General Debate 17 July 2026

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General Debate

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CJames

I see according to The Australian, tickets to the Jacinda gabfest (their word) are about three times the price of the Taylor Swift concert VIP tickets. I know which one most people would prefer to spend their money on. But not to worry, the Australian government shelled out real money to let their public servant mandarins hear her pearls of wisdom. That should cause their economy to go belly-up even more than Albo’s disasters.
Aren’t we just so lucky that she is theirs now. Maybe her mentor Helen Clark should also move to Sydney so they can form a double act..
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July 17, 2026 8:01am
- KKNZ2025
  
  “Since stepping down as New Zealand’s Prime Minister in 2023, Dame Jacinda has been warning against divisive and authoritarian leadership…”
  
  https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-07-17/jacinda-ardern-empathetic-leadership-in-politics/106900418
  
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  July 17, 2026 8:12am
  - David Garrett
    
    KK: I got about half way through that before I started gagging…
    
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    July 17, 2026 8:54am
- Blog-aholic
  
  Unlike Pavlova, Sam Neill, Crowded House and old Russell Crowe I doubt they’ll every actually ‘claim’ her as one of theirs……then again who would?
  
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  July 17, 2026 8:23am
- Simon
  
  ardern is a headline act but its some 2 day “leadership workshop” Across 3 cities / whatever.
  
  https://womenunlimited.co/
  
  Its for mid wit govt employees, paid to attend by taxpayers. Run by private company. Probably well connected with Aust mangerial state.
  
  Looks like a racket with Ardern heading it.
  
  Ardern will read prepared lines and answer a few questions. Not really in charge just a figure head.
  Get paid quite well and promote the Ardern brand.
  Utterly like her govt.
  
  Remember all those National party types who were part of Jacindamania and injected themselves with a jerry built medical treatment because of her. They probably should also attend.
  
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  July 17, 2026 8:32am
  - Nikola Donatello
    
    “and injected themselves with a jerry built medical treatment…”
    
    What an absurd statement. I can’t stand Jacinda. I would never use a vaccine based on the claims of any government.
    
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    July 17, 2026 8:44am
Yvette

UNDRIP is so important to the [Maori] nationalist project, in fact, that a clause “affirming” our commitment was somehow slipped into the India-NZ Free Trade Agreement, apparently without the knowledge of even the Trade minister, Todd McClay.

The stealthy insertion has been seen by critics as a Trojan horse for constitutional — and anti-democratic — change. Fingers have been pointed at Māori activists within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade but none of our politicians seem interested in finding out who put it there.
https://www.brashandmitchell.com/post/graham-adams-india-s-view-of-indigenous-rattles-māori-advisers

While “… none of our politicians seem interested in finding out who put it there”, can it be trusted that as it appears a random addition nobody “in charge” asked for, will it be removed.

1 – It contradicts that the coalition agreement between Winston and Luxon, to not recognise UNDRIP as legally binding.

2 – From the same item – “… following the Independence of India from the British Crown, all Indians are considered Indigenous. The Indian Government therefore … does not accept the concept of “Indigenous Peoples” — and therefore the UNDRIP — is applicable to India.

3 – The Treaty of Waitangi is a big enough fuck up without a 2026 Trade Agreement having similar mistakes.

4 – The UNDRIP clause is situated in a cooperation chapter focused on culture, trade, and traditional knowledge. Under Article 13.4 of the same chapter, it is explicitly stated that the chapter “does not impose any legal or financial obligations requiring the Parties to explore, commence or conclude any individual cooperation activities,” meaning it is technically non-enforceable through the FTA’s formal dispute mechanisms.
This is the only reason for leaving it intact: because this statement sets the precedent that UNDRIP is useless.
As “a Trojan Horse for constitutional change” its inclusion may achieve the opposite – bloody hope so.

5 – Why would anyone vote for parties that in passing law, discover third parties have added or inserted clauses into the legislation, and no one acts to remove it.
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July 17, 2026 8:03am
- pdm
  
  `1 – It contradicts that the coalition agreement between Winston and Luxon, to not recognise UNDRIP as legally binding.’
  
  Yet there are clear assertions that the clause was inserted by MFAT Staff – be it one staff member or ten staff members involved.
  
  Winston is obviously not concerned about the apparent (should that be obvious) manipulations and shenanigans to destabilise the Coalition Government from within the department and Portfolio he is responsible for.
  
  Or is it just another indication that he is not on top of his Portfolio.?
  
  Because he has a history of not reading Cabinet Papers or studying the fine print so why should this term of Government be different.
  
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  July 17, 2026 8:32am
imalwaysright

On tv1 news the lady from MPI who runs the Dead Skua Department–Pito One Beach Division, was on Petone beach with about a dozen staff, who looked like they had been called in from home, looking for another dead skua.

Such a response from the media and the Government– anyone would think a child had been tortured and murdered by its parents…
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July 17, 2026 8:14am
- crash
  
  They were interested in how the bird died and the fact that it might have the new strain of bird flu. Given the threat to the country, the mobilisation is justified.
  
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  July 17, 2026 8:51am
Simon

Quite a few people complain that Luxon has not delivered on what National promised. Its good to remind them that National has always been garbage. Its not Luxon’s fault.

The difference for Luxon is that NZ just can’t carry the National party like it was able to.
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July 17, 2026 8:19am
- Nikola Donatello
  
  That comment seems unhinged.
  
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  July 17, 2026 8:50am
AitchW

Is it reasonable for the minister to rely on his advisers to read the agreement on his behalf and advise him of any fish hooks?
Once upon a time I’d have said yes.
However, unlike Sir Humphrey, our public servants are not scrupulously politically neutral.
I’d suggest that the next trade deal needs to be scrutinised by a forensic accountant and lawyer independent of the public service.
What a sad indictment of what should be a politically neutral and ethical public service.
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July 17, 2026 8:32am

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