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September 30, 2026 8:00am by Kokila Patel

General Debate 30 September 2026

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General Debate

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NeverMindTheBollocks

good move by Auckland Council.

It’s clear that within certain communities whose culture is different to ours, voting en bloc is the norm. Stealing voting papers straight out of letterboxes is not unheard of, either.

More broadly, there’s nothing like having to turn up in person to focus the mind. Having to make an effort to get to the booth implies making an effort to research policies and candidates, which civic engagement is what we want.

http://www.1news.co.nz/2026/09/29/auckland-council-ditches-postal-voting-for-future-local-elections/
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September 30, 2026 8:03am
- Simon
  
  Import the third world become the third world. National party core policy
  
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  September 30, 2026 9:49am
- BeaB
  
  I much prefer postal voting but it’s hard to find post boxes these days. I’d love online voting and can’t see why it shouldn’t be as secure as my banking.
  A lot of people are wedded to the church or school hall, I’m not sure why. I prefer being able to vote at somewhere like the local mall as part of a shopping day rather than a special trip to somewhere I’d never normally go.
  
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  September 30, 2026 10:54am
  - Jigsaw
    
    BeaB – Then can I suggest that you do some research and see how postal voting was rorted in the US -especially in the 2020 election when video shows people posting large bundles of votes and other irregularities. Our electoral history shows where we have tried to avoid prior mistakes and weak points.
    
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    September 30, 2026 1:06pm
    - Ghost
      
      You cannot really compare mail in voting in nz to the mess they have in the USA. Our elections, our laws, the safe guards are far different. And most of those videos were people posting their families votes.
      
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      September 30, 2026 2:03pm
  - rouppe
    
    Honestly how far can it be to your local voting place at a school or similar. Mine is within 200m
    
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    September 30, 2026 3:42pm
  - Nobby2
    
    BeaB, Surely you could get off you arse for one day every three years.
    
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    September 30, 2026 4:28pm
- pb
  
  Online & postal voting is for CIA, MI6, MOSSAD, NZSIS
  
  Little to do with immigrants.
  
  It allows foreign intelligence agencies and our own to manipulate elections.
  
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  September 30, 2026 10:39pm
wsk12345

Im curious about all these guest posts from Alwyn and Lucy. I wouldn’t be if they were interesting and well written and had a clear point but they are not.

Why is DPF downgrading his blog with this material? Readers don’t seem to engage much on it or are just bemused as to the point.

Anyone know?
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September 30, 2026 8:06am
- Ghost
  
  His blog, he can post what he likes. If you are so precious about it don’t read them, but to claim they downgrade the blog is just stupid. The blog has a lot of different content, it’s what makes it so good
  
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  September 30, 2026 9:38am
  - David Garrett
    
    Ghost: As a sometime guest poster, I agree with you. KB would be much the poorer if everyone had pretty much the same view.
    
    But that said…some of Alwyn’s are far far too long, and full of mistakes (he claims he has dyslexia, which means he needs someone to proofread them before he presses “send”). But with his I take your advice, and generally don’t bother reading them.
    
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    September 30, 2026 10:47am
    - Ghost
      
      Yeah, I don’t read anything that is long, or that doesn’t interest me. It’s very easy to do. I cannot think of another blog that accepts posts from people no matter what side of the political fence you are on, or with such a range of topics. Free speech is amazing, cancel culture is toxic
      
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      September 30, 2026 10:55am
    - Paulus
      
      AI would rule out Dislexia surely.
      
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      September 30, 2026 2:10pm
  - Ra Henare
    
    I think the complaint is primarily about LENGTH of the post. Rather than the predictable one-person rambling view.
    
    I have taken to scrolling down, but nowadays that is wearing my aged thumb out!!!
    
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    September 30, 2026 5:24pm
- R
  
  Freedom of speech, means that even the deluded can comment. Likewise we wouldn’t have the ‘Horrid’ without such a freedom
  
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  September 30, 2026 9:50am
- Sir Cullen's Sidekick
  
  They are soooooooo long and I skip them. Never read one in full. As boring as Chippie and Te Reo Luxon.
  
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  September 30, 2026 10:59am
- Sir Henry Morgan
  
  Can’t disagree, but it is David’s blog and he can do what he likes.
  
  At least Lucy can write fairly coherently.
  
  Other guest posts (besides the endless posts from these two) are generally good.
  
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  September 30, 2026 3:02pm
- pb
  
  That sounds like anti semitism.
  
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  September 30, 2026 10:40pm
Scott

Some good news that crossed my desk recently from Don Brash’s newsletter:

“In the past few weeks, we have seen a very clear shift in the conversation, and the political landscape, when it comes to promoting equal rights, is changing for the better.
We now have two out of the three governing parties aligned with our core vision:
– The ACT Party has officially proposed policy to complete all remaining historical Treaty claims, end the Tribunal’s contemporary jurisdiction, and disestablish the Tribunal entirely once historical work is finished.
– New Zealand First and Winston Peters have gone even further, pledging to immediately abolish the Tribunal and set a clear end date for all pre-2008 claims.
David Seymour and the ACT Party made their announcement at the start of September.
Over the weekend, Winston Peters announced that NZ First will campaign on immediately abolishing the Waitangi Tribunal and tabling legislation in their first 100 days to replace it with a final Treaty of Waitangi Completion Commission.
He publicly called out the Tribunal for becoming a “make-work organisation” that interferes with democratic law-making – concerns we at Hobson’s Pledge have been raising for years.”

National’s coalition partners on the right are both pushing for the end of the Waitangi tribunal!

I remember being on a marae in Waitara and the chief said to us,” in terms of the settlements, we’re over that now”. Meaning the Waitara people have settled. We need to have final settlements across NZ and then close the book forever!
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September 30, 2026 8:09am
- Simon
  
  Doesn’t matter. National will just hook up with Labour to pass legislation as needed.
  
  Watch National go running off to Labour.
  
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  September 30, 2026 9:52am
  - David Garrett
    
    Simon: Whould you care for a wee wager? $50 says there is no way there would ever be such a grand coalition in NZ. Email me on [email protected]
    if you want to take me up on my offer.
    
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    September 30, 2026 1:08pm
    - Ghost
      
      I don’t know why people keep pushing this stupidity. Someone was doing it the other night.
      
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      September 30, 2026 1:11pm
      - David Garrett
        
        Ghost: Three hours later I can confirm I have not received any email taking me up on the wager.
        
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        September 30, 2026 3:28pm
    - Nobby2
      
      DG, Whould or Would ?
      
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      September 30, 2026 4:32pm
- leoj
  
  As is becoming apparent, the Nats are the last to actually do anything about the tribunal. They are simply chicken-hearted, scared shitless about upsetting maori.
  
  Maybe they’ll get the message on Nov 7th, but not with ultra-woke Luxon at the helm.
  
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  September 30, 2026 10:05am
  - Frank the tank
    
    Most of the wets will be rinsed at the election. It will be a different National party post election although I’m not holding my breath re any meaningful change
    
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    September 30, 2026 12:43pm
  - keepcalmcarryon
    
    They’re not scared, the Nats are enablers of iwi elites, along with corporate elites that’s who they rule NZ for.
    Bolger began the current iwiocracy.
    
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    October 1, 2026 12:12am
- Northshoredoc
  
  Winston full of the usual piss and wind which will disappear post election.
  
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  September 30, 2026 5:26pm
Benedict Yu

I see that there was a glimmer of hope in the pre election fiscal update. So Chris Hipkins decided he would reinstate “pay equity” payments at a cost of a few billion.

To be honest how many folk could even explain “pay equity”? Something to do with nursing home workers wanting to be paid the same as fire fighters.
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September 30, 2026 8:10am
- pdm
  
  BY it is more than a few billion.
  
  About 13Billion I believe.
  
  Hardly beer money.
  
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  September 30, 2026 8:13am
  - imalwaysright
    
    Hipkins, and the others, threatening to repeal legislation such as this and the gas exploration, education etc, makes NZ look like a risky place to do business.
    
    They are willing to destabilise the country just to get power.
    
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    September 30, 2026 8:44am
    - septic skeptic
      
      True enough. But National and NZF are doing their bit as well with their big supermarket policies
      
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      September 30, 2026 10:29am
  - alex Masterley
    
    Very difficult to find that amount of money down the back of the couch!
    
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    September 30, 2026 8:52am
    - RoboRob
      
      There is NO way Labour are finding that sort of money without increasing taxes / levies etc. Despite what Barbara Edmonds say, that sort of cash is actually quite difficult to find just using re allocations and cuts, not that labour has ever cut anything besides tax cuts.
      
      Oh and Hipkins saying the forcast $4b surplus means he can afford it is pathetic. He is spending money that hasnt even arrived yet, the prefu is based on NATIONALS spending plan. The surplus does not exist under Labours.
      
      If we get a surplus I want to spend most of it paying down our debt (which would enable future bigger surpluses). Not simply increase spending until we are back to running deficits.
      
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      September 30, 2026 8:57am
    - R
      
      Down the back of the couch is where the money printing press is located. Robertson bequeathed the couch to Chippie; somewhere for him to sit and fantasize while in opposition. Hopefully it is a comfortable couch as Chippie will be there for a loooooong time .
      
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      September 30, 2026 9:29am
      - Jethrod
        
        That’s a brilliant a̶n̶a̶l̶o̶g̶y̶ reality set to become a trough for Hippy and the Barb.
        
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        September 30, 2026 12:06pm
      - Taieri
        
        Not that their successor is any more prudent with the country’s finances…
        
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        September 30, 2026 1:17pm
    - rouppe
      
      Hosking called it this morning. Labour’s free doctors visits are predicated on the CGT being based on 3% house price rises per annum.
      
      The PREFU showed that the average house price rise over the next term to be about 2.2%.
      
      Doesn’t add up.
      
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      September 30, 2026 3:48pm
  - kevn
    
    Indeed pdm…
    Millions v/s billions…
    1 million in (time) seconds = 11 days.
    1 billion seconds in (time) = 31.5 years.
    Billion is a Big number.
    
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    September 30, 2026 9:13am
    - kevn
      
      or another viewpoint…
      Say coffee is $5 a cup, it would take one thousand coffees a day for 500 years to spend the 1 billion.
      A billion is big.
      
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      September 30, 2026 9:16am
      - kowtow
        
        On top of that you can add reparations to the descendants of workers on those colonial coffee plantations .
        
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        September 30, 2026 10:29am
      - Sir Cullen's Sidekick
        
        Your incoming Finance Minister Chloe will spend before you could say “climate change”.
        
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        September 30, 2026 11:02am
      - Quail
        
        Once upon a time Governments were the only people who handled millions , the rest of us had to make do with hundreds and the very rich thousands.
        Nowadays it is billions and even trillions that is Government business. Millions are commonplace.
        It is Government led inflation that has and is debasing currencies world wide.
        An local example of price inflation or debased currency is a popular farm 4wd that was offered five years ago @ $ 70k , the price is today over $140k.
        This is for the same model with the same old fashioned technology.
        There are many other examples
        Successive Governments have accelerated this inflation with their deficit budgeting , spending money they do not have.
        Nothing has changed, but change it must.
        
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        September 30, 2026 11:13am
    - Nobby2
      
      A good analogy Kevn, thanks.
      
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      September 30, 2026 10:39am
    - The Housekeeper
      
      I prefer the breaths scenario to illustrate the difference between 1 million and 1 billion. A baby will be 17/18 days old when it has taken 1 million breaths. By the time it has taken 1 billion breaths it will be between 100 and 120 years old.
      
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      September 30, 2026 3:21pm
- Prince
  
  Hipkins on Mike Hosking this morning refused to cost ‘Pay Equity’, saying it was to be negotiated, presumably with his friendly unions.
  Since when is ‘paying women the same as men’ a negotiated amount ?
  He is, as usual, duplicitous.
  Brook Van Velden put the cost at $13B.
  
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  September 30, 2026 8:16am
  - imalwaysright
    
    For ‘pay’ equity to work it will need ’employment’ equity.
    
    No private employer is going to willingly employ someone who doesn’t earn their keep, therefore the next stage of pay equity will be employers being compelled to hire substandard people.
    
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    September 30, 2026 9:51am
- Grizz
  
  Pat Equity has nothing to do with men and women earning the same for the same job and equal work. It is about arbitrarily saying that one type of job should be paid as much as another type of job, using the idea that jobs dominated by women are underpaid compared to jobs dominated by men. How they compare is ambiguous at best. For example Librarians should be paid as much as plumbers etc.
  
  Of note, a lot of jobs dominated by women – administrative and middle management are threatened by AI. If there was so called pay “Equity” then many businesses would have incentive to repalce workers with AI.
  
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  September 30, 2026 8:36am
- redeye
  
  The actual dispute is over the Coalition raising the female workforce threshold from 60% to 70% (which disqualified secondary school teachers entirely), canceling 33 active claims, and saving the government an estimated $12.8 billion in projected wage settlements.
  Now you can argue secondary school teachers deserve more money (I wouldn’t) but arguing they are being disavantaged becuase they’re female is a bit rich when over 34% of them are male.
  
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  September 30, 2026 8:40am
  - nova
    
    And the irony is that secondary teaching historically was a male dominated profession. It was only in the mid 1990s that female teachers started to outnumber their male colleagues.
    
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    September 30, 2026 10:01am
  - rouppe
    
    Is there any analysis that shows female teachers with the same qualifications, results and service length as male teachers ARE being paid less than those male teachers?
    
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    September 30, 2026 3:51pm
    - OlderChas
      
      The way I have heard it described, rouppe , is that it has nothing to do with male and female doing the same job with same quals and service length at all. (Which is what I always thought it was about.) It is some sort of ‘reasoning’ that – say – a female librarian is worth the same as – say – a male police detective, or – say – a female ECE teacher is worth the same as – say – a male firefighter.
      I have never seen nor heard the “reasoning’ explained.
      
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      September 30, 2026 6:32pm
      - R
        
        There is no ‘reasoning’ involved. This is sim0ly part of the conditioning for the introduction of a UBI.
        
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        September 30, 2026 8:47pm
      - rouppe
        
        The way I heard it was that this comparison was being done in industries where there are no comparable male counterparts. So they make up a comparison with an allegedly comparable industry.
        
        Like ECE teachers have to handle more than one child at a time. Air traffic controllers have to handle more than one aircraft at a time so that must be comparable work. I mean… Really?
        
        Anyway, back to secondary teachers. Is the pay comparable between equivalent male and female teachers or not. I thought the teachers pay scales were very prescriptive, and the hurdles to get to the next pay scale very well known so how female teachers think there’s some gender bias is strange.
        
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        September 30, 2026 10:43pm
- Observant Octagenarian
  
  When I was at school (1950s), the mantra was “get an education, get a better job”.
  Most government departments had a “minimum education standard”, usually School Certificate, but paid a bit more than your standard apprenticeship.
  If you weren’t an apprentice or had a government job you would likely end up as a labourer or other low paid job.
  The unions are fighting to make these ‘low paid jobs’ get paid the same as the jobs that ‘educated people’ have.
  Of course those in well-off families went to university but that’s a different lot of people.
  
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  September 30, 2026 8:42am
- Scooter
  
  His interview with Mike Hosking was a bit of a train wreck, he was getting very worked up and angry. Something’s changed with him, has he been told to embrace the inner mongrol or just had a fight with the missus? Maybe he’ll do a Jacinda and refuse to go on Mike’s show. This elecshun really is turning out to be a doozie. Can’t wait till Nov.
  https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/chris-hipkins-labour-leader-on-their-policy-costings-in-the-wake-of-prefu-adrian-rurawhes-death/
  
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  September 30, 2026 8:44am
  - kevn
    
    Can I do this?
    https://nominister.wordpress.com/2026/09/30/labour-the-party-of-bullshit/
    
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    September 30, 2026 10:04am
    - NeverMindTheBollocks
      
      You certainly can, Kev!
      
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      September 30, 2026 7:02pm
  - kingerstinger
    
    I agree Scooter, he started reasonably but quickly became rather hysterical.
    
    If Luxon can keep his cool (very likely, he’s too boring to lose it) it could work very well – a la Key v Cunliffe.
    
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    September 30, 2026 10:48am
    - rouppe
      
      I don’t like how Luxon giggles his way through a difficult question.
      
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      September 30, 2026 3:53pm
- Michael Johnston
  
  It’s rort by public sector unions to secure large, taxpayer funded pay increases for the female dominated occupations they represent, in the name of ‘fairness to women’. Anyone who disagrees is labeled a misogynist.
  
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  September 30, 2026 9:15am
  - Burtland
    
    its marxism (again)
    
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    September 30, 2026 9:41am
- Phronesis
  
  It is at heart a denial of the free market. Its effect would inevitably be to fix wages in such a way that they would be very hard to change. If x is paid as much as y then it follows that if there is a shortage of x it is impossible to offer more money, without also offering more money to y, who works for a different employer in a different industry!
  The result will be massive understaffing in less attractive jobs that were traditionally done by men.
  
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  September 30, 2026 9:57am
- Pope Punctilious II
  
  Pay equity. You stack a committee with feminists and wokesters, and hey presto: a librarian is now equivalent to an air traffic controller!
  
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  September 30, 2026 10:16am
- cas
  
  John Clarke explained how you find the money very well in his comments about quantitative easing. About 1 minute in.
  
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2AvU2cfXRk
  
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  September 30, 2026 10:20am
- BeaB
  
  The unions corrupted the pay equity scheme by pushing claims like secondary school teachers. I joined the profession in the 1970s when the majority of teachers were male and we had equal pay. Today there are a lot more women and more in senior positions and there’s still equal pay so I’m not sure there’s a problem with equity. Just because a job is woman-dominated doesn’t necessarily mean they should be paid more and some of the comparisons made a joke of the whole process.
  
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  September 30, 2026 10:59am
artemisia

‘Greedy’: Union slams Woolworths decision to axe 130 jobs in NZ – Herald yesterday.

Woolworths say they are New Zealand’s largest private employer, and they are making a business decision to simplify operations, remove duplicated overheads, and ensure long-term sustainability across its New Zealand business Likely Woolworths is keeping an eye on the distinct possibility of changes coming for the sector, and the accompanying uncertainty.

Workers First union is not at all happy despite WW’s commitment to redeploy if they can. Maybe the union thinks this may just be the first step in Woolworths ‘sustainability’ plan, and their membership numbers could be significantly impacted. The union may well be correct.

Owners make decisions about the assets they own. Of course, but also plan in case of imposed changes.
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September 30, 2026 8:11am
- Prince
  
  ‘Owners make decisions about assets they own’…
  Best they make those decisions now, while they still own them.
  
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  September 30, 2026 8:18am
- kowtow
  
  Employers are struggling with a huge number of govt imposed regulation and expenses .
  
  Energy prices due to climate scam being very high on that.
  
  Emplyers then have to make savings and often it’s the labour input that suffers.
  
  Nut zero is very bad for everyone.
  
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  September 30, 2026 8:25am
  - slijmbal
    
    Woolies are losing the battle of profitability with Foodstuffs. Their margins are below international norms. They would be remiss to their shareholders if they didn’t try and improve efficiency.
    
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    September 30, 2026 11:27am
- Phronesis
  
  Woolworths thinks there is a reasonable chance the Left will win the election and is acting accordingly.
  
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  September 30, 2026 9:58am
Maggy Wassilieff

Chris Trotter takes a look at the Left’s influence in NZ

In addition to the institutions identified for infiltration by Dutschke, the Kiwi comrades have also captured the public service, the state sector unions and, perhaps inspired by the 1930s alliance between Labour and the Ratana Movement, forged a strategic constitutional alliance with the tertiary-educated Māori elites pursuing tino rangatiratanga through the Waitangi Tribunal and the big iwi corporates.

https://www.interest.co.nz/public-policy/140431/kiwi-left-has-discovered-there-are-more-ways-skin-capitalist-cat-revolutionary
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September 30, 2026 8:18am
- Cassandra
  
  And at the same time alienating the working class. Can you see Tom Skinner in a keffiyeh?
  
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  September 30, 2026 8:31am
  - kowtow
    
    And abandoning women in particular but humanity , science and rationality in general with the adoption of gender ( trans ) ideology.
    
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    September 30, 2026 8:40am
  - David Garrett
    
    Cass: Or Blue Kennedy, long president of the meatworkers union (does that still exist?) or “Pincher” Martin of the Seamans union?
    
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    September 30, 2026 10:55am
Boy Geoff

Hey, does anyone know what’s gone on with Nicky Hager?

Apparently he released a book, or something, to much fanfare last week. 1News even did a live feed on its opening ceremony…
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September 30, 2026 8:31am
- imalwaysright
  
  There are so many ‘holes’ in his story that anyone who paid for his book should be entitled to a refund and a written apology.
  
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  September 30, 2026 9:55am
- R
  
  Who cares?……..Comrade Putin, perhaps!
  
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  September 30, 2026 9:59am
- mike
  
  Why hasn’t Jordan Williams sued yet?
  
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  September 30, 2026 10:31am
  - Benedict Yu
    
    How about it is none of your business.
    
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    September 30, 2026 10:44am
    - mike
      
      If he doesn’t sue, people are entitled to consider the allegations are true.
      
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      September 30, 2026 10:55am
      - Ghost
        
        Not suing doesn’t make them true. It’s looking at the reality of the time, cost and emotional tollit takes. He’s refuted the claims, as have people involved with the tax payers union.
        
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        September 30, 2026 10:58am
      - [email protected]
        
        Nonsense.
        
        Hagar has made the accusation publicly.
        TU has publicly refuted that.
        The next step is for Hagar to present something, anything, to back his claim as being anything other than a ‘trust me bro’.
        
        If he is as certain as he claims to be then he needs to make the next step of presenting actual evidence of his claims and that the TU are lying. Until he does that it is entirely reasonable to believe that Hagar is either a) making things up or b) hasn’t properly verified his sourcing and has been fooled.
        
        Otherwise he just looks like someone trashing his own credibility for his regular attempt to influence an election.
        
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        September 30, 2026 11:49am
      - Benedict Yu
        
        What a weird outlook on life you have.
        
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        September 30, 2026 8:19pm
  - Maggy Wassilieff
    
    Why hasn’t Nicky Hagar produced the “secret” evidence?
    
    18 1
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    September 30, 2026 11:14am
    - imalwaysright
      
      It could be that Hagers sources have been blindsided that Hager has built his accusations solely on their input without seeking corroberation from alternative sources.
      They must be very nervous right now.
      
      8 1
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      September 30, 2026 12:33pm
    - KKNZ2025
      
      I read that Hagar had destroyed all his notes & documents related to the book.
      
      That’s convenient.
      
      6 1
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      September 30, 2026 2:36pm
    - Ghost
      
      There is an easy solution.
      
      To the person, real or imagined, who gave Nicky this information, the media will be happy to hide your identity for an interview
      
      I believe their identity is already public, a woman called Nicola Hagaar
      
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      September 30, 2026 3:00pm
      - Pope Punctilious II
        
        Hagar the Horrible!
        
        2 1
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        September 30, 2026 3:23pm
  - Ra Henare
    
    The book is well sprinkled with supposition to supposed facts.
    
    So it would be a 2 year? journey giving Hager “”air””.Maybe best to ignore it and it will fade in to obscurity.
    
    IMHO a quick book debunking Hagars’ claims would be a better investment in both time & money.
    
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    September 30, 2026 5:36pm
- kowtow
  
  Plunket had a longish interview with him this am on The Platform.
  
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  September 30, 2026 10:31am
- [email protected]
  
  His interview with Sean Plunket this morning showed he basically has nothing but a vague accusation. He started the interview admiting he might have got details wrong in the book but insists the general point of it is correct. But when pushed on what actual evidence he has for the major claims he can’t present anything more than ‘I believe my sources’ claim.
  
  No citing of haing seen any legal documentation.
  Shifting claims on what the board of the TU have authorised or seen.
  
  Just completely lacking credibility. Not sure what possessed him to publish this book other than the usual animus to the government he doesn’t like and seemingly direct dislike of Jordan Williams.
  
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  September 30, 2026 11:30am
  - NeverMindTheBollocks
    
    Time to reclassify the book as fiction
    
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    September 30, 2026 7:06pm
Cassandra

Auckland Mayor Brown says that in-person voting is too expensive. We all know that postal voting is crooked. There’s a simple, cheap solution. Have all voting on the same day. Whenever there’s a general election add on the local one. It’d increase the turnout too.
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September 30, 2026 8:32am
- kowtow
  
  The elephant in the room is how corrupted our society has become.
  
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  September 30, 2026 8:41am
  - imalwaysright
    
    Even the elephant is on a backhander…
    
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    September 30, 2026 1:21pm
- mike
  
  ‘we’ does a lot of heavy lifting there.
  
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  September 30, 2026 8:43am
  - Cassandra
    
    mike: you think postal voting is crime free? Why not say so? But I’ll explain: by we I mean anyone who has any understanding of postal voting criminality.
    
    26 6
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    September 30, 2026 8:57am
    - mike
      
      Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
      Why can’t you admit that it’s not about fraud? It’s about stopping voting by people you don’t like.
      
      6 41
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      September 30, 2026 9:01am
      - Cassandra
        
        No it’s not. That thought had not even occurred to me. Don’t judge me by your standards.
        
        31 4
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        September 30, 2026 9:21am
      - Cassandra
        
        And, mike, note my last sentence above re increasing the turnout. Your apology accepted.
        
        14 5
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        September 30, 2026 9:24am
      - Burtland
        
        as opposed to encouraging voting by who you do like
        
        2 3
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        September 30, 2026 11:26am
      - rouppe
        
        How does in person voting stop anyone from voting, regardless of whether you like them or not.
        
        2 1
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        September 30, 2026 4:00pm
      - Pope Punctilious II
        
        Are you assuming everyone thinks like you, Mike?
        
        1 0
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        September 30, 2026 6:06pm
      - Pineapple Lumps
        
        Apart from fraudsters, who are the people that this stops from voting?
        
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        September 30, 2026 8:52pm
- Inandout
  
  Cass, expensive is not a word that Mayor understands while he carries scores of council executives paid far more than him. Postal voting is a gold mine for those who wish to rort the system. Visit many cluster housing buildings and count the scores of unopened voting envelopes that eventuate from skipping debtors or uninterested dwellers.
  
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  September 30, 2026 9:19am
  - kowtow
    
    Same in “student” neighbourhoods.
    
    Ripe for “activists” advancing the revolution , comrade.
    
    6 1
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    September 30, 2026 10:34am
- MCōs
  
  Even more money could be saved by eliminating special voting with everyone being required to vote in their electorate on one day.
  Why stop there!
  Maybe those crazy people that want to shut down the prisons are on to something!
  
  11 3
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  September 30, 2026 9:23am
- RoboRob
  
  I struggle to see how in person voting is so expensive. Councils have fully staffed libraries, sports facilities and service centres all over towns. Almost everyone is close to one of these. These are already staffed, so no additional staff costs are required. The only costs are the counting and verification, which should also occur in a mail in ballot. As mail prices are around $3 each way (~$6 per vote), I would expect in person should be cheaper.
  
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  September 30, 2026 9:54am
  - KKNZ2025
    
    IIRC the process is outsourced to a private company. Councils would never consider using the resources they already have that ratepayers already pay for.
    
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    September 30, 2026 10:20am
  - kowtow
    
    Hiring all manner of “treaty” engagement types is also expensive.
    Same with all things “green” or ‘eco”.
    
    That expense never seems to be a problem for Establishment types.
    
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    September 30, 2026 10:36am
  - MCōs
    
    I live in Mangere Bridge which has a small library that doesn’t have room to set up a polling booth. Besides the librarians have other things to do and probably don’t want to take on the extra work.
    
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    September 30, 2026 11:23am
    - Mr Nobody NZ
      
      Unless the library has moved from its location on Church Street behind the mall I completely disagree. But another option would be to simply utilise school halls like the ones at Waterlea Primary and Mangere Bridge Primary as they do with General elections.
      
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      September 30, 2026 12:22pm
Damocles11

The Taxpayer Union bribe-o-meter shows Labour with over $50 Billion of spending promises, and to that we can add another $13 Billion for the re-instatement of ‘pay equity’. Paying for this tidal wave of largesse is a single CGT, in a falling property market. It’s a fig leaf over an elephants genitals.
Remember previous elections where National was invariably crucified in the MSM for ‘fiscal holes’? Remember how every arm of the media was hammering National over a ‘fiscal hole’ said to be around $11 Billion? Remember Ganesh Nana and Craig Renney / Rennie getting carte blanche media coverage of their analysis of the situation: ‘National has a fiscal hole and can’t pay for their promises’?
Where are the ‘independent economists’ today? Where is Cameron Bagrie? Where is Tony Alexander? Where is Brad Olsen? Where are the bank economists, like Kerr and Zollner? Where is Liam Dann from the financial media? Labour appears to have a real fiscal hole of approximately 6x the one National was accused of having, and nobody says a word. A fiscal hole the size of a planet. Nobody says a single thing. Utterly infuriating. We live in a crazy and dishonest country.
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September 30, 2026 8:36am
- RoboRob
  
  Labour have ‘cleverly’ prevented analysis be delaying the release of their financial plan. In essence there is no way to accurately check the costings. Now the PreFu has been released they are saying a fully costed plan is coming ‘really soon’. I expect it will be AFTER leader debates, if at all.
  
  Oh and Shambles Yarkov (no I cant be bothered looking up the spelling) will confirm it is accurate.
  
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  September 30, 2026 9:56am
- Burtland
  
  you leave out “zombie town” Shamubeel Eaqub
  
  the actual zombie is Shamubeel – an ‘economist’ or is it communist.
  
  his predictions were demonstrably wrong and yet we get to hear another round of his fake predictions and a podcast series on RNZ and during election year
  
  its another disgrace from RNZ
  
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  September 30, 2026 10:01am
- R
  
  At this stage of the electoral season, it is probably difficult, nae impossible, to find a MSM outlet that would accept critical comment of Labour’s lack of policy. Frightening, if,..God forbid, Chippie wins, then all the costing and funding sources, will be released on 8th November.
  
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  September 30, 2026 10:09am
mike

Random election question:
If Elections NZ says the average Kiwi will vote in 20 elections, how many times do you think Winston Peters has been a candidate?
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September 30, 2026 8:42am
- Maggy Wassilieff
  
  17
  
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  September 30, 2026 9:05am
  - mike
    
    20, I believe.
    
    2 8
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    September 30, 2026 10:09am
    - Maggy Wassilieff
      
      Prove it.
      
      8 2
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      September 30, 2026 11:06am
      - mike
        
        He’s been a candidate at least one a term since 1975.
        https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winston_Peters
        
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        September 30, 2026 1:04pm
  - Ghost
    
    AI
    
    Winston Peters has stood in multiple general elections and by-elections throughout his extensive political career, which began when he first ran as the National Party candidate for the Northern Māori electorate in the 1975 general election.
    
    Since then, he has contested every New Zealand general election from 1978 onwards (including 1978, 1981, 1984, 1987, 1990, 1993, 1996, 1999, 2002, 2005, 2008, 2011, 2014, 2017, 2020, and 2023), alongside participating in parliamentary by-elections such as the Tauranga by-election in April 1993 and the Northland by-election in March 2015
    
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    September 30, 2026 11:12am
    - Maggy Wassilieff
      
      Which by my count is 17 general elections
      
      (which is what the “average”Kiwi votes in…..)
      
      3 3
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      September 30, 2026 2:27pm
      - mike
        
        The fact is 20 elections. Obviously.
        
        1 1
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        September 30, 2026 5:55pm
- Tarquin North
  
  Less times than Martin / Martyn Bradbury has voted.
  
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  September 30, 2026 9:20am
  - Jethrod
    
    As DG would say, “fewer”!
    
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    September 30, 2026 12:45pm
kowtow

A number of sources cite that Gulf ( not Iranian) oil exports via the Hormuz is back to 80% of pre war levels .
Mainly via tankers escorted by the US navy.

That raises a few issues .
Why the price at the pump remains so high.
Why all the ‘experts’ say the Iranians control the strait.
Are the Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil infrastructure having a major effect but the media won’t address that.
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September 30, 2026 8:46am
- MCōs
  
  If the US Navy is doing all that escorting it must be costing American taxpayers an awful lot of money unless someone else is paying
  How long can this state of affairs continue?
  
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  September 30, 2026 9:59am
  - mike
    
    Trump probably won’t surrender till after the elections.
    
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    September 30, 2026 10:10am
    - than
      
      With the money from crude oil exports (via tanker) the Iranian government gets running out in a few weeks, I’d say it’d give the US an upper hand.
      
      But in saying that, the Iranians have a far higher pain tolerance than the US. But that may change when the only option for the Islamic Republic is to print money to cover lack of imports or exports, which will tank the value of the Rial far beyond what it is currently (and it’s already in the gutter).
      
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      September 30, 2026 11:17am
  - kowtow
    
    What else would they be doing , other than keeping the GDP of Pattaya going very nicely ……
    
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    September 30, 2026 10:38am
  - Don Beckett
    
    The Crown Prince Pahlavi has given the OK for the frozen Iranian funds to be used to pay for the USN escorting tankers & commercial ships through the SoH. Much of the oil is now coming through the UAE port on the Gulf of Oman, thus avoiding shipping thru the SoH.
    
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    September 30, 2026 10:59am
    - mike
      
      The assets of the Iranian state do not belong to Pahlavi.
      
      3 3
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      September 30, 2026 1:06pm
    - Taieri
      
      The Crown Prince Pahlavi
      ————
      
      Who is the Crown Prince Pahlavi and why should it matter what he does?
      
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      September 30, 2026 1:22pm
      - mike
        
        It’s a fantasy.
        
        1 0
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        September 30, 2026 5:57pm
- R
  
  Oil price per barrel, possibly includes the cost of USA naval escort protection, that the Gulf suppliers are paying!
  
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  September 30, 2026 10:13am
- Ra Henare
  
  Would be nice if you quoted these sources.
  
  Would also point out that the 80% claimed by WSJ is total exports, not all through Hormoz, and also think you will find that this is a best day numbers, not a continuous flow.
  
  https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/mideast-exports-hit-wartime-high-shifting-oil-value-to-diesel-margins
  
  Also keep in mind that oil prices quoted by most are for future delivery.
  
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  September 30, 2026 5:54pm
I remember when

Impressed by LeBron James explaining how to make a Oatmeal sachet breakfast on TV News last night.
Perhaps he has appeared on an advertisement, or even makes breakfast himself sometimes.
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September 30, 2026 8:54am
mike

The US government has launched a new AI chatbot t provide trusted information from government websites. Journalists are enjoying its answers to questions such as:
Who won the 2020 presidential election?
Is climate change a hoax?
Who pays for tariffs?
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September 30, 2026 8:54am
- mike
  
  It’s obvious that more work is required to have all government sources of information conform to Trmp’s ‘truth’.
  
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  September 30, 2026 10:12am
lifesgood

Poor old Chippy. His people have told him to be more assertive and he’s coming out like a lunatic, throwing random punches in every direction. What a complete disaster he was on Hosking this morning.
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September 30, 2026 9:13am
- R
  
  Did you really need this mornings performance on the Hosking show, to convince you that Chippie is a disaster in disguise?
  
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  September 30, 2026 10:15am
- kowtow
  
  Already noted that he’s channelling Mallard.
  
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  September 30, 2026 10:40am
- rouppe
  
  What I found amusing is his complaining that “this money is operating expense not capital expense”.
  
  As if its not all taxpayer money being spent.
  
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  September 30, 2026 4:08pm
plc

So I am in the Wellington North electorate. Assume I want a Centre Right government.

Based on projections of National’s electorate seats, I maximise the value of my vote by giving my Part Vote to a coalition partner.

Where does my Electorate vote go? I can’t vote strategically and hope to keep Tamantha Paul, Aylssa Verral or Jessica Hammond out of Parliament, as all are in the Top 6 of their list. Most at risk is probably Verral but I think she still gets in.

So do I vote for Pitts (N) and hope the left eat each out and Nats pick up another electorate?

Thoughts?
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September 30, 2026 9:18am
- greybeard
  
  I don’t understand your concern: if you want a Centre-Right government and you don’t want to support the 3 leftwingers then of course you vote Pitts.
  And please don’t think about abstaining from an electorate vote.
  Just remember, you are not the only one voting in the electorate and your vote counts.
  
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  September 30, 2026 9:56am
- artemisia
  
  plc, Tamatha Paul might pick up votes from the easily persuaded who see the decent amount of blue on her posters and think she’s a Nat. OK, probably not many, but the amount of blue is a bit odd.
  
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  September 30, 2026 9:56am
  - R
    
    Subtle use of ‘blue shading’ worked gor two Auckland councillos last local body election.
    
    3 1
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    September 30, 2026 10:18am
  - Steve Otto N Shore
    
    Tamatha is ‘odd’
    Beware of this odd person——–
    
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    September 30, 2026 7:00pm
Yvette

Apparently enrolling to vote is compulsory, while actually voting is not.
With a first revelation a potential voter is not enrolled the fine can be $100, increasing to $200 if the first fine did not motivate.
Why is this seemingly never mentioned?
12 1
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September 30, 2026 9:26am
- Maggy Wassilieff
  
  Because it is too damn difficult for many incipient 18 year-olds to get their act together and enrol.
  Remember they still have Jelly brains and can’t be expected to undertake adult responsibilities.
  
  14 3
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  September 30, 2026 9:51am
  - Yvette
    
    News that a two person team were randomly checking enrolment – one Electoral Commission staff member to ask the question, and one police officer to observe the result – and consequent fines are being issued, could firm a few jellies up.
    
    7 2
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    September 30, 2026 9:59am
    - mike
      
      Don’t police officers have enough to do?
      
      2 9
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      September 30, 2026 10:14am
      - Mr Nobody NZ
        
        Based on the last few weeks of NZ Herald headlines, the Police seem to have plenty of time to:
        – Steal $68,000 from pensioner’s
        – Possessing intimate visual recordings of women
        – Tipping off Drug Suppliers
        – Facing 40 charges including rape and kidnapping
        – Making up fake alcohol readings for drink driving
        – Committing Child Indecency
        – Possessing objectional publications
        – Beating a woman in their cells
        
        So a lack of available time doesn’t seem to be an issue.
        
        8 3
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        September 30, 2026 12:32pm
    - RoboRob
      
      Do you have a link to this? I am extremely surprised that the police are active in this area.
      
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      September 30, 2026 10:55am
  - MCōs
    
    Alternatively it’s pretty hard for an eighteen year old to get inspired by NZ politics right now.
    
    6 4
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    September 30, 2026 10:19am
    - kowtow
      
      Confucius he say ; life is what you make of it.
      
      3 2
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      September 30, 2026 12:24pm
  - Blog-aholic
    
    They literally can enrol online in about 5 minutes.
    
    3 1
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    September 30, 2026 10:50am
- RoboRob
  
  As I frequently post, a law means nothing if not enforced. The police have chosen to not enforce any (almost any) electoral law. So yeah, while it is illegal to not enrol, there is no enforcement so it’s not really worth talking about.
  
  Probably the politicians should just remove the law.
  
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  September 30, 2026 10:54am
  - imalwaysright
    
    Yes, it seems that unless there is blood spatter, or you are potentially annoying pro Palestine protesters on Queen St, the police don’t want to know.
    
    3 2
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    September 30, 2026 12:44pm
  - mike
    
    Absolutely. It’s a very odd thing.
    
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    September 30, 2026 1:07pm
Handyman

The tax take was higher than forecast because more companies were profitable and so paid more tax. The media did not connect the dots.
The Labour Coalition policies are to reduce companies’ profits by:
1. Increase wages by putting 6 percent into employees’ Kiwisaver.
2. Increase salaries by fiat across industries via pay equity.
3. Increase minimum wage and ratchet up average hourly wages.
4. Increase regulation, which has the effect of transferring company profits to increased civil servants.

The attraction to the L/G/M/T coalition is that all these actions are “off book” and require no government spending.
The disadvantage is that the tax take plummets so to the government has to borrow more and/or print more money.
Welcome to a repeat of the Ardern economy with runaway spending and rampant inflation; his time with high interest rates.
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September 30, 2026 9:43am
- R
  
  The MSM don’t want the ‘dead head’ non thinking element of the electors to realise that National lead volition policies have, in general, lead to improved business profit results and therefore a morelikely secure future for employees.
  ONLY A UBI by left ideological parties will improve one’s lifestyle.
  
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  September 30, 2026 10:23am
- septic skeptic
  
  Lower tax take, higher prices and reduced retained earnings for investment into growth. Next thing they will be moaning about why a local employer has moved offshore, sold to an overseas investor or just closed shop. Still can’t afford SKY, fags, booze and the groceries – we need to increase benefits and the minimum wage again!
  
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  September 30, 2026 11:16am
Handyman

The Labour coalition superannuation polices:
1. Increase employee and employer contributions to 6 percent BUT…

Only the employer contribution is compulsory and the employee can withdraw Kiwisaver at any time.
For many Labour voters, this looks like a bonus 6 percent pay rise, and they won’t be subject to any means test in the future when they retire.
Oh, and the 6 percent comes off profit and reduces the government tax take.
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September 30, 2026 9:56am
Yvette

PM Christopher Luxon has said National’s election policy is that the Tribunal’s role “will have to change”, because the purpose it was created for will no longer exist once Treaty settlements are complete.

The remark came in response to NZ First’s announcement that it would abolish the Tribunal if re-elected. Luxon was asked whether National would get rid of it, and he declined to say before the election. He said there was “a very legitimate question” about the Tribunal’s role once settlements are concluded.

For more context, on 10 September 2026 ACT proposed abolishing the Tribunal once historical claims are settled. Luxon distanced himself from the details of that plan, noting the Tribunal’s future was already under review.

Why do ACT and New Zealand First not issue a joint statement on the matter, indicating they expect prospective coalition partners to state a position before the Election – that being National.

• Luxon’s – the Tribunal’s role “will have to change”, because the purpose it was created for will no longer exist once Treaty settlements are complete – doesn’t really cut it because the Tribunal was established to monitor Government actions (or lack of) and historical claims were not permitted until after the Tribunal was a decade old.
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September 30, 2026 10:01am
- R
  
  Parliament only ‘rose’ for the end of this term last week. Prior to that ALL the coalition partners were obliged to sing from the same page.
  The respective Leaders are now free to make party policy statements. The two that your comment appears to favor have on occasion made comments of a nature determined to undermine the coalition, and in particular the Prime Minister.
  Political EGO’S are not a good indication of future ability when in office.
  
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  September 30, 2026 10:34am
  - greybeard
    
    Every single MP in the House is there because of their ego.
    It is pretty much a prerequisite, before any other trait.
    
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    September 30, 2026 2:43pm
- RoboRob
  
  That’s a typical Luxon response. He has said precisely nothing, in the hopes to not offend anyone.
  
  I could almost guaranty under a Luxon led 100% National government, nothing would change re the Waitangi Tribunal.
  
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  September 30, 2026 10:57am
  - septic skeptic
    
    There is a HUGE difference between change and abolish/wind up. Luxon and National CLEARLY see an ongoing role for the tribunal – even if it has to be reduced in scope until LGTTPM get in and resume he puapua.
    
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    September 30, 2026 11:22am
- rouppe
  
  “Tribunals role will have to change” sound a lot like “change ‘give effect to’ to ‘take into account'” to me.
  
  IE a statement that could mean anything. It could even mean do what TPM wants and make it supreme over parliament.
  
  One would hope not but changing their role could mean anything.
  
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  September 30, 2026 4:16pm
greybeard

I can’t work out from where Hipkins thinks he is going to get all of this CGT money to pay for their promises/intentions.
It won’t begin until 01 July 2027, and for properties purchased before then the “purchase price” will be calculated as its value as at that date. so a house bought for $100,000 in 1990 and sold after July 1st 2027 for $2,000,000 will have its “purchase price” probably the same as the sale price.
So where is all of Hipkins’ income ?
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September 30, 2026 10:03am
- Eastlander
  
  I am reminded that we are told we need this tax because the shameless vermin who vote for labour think they shouldn’t have to shell out for a doctor’s visit.
  
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  September 30, 2026 10:20am
- R
  
  You’re not alone with that thought Grebeard, CHIPPIE and LABOUR have no idea either.
  Frightening isn’t it!
  
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  September 30, 2026 10:36am
- Prince
  
  When Hipkins announced the CGT he said it was to pay for 3 free doctor visits.
  Now it appears to pay for around $50B other promises.
  
  Still, the MSM are silent.
  
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  September 30, 2026 10:42am
- RoboRob
  
  I know Labour bring up the CGT EVERY time the media quiz them on how they will pay for things.
  
  The public (and media) need to remember that ALL funds from the CGT are ring fenced for use purely around 3 free doctors visits per year. Thats before re realise that the CGT wont even generate enough to cover that for at least 10 years.
  
  Labour have promised no other taxes, so where the funds come from for their ~55b of extra spending comes from is a mystery.
  
  10 0
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  September 30, 2026 10:59am
  - septic skeptic
    
    Increasing existing taxes and borrowing.
    
    4 0
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    September 30, 2026 11:31am
- Bobba Fret
  
  Hipkins must know something about the housing market we do not, and believes that house prices are going increase dramatically once they are in power.//
  
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  September 30, 2026 2:17pm
Burtland

the next behemoth slides into the waters …

Dutch environmentalists, Both ENDS, has used the complaints mechanism in NZ s FTA with the EU to try and force compliance with the Paris Commitment.

21.5B in trade currently at risk

‘Australian’ Jacinda Ardern described the deal as “ground-breaking commitments on environment, labour rights and gender equality as foundational parts of a trade and sustainable development chapter”.

Both ENDS comments that …

“There is no other trade agreement with the EU where regressing or rolling back on climate policies has consequences like this one, and in this particular case, it’s about losing the access to the European market.”

Another ‘captains-call’ gone wrong – thanks Jacinda, thanks Damien, thanks Labour – you marxists really do want NZ to fail.

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/politics/1655918/nz-accused-of-breaking-climate-change-promise-with-eu-but-todd-mcclay-rejects-claim
7 2
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September 30, 2026 10:28am
- septic skeptic
  
  You forgot to thank the bureacrats who worked tirelessly on the actual documentation to ensure exactly this outcome.
  
  4 1
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  September 30, 2026 11:33am
  - Burtland
    
    somehow ‘free-trade’ required 4000 pages of documentation
    “yeah right”
    
    wonder when the UK deal will backfire – similar grenades loaded into it as well
    
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    September 30, 2026 1:35pm
- imalwaysright
  
  The Dutch environmentalists have been supported by several Kiwi organisations and individuals:
  
  “New Zealand organisations cannot themselves file a complaint, but a number of groups and individuals have added their support as co-sponsors, including Greenpeace, Ngāti Pukenga, Ora Taiao, Environmental Law Initiative, Mike Smith and Professor Jane Kelsey.”
  
  “”There is no other trade agreement with the EU where regressing or rolling back on climate policies has consequences like this one…”
  
  I’m surprised that NZ bothered with the pretence of negotiations. This agreement would have been less onerous on NZ if we had let the EU write the whole thing themselves….
  
  3 0
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  September 30, 2026 1:18pm
- Bullion
  
  I think its fair for the EU to put something like that in their trade deals if they are themselves wanting to meet their Paris agreement. Why should their producers be at a competitive disadvantage due NZ choosing not to meet their Paris agreement targets?
  
  0 5
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  September 30, 2026 1:52pm
  - rouppe
    
    Perhaps that’s why they pursued the India free trade deal, so they have another market if the EU slides away
    
    2 0
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    September 30, 2026 4:22pm
    - Bullion
      
      You would like as many trade deals that improve the competitiveness of your country’s products and services. The EU economy is like 4 to 5 times the size of India currently, it would not be great to be less competitive in a market that size.
      
      0 0
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      September 30, 2026 5:47pm
Inandout

The UK is in debt to the tune of 130 billion pounds and will now have to go cap in hand to the IMF. The last time this happened was in the 1970s when UK inflation was 24% and the lenders demanded cuts to spending. Put in simple terms the UK is spending more than it produces, and the boat illegals alone are costing 1.3 billion pounds annually. To say that country is in the poo is to put it mildly.
9 1
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September 30, 2026 10:35am
- Gravelroad
  
  Random question – but why is the UK continuing to welcome and fund the thousands of illegal immigrants, criminals and “asylum seekers” arriving in blow up boats – at the expense of their own genuine citizens?
  Why don’t the authorities send them back?
  I don’t get why UK taxpayers should have to pay for these freeloaders.
  
  13 3
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  September 30, 2026 12:23pm
  - imalwaysright
    
    Its UK Government policy.
    
    There is outrage every day on the non establishment news services, but nothing really changes.
    
    5 0
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    September 30, 2026 12:59pm
  - kowtow
    
    They signed up to European Convention on Human rights and are now bound by it.
    
    That’s why the likes of Reform and I think now the Tories are promising to withdraw from it.
    
    I believe that’s how all manner of criminals etc get to stay on the flimsiest and indeed most ridiculous of excuses .
    
    7 2
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    September 30, 2026 1:16pm
    - imalwaysright
      
      The ECHR seems to apply to everyone except the citizens of the UK.
      
      Surely the illegal invaders are posting offensive tweets or demonstrating their religion in public. Both can get anyone else jail time in the UK…but not the invaders.
      
      3 0
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      September 30, 2026 2:50pm
    - Taieri
      
      They signed up to European Convention on Human rights and are now bound by it.
      ———–
      
      But the majority of engineers, doctors and astrophysicist come from France, which is also a party to this convention.
      
      1 0
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      September 30, 2026 6:30pm
  - Bullion
    
    they have laws and signatories to international statutes to process asylum seekers fairly. you just have to look at the history of people not afforded asylum, Jews in WW2 trying to get to the North America, as to why these international statutes exist.
    
    4 1
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    September 30, 2026 1:57pm
  - Pope Punctilious II
    
    Because they signed up to the European Convention on Human Rights. Not sure when, but possibly under Blair/Brown. The cuckservative Tories could have withdrawn Britain from this nefarious convention during their 14 (fourteen) years in power earlier this century, but failed to. The Tories must therefore shoulder much of the blame for the UK’s present plight. It’s conservative governments’ job to throw out the damaging policies brought in by previous “progressive” administrations, and bed in the occasional sound policy that progressives come up with.
    
    3 1
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    September 30, 2026 3:33pm
    - Bullion
      
      They’re signatories of the 1951 refugee convention and more importantly the 1967 protocol.
      
      0 2
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      September 30, 2026 7:27pm
      - Pope Punctilious II
        
        So what. Most of the young men arriving in inflatables aren’t refugees.
        
        1 1
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        September 30, 2026 9:24pm
      - Bullion
        
        How do you know until they’re processed?
        
        0 0
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        October 1, 2026 8:31am
- mike
  
  A partial list of countries with a higher debt to GDP ratio:
  Belgium
  Canada
  France
  United States
  Italy
  Greece
  Singapore
  Japan
  
  4 3
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  September 30, 2026 1:15pm
  - slijmbal
    
    However,
    
    the debt SERVICING costs as a ratio of GDP have the UK 4th after the US, South Africa and Kazakhstan and 50% more than France as an example.
    
    There is a major debt unaffordability problem in the UK, which will get significantly worse under Burnham as he has major spending plans.
    
    4 1
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    September 30, 2026 1:43pm
- fightingtemeraire
  
  More than 130 B more like Trillion +++++++++
  
  0 0
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  September 30, 2026 1:15pm
  - imalwaysright
    
    UK national debt is £3 Trillion.
    
    0 0
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    September 30, 2026 2:53pm
- David George
  
  I think that is the annual deficit, current total debt stands at £3 trillion.
  That’s £3,000,000,000,000
  A billion here a billion there and pretty soon you’re talking serious money.
  
  5 1
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  September 30, 2026 3:14pm
slightlyrighty

I noticed that whenever Hipkins is in a press gaggle, and there are Labour MP’s behind him, they are all nodding at whatever he is saying.

Once you see it, you will never stop seeing it.

It’s a common propaganda technique.
8 4
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September 30, 2026 10:54am
- Ghost
  
  You mean like every other party? They all do it.
  
  8 2
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  September 30, 2026 1:05pm
  - rouppe
    
    I don’t understand how they can’t get how fake it looks
    
    2 0
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    September 30, 2026 4:23pm
    - Prince
      
      It’s a real turn-off. Do thye really think it gets them votes.
      
      1 0
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      September 30, 2026 5:00pm
    - Ghost
      
      Especially in the house when the person around them or behind is nodding while not even paying attention to what’s going on.
      
      0 0
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      September 30, 2026 7:49pm
David Garrett

Cass: Or Blue Kennedy, long president of the meatworkers union (does that still exist?) or “Pincher” Martin of the Seamans union?
4 0
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September 30, 2026 10:56am
- MCōs
  
  Those old time unionists were very socially conservative as was Norm Kirk.
  Times have changed since their day, but some other older people, a lot of older people I would suggest, haven’t changed their views.
  
  1 0
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  September 30, 2026 11:35am
- fightingtemeraire
  
  David
  
  Was at sea in NZ and sailed with many Seamen’s Union members who were on the various union committees.
  
  I would say the vast majority were small c conservative in their outlook and believed in a hand up not a hand out.
  
  1 0
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  September 30, 2026 1:14pm
Ghost

Iran’s IRGC have released an open letter to the American people

https://img9.irna.ir/d/r2/2026/09/29/0/173138753.pdf?ts=1790679102019
3 5
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September 30, 2026 12:26pm
- David Garrett
  
  Ghost: Far too small for my old eyes…can you summarize it for us?
  
  0 2
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  September 30, 2026 5:44pm
  - Ghost
    
    I only read to the second page, try
    
    https://www.timesofisrael.com/irans-guards-pen-open-letter-to-us-midterm-voters-urging-them-to-reject-liar-trump/
    
    1 0
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    September 30, 2026 5:56pm
cmm (semi-retired edition)

NZ universities continue to tumble in world rankings.

While some blame is being put on the lack of funding for research troughs, I think there are worse factors at play.

Earlier this year I participated in a world-wide computer chip design “challenge” based on a Masters-level programme from an Austrian university (Austrian – not Australian!). There were many people from Europe, North and South America, China, India, Bangladesh and elsewhere. From our part of the world there was a bloke from Australia and me.

The Bangladeshi people were interesting. Most came from 2 universities, one of which itself has a Masters-level programme in chip design.

OK, Bangladesh does have 35x our population, but most of them live in slums.

Supporting a programme like that needs a lot more than just a government checque book. It needs staff and students that are interested. Why can’t we achieve the same in NZ?

Perhaps we’re just focused on the wrong stuff? Perhaps students don’t take engineering etc seriously in NZ and it is just easier to go to a university in Australia or USA if you want to do something like this.

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/the-reasons-behind-ongoing-slide-for-new-zealand-universities-in-world-rankings/QQUPMAZRVZFS7KN7PW5C6WMDIY/
6 3
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September 30, 2026 1:24pm
- Burtland
  
  mātauranga maori must’nt be included in the calculations – we would be top otherwise
  
  marxism has stuffed our universities – best send the kids to aussie because ‘acing it’ here now means nothing
  
  3 1
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  September 30, 2026 1:56pm
- Maggy Wassilieff
  
  From the Herald article:
  
  : “New Zealand has experienced declines in its average scores across the industry, research quality and international outlook pillars.”
  
  If you are expecting researchers in NZ to be constantly “giving effect to Te Tiriti” and integrating Tikanga and Matauranga Maori into their mahi, then expect further decline in International rankings.
  
  https://sciencenewzealand.org/100-years-of-impact/protecting-people/treatyled-science-elevates-maori-voices-in-new-zealand-research
  
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  September 30, 2026 2:37pm
  - Pope Punctilious II
    
    Yes indeed Maggy, but in my experience university administrators don’t want to hear this kind of criticism. Teaching maatauranga in science classes must inevitably hurt the reputation of NZ universities as scientific institutions, our ability to attract bright students and academic talent, and the employability of our graduates.
    
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    September 30, 2026 3:35pm
    - cmm (semi-retired edition)
      
      Well of course.
      
      The universities have become a self-selecting echo-chamber for this bullshit.
      
      Serious technical researchers etc look at this shower of shit and don’t want to be part of it.
      
      This does not just have a negative impact on universities but all the other industries that the government is trying to foster.
      
      One of the current hot-button industries is space – where there is an emphasis on reality and not much space for folklore. Potential investors, collaborators etc are put off by this.
      
      2 1
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      September 30, 2026 5:40pm
- imalwaysright
  
  It might be time for the Government to ask the Universties to justify public money funding two thirds the cost of each of the degrees they are offering.
  
  2 0
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  September 30, 2026 2:59pm
  - cmm (semi-retired edition)
    
    A Labour/Green government would not ask those questions.
    
    Nor would the current mob.
    
    3 0
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    September 30, 2026 5:42pm
- Sir Henry Morgan
  
  Blame idiots like Dawn Freshwater.
  
  2 0
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  September 30, 2026 3:27pm
  - Pope Punctilious II
    
    The problem goes much deeper than Dawn Freshwater.
    
    0 0
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    October 1, 2026 2:37am
cmm (semi-retired edition)

Willis is talking up Labour’s “hidden bill” of $2600 per household.

Of course it does not work like that, and the Labour voters know it.

The bill does not fall evenly on all households. Only a very small % of NZers (and an even smaller % of Aotearoans) are net tax payers. Net tax payers are the ones that pay this extra cost – nobody else does.

As a result, those net tax payers will pay an extra $50,000 and most people will pay nothing.

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/nicola-willis-claims-labour-promises-amount-to-188b-hidden-bill-2263-per-household/TSU7RN53VNGNJH6BEHBGCBG3SE/
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September 30, 2026 1:30pm
rouppe

Overall this sounds like a good idea.

They [Auckland Grammar School and Epsom Girls’ Grammar School] propose the 15ha (37-acre) site owned by the University of Auckland and formerly a teacher’s college be purchased by the Ministry of Education and turned into a new co-ed, unzoned school.

It would be jointly operated by their schools.
4 1
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September 30, 2026 5:21pm
- cmm (semi-retired edition)
  
  I don’t understand…
  
  Surely if it is a new school it should have its own independent management?
  
  I would think that Auckland Grammar and Epsom Girls’ already have their own independent character and trying to get them to collaborate in driving a separate school would just be a disaster.
  
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  September 30, 2026 5:48pm
- imalwaysright
  
  Very good idea.
  Hopefully the standards of the parent schools will be imposed on the new school.
  Perhaps establish a franchise model and roll it out nationwide?
  
  0 1
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  September 30, 2026 6:37pm
- artemisia
  
  Overall sounds like empire building funded by taxpayers. Nice work ….
  
  0 0
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  September 30, 2026 7:34pm
  - rouppe
    
    Couldn’t you say that about every new school then?
    
    There’s school roll pressure in the area on both single sex schools. Facilitating the opening of a co-ed school that is based on the achievement ethos from both of the other schools sounds positive.
    
    They may end up getting their own board etc, but if this is a way to get it off the ground quickly for 2027, why not?
    
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    September 30, 2026 10:48pm
cmm (semi-retired edition)

Stuff trying to do the most they can to trivialise voting:

“Luxon answers the big question: If he was a hair, whose head would he be on?”

Really? Is this the sort of slop that should decide who should run a country?

https://www.stuff.co.nz/politics/361036026/nz-election-2026-live-updates-politics-campaign-news
4 2
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September 30, 2026 5:45pm
- rouppe
  
  I saw the headline but didn’t read it.
  
  Did Luxon respond? Or do what he should have and told those asking that question to stop being so puerile.
  
  4 0
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  September 30, 2026 7:52pm
  - Ghost
    
    You have one shot to ask the PM a question, and that is it. Great, means small businesses are facing no problems if that is the question
    
    But I have realised one thing watching the media coverage the last few days, I cannot be fucked with this election coverage, I will switch to international media until after the election.
    
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    September 30, 2026 8:42pm
Steve Otto N Shore

Adults at 10 years old. Just ask a 10 year old———
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September 30, 2026 7:07pm
Pineapple Lumps

Will the CGTs being proposed take into account inflation or will all increase in value be subject to CGT? Perverse incentive for governments to maintain an inflationary environment if that isn’t factored into CGT.

Lots of people who purchased property in the past 5 years are in a negative equity position. So when they sell at a lower value than they paid, will they get a CGT tax deduction?
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September 30, 2026 9:20pm

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