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August 14, 2026 8:00am by Kokila Patel

General Debate 14 August 2026

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General Debate

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Cassandra

The police have announced the restoration of the death penalty.

“Anyone carrying a potentially unloaded air rifle will face a firing squad”. //
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August 14, 2026 8:01am
- imalwaysright
  
  Yes, questions to be answered on that one.
  
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  August 14, 2026 8:07am
- DeagleNZ
  
  I’m with the police on this one – remember the 2008 shooting of Don Wilkinson – that was an air rifle.
  
  Also let’s think through it for a bit: Did the police on scene know that 1. it was the same air rifle that was stolen? 2. that it was still unloaded? 3. that it wasn’t actually a real rifle?
  
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  August 14, 2026 8:15am
  - NeverMindTheBollocks
    
    All good questions
    
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    August 14, 2026 8:24am
  - Colville
    
    Absolutely.
    If it looks like a gun you get shot.
    End of.
    
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    August 14, 2026 8:26am
  - Cassandra
    
    It’ll all come out in the wash. He might have presented at the constable. But it might also have been an overreaction. The police should make a preliminary announcement pronto.
    
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    August 14, 2026 8:28am
    - rouppe
      
      Oh well next time they can call you so you can walk up to the guy and check everything first.
      
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      August 14, 2026 9:02am
      - Cassandra
        
        So its shoot first and ask questions later? That’s not how NZ police operate. This is actually a serous topic despite my flippant introduction.
        
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        August 14, 2026 9:19am
      - rouppe
        
        Is that what happened?
        
        There was a pursuit. The person failed to stop.
        
        He was then running towards a mall, with hundreds of people inside. With a rifle.
        
        Choice:
        1. “be kind”, let him run inside only to discover he has a full mag of whatever and kills half a dozen people.
        2. Protect the community.
        
        Perhaps you can explain to us why you would prioritize the offender over the innocent shoppers.
        
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        August 14, 2026 9:29am
      - kowtow
        
        Cas
        
        “That’s not how NZ police operate”
        
        Yeah but stealing a weapon ( while on bail) and running into a crowded shopping mall is not how NZ citizens operate either.
        
        If the drongo had taken hostages or killed or injured someone , people would be attacking the cops for not popping him.
        
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        August 14, 2026 9:48am
      - Cassandra
        
        I’m not rouppe. Hence the //. If he was a threat then shoot him. But the initial news reports were short on details.
        
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        August 14, 2026 9:54am
      - Skottowe
        
        Cassandra: “But the initial news reports were short on details.”
        
        That they were. One of us (not me, I tolerate it, use the mute button frequently) likes to watch TV1, and that was the nature of the reportage. The shooting had just happened, confusion all around, lot of vox pops, few details. In the absence of more facts, I’m with the police. Somebody armed – gun or knife – running into a mall, needs to be stopped. Police did that.
        
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        August 14, 2026 11:40am
    - leoj
      
      Police have nothing to answer for on this. Brandishing a gun means quick action.
      Bravo to the cop(s).
      
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      August 14, 2026 10:31am
  - cmm (semi-retired edition)
    
    We are run by morons.
    
    1) It is almost always very, very easy to tell an air rifle from a “real” firearm. Perhaps not in this case, but the facts will most likely show that this was easy to see was an air rifle.
    
    2) It is often quite easy to tell the power of an air rifle too (especially springers). Powerful rifles are far larger than the smaller weak ones. PCPs are generally more powerful than springers (thought that is certainly not always the case).
    
    3) The Don Wilkonson killings brought about the stupid law for the licensing of PCP air rifles. It is a stupid law because it addresses a technology – not a power level. In UK the limit is 12 ft-lb of energy – no matter the technology. That is a far more logical law.
    
    A large, powerful, springer air rifle that does not need a license can certainly kill with a very lucky shot. But then we may as well ban kitchen knives.
    
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    August 14, 2026 9:15am
    - cmm (semi-retired edition)
      
      I would like to know how many of the downvoters here have ever owned and used an air rifle.
      
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      August 14, 2026 9:32am
      - rouppe
        
        Mate the single shot .177 air rifle you had as a kid that you primed by pumping the barrel is vastly different from the range available today.
        
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        August 14, 2026 10:10am
      - leoj
        
        So what!
        
        The perp was clearly due a Darwin Award.
        
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        August 14, 2026 10:41am
      - The Goblin
        
        I have a .22 air rifle, All Black plastic with a 10 round magazine, the placement of which requires the fitting of a scope. It is easily powerful enough to knock iff a possum at 30 metres and from a short distance could easily be mistaken for a hunting rifle, if this is the scenario the police were faced with then their response is understandable.
        
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        August 14, 2026 10:49am
      - Colville
        
        cmm.
        A really poor comment from you IMHO.
        I have a “springer” downstairs that could kill a man easily. I shoot rabbits and possums with it. Teflon coated tungsten slugs. Lethal and not at all short range.
        
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        August 14, 2026 11:36am
      - Hard Cheese
        
        Who cares? You take any gun into a crowded shopping centre you get what you deserve. No one is stopping to inspect it to see what kind it is first. Your lack of common sense is astonishing
        
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        August 14, 2026 2:25pm
      - Charlotte Wells
        
        Yes I have owned and fired everything from assorted pistols, single shot, semiautomatic and fully automatic in every calibre from 9mm, 30 and 50 cal, right up to 760 mm tank cannon in various occupations. I have also had more than one occasion to line up an offender with intent to kill.
        
        So yeah, your claims and apparent skill and knowledge (questionable) are sadly lacking.
        
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        August 14, 2026 2:46pm
    - DeagleNZ
      
      in regards to point 1: yes – if you placed an air rifle on the table in front of me – then I would immediately be able to tell that it was an air rifle.
      
      However, taking a glance at the Gun City air rifles for sale – many of them do resemble typical firearms (especially ones with over-barrel suppressors), the ones that are distinctively air rifles are the more powerful ones anyway.
      
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      August 14, 2026 9:35am
    - Local Miller
      
      I’ve owned air rifles and used firearms. Both in my SA Army days and as a firearms instructor here in NZ. I’d be able to tell between some air rifles and firearms, but not all, and certainly not at a distance.
      The air rifle I’ve used most recently is nearly identical to a .22 rifle. At 50m I’d challenge you to tell me it’s only and air rifle and decide to not apply lethal force to someone who in the situation described above.
      
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      August 14, 2026 10:08am
    - keepcalmcarryon
      
      Yes those who know firearms can tell most airguns from actual firearms, also the guy with an immediate history of having stolen an air gun was a bit of a clue.
      And yes it’s revealing how many down tickers there are who are terrified of anything that looks like a gun. Jacinda, Mike Bush and Cahill were extremely successful in their fear campaign.
      That said , if the police feel they or someone was in real danger then they did the right thing and I hope the officer is supported, it would be a terrible thing to have to do.
      
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      August 14, 2026 10:16am
      - Local Miller
        
        Don’t assume the down tickers are “terrified of anything that looks like a gun”. I down ticked cmm’s comment because it’s wrong. A lot of air rifles look just like explosive powder rifles.
        I assure you, I’m not afraid of firearms, quite the opposite. I’ve been a firearm instructor, owned my own firearms back in SA (Colt 45 and 38mm Taurus revolver) and used multiple other firearms here in NZ, including military firearms while on exercises with the NZ Defense Force.
        There’s nothing like the smell of cordite in the morning!
        
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        August 14, 2026 11:51am
      - keepcalmcarryon
        
        Semi fair call, but I’d say “a few” air guns available in NZ could be mistaken at a glance for a rim or Centre fire firearm not a lot. Easier to mistake a co2 BB gun pistol for a real pistol than a long arm air rifle for the real deal.
        The shop staff were secure enough to chase the guy, but cops saw fit to shoot him.
        And a man’s life , even a criminals is worth the benefit of the doubt where possible.
        
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        August 14, 2026 12:02pm
      - Hard Cheese
        
        And yes it’s revealing how many down tickers there are who are terrified of anything that looks like a gun.
        
        Is knowing something about firearms a prerequisite for shopping at Sylvia Park?
        
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        August 14, 2026 3:49pm
    - Fender
      
      thanks for the completely off topic lecture on guns and laws, we’re all experts in our own homes aye,
      not sure how air rifle laws apply to this incident at all
      
      perhaps you could spend the hours of training needed and help the police learn positive identification at distance while someone is running, keeping it updated every 6 months with tests as each new weapon come out, provide the insurance needed if they get it wrong and we would all be so much safer, well actually we would be the same, the criminal might have a slightly better chance.
      
      Your argument isn’t factually wrong ,but it’s realistically impossible and to call people morons because you would have been 100% and acted differently if only you had been there in that situation is just posturing bullshit.
      then to double down and call out downtickers because they havn’t owned as many guns as you so they don’t get an opinion, wow!
      
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      August 14, 2026 10:26am
      - Local Miller
        
        Sorry, down ticked, fat fingers.
        
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        August 14, 2026 11:53am
  - Nobby2
    
    Deagle, I’m with you on this. If you point a rifle or pistol at someone, either police or civilian, they probably don’t know if it is loaded or not and what you intend to do. They will make a decision based on the evidence in front of them which may include shooting you to protect themselves and others. It’s pretty simple, don’t point a weapon at someone if you don’t want to get shot.
    
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    August 14, 2026 10:48am
  - Hugh Jarse
    
    Excellent comment. As is rouppes 9.29. We will know the circumstances as the investigation progress’s. However I would just like to reiterate that in this situation the Police are not only trying to protect themselves as they are legally entitled to but to protect the public in the mall in which direction the offender was runnng as they are required to do.
    
    In all the mayhem of this, whether the police could identify the difference between a rifle and air rifle, a spring loaded or gas operated air rifle is irrelevant as the comment about Don Wilkinson testify. He was an offender with a rifle of some sort running towards a mall open to the public after a pursuit requiring his vehicle to be spiked. In these circumstances at face value he left police little option as far as I see it.
    
    If this had occurred in a rural area with no public under threat it may well have ended differently and matey may only be nursing dog bites.
    
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    August 14, 2026 12:07pm
  - Bell-47
    
    Its also has to be said the MSM have been silent on the fact that the guy was a patched gang member. How about the poor cops who have to live with that decision forever and that they put their lives on the line for the rest of us. they don’t get paid enough to have to deal with that physically and psychologically
    
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    August 14, 2026 3:32pm
- Simon
  
  Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
  NZ has the death penalty via police shooting for a long time now. Because of National’s weak sentencing laws.
  
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  August 14, 2026 8:20am
- Southern Raider
  
  Bigger question is why was this guy on bail
  
  Air rifles today can be lethal as shown by the Policeman killed by one a decade or so ago
  
  You also need to look at intent. The criminal obviously stole the rifle to carry out an armed robbery and was must stopped on his route by quick responding Police
  
  Also globally law enforcement are trained to shoot at the biggest body mass to ensure contact and reduce the risk of innocent bystanders getting shot by accident
  
  We also now don’t need to pay $100K per annum to keep this criminal in prison
  
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  August 14, 2026 8:25am
- MCōs
  
  Air rifles are potentially lethal
  They weren’t dealing with a bloke holed up in a house, but a non cooperative criminal out on bail outside a shopping centre waving a gun
  
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  August 14, 2026 8:46am
- rouppe
  
  You try and tell the difference between an air rifle and any other sort. Then determine it is loaded or not.
  
  By the way, you do know that there are .22 calibre air rifles, capable of killing smaller animals, or a person if the pellet goes into certain soft areas.
  
  This person was a classic case of FAFO.
  
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  August 14, 2026 9:01am
  - RoboRob
    
    The guy was on Bail, stole the rifle from gun city then drove to the mall. You dont get the benefit of the doubt, as you say FAFO.
    
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    August 14, 2026 9:11am
    - Cassandra
      
      Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
      Well, in that case my flippant introduction is no longer flippant. Police have reintroduced the death penalty under your approach.
      
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      August 14, 2026 9:21am
      - rouppe
        
        That’s just not true.
        
        If the offender had stopped and surrendered when called on to do so this wouldn’t have happened.
        
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        August 14, 2026 9:32am
      - EssenX
        
        I think a lot of NZers might be OK with the Police taking a FAFO attitude. Some might say it’s been long overdue.
        
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        August 14, 2026 9:52am
      - Fender
        
        what a straw argument,FAFO certainly applies here, police were 100% in the right here, you take a gun out in public you know what’s coming, how on earth you can twist the facts of this particular example to your level escapes all logic.admit your wrong and move on, your better than this so stop digging
        
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        August 14, 2026 9:57am
      - RoboRob
        
        Apparently the police were trying to get him to surrender and after some time he took his gun and ran towards the mall. This isn’t some assassination by the cops, it’s them doing their job and protecting innocents.
        
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        August 14, 2026 11:35am
      - AitchW
        
        Police are trained to incapacitate an armed offender with three shots to the centre of the torso. They don’t have the luxury of “just shooting in the leg” as suggested by many armchair experts.
        The safety of the people around the idiot with the firearm is paramount.
        
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        August 14, 2026 1:16pm
      - Bell-47
        
        If you were in the mall or were in immidiate danger would you rather they asked questions before he pointed a rifle at you?
        
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        August 14, 2026 3:36pm
  - cmm (semi-retired edition)
    
    “You try and tell the difference between an air rifle and any other sort. ” Very easy.
    
    “By the way, you do know that there are .22 calibre air rifles, capable of killing smaller animals, or a person if the pellet goes into certain soft areas. ”
    
    Actually, a .177 has more penetration than a .22 calibre air rifle of the same power and is thus more likely to penetrate deep enough to hit a critical organ (eg. heart). The reason is that it has a lower cross sectional area.
    
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    August 14, 2026 9:38am
    - rouppe
      
      When comparing power, a .22 caliber air rifle generally delivers about 20% more kinetic energy (impact power) than a .177 caliber air rifle when using the exact same mechanical powerplant.
      Source
      
      and
      
      While both rifles compress air with the same mechanical force, they use that energy differently. A .177 rifle converts its power into high speed and a flat trajectory, whereas a .22 rifle trades speed for a heavier projectile that retains downrange energy and delivers massive “knockdown” power on impact.
      
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      August 14, 2026 10:16am
    - Local Miller
      
      Can you honestly say that at a distance you would be able to say this is an air rifle?
      https://www.guncity.com/22-fx-drs-mdt-pro-chassi-700mm-barrel-air-rifle-960fps-405259
      
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      August 14, 2026 11:59am
  - David Garrett
    
    Rouppe: FAFO? Not familiar with that one.
    
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    August 14, 2026 6:44pm
- kowtow
  
  Why was he out on bail.
  
  I see some questioning how he got his hands on the weapon .
  
  Better ask why wasn’t he in prison , cos no doubt he’ll have “form”.
  
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  August 14, 2026 9:06am
  - Fender
    
    and stole a gun from a licensed gun shop? really? stormed the place with loaded weapons did he?
    someones license may need to be looked at here because there is a big problem here with their procedures
    how embarrasing
    
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    August 14, 2026 10:02am
    - kowtow
      
      Oh come on , he prolly showed an interest in buying and when the shop keeper took one out for him to have a look at ,he simply legged it.
      
      We do still live in free , trusting society .
      
      How many times have the casinos been pinged for money laundering. That’s supposedly big business in those places and is to anyone who reads a J Savage book , common knowledge.
      
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      August 14, 2026 1:09pm
      - Fender
        
        if he did then yes, I would question their procedures, this isn’t a leg of lamb or a set or earbuds from jb-hifi.
        Doors and staff should have security measures and be trained to be suspicious and alert. automatic doors, no honest person is going to be offended by proper security. Even our local rebel sports security close the door on runner thieves here locally.
        
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        August 14, 2026 2:30pm
  - Ghost
    
    He was on a community sentence, not bail
    
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    August 14, 2026 1:03pm
- lastmanstanding
  
  According to AI the combined wealth of the 65 and over cohort is $725 Billion. The Left plan to asset strip that over the next 25 years as most of the cohort snuff it. I call this the Asset Stripping Plan (ASP). It involves Capital Gains Taxes ( Labour) Wealth Taxes (Greens) and Land Taxes (TOP). In addition it will involve Death Duties and Gift Duties.
  The ASP will ensure this cohort have little to pass on to their children making its easier to confiscate that generations wealth. In the words of Klaus Swab ‘you will own nothing and be happy”.
  Our society will be reduced to two groups. The Elites which will include the Political Elites and the Maori Elites and the Rest. The Rest will receive the income the Political Elites determine. They will be provided with State owned accommodation again at a standard decided by the Political Elites.
  To the down tickers I refer yoy to the policies of Labour Greens and TOP and ask why do they have these policies if my outline is not their intention.
  
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  August 14, 2026 9:13am
  - Fender
    
    hasn’t society always been like this? Robin Hood not ring a bell.
    Humans are humans, the strong dictate to the weak,always have and always will and taxes have always been involved.
    Humans always elect someone to be ruling over them, a minority group, which in reality have no way of ever stopping the majority from overthrowing them at any time if they ever wanted to but somehow we all play along mostly.
    
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    August 14, 2026 10:44am
  - Quail
    
    lastmanstanding,
    Agreed.
    In particular,
    TOP equals Tax Old People .
    There is an attitude in NZ that those who worked hard , planned and paid for their childrens future and their own retirement somehow owe those who have not done so an equal life style.
    And those with appropriate ancestry apparently deserve even more.
    The sad story of the little red hen seems to be forgotten in NZ
    
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    August 14, 2026 11:25am
- cmm (semi-retired edition)
  
  I am all for the cops using deadly force more often when deadly weapons are presented.
  
  Other examples of deadly weapons:
  * Kitchen knives, screwdrivers and such.
  * Cars driven erratically.
  
  An air rifle (even a weaker air rifle) is potentially deadly, but would need a very lucky shot.
  
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  August 14, 2026 9:18am
- Cassandra
  
  “Answering questions from the media, Superintendent Patel said it was not known whether the air rifle was loaded, or whether the man had any ammunition.”
  
  Patel was not aware of how many times the man was shot, whether there had been any attempt to detain him or whether he had aimed the weapon at anyone.
  “That’s something that will need to be uncovered when we carry out the full investigation, when we’ve actually spoken to the police officers involved,” he said on Thursday night.
  
  The decision to shoot rested with the officer at the scene, and no clearance was required, he said.”
  
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  August 14, 2026 10:28am
- Nikola Donatello
  
  Come on. Try walking through a shopping centre or airport in any city in any nation, messing about with an air rifle, and see what happens. The police will draw no distinction.
  
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  August 14, 2026 10:30am
  - Colville
    
    Try waving a plastic replica Glock in a shopping mall in USA or Europe and see what happens….
    
    “oh but it was a toy…” as you bleed out from multiple 9mm holes….
    
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    August 14, 2026 12:09pm
- Southern Raider
  
  My daughter and her friends frequent that mall
  
  Would I rather take the chance a known criminal out of bail shoots her or her friends (even if non lethal like loosing an eye or low recovery from soft tissue injury) or Police take him down
  
  I’m voting for the Police action every time
  
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  August 14, 2026 11:17am
- Southern Raider
  
  33 years old and father of 5 kids
  
  Can only imagine how much this guy has cost taxpayers over the years in welfare and costs related to his criminal activity
  
  Doesn’t mean he should have died, but we have way too many people like this being a major societal and financial drag on our country
  
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  August 14, 2026 12:17pm
- lastmanstanding
  
  Another one bites the dust.
  
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  August 14, 2026 12:51pm
- Charlotte Wells
  
  What about someone carrying a replica?
  
  So, based on your approach whenever there is a person carrying a firearm we put up a sacrificial person (will you volunteer?) and wait to see if they get shot or not?
  
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  August 14, 2026 1:11pm
  - Local Miller
    
    This is NZ, you’re not allowed to carry a fire arm in public. If you have a firearm and the police are in pursuit, put it down, step away and raise your hands. You are now clearly unarmed and you won’t be shot. If you chose to point it at the police you may well be shot and you’ll only have yourself to blame.
    
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    August 14, 2026 5:43pm
  - keepcalmcarryon
    
    My mates 10 year old kid had the cops called on him for playing with an obvious toy pistol in the park.
    People have lost their common sense, they were encouraged to do so over guns deliberately.
    
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    August 14, 2026 7:12pm
- Southern Raider
  
  Just seen a post and looks like he was previously (or still was) associated with the Killer Bees and had done meth
  
  Police would have been well aware of this
  
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  August 14, 2026 5:43pm
Sensible moderate views

Naidoo has been completely exonerated, Police have confirmed in writing he followed the correct procedures and have apologised for spreading incorrect information.

Yet those who smeared him have not fronted up to withdraw and apologise.

The problem in New Zealand is not the policy vacuum, it is the moral vacuum.
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August 14, 2026 8:01am
- Simon
  
  “it is the moral vacuum.”
  
  100%. Like for eg the National party pumping out that Chris Penk acted alone. Everyone in National who were involved in the leadership challenge going along with the party line.
  
  Utter moral vacuum.
  
  Cant people see the National party for it is?
  
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  August 14, 2026 8:23am
  - keepcalmcarryon
    
    Yes.
    
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    August 14, 2026 10:19am
- NeverMindTheBollocks
  
  Letter of the law? It seems so.
  
  Spirit of the law? Questionable.
  
  – I didn’t finally make my mind up until the last moment possible – and – I told my manager in confidence, so he couldn’t tell the big boss, the one who has to front the Minister and the media -; all the while being briefed on all sorts of sensitive material.
  
  Form your own view about where the “moral vacuum” sits.
  
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  August 14, 2026 8:29am
- nova
  
  Do you work for Stuff? The fuller picture that has emerged from the police is not as bad as originally reported, but it is still not great. The Stuff reporting makes some bold claims:
  “The apology came after Official Information Act requests revealed that Naidoo told his manager about his plan to stand for Labour far earlier than when Chambers and Mitchell had claimed.”
  But if you read on you find that in this case, “far earlier” is actually the week prior, 28th May, so instead of 4 days notice, it was 11 days notice. Still sub-optimal in my view, especially as Naidoo should have told Chambers directly, and Hipkins told the Herald that Naidoo had been in discussion with Labour for “several months”.
  
  https://www.stuff.co.nz/politics/361019587/police-apologise-rakesh-naidoo-after-spreading-incorrect-information
  
  https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/labours-chris-hipkins-defends-rakesh-naidoo-candidacy-process/RDHT7NJARVFWFATWD2EZAQWGVE/
  
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  August 14, 2026 8:54am
  - keepcalmcarryon
    
    I thought the same, shock horror it was one week earlier than stated!
    
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    August 14, 2026 10:20am
- mike
  
  You surely don’t think DPF will amend his posts on the matter.
  
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  August 14, 2026 9:14am
- lastmanstanding
  
  Its 40 years since GST was introduced. Leading up to this I was on a NZ Society of Accountants Group that advised the Labour Government ( Douglas Prebble Caygill). Some of us had previously worked in the UK as Accountants. The UK VAT system had five rates all very confusing. For instance if I went to British Home Stores to buy my lunch and ate it in their store I paid 7.5%. If I took it back to the office I paid 0%. As a result we advised the Government to have one rate that was simple to calculate and no exemptions. The result was 10%.
  Thank god successive Governments have not yielded to pressure groups to exempt their product or service. Simple taxes are the best taxes.
  
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  August 14, 2026 9:19am
  - fightingtemeraire
    
    Same in Aus. Go to a bookshop with a school required list and ask for those books, 0% GST.
    
    Go and buy them off the shelf no school list 10% GST.
    
    Absolute NIGHTMARE at beginning of school term.
    
    In the UK clothes under a certain size % VAT over then whatever the rate is so a petite Asian can get clothes at 0% whereas a large boy has to buy adult sizes
    
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    August 14, 2026 9:31am
  - judith8409121
    
    ‘Simple taxes are best taxes” so true
    Thats why taxing unrealized assets is the worst you can possibly do. And that why TOPs unfair abusive land tax needs to be refused by nobody voting for this.
    
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    August 14, 2026 10:19am
    - Ian Boag
      
      A CGT based on “I bought it for this much” and “I sold it for that much” is pretty simple too. Collected when the gain is realised. No messing about with inflation adjustments because we don’t do that for any other taxes …. BTW – SA has had one since 2001 ….
      
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      August 14, 2026 11:30am
      - RoboRob
        
        CGT should be inflation adjusted. Its not hard. Labour dont want it adjusted because they know full well that a lot of the growth in value is from inflation.
        
        15 1
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        August 14, 2026 11:39am
      - KKNZ2025
        
        There is no “gain” in value. Its still the same asset with the same relative market value. The $ price +/- simply reflects money as the medium of exchange, re/devalued by monetary and fiscal policies outside the control of the asset owners. Looking forward to seeing their tax treatment of capital losses.
        
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        August 14, 2026 2:58pm
  - alloytoo
    
    25 years ago South Africa implemented VAT based on New Zealand’s GST system, we didn’t call it GST because it replaced a General Sales Tax and “Value Added Tax” avoided confusion.
    
    It was implemented with a single rate, a Zero rate and and exemption (exemption was deliberated political misdirect because exempt goods couldn’t claim input credits) It’s my understanding that the original implementation hasn’t been tampered with.
    
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    August 14, 2026 10:49am
    - Ian Boag
      
      That’s two of us. NZ and SA. Goodness.
      
      If I was importing an expensive unfunded drug to treat some serious condition it would make me all warm inside to know I was paying GST to keep the system simple. Ditto if I was on a pension/benefit buying food.
      
      If some of these multi-rate VAT systems qualify as “nightmares” then you are a bit thin-skinned seeing as how the population of the affected countries has been handling the variable rates more or less forever with no insurrection on the horizon ….
      
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      August 14, 2026 11:28am
      - RoboRob
        
        You simply dont know what you are talking about.
        I deal with VAT in the UK and I can confirm it is a nightmare for everyone involved, including HMRC.
        
        Buying medication from overseas only gets GST added to it because people like you, rightly pointed out that overseas web sites have a distinct advantage over NZ based web sites because there was no GST.
        
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        August 14, 2026 11:44am
- Eastlander
  
  A supporter of the Labour Party and its depraved and brainless leadership is the ‘moral vacuum’.
  
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  August 14, 2026 9:25am
Cassandra

Winning the physical war is important for the survival of Israel. Just as important is the reputational one too.

Israel was founded by the UN (with a bit of help by the UK, the US and Arthur Balfour). While Moslems and Chloe disagree, that’s it as far as I’m concerned.

However, some West Bank settlers and two Cabinet members plus a lack of care by the IDF sometimes, are making things difficult.

Israel needs to take steps to win back its reputation and supporters. For example, settlers are attacking the only entirely Christian village in the West Bank, apparently encouraged by the Cabinet extremists.

The best course for Israelis is to elect retired general Gadi Eisenkot as PM in October.
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August 14, 2026 8:02am
- Simon
  
  First the Epstein files and now this stupid war against Iran. Israel reputation is trashed. Rightly so. And this is just the outside. They need serious reform, they have some very nasty people running that country at the moment.
  
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  August 14, 2026 8:25am
- Northshoredoc
  
  Would it be OK if they attacked non-christian villages?
  
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  August 14, 2026 9:02am
  - mike
    
    Apparently.
    
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    August 14, 2026 10:07am
  - Cassandra
    
    Doc: they do. My point was re the PR. Israel benefits from US CHRISTIAN support. It’d be quite smart to leave the Christian villages alone.
    
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    August 14, 2026 3:46pm
- cmm (semi-retired edition)
  
  It is not at all clear that Israel are concerned about reputation any more. Perhaps they should not be for the while.
  
  Sure, they need a batter reputation at some point but they have always been prepared to play in the grey zone (eg. arms deals with South Africa when South Africa was under sanctions).
  
  But ultimately they only need a sufficiently good reputation with a few that matter (ie. USA and UK).
  
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  August 14, 2026 9:23am
  - David George
    
    “If we have to have a choice between being dead and pitied, and being alive with a bad image, we’d rather be alive and have the bad image.”
    Golda Meir.
    
    19 3
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    August 14, 2026 9:46am
    - MCōs
      
      That’s a starting point, I suppose
      But how bad does the image have to be before it’s intolerable?
      
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      August 14, 2026 10:17am
      - Charlotte Wells
        
        Stalin and Mao were bigger butchers than the Nazi regime. Yet they are lauded.
        
        2 2
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        August 14, 2026 1:14pm
- EssenX
  
  I like a lot of things about Israel. But the West Bank settler behaviour often crosses the line and increasingly in a way that has no justification whatsoever. As you say, Christians and other racial and religious groups have come under attack too. It needs to stop.
  
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  August 14, 2026 9:56am
- surfing
  
  Israel are asking to be attacked in my view.
  
  Israel try to portray themselves as the good guys, whose fight is against hamas, not the palestinians.
  
  This argument is completely decimated by Israel’s actions that they are taking against palestinian people, stealing their homes and using the army to do that.
  
  Imagine if the same happened here, white people were allowed to kick maoris out of their homes, and the army supported it.
  
  I’m frankly a little tired of the Israelis, and I think they should be left to fend for themselves. No other nation should be involved in protecting them.
  
  https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cj4kppdk2qwo
  
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  August 14, 2026 11:41am
  - Steve Otto N Shore
    
    Go to Israel and attack them.
    Inform us how you got on.
    
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    August 14, 2026 3:57pm
NeverMindTheBollocks

Oh dear. A cautionary tale of unintended consequences.

Following the NZ ban on greyhound racing, 10 percent of the local industry has relocated to Queensland.

An activist said “This goes against the intent of the ban in New Zealand although it is still technically legal unfortunately”.

“Queensland has a higher (dog injury) rate than we saw in New Zealand. And in New Zealand we banned it due to injuries,” she said.

And the cost of charter flights, running into hundreds of thousands is money that would otherwise have been spent to rehome greyhounds as pets in NZ.

Aaaaarghh!

Meanwhile, Queensland’s Minister of Racing has said thanks very much NZ for the free gift to the industry there.

No word on whether the slow dogs will be 501’d back here.

http://www.rnz.co.nz/news/world/995332/more-greyhounds-touch-down-in-queensland-after-new-zealand-racing-ban
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August 14, 2026 8:03am
- AitchW
  
  Our moral pearl clutchers love to export our dirty secrets. Look at how the Greens advocate for us to reduce dairy production thereby increasing production in less efficient and more polluting countries with lower standards of animal welfare.
  
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  August 14, 2026 8:35am
- Quail
  
  The dogs would probably rather be racing in Australia than the likely alternative in NZ.
  
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  August 14, 2026 8:37am
- kowtow
  
  To be consistent they should now do horse racing…….
  
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  August 14, 2026 9:16am
  - Sacha
    
    Horse racing is becoming more focussed around the major centres. Provincial racetracks are having financial problems. Winston isn’t helping them –
    
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    August 14, 2026 11:13pm
- cmm (semi-retired edition)
  
  Was the injury rate really the reason?
  
  I thought it was Winston helping out his mates in the horse racing circles.
  
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  August 14, 2026 9:25am
  - Keith White
    
    “and”…
    
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    August 14, 2026 9:43am
- keepcalmcarryon
  
  Winston doesn’t care, he’s propped up his horse racing mates just fine.
  Who thought this was ever about animal welfare?
  
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  August 14, 2026 10:22am
- surfing
  
  10% of the relocated dogs will have a slightly higher injury rate?
  
  I’d suppose if I were a greyhound, i’d prefer relocation to euthanasia.
  
  So, isn’t it a good thing some could be relocated?
  
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  August 14, 2026 11:45am
sungsamning

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nteT3l_hp6U
The UK Is Reaching Boiling Point.

In this video, I look at footage of an asylum seeker openly discussing the support he receives, demonstrations taking place across major English cities, growing anger over immigration and asylum policy, concerns about policing and surveillance, and a protest happening much closer to home over fears surrounding a proposed HMO. [things are hotting up in both Irelands too.]
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August 14, 2026 8:07am
- NeverMindTheBollocks
  
  One of the Irelands is part of the UK. Bring the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
  
  Just saying.
  
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  August 14, 2026 8:31am
  - sungsamning
    
    Yes, I should have written Ulster, and Eire. some of my ancestors were very staunch Presbyterians from Ulster.
    
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    August 14, 2026 1:56pm
sungsamning

https://nypost.com/2026/08/13/us-news/treasury-ids-nearly-5b-in-bank-transactions-linked-to-suspected-human-smuggling-with-62-dip-after-trumps-election/
Treasury IDs nearly $5B in bank transactions linked to suspected human smuggling, with 62% dip after Trump’s election.

WASHINGTON — The Treasury Department has pinpointed nearly $5 billion in bank or other transactions linked to suspected human smuggling between 2023 and 2025 — a staggering figure that the Trump administration is vowing to reduce, The Post can reveal.

The Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) found $4.9 billion in suspicious exchanges by combing through Bank Secrecy Act data between Jan. 1, 2023, and Dec. 31, 2025, according to a forthcoming Financial Trend Analysis report. [When the objective changes from depressing wages and importing voters; it becomes easier for the Feds to identify the bad guys. Who’d have thunk it?]
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August 14, 2026 8:07am
- mike
  
  And yet:
  https://www.politico.com/newsletters/morning-money/2025/03/24/treasury-defangs-anti-money-laundering-law-00244521
  
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  August 14, 2026 9:26am
  - sungsamning
    
    It stops Joe and Jane Six pack from laundering money. Drug lords and terrorists have other means.
    
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    August 14, 2026 1:58pm
- cmm (semi-retired edition)
  
  The anti-money laundering laws are just performative.
  
  Law abiding people not have to jump through a bunch of extra hoops so that we can “feel” that they are doing something.
  
  Meanwhile real money laundering goes on unabated.
  
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  August 14, 2026 9:41am
  - sungsamning
    
    Yes, the City knows a bit about that. Tax havens, and suchlike in the Carribean. The Trump administration has that in their sights.
    
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    August 14, 2026 2:00pm
BarryB

Yesterday I trimmed a gradefruit tree – it was loaded down with fruit. So what to do with all this food?
I went to the local Community house and they didn’t want it , but said go to “Homes and Communities” (Kianga Ora) next door. It was 4pm. Went to them and asked if they wanted them and:
“Well we have plenty of food – look theres bread, eggs, avocados, salad packs etc. Please take some – we will get it all again tomorrow”. They didn’t want the Grapefruit.
(Actually no one does – older people on heart meds cant eat grapefruit as it buggers up the statins)
Now Kianga Ora has two names – maori and English. I find running rentals that many maori – mainly women – have two names. One for the maori world one for the everyday world. I never let to someone using two names – you don’t know who you are signing up.
(and don’t say ‘but you have to look at their license or something’. Many have 2 of these. I know a women who has two licenses – she keeps her maiden name and her married name and renews both of them.)

In other news its reported that in S Korea they are finding the intense heat is effectively boiling potatoes in the ground. Never say that climate change is all bad news.

Pre-boiled potatos – but then again if people are too lazy to go to Kiang Ora for free food they wont be taking advantage of pre cooked spuds. Don’t tell me that “People are starving with the cost of living crisis”
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August 14, 2026 8:07am
- David George
  
  A friend volunteered to help at the local food bank but gave up in disgust; the “clients” were invariably fat or obese.
  Greed not need.
  
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  August 14, 2026 8:52am
  - pdm
    
    Not mention the ones in designer clothes driving late model Mercedes, BMW’s Teslas etc. DG.
    
    They are the ones frequenting Nourish for Nil in Hastings so we hear so I guess it is prevalent throughout the country.
    
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    August 14, 2026 8:59am
    - rouppe
      
      Sounds like an opportunity for a bit of civilian journalism.
      
      14 3
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      August 14, 2026 9:07am
      - R
        
        Journalisim…in NZ????
        
        14 0
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        August 14, 2026 9:24am
    - Fender
      
      and if they didn’t, that food would all be binned, ask those working inside pdm, they are grateful for those that turn up to collect it, anyone in any car.
      They frequently go to the point of ringing local businesses asking for staff to please go and collect food.
      the system and the generosity works too well but go find out for yourself because I’ve mentioned this before yet you keep repeating it.
      
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      August 14, 2026 10:53am
  - Eastlander
    
    That the people we consider ‘poor’ are able to consume as they do, this is a policy failure.
    
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    August 14, 2026 10:54am
- Maggy Wassilieff
  
  When we arrived in Gizzy I was staggered that my neighbours (and countless others) just left their lemons, mandarins, oranges and grapefruits to rot on the ground.
  I immediately set about planting citrus trees in my garden (incredible that a 70 year-old property didn’t already have fruiting citrus on site). 12 years on and I have a year-round supply of lemons and (Tahitian) limes; I’m starting to get overloaded with grape-fruit…. Yay!… I’ll get about 1 doz oranges this year and a couple of mandarins.
  
  I love marmalade, so that’s where my grapefruit will go….but for the first time since I’ve been here I’m refusing my friends’ offers of their grapefruit.
  
  I try to tell folks that halved baked grapefruits are a wonderful dessert, and halved roasted grapefruits go with any roast meal….. Not sure that I’ve made any converts.
  
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  August 14, 2026 9:10am
  - cmm (semi-retired edition)
    
    Unfortunately, as BarryB says, grapefruit are banned for people on statins. And these days about 40% of over 60s are on them.
    
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    August 14, 2026 9:30am
    - Paulus
      
      In Devonport we had an old Grapefruit tree tree which produced wonderful Grapefruit but I was unable for Health reasons to have one, but Doctor said just not regularly so after dawn on an occasion or two I did and they were simply wonderful.
      If only but !
      
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      August 14, 2026 1:45pm
    - AitchW
      
      In fact you can have small quantities of grapefruit if you are on low doses of statins. The grapefruit allows the drug to be released faster into your blood stream. If you’re on a low dose it’s not a huge problem.
      
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      August 14, 2026 4:00pm
  - pdm
    
    This year seems to be a good year for Mandarins Maggy. We buy Gisborne ones from a street stall around the corner from us – apparently son has an orchard on Ormond Road.
    
    Oranges due soon once they sweeten up a bit so we hear.
    
    Crops from our 7/8 year old tree Mandarin tree which is an a large pot (half a wine barrell) are problematic though. Last year we got less than 10 and this year the tree was loaded.
    
    Every year the fruit has been very small whether crop is sparse or the tree is almost overloaded no matter what or how often we feed the tree.
    
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    August 14, 2026 10:19am
    - Don Beckett
      
      You need to take off say 1/3 to 1/2 of the buds when the tree is flowering to increase to size of your crop.
      
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      August 14, 2026 10:53am
      - pdm
        
        Thanks DB.
        
        Will try harder thinning this season.
        
        Usually too mean to get rid of too many. lol.
        
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        August 14, 2026 11:05am
- leoj
  
  Sounds like the perfect opportunity to register on the maori roll as well as the non-maori roll and if so, a rort.
  
  Double that if using a maiden name in addition to a married name.
  
  Hope I am wrong but would not be surprised.
  
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  August 14, 2026 1:13pm
Simon

https://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/en/property-rates-valuations/help-low-income-households-community-groups.html

Hardship application for your rates. May be surprised how much you can get back. Also surprising not everyone who can get some rates rebates know about it.

Its useful for people on National Super and some bank interest.
Except other councils have some arrangement.
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August 14, 2026 8:31am
Nukuleka

I sat through the thoroughly tedious 3 hour InternetNZ AGM last evening on Zoom. Some good results were achieved by the members but dear oh dear the calibre of those running the show raises eyebrows. Seems that to hold office in InternetNZ you are required to have attended the Jacinda Ardern School of Diction (‘stradegy’ for strategy, ‘pardy’ for party etc) and have the ability to string along a whole bunch of clichés into a Manglish word salad. Plus the obligatory karakia mumbo jumbo at the beginning. Quite an eye- opener for a Public Service virgin like me.
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August 14, 2026 8:33am
- Cassandra
  
  You should complain to the HRC that Christian, Jewish, Hindu, Sikh, Moslem etc prayers were not included.
  
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  August 14, 2026 8:45am
  - artemisia
    
    I vote for InternetNZ to include an animist prayer to the three-toed-sloth, aka the ai.
    
    14 2
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    August 14, 2026 9:11am
- CJames
  
  Yes I watched it to and was pleased the votes went way FSU recommended. I agree that the organisation did not come across as very professional (I recognise many were volunteers but what did the big grant to Maori interests do? ) and having problems with voting isn’t a good sign for internet managers.
  
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  August 14, 2026 8:57am
- rouppe
  
  Same. It was painful. I logged off as soon as the motions were voted on, despite “further business”.
  
  An episode of “Reacher” was calling…
  
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  August 14, 2026 9:09am
- judith8409121
  
  this is the same nonsense that’s going on in all government departments. Wastage is high. I also voted in this, but luckily, i had forgotten it was on and arrived at 7.30pm just before the voting started. It started at 5.30, so glad i missed the start. And turn off before the last game of maori mumbo jumbo at the end.
  
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  August 14, 2026 10:23am
jp_1983

ind running rentals that many maori – mainly women – have two names. One for the maori world one for the everyday world. I never let to someone using two names – you don’t know who you are signing up.
(and don’t say ‘but you have to look at their license or something’. Many have 2 of these. I know a women who has two licenses – she keeps her maiden name and her married name and renews both of them.)

ummm does that mean their two names appear on the electoral roll twice as well?
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August 14, 2026 8:34am
- Steve Otto N Shore
  
  4 votes
  
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  August 14, 2026 4:13pm
imalwaysright

Willie Jackson and Paul Goldsmith were on Ryan Bridges breakfast tv show.

Willie on Goldsmith now having 11 portfolios: “If ya want nothing done with a portfolio, give it to Goldie.”
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August 14, 2026 8:43am
- pdm
  
  Not often I agree with Willie Jackson but he is bang on re Goldsmith `The Ditherer’.
  
  Simon Watts who is equally useless got the Building etc Portfolio.
  
  PM Luxon rewarding loyalty and not bothering with competence or outcomes.
  
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  August 14, 2026 10:24am
  - Don Beckett
    
    DEI appointment.
    
    8 3
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    August 14, 2026 10:55am
  - imalwaysright
    
    Its concerning that these portfolios, and presumably all of the rest, have effectively been put into hibernation until after the election, and subsequently until at least next February.
    
    Governance seems to have been suspended for at least 6 months so that the Government can resecure their jobs and then have a holiday.
    
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    August 14, 2026 12:07pm
  - Northshoredoc
    
    Chris Bishop made a complete git of himself on TV as well, don’t know why so many rate him?
    
    https://www.1news.co.nz/2026/08/13/watch-chris-bishop-grilled-on-nationals-leadership-drama/
    
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    August 14, 2026 12:32pm
    - KKNZ2025
      
      I’ve usually no time for Bishop however I just heard about this on the Platform so will give him the benefit of the doubt atm (unreported by RNZ & Stuff afaik)
      
      https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/chris-bishop-why-parliament-is-new-zealands-supreme-law-maker/MTMBZQO5YVGZBKNRKTCO36ZGIE/
      
      https://www.beehive.govt.nz/speech/speech-law-association-0
      
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      August 14, 2026 1:24pm
Pope Punctilious II

Is there something I’m not understanding here, or is Ani O’Brien being a snowflake and a hypocrite?
https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/361019921/she-champions-free-speech-then-went-court-over-what-blogger-said-about-her
Did Bradbury threaten her with violence? Did he incite others to cause her material harm? My impression is all he did was mock and ridicule her, but mockery and ridicule are totally legitimate political weapons.
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August 14, 2026 9:23am
- Ghost
  
  Not from the two posts I found. I couldn’t work out why they had to be removed
  
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  August 14, 2026 9:52am
- keepcalmcarryon
  
  I’m a little confused too, I usually have a lot of time for O’brien. A shame for all involved it’s taking so long to go through the courts.
  
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  August 14, 2026 10:27am
- keepcalmcarryon
  
  Cam Slater says it’s a harassment not a free speech issue.
  
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  August 14, 2026 10:50am
  - Ghost
    
    I’d hope the other two posts are bad, because the two I’ve seen are so much of a nothing burger that everyone in NZ should be concerned. Hell, based on those two, DPF should stop blogging for his own safety.
    
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    August 14, 2026 11:10am
    - keepcalmcarryon
      
      The opacity of the entire process is half the problem. Justice must as far as possible be done transparently so we can see it be done. So much suppression happens here , there’s no way of knowing!
      
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      August 14, 2026 11:42am
  - Pope Punctilious II
    
    Ridiculing someone on a blog doesn’t sound like harassment to me, even if it’s done repeatedly. Persistent unwelcome communication by text, email, social media, or in-person – now that would constitute harassment .
    
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    August 14, 2026 1:18pm
- Colville
  
  From Stuffed.
  
  What she does say is that the effect on her was “distressing”.
  
  “It was very, very personal,” she says.
  
  and
  
  “It wasn’t about him calling me right wing or disagreeing with my politics or even mocking my arguments or my work. That’s fine. I accept that.”
  
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  August 14, 2026 12:01pm
- Rumblestrip
  
  On the face of it I am very disappointed with Ani’s actions which seem to be massively hypocritical. However, I will withhold final judgement until the full details of the case are made public.
  
  One thing I do know is the Harmful Digital Communications Act 2015 is bad law.
  
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  August 14, 2026 3:48pm
David George

The very impressive Karoline Leavitt is leaving her job as W H press secretary – she will be a hard act to follow. Any word on who will replace her?

The Babylon Bee:
“Karoline Leavitt Prepared For Motherhood After Spending Last Two Years Answering Millions Of Stupid Questions”
19 3
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August 14, 2026 9:25am
- mike
  
  I’m looking forward to the next spokesthing being an even more enthusiastic liar than the previous five.
  https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/aug/13/trump-press-secretary-lies-karoline-leavitt
  
  3 17
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  August 14, 2026 10:03am
  - Swifty
    
    Doesn’t come remotely close to Karine Jean-Pierre.
    
    Now there was a bald-faced daily liar.
    
    2 0
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    August 14, 2026 4:56pm
- smttc
  
  Impressive? I guess so if you think being a consummate barefaced liar is impressive.
  
  5 10
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  August 14, 2026 11:11am
- BarryB
  
  Yes – whatever else she is she has a quick brain and she does her homework. Shes been very impressive and has been very rarely bested by a member of the media. She will be a very hard act to follow.
  
  16 4
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  August 14, 2026 11:13am
  - Hard Cheese
    
    She’s an appalling human being, standing up in front of the press representing the White House and shamelessly telling lies a 5 year old would be embarrassed to put forward. Along with the rest of Trump and the rest of his knuckle dragging cult members, I hope she gets her just desserts.
    
    0 6
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    August 14, 2026 3:36pm
    - Swifty
      
      Hahahahahhaha!
      
      1 0
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      August 14, 2026 4:53pm
BeaB

Our journalists have had a bad week. Obviously the anonymous MP whispering to the Herald didn’t have a clue. Or perhaps didn’t even exist. I’d love a rule that spokespeople and sources always have to be named.
The latest Listener, a magazine that leans so far left it often topples over, came crashing down with its ‘who pulls the strings’ article on ‘rising stars’. Guess who they feature first? Chris Penk! More like a meteor speeding down into oblivion. It seems the insiders and cognoscenti in Wellington aren’t so clever after all.
17 3
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August 14, 2026 9:30am
- MCōs
  
  You seem to loathe the Listener and everything it stands for, yet still you boost their readership numbers.
  I’d say on that basis they’re not having a bad week
  
  4 13
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  August 14, 2026 10:32am
  - Ian
    
    You can read it for free in the Air NZ lounges – maybe BeaB does. Even I read it there as beyond the advertising type magazines, there’s only the Womans Weekly – now what would you choose…
    
    4 0
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    August 14, 2026 12:59pm
  - Charlotte Wells
    
    Read it at the library. And only those items that provide some possibly useful information.
    
    3 0
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    August 14, 2026 1:19pm
  - BeaB
    
    In your hyperbole, you assume I bought a copy.
    
    4 0
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    August 14, 2026 1:59pm
Swifty

Successive NZ govts have been in fiscal deficit for the last seven straight years, they are spending billions more annually than they receive, but Labour MPs are still brimming with new ideas how to relieve us of our dough and for them to spend:

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/regions/1000168/auckland-mp-considers-members-bill-to-strengthen-protections-for-historic-buildings

The left will be the ruin of us.
17 2
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August 14, 2026 9:40am
- Ian Boag
  
  fiscal deficit for the last seven straight years
  
  Yes but that includes the present ….
  
  https://chatgpt.com/share/6a7e508c-7210-83ec-b8fb-35c87421012a
  
  3 8
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  August 14, 2026 11:18am
  - Swifty
    
    Yes, how could ‘for the last seven straight years’ be interpreted any other way?
    
    What is your point?
    
    10 1
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    August 14, 2026 11:32am
    - Ian Boag
      
      Fair question – I’ll break my normal rule with an extract from the chatgpt response ….
      
      The deficit is no longer simply a COVID hangover. Treasury now says there is a structural deficit — meaning that even after allowing for the state of the economic cycle and one-offs, government spending is exceeding sustainable revenue. It estimates the structural deficit began in 2022/23
      
      7 4
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      August 14, 2026 11:37am
      - Swifty
        
        Yes, that’s exactly my point.
        
        You’d think in these difficult times, MPs might be super-focussed on policies to maximise taxpayer value, or to look at ways to economise.
        
        But no! Labour, not content with the greatest explosion in state spending in our history, outside of wartime, under their last government are still looking for new and more ways for them to spend our money.
        
        10 0
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        August 14, 2026 11:58am
All_on_Red

‘The world’s cloud cover has been shrinking significantly and may help explain the extraordinary heat of the last two years, new research led by NASA found.’
‘It found areas over the ocean where storm clouds often form have dwindled by between 1.5 and 3 per cent per decade.
It may not sound like much, but Monash University professor Christian Jakob, who leads the ARC’s 21st Century Weather Centre of Excellence, said that loss has amounted to a significant portion of sunlight being absorbed by the Earth instead of being reflected out to space.

“So that increase is what’s providing extra warming to the climate…’
‘What we found is the effect of clouds, and the shrinking of highly reflective clouds, is much, much larger,” he said.
“I would say it’s at least three or four times the influence of the other effects that have been put forward.’
‘it’s fair to assume it contributed to the extraordinary warmth over the last few years.”
Heres the Paper in Geophysical Research Letters
https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2025GL114882

So less Cloud means more sunlight reaches the Planets surface which means more warming
Who knew?
10 1
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August 14, 2026 9:41am
- BarryB
  
  Yes – most climate ‘scientists’ havent got a clue about clouds. They dont know how or why they form (yes they do know the physics of why they form, but they havent got a clue about why the physics happened.)
  Climate was once well described by someone who said something like “A butterfly flaps its wings in New England and we get a cyclone in Texas”. No one can actually tell you exactly how this happens – yes heaps of theories and ideas but ………..
  
  9 3
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  August 14, 2026 11:18am
  - imalwaysright
    
    Maybe they are reverse engineering cloud theory as they would any event with no apparent initiator.
    
    3 1
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    August 14, 2026 11:42am
- Maggy Wassilieff
  
  But, but, but… it is difficult (impossible?) to factor clouds into GCMs.
  
  After 40 years of IPCC churning out reports based on climate models, it seems we are still clueless about the role of clouds in mediating climate change…..somehow it’s all the fault of man-made minor volumes of CO2 and CH4…and nothing to do with Earth’s most abundant green-house gas – H2O, aka water vapour, aka clouds.
  
  https://www.gfdl.noaa.gov/cloud-feedback-hypotheses/
  
  10 1
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  August 14, 2026 12:55pm
cmm (semi-retired edition)

“Police said on Thursday that the dead man was on bail but was not breaching his bail conditions.”

Ummm, surely one of the bail conditions is to not commit further crimes? Or is that just far too logical to be applied in NZ?

https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/361019970/stolen-rifle-police-pursuit-fatal-shooting-what-happened-near-sylvia-park
16 2
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August 14, 2026 9:45am
- keepcalmcarryon
  
  My favorite dumb media quote over this was – after he stole an air gun whilst on bail- “it’s not known if he had a firearms license”
  
  20 1
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  August 14, 2026 10:30am
- marcw
  
  I wonder if the ‘estimed’ judge who awarded him bail is having any self reflection today? This criminal would be locked up, but alive, today if not for his bail release.
  
  The only thing we can be sure of is the judge will not feature in any police review, let alone any demotion.
  
  12 0
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  August 14, 2026 12:05pm
  - Philview
    
    Did you read about the lady who tried to cut the throat of a toddler? Police arrested her put her in a psychiatric unit. She was given medication and released 3 days later. I would have thought more than 3 days was needed. She has now been sent to prison. She had a sob story that she wasn’t coping well with the move to New Zealand.
    
    11 0
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    August 14, 2026 12:49pm
  - Ghost
    
    Since he was on community detention and not bail, then you can thank the sentencing act.
    
    3 2
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    August 14, 2026 1:07pm
  - Charlotte Wells
    
    ‘Esteemed’.
    
    5 0
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    August 14, 2026 1:21pm
- surfing
  
  It’s reported this guy was one of 9 siblings, and had 5 kids himself.
  
  Potentially if the other siblings are just as successful at procreating, there are the 9 siblings plus 45 children making 54 people.
  
  I wonder how many are involved on the wrong side of the criminal justice system or social welfare?
  
  The cycle of poverty is a tragic thing — I don’t think we do enough to save children from it. Not saying this is the case here, but, what are the odds?
  
  11 0
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  August 14, 2026 12:40pm
  - cmm (semi-retired edition)
    
    “The cycle of poverty is a tragic thing”
    
    There is no cycle of poverty in NZ. There is, however, a cycle of criminality.
    
    15 1
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    August 14, 2026 1:35pm
  - Don Beckett
    
    How many mothers were there for the five kids? Part of the problem.
    
    6 4
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    August 14, 2026 2:31pm
    - Ghost
      
      Maybe Don you should learn to read, instead of being part of the problem of people who throw things out that are wrong.
      
      Otene had five children with his partner of 17 years and was the second eldest of nine siblings.
      
      Article
      
      4 3
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      August 14, 2026 3:07pm
    - imalwaysright
      
      DB
      
      There are many desperate people around today, this one may be just another bad guy or he could be someone who is genuinely desperate and found himself in over his head.
      The world is becoming a cruel place.
      Compassion is never wasted.
      
      0 0
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      August 14, 2026 6:21pm
- Ghost
  
  He was on community detention, his curfew was 7pm to 7am, so he wasn’t breaking that until he stole the gun.
  
  https://www.1news.co.nz/2026/08/14/man-shot-dead-by-police-at-sylvia-park-was-on-community-sentence/
  
  3 1
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  August 14, 2026 1:06pm
Ian

There are so many other “estimed” judges having judged on other cases who should be having self-reflection as well….
0 0
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August 14, 2026 1:03pm
Ian

Mall shooting death according to media was 33-year-old father-of-five Hapai Ropata Clyde Otene. How sad that his taking actions of a “Darwing” nature has deprived five children of their father – wonder if he factored in what might have happened…
4 0
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August 14, 2026 1:20pm
- AitchW
  
  Wait for the inevitable outpouring for the “loveable rogue”.
  
  2 0
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  August 14, 2026 5:39pm
Swifty

“He was a good father…”

No he wasn’t. Five kids at 33, how was he supporting them with his recent jailing for armed robbery?

“They didn’t need to kill him…”

He didn’t need to live a life of violent crime culminating of a robbery of a gun from shop staff and which prompted a wild chase to a crowded mall…

https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/361019970/stolen-rifle-police-pursuit-fatal-shooting-what-happened-near-sylvia-park
14 0
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August 14, 2026 1:36pm
- Ian
  
  Problem is being “was a good father” does not equate to being a good citizen in his case…
  
  4 0
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  August 14, 2026 3:39pm
  - Swifty
    
    He was neither.
    
    A good father doesn’t live a life of crime, risking long periods away from his kids and being unable to provide for them while locked up.
    
    8 0
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    August 14, 2026 4:50pm
    - Swifty
      
      My god we’ve got some moronic attitudes in this country:
      
      https://www.facebook.com/share/1EBXJU4wWb/
      
      1 0
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      August 14, 2026 6:18pm
- mandk
  
  The Herald has revealed his name was Hapai Ropata Clyde Otene.
  
  But, oddly enough, there is no mention of his whakapapa.
  
  I wonder why not //
  
  9 0
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  August 14, 2026 4:44pm
  - kowtow
    
    Where’s Bonny .
    
    0 0
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    August 14, 2026 5:27pm
- Swifty
  
  Oh and he was a member of the Killa Beez I see.
  
  Yep, great father behaviour.
  
  6 0
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  August 14, 2026 6:40pm
Maggy Wassilieff

Who would want to be a teacher?

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/principal-steven-arnold-censured-over-restraining-student-at-school-camp/2K7Y7SP4EBEBLO42ZSGZ44JUVU/

Teachers should not be placed in positions where they are responsible for the medication of very sick or disturbed children.
11 0
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August 14, 2026 2:37pm
Swifty

Ours is a government full of dirty, rotten, filthy mongrels according to Willie Jackson.

https://x.com/Suitandtie9999/status/2088083154146054477/video/1?s=46
5 1
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August 14, 2026 3:38pm
- AitchW
  
  If anyone could recognise dirty, rotten, filthy, mongrels it would be little Willie.
  
  3 0
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  August 14, 2026 5:37pm
Ghost

Who knew that a former labour minister would admit this

Former Labour cabinet minister Kiri Allan has come out swinging against the public service saying it is bloated, slow, and overpaid.

Article
7 0
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August 14, 2026 4:03pm
- Hugh Jarse
  
  Those three characteristics probably apply to most of the Labour MPs ?
  
  3 0
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  August 14, 2026 4:14pm
- Pope Punctilious II
  
  Not I! But sometimes it’s nice to be proven wrong.
  
  0 0
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  August 14, 2026 4:48pm
- KKNZ2025
  
  From the government that increased the public servants staff by 18000 /40% in 6 years with no significant improvement in public services
  
  2 0
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  August 14, 2026 5:55pm
Ghost

Results coming in from the Clacton by-election,

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has received 22,239

Count Binface has received a career-best 9,455 votes

That should be embarrassing for Nigel
1 10
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August 14, 2026 5:07pm
- kowtow
  
  Rubbish.
  Farage has nearly as many votes as the PM Burnham got in his Makerfield by election.And if anything his vote has gone up a bit since the GE .
  
  The UK media have reported that Reform are wildly popular in Essex and a huge threat to the imcumbent Tories in the area , including shadow cabinet ministers.
  That’s embarassing.
  
  7 2
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  August 14, 2026 5:18pm
  - Ghost
    
    And yet a joke candaidate was able to get such a significant vote. Nigel has already cancelled his appearance today and lies about being advised by police not to not turn up at the count have been proven false. Yes he should be embarrased bin face was able to get a significant vote. BTW, last election he was up against actual candidates. To increase by only 1,000 votes when you are up against a joke candidate and no serious candidates is embarrassing
    
    1 7
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    August 14, 2026 5:36pm
    - All_on_Red
      
      Dont be dumb
      Binface got all the Labour, Green and anti Farage votes cause there wasnt a Candidate for them
      A bit like Burnham got a lot of Votes cause everyone wanted to see Starmer gone.
      
      6 2
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      August 14, 2026 6:45pm
      - Ghost
        
        Always people trying to pull excuses out of their butt to protect people they support. Btw, the data from pre election polling showed it was a protest vote and wasn’t a clear strategic left bloc.
        
        1 4
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        August 14, 2026 6:57pm
      - All_on_Red
        
        Lol
        Stop wriggling
        It was a dumb comment
        And you’re still on here?
        Some life you have
        
        5 2
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        August 14, 2026 7:00pm
    - keepcalmcarryon
      
      Bin face represents the contempt the establishment parties have for the voters.
      This will sink in at some point.
      
      3 1
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      August 14, 2026 7:16pm
    - Swifty
      
      Voter turnout was down by 14% (44 versus 58% in the general election) so Farage did pretty well considering.
      
      2 0
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      August 14, 2026 7:19pm
greybeard

https://www.stuff.co.nz/politics/361020376/flights-nationals-failed-coup-likely-cost-taxpayers-35k
Dear God: can the leftwing pansies not come up with something better than this ?
9 0
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August 14, 2026 5:29pm
- Gravelroad
  
  @Gb-
  How low can stuff go?
  Fancy bothering to make up a story using responses from a stuff comment section when everyone knows that political party members and activists are the ones making the comments in order to electioneer.
  Sometimes stuff is truely pathetic.
  
  4 0
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  August 14, 2026 6:03pm
  - Swifty
    
    I remember various Labour leadership contests where Labour leadership aspirants were constantly flying up and down the country campaigning – and all at our expense.
    
    Hypocrites.
    
    7 0
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    August 14, 2026 6:17pm
  - AitchW
    
    Not just sometimes.
    
    1 0
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    August 14, 2026 7:31pm
- OlderChas
  
  The most startling thing to me about that is the cost of flying internally in New Zealand!
  
  4 0
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  August 14, 2026 6:30pm
greybeard

Florence Joyner was known as “FloJo”.
Boris Johnson was known as “BoJo”.
Scott Morrison was known as “ScoMo”.

Why then is Anthony Albanese known as “Albo” ?
5 1
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August 14, 2026 5:54pm
- Tauhei Notts
  
  Because Anal would be considered defamatory.
  
  7 1
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  August 14, 2026 6:08pm
  - imalwaysright
    
    Nice one.
    
    1 1
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    August 14, 2026 6:30pm
  - AitchW
    
    Not if it’s demonstrably true…..
    
    3 0
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    August 14, 2026 7:30pm
    - imalwaysright
      
      Nicer one.
      
      1 0
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      August 14, 2026 8:23pm
pb

Trump frightened by Mossad into hiding in a food cart, leaving everyone else to burn.

https://www.newsweek.com/trump-catering-truck-air-force-one-hiding-places-12307450
1 8
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August 14, 2026 6:44pm
- All_on_Red
  
  Perhaps you should seek some help
  
  8 3
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  August 14, 2026 6:53pm

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