and ask them to fix the sentencing act, and start by removing
      
      (g) must impose the least restrictive outcome that is appropriate in the circumstances, in accordance with the hierarchy of sentences and orders set out in section 10A; and
      
      (h) must take into account any particular circumstances of the offender that mean that a sentence or other means of dealing with the offender that would otherwise be appropriate would, in the particular instance, be disproportionately severe; and
      
      (i) must take into account the offender’s personal, family, whanau, community, and cultural background in imposing a sentence or other means of dealing with the offender with a partly or wholly rehabilitative purpose; and
      
      (j) must take into account any outcomes of restorative justice processes that have occurred, or that the court is satisfied are likely to occur, in relation to the particular case (including, without limitation, anything referred to in
      
      Or is it just easier to spread a fantasy than understand what is behind these sentences and actually demand change
      
      2 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      July 8, 2026 7:43pm
  - Ghost
    
    No, again, the issue is the sentencing act.
    
    1 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    July 8, 2026 7:32pm
- Maggy Wassilieff
  
  It’s just never ends…
  
  Here’s another Hawkes Bay Mongrel Mobster killing another young father.
  
  https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/361003755/gang-member-jailed-life-killing-father-four
  
  7 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  July 8, 2026 3:33pm
  - imalwaysright
    
    He has 40 previous convictions.
    
    At least the Forty One Strikes Law seems to be working well…
    
    4 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    July 8, 2026 4:02pm
Ghost

Pass

The Act Party has promised to take a new three strikes regime to the election focused on burglary.

The party says its policy will require a minimum three-year prison sentence with no parole for anyone convicted of burglary three times.

Article

How about we actually start being tough on crime. Ooooo, if they are convicted 3 times you will give them a minimum of 3 years. How about getting tough on them on their first conviction, their second.

Once again nz politicians shows they they are weak on crime. How about fixing the fuck up that is the sentencing act.
7 1
Log in to Reply
Report
July 8, 2026 3:29pm
- imalwaysright
  
  In NZ you have to put in the hard yards on your Crime CV before you can be considered eligible for public funded ‘secure accommodation’.
  
  Two burglaries just doesnt show the necessary commitment …
  
  0 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  July 8, 2026 4:23pm
Swifty

The second one today, Maori killing Maori.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/361003755/gang-member-jailed-life-killing-father-four

It was ever thus.
9 1
Log in to Reply
Report
July 8, 2026 3:52pm
- Maggy Wassilieff
  
  I wonder if anyone has kept a tally of how many folks in NZ have been killed by Gang members or affiliates and what proportion of the victims are Maori.
  
  8 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  July 8, 2026 4:38pm
Nikola Donatello

I can’t believe that this guy got life with a non parole period of only 10 years.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/361003755/gang-member-jailed-life-killing-father-four

He stabs a guy through the temple in front of his family. For some dispute over party noise. Has a long criminal history.

Article also states that he is “remorseful”. 🙄
10 1
Log in to Reply
Report
July 8, 2026 3:55pm
Ghost

Cease fire? Was there even one?

US President Donald Trump says the US-Iran ceasefire is “over” and labelled the Iranian leaders as ‘scum’, after both countries exchanged strikes early Wednesday (local time).

Article
0 0
Log in to Reply
Report
July 8, 2026 11:27pm

Add a Comment Cancel reply

Login to comment or vote

« National’s trade ambitions

A VPN ban would be terrible »

Donations

You can now donate to Kiwiblog

Exclusive content from DPF on Patreon

Become a Patron!

Never miss a post

Email Address

Join 13K other subscribers

Highlights

Target achieved II
Good progress on attendance
Health Target 5 – elective treatments
Health Target 4 – Specialist appointments

Links

Gerry Eckhoff: A Dog’s breakfast
Breaking Views
Women of the day
Hompaddock
The Predictable Folly of Government Grocery Stores
Utopia
The Kafka Trap
No Minister
Winston’s unhinged racist Chinese rant is beneath the mana of Parliament
The Daily Blog
NZ is an escape hatch
Point of Order
Open Mike 30/07/2026
The Standard
Something for (almost) nothing?
Not PC
Something on early life reading.
Kiwipolitico
No freedom to question power
No Right Turn
NRL Predictions for Round 22
Stats Chat
“Do you feel safe in a culture that allows doctors & nurses to kill you?”
Bob McCoskrie's McBlog
Geloso on how to think like a good economist
Offsetting Behaviour
Climate Realism
NZCPR
Real wages haven’t fallen 6.4 per cent (or at all)
Croaking Cassandra
THE WORKING FROM HOME RACKET BY PUBLIC SERVANTS
No Punches Pulled (Bob Jones)
The Accidental Engagement
Imperator Fish
Legal Beagle: Election '23: The Special Votes
Public Address
Get Vaccinated Tomorrow Or Shut Your Pie Hole
Cactus Kate
Making this movie might have been a mistake
Liam Hehir
Why I am retiring from political blogging
Kiwi FireWalker

[email protected]

PO Box 12270, Thorndon, Wellington 6144

Facebook
Twitter
FourSquare
Instagram
LinkedIn
Google+

Archives
Disclosure Statement
Editorial Policy
Privacy Policy
Complaints Policy
Comments Policy

Design by cre8d

%d

Share this:

Like this: