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July 13, 2026 8:00am by Kokila Patel

General Debate 13 July 2026

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General Debate

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NeverMindTheBollocks

Residents of the Hokianga want a bigger Police presence to counter the scourge of meth users.

As the local Police Officer says, residents know who the dealers are and they need to start dobbing them in.

Serve, return.

http://www.rnz.co.nz/news/community/706663/dark-shadows-in-piece-of-paradise-after-violent-deaths
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July 13, 2026 8:03am
- David Garrett
  
  Nevermind: this is indeed an awful tragedy – or series of tragedies.
  
  The Hokianga is a very special place – as soon as you come over the hill from the road to Dargaville you get a brilliant view of both the heads at the harbour entrance, and the harbour itself.
  
  I once helped some clients who ran the hotel in Rawene; they were dealing with aggressive media and poker machine owners. My clients couldn’t afford to pay me, so I took my fee as accommodation on a couple of occasions for me and my son. The locals couldn’t have been more friendly.
  
  Meth dealers need shooting… And YES I am talking about the locals taking the law into their own hands…as the local police sergeant says, he’d love to have 10 rural cops to police the vast area he is responsible for – but he doesn’t.
  
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  July 13, 2026 11:29am
  - NeverMindTheBollocks
    
    The tragedy is that meth dealing and usage in Hokianga is driven by local Maoris, as are the collateral victims. The locals have it in their power to be the change that they want to see, because iwi links trumps everything else.
    
    Meanwhile, the Maori Party posture and grift.
    
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    July 13, 2026 12:12pm
  - NothingLeft
    
    That’s how really bad behavior is dealt with on the west coast SI where many people have some amount of criminal activity going on that means no-one can afford to call the cops. Bad troublemakers just mysteriously dissappear.
    
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    July 13, 2026 12:50pm
    - David Garrett
      
      Nothing: Yes…lots of old mine shafts on the West Coast…drop some “bad troublemaker” down one of those then cover with a few shovels full of whatever is at hand, and that’s the last one will ever seen of him.
      
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      July 13, 2026 2:32pm
Tomtoddy

The MSM continues to run a campaign for the Opportunities Party. In politics exposure is everything. The polls move according to the coverage a party is receiving – often, even negative coverage. Which tells you something about the average voters electoral IQ, by the way. Almost every day we have some coverage of the party, even if it’s in the form of questioning their policies or arguing where they sit between left and right.

That’s why single polls have limited use and polling trends are more valuable in determining a party’s chances. The gradual rise of Opportunity is linked to a new more likable leader and MSM coverage. Their policies haven’t changed.

Part of the MSM strategy is to paint the Opportunity party as centrist. All that tells you is how far the media have moved the whole spectrum to the left. If the Opportunity Party is a centre party then Labour is left of Karl Marx and the Greens are off the map. Any party proposing the amount of control they suggest via a guaranteed income and rising taxes is unmistakably on the left. End of story.

If Opportunity were to clear 5% or win a seat they will be helping return a left wing, big taxing government. The result is complicated by where the votes for them come from or whether they can induce new voters to support them, but the main proposition stands – they are, unequivocally, a left wing party.
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July 13, 2026 8:06am
- Simon
  
  NZ on Air remains operational under National. Its budget is expanded as well. Also making large payments for “journalism”
  
  Its in MSM interests for a left wing govt and the NZ on Air budget funds will flow.
  
  NZ on Air isnt in NZ’s interests and was used as bribe by Labour last govt. Of course National have expanded NZ on Air not closed this form of corruption down.
  
  If you vote National you voted for MSM pushing Opportunity party. Suck it up.
  
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  July 13, 2026 8:14am
  - Nikola Donatello
    
    New Zealand On Air has operated since 1989. Has it been corrupt for 37 years or has it recently become corrupt?
    
    It is a serious question. While the entity can be critiqued, your particular critique seems somewhat hyperbolic.
    
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    July 13, 2026 10:05am
  - Bloody Dago
    
    Simon surely you have a better smear on the Nats?
    
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    July 13, 2026 5:57pm
- Gravelroad
  
  The far left activists will be noting the success that the communists in the US Democratic Party are currently enjoying.
  The Opportunities Party and their media cheer leaders, will quietly build on that for the support of the ignorant and entitled voters here.
  
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  July 13, 2026 8:24am
  - Cassandra
    
    At least the Democratic Socialists don’t have the gall to call themselves centrist! They are what you see on the tin.
    
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    July 13, 2026 9:07am
- Handyman
  
  Apropos left and right….
  Notice how the right talk about getting into government, while the left talk about getting into power.
  One has the connotation of duty whereas the other has the connotation of command and control.
  
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  July 13, 2026 8:38am
  - rouppe
    
    Labour, Greens and TPM talk about changing the government.
    
    The coalition talks about changing the country. Improving infrastructure. Improving education. Improving trade relations.
    
    If we’re talking about vision, there’s only one team in it.
    
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    July 13, 2026 11:27am
  - Bullion
    
    You can just search the hansard to see many instances of current govt mps using “power” when they mean govt.
    
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    July 13, 2026 2:17pm
- Boy Geoff
  
  How far down Labour’s list is Helen White?
  
  I hope she’s not relying on the good folk in Mt Albert to see her back in…
  
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  July 13, 2026 9:11am
  - Jethrod
    
    Darling Helen is at #38 on the Liebour list , up from #47 in 2023.
    Even Simon and Mike have better positions!
    
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    July 13, 2026 12:39pm
- R
  
  The Opportunity party is just that: an opportunistic offshoot party hinged at the hip with the Marxist Labour party, trying to create the impression that they are a caring alternative to the left wing Labour. Basically a fox, disguised as a pussycat
  
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  July 13, 2026 9:21am
- David Garrett
  
  Tom: They won’t get 5%, and they don’t have a snowball in hell’s chance of getting a seat.
  
  As I have said here before, in 2008 I suspended my law practice to work on the ACT campaign. I became one of perhaps a dozen people working full time on the plethora of things that makes a successful campaign: getting leaflets printed and delivered; getting the candidates to and from electorate candidate meetings and debates; getting advertising compiled and posted. And of course, there is money.
  
  Does anyone know if Gareth Morgan is still funding TOP?? The two main things a party needs are – in order – money and people. They need plenty of both.
  
  As I say, in my humble opinion, they haven’t a shit show of getting 5%. Even with a core of very experienced people – and plenty of money – ACT only managed 3.25% (IIRC) in 2008.
  
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  July 13, 2026 9:37am
  - wsk12345
    
    Yeah but TOP is an easy sell. Free Stuff. ACT is not and never will be. Personal responsibility is boring for young people who have been told their whole lives that Boomers bought all the houses and made millions at your expense.
    
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    July 13, 2026 10:06am
    - NeverMindTheBollocks
      
      TOP will do well with the ladies who lunch brigade, who can no longer vote for Labour but who cannot bring themselves to vote for National.
      
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      July 13, 2026 12:21pm
    - NothingLeft
      
      “Boomers bought all the houses and made millions at your expense”
      
      Its not a moral or ethical failure of the Boomers, though of course they voted for govts that implemented policies that pushed house prices up to their stratospheric heights. It is however sadly the clear data-backed reality, and its a primary reason young adults in NZ are leaving or not having families – they just can’t afford to have the years off work needed to have babies while paying mortgages that eat up often 60% of their income in the main centers (where most of the jobs are).
      
      NZ is fucked if it is not severely rebalanced. House prices need to be at least halved if NZ is to have a future that doesn’t include vast 3rd world immigration to maintain the workforce.
      
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      July 13, 2026 12:59pm
      - Don Beckett
        
        It’s land value that is greatly over-priced.
        
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        July 13, 2026 1:54pm
      - wsk12345
        
        How does the third world workforce afford to buy the houses?
        
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        July 13, 2026 1:59pm
  - Nikola Donatello
    
    I’m not sure about that. Remember United Future in the 2002 election?.
    
    Right now I’d think Opportunity is even money to get 5 percent. Sadly we can’t test this as Simon Bridges stupidly ended Ipredict in 2015 on the basis that it was a potential source of money laundering.
    
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    July 13, 2026 10:10am
    - David Garrett
      
      Nikola: Would you like a wee wager – perhaps a box of chocolate fish? I contend that TOP will get nowhere near 5%, but for clarity, the wager is they will neither get 5% nor a seat.
      
      Email me on: [email protected] to accept the bet. Of course “Nikola Donatello” is probably not your real name, but if you lose and welsh, I reserve the right to inform KB readers accordingly.
      
      Only cads like Andrew Little welsh on gambling debts – well to be fair he eventually paid up, about three years late, when he was about to become Labour leader, and didn’t want me continuing to expose his perfidy on here – because such debts are not legally enforceable. But I’m sure you are not a cad.
      
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      July 13, 2026 10:23am
      - Nikola Donatello
        
        I have to ask. What was the bet with Andrew Little?
        
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        July 13, 2026 10:37am
      - David Garrett
        
        Nikola: Delighted to enlighten you! The bet was originally – nigh on 30 years ago – about the outcome of a Court of Appeal case I was involved in. Little was counsel for the union defendant (I appealed an Employment Court finding against my employer client)
        
        The bet was originally two bottles of Lindauer Reserve – $18 dollars each at your local supermarket. Little lost the case, but never paid up.
        
        Then in 2008 – more than 10 years after the original bet – I took part in a meeting he organized to grill candidates for the 2008 election on their party’s employment policies. (As an aside, I started my speech by saying I should feel at home around unionists since in another life I had been a delegate for two different unions. I was jeered and told I was “a class traitor” but I digress).
        
        In the hearing of others, I had Little on about never paying up; he proposed a “double or quits” – if I became an MP he would owe me FOUR bottles of Lindauer; if not, the bet was satisfied. Of course I did become an MP, and I immediately sought payment, which never arrived.
        
        I mentioned it a few times on here over the years, and called him a cad and a welsher. Then, about two weeks before he became Labour leader, Four bottles of LR arrived at my house, with a terse note reading “Bet paid. Andrew Little”. The blighter is a cad and a bounder – among other things.
        
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        July 13, 2026 11:15am
      - Cassandra
        
        Lindauer Special Reserve is actually a nice drop. And Little is a bounder. People like that cheat at golf too.
        
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        July 13, 2026 11:51am
      - David Garrett
        
        Cass: I agree…another old friend was so confident ACT would not get enough votes to get me in that he bet me ” A bottle of champagne of [my] choice” on the outcome,
        
        Since my friend has plenty of dough, I chose a bottle of Pol Roger (my hero WSC’s favourite) vintage, costing maybe $100. It was kept for “a special occasion”. When it was finally drunk, I would have preferred Lindauer Reserve.
        
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        July 13, 2026 12:03pm
      - David Garrett
        
        Update: As at 1.24pm Tonga time (12.24pm NZ time), “Nikola Donatello” has not accepted my wager. I’m sure he’s good for the price of a box of chocolate fish, so I assume he’s still thinking about it.
        
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        July 13, 2026 12:26pm
      - Jethrod
        
        Do you really need or wish to eat chocolate fish David? Think of those arteries and fitting into your shorts.
        
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        July 13, 2026 12:44pm
      - Gary Benner
        
        As a matter of interest regarding display names, last year I changed my moniker on this forum to my full name from an abbreviation of my surname and initial (bennerg) as I became aware that it was important to stand by my views, and not hide behind something made up. Although anyone with google could have of course identified me previously.
        
        I would encourage everyone here to actually do the same, and put yourself through the same self scrutiny before hitting the “Post Comment” button.
        
        Looking at you Mike, Ghost et al. And “Nikola” of course.
        
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        July 13, 2026 12:56pm
      - David Garrett
        
        Jethrod: Excellent points! But my secretary and legal exec both have sweet tooths.
        
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        July 13, 2026 2:34pm
      - NeverMindTheBollocks
        
        Reply to Gary:
        
        I respect your choice and those of other commentators to use your name when posting here.
        
        For a number of commentators here, obligations to others including family (mortgages to house them), fellow employees and employers (to not be responsible for losing business) or simply wishing not to lose old friendships mean that anonymity is the prudent path to take.
        
        I wish it weren’t so, but experience tells me otherwise.
        
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        July 13, 2026 6:24pm
      - Ghost
        
        You can look as much as you like, but as someone who has been doxed before by the left, well, you will be looking for a long time, because my privacy is my business
        
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        July 13, 2026 6:36pm
  - Ghost
    
    I’m not sure they will get to 5% on the night, but at the same time I am aware of people talking of using them as a protest vote against the current parties. Only time will tell.
    
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    July 13, 2026 10:22am
    - R
      
      ‘Protest vote’……..more fool them! Elections are about selecting a competent government that meets your needs and aspirations. Well they are for responsible mature people.
      
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      July 13, 2026 12:08pm
      - Ghost
        
        Well, people are turning to protest votes if this plays out
        
        https://www.thelondoneconomic.com/politics/count-binface-nigel-farage-clacton-by-election-poll-407788/
        
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        July 13, 2026 12:12pm
- cas
  
  I was talking to some people I would describe as right wing over the weekend and they were expressing interest in the Opportunities Party.
  
  Despite my suggestion that the leader was a reincarnation of Jacinda with her smooth communication and being young and photogenic, and describing their policies, they still seemed likely to consider them as an alternative.
  
  Heaven forbid.
  
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  July 13, 2026 11:28am
  - RoboRob
    
    Were these female people? Certainly the love many Woman still have for Jacinda despite the evidence to the contrary still amazes me.
    
    I see Barry Soper who is generally very positive to all the various PMs has zero love for Jacinda. In very polite terms he essentially called her stupid in one interview.
    
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    July 13, 2026 11:43am
    - David Garrett
      
      Robo: I served on a Select Committee with Ardern. Although she was very pleasant one on one, Barry is spot on.
      
      Remember when – as PM for fucks sake – she couldn’t say what is in the (one sentence) Article I of the treaty, and didn’t know what GDP was.
      
      [Mod – fixed spelling]
      
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      July 13, 2026 11:51am
      - Cassandra
        
        You don’t say, old chap. 😇
        
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        July 13, 2026 11:53am
      - David Garrett
        
        Cass: You got me there! “way” should of course have read SAY
        
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        July 13, 2026 11:59am
      - RoboRob
        
        Oh I remember the GDP comment well. It was stunning! Any other PM would have been slaughtered by the media.
        
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        July 13, 2026 12:14pm
    - cas
      
      Yes female friends but they couldn’t stand Jacinda.
      
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      July 13, 2026 11:51am
    - Charlotte Wells
      
      Soper is perceptive and honest.
      
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      July 13, 2026 12:01pm
- Wairoa Native
  
  I keep saying ‘TOP’ are just Labour/Greens in teal coloured clothing. Their General manager is Iain Lees-Galloway a former Labour Cabinet Minister. Their leader, Qiulae Wong worked in sustainable business, ethical fashion, disability inclusion, and climate-focused organisations. Sounds a lot like another James Shaw.
  
  She is full of upper middle class luxury beliefs like much of the political left these days. She can’t define a woman, claiming I’m not a Dr (talk about a dog whistle!). Well, I’m not a vet, but I know what a cat is.
  
  If TOP can deny the reality of sex and deny female (and same sex attracted people’s) sex based rights. What else do they get wrong?
  
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  July 13, 2026 11:29am
  - David Garrett
    
    Wairoa: Well, I’m not a vet, but I know what a cat is
    
    Comment of the day so far Sir/Madam.
    
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    July 13, 2026 11:53am
    - Wairoa Native
      
      I have to admit I borrowed it (with a slight edit/adjustment). But thanks.
      
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      July 13, 2026 12:45pm
- Handyman
  
  I wish the Ops party well and hope they get between 4 and 5 per cent of the vote. Same for the Green Party.
  
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  July 13, 2026 12:02pm
  - David Garrett
    
    Handy: You forget that the Greens have electorate seats…two of them to be precise. If they retain at least one, anything above about 2% of the party vote gets them List seats.
    
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    July 13, 2026 2:37pm
    - Ian Boag
      
      Yep. The Epsom deal Is what got you into parliament. Interesting – I heard Heather Roy on the radio the other day. She felt the 5% thing had done its dash – one seat is about 25,000 votes and that’s a biG enough chunk to deserve representation. The Isralis make it work ,,,,,
      
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      July 13, 2026 6:36pm
- nz_aj
  
  National is a left wing socialist party by their actions.
  Labour, Greens, TPM, TOP are all further left / Marxist / Communist.
  TOP used to have sensible policy when they were all about killing cats. Everything since has been stupid. UBI, taxation based on asset valuation, renaming the country, etc.
  
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  July 13, 2026 12:31pm
mantovani

The devil is in the detail and I’m really not liking what I see in that detail. However most boffins that have been given voting rights (privileges) in this country are too lazy to seek out those details or summon the intellectual strength to join the dots and consider unintended consequences.
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July 13, 2026 8:13am
artemisia

In case anyone missed it, Oliver Hartwich and Bryce Wilkinson have published New Zealand by Numbers 2026 Edition . 137 pages of trend data from named sources. An excellent reference source with a lot of useful data in one place.

Download – free. Thanks guys.

https://www.nzinitiative.org.nz/reports-and-media/reports/
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July 13, 2026 8:14am
- Ra Henare
  
  Unfortunately it is an economist’s wet dream.
  All about the cherry-picked numbers.
  
  While they present infant mortality in 1970 against today.
  They miss out on quality.
  
  EG, respect.
  Vast majority of Kids respected parents, teachers, and cops in 1970. Not true today.
  
  Self-reliance.
  The number 8 wire/community spirit was alive and well back then.
  
  Ergo. ( A common event)
  Lady at work wanted to put a concrete drive in her place (she lived alone). Offhand comment at a morning tea on a Tuesday. The word spread at work
  
  On Saturday a bunch of blokes turned up with shovels and a hand-cranked concrete mixer; the associated ladies turned up with morning tea and lunch.
  
  No permits, no looking for a government/council handout via WINZ or others. (i.e., money to pay contractors)
  
  Job done by 2pm. Beers all round.
  NOT ONE DOLLAR CHANGED HANDS.
  
  Can’t imagine that being a regular occurrence in 2026 NZ.
  
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  July 13, 2026 5:19pm
Gravelroad

I am not generally a big critic of Prime Minister Luxon.
But what was his public hugging and hand-holding of Indian PM Modi all about – as displayed on TV news?
I didn’t need to see that.
And Mr Modi is not as dopey as he may appear to look.
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July 13, 2026 8:36am
- Inandout
  
  Grav, I recall Phil Goff holding hands with Arafat.
  
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  July 13, 2026 8:40am
- rouppe
  
  Luxon doesn’t do it with anyone else. So I suspect it is more driven by Modi than Luxon.
  
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  July 13, 2026 8:44am
  - Quail
    
    Rouppe,
    More like the Ardern touchy feelz than any Tory ( cough choke splutter) PM!
    
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    July 13, 2026 9:03am
  - pdm
    
    Luxon is a `toucher’ though rouppe.
    
    Hand on the shoulder or arm sort of thing.
    
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    July 13, 2026 9:18am
    - rouppe
      
      That’s a different thing though, I think. It’s salesman stuff. The double handshake, the hand on shoulder. That’s a power/domination move dressed up as friendliness.
      
      But, nonetheless, it is notable…
      
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      July 13, 2026 11:33am
- Northshoredoc
  
  Modi is known to enjoy this kind of relationship and behaviour
  
  It’s called being hospitable to your visitor.
  
  Also with an election coming up it’s a very useful way to keep onside with the local indian community.
  
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  July 13, 2026 8:51am
- imalwaysright
  
  Luxon was imagining Modi was John Tamihere and the crowd were Maori….
  
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  July 13, 2026 9:02am
  - David Garrett
    
    Imalways: Oh you are a naughty boy…
    
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    July 13, 2026 10:26am
- Cassandra
  
  It was for Indian TV.
  
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  July 13, 2026 9:08am
- R
  
  The hugg is a Chris Luxon expression of his sincere personality, and integrity. No doubt the critical comments are a result of having had six years of a dishonest devious government during the Ardern Hipkins era. The Luxon approach is a vast improvement on that of some past politicians credibility
  
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  July 13, 2026 9:26am
  - Gravelroad
    
    Hang on a minute R, there was plenty of criticism and pushback on Ms Ardern’s public hugging of various people during her reign.
    From many commenters on here.
    So wasn’t it an “expression of her sincere personality and integrity” when she did it?
    
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    July 13, 2026 10:12am
    - R
      
      No it was camouflage to ythe nsieve and simple, for her deviousness. Body language tells a lot about a person’s real self
      
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      July 13, 2026 12:14pm
- Nikola Donatello
  
  Seriously? 5 seconds of research would have told you that such hugs are a Modi thing. Mr Luxon would have known that because he would have been briefed.
  
  Here you go. 534 Modi hug photos.
  
  https://www.gettyimages.co.nz/photos/modi-hug
  
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  July 13, 2026 9:30am
  - Gravelroad
    
    Ok. So if Mr Putin (or Mr Trump) comes on a politically motivated, official visit to NZ and his handlers brief the government that the expectation is our PM will need to hug them and hold their hands on the way to the plane – that will be all good?
    Seriously?
    
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    July 13, 2026 9:53am
    - Nikola Donatello
      
      Well he wouldn’t would be? Honestly let it go.
      
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      July 13, 2026 10:12am
      - Gravelroad
        
        Ok. Let’s shut down discussion on topics which others don’t approve of or agree with.
        Not what I thought this site was about.
        Cool.
        
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        July 13, 2026 10:45am
      - Ghost
        
        what discussion. A stupid attempt to attack the PM for something Modi is well known for, hugging and holding hands. Then making up stories of what if Putin came here. God. Ok, lets go there, what if Putin came here. Under the ICC he would be arrested in NZ as there is an arrest warrant out for him
        
        BTW, the Pope, George Bush Jr, and a few other world leaders are well known huggers. Modi was hugging and holding Benjamin Netanyahu’s hand recently, want to be outraged by that too
        
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        July 13, 2026 10:52am
      - Pope Punctilious II
        
        Replying to Ghost: I protest! I am not a hugger!
        
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        July 13, 2026 6:04pm
    - Maggy Wassilieff
      
      It’s not uncommon for boys and men in Asian countries to hold hands.
      
      https://scroll.in/article/889972/a-british-photographer-captures-the-very-indian-phenomenon-of-men-non-romantically-holding-hands
      
      Modi is very, very determined to do things his Indian way…i.e. Although he can speak English, he insists on speaking Hindi when overseas (His mother language is Gujarati). He doesn’t wear western-style clothing.
      He recognises that India is now a major world power…and isn’t afraid to display his culture and language.
      
      Personally, I’d rather hug or hold hands with someone I’m meeting than perform a hongi.
      
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      July 13, 2026 10:16am
      - David Garrett
        
        Maggy: Quite so…the Tongan version of a hongi is to join cheeks – no kissing, just cheek to cheek – with the other person.
        
        The Tongans tend to be very clean people – even if they have no hot water at home, which is quite common – so I don’t find such greetings at all odious.
        
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        July 13, 2026 10:30am
      - Maggy Wassilieff
        
        Thank goodness I have entered the old lady category and can now give cheek kisses when being welcomed into a Maori setting or meeting new folk.
        
        I was horrified when Bruce Stewart told me that a decent hongi shouldn’t just involve an exchange of breaths, but also tears and nose mucus.
        
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        July 13, 2026 11:05am
      - Ghost
        
        So many bugs going around right now, I’d guess everyone was far happier with a hug and hand holding
        
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        July 13, 2026 11:06am
      - NeverMindTheBollocks
        
        Bruce Stewart? Now, there was one dodgy dude.
        
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        July 13, 2026 12:26pm
      - alwyn.a
        
        “boys and men in Asian countries to hold hands”.
        
        I remember the first visit I made to Brunei more than 50 years ago when I first saw that.
        As an innocent New Zealander on his first trip overseas I was quite disconcerted to see two Gurkhas in full military gear including automatic rifles walking along while holding hands. It didn’t seem to fit their image somehow.
        
        Brunei at the time had an interesting approach to military personnel. The Sultan was concerned that he might be overthrown and didn’t seem to think he could trust his police force who were the only armed units in the Government at the time. The story went that he paid for the UK Government to keep a large contingent of Gurkhas there. The Sultan thought they would likely be more loyal to him than his own countrymen. Whenever the size of the Police force was increased they would also increase the number of Gurkhas.
        
        I believe that he still keeps a force of a couple of thousand of them there to keep the locals from being tempted to overthrow him.
        
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        July 13, 2026 12:33pm
- Taieri
  
  But what was his public hugging and hand-holding of Indian PM Modi all about
  ————-
  
  So, what’s the big deal?
  
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  July 13, 2026 9:43am
- Ghost
  
  Actually, what you saw is what Modi does, He is a Hugger and he holds hands. George Bush Jr was also a big hugger.
  
  Modi and Putin holding hands
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mR6w8SpFBk
  
  https://www.instagram.com/popular/modi-hugs/
  
  some of you really need to learn to use google if you don’t know how a leader acts.
  
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  July 13, 2026 9:56am
- Bernard Black
  
  It’s wasn’t the hugging stuff that had me bemused.
  It was the large crowd of citizens dancing around with a party like atmosphere chanting Modi Modi Modi that had me scratching my head.
  
  I asked my girlfriend, have you ever in your life seen a NZ politician spark something even remotely like that?
  
  Large crowds dancing in the streets chanting Jacinda? Key? Helen? Lange? Muldoon Muldoon Muldoon?
  No me neither.
  
  The only thing that came to mind was a fat criminal who incited a crowd to chant F**K John Key over and over, not really the same thing though is it.
  
  I found the whole spectical to be rather unusual, or perhaps unkiwi, if there is such a word.
  
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  July 13, 2026 3:19pm
Ipanema69

The Auckland rail network is running again today after another complete shutdown over the long weekend.

The fact that AT cant announce a completion date for the CRL doesnt fill me with confidence.
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July 13, 2026 9:05am
- peterwn
  
  It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt.
  So wisely AT does not announce an opening date until they know that have got their beans in a row.
  It is so easy that the box tickers (who hold the power) will suddenly decide that an extra fire detector or exit sign is needed even though things were designed to a proper standard originally. A list of such things can easily derail a proposed date.
  
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  July 13, 2026 10:29am
  - R
    
    box tickers’……do you mean the burecrates who can see their cushy highly paid appointments coming to an end.
    
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    July 13, 2026 1:24pm
- R
  
  AT announcements, have little or no credibility these days
  
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  July 13, 2026 12:17pm
- greybeard
  
  The long weekend shutdown was well publicised, they had to do full dress rehearsals.
  
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  July 13, 2026 1:06pm
imalwaysright

Apparently the NZ media were asked to not ask awkward questions of Modi.

Naturally, they complied…
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July 13, 2026 9:39am
- Jack5
  
  TVNZ gave lavish coverage to the Modi visit.
  
  Perhaps it was a thank-you to National, which must be embarrassed by the India FTA deal’s serious flaws. These were missed by Trade Minister Todd McClay.
  
  A thank-you that was in return for the media protection given by Media Minister Goldsmith in place of the planned reforms of Melissa Lee.
  
  She is a list MP — like Goldsmith. Bet she’s out and he’s in after the general election.
  
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  July 13, 2026 10:15am
  - imalwaysright
    
    Seems the NZ media were ‘briefed’ by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs.
    
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    July 13, 2026 11:07am
  - RoboRob
    
    Ok, I’ll ask, what are the serious flaws with the FTA as you see them?
    
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    July 13, 2026 11:17am
    - R
      
      I too, would like to hear this expert analysis of the NZ – INDIA FREE Trade agreement!
      
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      July 13, 2026 12:19pm
  - Jack5
    
    First, don’t be snarky, R (12.19 post). National’s humans can make fuck-ups; not sure about its aliens.
    
    My reply to RoboRob’s request and my view of the flaws in the India-NZ FTA.
    
    – India’s belief that New Zealand has committed to investing $US20 billion in India over 15 years. That’s just under 35 billion NZ dollars at the present exchange rate. Meanwhile Luxon takes the view that it’s only a goal. Holy shit! Did he remember to register his cars?
    
    – New Zealand provides zero-duty entry for all Indian exports, meanwhile New Zealand’s key export earner, dairy products, is all but shut out of India to protect that country’s small farmers. The Indian news report linked to below notes that major gains for India include “farm products”.
    
    – The opening up of student migration from India (with right to work part-time for most) while NZ has close to 15 per cent youth unemployment. There will be no cap on Indian student numbers and India has about 370 million people under the age of 25.
    
    – Temporary employment entry visa for 5,000 Indian professionals. Depending on the field, that’s a helluva lot people for a small country’s jobs when AI seems likely to slash job numbers.
    
    Have a look from an Indian point of view:
    
    https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/foreign-trade/india-new-zealand-fta-highlights-no-entry-for-kiwis-dairy-products-what-else-does-the-1-bn-trade-deal-offer/articleshow/126116092.cms
    
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    July 13, 2026 1:00pm
    - Ghost
      
      Its very simple what we agreed to
      
      New Zealand shall promote FDI from investors of New Zealand into India with the aim to increase such investment by US Dollars 20 billion within 15 years of the date of entry into force of this Agreement
      
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      July 13, 2026 1:13pm
      - Jack5
        
        Prime Minister Modi of India said in NZ, on TV, that New Zealand was committed to this investment.
        
        Here’s an Indian economic news summary in December:
        
        “New Zealand will invest twenty billion US dollars in India over the next fifteen years. This commitment is part of a new free trade agreement between the two nations. The pact aims to boost manufacturing, infrastructure, and services in India. This significant foreign direct investment is expected to create jobs and support India’s growth vision. “
        
        https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/foreign-trade/indianew-zealand-fta-to-bring-20-billion-fdi-commitment-over-15-years/articleshow/126120829.cms?
        
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        July 13, 2026 1:25pm
    - Ghost
      
      Doesn’t matter what the media claims, I’ve given the exact passage from the agreement, that is all that matters
      
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      July 13, 2026 1:29pm
      - Jack5
        
        Ghost, there are about nine pages of text on implementing NZ investmet into India, including the process of settling disagreement.
        
        That suggests a fairly serious commitment.
        
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        July 13, 2026 2:47pm
    - RoboRob
      
      Thanks for the reply.
      
      Re #1. I think we are just seeing the spin the Indian PM is using to sell the FTA to his people. If the roles were reversed I am sure Luxon would be claiming $35b of Indian investment here too! I personally don’t think this is anything sinister.
      
      The milk thing is sad but not unusual either. In most of out ‘Free’ trade agreements there are little holdouts for certain industries, often with a time limit. This is true for EU FTA, which has way more holdouts then the India FTA. Better to have some free trade, then none. The perfect is the enemy of the good.
      
      As there are already thousands of indian students here I dont expect much to change. If Winston is to be believed (and he’s not to be) the deal is simultaneously terrible because of a butter chicken tsunami AND India facing more restrictions then other countries.
      
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      July 13, 2026 1:39pm
Ghost

after Lindsey Graham died, and with the pressure on him, Mitch Has finally released a statement

Sen. Mitch McConnell on Sunday revealed for the first time that a fall led to his hospitalization, breaking the silence about his condition after weeks of mounting speculation about the Kentucky Republican’s health.

McConnell, 84, said in a statement that he has undergone a battery of tests as doctors try to determine what led to his fall. He explained the long silence about his condition by saying that “folks of my generation often hesitate to share the vulnerability that comes with growing older.”

Article
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July 13, 2026 10:06am
- David Garrett
  
  Ghost: I am no doctor, but I suspect the cause of the Senator’s fall is that he is 84.
  
  I have a way to go to reach that advanced age, but now need to be very careful showering and leaving same – I slipped and fell getting out of the shower onto wet tiles more than 6 months ago, and bashed my knee against the wall. It’s still not right.
  
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  July 13, 2026 10:34am
  - Cassandra
    
    I agree, DG. I am the Senator’s senior. I have to be careful. A recent tumble while carrying a small glass of red wine was a bit of a disaster. Carpet okay now.
    
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    July 13, 2026 10:38am
    - Don Beckett
      
      Was the wine glass full, or had it been emptied ?? 🙂
      
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      July 13, 2026 10:59am
      - David Garrett
        
        Don: I am shooting myself in the foot here, but I had “drink taken” before said fall…although I was certainly not pissed. No drinking before showering now.
        
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        July 13, 2026 11:56am
      - Cassandra
        
        Full to the brim. Its predecessor had been emptied but I was sober, Your Honour.
        
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        July 13, 2026 11:57am
      - R
        
        Don’t like to hear about the loss of a glass of red wine, either.
        
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        July 13, 2026 12:35pm
      - Don Beckett
        
        Surely Cas, you could have beaten the wine to the floor with your mouth open ?? 😆
        
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        July 13, 2026 2:06pm
      - David Garrett
        
        Cass: You bloody go for it mate!! At 84+ you can drink and eat whatever you fucking like, whatever your doctor says. If he is as wordly as mine, yours will agree with me
        
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        July 13, 2026 2:41pm
  - Ghost
    
    He has many health issues, including seizures, polio. His last fall in 2023 was attributed to his post-polio condition.
    
    They’ve posted a photo, and honestly, despite the headline he doesn’t look too bad, especially for a dead man, lol
    
    https://www.thedailybeast.com/mitch-mcconnell-shows-signs-of-massive-ill-health-in-bombshell-photo/
    
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    July 13, 2026 10:41am
  - RoboRob
    
    The age of US senators (and house members) is incredible. Once you get to the trough it seems very hard to leave if you are in a safe seat. This still amazes me…
    
    Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein of California
    
    In the summer of 2023, a few months before she passed away, it was reported that she had granted limited power of attorney to her daughter, Katherine Feinstein. The arrangement raised significant public attention and questions at the time due to her advanced age (90) and visible health struggles while remaining in office.
    
    That she was there at 90 was bad enough, she was very sick and could hardly attend physically. Then we discover that she is not mentally competent to look after her own affairs. But that’s alright, put her in government we need her vote.
    
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    July 13, 2026 10:44am
    - Ghost
      
      not just senators. The supreme court justices need to be retired a lot earlier. Clarence Thomas is 78. Samuel Alito 76. Sonia Sotomayor 72. John Roberts 71.
      
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      July 13, 2026 11:02am
      - RoboRob
        
        The ‘normal’ move with these guys is to wait until a president of your ‘side’ is in power and resign then.
        
        However it seems that they really do love the job. ‘Ruth Bader Ginsburg’ died in office at 87, she could have resigned during Obamas term but did not. This allowed for the balance of power to shift.
        
        I am surprised that Thomas and Alito have not resigned this term. Sotomayor would not do so as she is on the Dem side of the fence.
        
        I guess these guys have an excuse for generally being older. It takes time to build a career that qualifies you for the role.
        
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        July 13, 2026 11:27am
      - RichardX
        
        That succession explanation is a tad simplistic given recent history.
        
        Remember Obama’s nomination to replace Scalia in March 2016 was ignored by the Senate as it was too close to the Presidential election that was 8 months away.
        
        Then many of the same senators confirmed Trump’s choice to replace Ginsburg in September 2020, only 2 months before that year’s Presidential election.
        
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        July 13, 2026 12:10pm
      - alwyn.a
        
        @RoboRob.
        It wouldn’t have helped though. Obama nominated a replacement for the deceased Justice Antonin Scalia in March 2016. The Senate was Republican controlled and they refused to hold hearings on the nominee on the grounds that it should be left to the next President to make a nomination. The seat remained empty for nearly a year.
        
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        July 13, 2026 12:40pm
      - NeverMindTheBollocks
        
        Try Strom Thurmond, who was nigh on 100 when he finally relinquished his Senate seat.
        
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        July 13, 2026 2:55pm
      - Charlotte Wells
        
        Imagine how long the Biden DEI hire is going to be there.
        
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        July 13, 2026 4:57pm
      - alwyn.a
        
        @NMBT
        He actually passed 100 while still an Senator. He was born 05/12/1902 and remained a Senator until 03/01/2003.
        He was succeeded by Lindsey Graham, who of course has just died.
        
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        July 13, 2026 6:53pm
    - R
      
      ‘Not mentally competent’……..sounds like some of our MP’S , except they aren’t 90. Some barely out of nappies.
      
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      July 13, 2026 12:38pm
  - Jethrod
    
    Yes that is why I was concerned about your bet of a box of chocolate fish, ……arteries, and fitting shorts etc.
    
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    July 13, 2026 1:06pm
- RoboRob
  
  McConnell should have put out a statement weeks ago. The speculation has been huge. He is not the only one to not do so, they all should. If you are unable to work for a long period of time the public have the right to know what is going on.
  
  We can now see why he didn’t though. He has had a number of ‘freeze’ moments where he has just stopped moving, talking or responding for a long time, perhaps minutes. The second (or third) of these led to him announcing he wont run again. It looks like this fall could be related. He probably should have resigned a year or two ago. It is another good example of why you shouldn’t have a government full of 80 and 90 year olds. The average age in the US senate is 64!
  
  At the moment the US needs to restock its armaments, they have been firing a few, but Mitch chairs that committee and so the funding is blocked.
  
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  July 13, 2026 10:38am
  - imalwaysright
    
    “McConnell should have put out a statement weeks ago.”
    
    No reply from Mitch on my Ouija board, so he must still be with us.
    But Lindsey Graham says hi…
    
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    July 13, 2026 11:26am
  - Charlotte Wells
    
    McConnell needs to get to August (to be confirmed) and be alive to negate the need for a special election.
    
    After that date he can retire or die and it remains vacant until the mid-terms.
    
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    July 13, 2026 12:14pm
    - RoboRob
      
      I’m no expert here but if he just resigned and left it vacant then the Reps would be one vote down in the senate leaving them with a tiny majority. I think he will push through to the Nov elections.
      
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      July 13, 2026 1:43pm
rouppe

Words fall me.

First we had Run It Straight.

Now we have Power Slap.
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July 13, 2026 11:36am
- Ghost
  
  Nut cracking next
  
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  July 13, 2026 11:40am
- Blog-aholic
  
  That stupidity has been going on for a few years now….
  
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  July 13, 2026 11:45am
- NeverMindTheBollocks
  
  That stupid fighting in the Octagon is another brain-damaging activity, except it’s sanctioned by professional bodies and salivated over by elements of the media.
  
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  July 13, 2026 6:35pm
tknorriss

I see oil prices are hardly reacting to the latest hositilities in the Gulf. Oil is only up a couple of dollars to $73 at the moment, and doesn’t appear to be spiking.

My take is that the market is probably pleased that the US is targeting what they should have targetted in the first place. That is, the ability of the Iranians to actually enforce their “closure” of the strait. I think the market would have been much less happy if the US simply ignored the Iranians taking pot shots at ships.

If the US wipes out most of the Iranian anti ship missiles and the like, and can intercept whatever survives with their own air defence, then the Iranians have effectively lost their leverage.

I think the Iranians overplayed their hand by declaring the strait closed. Sometimes it is better to keep a threat in the air rather than act on it.
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July 13, 2026 11:41am
- Master Mariner
  
  All supply chains lead to Iran, Much to the US disdain.
  Here is a fairly honest appraisal of Oil / Gas prices.
  
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IuiqCjHsb_A
  Oil price shock remains a ‘risk’ as global fuel supplies reach critically low levels
  
  Everyone seems to state the same messaging, “Once the war is over…..”.
  The real question should be “What happens if its not ?” Or more to the point , What if the World can not get ME Oil / Gas ?
  
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  July 13, 2026 5:13pm
Ghost

Moronic. Not surpised an electric car dealer wants to do this

Raising fuel taxes as petrol prices start to fall could lock in the changes to transport habits kick-started by the fuel crisis, some say.

One transport urban planning researcher says the gains in fuel savings and public transport numbers will quickly fall away without any policies to permanently shift people’s habits.

Article

BTW, what is public transport…. we have one bus a day that goes into town, returns late afternoon.
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July 13, 2026 12:28pm
- nz_aj
  
  Indeed, the price of fuel goes into the cost of most things, has caused recent inflation and rise in OCR. We are 4 months away from an election, ideally fuel costs would be on their way down.
  
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  July 13, 2026 12:41pm
  - Jethrod
    
    It’s a way of forcing NZ into a increase in Defence spending of more than 2%.
    
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    July 13, 2026 1:09pm
  - All_on_Red
    
    Fuel costs are dropping
    Diesel is down 43c over the past 28 days
    https://www.gaspy.nz/stats.html
    
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    July 13, 2026 4:09pm
    - Ghost
      
      it will be a wait and see
      
      https://www.stuff.co.nz/money/361005451/good-its-going-get-fuel-prices-under-pressure-again-amid-geopolitical-volatility
      
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      July 13, 2026 4:12pm
      - mike
        
        The only way prices will come down significantly is when Trump signs the surrender deal with Iran
        
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        July 13, 2026 4:23pm
- NeverMindTheBollocks
  
  The media slavishly report comment from industry participants without analysing motives.
  
  Qui bono, as Cicero said.
  
  More earthily, Mandy Rice-Davies commented “well, he would, wouldn’t he”.
  
  Back in the old days, a healthy sense of cynicism was mandatory among journalists worthy of the name. Not anymore, it would seem.
  
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  July 13, 2026 3:01pm
Albie

You only have to look at the picture of the gold ceiling to see why the CRL project blew the budget so massively. It’s obscene that no-one was overseeing this project on behalf of the Auckland ratepayers.

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/auckland/auckland-mayor-wayne-brown-expresses-mixed-feelings-about-city-rail-link-opening-questions-future-proofing/SPG3CWDP2VGRRJUWVZTQFDAQK4/
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July 13, 2026 1:26pm
- RoboRob
  
  All taxpayers, the government was on the hook for this largesse too! Its disgusting this was allowed to happen.
  
  Its disgusting. As I have posted here before, there are plenty of good, clean, functional subway systems around the world. They didn’t need to make each station a multicultural museum experience. I looks like someone was impressed with the fancy old soviet stations.
  
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  July 13, 2026 1:47pm
  - imalwaysright
    
    Yes, people rarely linger at a railway station and they rarely look up.
    
    As long as it is clean and well lit, then everyone is happy.
    
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    July 13, 2026 4:38pm
    - Ghost
      
      And yet, there are some amazing ceilings around the world in stations. Yuyuan Station Has always been one of my favourite
      
      https://youtube.com/shorts/JAhQngfRlE8?si=haazDwRDVnltvzR7
      
      Compared to some places, the small art installations over here are very plain and small
      
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      July 13, 2026 5:25pm
- greybeard
  
  “Design elements throughout both stations draw on the area’s cultural and natural history, with mana whenua helping shape the stations’ cultural narrative and Māori artists contributing key artworks.”
  I bet they were paid enormous amounts of money for these “contributions”.
  
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  July 13, 2026 3:10pm
- Ghost
  
  ummm, probably not what you think it is. It’s aluminium rods, not a gold ceiling.
  
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  July 13, 2026 3:22pm
  - RoboRob
    
    Sure, but still expensive. Normally they have either easy to clean and maintain surfaces or utilitarian surfaces on the roof, such as noise cancelling panels.
    
    I’m not saying the stations need to be ugly, far from it, but there are affordable ways of doing things and expensive ways. They have chosen the expensive way. Wait for the cleaning bills to keep a roof with 10,000 gold plated rods clean.
    
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    July 13, 2026 3:41pm
    - Ghost
      
      That was all part of the design.
      
      During the design phase, the artists (including Graham Tipene) worked directly with engineers to integrate the art into the station’s functional architecture rather than just “hanging a painting”. The rods are made of anodized or coated aluminum to resist corrosion, dust-clinging static, and moisture.
      
      The aluminum rods are typically dusted using microfibre extension dusters or static-charge wands to pull dust away without releasing it into the air. For deeper cleans, a wipedown with a mild, pH-neutral solution is used.
      
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      July 13, 2026 4:04pm
      - RoboRob
        
        So, they are likely an expensive product. Certainly its a more expensive ceiling design, even for the time involved in handing each one.
        
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        July 13, 2026 4:48pm
      - AitchW
        
        Are they open or capped? If they’re open the spiders will have a field day.
        
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        July 13, 2026 5:14pm
      - Albie
        
        Ghost: quite frankly I don’t give a fat rats how they clean the bloody things or who worked with bloody who. Whoop whoop! The fact is we don’t live in Dubai and this sort of largess at the tax and rate payers expense is obscene.
        
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        July 13, 2026 5:35pm
    - greybeard
      
      It won’t be long before they are “liberated” for sale to scrap dealers.
      
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      July 13, 2026 5:34pm
    - Ghost
      
      if you think they will be a magnet for spiders have a look at the flower clouds, they were meant to be finished a few years ago, not sure if they were.
      
      https://amazingarchitecture.com/visualization/the-flower-clouds-i-zhengzhou-metro-line-7-stations-by-mask-architects
      
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      July 13, 2026 7:14pm
NeverMindTheBollocks

Abu Dhabi is ordering 4 new LNG carriers at a total cost of US$900m. Now, I know it’s an apples vs oranges comparison, but they make the cost of two new ferries seem expensive.

https://oilprice.com/Latest-Energy-News/World-News/ADNOC-Orders-900-Million-in-New-LNG-Carriers-to-Expand-Global-Fleet.html
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July 13, 2026 2:53pm
NeverMindTheBollocks

The UK is having problems with its unreliables. Turns out that at night, the wind ain’t blowing and the sun ain’t shining. All of that expensive kit just sitting there, incurring bank interest.

Still, there’s always nuclear from France, right?

Ah, no. The heatwave means that the river water required for cooling nuclear plants is too hot or too low to do the job.

“But nobody told me!”

https://oilprice.com/Energy/Energy-General/Summer-Heatwaves-Are-Rewriting-the-Rules-for-Britains-Power-Grid.html
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July 13, 2026 3:08pm
NeverMindTheBollocks

One more, from the energy policy fiasco that sums up modern Britain.

They’re about to commission 4 more pumped hydro stations – think Lake Onslow.

Note that the focus is on security of supply, without any reportage of what the cost will be.

https://oilprice.com/Alternative-Energy/Hydroelectric/Britain-Bets-on-Hydropower-to-Boost-Energy-Security.html
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July 13, 2026 3:11pm
AitchW

The existing Britomart was pretty utilitarian, and worked perfectly.
Who wanted the new stations to be a lasting memorial to themselves?
Or were the extensive artworks the price for no iwi objection?
Either way the Auckland rate payers have been gouged spectacularly.
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July 13, 2026 4:50pm
greybeard

https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/361005527/time-running-out-plea-save-hundreds-northland-mill-jobs

“The Japanese-owned company announced earlier this year it was seeking buyers for both mills after citing declining export demand and rising operating costs.”

Northland Regional Council chair Pita Tipene wants central Govt “investment”.
I say, not “investment”, I say ”terminal aid”.

If you read this article carefully you can see that it is not a viable company because it has not kept up with the play: to get it to being a viable entity would require lots of money. Private investors are not interested so they call on the taxpayer.

Let it go.
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July 13, 2026 5:48pm

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