General Debate 24 October 2017

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tas

Birth years of living PMs:
Jacinda Ardern 1980
Bill English 1961
John Key 1961
Helen Clark 1950
Jenny Shipley 1952
Jim Bolger 1935
Mike Moore 1949
Geoffrey Palmer 1942

Ardern is the first PM who is too young to remember pre-1984 NZ.
Ardern is the first PM who wants to return to pre-1984 economic policies.

Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.
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October 24, 2017 8:00am
- alloytoo
  
  She’s also too young to remember the Cold War and the misery communism wrought on Russia and Eastern Europe. (Not to mention the environmental toll)
  
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  October 24, 2017 8:05am
  - Paulus
    
    Surely she marched against the Springbok tour ?
    
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    October 24, 2017 8:23am
    - dime
      
      lol
      
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      October 24, 2017 9:57am
    - Kimbo
      
      Anything less than breaking through the fence and getting onto the field at Rugby Park, Hamilton makes her a sell-out. 😉
      
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      October 24, 2017 9:58am
    - Left Right and Centre
      
      her first steps – so cute
      
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      October 25, 2017 2:10am
  - Manolo
    
    She is young and gullible enough to have embraced the miserable ideology of socialism. Hold on to your hats!
    
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    October 24, 2017 9:45am
    - starboard
      
      We are getting klarkula by default. That sucks arse.
      She is as cunning as a shithouse rat.
      
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      October 24, 2017 11:05am
      - Old.Mickey.Blue.Eyes
        
        That’s a bit mean to shithouse rats.
        
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        October 24, 2017 11:30am
  - cmm
    
    As I have raised in this hallowed blog before, the real critical event is the Berlin Wall coming down in 1989 and seeing the joy on people’s faces that they could leave East Germany without the fear of adding to the thousands of people who were killed trying to leave.
    
    When people are prepared to risk being shot to get away from your ideology then something is not right.
    
    In 1989 she was 9. Too young to appreciate what this really meant.
    
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    October 24, 2017 10:37am
    - Classic Liberal
      
      I met a woman in her twenties, claimed to be studying ‘film’, didn’t even know what “East Germany” and “the wall” meant! That’s the type who would vote for Comrade Taxinda, totally ignorant of what will happen.
      
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      October 24, 2017 12:21pm
      - Left Right and Centre
        
        what – she didn’t know that means roided up transgender swimmers and a great Pink Floyd album ? Tsh – the ignorance of youth.
        
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        October 25, 2017 2:15am
- Odakyu-sen
  
  Ardern must be too young to remember the last recession in Auckland (as would be anyone aged less than mortgage-holding age in 1987).
  
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  October 24, 2017 8:11am
  - tas
    
    Listening to the left’s whining, you’d think NZ is in a deep recession. They may soon miss how good things are currently.
    
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    October 24, 2017 8:14am
    - Odakyu-sen
      
      They really have no idea of what might hit them.
      
      You have to live through a recession to really understand one. It’s like waking up from a wild party, with a horrible financial hangover. Everyone looks at one another and exclaims, “what were we thinking? How could we have been so stupid?” (But at the time, paying outrageous prices for over-priced property is considered a virtue and a necessity.)
      Hindsight is a wonderful thing!
      
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      October 24, 2017 8:35am
      - Ross12
        
        Odakyu-sen
        I remember being in a business meeting in Osaka in the early 90s and our host pointing at the buildings out the window. “That building has dropped in value by 50% , that one 40 % etc. etc. ” The other Japanese with us , while they already knew about it , still had their “jaws dropping to the floor”. They knew where things were heading.
        
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        October 24, 2017 8:42am
      - Odakyu-sen
        
        Ross12,
        
        I had a series of real estate valuation translations in the early 1990s. I recall one would-be-resort project out in the wilds of Chiba Prefecture. The lot was about a hectare in area.
        The preamble noted that no such similar rural property had sold in the district over the last decade; that demand was zero. In other words, it was most unlikely to be sold.
        In the end, an arbitrary value equivalent to $US5 million was assigned to the property, based solely on the government’s Blue Book on the rated valuation of land in that region for purposes of taxation (the Japanese equivalent to a “government valuation”).
        The report was not worth the paper it was written on (or in this case, the hard drive space that it took up). Needless to say, the translation project for these reports dried up a couple of months later.
        The property would only have been worth what anyone would have been willing to offer. The owner would then have been faced with a significant annual rates bill, and have almost no way to generate any cash flow from the land. (Which was why it was useless in the first place.)
        
        An associate bought an old farmhouse out that way in the late 1980s, with a 30-year, 7% mortgage. By now how would have paid close to triple the original price in his loan repayments, and be left with a property worth a third of what it was sold to him for 30 years ago.
        
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        October 24, 2017 9:34am
      - Classic Liberal
        
        Young people wanting to buy will be fine, *if* they can find jobs as lower demand and inflationary wages close businesses down.
        
        Older people who have paid off their mortgages might be OK, if super keeps up with inflation and their little investments remain worth anything.
        
        The people truly shafted are all the ones with big mortgages. Negative equity will destroy them :(.
        
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        October 24, 2017 12:30pm
  - KKKKatee
    
    She wouldn’t even know that people were paying 20%+ on mortgage rates then. She really, really doesn’t have a clue about how the real world ticks now does she? It’s all slogans, feelz and the rest of the bullshit……
    Her worst nightmares are about to begin…
    
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    October 24, 2017 8:40am
    - sooty
      
      Does her new finance minister know as well. He’s going to get Alf to teach him how to count the money.
      
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      October 24, 2017 8:47am
      - fluffykiwi
        
        The rainbow lot are generally great consumers and spenders. Not a lot of them leave direct descendants to worry about their future.
        
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        October 24, 2017 3:38pm
    - Rachael Membery
      
      She will be insulated.
      
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      October 24, 2017 9:22am
      - Paulus Gnome
        
        Rachael Membery
        
        She will be insulated.
        
        She is sort of; she is already surrounded by bats
        
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        October 24, 2017 1:45pm
    - Classic Liberal
      
      “Her worst nightmares are about to begin…”
      
      Is she really naive? A hard left socialist who leads IUSY, sings the Internationale and addresses her ‘comrades’ *wants* to destroy the evil capitalist system.
      
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      October 24, 2017 12:33pm
- mikenmild
  
  Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
  She is also too young to remember the First World War, the eruption of Mt Tarawera, or to have been present at the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi…
  
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  October 24, 2017 9:10am
  - dime
    
    weak.
    
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    October 24, 2017 9:59am
    - Gabby
      
      dim’s gettin pithy.
      
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      October 24, 2017 11:23pm
  - Odakyu-sen
    
    Come on, mikenmild,
    
    I know it was a long weekend, but surely you can do better than that.
    (Have another espresso and focus on the task at hand.)
    
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    October 24, 2017 11:03am
  - Lance
    
    Unlike Chris Fafoi who remembers all those events first hand
    
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    October 24, 2017 11:50am
Maxx

Peters states his word is his bond and he’ll be taking that to the table to sign the agreement today. Hopefully he’s still got his “NO” signs for when he doesn’t want to use his words.
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October 24, 2017 8:02am
- kowtow
  
  His word on the Murri seats for example or was that another bottom line that wasn’t?
  
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  October 24, 2017 8:17am
  - Prince
    
    Afraid it was. Yet another massive fail for the political ‘genius’ Don Brash, backing Peters on the basis of that bottom line.
    
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    October 24, 2017 8:50am
  - cmm
    
    That was perhaps the biggest issue that swayed many NZF voters too…
    
    The only bottom lines Winnie still has are the wrinkles on his bum.
    
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    October 24, 2017 9:08am
    - Keeping Stock
      
      And those are plentiful!!
      
      Rod Emmerson, Herald cartoonist, told me once he’d given up trying to draw all the lines on Peters’ face because the ink was too expensive 😀
      
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      October 24, 2017 9:19am
  - Rachael Membery
    
    Don Brash seemed to think so.
    
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    October 24, 2017 9:23am
- Paulus
  
  Winston will be there for his inauguration if he gets up in time – if not well !
  
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  October 24, 2017 8:25am
  - billmurray
    
    He’ll be going only to meet up with his lost love Condoleezza Rice.
    
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    October 24, 2017 8:33am
    - GazzaW
      
      A worthwhile lost love though. Wasn’t it Condaleza who helped spring the PM’s other half from LAX airport without any untoward complications?
      
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      October 24, 2017 9:09am
    - Digmen1
      
      I wouldn’t mind meeting up with her either
      
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      October 24, 2017 9:25am
      - SJM
        
        I hear she is fond of cats.
        
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        October 24, 2017 11:58am
- freethinker
  
  Is that the same bond as his promise to repay $158,000 – lets see the receipt Winston!
  
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  October 24, 2017 1:15pm
MrTips

Peters as Dep PM and ForAff.
Last one out turn out the light.
NZ is screwed. With him in ForAff especially we are going to suffer when we should be shining. He was universally HATED last time in that role.
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October 24, 2017 8:04am
- Nukuleka
  
  Rumour has it that he wasn’t hated by Condoleezza Rice. Quite the opposite.
  
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  October 24, 2017 8:15am
  - Paulus
    
    Condeleza cannot be bad – looking either, but she is also a Concert Grade Pianist – so better still.
    
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    October 24, 2017 1:54pm
- Liberty
  
  It going to be interesting how he does that job without going to a Asian country.
  
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  October 24, 2017 9:56am
- waikatosinger
  
  Will he be worse than McCully?
  
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  October 24, 2017 9:57am
- MCos
  
  Refer to the previous post.
  My memory of Peters as FM is that he performed the job rather well.
  When it suits him Peters can be rather charming (under ‘c’ in the dictionary) and venerable. He’s also not likely to be trampled over quite so blatantly as his predecessor.
  Besides it’ll keep him out of the country with a bit of luck.
  
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  October 24, 2017 10:02am
- treadingthemill
  
  He was universally HATED last time in that role.
  
  I don’t think that’s true. From what I remember he did very well in the job and I don’t remember any outpourings of hatred regarding his performance.
  
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  October 24, 2017 10:11am
mandk

Jacinda says: “No, James, you can’t have the world’s biggest ocean sanctuary, but I’ll give you a cannabis referendum instead.”

The lightweight Greenie Shaw is going to be made to look more and more useless.
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October 24, 2017 8:04am
- alloytoo
  
  I just have to wonder how legalising cannabis is going effect the suicide rate…….not paranoid at all…..
  
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  October 24, 2017 8:07am
  - KKKKatee
    
    It’s certainly not going to slow it down – in fact, it will mostly likely drive the rates up and yet we have a PM who has ‘promised’ zero suicide rates.
    What the hell has she been smoking?
    
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    October 24, 2017 8:57am
    - Happychappy
      
      I want to see the plan of how to stop suicide as they have tried several failed policies over the years and families have suffered through it. My father was one of those failed experiments of the 1950’s / 60’s where shock treatment was the means of fixing the problem and while we were lucky enough still to have a father the stigma and what shock treatment did to his mind was something you hope will never happen again. So I know science has moved on and better treatment apply but family is the best way to help solve the problem by not creating and expectation of your children that they feel they can not live up to.
      
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      October 24, 2017 10:01am
      - treadingthemill
        
        I’m not sure any plan will stop all suicides, but one thing that can be done is adequately resource mental health services and the people and groups dealing with suicidal youth. Right now they are stretched to breaking point.
        
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        October 24, 2017 10:13am
- Maxx
  
  I really don’t have an issue with legalising marijuana, as long as they have an appropriate way for police to check whether somebody is under the influence when they pull them over. And the same for employers as well.
  
  As far as I’m aware every method is either subjective or requires a blood test. Not ideal.
  
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  October 24, 2017 8:16am
  - Maggy Wassilieff
    
    Canada is trialling some roadside tests this year.
    http://nationalpost.com/pmn/news-pmn/canada-news-pmn/canadas-health-ministers-set-to-discuss-progress-on-legalizing-marijuana
    
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    October 24, 2017 9:59am
    - Maxx
      
      From what I understand of this test is that it can only tell if you have used cannabis within the last 24hrs (depending on who you ask), and not of level of impairment
      
      Just like alcohol, level of impairment is dependent on how much you have consumed. Like cannabis, it can still be detected in the body 24hrs later.
      
      So unless the law is written to either say no traces at all or would be a saliva test showing traces and then impairment roadside test. Even then I see a lot of cases ending up before the courts. Look how many drunk driving ones alreaady end up there.
      
      Once again, not againts it, and I would rather have it legalised and taxed. There just needs to be a lot of thought put into what the downstream affects of this would be and how we ensure that the wider community are kept safe. More thought than a referendum should be given power to.
      
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      October 24, 2017 11:13am
- oldgolfer
  
  Is that possible?
  
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  October 24, 2017 9:05am
- cmm
  
  Jacinda says: “No, James, you can’t have the world’s biggest ocean sanctuary, but I’ll give you a cannabis referendum instead….. if Winston says it is ok.”
  
  Remember that Winnie has the final say in everything.
  
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  October 24, 2017 9:10am
  - Maxx
    
    Winston “referendums should be binding” unless he doesn’t want it in the first place
    
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    October 24, 2017 9:54am
  - KKKKatee
    
    Consumption of cannabis is the gateway to harder drugs….
    Ask the Drug Counsellors….
    Ask my sister and brother-in-law – son started out on cannabis and ended up on Heroin……
    Currently in the clink…….
    You know the drill – drug dealing, robbery, grievous bodily harm….
    
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    October 24, 2017 8:38pm
oldpark

Today is the day for NZs the” Coalition of Fear” new policies will be revealed.
Led an enacted by the low rent morally bankrupt Winston Peters.
NZs will find out today how much of the countrys’ security and stability,has been decimated,for the lust of power by a “Coalition of Losers.”
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October 24, 2017 8:05am
All_on_Red

Congrats to Brendan Hartley on being confirmed as driver for Torro Rosso at the Mexican F1 GP
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October 24, 2017 8:09am
- Huevon
  
  We no longer celebrate success in the new Aotearoa. Didn’t you get the memo, comrade?
  
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  October 24, 2017 9:20am
- Keeping Stock
  
  Interesting that Hartley has been retained for Mexico ahead of Daniil Kvyat. Although he finished the race a couple of places behind Kyvat, Hartley’s lap times got steadily better the more seat time he had, and his fastest lap yesterday was almost a second quicker than Kyvat’s.
  
  If he can record another strong performance in Mexico, Hartley could find himself with an F1 contract for 2018.
  
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  October 24, 2017 9:24am
  - Captain Mainwaring
    
    Kvyat has been in the naughty corner for a while because he’s unpredictable. On a good day he’s pretty quick but he makes silly mistakes. The fact that he didn’t make any yesterday wasn’t enough to save him. Toro Rosso obviously sees Hartley as safe and sensible, and he can only get even quicker.
    
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    October 24, 2017 9:29am
flipper

The skewed MSM made much of Key’s board walk mincing moments;. But he NEVER descended to the depths of depravity of Gaylord. Having just got here, take a brief look at the amazing, revealing pix of Gaylord on W O H B this morning.

Any thort that this will be anything but shocking to other nations is, well, as credible as the Peters/Ardern regime claim that capitalism has failed.

Go check it and come back!
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October 24, 2017 8:11am
- lifesgood
  
  Oh. My. God!
  
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  October 24, 2017 8:27am
- nasska
  
  I’m beginning to understand why Jacinda isn’t pregnant yet. 🙂
  
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  October 24, 2017 8:35am
- krazykiwi
  
  Remember how the media preyed on Max Key? By contrast, I imagine Gaylord will get a free pass for past, current and future displays of stupidity.
  
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  October 24, 2017 8:37am
  - mikenmild
    
    like the free pass given by Whale Oil and flipper with these pictures?
    
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    October 24, 2017 9:13am
    - sam green
      
      It’s ok when WO or KBers do it.
      
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      October 24, 2017 11:51am
- VicParking
  
  Like name, like actions. He should get on with Robertsons partner like a house on fire.
  
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  October 24, 2017 8:45am
- KKKKatee
  
  Yes, I’ve seen that. And Gayford should be very afraid as WO seem to be rather industrious when it comes to digging for gold…….
  Ok, he was a silly drunken student at the time.
  How the hell did he know way back then that he would hook up with someone who turns out to be the PM?
  However, WO is going to be rather interesting as it applies the blowtorch on Gayford’s antics. And they won’t stop while he’s hooked up with Jacinda.
  I expect more to come. As the Royal family say – ”Don’t complain, don’t explain”. Good strategy. Hope you’re reading this Clarke. In other words, keep ya gob firmly shut!
  
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  October 24, 2017 8:49am
  - kaykaybee
    
    His mincing is the least of his history he needs to be worried about. It’s other recreational activities he’s known for.
    
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    October 24, 2017 9:36am
- Ross12
  
  How old is this guy ? I didn’t know our new PM was a “cradle snatcher”.
  
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  October 24, 2017 8:54am
  - Maggy Wassilieff
    
    He’s 39…. so a couple of years older than JA
    https://www.voanews.com/a/new-zealand-clarke-gayford-first-bloke-breaks-mold/4079121.html
    
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    October 24, 2017 10:03am
- DifferentPerspective
  
  More disconcerting is the other WOBH video here, I mean what on earth is that dongling between Jacinda’s legs?
  
  I mean she’s not like ~~Michael~~ Michelle Obama who is seriously androgynous-looking, Taxcinda is clearly a woman, but what on earth was that?
  
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  October 24, 2017 8:57am
  - KKKKatee
    
    It is merely the cut of the dress. Nothing more, nothing less. However, it is unfortunate that for some reason (and it may be to do with the fabric and how it moves) the woman’s nether regions appear to be ‘exposed’. Nothing like a bit of Mon Pubis (which is a rounded mass of fatty tissue found over the pubic symphysis of the pubic bones) to create a bit of speculation. As I’ve already stated, it is simply an illusion – nothing more, nothing less!
    
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    October 24, 2017 9:08am
    - Rachael Membery
      
      It also makes her look like her breasts are at waist level.
      
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      October 24, 2017 10:00am
    - Twinkletoes
      
      Looks to me as if she had had a dash to the loo before walking onstage and had either unknowingly tucked the lining of her dress, or a separate slip into the waistband of her knickers – easily done in haste.
      
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      October 24, 2017 11:22am
    - RF
      
      Jesus look at the package.
      
      Where’s Starboard when you need him for an expert opinion. Pretty sure she is wearing happy pants that can be purchased in Bali.
      
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      October 24, 2017 7:25pm
    - Left Right and Centre
      
      Weds Pubis = hump day.
      I don’t know either.
      
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      October 25, 2017 2:27am
  - Classic Liberal
    
    Diff Persp
    I think criticizing her wardrobe malfunctions will just get her more sympathetic support. Everyone looks silly now and then.
    
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    October 24, 2017 12:46pm
    - Left Right and Centre
      
      Let’s face it – you could really dress her up and it would be hot.
      
      They’re going for dowdy and frumpy – hey – I’m just your average kiwi gal – just like you, comrades.
      
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      October 25, 2017 2:33am
  - realityczech
    
    This explains the attraction for Gayford !
    
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    October 24, 2017 7:29pm
- Rich Prick
  
  There is something rather wrong with the First Boyfriend.
  
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  October 24, 2017 9:03am
- GazzaW
  
  Bahahaha!! And not a ponytail in sight.
  
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  October 24, 2017 9:13am
  - RF
    
    I heard he has an animals tail tattoo coming out his Arse.
    
    Charming…..
    
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    October 24, 2017 7:28pm
- cmm
  
  Teddy bear’s picnic?
  
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  October 24, 2017 9:13am
- waikatosinger
  
  Please let’s not go Gaylord bashing. We should avoid the temptation to go after the low hanging fruit.
  
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  October 24, 2017 10:14am
  - RF
    
    He will be a hit with Donald Trump. They can swap stories about their conquests…..
    
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    October 24, 2017 7:30pm
- Psycho Milt
  
  Good to see Flipper still maintains the level of political analysis we’ve come to know and deride.
  
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  October 24, 2017 11:44am
  - mikenmild
    
    Don’t be too harsh on flipper – he was a mate of Muldoon, you know…
    
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    October 24, 2017 11:55am
    - treadingthemill
      
      flipper seems to think it means something of great importance, when it’s obviously just a bit of a lark for a tv program. I am not sure why he thinks it will be a major concern to other countries. And he has a very Victorian understanding of depravity.
      
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      October 24, 2017 12:05pm
krazykiwi

Bill tipped to stay:

But after extensive soundings, the Herald understands there is no mood in caucus to replace English, who had been leader for only nine months when he led the party to a result virtually the same as John Key’s first victory in 2008.

Good.
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October 24, 2017 8:12am
- alloytoo
  
  Good, I suspect most of National’s support base feel the same way. (and some of NZF’s as well)
  
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  October 24, 2017 8:19am
  - kowtow
    
    Keeping Bill is a good idea, if he wants to stay on.
    
    Every appearance will be a reminder to the 45 % , the largest voting block in the country , that a grave injustice has been done .
    
    He’ll be a marked contrast to airhead and even those dumb old dears who usually voted National but were enamoured by the youth and vitality of the Pretender will regret their stupidity in voting for an image over substance.
    
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    October 24, 2017 8:26am
    - All_on_Red
      
      I don’t mind Bill staying but only if he recognises that a number of his team have to be moved on.
      National have made a number of mistakes and they need to recognise that. Not addressing the RMA was a huge mistake.
      Smith, Bennett, Joyce all have to go. So does Goodfellow too.
      If Bill doesn’t get that, then in true National tradition he’ll get his throat cut.
      Also if the Maori Party wants to come back they better get better Campaigning help next time! And start now.
      
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      October 24, 2017 8:54am
      - Rachael Membery
        
        They would have gone with Labour and would have been out of coalition talks on the numbers anyway.
        
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        October 24, 2017 10:02am
- DifferentPerspective
  
  I suspect the new government will welcome this news too, they’ll be pinching themselves to check they’re not dreaming that National would seem so dead-set on sticking with the two-time loser.
  
  The denial is strong. Keeping on doing the same thing and expecting a different result.
  
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  October 24, 2017 8:59am
  - Ross12
    
    Dream on DP.
    There are quite a few new things to come out the final result which we have not seen before.
    For example, on the one hand we have a Government/Cabinet of relatively inexperienced people ( unlike when Clarke came in , her team was quite experienced). On the other we have a large, very experienced opposition with, as a result of the system plenty of funding and advantages in select committees etc. which previous oppositions did not have.
    There are plenty of other differences so I do not think we can assume it will be “business as usual” just with a new team and policies.
    BTW. For the sake of NZ, I genuinely hope the new Government works well.
    
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    October 24, 2017 11:32am
lifesgood

Well I must say a great big “Good on you Bill” now we know that DPM and Foreign Affairs were two of Winston’s bottom lines. As if the Nat party would want to be contaminated by that toxicity. It is so in character for Winnie to want FA, A life of flying round the world, staying in flash hotels, drinking the mini bars dry and literally doing sweet FA.
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October 24, 2017 8:12am
- marcw
  
  The other advantage (for him) is he rarely has to be present in Parliament. It’s the perfect excuse to be ‘busy’ on international duties.
  
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  October 24, 2017 9:10am
  - KevOB
    
    It puts Winston out of reach, out of visibility and out of needing Mr Speakers help. Winston can hide his health failure but he won’t be able to control.
    
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    October 24, 2017 10:23am
- Piniwi
  
  Not to mention ducking questions in the house. It will be funny watching his stand in struggling to handle the flack.
  
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  October 25, 2017 2:18am
EAD_TWO

A good assessment by a National Party supporter

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/opinion/98148989/new-govt-needs-to-overturn-nationals-glorified-slave-labour-policies

It will come as no surprise to you that my preference would have been for a National-New Zealand First coalition. But despite broadly supporting the thrust of National’s economic management of New Zealand, I certainly had my differences. None more so than the unsustainable binge on mass-immigration to artificially grow the economy.

The mass-importation of glorified slave labour, chiefly through the shonky low-value student visa industry, has kept a cynical break on wage growth for low-income earners, particularly in the service industry.

He then goes onto say:

However, a major fly in that ointment is the referendum bauble for the Greens on legalising cannabis for personal use. This is mana from heaven for those idle dopeheads who currently place greater value on having a joint, than getting a job.

The Green Party base is over-populated by pot-heads, and this concession is proof positive that they’re just as pre-occupied by cannabis as they are about climate change.

About the only thing I don’t agree with the commentator on is when he says

“Arden is an extraordinary talent”

.

What has she actually done I would ask? What real life experience can she bring to the table?
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October 24, 2017 8:13am
- calendar girl
  
  She’s been coached by Helen Clark (who’s still there, close behind her). What more does she need?
  
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  October 24, 2017 8:26am
  - kaykaybee
    
    Substance?
    
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    October 24, 2017 10:02am
- waikatogirl
  
  James Shaw being interviewed on Q+A discussing introducing legalising cannabis, was asked by Corin Dann if he “smoked”. Shaw replied “No I don’t, it’s not good for you, right?”.
  
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  October 24, 2017 8:29am
  - mandk
    
    Nonetheless, he wants to make it easier for our young people to become drop kicks and expose themselves to greatly increased risk of addiction to other substances, intellectual impairment and psychiatric disorders.
    
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    October 24, 2017 8:45am
  - Paulus
    
    Shaw is only trying to get some young Greenpeace voters.
    
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    October 24, 2017 2:03pm
- peterwn
  
  Someone else who voted NZF thinking NZF would never go with Labour/ Greens and would force National to deliver policies he wants and then wonders what happened when NZF goes with Labour.
  Interesting that ‘Sally’, one of the more sensible commenters at WO seems to be going gaga claiming that Bill fluffed the negotiations and thinking all would have been sweet with a National/ NZ First government.
  
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  October 24, 2017 8:33am
  - Poppa
    
    One thing that everyone should have learned is to never trust Mr Peters. It is not new, he has been the same for all of the years I have taken an interest in politics.
    
    I for one would never give him my vote & I cannot understand sensible people doing so in the hope he would do what they want him to do.
    
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    October 24, 2017 8:47am
  - lifesgood
    
    WO has a lot of sycophants who hang on his every word and do as the master bids. He spent the whole election campaign sticking the knife into Bill English and promoting Peters. He’s furiously back pedalling now because he realises he was(is) an idiot. Sally must have been sucked in.
    
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    October 24, 2017 9:10am
    - Poppa
      
      He said that Peters would never go into a deal involving the Greens. Technically he is right but in reality that is exactly what has happened.
      
      I could see no value in voting for Peters if you wanted the Nats to govern. Surely that thinking is flawed as it has proven
      
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      October 24, 2017 9:39am
  - niggly
    
    She’s smart, but bought into WO’s anti-Bill English narrative earlier on in the piece (eg the UN resolution against Israel etc) and hasn’t worked out that the WO blog sprays anti-Bill English muck around to anything hoping it will stick when sometimes it’s just nonsense or wishful thinking.
    
    It’s sad for the WO blog that a lot of other long time commentators and supporters have actually realised this and are much less active now – there were some good thinkers on there for the last few years (there still are of course, but I mean some of the long-timers).
    
    Especially some of the women which along with the men gave the blog good, unique balance in terms of opinions reflecting how both sexes sees issues etc.
    
    Anyway I notice they occasionally pop up here and give great contributions. 🙂
    
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    October 24, 2017 9:13am
    - oldpark
      
      Mr Niggly. Why do you talk so much sense. Pity Mr Farrar dosn’t give an award for the top blogger comments of the week,or even the month. Even better your comments are genuine with fair balanced and researched comments.Go well .
      
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      October 24, 2017 9:38am
    - hullkiwi
      
      I wrote last week that someone should talk to Slater jnr, and ask him whose side is he on. It is time for:
      The National caucus to get behind Bill;
      For Chopper, Simpson & any other malcontent to workout National is in opposition & whether they are going to be focused on the job in hand;
      For anyone with influence over Slater jnr to stop undermining National and focus on the loser coalition, because Collins will never be PM, so it is unhelpful pushing her for leader!
      
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      October 24, 2017 2:32pm
  - Happychappy
    
    And the same sheep keep paying to keep his blog alive peterwn.
    
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    October 24, 2017 9:20am
  - Piniwi
    
    More than that peterwn. She is a bit short on knowledge and logic bit is one of the in crowd by towing the line. Pathetic.
    
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    October 25, 2017 2:21am
- KKKKatee
  
  ZILCH!
  
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  October 24, 2017 8:58am
- KevOB
  
  Those who fall in love with their own rhetoric are doomed to live it.
  
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  October 24, 2017 10:25am
- RF
  
  Since she has been in parliament she has achieved zilch.
  
  The closest she has come to making a name for herself is being on the receiving end of ” zip it sweetee”
  
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  October 24, 2017 7:37pm
  - Gabby
    
    Remember that time you got your wee chap stuck in your zip rf rf? Wot larx.
    
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    October 24, 2017 11:10pm
Happychappy

I do wonder if going back to 1984 and beyond means that Peters wants people to have overseas funds to import cars and all the other luxury that people couldn’t afford in those days. The other talk of Capitalism is this why he has chosen the Trade Minister Portfolio as he wants to make his Legacy World Wide by preaching to the world ” I” will stop capitalism in the world to to do business with NZ that is our bottom line.
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October 24, 2017 8:17am
kowtow

Funny old world, the feminists (and their academic enablers) attacked the language to make it gender neutral , very successfully . Look at how many people use chair , fire fighter, spokesperson, fisher etc

Full circle and now they’re moaning because the mentally ill are getting their way from the British gummint in international treaties .

“But one feminist said the change made gender “unmentionable”.
“Sarah Ditum, a feminist writer, told The Sunday Times: “Having a female body and knowing what that means for reproduction doesn’t make you ‘exclusionary’. Forcing us to decorously scrub out any reference to our sex on pain of being called bigots is an insult.”’

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/10/23/call-expectant-mothers-pregnant-people-government-suggests/

ps It’s all mad.
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October 24, 2017 8:22am
- Longknives
  
  Ha Ha Did you see the thing doing the rounds on Facebook (I’ll try and find the link) telling parents that their little girls dressing as Disney’s Character Moana for Halloween was ‘Racist’ and ‘Virtually Blackface’?
  Okay then- They can go back to Princess Elsa from Frozen you’d think..But No shriek the Lefties..That’s a celebration of White Privilege!
  
  The World has gone freaking bonkers.
  
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  October 24, 2017 8:31am
peterwn

So Cameron Slater is asking Jacinda what she is doing about the alleged ‘trucking crisis’ because of the closure of SH1 through Kaikoura. Granted the industry is stretched and moving the greatest amount of freight with the resources is stressful on staff, drivers, the trucks and the roadworks crews (especially keeping the inland route in as good shape as possible) – all of whom are doing a fantastic job. What does he expect her to do? Wave a magic wand and sprinkle some stardust over Kaikoura so the road magically re-opens?
I think Cam is being totally unrealistic – one of the reasons I will not take out a WO sub.
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October 24, 2017 8:24am
- cmm
  
  “What does he expect her to do? Wave a magic wand and sprinkle some stardust over Kaikoura so the road magically re-opens?”
  
  Nope, nobody expects magic but it is still a fair question (as it would have been if asked to any other PM).
  
  She has signed up for the top job and has promised change, so that means:
  * She has to take the responsibility that comes with the office.
  * She gets asked questions about what she’d going to do.
  * She has promised change, so what it she going to change? People are allowed to be curious.
  * She has promised “let’s do this” so what is she going to do?
  
  But I still agree with your sentiments on Slater.
  
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  October 24, 2017 9:29am
- KKKKatee
  
  Disagree. The buck stops with JA now and she will be expected to come up with answers to all sorts of problems that she doesn’t even know exist yet. And she won’t be able to hide behind Winston’s trousers either – the test is about to begin. That’s the downside of being PM – people expect you to be a genius 100% of the time and if not – pffft!
  My advice to her is to desist immediately from making promises she simply cannot deliver…..
  She’s already pissed more then half the nation off on the ‘no more poverdy’ and ‘no more suicides’ on her watch.
  Yeah right…..
  
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  October 24, 2017 9:29am
- Keeping Stock
  
  I concur. The damage to the road along the Kaikoura Coast was massive, and even if it reopens in time for the Christmas holidays, that will be a fantastic repair effort. Here’s hoping that the significant ‘quake in the region at the weekend has nopt caused further damage along the rail/road corridor.
  
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  October 24, 2017 10:23am
- KevOB
  
  WO has his likes and dislikes- he can really show the latter. If he becomes a serious attacker of Taxincida, Old Fellow & Co it will serve them ~~right~~ correctly.
  
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  October 24, 2017 10:31am
  - Piniwi
    
    Perhaps not KevOB he was largely to blame for this Toxic Trio by promoting the old geezer.
    
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    October 25, 2017 2:28am
- Rachael Membery
  
  Hell, improve the the rail tracks, she knows Winston wants her to and James, in that order.
  
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  October 24, 2017 8:22pm
flipper

Apart from being the younger, and less influential part of the Peters/Ardern regime, their lies on capitalism are exposed this morning by the “Free Press “(ACT newsletter):

Capitalism Failed?
The new Prime Minister says capitalism has failed because there are too many children in poverty. She’s not just a little bit wrong, she is stating the opposite of the truth. There are children in poverty because the poor can’t get the things that are most heavily monopolised and regulated by Government: decent housing and education.

Where’s the Evidence?
Globally, she is dead wrong. The last 30 years of free trade, limited Government and the collapse of communism have seen hundreds of millions work their way out of real poverty. There’s never been so much relief of poverty in history, since this so-called neo-liberal era.

Where’s the Evidence?
Since 1982 the Government has measured household incomes and expenditures with the Household Labour Force Survey. Incomes have risen roughly equally since. What’s changed is expenditure. The poorest 20 per cent of households spent 27 per cent of their income on housing costs when the RMA was passed in 1991. Today they spend 54 per cent on housing. We have an inequality problem because endless red tape and regulation has made it almost impossible to build homes, let alone affordably.

Where’s the Evidence?
Fourteen per cent of decile one students get University Entrance, compared with 73 per cent of decile ten students. More decile one students leave school with no qualifications at all than with University Entrance. These numbers have barely moved in a decade under a state monopoly on education. (After three school years completed, the tiny handful of students at ACT’s Partnership Schools are the glimmer of hope).

Where’s the Evidence?
Ardern says ‘the market has failed,’ but how can the ‘market’ be responsible for 12,000, or one-in-five New Zealand children being born into a benefit-led household? The incoming Government will reverse a decade of effort to reduce welfare dependency and replace it with a more open-ended version than we have now. Who thinks this will reduce child poverty? Who thinks it will increase child neglect?

Misguided in the Extreme
Armed with little more than her experiences leading the International Union of Socialist Youth, Ardern is putting ideology before the evidence staring her in the face. All around the world capitalism works to lift people out of poverty, but in New Zealand the state keeps people poor. This Government will fail by its own measures because of blind ideology.

The Socialist Ratchet
When the new government starts ratcheting up spending and intervention, they will be starting exactly where Labour left off in 2008. Being a conservative party, National has only ever preserved the policies of outgoing Labour Governments, and this last administration was no different. Working for Families, Interest Free Loans, The Employment Relations Act, and Jim Anderton’s Ministry for Economic Development (rebadged and expanded as MBIE) are all still there and ready to resume their expansion.

One Telling Reversal
One policy that will be difficult to reverse is ACT’s Partnership Schools. If the new Government is stupid enough to mess with these successful schools, they are going to have to go and tell kids who’ve been given their best chance in a life time that they’re going to shut down or mollify their ticket to higher education. They’re going to have to tell talented educators who set up the schools at great personal cost that their efforts are not appreciated. Shame.

Four Factions
The new government actually has four factions, and Partnership Schools will bring out the fault lines amongst them. Presumptive Labour Education Minister Chris Hipkins was selected for the Rimutaka Electorate in a hall packed with Teacher Union reps. He is already getting public (and no doubt private) calls from the unions to shut down this annoying competition. Labour’s Maori caucus know that the state monopoly on education has not been good for generations of Maori kids, so much so that several of them are personally connected with Partnership Schools. Wiser heads in New Zealand First have visited the schools and attended their prize giving ceremonies and privately support the initiative. The Greens are theoretically in favour of devolving control to communities. Because ACT actually carried the ball forward in the latest government, our policy legacy is a real challenge for the incoming Government.

Massive Shift Left
Already the pundits are saying National must move to the left and embrace New Zealand First or even the Greens to form a government in 2020. They will campaign from the Right against Jacinda Ardern’s socialism then embrace it as John Key embraced the policies of Helen Clark. There has got to be a better way.

Circuit Breaker
If this country is going to get a Government as committed to sensible economics, personal responsibility, and individual freedom as even the outgoing one, we must grow ACT over this term. The blue-green, blue-black, or even continued red alternatives don’t bear thinking about.
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October 24, 2017 8:25am
- EAD_TWO
  
  @ Flipper,
  
  The “left” vs. “right” paradigm that has been foisted upon us as the only way in which to order society has been absolutely poison to the West. There is more, much much more to life than the distribution of wealth, taxes, consumption and social classes.
  
  You really should read some of Julius Evola:
  
  Nothing is more evident than that modern capitalism is just as subversive as Marxism. The materialistic view of life on which both systems are based is identical; both of their ideals are qualitatively identical, including the premises connected to a world the centre of which is constituted of technology, science, production, ”productivity” and ”consumption.”
  
  And as long as we only talk about economic classes, profit, salaries, and production, and as long as we believe that real human progress is determined by a particular system of distribution of wealth and goods, and that, generally speaking, human progress is measured by the degree of wealth or indigence—then we are not even close to what is essential, even though new theories, beyond Marxism and capitalism, might be formulated.
  
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  October 24, 2017 8:46am
- Ross12
  
  flipper
  Well done –I’m going save your post.
  
  But I’m afraid you are wrong about the Partnership Schools –they will “gone” by Xmas. I am a HUGE supporter of them ( especially after reading the series of articles SB did on WO)
  But Hipkins will roll them despite what you have said about private support in other quarters, on which I think you are right.
  Stupid Kelvin Davis thinks it’ll be all OK as they can be “reclassified” under the Act to be special character schools. But those schools have to teach the standard curriculum , which means the flexibility that gives the Partnership schools their strength is removed.
  
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  October 24, 2017 11:46am
  - cha
    
    Well done –I’m going save your post.
    
    He didn’t write it.
    
    http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1710/S00186/act-free-press-bulletin-23102017.htm
    
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    October 24, 2017 11:59am
    - Ross12
      
      Thanks cha — I didn’t note the bit about “Free Press” at the top.
      
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      October 24, 2017 12:51pm
JasonJohns

Kiwiblog’s getting famous
https://yournz.org/2017/10/23/assassination-comments-on-kiwiblog/
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October 24, 2017 8:28am
- Maggy Wassilieff
  
  You seem to have forgotten this one
  https://thestandard.org.nz/kiwibloggers-discuss-assassination-of-terrorist-winston-peters/
  
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  October 24, 2017 8:35am
  - Manolo
    
    Life must be extremely hard without a Peter Dunne to worship, isn’t it?
    
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    October 24, 2017 11:51am
- Jack5
  
  Is “Rightoverlabour” yet another pseudonym of Kea, the banned parrot?
  
  This could be the biggest bird attack since Hitchcock’s “Birds”.
  
  11 5
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  October 24, 2017 8:43am
  - Tauhei Notts
    
    The banned parrot is spelled “Kea”.
    Kia is an abbreviation used occasionally by people referring to one of our best contributors, “Kiwi In America”.
    Kia ora Jack5, as you used the edit function.
    
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    October 24, 2017 8:55am
  - flipper
    
    Nah……
    The birds of Bodega Bay were driven away by the Sonoma/Santa Rosa, Ca. wild fires these past two-three weeks.
    
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    October 24, 2017 9:05am
  - Kimbo
    
    Is “Rightoverlabour” yet another pseudonym of Kea, the banned parrot?
    
    Well, kowtow, holysheet and howitis almost certainly aren’t, and they’ve made similar comments on KB in the last few months concerning the likes of Angela Merkel and Metiria Turei…
    
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    October 24, 2017 9:32am
- rightoverlabour
  
  I would like to unreservedly apologise to DPF and anyone that took offence to my comment. In hindsite, it was rash and a step too far. I suppose a positive is that it has opened debate on what is allowed and not allowed to be posted. I will be more careful on what I post in future. Thank you.
  
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  October 24, 2017 8:48am
  - Jack5
    
    Clever parrot.
    
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    October 24, 2017 8:49am
    - rightoverlabour
      
      Definitely not Kea or anyone else.
      
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      October 24, 2017 8:56am
      - Jack5
        
        Clever, clever parrot!
        
        1 6
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        October 24, 2017 8:59am
  - Kimbo
    
    Um, in the way these things are done, I don’t think “I apologise to…anyone that took offence to my comment” addresses the issue.
    
    “I apologise because it is wrong to endorse and encourage violence against democratically-elected representatives and executives” is more on the money…
    
    But good on you for fronting and at least getting half way there on your first attempt. 😉
    
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    October 24, 2017 9:35am
    - rightoverlabour
      
      Ok, I apologise for my call endorse or encourage violence against anyone, democratically elected or not. I suppose I was just so frustrated that the whole process of choosing our representatives came down to the whims of one person who did not hold a seat and had 7% of the vote. It was a rash and stupid post.
      
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      October 24, 2017 9:47am
      - Kimbo
        
        But your retraction and clarification confirms you are an ok person.
        
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        October 24, 2017 9:52am
      - rightoverlabour
        
        to Kimbo. I hope I am an Ok person. I posted once that venting on a blog is probably preferable to going out and actually doing something stupid. What was interesting was the response. It proves that choosing to move to New Zealand was definitely a wise decision. In many other parts of the world election results that go the wrong way results in rioting and violent revolt. Here, even a suggestion of that gets rightly condemned.
        
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        October 24, 2017 10:28am
  - Keeping Stock
    
    Good on you for apologising ROL.
    
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    October 24, 2017 10:48am
- Brito
  
  Ok, so rightoverlabour may have gone a step too far, however stating that this blog side is out of control sounds like left leaning censorship.
  
  Although I don’t agree with some of the commentary coming from some of the punters here, god speed to you all and keep defending the right to do this.
  
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  October 24, 2017 8:52am
  - Jack5
    
    Kiwiblog isn’t out of control – it’s under a troll attack.
    
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    October 24, 2017 8:54am
    - Kimbo
      
      Yeah, but at least in JasonJohns we finally have a better and much more amusing quality of troll. 😉 Makes up for the recent incursion of the tedious SPLOOGE.
      
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      October 24, 2017 9:36am
  - Im Right
    
    ‘Left leaning censorship’….just look at The Standard where the commontator called Weka is trying to make it a rule (on some of her postings) that ONLY lefties can post a comment, which basically means anything that goes against the Labour/Greens narrative is not posted. And the left cherish democracy and free speech, but only if its in their political spectrum of course!
    
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    October 24, 2017 9:19am
BarryB

When Labour lost in 2008 they basically blamed the voters – who Labour thought they made a stupid mistake.

They were in the wilderness for 9 years. It was labours own fault that they were out.

Today National are blaming the system.

If they keep that up they will be in the wilderness for 9 years also.

I thought they were smarter than that.
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October 24, 2017 8:32am
- Evadne
  
  Don’t confuse a few grumpy voters with the Party.
  The National party aren’t blaming anyone. They’ve been very gracious and rational about it all.
  
  I believe that once the initial disappointment wears off they will feel relief, and significant anticipation about what they might do in opposition.
  
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  October 24, 2017 8:37am
  - SPLOOGE
    
    Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
    ”what they might do in opposition.”
    What they always do, whinge, moan and belittle whilst adding nothing positive.
    The right have always been bad losers.
    
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    October 24, 2017 8:50am
    - Evadne
      
      Actually, I believe you have your parties mixed up. National have generally been very productive and responsible in opposition: developing policy, consulting with experts and community groups, researching, collaborating, and generally preparing themselves for government.
      
      This also makes them extremely well-prepared when it comes to debates in the house.
      
      Labour, on the other hand, spent their 9 years creating “visions” – and could tell us little about their policies during the election campaign, as they would be developed by ‘working parties’ later.
      
      I’ll leave your comment about those who “whinge, moan and belittle whilst adding nothing positive” – most observers can see quite clearly who they are. And they needn’t look beyond this thread…
      
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      October 24, 2017 8:56am
      - cmm
        
        hey also put in effort and do stuff oppositions are supposed to do – like prepare proper shadow budgets etc.
        
        Andy never did any of that. He just scratched his balls and said: “Not good enough, Kiwis deserve better.”
        
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        October 24, 2017 9:32am
    - lifesgood
      
      Yeah, they are all out on protest marches carrying banners “Not my PM” Graffitiing buildings and howling tears of impotent rage. Oh, no, that’s right, only the left do that. Tell me something, Splodge, why are you so miserable and defensive? You should be happy and celebrating your extremely hollow victory.
      
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      October 24, 2017 9:18am
  - VicParking
    
    Agreed Evadne. BarryB listern to his interview this morning.
    
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    October 24, 2017 8:51am
  - BarryB
    
    you obviously didnt hear Bill English on morning report this morning.
    He was basically saying “we got more votes than anyone else so we should be in the government”.
    
    He hasnt got to grips with MMP yet.
    
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    October 24, 2017 8:54am
    - Right of way is Way of Right
      
      You obviously didn’t hear Bill English on ZB this morning, where he stated that the Government we have is a legitimate government under MMP, and that it is unusual for the highest polling party to not be in government, but they will work hard to be an effective opposition.
      
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      October 24, 2017 9:12am
      - niggly
        
        And Bill English said the same thing on Morning Report this morning too. Even when Susie Ferguson tried to ‘push’ him with the ‘do you think you had a moral mandate to be govt’ line, Bill English replied ‘no’ because that’s how MMP works and they all knew that.
        
        Looks like BarryB interprets actual spoken words differently to everyone else!
        
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        October 24, 2017 9:43am
      - Classic Liberal
        
        “Looks like BarryB interprets actual spoken words differently to everyone else”
        
        Yes Niggly, just like all the Trump haters who never seemed to actually listen to his speeches but just go by a few false headlines.
        
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        October 24, 2017 1:10pm
      - hullkiwi
        
        Niggly, I heard English being interviewed by Ferguson on Morning Report & heard the same thing. Seems BarryB lives in the world of fake hearing & fake interpretation.
        
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        October 24, 2017 3:17pm
  - JasonJohns
    
    Based on analysis I have seen at kiwiblog national still has a number of routes open to winning the 2017 election and forming a government.
    
    1. as kevob has said, the gg has not yet accepted Ardern as PM. Quite a delay. she might decide that the threshold has not been met for a credible government and invite bill english to have a go.
    
    2. winston agreed to go with labour but as many have said here he was not necessarily compos mentis when he made that decision. he may be senile. he may be suffering a serious disease. legal-constitutional opinion says that if winston was not capable of making a decision the agreement is null and void and the election must be reheld.
    
    3. a number of election-related court cases are apparently underway. they could have an impact.
    
    4. the nzdf and sis could advise winston that it is in the best interests of the nation for him to withdraw his agreement. the security ‘establishment’ has clearly been uncomfortable with the idea of a government containing the greens, who want to abolish the state.
    
    5. jacinda ardern may decide she doesn’t want the job after all and throw the ball back to english. the devastating loss that the all blacks suffered will have shaken her.
    
    this election is by no means over everyone.
    
    if worst comes to worst, then preparations are well underway for the formation of alternative government in exile of national unity at the delta in ngaruawahia. we have some really good people here who can cover most of the significant portfolios. an informal people’s parliament has already been in session last friday and saturday nights, though on friday we had to retreat to the toilets for security reasons and were eventually forced to adjourn by a very bad smell coming from a recently vacated stall. nevertheless, we will be back, in the interests of the nation.
    
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    October 24, 2017 8:57am
    - Captain Mainwaring
      
      I like the way you think JJ. The GG must be very concerned that the coalition agreement only exists between two parties, whose combined seats are one less than National holds on their own. Surely the Greens should also be a signatory if this is to be a valid coalition.
      
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      October 24, 2017 9:35am
    - cmm
      
      I think it best to just accept it is over, then watch the ClusterParty stagger around and, in 2020 people will come back to their senses innoculated against the worst of socialism for a generation or two.
      
      If this was to reverse for some really weird legal reason we’d have the whole “not my PM” problem and Labour would probably do well in 2020.
      
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      October 24, 2017 9:37am
      - Classic Liberal
        
        Agreed CMM.
        
        Once businesses fail and negative equity destroys people’s lives, more NZF voters and even Labour voters will see what they’ve created.
        
        I wish it didn’t have to go that way :(.
        
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        October 24, 2017 1:15pm
    - realityczech
      
      JJ, just a reminder – that they have not legalised drugs yet mate 🙂
      
      5 0
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      October 24, 2017 1:16pm
    - Ross12
      
      Is the Labour/Greens agreement completed? I think they said on Friday it wasn’t.
      So the GG is obviously right to wait until she has confirmation that all agreements are completed and in place.
      What I find amazing is we have 3 parties going into coalition but it appears the two minor parties are not really aware (yet) of what each has agreed with the major party.
      Maybe that is the way it is done, but I find it a strange way to go about forming a “team”.
      
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      October 24, 2017 3:46pm
      - chris
        
        The Greens agreement will be for confidence & supply, and will include some concessions (e.g. the marijuana referendum) and ministers outside cabinet.
        
        Given they’re outside cabinet and not in an official coalition, presumably they’ll be able to vote on legislation on a case by case basis, other than anything to do with confidence and supply, e.g. the vote in confidence of the government and the budget.
        
        It may well be similar with NZ First; I can certainly see them taking time over getting certain legislation right so all three will agree to it. And then they have to contend with National having a lot of MPs in the select committees.
        
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        October 24, 2017 4:45pm
- flipper
  
  Bollocks !
  There is no comparison.
  For your sanity, examine the make up. Within three (3) years the Peters/Ardern regime will implode.
  Bye, bye. Good riddance.
  
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  October 24, 2017 9:10am
  - jcuk
    
    Remember recent events in UK where the govt wanted a bigger majority and came back without any.
    
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    October 24, 2017 10:34am
- btb
  
  Its hard to get 4 terms. If the Nats rejuvenate and foster a couple more friendships then they’re back. Its unlikely they will lose the wealthy immigrant vote in Auckland. The only wild card is if the coalition surprises people and is effective in housing and infrastructure, and doesn’t alienate the agricultural sector, then they might get re-elected.
  
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  October 24, 2017 11:15am
  - Classic Liberal
    
    I know lots of Asian immigrants. They don’t have to be wealthy to support small business, hard work, family values, self reliance and most of all *education*. I doubt many would have voted for Taxinda.
    
    Unless you buy into the delusion that simply owning a home in Auckland means people are ‘wealthy’? These are mostly very ordinary people who work incredibly hard to give their children a better life.
    
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    October 24, 2017 1:19pm
    - btb
      
      Classical Liberal I agree the vast majority of Asians vote national, and its my opinion that all of those able to, do buy property. Owning a house in Auckland purchased recently probably means you’ve been ripped off and not as wealthy as you could be, but if you have a couple of rentals now is the time to sell one of them and diversify. I believe the current flattening of the housing market is reflecting the Chinese government restrictions of overseas investment often by their own government officials ( every business and house sale must be approved by the party). Not every house is purchased this way but you only need 2 bidders at an auction. The Chinese have a massive economy, they aren’t necessarily bad but their effects on our markets have been proven to be distortionary, another example is the collapse of the milk price which was a disaster after massive areas of land were converted to dairying. No delusion, you have to live somewhere, but our own children deserve a chance too.
      
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      October 24, 2017 7:49pm
  - Rachael Membery
    
    Not with a capital gains tax.
    
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    October 24, 2017 9:36pm
Jack5

More dividends of diversity!

Shonky foreign-owned educational institutions in NZ.

http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/342215/nzqa-crackdown-largely-hits-chinese-indian-owned-businesses
16 0
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October 24, 2017 8:40am
- Gruffydd
  
  They are not for education they are just scams to get a back door entry into nz and keep wages for low skill workers down.
  After completing their “education” they get a work visa for a year. A “management” position pumping gas or cleaning cars in a dodgy car yard.
  After the year is up they get residence automatically.
  National should be ashamed for allowing this rort to continue unchecked.
  
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  October 24, 2017 8:49am
  - VicParking
    
    The tooth fairy will wave Winstons wand and all will be fixed.
    
    12 2
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    October 24, 2017 8:52am
    - Jack5
      
      She will wave Winston’s wand?
      
      Just what are you forecasting, Vic?
      
      10 1
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      October 24, 2017 8:56am
      - cmm
        
        Maybe that’s what she meant by “Let’s do this.”
        
        11 1
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        October 24, 2017 9:38am
      - hullkiwi
        
        Does Gayford know about this?
        
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        October 24, 2017 3:23pm
  - Tauhei Notts
    
    Had National put a stop to that rort they would have not needed any coalition partners; they would have been sitting on 52%.
    
    16 1
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    October 24, 2017 8:59am
  - Inandout
    
    That is what has annoyed me about National’s term. They had so many opportunities to correct these types of things, but failed to do so.
    
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    October 24, 2017 9:05am
    - All_on_Red
      
      Exactly!
      I hope they do a post Election analysis and be realistic.
      
      8 3
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      October 24, 2017 9:22am
      - hullkiwi
        
        As long as Joyce is a bit player, he was part of the problem here along with Woodhouse.
        
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        October 24, 2017 3:27pm
    - EAD_TWO
      
      They had so many opportunities to correct these types of things, but failed to do so.
      
      Maybe because they didn’t want to fix it.
      
      It staggers me that there are people on here who believe all of Nationals traiterous behaviour was some kind of oversight or “stupidity” rather than being deliberate.
      
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      October 24, 2017 9:31am
      - Classic Liberal
        
        What, they *wanted* to lose this election? Not addressing Auckland’s overpopulation and this kind of immigration rort is what lost them the election and most of us could see it.
        
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        October 24, 2017 1:22pm
      - hullkiwi
        
        Do you really believe employers in Auckland weren’t telling National MPs they were tired of so called students applying for jobs, with dodgy qualifications & no command of basic English. As I’ve said to recruits I’m not an immigration agent for these people.
        
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        October 24, 2017 3:33pm
  - Digmen1
    
    Yes I really disliked walking around feeling I was in Bollywood.
    
    6 1
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    October 24, 2017 9:28am
- kowtow
  
  “The Qualifications Authority could not explain why most of the institutes that had lost accreditation or been de-registered were owned by people from the Chinese and Indian communities.”
  
  Bwa hahahahahaahahahaha.
  
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  October 24, 2017 9:09am
  - softail 1450
    
    corruption, backhanders,and downright illegalities are the rule in those two countries ,that’s not racist just a fact.
    
    6 0
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    October 24, 2017 1:46pm
  - Gabby
    
    Dame Susan told them not to kobknob.
    
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    October 24, 2017 11:00pm
Right of way is Way of Right

There is a facebook post by someone called Eva Allen doing the rounds that goes something like this:

“Allow me to explain MMP.

There’s one mince and cheese pie left in the shop, it costs $5.00

Bill has $4.50,
Jacinda has $3.70,
Winston has 70c,
James has 60c,
and David has 5c.

No one has enough money to buy the pie by themselves, but Jacinda, Winston and James put their money together and buy the pie.

Bill get’s no pie because he needed 50c, but didn’t have any friends to help him pay for the pie.

I hope this explains things.”

Well, I appreciate the explanation, and the pie example, but I would like to expand on it, as I don’t think it fully explains how MMP actually works!

“Allow me to explain MMP REALLY works!

There’s one mince and cheese pie left in the shop, it costs $5.00

Bill has $4.50,
Jacinda has $3.70,
Winston has 70c,
James has 60c,
and David has 5c.

No one has enough money to buy the pie by themselves, but Jacinda, Winston and James decide to put their money together and buy the pie under certain conditions.

Jacinda says she will help to buy the pie, but firstly the owner of the baker must pay his staff a living wage, so the pie, which used to cost $5.00, now costs $5.50.

Winston says he will help to buy the pie, but firstly the pie must be baked by a New Zealand born baker, as there are too many immigrants taking jobs from New Zealanders. The owner of the bakery must now hire, and train a New Zealander, because his baker was originally from Vietnam, and can no longer work in New Zealand. The costs of hiring and training new staff now means that the pie costs $6.50.

James says he will help to buy the pie, but first the pie must be made from beef grown sustainably in a carbon neutral farm, with zero run off to ensure that all natural streams within 150 miles of the farm are safe to drink. Also, a similarly valued vegetarian option pie must also be made available in a one for one ratio with the mince and cheese pie. Because the vege pie is such a poor seller, the baker must raise the price of the mince and cheese pie to ensure that he still makes a profit after the wastage, and the beef and cheese now cost more because of the increased production costs to the farmer. The pie now costs $8.00

Jacinda, Winston and James now have $5.00, and need to borrow $3.00 from Xi to pay for the pie.

Jacinda, Winston and James say that pies are now too expensive because of the failure of capitalism, and force the baker to sell the pie at $5.00.

The baker closes.

Nobody gets any pie again.

I hope this explains things.”
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October 24, 2017 8:56am
- JasonJohns
  
  lol what a load of misconceptions!
  we’re not talking about a pie mate…we’re talking about an election!
  amazing that someone could have gotten so confused!
  they’ve constructed some kind of alternative reality where the party leaders are kids at a shop! lol again
  shows you where our education system is going aye…
  
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  October 24, 2017 9:20am
  - softail 1450
    
    JJ has the same sense of humour as a hollowstone block .
    
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    October 24, 2017 1:49pm
    - Left Right and Centre
      
      and Americanised – *gotten* – *vomit*.
      
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      October 25, 2017 2:53am
- itstricky
  
  I hope this explains things
  
  $5 is a lot for a plain old mince ‘n’ cheese.
  
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  October 24, 2017 9:20am
  - mikenmild
    
    He lost me with the bit where a rise in the minimum wage meant adding another 12 seats to parliament…
    
    7 6
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    October 24, 2017 9:22am
    - Right of way is Way of Right
      
      Don’t think ‘seats in parliament’, think ‘cost of government’.
      
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      October 24, 2017 9:30am
  - cmm
    
    $80 is a lot for underpants.
    
    These people don’t buy their pies frozen at Pak-n-Save.
    
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    October 24, 2017 9:47am
- cmm
  
  Even if they did get the pie for $5:
  * Jacinda posted some selfies with it.
  * Winston just ate the whole thing.
  * James got to throw the bag in the bin.
  
  Let’s face it:
  * Jacinda is the “pretty face” doing the PR.
  * James is being screwed over.
  *Winston is really running the ClusterParty by threatening to walk away if anything does not go his way.
  
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  October 24, 2017 9:46am
- rangitoto
  
  Not quite. Winnie eats all the pie while no one is looking.
  
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  October 24, 2017 10:58am
Notsofast

A large part of Bill’s 44% was residents with ambitions to bring family to share in the infrastructure that does not exist. If it did there would be highrise housing between Oteha valley and Silverdale, adjacent to the more or less empty motorway, and an intensive IT precinct.

Does anyone do a breakdown of voting by citizen vs resident by party?
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October 24, 2017 9:08am
- Right of way is Way of Right
  
  That’s a rather large assumption to make, given that it is a secret ballot. Can you justify that statement?
  
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  October 24, 2017 9:31am
Kiwiladdy

Bill English has the right idea. MMP isn’t the problem, we voted it in twice, National need to remain focussed and get on with it.

Blaming everyone else, or “doing a leftie” as I call it, will get us no where.

https://gonebylunchtimeblog.wordpress.com/2017/10/24/bill-english-harden-up-boys-lets-get-on-with-it/
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October 24, 2017 9:16am
EAD_TWO

Here is a very revealing Twitter exchange following Gareth Porter writing the following article in The American Conservative over the weekend:

http://www.theamericanconservative.com/articles/iran-deal-netanyahu-israel-donald-trumps-likudist-campaign-against-iran/

The Jewish Editor of “Commentary”, and New York Post contributor John Podhoretz, tweeted in response to Porters article “that you can just tell who is an anti-Semite by looking at his filthy face”:

https://twitter.com/JohnGhazvinian/status/921730254695264256

Twitter rightly tore into Podhoretz for this obscene ad hominem but Podhretz instead of apologising and acting humbly, replied to a Twitter user who posted this:

I saw your argument with Gareth Porter and I’d like to add a few words

I’m a college student (majoring in Classical Greek & Latin) and I’m a conservative.

I hate to tell you this, but the charge “anti-semitism” no longer works on my generation. (Take note Jack5!). No-one really cares. You Jews are the richest and most powerfule people on the planet. And many people are getting sick of your double standards.

As the Young Republican meme goes: ever notice how so many jews support their country Israel building a wall, refusing refugees, deporting Africans but support third world immigration & refugees for the USA and Europe?

Your double standards are sickening

by posting this:

https://twitter.com/jpodhoretz/status/922142389703233538

Podhoretz needs to understand that ‘Pestilence” is what you call ”truth”. Why doesn’t he try and rebut his argument? He can’t because it’s ”true”.
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October 24, 2017 9:22am
mikenmild

You’ve gotta love America:
Cub scout kicked out of his pack for asking a politician about gun control.
https://apnews.com/afac109de0734c9f915b02949826b362/Mom:-Cub-Scout-kicked-out-of-group-after-asking-about-guns
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October 24, 2017 9:26am
- waikatogirl
  
  The Colorado cub asked about gun control, and also asked about “African-Americans’ health and eating fried chicken”.
  
  Two No, No’s for some.
  
  Guess he listens to conversations around him. An 11 year old with an inquiring mind.
  
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  October 24, 2017 9:37am
  - Odakyu-sen
    
    The young man has received a valuable lesson that may help him greatly should he choose to attend college one day.
    
    A man pays for everything he says.
    
    10 1
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    October 24, 2017 9:53am
    - mikenmild
      
      Yes, it’s pretty important that 11 year olds learn not to contradict the political opinions of their cub leaders…
      
      6 3
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      October 24, 2017 10:08am
      - Odakyu-sen
        
        I think the lesson for this young man is
        
        ..it’s pretty important that _______ learn not to contradict the political opinions of their _______…
        
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        October 24, 2017 10:49am
- MH
  
  Were they copying our Rugby league hugging headmaster’s protocols re the Worriers ?
  
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  October 24, 2017 1:22pm
Digmen1

National should have encouraged Act and the Maori Party and United Future and the Conservatives and got them to commit to a coalition.

But Act should have been told to get rid of that twit Seymour and Colin Craig.
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October 24, 2017 9:31am
niggly

Richard Harman’s Politik have a couple of good stories from last week discussing the election negotiations.

It suggests NZF were divided as to some MP’s wanted to support National and some wanted to support Labour. If this is so, I’d like to know who the factions were!

One reason given for going with Labour is that some MP’s felt that National being a 4rd term govt wouldn’t be re-elected in 2020. To which I say that’s shallow thinking – we’re talking about a National Party in 2017 that was just as popular as it was back in 2008 when it was first elected!

In other words, it’s not the same as when National were previously in power, they were unpopular at the 1993 and 1996 elections but just managed to scrape in (especially as the Left were divided), so no surprises they lost in 1999. This time around in 2017 National gained more votes than the Left Lab+Greens combined, even though they were working together in unison with a formal MOU!

Plus also if we look at Labour, they were becoming unpopular in 2005 but just managed to scrape back in thanks to their student-free bribe and NZF joined a Govt that was losing popularity!

Looks like some in NZF are somewhat naive!

Interestingly reading between the lines it kinda looks like Winston was backing National (???) but couldn’t get enough support of his colleagues. I wonder could Winston ‘swap’ sides if NZF have a bust up with the Greens in due course and leave Labour in disarray? 😉
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October 24, 2017 9:33am
- Digmen1
  
  Yes it would be very interesting to find out how many of the NZF caucus and board favoured National or Labour at the start of the 2 days!
  
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  October 24, 2017 9:41am
- All_on_Red
  
  The Martin faction is pro Labour. Bound to be others.
  
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  October 24, 2017 9:42am
- cmm
  
  The only requirement is to be completely submissive to Winston.
  
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  October 24, 2017 9:50am
  - marcw
    
    No, in this case I believe Winston lost control of the caucus. The Mark, Jones, Martin faction went for the biggest baubles.
    
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    October 24, 2017 10:08am
    - Ross12
      
      Totally agree marcw
      That is why Peters made that crazy ” don’t blame me” speech when he announced the decision.
      
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      October 24, 2017 11:52am
- Classic Liberal
  
  “looks like Winston was backing National ”
  
  ‘Had Enough’ campaign?
  ‘Evil Capitalism’ speech? That wasn’t necessary, even if he was forced to go with Labour.
  
  Someone else wrote that he’s just discovered he’s a SJW and wants to leave that as his mark. I fear that’s more likely.
  
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  October 24, 2017 1:34pm
Digmen1

Yes, I think Bill should stay, he did really well and was let down by his senior ministers Paula (I got a free education) Bennet and Stephen (no hole) Joyce.

Then I think they should keep quite for a year or so, and see how the coalition goes, and then get stuck into it.
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October 24, 2017 9:35am
- Poppa
  
  We are about to locate that fiscal hole, which will show up in the form of borrowing.
  
  It is certainly there & I suspect they will dig it a bit deeper than we first thought
  
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  October 24, 2017 9:55am
  - jcuk
    
    My feeling is that it all depends on your definition of what a ‘hole’ is/means. I agree that there was no hole and it was a gross error to call it such. But it is still there and should be called ‘reckless optimism’.
    For those who quibble over this I suggest you refer back to DPF’s explanation awhile back which made sense and how I view my financial expectations and prepare for them happening.
    
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    October 24, 2017 10:56am
Manolo

Naming the RINOs:
http://www.lifezette.com/polizette/the-six-republicans-most-likely-to-defect-on-tax-cuts/
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October 24, 2017 9:37am
Manolo

Let us hope the venal Mr Peters takes Foreign Affairs and travels non-stop for a few months. It would be wonderful.
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October 24, 2017 9:47am
- sooty
  
  But who is going to keep his idiots in line when he’s out flying at the pointy end, winning and dining his way around the world.
  
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  October 24, 2017 9:51am
- cmm
  
  There’s Skype. He’ll be phoning Jacinda and telling her what to do.
  
  Winston is running the show. Jacinda is just his personal assistant.
  
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  October 24, 2017 9:52am
  - Maggy Wassilieff
    
    I very much doubt that Winston is running the show.
    Yes, he is a MASTER at grabbing and exploiting opportunities.
    I am yet to be convinced that there is a masterplan that the Labour-NZFirst-(Greens) can deliver.
    
    8 1
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    October 24, 2017 10:48am
    - Manolo
      
      The Greens do not matter: they are slaves who will do what Labour tells them to do.
      
      9 0
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      October 24, 2017 10:57am
  - SJM
    
    Do you think Helen will be jealous?
    
    4 0
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    October 24, 2017 1:17pm
Rich Prick

Did we ever come to a landing on just what Labour’s tax policy is? Is there to be a CGT, and when does it kick in? Or am I just getting way, way ahead of myself?
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October 24, 2017 9:59am
- fernglas
  
  a working party, and no changes until after the next election
  
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  October 24, 2017 10:44am
  - Paulus
    
    Yes, after the next election – that is no good to them then as they will be out of power.
    I believe that – when Labour find they have not enough money to pay the Teachers, for example, as they did not budget that or for other Public Servants eg Nurses, then they will bring forward new taxes asap, and blame everybody else who made them do it.
    
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    October 24, 2017 2:16pm
sooty

Police should never abandon the chase off fleeing drivers.
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October 24, 2017 10:03am
- mikenmild
  
  What about when continuing the chase endangers the lives of other drivers or pedestrians?
  
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  October 24, 2017 10:10am
- Captain Mainwaring
  
  Sorry sooty, downticked you by mistake.
  You’re right of course. We should all be in favour of enhancing the quality of the gene pool.
  
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  October 24, 2017 10:25am
- Digmen1
  
  And if they damage a stolen car, they should be made to do hard labour until they have paid for the cost of it in full.
  Put that on Youtube and watch the number of stolen car chases drop to virtually nil.
  
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  October 24, 2017 10:51am
  - Captain Mainwaring
    
    Hard to do that when they’re dead.
    
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    October 24, 2017 12:50pm
mikenmild

Happy World Polio Day everyone!
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October 24, 2017 10:10am
- Jack5
  
  Defeat of polio was a good news event.
  
  If you want pessism:
  
  It’s 88 years ago today since “Black Thursday,” the start of the 1929 stock market crash, and nine years ago today since the 2008 “Bloody Friday” crash when international share markets dived.
  
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  October 24, 2017 10:22am
  - Jack5
    
    Edit: whoops, pessimism, not pessism.
    
    Nor pissism, the pissed-off state of mind when a favourite blog is being pecked and scratched by a flock of feathered scavengers.
    
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    October 24, 2017 10:32am
  - tom hunter
    
    And we just passed the 30 year mark for “Black Monday” (Tuesday in our case), the 1987 stock market meltdown.
    
    Funny how these big three financial crashes happened at almost exactly the same time of year.
    
    But then perhaps it’s a little like the Apollo 1, Challenger and Columbia spacecraft disasters happening at the end of January/start of February.
    
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    October 24, 2017 11:01am
    - Rich Prick
      
      They also tend to follow a 10 year cycle, which means we’re probably due for another “adjustment”. I wonder how the dog and pony show will handle it?
      
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      October 24, 2017 11:18am
      - tom hunter
        
        I wonder how anybody in the West is going to handle it, given that none have even begun paying back the Keynesian debt piled up to haul through the last one.
        
        Then there’s interest rates, which at least in NZ we have some breathing room on, but in the USA? Basically the Fed is out of ammunition.
        
        Between those two things and the ever-growing tsunami of unfunded liabilities for public health and pensions, the West is not in good shape.
        
        And people also need to understand that it is possible to almost permanently crash – as per Odakyu-sen’s comment above.
        
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        October 24, 2017 11:23am
      - Odakyu-sen
        
        What pushes property prices so high in this country include:
        – Tax-free capital gains
        – No death duties (40% in Japan)
        – Tax deduction on interest payments on loans for investment property (I think, still)
        – Net population growth
        – Cashed-up immigrants from nations where personal ownership of property is difficult and from cultures that have a penchant for gambling
        – Historically low interest rates discouraging bank deposits
        – Artificial shortages of land
        – No memory of “house prices falling”
        – Constant media and peer pressure to “get on the property ladder”
        – A lack of understanding that companies (not properties) create employment (a tenant needs a job to pay the rent)
        – A strong believe that house prices only ever go up
        – A strong believe that “it’s different this time”
        
        Believe me when I tell you that when
        – unemployment breaches 8%
        – you start to see rows of “TO LET” or “FOR SALE” signs on rows of adjacent commercial properties or on houses
        – when the real estate offices start to disappear from the high street
        – when interest repayments double (due to a rate rise of 3-4 percentage points)
        – when no-one talks about property at BBQs
        – cashed-up immigrant buyers disappear
        
        … it will be too late.
        
        Worst of all, the “feeling of optimism” over property can evaporate overnight. The market can turn on a dime and you will never know for sure until well after the fact. (And it will be too late.)
        
        If this comes to pass, it will put people off property for a generation. It always does.
        
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        October 24, 2017 12:21pm
      - Classic Liberal
        
        “Tax-free capital gains”
        
        Not true. Those who bought ‘intending’ to profit have to pay tax on a property sale. Lots of builders do.
        
        We don’t need a CGT for Mom and Pop long term landlords. They are the backbone of the rental market, and they are decent Kiwis who treat their tenants fairly and put a lot of their own effort into property maintenance and tenant satisfaction. Push them out of the market and only large businesses will be able to be landlords: the tower block, faceless agency type.
        
        This so called ‘capital gain’ is nothing but inflation. A house is still just a house.
        
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        October 24, 2017 1:47pm
- Maggy Wassilieff
  
  In 1983 Truth ran a scare campaign about the Sabin oral vaccine that the NZ Government had used to vaccinate all school children in April 1962.
  
  We were doomed to develop cancerous tumors and pass on genetic defects.
  
  I was one of those children, doubly condemned, because I had also had the full programme of the Salk vaccinations – (with live virus material) in 1959.
  
  So 34 years after Truth’s expose, I’m still kicking.
  Thanks NZ Government (Holyoake Gvt).
  The children who received the first polio vaccinations were a privileged
  group: for the first time in history healthy babies could expect to grow up to be healthy adults.
  https://ir.canterbury.ac.nz/bitstream/handle/10092/6840/ross_thesis.pdf;sequence=1
  
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  October 24, 2017 11:29am
Jack5

Australian coal-fired power station sold for $Aust 1 million two years ago, now revalued to $Aust 730 million.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-10-24/coal-power-station-sold-for-peanuts-becomes-730-million-asset/9077582
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October 24, 2017 10:13am
- Tauhei Notts
  
  I wonder if the people who recommended the scrapping of MereMere sought employment with the New South Wales state government. Thank you for bringing that ABC news piece to our attention.
  
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  October 24, 2017 10:51am
  - EAD_TWO
    
    Another insightful article on ABC:
    
    http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-09-12/merav-michaeli-discusses-institution-of-marriage/8894138?pfm=ms
    
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    October 24, 2017 11:03am
  - Odakyu-sen
    
    I drive past the shell of what used to be the Meremere power station. I assume that the ownership of it has been given to a local iwi (rate free), and that the building is sitting un-used.
    
    I haven’t noticed any development over the last several years.
    
    What use could the site and buildings be put too (apart from re-housing the inmates of Mt. Eden prison, with the Meremere village dwellings up on the hill behind being used for low-risk prisoners and suitably fenced off)?
    
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    October 24, 2017 12:55pm
    - MH
      
      site of the Meremere Redoubt and bombed Pa.
      
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      October 24, 2017 1:33pm
Anne Glen Eden

It would be very funny if it wasn’t so sad. The Herald is pronouncing NZ is ‘leading the world’ in democracy when we have a coalition minority government which at least 60% of the country didn’t want.

NZ First has finally proclaimed itself Labour, after insisting for years it was in the middle and would go either way dependent on the voters’ will. Not now. They don’t give a toss about the voters or their will, like all other politicians. It’s the destruction of democracy.

In addition, NZ is leading the world in domestic (especially child) abuse, bullying at all levels and, as Christian Smith says:

“Youth issues were more critical than they had been in a generation. New Zealand’s youth suicide rate is the worst in the OECD. Mental illness, particularly among young people, is rising at an alarming rate. The New Zealand dream of owning your own home has been crushed and replaced with Generation Rent. The minimum wage is low, the cost of living is high, and post-school training and education is expensive. Other traditional youth issues, in particular child poverty and climate change, are at crisis points.”

And what are our pressing issues? Climate change – which we can comfort ourselves with addressing but will make not a jot of difference to the planet; abortion and euthanasia – killing the unborn and the elderly at will and/or allowing them to suicide because life is not worth living anymore; and the right to use drugs to make life just bearable because real life is too intolerable to sustain – it’s better to be doped than dead.
Sex, as the ‘opium of the people’ is less functional than religion.

NZ society, as everywhere but we’re a microcosm, is predicated on bullying contempt – of everyone for everyone else’s ‘category’, and we all fit into several: male/female, Maori/non-Maori, young/old, working/unemployed, employer/employee, healthy/sick, smoker/non-smoker, drinker/teetotaller, driver/cyclist, left/right, liberal/conservative, pro-choice/pro-life, etc. etc.

No-one ‘belongs’ anymore – in fact, are terrified of ever having to own ‘belonging’ because someone else will shoot it down – all the way down to your gender. The British Medical Association in the Telegraph article says it all:

“A large majority of people that have been pregnant or have given birth identify as women. We can include intersex men and trans men who may get pregnant by saying ‘pregnant people’ instead of ‘expectant mothers’.”

At least, for a change, feminists have said something decent, as Sarah Ditum, a feminist writer:

“Having a female body and knowing what that means for reproduction doesn’t make you ‘exclusionary’. Forcing us to decorously scrub out any reference to our sex on pain of being called bigots is an insult.”

Is it any wonder masses want to remain ‘out of it’. Exactly where is this ‘tolerant’ nirvana which liberalists of the last several decades promised? Where is the personal confidence which enables people to develop healthy egos and relationships? Where is the hope that someone can exceed the ‘status’ they were born with, on any level?

Gone, with identity politics. You will be what ‘society’ (largely being govt, lobby groups, and the MSM) decree you have to be – even if you have to be drugged to tolerate it. Any certainty you have about yourself is a delusion of social conditioning, open to change by whoever has the power, academics leading the way. Nihilism has been institutionalised.

Ultimately, you’ll know you’re ‘successful’ when you know you’re a biological organism with no character or identity outside of being a social construct in someone else’s ideology. And that’s okay as long as you generate financial profit. Is it any wonder we’re not ‘productive’ and youth (and those youth become adults) increasingly want to die or remain out of it.
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October 24, 2017 10:57am
Jack5

Kea named NZ “bird of the year.”

http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2018618965/kea-wins-bird-of-the-year-2017
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October 24, 2017 11:05am
- rangitoto
  
  I wanted to vote for the sparrow but I found that the bird of the year competition is racist.
  
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  October 24, 2017 12:27pm
Old.Mickey.Blue.Eyes

The luckiest guy in world politics has to be Boris Johnson. With clowns like Trump, embarrasments like Trudeau, Macron, Adern on he World stag he has had a lucky escape from the spotlight.
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October 24, 2017 11:40am
- mikenmild
  
  While Boris has a reputation for shagging anything that moves, even he might turn down a ride on ‘he World stag’.
  
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  October 24, 2017 11:57am
- Classic Liberal
  
  ‘Clowns like Trump’ It was phrases like that which got me, well before the US election, to actually listen to some of his speeches.
  
  He can be a clumsy speaker and he perhaps looks funny, but his basic policies made some sense. The MSM always lied about what he’d actually said.
  
  It was a real lesson in not trusting the MSM.
  
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  October 24, 2017 1:53pm
  - mikenmild
    
    …’perhaps looks funny’…
    OK.
    
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    October 24, 2017 1:55pm
  - kowtow
    
    Very significant election result in Japan this weekend .
    
    But our media are still banging on about The Widow and the Prez .
    
    TDS.
    
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    October 24, 2017 6:51pm
sooty

I see that a northland couple were told by judge to pay their rates. Come on ACC sell up Batshit Pennys hovel. I think that she has gone to the council and had a momkey put on her property because she has spent all her money and can not meet the cost, with all the penalty adding up. Silence by the council make me think this is correct.
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October 24, 2017 12:14pm
- stigie
  
  Silence is deafening by the Auckland Council sooty, the hags hovel should have been auctioned before now..?
  If there’s anyone that knows something, that would be Nostra who seems to have a good grasp on any suspect dealings going down with Penny !~
  
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  October 24, 2017 12:35pm
- calendar girl
  
  Silence from Mayor Goff and his missing-in-action CEO, Town.
  
  Time for these ‘leaders’ to show some responsibility and leadership. It’s about principles of governance and fairness, not about the underlying value of the property that the Council has the right to seize.
  
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  October 24, 2017 7:48pm
All_on_Red

Speaking of MPs saying stupid things check out this UK Labour MP
‘“Just cos he writes about gayness and gay issues, doesn’t mean he drives up the Marmite motorway, or for that matter, allows someone else to drive up his…
“You do mean ‘took it up the ass’ figuratively don’t you?… I just think that this story is much more poignantly romantic than fudge packing Jake or anyone else in a causual manner and I don’t want such a lovely vista to be spoilt.
“I find it funny how some homosexuals think they have the monopoly on being subject to abuse, they should try being Ginger…”

They should try being Ginga!!!!! Lol
https://order-order.com/2017/10/23/vile-homophobic-slurs-jared-omara/
Needless to say he has now resigned from the Women’s and Equalities Select Committee.
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October 24, 2017 12:14pm
Manolo

The triumphant path of socialism, so loved by our new PM Miss Ardern:
https://www.cnbc.com/2017/10/23/venezuela-has-missed-nearly-600m-in-payments-before-a-cant-miss-bill.html

Venezuela blew past another two bond payments this past weekend, adding hundreds of millions of dollars to a growing pile of unpaid bills just days before the first of two can’t-miss debt deadlines.

The beleaguered petrostate has now missed $586 million in payments tied to the debt of the government; state oil giant Petroleos de Venezuela, SA; and the utility Electricidad de Caracas.
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October 24, 2017 12:23pm
- krazykiwi
  
  Civil war is brewing in Venezuela. It will accelerate when the militia thugs hired by Maduro can’t feed their own families and quickly switch sides.
  
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  October 24, 2017 2:51pm
Surely Knott

USA today calls Jacinda a Trump Like Leader. Anti immigrant. Anti Tpp /trade. Populist uprising. And that’s without even mentioning that her deputy PM wears his party campaign hat, which is a direct rip of of the Make america great again hat – Put nz first again! Hahahaha. Yep. Some definite similarities. That makes Clarke G, our Melania.
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October 24, 2017 1:37pm
- JibberJabber
  
  Trumpinda, has a ring to it…
  
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  October 24, 2017 3:23pm
- Gabby
  
  Is Michelle Bogey writing for Yankistan Today now surley knutt.
  
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  October 24, 2017 9:06pm
MH

There is the danger of Bill’s Mob being too good an opposition and tying down Labour wiith frivolous delaying tactics rather than being constructive and thereby bringing on a backlash if a snap election is called. But how else to be returned to Power ? They must pick their battles carefully.
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October 24, 2017 1:41pm
- alloytoo
  
  Luckily Labour has most recently given them a marvellous example of how not to be in opposition.
  
  Bill has already set a positive tone, much to the media’s dismay as they wanted him to go feral mongrel.
  
  National needs to appose any government agenda with a well thought out, well costed, well documented alternative.
  Luckily they have the talent and resources to do it.
  
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  October 24, 2017 2:55pm
Rachael Membery

I note that no-one seems to be blaming Peter Dunne for one less coalition partner, what if any effect would there have been if he had stayed in the Ohariu race?
This is regardless of the Maori party demise. Speaking of which how come that was such a surprise?
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October 24, 2017 1:43pm
- Digmen1
  
  None, he was losing to the ex police guy.
  
  What were United Future’s policies?
  
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  October 24, 2017 3:47pm
Johnboy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KuYex1ARsLo

🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
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October 24, 2017 1:49pm
Digmen1

God I hate the news media

“There is pressure for NZ to take more refugees!”

Where is the pressure coming from, I have not felt it!

Those muslim guys on New Guinea have got a cheek, they don’t want to be moved!

I would move them back to the desert in an airforce Hercules with a free parachute each.
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October 24, 2017 4:36pm
- EAD_TWO
  
  @ Digmen,
  
  When a bomb goes off people can see the enemy, but when the bomb is poisonous ideas people can’t identify the out-group enemy very easily.
  
  Do you ever find it weird how Japan for example doesn’t have the concept of “Japanese” privilege being rammed down their throat everyday to guilt them into opening their borders to the Barbarian hordes despite a “falling population” (because muh population growth for populations growth is the be all and end all to end a so called muh labour shortage). It’s almost like they aren’t controlled by a hostile ethnic group.
  
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  October 24, 2017 6:34pm
  - Gabby
    
    There’s no room in Japan EADolf.
    
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    October 24, 2017 9:04pm
- kowtow
  
  I could save you money on the parachutes.
  
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  October 24, 2017 6:53pm
pejhay

I was just flicking through a book I have, and read the following Foreword:

“Housing is today a major issue. This is as true of New Zealand as it is of most other countries. Probably never before have so many houses been wanted so quickly. And perhaps never before has the problem been so complex.
The close connection between happiness, health , and housing needs little proof, and one of the principal tasks of the next decade should be the provision of a decent house for every family in New Zealand. This is a huge job, but when planning is followed by action on the part of Government and private industry there is a reasonable chance that the objectives will be reached.”

That is the Foreword of the book “State Housing in New Zealand” by the Ministry of Works – 1949.

1949 – the year that Labour was voted out, and the First National Government under Holland was voted in.
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October 24, 2017 4:54pm
Digmen1

Minimum wage 20 by 20 something.

Internally it does not matter what the minimum wage is make it $30 and then lattes will be $10 so its all equal.

Its our exporters that have to contend with the higher wages and still sell our stuff.

And its our tourist industries that have to be competitive.

Tourists already say our food and drinks are dear!

It will only bring on more automation. Burger flipping machines etc.

In the USA and Canada the minimum wage is $10.00 and China its $4.00.
What is so special about us?
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October 24, 2017 5:14pm
- Brigitte
  
  The minimum wages in most countries is wrong. It should be inversely related to the level of socialism. My reasoning for that is in a fully socialist country everything is provided by the Govt so any income is discretionary spending (and so no minimum need apply). If it’s all full free market (no social services) then the minimum wage needs to be high enough so you can purchase health, retirement, education, food, housing, etc.
  
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  October 24, 2017 5:36pm
realityczech

Israel will be furious [through its US proxy] Winston wants a free trade agreement with Russia.

Israel has long had a policy of genocide towards the Persians and the only thing stopping them is the Persians relationship with Russia and Syria.

Israel will gave to teach those cheeky NZ goy a lesson. They have already declared war on us and still we step out of line.
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October 24, 2017 6:19pm
Surely Knott

The MMP pie analysis on the herald is cute but needed a few fixes. There are 3 chefs trying to buy a pie business worth $5. They made their money from their delicious recipes in their cookbooks. Bill has $4.50 and his specialty is his steak pie recipe which the most people like. Jacinda has $3.70 and she has an ok, mince pie with peas recipe. Winston has 70cents he does a pretty unusual fish pie with broccoli that is tasty to a few. And James has 60cents from his tofu and gluten free pie. David has 5cents from his not very popular pie recipe. Jacinda, Winston and James buy the pie shop by combining their funds. But Winston won’t talk to James. Now they have to agree to combine their very different recipes to sell a tasty pie to customers and they make a mince, fish, tofu, gluten free pie. Bill decides to wait it out and goes home to perfect his popular steak pie recipe and watching as the new business owners try and make a go of it. If it doesn’t work out he’ll have worked on improving his steak pie recipe and his funds to buy the shop alone or hopefully he can find a friend with a cheese recipe next time.
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October 24, 2017 6:36pm
- Evadne
  
  Very good!
  
  The main problem with the Facebook / Herald pie illustration is the implication that the goal (pie /government) is the end point, not the starting point.
  
  Government is not a commodity to be shared out amongst the successful bidders, then consumed to their own advantage.
  
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  October 24, 2017 6:42pm
  - Viking2
    
    And they forgot to add “wait till Winston spits in the Greenies pie!”
    
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    October 24, 2017 7:19pm
Manolo

Meanwhile our socialist PM chooses not go ahead with tax cuts:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/trumps-promises-narrow-gops-options-on-tax-bill/2017/10/23/316331b2-b80e-11e7-be94-fabb0f1e9ffb_story.html?utm_term=.4c3fc0d1a8a0

On Monday, Trump promised the party would not touch tax benefits for 401(k) retirement plans, protecting a popular benefit for more than 50 million Americans but also further limiting the areas where Republicans could seek to raise new revenue.
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October 24, 2017 6:43pm
Viking2

Socialists even more embolden to spend ratepayers money.

A council committee has decided to press ahead with a proposal to introduce rates-funded kerbside rubbish and recycling collection.

After strong debate this afternoon, Tauranga City Council’s Environmental Committee voted six to two to put the proposal through to the full council.

Representatives of some of Tauranga’s private waste collection companies were in the meeting to hear the debate.

Those spoken to by the Bay of Plenty Times were not happy with the decision or with the consultation they had from the council.

The committee heard the results of a consultants’ report that found a rates-funded system would work out cheaper for most residents, create more jobs, and divert more waste from landfills than a market-led system.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/bay-of-plenty-times/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503343&objectid=11936048
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October 24, 2017 7:21pm
- Gabby
  
  What the hell do Taurangans get for their rates? Not even their rubbish collected.
  
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  October 24, 2017 8:59pm
  - Viking2
    
    Traffic jams, boardwalks, plentiful clean water, plenty of nice to haves that ratepayers gratefully pay for the poor and all (sarc), A lump of rock that the tangata claim and we pay upkeep for, bloated council, 460 mill of council debt., lots more of stuff that the users should pay for.
    Same as everyone else.
    
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    October 24, 2017 9:25pm
Viking2

apparently deported bikies are interested in standing for Parliament. (Last line.)

When I came on Tuesday, as soon as I got outside the airport I kissed the ground to speak to the spirits and the gods that I’m back home,” he told RNZ from a motel in Auckland.

“I’m not here to threaten New Zealand in any form or matter. I’m glad to be free and I feel good to be back here in New Zealand.

“I’ll have respect for all, but you disrespect me and then you’ll see me, y’know.”

Since being incarcerated Graham has won his visa back three times, most recently last month in Australia’s highest court which ruled his treatment was unconstitutional.

It didn’t matter. Federal Immigration Minister Peter Dutton simply recancelled his visa for a third time.

“I’ve got different sorts of shady friends but I also got nice friends and I’ve done a lot of charity work for the community.”

He admits to having been locked up more than once for assault but, “I don’t think Australians are afraid of me”.

The New Zealand government needed to be braver in standing up for its citizens in Australia, Graham said. “Maybe I might even run in the politics.”

http://newsie.co.nz/news/62971-bikie-gang-boss-im-not-here-to-threaten-nz.html
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October 24, 2017 7:40pm
- Gabby
  
  He’d get softcock healingloline’s vote.
  
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  October 24, 2017 8:57pm
- realityczech
  
  Australia is no longer a penal colony. They owe us nothing. We should take our crims back and thank Aussie for giving them an opportunity.
  
  Kiwis have a massive sense of entitlement when it comes to Aussie. They are taking the piss.
  
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  October 24, 2017 9:02pm
Jack5

Given that the kea has been voted NZ’s bird of the year, it might be in order to ask the Kea Troll Army, this Saturday to lead blog commemorations to mark NZ Wars Day, the anniversary of the ~~Maori~~ Land Wars.

In their tributes it would be good if the Keas could take into consideration that the day also marks the anniversary of a Maori Independence Treaty before the Treaty of Waitangi.

The Keas might have a view on whether commemorating this earlier treaty is akin to the old Confederate states of the U.S.A. celebrating Civil War heroes like Lee and Jackson?

The Keas might also advise us whether, in their view, von Tempsky should be remembered and commemorated at least as much as Maori warriors.

And whether, if there are to be Maori war parties, whether there might also be pakeha war parties in the regalia of von Tempsky’s Forest Rangers: kilts, Colt revolvers, and huge Tempsky Bowie knives?

And whether, in the considered view of the mountain parrots, Maori are, or are not, the missing tribe of Israel?

So c’mon Keas: what are you? Real trolls or just bird brains?

This is from Radio NZ, where Guyon Espiner and the News Ho’s will no doubt make a special Te Reo effort for the commemoration:

The day of the New Zealand wars commemorations is also the date Te Taitokerau leaders signed Te Whakaputanga, or the Declaration of Independence, in 1835.

The document was signed by 34 northern chiefs and asserted the mana and sovereign power in New Zealand resided fully with Maori.
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October 24, 2017 8:27pm
- realityczech
  
  Delusional Disorder
  Definition
  
  https://www.psychologytoday.com/conditions/delusional-disorder
  
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  October 24, 2017 8:33pm
  - Jack5
    
    Perhaps, Kea, you could see how many upticks you could give yourself?????
    
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    October 24, 2017 8:55pm
    - realityczech
      
      Jackie is there someone you can talk to, your rabbi perhaps ?
      
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      October 24, 2017 9:03pm
      - Jack5
        
        Would you come with me to an ornithologist, realityczech?
        
        If he or she certifies you are not a mountain parrot, I will accept that.
        
        In the meantime, remember the old wisdom: one day, cock of the roost, the next day, a feather duster.
        
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        October 24, 2017 9:13pm
- Gabby
  
  I’ll happily celebrate the crushing of traitors and rebels. Makes a change from November Better Luck Next Time the Fifth.
  
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  October 24, 2017 8:55pm
- Tauhei Notts
  
  What’s the name of that extensively taxpayer funded outfit in Molesworth Street that has an expensive display with all the bells and whistles and all the misleading re-writing of history on display. They give unwarranted reverence to the Whakaputanga in a lavish manner. I’ll think of it when I make my next instalment of provisional tax on 15th January.
  
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  October 24, 2017 9:09pm
- EAD_TWO
  
  Jack5,
  
  get help – you are a delusional bore with your obsession over Keas
  
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  October 24, 2017 9:12pm
  - Jack5
    
    EAD, shouldn’t you be at a torchlight rally, or some such?
    
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    October 24, 2017 9:16pm
    - realityczech
      
      Shouldn’t you be machine gunning kids in the Gaza Strip Jackie ?
      
      What out some of the are armed with – pebbles !
      
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      October 24, 2017 9:19pm
      - Jack5
        
        Kea2, like the Mufti of Jerusalem, comes to the aid of a pro-Nazi ally.
        
        You two could gas away all night!
        
        Whoops! No offence meant.
        
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        October 24, 2017 9:27pm
      - realityczech
        
        I don’t think the Nazi have much of a following in Israel Jackie. Sorry to be the one breaking this to you.
        
        Is it true that the Iron Dome defense system is unable to stop pebbles and you have to gas the kids instead ?
        
        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XriKzTQk1e8
        
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        October 24, 2017 9:33pm
      - realityczech
        
        That will teach him to be descended from Cain !
        
        “IDF shoots a child in Bethlehem – March 4, 2016”
        
        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4X9GHZMQxA
        
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        October 24, 2017 9:40pm
      - Jack5
        
        Perhaps the Keas could shout EAD and his mates a meal after their torch rally – at the K(ea)FC:
        
        https://youtu.be/tnfv1LiwHXM
        
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        October 24, 2017 9:49pm
      - realityczech
        
        I bet you are the life of the party at the synagogue Jackie.
        
        The Shabbat piss-up is an ideal time to share your views on exterminating those pesky Muslims.
        
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        October 24, 2017 9:54pm
      - EAD_TWO
        
        Jackie,
        
        here is Julian Assanges latest tweet. He could have written it about you and the bible you used for religious studies:
        
        https://mobile.twitter.com/JulianAssange/status/922156096596381697
        
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        October 24, 2017 10:10pm
      - realityczech
        
        EAD
        
        Someone mentioned this tonight. I tracked it down.
        
        Just started watching it.
        
        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRbq63r7rys
        
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        October 24, 2017 10:13pm
      - EAD_TWO
        
        Thank you RealityCzech,
        
        the line below in the description resonates with me and how I observe events. I will make some time to watch this.
        
        He has tried to build a different and more emotional way of depicting what really happened in Afghanistan. A counterpoint to the thin, narrow and increasingly destructive stories told by those in power today
        
        Nuance has been lost in debate on this blog by all but a few. People are so willing to mentally rearrange that what they see into a narrative that comforts them – normally one which has a goodie and a baddie.
        
        If their team (the goodie) does something which is counter to what they think their team should have done, they rationalise it away in a manner that absolves them from ever having to think and see the world in anything other than their scripted for them 2 dimensional world that the MSM drums into them 24/7.
        
        No one asks how it came to be that the so called “left” went from wanting equality to now wanting 4 year old transgenderism, gender and race wars.
        
        1 3
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        October 24, 2017 10:28pm
      - realityczech
        
        EAD, yes indeed. Most here on KB see things as black or white. 100% good or 100% bad. If you are critical of anything or anyone, then you must hate them entirely.
        
        It is why they scream “nazi” if you point to any wrong done by Jews or Israel. In their narrow and deeply ignorant world, you must glorify Jews at all times… or your are a nazi and want to “gas them all”
        
        These people are dangerous and unbalanced lunatics who embolden war mongers and authoritarians.
        
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        October 24, 2017 11:23pm
Jack5

No kea games tonight, then.
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October 24, 2017 8:48pm
Herodotus

National CRAP management of this economy was the reason why they saw a need to increase WFF and increase accomodation supplement. To compensate for poor wage growth.
Look at teaching 12% pay increase over the “magic” 9 years under National 🙁
This economy was all smoke and mirrors based on a poor immigration policy and property bubble.
Only pity for me is that those who orchestrated the mess will not have to sort it out.
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October 24, 2017 9:03pm
Rodney Randall

https://youtu.be/Zv_eOMyhtms

Scream Helplessly At The Sky?
Paul Joseph Watson
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October 24, 2017 9:13pm

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