General Debate 7 December 2017

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William of Ockham

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December 7, 2017 8:00am
- William of Ockham
  
  Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
  World greenhouse gas emissions in CO2 equivalent.
  
  Per capita, NZ is 22nd.
  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_greenhouse_gas_emissions_per_capita [data 2013]
  
  https://www.theguardian.com/environment/climate-consensus-97-per-cent/2017/dec/06/us-government-report-finds-steady-and-persistent-global-warming
  US government report finds steady and persistent global warming
  All of nature’s thermometers indicate a rapid rise in global temperatures.
  
  Climate Science Special Report by the US Global Change Research Program: http://www.globalchange.gov/
  
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  December 7, 2017 8:01am
  - Sofia
    
    If you have all this information at your fingertips, William of Ockham, pray tell us peasants how exactly will planting 100 million trees, a strip of forestry equivalent to 1 km wide and 1000 km long, have on New Zealand’s emissions figures?
    
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    December 7, 2017 8:16am
    - ztev
      
      1000 sq km ?
      2500 trees per ha.
      thats 250,000 trees planted per sq km, that makes 250 mill trees for 1000km2
      
      Surely you were taught at primary school, 100 hectare per km2
      
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      December 7, 2017 9:04am
      - flipper
        
        Where did she mention hectares???
        Stop creating ghosts and fuck off back to your “speaker” role.
        You are pathetic. Fraser House roach!
        
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        December 7, 2017 9:18am
      - backster
        
        No more than 1500 per hectare would be possible
        anyway.
        
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        December 7, 2017 11:18am
      - Sofia
        
        The plan will require 1000 stems per hectare, over 100,000 hectares.
        http://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2017/10/revealed-shane-jones-minister-for-100-million-trees-1-billion-regional-fund.html
        
        Indeed taught at primary school, 100 hectare per 1 km2
        That does confirm the land needed as equivalent to 1 km x 1000
        km.
        Which, as pointed out yesterday, is a 1 km strip roughly as long as both islands of New Zealand.
        
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        December 7, 2017 11:53am
      - sooty
        
        Maybe they are planting them close together to make christmas trees
        
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        December 7, 2017 12:17pm
      - freethinker
        
        A normal planting rate would be 800-1200 a Ha, do try and do some research before confirming what we all guess is that ztev is a total uninformed idiot.
        
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        December 7, 2017 3:29pm
      - Ross12
        
        I am sure you were taught at primary school ztev that you plant trees in the autumn to get best success, so there is a small part of the year to get all this done.
        
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        December 7, 2017 5:21pm
      - chuk
        
        Poor arithmetic ztev, go to the back of the class.
        
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        December 7, 2017 6:27pm
  - Brito
    
    Bill, I’ve missed you. Can you please explain why your master, Sir Al of Gore, publicly touched himself inappropriately while talking to your Prime Minister?
    
    And, it’s there for all the world to see. I have never seen such a display from a public figure outside of the confines of the mastabotorium.
    
    I for one was truly shocked.
    
    Now, how do you account for the naughty volcanoes with their flagrant eructations and projectile gas ejectulations? Hey, hey??? What have you go to say about that???
    
    In 20 words or less. And definitely no links.
    
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    December 7, 2017 8:43am
  - Harkman
    
    Dude, you are the opposite of Occam’s Razor.
    
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    December 7, 2017 9:17am
    - sooty
      
      Defination off pain. Sliding down a forty foot razor, using your balls as brakes.
      
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      December 7, 2017 12:19pm
- RalphT
  
  This has to be one of WoO’s greatest predictions; that his postings are so numbing that they bringing on a series of zzzzzs as we gently nod off.
  
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  December 7, 2017 8:05am
holysheet

Oh lord, we thank you and ask your blessing be bestowed upon our wonderful leader, princess Jacinda. She has done what she said she will do. Reduced childhood poverdy by 50,000 in 6 weeks. You should make her a saint.
Oh lord, spread the word world wide that we here in New Zealand are truely blessed to have her posidividy. Who knows, with all this posidividy, she will clear the world of all poverdy by this time next year. We will be most willing to release her from her duties as PM. We have a most able assistant waiting in the wings who would be only too pleased to take over her job. What is more Important but reducing the worlds poverdy.

Oh lord, Lets do this.
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December 7, 2017 8:00am
- calendar girl
  
  Stuff commits a careless error this morning in a lightweight article on a “Massey University Quote of the Year Competition”: https://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/99613034/shortland-street-penis-meme-and-winston-comebacks-among-nz-quote-of-the-year-finalists . It captions a photo of PM Ardern and her partner with:
  
  “Both Jacinda Ardern and husband Clarke Gayford have made the list.”
  
  Unless we’ve missed something Gayford is her partner, not her husband. There’s a significant difference that’s still worthy of respect, even allowing for the declining standards of our MSM. Only a person who, publicly and formally, has committed to “till death do us part” has earned the time-honoured description of ‘husband’.
  
  [My comments on PM Ardern’s taste in ear-rings must wait till another time.]
  
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  December 7, 2017 8:06am
  - Maggy Wassilieff
    
    Someone at Stuff must have been reading your comment…
    husband has now become partner
    
    Just by the by(e)…. can I refer to my husband as my partner?
    
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    December 7, 2017 9:15am
    - calendar girl
      
      Yes, of course. He qualifies for both descriptions, given that you’re married!
      
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      December 7, 2017 9:37am
    - Ed Snack
      
      Maggy, of course you can, a husband should be a partner in life as well as being a husband.
      
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      December 7, 2017 9:38am
      - Maggy Wassilieff
        
        Oh cool, now I can appear to be a hipster instead of a downtrodden old drudge.
        
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        December 7, 2017 10:00am
    - rightoverlabour
      
      Only if he is still alive…
      
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      December 7, 2017 11:40am
  - backster
    
    Correct description would be De facto husband.
    
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    December 7, 2017 11:19am
- RF
  
  Drum roll.. Hail to the most exalted one who walks amongst us anointing the sick the lame and the lazy.
  
  We are truely blessed to have she who must be obeyed remove child poverdy from our unworthy lives.
  
  With downcast eyes I back away from your presence and curse the day that the stunted troll appointed you as PM.
  
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  December 7, 2017 8:14am
- Rodney Randall
  
  It’s gotsta be good for the communidee too
  
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  December 7, 2017 8:46am
Captain Mainwaring

Last year, as a result of the contamination of the Havelock North water supply, the previous Government commissioned a detailed report on the shortcomings of the fresh water supply in many parts of New Zealand.
The report is now available, and was presented in Parliament yesterday by Government MP David Parker.
Mr. Parker’s comments were supported by National’s Chris Finlayson, paving the way for a cross-party plan to establish a country-wide authority to manage water quality.
Then it was Winston’s turn.
Despite the fact that the water problem has been bubbling away under the radar for decades, rather than support the plan to sort it out, the odious little prick turned it into a vicious, vindictive and totally unnecessary attack on the National Party.
The bitter and twisted old bastard has clearly lost the ability to make a positive contribution to anything.
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December 7, 2017 8:00am
- rangitoto
  
  The report was a load of rubbish.
  
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  December 7, 2017 8:07am
  - Goon
    
    I can vouch for that having been a technical expert on Stage 1 of the enquiry.
    
    I certainly got the distinct impression that the whole thing (at least Stage 1) was a set up from the get-go. Find faults with all the agencies involved (but not to the extent of criminal negligence), give everyone a good kicking, then move onto Stage 2. For example, a number of the matters they faulted HBRC for were not at all related to the August 2016 event. Similarly, the equiry drew quite a long bow with regard a number of faults identified with health agency response.
    
    Given what seemed a pre-ordained finding of widespread faults across all agencies from Stage 1, the cynical could suggest that a finding identifying the need for a nationwide agency to manage drinking water was always the entended outcome, the enquiry itself being only window dressing to placate the locals and support such a move.
    
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    December 7, 2017 8:29am
    - Ed Snack
      
      Still worth noting: in the late 1990’s Havelock North’s water supply had an incidence of contamination that was very similar to the latest one (earlier one was caused by inadequate sealing around the bore head allowing flood water to penetrate the bore); and in the aftermath the council proposed permanently chlorinating the supply. Great local outcry led to a referendum on the matter – overwhelming vote for no treatment.
      
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      December 7, 2017 8:49am
      - ztev
        
        A common situation.
        After the Great San Francisco Earthquake of 1906, they reduced the building code standards
        
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        December 7, 2017 9:09am
      - Ed Snack
        
        ztev, I was not aware of that, presumably it was done to ease the cost and speed of reconstruction ?
        
        The HN case was a sort of catch-all dislike of “chemicals”. Even now the Hastings council has a special tap where one can go a fill containers with non-chlorinated water. Napier had one also, but had to shut it down because of contamination fears.
        
        There may be a few people who have specific health issues with chlorinated water supplies, but they would be very rare, unlike the numbers who imagine they have such issues – they are surprisingly common. Why not make ion exchange filters available to remove the chlorine, with grants available for those with a proven medical need.
        
        It could further be noted that chlorination of the supply is intended to be temporary while UV disinfection equipment is obtained and setup, though whether any progress has been made I’m not sure. Interestingly, both Chlorination and UV treatment actually use Ozone (or Ozonide ions that are transiently present) for the actual disinfection, they differ only in how those ions are created.
        
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        December 7, 2017 9:37am
- RF
  
  This little man used to work for a well known legal firm in Dunedin.
  
  I knew a legal secretary who worked there in his time.
  
  If I repeated what she told me about this Womble I would be in serious trouble. They were really pleased to see him go….
  
  A nasty little man.
  
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  December 7, 2017 8:22am
  - Paulus
    
    I have heard that some who were bankrupted by him and his father have lot to give.
    I assume that this is not true though !
    
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    December 7, 2017 10:31am
  - MCos
    
    Put up or shut up.
    Anyone can cast anonymous aspersions that can’t be verified.
    
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    December 7, 2017 2:21pm
- G152
  
  Funny that the greens have protested their little heads off over water treatment and wanting it gone.
  Suddenly (and I might add, not unexpectedly) it’s all gone quiet.
  
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  December 7, 2017 8:38am
- flipper
  
  Peters is the sort of germ that inhabited the Havelock North/Hastings water supply. He is like an internationally banned poisonous gas. Moreover, even his serfs in the Peters-Arden Regime squirmed as he delivered his rubbish.
  
  Peters, not only suffering from Dementia, but totally demented.
  
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  December 7, 2017 9:28am
- backster
  
  Like the Pike River report which resulted in Nationwide restrictions costs and penalties on every activity, we now have the same over the top response to an isolated water incident. For decades local authorities have provided adequate safeguards on water, suddenly we are all at risk. Ridiculous but costly and authoritarian.
  
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  December 7, 2017 11:26am
- freethinker
  
  Which is exactly why his nickname Mugabe Peters fits so well and will probably stick.
  
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  December 7, 2017 3:34pm
Kimbo

“December 7….a day that will live in infamy”. 😉
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December 7, 2017 8:02am
- Kimbo
  
  …or alternatively the day when the USA was dragged kicking and screaming (for a second time!) to defend freedom and democracy. But at least they made it, including turning up in the South Pacific at the Battle of the Coral Sea and Guadalcanal when we needed ’em. . 😉
  
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  December 7, 2017 8:04am
  - Ed Snack
    
    Might not have needed to fight in the Pacific at all if the US hadn’t implemented trade sanctions on the Japanese over their war in China. If “we” (really, if the USA had…) ignored the Japanese drive to take over all of China, they would have had no need to attack the US and would almost certainly not have done so, at least not then.
    
    I make no comment on the morality of ignoring the brutal Japanese war in China – that’s too large a topic to be dealt with easily.
    
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    December 7, 2017 8:53am
    - Kimbo
      
      Yes leaving aside the morality – which nations tend to manufacture as they do not always apply an even-handed policy to sanctions and/or military intervantion – the same could have been said of the British attitude to the invasion of Belgium in 1914, and Poland in 1939. Both were just wars IMHO. And arguably necessary to overall international security. Britain’s anyway! ;
      
      The Japanese couldn’t work out why the USA didn’t stand by and let them (Japan) implement their own East Asian version of the Monroe Doctrine. Just like Ho Chi Minh couldn’t understand why the Americans didn’t stand aside and allow him to unify an independent Vietnam…as the Americans had fought for against the British from 1775. 😉
      
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      December 7, 2017 9:09am
      - Kimbo
        
        But then Ho Chi Minh wasn’t invading other nations, whereas Japan from 1931 onwards was. But then it’s different when Asian nations colonise China.
        
        Having said that – and I will address the morality briefly – the Japanese were brutal. The “Rape of Nanking” in 1937 was an horrific war crime of epic proportions.
        
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        December 7, 2017 9:26am
      - Ed Snack
        
        I don’t think you can equate ignoring Japanese aggression in China with the German invasion of Belgium. British foreign policy, probably since the time of William 1 has revolved around not wanting any one nation to dominate Europe as that would allow them to directly threaten English independence. Alternative history is always speculative, but I’d be very inclined to agree that Britain in 1914 had a choice, fight now in an alliance with France (and Belgium) or acquiesce now and fight Germany later without any continental allies.
        
        Going to war in direct defense of ones independence is not the same as a concern for the independence of a third party. If the USA ignored the Japan/China war there were consequences but not ones that would threaten the USA directly.
        
        The cases are, I suggest, not all that similar. The case for ignoring Poland in 1939 is slightly better, at that point one could argue that diplomacy could still hope to contain German ambitions as long as the Britain/Belgium/France alliance stayed strong. But there is a counter argument that having broken a series of agreements already Hitler’s Germany could not be trusted sufficiently to take that risk; also having made a formal commitment to Poland the risk that Britain (and France) would appear totally untrustworthy by breaking that after having already broken commitments to Czechoslovakia was a further consideration.
        
        In world politics terms, Britain has a vested interest and a “right” to be concerned with happenings in her immediate neighbourhood that have significant potential to affect her independence. One does not have quite the same “right” to be concerned with affairs remote to such interests. To do that, one has assert a more general morality regarding peoples rights to self determination.
        
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        December 7, 2017 9:27am
      - realityczech
        
        “Yes leaving aside the morality”
        
        Bimbo that is implicit in all your verbose navel-gazing comments.
        
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        December 7, 2017 5:55pm
- Steve (North Shore)
  
  The tour at Honolulu is overwhelming
  
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  December 7, 2017 8:07am
  - tusker
    
    Steve (NS) overwhelming? Maybe a tad overhyped? Yes Pearl Harbour was a terrible infamy and a momentous strategic event but on a loss of human life basis, it was comparatively moderate.
    
    Having visited many such battle and massacre sites around the world, my experience is that it’s the associated story telling stimulating your imagination that gets you, not just seeing the physical sites.
    
    e.g. recently in Hiroshima, did all the interesting nuclear tour stuff, but it wasn’t until I stood at the bomb hypocentre spot and looked up into the sky, listening to our guide giving facts and telling little human experience stories, that the horror of it really sunk in. This despite having read many accounts. There is nothing quite like physically going to places such as Pearl Harbour, but you need a narrator to tell you the story.
    
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    December 7, 2017 9:58am
    - Steve (North Shore)
      
      I have been to Honolulu twice – once to Pearl Harbour. We had a narrator, and I asked many questions.
      I have never been to Japan and have no desire to do so.
      I was overwhelmed by Pearl Harbour and I don’t care where you have been,
      So tusker, thanks for your travel accountings, would you like to hear of mine? or would you like to go fuck yourself?
      Your choice sunshine
      
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      December 7, 2017 6:57pm
RalphT

Congratulations are due to the government for the dramatic fall in the number of children living in poverdy, down 20,000 according to the latest figures. We are still in the first 100 days of the glorious reign of Jacinda the First and without lifting a finger she has managed to meet one of her key targets. We assume that people have been cheered up by her sunny disposition and realise that things are not as bad as they were under National.
What? This is due to policies introduced by the last government. Oh, bugger!
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December 7, 2017 8:03am
- cmm
  
  Selfies cure all.
  
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  December 7, 2017 8:07am
- Lance
  
  There was another silly bint on the AM show this morning talking about this topic.
  Serious jump the shark moment when she said
  ” there are families out there that all have to share one toothbrush between them”
  What utter bullshit, not a peep from Garner et al.
  
  Pathetic
  
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  December 7, 2017 8:07am
  - cmm
    
    Yeah maybe the toothbrush is over playing it, but I bet there are some poor people who have to share a single smart phone.
    
    How are they all going to get their Jacinda twitter feed?
    
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    December 7, 2017 8:28am
    - Ed Snack
      
      The way to solve that is to ban mobiles that can’t be reset and re-used without the original owners permission or password. Be plenty to go around if that was easy.
      
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      December 7, 2017 8:55am
    - MrLovebucket
      
      Not to mention, only flying economy when holidaying on the Gold Coast.
      
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      December 7, 2017 12:22pm
  - Huevon
    
    Toothbrush?
    
    Aye.
    
    You were lucky! We had to share a damp twig between all 17 of us.
    
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    December 7, 2017 9:53am
    - Brito
      
      ‘Luxury’, (said in a strong Northern accent).
      
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      December 7, 2017 10:09am
  - VicParking
    
    Not having two pairs if shoes and internet access. I did not realise I had been in poverty as a child before. I can see now why I dont have a beach house, two cars and holiday to europe each year.
    
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    December 7, 2017 10:55am
  - Rachael Membery
    
    And do they use it?
    
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    December 7, 2017 11:14am
- G152
  
  Just wait a wee while. The starving kids without a decent Xmas will reappear.
  Just watch the Sallies wind it up /sarc
  
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  December 7, 2017 8:41am
  - flipper
    
    Sallies…. lefty wing bull shitters who now fund “policy analysts”. I enjoy going nose to nose with their collectors and telling exactly how immoral they are, and why I never will gjve them a cent!
    
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    December 7, 2017 9:36am
    - Kimbo
      
      “Will no one rid me of this turbulent priest?!” 😉
      
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      December 7, 2017 9:37am
- Viking2
  
  For those late out of bed this morning I posted this on yesterdays GD.
  
  Well fuck me.
  
  Child poverty has dropped for the first time in nearly a decade, and experts are cautiously attributing the turnaround to a lift in welfare payments under the previous Government.
  
  But the Children’s Commissioner Andrew Becroft has emphasised an 18-month lag in the data, so the full effect of a 2016 increase to the incomes of beneficiaries with children had not yet been measured.
  
  But it was a “major positive step”, though work had to remain intensely focused to ensure improvement on New Zealand’s shocking child poverty rates.
  
  https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/99579040/why-we-shouldnt-celebrate-child-poverty-falling-for-first-time-in-years-just-yet
  
  so poor kids are no longer and have we noticed how the homeless have gone from the front pages now we have this inspiring fast to action wonderfiul Col Govt.
  
  Wow the Fairy dust really does work.
  Still Grant the Robber is about to tell us all about how bad the fiscal situation is. How far behind we are with the necessary infrastructure and then twat Twyford will be telling us next he doesn’t need to build 100,000 houses because the homeless has now gone.
  On and on it goes.
  
  Otago University NZ Child and Youth Epidemiology Service Dr Mavis Duncanson said all children needed the same things to support physical, mental and emotional well-being.
  
  “Such as a warm, dry home, a sustaining meal with vegetables and protein regularly, clothes and shoes that fit properly, a place to study quietly, and the use of a computer and internet at home. They gain enormous benefit from going on school trips, and joining in activities such as sports or kapa haka,” she said.
  
  “Children in households with the lowest material living standards are much more likely to lack these basic needs as well as miss out on the experiences and life chances that we would want for all children.”
  
  So apparently we are different in NZ. Unless we have all those things we can’t succeed , never mind that most of the world lives and succeeds without them.
  
  Elitist fucking idiots.
  
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  December 7, 2017 10:26am
  - VicParking
    
    Bugger I also missed out on Kapa Haka as a child.
    
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    December 7, 2017 10:57am
    - sooty
      
      I’m real glad I did!
      
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      December 7, 2017 12:21pm
    - freethinker
      
      Did you mean missing having a Krapa on a Haka?
      
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      December 7, 2017 3:40pm
  - Happychappy
    
    You can tell none of these pricks were bought up inthe 1950’s/ 60’s in state houses with no insulation and a open fire place. My mother and father had two girls and four boys to raise in a state house that had mould problems from window condensation and our house was bitterly cold in winter but we survived playing in the backyard not like now days where you have play stations and eat takeaways most nights.
    
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    December 7, 2017 11:25am
- backster
  
  Butwhat about all the media reports leading up to the election from the Sallies, City Missioner etc..worse than ever.
  
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  December 7, 2017 11:32am
- hullkiwi
  
  Don’t worry she can turn her attention to the housing crisis, reliably reported by that rag the Herald. Just had a feed that the govt has said that National left housing in a mess, with a 70,000 shortfall in houses.
  
  Just one question, when was it the govt’s responsibility to provide us with a home? Now Jacinda has magically solved poverdee & making sure people aren’t sharing toothbrushes, maybe she can solve the housing shortage by then of the next week. No rush, we don’t want to tire out the selfie queen.
  
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  December 7, 2017 4:41pm
Inandout

Dunne may be correct on why Labour seems incompetent. They simply didn’t think they were going to take the reigns, and consequently were caught floundering.
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December 7, 2017 8:07am
- RF
  
  For this disaster we can thank the totally useless old man who when it suits him makes a rare appearance in the house.
  
  This is a total waste of time as when he does get to speak he just mumbles away forgetting what he was going to say.
  
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  December 7, 2017 12:06pm
Paulus

In an local NZME paper this morning is a photo of a student who thinks it is wonderful to get the free first year uni and more pocket money.
So what is he going to do
Study Sports Journalism at Canterbury – with his mates.
So FFS what the hell will that have to do with generating a real future for New Zealand.
There are many Sports Journalist living off the fat of the land – most without a job or any likelihood of getting one (if they are male anyway).
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December 7, 2017 8:07am
- holysheet
  
  Where is your posidividy? It’s all about the feelz.
  If doing a shit free uni degree, who are you to criticise them.
  
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  December 7, 2017 8:16am
- oldgolfer
  
  It’s a great shame few of them can write.
  
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  December 7, 2017 8:28am
- cmm
  
  A few years ago there was a huge push for people to “follow their dreams” as teachers.
  
  There was an uptick in teachers, but about 50% of them were PE teachers.
  
  Sure we need fitter kids, but not that much!
  
  Ideology gets unlinked from actual market requirements and will produce a whole bunch of useless graduate.
  
  People who want to go to uni for the party are going to take easy to pass bullshit courses that don’t interfere with the partying.
  
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  December 7, 2017 8:32am
- Harkman
  
  The kid obviously isn’t too bright, I’m pretty sure journalism is a post-graduate degree at Canterbury. So he has to pass his undergrad degree first!
  
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  December 7, 2017 9:23am
- hullkiwi
  
  Or as an alternative gotatrade.co.nz is running an advertising campaign encouraging yuff to swap studying maths to train as a motor mechanic. Great message, given the lack of yuff doing maths & science at school.
  
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  December 7, 2017 5:00pm
Manolo

Is the pervert Franken quitting?
https://apnews.com/72ef538d0dd74d7ea96df16afb748cee

A top Senate Democrat says he expects Sen. Al Franken to resign Thursday over allegations of sexual misconduct. Another woman has come forward with accusations against the Minnesota Democrat of sexual misconduct.
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December 7, 2017 8:08am
- Morrissey
  
  Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
  Surely the pervert Trump should have to quit first. To set an example in this matter would be his one and only positive achievement over the last twelve months.
  
  Getting “elected” despite getting three million fewer votes than his opponent was not due to any expertise on his part — stealing the election by disenfranchising hundreds of thousands of mainly black and Latino voters was the work of the Republican National Committee and thousands of democracy-hating agents.
  
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  December 7, 2017 9:21am
  - starboard
    
    Hahahahahahaha??
    
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    December 7, 2017 9:28am
    - Morrissey
      
      Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
      You don’t accept the evidence that hundreds of thousands of voters were disenfranchised by Republican operatives?
      
      The laugh’s on you, my bewildered friend.
      
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      December 7, 2017 9:31am
      - Ed Snack
        
        No, and no intelligent person would accept that level of disenfranchisement. It is far more likely that the 3 million or so additional voters for Clinton in California were illegal immigrants without the actual right to vote.
        
        And just in case you are unaware (which seems likely given your “elected” comment), the US presidential election is not decided on the popular vote and never (get that, never) has been. It is decided in the Electoral College based on the electoral votes per state. The actual vote total mean nothing except in the bitter memories of the losers.
        
        Worth noting that G W Bush won both the popular and electoral college votes in 2004, the popular vote by over 3M, although the EC was very close – 286 to 251. Kerry understood the US voting system rather better than Clinton. Would you have accepted that Kerry was not really elected if he had flipped Florida and won the EC (by 280 to 257) despite losing the popular vote ? No, thought not…
        
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        December 7, 2017 9:48am
      - Kleva Kiwi
        
        Nobody does, however most people accept the Democrats vote included 100’s of thousands of illegal immigrants, and dead people voting for them.
        
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        December 7, 2017 10:20am
      - SteveRemmington
        
        I’ll match your ‘hundreds of thousands of voters disenfranchised by Republican operatives’ with the hundreds of thousands of women that appear to have been groped, molested and raped over the years by Democratic operatives such as ex presidents, Democratic congressmen and left leaning media and Hollywood stars.
        
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        December 7, 2017 10:23am
      - VicParking
        
        Democrats are the king gerrymanders of the world
        
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        December 7, 2017 11:01am
  - Harkman
    
    Interestingly, you cheer when Labour 36.9% Winston 1st (NZ Last) 7%, Greens 6% form a government although National got 44% (really 45% because Act voters are just National voters anyhow), although many Winston 1st voters wanted them to go with National and all of them didn’t want the Greens in power. You are comfortable with that yet in the US Hillary + Greens +Socialists = 49.2% yet Trump + Gary Johnson (the Republican Governor of New Mexico and a hardcore version of Act) + Evan McMullin+the various constitutional parties = 49.8%. You howl that Trump is President. The simple fact is if the left had if won the Election they would have also won the Senate, this didn’t happen. Dems only picked up one Senate seat, New Hampshire by like 70 votes or something. If you take out California (with suspect votes) Trump won the rest of America by like 3-4 million votes.
    
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    December 7, 2017 9:41am
    - All_on_Red
      
      Funny you should mention New Hampshire. In New Hampshire 5000 votes were found to be made by people out of State.
      They can do this but they have to register as Residents within 30 days.
      None of the 5000 did. It seems they visited, voted in the New Hampshire election and then went back home.
      Trump lost the State by 3000 votes and the Democrat running for Governor only won by 1000 votes.
      And as you point out the GOP just missed out on the Senate seat.
      
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      December 7, 2017 10:38am
- dime
  
  bahahahahahaha
  
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  December 7, 2017 9:23am
- tom hunter
  
  Apprently there is now going to be an announcement tomorrow from the Honourable Gentleman from Minnesota – mainly because this latest accusation has caused several Democrat senators to now bluntly call for him to quit: The Expendable Mr Franken.
  
  What say you sir? Mr Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them.
  
  Heh, heh, heh, ….. sooooooo delicious.
  
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  December 7, 2017 3:08pm
Manolo

And the MSM hacks and mates claim they did not know?
http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2017/12/05/media-elite-laughed-at-2008-roast-sending-matt-lauer-s-pervy-behavior.html
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December 7, 2017 8:13am
starboard

Anxiety..eczema..untransparent..dishonest…cant speak proberly..mean flip flopper…and allegedly can clear a room of its occupants and make an onion cry..nasty I B S. What have we done to deserve this ❔
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December 7, 2017 8:15am
oldpark

An unhappy Christmas to the “grinch” called Peters better known as the Drunken Dwarf who stole the democracy rights of NZs.
His claim to fame ,selecting a minority Government,now seen to be as useless as an ashtray in a wind tunnel.
Just watch the inept inane tactics being performed in our Parliamentary “debating” Chamber.
Thanks to the sour faced “grinch” Peters what is happening there is a disgrace and an embarrassment to many .Not forgetting the complete coward and sicko Mallard,performs like dumbo the clown. Except more stupid.
Listening and watching the so called ratbags masquerading as being the Government of the people in the debating chamber,runs paralell with the time Helen Clark closed the asylums and let loose the inmates.
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December 7, 2017 8:15am
- Paulus
  
  I am awaiting when the drunken dwarf is not there in Parliament to give verbal and looks support to Cinderella when she does not have an answer – which is often.
  I would shudder if he grinned at me like that he does at Cindy.
  
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  December 7, 2017 10:38am
Huevon

Another problem with the Island Bay cycleway…it’s sexist! or something. Anyway Minister for Women Julie Ann Genter has the answer…

https://i.stuff.co.nz/national/99602038/women-dont-cycle-or-walk-as-much-as-men-because-they-feel-unsafe-minister-says
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December 7, 2017 8:16am
- RalphT
  
  So are the Greens saying that in the interests of equality we need to ban cycling?
  
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  December 7, 2017 9:10am
  - Longknives
    
    I think she is leaning towards ‘Woman Only’ Cycleways..
    
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    December 7, 2017 11:44am
- Harkman
  
  Time to deport Julie Ann?
  
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  December 7, 2017 9:42am
  - RalphT
    
    Yeah, on your bike!
    
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    December 7, 2017 9:44am
Tauhei Notts

If you have ever wondered why the USA must spend so much money on defence just look at their widely acclaimed gesture in moving their Israeli embassy to Jerusalem. If any Kiwiblogger had their face slapped vigorously, then had an object stuck fair and square up their chutney, like has happened to the Palestinian people, they would respond in a violent manner.
But what gets me is that the large Yiddish communities of New York and California preferred a corrupt bitch to The Donald. This all seems silly to me.
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December 7, 2017 8:17am
- Scott
  
  Don’t you just love the Donald? All these other presidents, including Obama, have said that they will move the American Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem and haven’t done it. Donald will do it!
  
  It’s a funny thing. He campaigns that if elected he will do XY and Z. Then when elected as president he proceeds to do XY and Z!
  
  The gulf between the leadership in the United States which is kicking arse overseas and whose economy is booming at home, and our moribund economy and obsession with issues like climate change is immense. The United States is leader of the free world and we are on a downward slide.
  
  Oh for a leader like Trump here in this nation! Political correctness gone by lunchtime and a booming economy by next week. Wouldn’t that be awesome!
  
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  December 7, 2017 8:49am
- Classic Liberal
  
  If any Kiwiblogger (Israel) had missiles shot into their property by a neighbour (Hamas), the cops (US) would help. If the neighbour stopped, everyone could live quietly again side by side.
  
  The End.
  
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  December 7, 2017 8:51am
  - Morrissey
    
    Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
    As I’ve already counseled you, my friend, you need to read. Right now, you sound like a classic talkback caller, not a classic liberal.
    
    I thought liberals actually read books, and had some idea of what they were talking about. (Not idiotic Hollywood “liberals” like Kevin Spacey and Jared Leto, but classic liberals.)
    
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    December 7, 2017 9:27am
    - starboard
      
      Hahahahahahaha??
      
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      December 7, 2017 9:30am
    - Classic Liberal
      
      I’m no friend of yours, Murr. A true friend of mine left Israel because the constant attacks by Hamas made life there so unsafe.
      
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      December 7, 2017 9:45am
      - Morrissey
        
        Your “true friend” is a liar. Those “constant attacks by Hamas” are as nothing compared to the daily depradations on Gaza and the Occupied Territories by the IDF and the lawless illegal settler terrorists.
        
        Why did you not go and listen to Gideon Levy on Sunday? You would have learned a great deal.
        
        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNp6PZz8WwI
        
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        December 7, 2017 9:54am
      - holysheet
        
        Morrisdancer, can you read?
        You called CL a liar above for saying what he said. Then you go on to say “those “constant attacks by Hamas” are as nothing compared to the daily depradation”
        So you agree that there are constant attacks which in anybodys language would make life unsafe.
        What a fuckwit.
        
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        December 7, 2017 11:16am
Sofia

Question for Andrew Little, Minister for Pike River Recovery Agency –

Why, in the media, does he say he will have the final decision on re-entry to Pike River Mine, and the entity’s CEO all the liability, when WorkSafe NZ will have final veto on what the CEO proposes?
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December 7, 2017 8:18am
- sooty
  
  Because it’s all about the feelz! He has to feelz and look like a dick at the same time.
  
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  December 7, 2017 9:06am
  - Paulus
    
    Angry also knows that somebody else will take the role – Davis when he sets down for Angry to take his rightful space.
    Davis has suited his faux Maori role and is considered past his use by date.
    
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    December 7, 2017 10:42am
Classic Liberal

Kim Hill interviewed the Israel Public Broadcasting Corporation reporter Dan Ofry this morning. His points:
1. Jerusalem already *is* Israel’s capital and has been for 3000 years. Israelis don’t need anyone to ‘recognise’ that, any more than NZ needs Wellington ‘recognised’ as our capital.
2. Israel didn’t start the 1967 war and just ‘take over’ East Jerusalem. The war was started by surrounding Arab states and Israel won it.
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December 7, 2017 8:22am
- Jimmy
  
  Ben Shapiro: “If you are a Jew and walk into East Jerusalem, your life is in danger. If you’re an Arab and walk into West Jerusalem, there’s no problem at all, which signifies exactly why Jerusalem should be under Jewish control and not under Muslim control.”
  
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  December 7, 2017 8:32am
  - Classic Liberal
    
    And why all of this talk of ‘Peace process is finished’ and opening ‘gates of hell’ comes from the islamist side. The first quote from Palestinian official Hanan Ashrawi, the second comes from Hamas.
    
    The Israelis do want peace. Ongoing attacks on them by Hamas have not allowed it.
    
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    December 7, 2017 8:38am
    - Morrissey
      
      Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
      The Israelis do want peace. Ongoing attacks on them by Hamas have not allowed it.
      
      Nonsense. You need to actually do some reading and some serious study on this topic. And, no, CNN, Fox News, Whale Oil or wherever else you get your opinions from, are not serious.
      
      This would make a good beginning to your reading programme….
      
      https://www.huffingtonpost.com/noam-chomsky/a-middle-east-peace-that_b_554178.html
      
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      December 7, 2017 8:50am
      - Ed Snack
        
        Morrisey, really, you can’t dismiss “CNN, Fox News, Whale Oil…” and then mention The HuffPo and Noam Chomsky without looking particularly stupid.
        
        Back in the 1950’s Chomsky came up with a new theory of linguistics that took the world by storm and he was lionized for it. That theory has ultimately proven to be heavily flawed but his contribution to linguistics is undoubted. Outside his specialist field however he is clueless and worse. Huffpo is a democrat party shill masquerading as a non-serious lightweight piece of journalism. It has about the same degree of “authority” as the Stormfront website (wherever that is now hosted).
        
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        December 7, 2017 9:05am
      - Classic Liberal
        
        Morrie, I read the article, just to be fair to you. The linguistics professor made some points about aspects of the occupation being wrong.
        
        Trump wants a two state solution. Most people do.
        
        Recognising Jerusalem as Israel’s capital is probably his first step in pushing those negotiations forward.
        
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        December 7, 2017 9:13am
      - Maggy Wassilieff
        
        Noam Chomsky יום הולדת שמח
        
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        December 7, 2017 9:23am
      - Morrissey
        
        So it is, Maggy! You ARE the nice person I thought you were, after all.
        
        It’s also Pearl Harbor Day.
        
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        December 7, 2017 9:29am
      - Morrissey
        
        Like you, I have contempt for the Huffington Post—it’s pretty much a Democratic Party organ, and one of the main outlets for all of this Russian fantasy that will ensure the Democrats lose what little credibility they have. But to equate these hapless “liberals”, as useless and as pathetic as they are, to Stormfront?
        
        Really? Come on, Ed, you’re brighter than that.
        
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        December 7, 2017 9:36am
      - Ed Snack
        
        Morrisey, similar mindset and similar intent, but Stormfront isn’t so “woke”.
        
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        December 7, 2017 9:55am
      - Brito
        
        Morry…(sigh)…no never mind.
        
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        December 7, 2017 10:11am
      - In Vino Veritas
        
        It would appear Morrissey, that your knowledge of this part of the middle east could be written on the back of a postage stamp with a very wide tipped felt tip pen.
        Israel have made several offers to the Arabs (for they are Arabs, as no country called Palestine has ever existed), all of which have been declined or ignored. If the Arabs (Hamas whomever), were not fixated on wiping out Jews, they would be firing missiles on Jordan, who control the greater part of the old British Mandate of Palestine, to get that land as well. But they aren’t. Because all they are interested in is eliminating Jews.
        
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        December 7, 2017 10:25am
      - Kleva Kiwi
        
        Tells you to read real news, then links you to Huffington post! Bwahahahahaha
        Huffington is the most biast and baseless rag out there. They are the definition of fake news and post fact.
        
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        December 7, 2017 10:26am
  - VicParking
    
    And when he cut her down on everything she said she cut him off.
    
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    December 7, 2017 11:06am
    - Classic Liberal
      
      Yes, Kim Hill is not used to being contradicted. I was amazed that Ofrey even got invited. My first thought was ‘she’s not hearing what she wants to hear’.
      
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      December 7, 2017 12:33pm
  - GazzaW
    
    Exactly Jimmy. If Israel’s Arab neighbours disarmed tomorrow nothing would change. If Israel unilaterally disarmed tomorrow she would have ceased to exist come Saturday.
    
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    December 7, 2017 11:39am
- Ed Snack
  
  Incorrect about the 1967 war. Israel was threatened, no doubt, but the actual first attacks came from the Israelis.
  
  In the Yom Kippur (1973) war the situation was reversed with the Egyptians and Syrians making the first belligerent moves.
  
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  December 7, 2017 8:58am
  - Classic Liberal
    
    1967: Controversial. Egypt mobilised its forces along its border with Israel. Israel made preemptive airstrikes.
    
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    December 7, 2017 9:19am
    - Ed Snack
      
      Yes, that’s what I meant; Israel was the first to cross the border and strike. The Egyptians in particular were threatening to do so but had not actually crossed that line. We’ll never know if it was just posturing or if they did intend to strike, FWIW I think they did intend to, but hard to be absolutely sure.
      
      The Jordanians and Syrians were less keen but still had moved forces close to their borders.
      
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      December 7, 2017 9:58am
      - tom hunter
        
        I’ve got the classic history, The Six Day War, on my shelf and although it’s been a while since I read it I recall that Egypt started moving to block the major Israeli port, and after threatening to do so for some time. So Casus Belli: such blockades are rightfully interpreted as an act of war.
        
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        December 7, 2017 10:46am
      - Ed Snack
        
        Tom you are essentially correct but I guess it depends on whether they actually blocked the Strait of Tiran or merely appeared to threaten to do so. Wikipedia’s article states that Nasser announced a blockade but one had not actually been implemented as such. I would think that an announced intention to apply such a blockade by someone such as Nasser who was President at the time would be seen as authoritative. An agreement signed at the end of the 1956 conflict guaranteed that the strait of Tiran would remain free from blockade, and Israel had announced that a blockade would be seen as a “Cassus Belli”.
        
        I wasn’t disagreeing that essentially war had been declared or at least made effectively inevitable, but I think one of the few things that is actually non-controversial is that Israel was the first to cross their borders and attack with their air-raids.
        
        Oddly enough, given the intense sabre-rattling and provocations by Nasser and the warnings by the Israeli’s that a blockade would be seen as a declaration of war, the Egyptian air-force at least was completely unprepared for hostilities to break out. Quite possibly they intended to be ready, but insh’allah…
        
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        December 7, 2017 12:24pm
- Rachael Membery
  
  Has he been replaced by Twyford? That was who accompanied Paula Bennett on the AM show last time I saw it.
  
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  December 7, 2017 12:23pm
GazzaW

So we have a 24 hour rail strike commencing in Auckland at 2am in the morning. Why the lack of notice, why the obvious inaction by local authorities and the Minister of Transport? I’m not blaming the union entirely – who but an inept organisation that is Auckland Transport would reduce staff presence on trains when passenger security is such a concern.

Why no negotiations, why such short notice and why in the pre-Christmas turmoil? Labour is back.

Auckland Transport’s suggestion to reduce congestion tomorrow? That we carpool because they aren’t putting on extra buses.

Fuckwits all!
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December 7, 2017 8:24am
- In Vino Veritas
  
  Lol. There were negotiations Gazza. AT said this is what we are doing and the Unions said no it isnt. As Unions think they run the business. When in fact Unionists struggle to run a tap at the best of times.
  
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  December 7, 2017 10:29am
  - GazzaW
    
    Given the implications of a gridlocked city tomorrow and the major loss of productivity one would have hoped for urgent interventions by Goff or by Twitford. This goes beyond the rights or wrongs of the dispute – all we want is for the city to keep running. It’s all so negative and so 70s.
    
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    December 7, 2017 10:47am
- RF
  
  Remember Ardern promising no strikes on her watch.
  
  Bull shit……
  
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  December 7, 2017 8:30pm
Hugh Pavletich

Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
QV’s latest valuations are a mixed bag, with average values flat or down compared to a year ago in Auckland and Christchurch, but rising in most other places | interest.co.nz

https://www.interest.co.nz/property/91266/qvs-latest-valuations-are-mixed-bag-average-values-flat-or-down-compared-year-ago

Average residential property values fell over the last 12 months in Auckland and Christchurch but rose strongly in Wellington, according to the latest figures from Quotable Value (QV). … read more via hyperlink above …
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December 7, 2017 8:31am
- Harkman
  
  They are not, “median” houses prices were flat under the last month’s of National, they have surged again under Labour (not surprisingly considering we have always had house price hyperinflation under Labour because house prices are a monetary phenomenon and Labour dishonesty debases money).
  
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  December 7, 2017 9:48am
  - Hugh Pavletich
    
    Toronto Housing Prices Fall Amid Growing Pool of Homes for Sale … Bloomberg
    
    https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-12-05/toronto-housing-prices-fall-amid-growing-pool-of-homes-for-sale
    
    Canada’s largest housing market continues to see prices fall amid a widening pool of homes for sale, though there are signs the correction is beginning to lure in some new buyers. … read more via hyperlink above …
    
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    December 7, 2017 1:37pm
    - Hugh Pavletich
      
      Demand for residential land in Sydney and Melbourne may have already hit its peak … Business Insider
      
      https://www.businessinsider.com.au/demand-for-residential-land-in-sydney-and-melbourne-may-have-already-hit-its-peak-2017-12
      
      Demand for residential land in the major eastern state cities is expected to fade this financial year as the housing market for new homes hits headwinds, according to industry analyst and economic forecaster BIS Oxford Economics. … read more via hyperlink above …
      
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      December 7, 2017 1:49pm
      - Hugh Pavletich
        
        ‘This is a social and economic disaster for the country’ – Phil Twyford hits out over housing report | 1 NEWS NOW | TVNZ
        
        https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/social-and-economic-disaster-country-phil-twyford-hits-over-housing-report
        
        The dire state of the housing market has been laid out to the new minister in charge in official documents today. … VIEW & READ more via hyperlink above …
        .
        .
        Officials: Housing causes ‘stark’ inequality between young and old … Stuff / Fairfax NZ
        
        https://i.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/99631572/officials-housing-causes-stark-inequality-between-young-and-old
        
        The failing housing market is leading to stark inequality between the old and young and the rich and the poor, officials told the new Government as they took office.
        
        This inequality is harming the health of Kiwis, the country’s productivity, and the Government books.
        
        The briefings for incoming Housing Minister Phil Twyford show a 45,000 home gap in Auckland, as was previously reported by Stuff. Twyford maintains the previous Government intentionally kept the number secret. … read more via hyperlink above …
        .
        .
        Surge in demand for social housing revealed in briefing paper | Radio New Zealand News
        
        https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/345663/surge-in-demand-for-social-housing-revealed-in-briefing-paper
        
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        December 7, 2017 6:58pm
      - Hugh Pavletich
        
        Meet NZ’s newest housing idiot – MacroBusiness Australia
        
        https://www.macrobusiness.com.au/2017/11/meet-nzs-newest-housing-idiot/
        
        By Leith van Onselen
        
        Apparently Auckland’s housing market is no longer in “crisis”, according to the National opposition’s housing spokesman, Michael Woodhouse: … read more via hyperlink above …
        
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        December 7, 2017 7:04pm
      - Hugh Pavletich
        
        Govt spent $44,000 for homeless man to live in motel for 58 weeks … Radio New Zealand
        
        http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/checkpoint/audio/2018624596/govt-spent-dollar44-000-for-homeless-man-to-live-in-motel-for-58-weeks
        
        Housing Minister Phil Twyford says New Zealand’s longest tax-payer funded emergency housing tenant, Robert Erueti, should never have been evicted from his HNZ home. … listen and read more via hyperlink above …
        
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        December 7, 2017 9:56pm
stephieboy

Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
Another one for the Trumpist Alt right Christmas tree or stocking ,

Fantasyland: How America Went Haywire: A 500-Year History by Kurt Andersen

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • “The single most important explanation, and the fullest explanation, of how Donald Trump became president of the United States . . . nothing less than the most important book that I have read this year.”—Lawrence O’Donnell

How did we get here?

In this sweeping, eloquent history of America, Kurt Andersen shows that what’s happening in our country today—this post-factual, “fake news” moment we’re all living through—is not something new, but rather the ultimate expression of our national character. America was founded by wishful dreamers, magical thinkers, and true believers, by hucksters and their suckers. Fantasy is deeply embedded in our DNA.

Over the course of five centuries—from the Salem witch trials to Scientology to the Satanic Panic of the 1980s, from P. T. Barnum to Hollywood and the anything-goes, wild-and-crazy sixties, from conspiracy theories to our fetish for guns and obsession with extraterrestrials—our love of the fantastic has made America exceptional in a way that we’ve never fully acknowledged. From the start, our ultra-individualism was attached to epic dreams and epic fantasies—every citizen was free to believe absolutely anything, or to pretend to be absolutely anybody. With the gleeful erudition and tell-it-like-it-is ferocity of a Christopher Hitchens, Andersen explores whether the great American experiment in liberty has gone off the rails.

Fantasyland could not appear at a more perfect moment. If you want to understand Donald Trump and the culture of twenty-first-century America, if you want to know how the lines between reality and illusion have become dangerously blurred, you must read this book.

https://www.amazon.com/Fantasyland-America-Haywire-500-Year-History-ebook/dp/B004J4WNJE

It will help explain , among many, many things , the hysterical and paranoid l reaction to William of Ockham’s posts .

And the comparison with scientology , Conspiracy theories like 9/11, UFOs , Salem witch trial hysteria etc with Trumpet land is spot on !
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December 7, 2017 8:37am
Digmen1

So Hugh, what is your take on it?
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December 7, 2017 8:37am
- starboard
  
  Heh..who cares
  
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  December 7, 2017 9:05am
SteveRemmington

Don’t forget to get your votes in for NZ Quote of the Year.

The early front runner appears to be Clarke Gayfords comment to Jacinda Ardern

“please tell me that’s not your penis”
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December 7, 2017 8:50am
- RalphT
  
  And the first version of the article on Stuff had a photo of the happy couple with the caption “Both Jacinda and husband Clark Gayford have made the list”, though the word husband has now been replaced by partner. I would hate to think that they had got married without their being a ten-page spread in the Woman’s Weekly.
  
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  December 7, 2017 9:15am
  - Longknives
    
    They will announce their Engagement to the Nation to deflect attention next time she makes a massive stuff up…
    Mark my Words.
    
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    December 7, 2017 11:50am
    - RalphT
      
      That soon?
      
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      December 7, 2017 1:40pm
Keeping Stock

It’s rare for former Speakers to remain in Parliament. It is even more rare for one to question the current Speaker. But that is exactly what Rt Hon David Carter did yesterday, raising the following point of order at the conclusion of Question Time:

POINTS OF ORDER

Speakers’ Rulings—Interpretation of Speaker’s Ruling 20/5

Rt Hon DAVID CARTER (National): I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. I want to ask you to give serious consideration to a considered ruling to points that were raised at the start of question time around retrospectively raising points of order. I did not make that point at the time, because I considered that your patience was getting to a stage when it may have been dangerous to do so. But as you and I know, when we go back and look at Hansard, subsequent to question time, we often see pieces in that Hansard that we wish to question and raise with the Speaker.

You and I both sat on the Standing Orders Committee and were both partly responsible for the inclusion of Speaker’s ruling 20/5 around the ability to raise issues retrospectively, and you will remember without doubt the history of why that particular point was put into the report of the Standing Orders Committee and consequently into Speakers’ rulings. I think it is a very dangerous precedent that could be potentially made by your initial ruling today that unless matters are raised instantly, they cannot be raised at all. I ask you whether you would consider the points that I think were raised considerately by members at the start of question time, particularly by Opposition members, have a look at the Hansard again, and perhaps come back to the House with a considered ruling and the ability for us to raise retrospectively points of order that we think are worthwhile raising.

There was no discussion that I recall during the deliberations of the Standing Orders Committee about a stage by which such concerns were raised privately with the Speaker in his office. Members of Parliament, Opposition and Government, have rights to raise points of order, and I ask you to reconsider very carefully your original initial ruling at the start of question time today.

https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/hansard-debates/rhr/combined/HansDeb_20171206_20171206_16

Rt Hon Trevor Mallard has made some far-reaching rulings this week on what Ministers can or cannot be questioned about. Yesterday he shut down numerous points of order from National MP’s, in a manner that seemed to this observer to be far from neutral.

For the former Speaker to have been so concerned as to raise a point of order about this is significant. Effectively Carter is saying that Mallrd’s rulings are wrong, without using those words, which would in itself be a breach of Standing Orders. I can not recall that happening in our Parliament at any time in the past.

Carter wasn’t done however. He took a call in the General Debate, and as well as providing some advice to Mallard based on his own experience as Speaker, he delivered a stinging rebuke to Winston Peters. Here’s the start of his speech:

Rt Hon DAVID CARTER (National): Mr Speaker, I want to start my contribution to the general debate by congratulating you on your appointment as Speaker of this House, and I extend my congratulations, also, to your fellow presiding officers. You will realise, as Speaker, that it is a very critical role in this Parliament. It’s actually a very critical role in the democratic system of New Zealand, and for good democracy to function, it requires a Speaker who is prepared to accept that role of making sure that the democracy of this country can operate within this House. I’m certainly at no time going to tell you how you do your job; that’s something you’re going to figure out for yourself. But I can give one piece of advice, I guess, as to what guided me every day that I came into this place. I attempted to gain the respect of all the members of Parliament that I was attempting to do my job in a fair and impartial way. I think that is an important test as to whether you’ve gained the respect of all members of Parliament.

I was overseas at the time that Mr Peters made his announcement. I listened on my phone; it was 9 o’clock in the morning as I was attending an Inter-Parliamentary Union conference in St Petersburg, and I could never have been happier with the result of that announcement. Because I had no wish to go into any Government of which the Rt Hon Winston Peters was a part. I was there in 1996, in fact; I whipped with Mr Mark in the seat over there in the 1996-99 Government, and I knew then how it fell apart. I’m not one that will ever trust Mr Winston Peters, but I do wish those that are now going to deal with Mr Peters and his colleagues the very, very best of luck, because they’re going to need it.

Kudos to David Carter for standing up for the parliamentary democracy yesterday. I hope Trevor Mallard takes Carter’s comments on board, and reflects on his own performance over the last few days because in my ever-humble opinion, Mallard has been anything but even-handed.

For those who are interested, here’s the video of Carter’s General Debate speech yesterday; well worth a look:

https://youtu.be/nq5e73noF3c
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December 7, 2017 8:53am
- ztev
  
  Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
  LOL Former Speaker Carter asking for fairness and even handed rulings .
  he was of course very quick to rule ‘unwanted questions’ out of order himself.
  
  Peters, you just know, will veto his knighthood
  
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  December 7, 2017 9:17am
  - Rachael Membery
    
    So you think that such a thing should be determinative as to whether someone should speak up or not? To put self before country? You would.
    
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    December 7, 2017 12:05pm
- Morrissey
  
  I agree with you. Mr Carter spoke impressively, and provided a stark contrast to the flustered Kelvin Davis, and the clownish Willie Jackson.
  
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  December 7, 2017 9:48am
  - Keeping Stock
    
    He provided an even more stark contrast to Clare Curran, Minister for Open Government, who appears to have been hidden in someone’s cupboard to avoid her causing further embarrassment to the government.
    
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    December 7, 2017 10:40am
- Liberty
  
  Mallard got a right ticking off.
  about time. As some of his rulings have been appalling.
  
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  December 7, 2017 9:57am
- ztev
  
  “It’s rare for former Speakers to remain in Parliament. ”
  LOL.
  
  Speaker Kidd remained till 2002 election.
  Speaker Wilson retired at 2008 election and of course Speaker Smith was bought off with baubles in London.
  
  Speaker Gray was bumped for Speaker Tapsell, but remained in parliament with the fake job of “Vice President of the Executive Council”
  Tapsell lost his seat at 1996.
  
  There will be many on nationals list who will be asking Carter – to get the hell out of here.
  
  Likely he will resign at Xmas, but only on the date of the return of parliament so he can collect pay over the holidays. Just like Don Brash did.
  Finlayson will go as well.
  
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  December 7, 2017 10:24am
- KevOB
  
  Mr Speaker Mallard is struggling a little in settling in but previous Speakers have been newbies too. I believe he is aiming for fairness and a more rigorous style. The House will mutually adjust.
  Former Speaker Carter was proper in his concerns and that’s all part of the settling in process.
  
  The order of the House is not being helped by the stonewalling from “government”. They are not a bad-debating-society team despite their behaviour.
  
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  December 7, 2017 10:32am
  - RF
    
    Interesting reading the listener and the comments made by the Ducks new wife who has a political page.
    
    Very biased so didn’t bother to read it again. Pity there is no balance as it’s all ….. the left can do no wrong.
    
    I had high hopes for the duck but he is unfortunately for Labour, an idiot….
    
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    December 7, 2017 8:49pm
- Tauhei Notts
  
  Keeping Stock, thank you for bringing that piece to our attention. My opinion of David Carter has just gone up by a considerable amount. Truly well measured comments.
  
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  December 7, 2017 5:29pm
JibberJabber

I hope Trevor Mallard takes Carter’s comments on board

Don`t hold your breath, Mallard is there to run interference for Cindy and the rest of the incompetents, we have up to 3 years of anything but democracy to look forward to.
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December 7, 2017 9:06am
- Keeping Stock
  
  After a promising first couple of days from Mallard, sadly that seems to be the case.
  
  When one-term MP’s like Adrian Rurawhe and Poto Williams are appointed as Assistant Speakers just because they were the only sitting Labour MP’s (apart from Rino Tirikatene) who didn’t get positions in the Executive, it doesn’t bode well for strong leadership in the House.
  
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  December 7, 2017 9:15am
starboard

Mallard is like M Wilson in drag.
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December 7, 2017 9:12am
- ztev
  
  Did you never see Speaker Carter with his ‘feather boa’
  
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  December 7, 2017 9:20am
  - Brito
    
    He looked spectacular. There was a man I could follow.
    
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    December 7, 2017 10:11am
  - Liberty
    
    It was better than Mallards impersonation of
    MR Bean.
    
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    December 7, 2017 10:20am
  - starboard
    
    Yes, I did ztrev. Whats your point? Nothing, as usual.?
    
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    December 7, 2017 3:30pm
lastmanstanding

So the Gumint releases the Report into fuel prices. It says motorists are paying too much for fuel.

Did any of the MSM remind the Gumint that 60% of the price is taxes levies duties and GST on taxes levies duties.

No.

So the Gumint is gouging the citizens punishing the very people they claim to represent the poor and no one in the MSM questions this.

Two faced arseholes.
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December 7, 2017 9:34am
- Keeping Stock
  
  Judith Collins had an interesting tweet yesterday:
  
  Judith Collins‏ @JudithCollinsMP
  
  Megan Woods criticised me this year for saying we need to give the Commerce Commission extra market study powers to get to the bottom of fuel prices. Today she’s announced that the Commerce Commission should get extra market study powers on fuel prices.
  
  They say imitation is the most sincere form of flattery, so Ms Collins must be feeling very flattered indeed 😀
  
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  December 7, 2017 9:45am
  - Harkman
    
    The one thing I can guarantee is petrol prices will keep going up under the government. Megan Woods won’t be so smug then.
    
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    December 7, 2017 9:51am
    - Keeping Stock
      
      Here in Whanganui, 91 octane at the main BP station, the cheapest in town, has risen from 181.9 just before the new government was formed to 200.9/litre.
      
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      December 7, 2017 10:38am
      - VicParking
        
        Wait till the week before xmas. Lets hope our new Gull service station in Whanganui will bring a bit of competition.
        Problem is the more the dollar dives the more petrol will go up.
        
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        December 7, 2017 11:20am
      - GazzaW
        
        And no doubt the Whanganui Council will be looking for angles to add a local fuel tax.
        
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        December 7, 2017 11:29am
    - UrbanNeocolonialist
      
      up 10% so far, pretty easy to predict something that has already happened.
      
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      December 7, 2017 10:43am
    - Liberty
      
      The lack of faith in the Minister of finance by overseas markets
      Has driven down the Kiwi. It will be one of the factors of high fuel prices.
      
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      December 7, 2017 12:03pm
  - ztev
    
    Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
    As usual Collins is as ‘economical with the truth’ as a Prius is with petrol.
    She was criticised for her previous ‘do nothing’ inquiry.
    
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    December 7, 2017 10:28am
    - VicParking
      
      Only by dicks like you
      
      13 1
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      December 7, 2017 11:20am
- calendar girl
  
  There’s no analysis that I can find by the AA (or by the Commerce Commission?) to provide us with the reasons for our current retail petrol price rises. How much, roughly, is attributable to higher international crude prices, and how much to a marked softening of the NZ dollar in the two months since the NZ Government was formed?
  
  My lay-person’s reading of the stats suggests that ‘about’ two-thirds has been caused by rising international prices for crude oil, and ‘about’ one-third by the decline of the NZ$ (political loss-of-confidence factor?). Where can a professional analysis be found?
  
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  December 7, 2017 11:31am
dime

feeling like a proud kiwi today!

our tranny weightlifter is dominating at the world champs!!!

https://youtu.be/DFgZXL3tL1A
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December 7, 2017 9:40am
- Harkman
  
  The One News reporter, “but she missed out in the clean and jerk.” It couldn’t stop laughing for like 3 minutes.
  
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  December 7, 2017 9:54am
  - dime
    
    yeah, gold!
    
    13 0
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    December 7, 2017 10:27am
  - Chuck Bird
    
    It is unclear if he or she has anything to jerk.
    
    7 1
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    December 7, 2017 12:27pm
    - RalphT
      
      And no mention of the snatch
      
      7 1
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      December 7, 2017 1:42pm
- Huevon
  
  Bizarro world
  
  9 0
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  December 7, 2017 10:10am
- VicParking
  
  Man she has Balls to go up against all those real women.
  
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  December 7, 2017 11:21am
- Longknives
  
  Top Secret is an underrated Classic!
  
  5 0
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  December 7, 2017 11:49am
- Liberty
  
  There is nothing to be proud about.
  Puting a male into a woman’s team is cheating.
  
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  December 7, 2017 12:22pm
- Chuck Bird
  
  It appears that someone who is gender confused can still have a cock and take drugs undergo hormone replacement therapy consistently for at least one year — with proper documentation — and they also have to change their identification, like passports and birth certificates, to female can compete with real women. However, a real woman who naturally has too much testosterone cannot compete.
  
  I they are at high school they demand to share shower with real women.
  
  https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/biological-man-wins-usa-volleyball-approval-to-compete-with-women-but-is-it
  
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  December 7, 2017 12:37pm
softail 1450

quack ,quack, mallard has turned into a blithering idiot ,he seemed so onto it on the first few days of the new parliament ,what’s happened ?
I have some inside information ,he’s been trying to keep up with the gnome peters in the evenings quaffing fine whiskey , he never stood the remotest chance of doing that but is valiantly doing his best.
things will calm down over the holiday and hopefully he will return in the new year and be back to the way he started parliament ,hopefully minus the fucking crying babies he has inflicted on the house FFS.
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December 7, 2017 9:40am
- calendar girl
  
  I agree with you, softail, Mallard started his reign as Speaker quite impressively. He’s very experienced, of course, but he also introduced sensible penalties (e.g. loss of supplementaries for breaches of protocol), and appeared to be striving for even-handedness.
  
  Now he seems to have lost already that veneer of good humour, patience and impartiality that he was trying to display in his first weeks. It’s back to the short-fuse, bully-boy Mallard that we know well from the past. This will not be a Parliament remembered for its debating standards, wit or constructive co-operation between political adversaries.
  
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  December 7, 2017 7:44pm
Surely Knott

Both Newshub and NZ Herald have articles this morning on Child Poverty dropping. The title is “Child Poverty Drops for First time in a Decade” is blatantly misleading. The report is 18 months lag. The drop is directly actually attributed to the previous government. And the report was from 2016 results! Should have been available prior to the election. The headline makes it seem like this poverty drop has just happened. A more accurate headline would have been ” Child poverty dropped for first time in a Decade due to Benefit Increases under National.”
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December 7, 2017 9:41am
- Keeping Stock
  
  Quite so SK. All the data in the Child Poverty Monitor report pre-dates the 2017 General Election.
  
  I look forward to Jacinda Ardern moving a Notice of Motion in Parliament this afternoon to compliment National on this achievement.
  
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  December 7, 2017 10:36am
  - VicParking
    
    Jacinda does not go to Parliment on Thursdays its a school day.
    
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    December 7, 2017 11:23am
  - GazzaW
    
    I look forward to spotting ztev’s squirrels.
    
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    December 7, 2017 11:31am
    - Rachael Membery
      
      That shouldn’t be hard.
      
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      December 7, 2017 12:12pm
- Piniwi
  
  Thanks SK and there is more to come as the lag time is covered. Sadly though the anticipated 50,000 reduction on 1 April will not now happen. Since taxes will not be cut as provided in Budget 2017 if COL can ram through abolishing them.
  
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  December 7, 2017 5:52pm
Inandout

Why readers are deserting the MSM in droves:

https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/99582977/bless-you-to-the-haters-woman-campaigning-for-halal-kfc-faces-backlash-racism

Also, dear bloggers, this idea that Muslim is a fucking race is a crock. I look at that photo and all I can see on this woman is a face, and she could be blonde under that uniform.
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December 7, 2017 10:26am
- Jack5
  
  It’s a way for NZ’s Muslims to keep themselves in the headlines.
  
  We don’t want any more in NZ.
  
  Myanmar’s statement that Rohingya will be allowed to return from Bangladesh is encouraging from the NZ refugee policy point of view. Now maybe, in NZ’s quota, we can get more of the hounded Middle East Christians.
  
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  December 7, 2017 10:52am
  - Digmen1
    
    I do not want any muslims here.
    Muslims belong in muslim countries where they will be welcomed and feel at home.
    Their religion is diometrically opposed to Christian western values.
    
    This is their tactics – gain a little bit here and a little bit there.
    Sharia law just for muslims.
    Sharia Law for all
    Hell hole follows
    
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    December 7, 2017 1:23pm
    - treadingthemill
      
      Their religion is diometrically opposed to Christian western values.
      
      Their religion is diametrically opposed to modern Western values, and ancient Pagan Western values. But not so much to Christian values, both being Middle Eastern religions based on the same god, or at least close enough the the differences don’t matter. And you can see the Christian version of Sharia law right here on Kiwiblog when conservative Christians oppose homosexuality or a women’s right to an abortion.
      
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      December 7, 2017 1:33pm
      - starboard
        
        Yeah whatever mm. You dont fool me son.?
        
        6 2
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        December 7, 2017 3:34pm
      - Longknives
        
        Treadingthemill
        I’m not even a practicing Christian- But I have to say that call of yours is rubbish.
        Christian values are NOTHING like Sharia Law…
        
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        December 7, 2017 4:47pm
      - Kimbo
        
        @ Longknives
        
        Um, no that’s not so. Some of it yes, some of it no. Sharia is diverse, and, in accordance with Muhammad’s busy-body mentality, covers nearly all areas of life. Some of it – care for the poor, widows and orphans, conservation, family life, work, recreation, etc., mirrors the Torah, which in turn was updated in the New Testament. At the very least – and bear in mind I think Islam is a false religion, and the ravings of a psychotic epileptic – Islamic Sharia is related to the other two monotheistic religions from whence it sprang.
        
        So no, in many cases it is not diametrically opposed to Christian values, indeed in some parts it has something in common. But then as Digmen1 rejoices at the idea of Muslims dying in suicide bomb attacks or in Myanmar, I’d suggest he ain’t a go-to guy for a handle on…Christian values. 😉
        
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        December 7, 2017 4:55pm
      - KevOB
        
        Wrong.
        Lord Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
        
        Muhammed is an 7th c. bedouin.
        
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        December 7, 2017 4:59pm
      - Kimbo
        
        @ KevOB
        
        The issue is “Christian values”, i.e., ethics, not doctrine in general, or Christology in particular.
        
        But in that vein, at least Muslims honour Jesus as a prophet..which Judaism does not. But no, neither consider him as the second person of the triune Godhead.
        
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        December 7, 2017 5:01pm
      - Kimbo
        
        https://familyshare.com/22707/17-surprising-similarities-between-muslims-and-christians
        
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        December 7, 2017 5:06pm
- sooty
  
  Our local rag lost 10% readership.
  
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  December 7, 2017 12:32pm
Keeping Stock

Where has Labour hidden Claire Curran, the Minister for Open Government.

Having made Ms Curran look decidedly dodgy last Wednesday, National MP Brett Hudson had another question for her last Thursday, however she wasn’t there. Chris Hipkins answered on her behalf, and only muddied the water further.

Hudson had another go yesterday, asking Curran “Does she stand by her statements about open and transparent Government?”. Once again, she was absent from the House at that moment, and Hipkins again had to answer on her behalf. His answer to Hudson’s final supplementary was simply bizarre:

Brett Hudson: How can she claim to be an advocate for open and transparent government in word and action when she refuses to answer questions similar to those that Clare Curran asked in 2016 and that were answered in full by the then Government?

Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: Similar is not the same.

Curran, of course, used to moderate Labour’s blog Red Alert along with Trevor Mallard. If commenters expressed a view contrary to hers, they risked copping a gob-full of abuse, as well as a ban.

I was banned from Red Alert by Curran for making a flippant comment about Phil Goff’s newfound opposition to asset sales in 2011, having been part of a government which sold more assets between 1984 and 1990 than any government previously or since. I was also accused of being a liar, which in itself was a false accusation.

As if making her Minister for Open Government wasn’t enough of an affront, her refusal to front up and answer questions is deeply concerning. More likely however she’s been hidden away in a cupboard somewhere, and if that’s the case, whose cupboard is it?

Open Government? Pass me a Tui 😎
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December 7, 2017 10:32am
- In Vino Veritas
  
  Lol Keeping Stock, I was banned from Red Alert years ago by Curran. For commenting on Whaleoil no less!
  I wrote to her at Parliament asking for the rationale behind the ban, and she said that I was being offensive (for making some inane comment about people in a picture being allowed to vote). I pointed out that ColonialViper (a well know Labour member) had commented repeatedly on the Standard about hanging\killing people that didn’t share the socialist view. After some time, she wrote back and said my ban was lifted. Except it never was.
  
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  December 7, 2017 12:04pm
- Digmen1
  
  I notice that most of Hipkins replies are simple one or two word replies. (Usually what we would call smart arsed)
  
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  December 7, 2017 1:24pm
Manolo

The bubble will burst soon:
https://www.cnbc.com/2017/12/06/bitcoin-tops-13000-surging-1000-in-less-than-24-hours.html

Bitcoin climbed above $13,000 Wednesday afternoon after topping $12,000 Tuesday night.

The digital currency’s gains accelerated after crossing the psychologically key level. Bitcoin last traded 12.5% higher to a record high of $13,158.99, according to CoinDesk.
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December 7, 2017 10:35am
- Jack5
  
  A niche effect of the digital currency bubble has been the boom in graphics cards (known also as GPUs), with which computer gamers and graphics professionals hot up their desktop PCs.
  
  Demand has moved up stream to the makers of the high-tech components in the cards.
  
  Most “miners” of cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin typically make their currency factories by packing several graphics cards into each PC. Each card acts like a powerful computer within a computer.
  
  At least one maker, Nvidia, has brought out special “graphics” cards for miners.
  
  Other manufacturers bring out mining frames, that is PCs, that be fitted with half a dozen or more graphics cards rather that the two or three cards that at most that can be fitted into a typical home PC with a full-size motherboard.
  
  When the bubble breaks, it should be economic to hot up the old PC with a grunty, secondhand graphics card.
  
  This link is to site that offers flat-pack mining frames in America for 139 US dollars. Each can take half a dozen graphic cards. A top-line mining GPU, such as the AMD Radeon R9 295X2, is selling at the moment for around 1200 US dollars.
  
  So, for about $US7500 and plenty of electricity, you can have your own mine.
  
  http://cryptomininggear.com/product/6-gpu-open-air-case-for-crypto-currency-mining-rig-frame/
  
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  December 7, 2017 11:18am
- Harkman
  
  Oh, the annals of financial history. The Tulip mania, the South Seas Bubble, John Laws Louisiana scheme, the 1840s railway mania, the crash of 1873, the crash of 1907, Florida property crash of 1925, the crash of 1929, the go-go conglomerate years of the 1960s, 1973 oil shocks, the Hunt brothers silver gamble, Mexico & Brazil collapse 1982, 1980s Junk Bonds, the crash of 1987, collapsed of Japan 1990, Nick Gleeson 1995, Asian crisis, LTCM 1998 & Russian default, 1997-2000 testing has stock mania, 2001-2007 property bubble, 2007 Subprime meltdown, GFC 2008-2009, PIGS 2010-2013, and now Bitcoin 2017.
  
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  December 7, 2017 2:12pm
- Victor Omega
  
  People have been saying that for years! Since it was around $1000 a coin, even earlier.
  
  HODL! 🙂
  
  https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=375643.0
  
  0 0
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  December 7, 2017 2:36pm
Jack5

Interesting days for Oxfam, the international aid organisation, whose New Zealand branch (Oxfam NZ), is a registered charity …

A short video extract from a BBC Hard Talk interview with Winnie Byanyimka, the head of Oxfam, shows how the charity has become focused on political action (first link below).

Meanwhile, Oxfam is moving its headquarters from Britain to Kenya .

About six weeks ago, Oxfam was reported in the Guardian as saying it had sacked 22 staff in a year after sexual-abuse allegations (second link below). The newspaper said Oxfam had a total of 5000 staff, augmented by many volunteers.

Global warming, super-rich individuals, and the global arms trades are some of the New Zealand branch’s concerns

http://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-42238863/byanyima-oxfam-international-political-with-a-small-p

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/31/oxfam-says-it-has-sacked-22-staff-in-a-year-over-sexual-abuse-allegations
5 0
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December 7, 2017 10:48am
- Maggy Wassilieff
  
  It’s frightening how bullies and sexual abusers can just blend into “do-gooder” associations.
  
  Naive folk fall prey to these “saintly” predators lurking around churches, charities and social service institutions.
  
  10 0
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  December 7, 2017 11:07am
- realityczech
  
  The sexual perversions of aid agencies and the UN in Africa are appalling. The place is a magnet for pedos.
  
  There are so many scandals, but our media rarely reports on them. The details are too shocking to share here.
  
  9 1
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  December 7, 2017 12:27pm
Muttonbird

I see Trevor Mallard has taken David Farrar’s keys to parliament off him and the list of those with swipecard access has more than halved.

I know DPF will be unhappy but the number of interested parties coming and going from there unchecked threatened democracy and allowed dirty politics to flourish.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/99552731/speaker-reviews-list-of-approved-visitors-with-access-to-parliament-for-the-first-time
1 27
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December 7, 2017 11:26am
- Jack5
  
  I see from the Stuff report: “The list mainly consists of lobbyists, with some MPs’ spouses, party members and union representatives.”
  
  Dispatch riders from the unions arriving with daily orders for Jacinderella?
  
  19 0
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  December 7, 2017 11:29am
  - Muttonbird
    
    There’s no individual union representation there outside of the PSA which, y’know, is part of parliament.
    
    There’s two from the Council of Trade Unions. This is their mission:
    
    The New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi brings together over 320,000 New Zealand union members in 31 affiliated unions. We are the united voice for working people and their families in New Zealand.
    
    I get the feeling you are against ‘working people and their families in New Zealand’.
    
    2 20
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    December 7, 2017 11:41am
    - UrbanNeocolonialist
      
      Council of Trade Unions may claim they are ‘working people and their families in New Zealand’ but I think they’re doing the exact opposite – with their efforts directly (through wasted union fees) and indirectly (bad political choices) fucking over workers and families.
      
      8 0
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      December 7, 2017 11:51am
    - realityczech
      
      “I get the feeling you are against ‘working people and their families in New Zealand’”
      
      The unions stopped representing “workers” a long time ago.
      
      Now they represent non-workers and non-white minority groups. The same applied to the Labour Party.
      
      8 1
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      December 7, 2017 12:33pm
    - calendar girl
      
      “…… the PSA which, y’know, is part of parliament.”
      
      The PSA has members working in Parliament, as do a variety of other Unions. How or why could PSA representatives be seen as qualifying for security clearance allowing them unsupervised for access to Parliament Buildings?
      
      2 0
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      December 7, 2017 8:03pm
Longknives

What a huge relief that our beloved ‘Peoples Princess’ has eliminated Poverty after just six weeks in the job!! (As her gushing Media are breathlessly reporting)
I now look forward to telling the Salvation Army and the City Mission to go fuck themselves when they come scrounging for money again this Christmas…
20 2
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December 7, 2017 11:47am
- itstricky
  
  I now look forward to telling the Salvation Army and the City Mission to go fuck themselves
  
  Such a caring soul.
  
  4 17
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  December 7, 2017 12:00pm
- treadingthemill
  
  What a huge relief that our beloved ‘Peoples Princess’ has eliminated Poverty after just six weeks in the job!! (As her gushing Media are breathlessly reporting)
  
  I have just finished perusing several NZ media sites, and I can’t find any article claiming that Jacinda has eliminated poverty. You have a fascinating fantasy life. But at least on Kiwiblog you’re not alone in that.
  
  2 21
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  December 7, 2017 12:07pm
  - itstricky
    
    Snap.
    
    1 16
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    December 7, 2017 12:14pm
    - Ed Snack
      
      You mean you two aren’t at adjacent desks in the Labour spin centre ? Ask the union supervisor nicely and perhaps you’ll be allowed to move closer together so you don’t cross post quite so often.
      
      12 0
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      December 7, 2017 12:32pm
  - Digmen1
    
    She must have.
    There have been no reports of any woman with six children from six different fathers who she does not know on the news for about 6 weeks.
    
    12 0
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    December 7, 2017 1:17pm
- itstricky
  
  As her gushing Media are breathlessly reporting
  
  Where do you read that? I’ve read the Herald article and it makes mention of ‘previous’ three times, including ‘progress made under the previous Government’
  
  It also says that the report is for the previous year. So it’s obvious that it was under the leadership of the previous Government.
  
  2 14
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  December 7, 2017 12:13pm
  - Classic Liberal
    
    Obvious to us, yes. Obvious to the people who voted for Comrade Taxinda who can do no wrong?
    
    6 0
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    December 7, 2017 12:48pm
    - treadingthemill
      
      Yes, obvious to me as well. And how do you know that those of us who voted for Labour think she can do no wrong? I don’t think that. Like Longknives claim this seems to be more a fantasy in your head than a reality.
      
      1 7
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      December 7, 2017 12:52pm
      - starboard
        
        Whatever mm
        
        1 0
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        December 7, 2017 10:26pm
Jack5

Is Britain falling apart? It’s justice system seems to have atrophied…

A West African refugee jailed twice for sex attacks has been awarded £110,000 (214,000 NZ dollars) compensation after he was kept in prison too long while awaiting deportation after his home country refused to take him back. Now he’s likely to stay in Britain, too.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5150963/African-refugee-jailed-sex-attacks-wins-110-000.html#ixzz50Wb723vi
13 0
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December 7, 2017 12:03pm
Jack5

Duck-dinosaur fossils discovered in Mongolia.

UN researchers ask Trevor Mallard for DNA sample.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-12-07/duck-dinosaur-fossil-discovered-in-mongolia/9234342?section=science
11 0
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December 7, 2017 12:10pm
Chuck Bird

What is that word that allows Muslims to lie to infidels? I have seen the barbaric way they slaughter animals on YouTube.

‘Ramming Islam down Kiwi throats’: KFC halal campaigner racially abused

“In Islam an animal must not suffer or be sacrificed in front of other animals,” he told Fairfax.
10 2
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December 7, 2017 12:43pm
- Classic Liberal
  
  Taqiya.
  
  9 0
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  December 7, 2017 12:49pm
  - Chuck Bird
    
    Thank you.
    
    4 1
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    December 7, 2017 12:50pm
- Digmen1
  
  Yes they have a real cheek to say their methods are humane.
  We have developed our slaughtering techniques over the last 500 years.
  Theirs are still the same as in 600 AD.
  
  9 0
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  December 7, 2017 1:15pm
- howitis
  
  People don’t get anywhere near that ‘claimed’ respect.
  
  Where are all the cries from the weeping lefties of ‘animal privilege’?
  
  0 0
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  December 7, 2017 5:50pm
  - Steve (North Shore)
    
    Ask Devoid – oh wait, she only comes into it when shitheads are ‘Offended’
    
    1 0
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    December 7, 2017 7:03pm
Muttonbird

Phil Quin now having his own past investigated and not before time. The fact it takes Reddit to do the job of the NZ media speaks volumes.

Phil is now very unhappy as he realises the clients who get him to do hit jobs on the Labour party will no longer use him.

(Quin’s) recollection is that he spent half a day teaching police officers how to use social media.

Had to laugh.

http://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2017/12/ghahraman-accuser-phil-quin-denies-he-was-part-of-the-rwandan-government-pr-machine.html
0 18
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December 7, 2017 12:43pm
- rangitoto
  
  You aren’t alone. I also laugh at newshub.
  
  9 0
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  December 7, 2017 1:15pm
- Prince
  
  Labour’s attack wing rolls into action.
  
  11 0
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  December 7, 2017 1:19pm
Manolo

Utter denial. Some of these poor souls cannot accept Trump’s victory.
https://www.msn.com/en-nz/news/world/us-lawmakers-deny-democrats-bid-to-impeach-trump/ar-BBGkcTF?li=BBqdg4K&ocid=mailsignout
10 1
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December 7, 2017 1:17pm
- Digmen1
  
  Yes, the dems have no class.
  They were demonstrating violently in the streets the day after his election.
  Its called Democracy.
  Wait for the next election!
  (Like we may have to)
  
  9 0
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  December 7, 2017 1:19pm
  - GoVege
    
    They were protesting that a mentally unwell man has access to the nuclear button!
    
    0 6
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    December 7, 2017 5:36pm
    - Steve (North Shore)
      
      Go…. ok never mind
      
      0 0
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      December 7, 2017 7:15pm
    - Inandout
      
      There are many more one liners in the Trump deranged booklet, continuously produced by Mr Soros. They fall in deaf ears now, thank God.
      
      0 3
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      December 7, 2017 7:32pm
JibberJabber

The quota the cops have been denying for decades has been shelved apparently.

Road cops quit ticket quota

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/99497065/a-quarter-of-all-roadpolice-tickets-have-no-relevance-to-safety
12 0
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December 7, 2017 1:28pm
- thedavincimode
  
  Does this mean they’ll no longer park on blind corners or on the side of the road where there isn’t very much side of the road at all with their lights off in the dark?
  
  2 0
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  December 7, 2017 9:08pm
- realityczech
  
  About time the pigs tidied their act up. But this is just a start.
  
  2 0
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  December 7, 2017 9:14pm
Maggy Wassilieff

every day you don’t shave is another small act of rebellion.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/beauty/99614156/the-future-is-female–once-we-stop-shaving-our-legs
5 1
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December 7, 2017 2:09pm
- Rich Prick
  
  If that’s the road to success, then Lena Dunham should be Queen of the world by now.
  
  6 0
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  December 7, 2017 2:37pm
- nasska
  
  …..”I feel quite envious when I see “hairy women” with armpit hair and unshaved legs – I wish all women could feel as uninhibited and let natural run riot,”……
  
  Yeech !! If that doesn’t collapse the birth rate nothing will. ?
  
  7 0
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  December 7, 2017 3:41pm
  - GoVege
    
    But nasska…lots of cultures LIKE their gals to be hairy.
    Serious Sikhs aren’t permitted to remove their hair…even the females.
    I saw a girl in the shops last week with a wispy beard at least 8 inches long, and Mr Govege has seen one with a beard so thick, he asked her if she was a man or a woman….
    You’re gonna get a shock next time you’re on the Big Smoke! 🙂
    
    2 4
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    December 7, 2017 4:46pm
    - All_on_Red
      
      ‘ Govege has seen one with a beard so thick, he asked her if she was a man or a woman….’
      
      Yeah?
      Did she ask if he was retarded or only occasionally acted like it?
      
      4 0
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      December 7, 2017 4:50pm
      - GoVege
        
        Nah AOR, she apparently replied “lots of people ask me that!”
        They’re very direct in the South.
        
        2 2
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        December 7, 2017 5:33pm
      - All_on_Red
        
        Uhuh
        But is he?
        
        2 0
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        December 7, 2017 5:36pm
      - GoVege
        
        Obviously not, AOR.
        His choice in a life partner surely proves that. 🙂
        
        1 3
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        December 7, 2017 5:53pm
      - All_on_Red
        
        He sure behaves like it.
        Unless of course your *stories* are both complete BS.
        And you have form for that.
        
        3 1
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        December 7, 2017 6:51pm
      - GoVege
        
        “Form”?
        Only in your mind my dear AOR, only in your mind…. 🙂
        
        0 0
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        December 7, 2017 10:47pm
      - All_on_Red
        
        Nah
        You’re full of shit.
        
        2 1
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        December 7, 2017 11:03pm
    - nasska
      
      In my part of the world women look like women & men work GoVege. I’ll give South Auckland a miss thanks. 🙂
      
      9 0
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      December 7, 2017 4:54pm
    - thedavincimode
      
      Mr Govege has seen one with a beard so thick, he asked her if she was a man or a woman….
      
      That wasn’t our weightlifter by any chance?
      
      3 0
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      December 7, 2017 9:09pm
  - Maggy Wassilieff
    
    I have a friend (animal ecologist) who insists that leg hair is essential for good balance.
    
    It’s all to do with proprioception… nerve endings and messages to the brain stuff.
    
    The only thing I’ve ever come across to back up her view regards swimming….and that’s never caused a balance problem for me
    https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/brain-sense/201005/swimmers-shaving-and-proprioception
    But as I become a doddery old thing, I’m wondering if I should go au naturel this summer
    
    7 0
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    December 7, 2017 7:48pm
    - nasska
      
      If women were meant to have body hair they’d be sitting up trees combing the nits out of each other’s fur.
      
      Mrs nasska has lived a happy life with few restrictions but forty seven years ago I mentioned that I preferred my women non furry & that if she got fat she’d be a solo mother.
      
      Alas, I am on occasions held up as example of how grossly insensitive the male gender can be. 🙂
      
      7 0
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      December 7, 2017 8:05pm
      - Maggy Wassilieff
        
        Bastard!
        
        6 0
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        December 7, 2017 8:09pm
    - GoVege
      
      A GP once told me that men tend to get skin cancer on their backs, and women get it mostly on their legs.
      She reckoned women shaving their legs might have something to do with it.
      So “au naturel”, Maggie.
      
      1 0
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      December 7, 2017 10:44pm
- Longknives
  
  Cry me a river- I spend 7 or 8 hundred a year on Shaving products (Face alone)…I’m sure lots of blokes do!
  
  7 0
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  December 7, 2017 4:44pm
  - Kimbo
    
    ??!
    
    Didn’t have you figured for a metrosexual! 😉
    
    7 1
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    December 7, 2017 4:48pm
    - nasska
      
      Ouch! 🙂
      
      4 0
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      December 7, 2017 4:51pm
    - Longknives
      
      You sporting a huge,lush beard like a lumberjack then Kimbo?
      
      4 0
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      December 7, 2017 7:11pm
  - realityczech
    
    “I spend 7 or 8 hundred a year on Shaving products (Face alone)”
    
    Fag.
    
    7 1
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    December 7, 2017 5:37pm
    - nasska
      
      A “fag” RC? How unkind. I’m certain that once he’s finished with his facial ablutions Mrs Longknives & he spend many happy hours while he plaits her armpit hair. 🙂
      
      6 0
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      December 7, 2017 5:48pm
    - Longknives
      
      Please don’t throw me off a building realityczech…
      
      4 0
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      December 7, 2017 7:14pm
- Steve (North Shore)
  
  They need to shave to show the ‘tramp stamps’
  
  3 0
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  December 7, 2017 7:19pm
softail 1450

it’s becoming apparent that if you are asking a patsy question of a Labour Party minister in this govt you must be a lesbian ,a gay man ,or a person of Color,it must piss those bludgers on the back bench of the Labour Party that are straight and pakeha that they will never get to ask a question …..
12 1
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December 7, 2017 2:55pm
- Longknives
  
  There are straight Pakehas in the Labour Party??
  
  10 1
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  December 7, 2017 4:42pm
  - sooty
    
    Not many! Lots off alphabet soup though.
    
    4 1
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    December 7, 2017 5:11pm
    - holysheet
      
      LGBTwhateverelsethefuckyoufeelzliketoday?
      
      2 0
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      December 7, 2017 8:18pm
  - Digmen1
    
    I think there needs to be a quota for them. Say 75%.
    
    5 0
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    December 7, 2017 5:26pm
  - Steve (North Shore)
    
    Nope, just pretenders confused about gender
    
    4 0
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    December 7, 2017 7:20pm
Brito

I was watching Greg O’Connor discussing a bill about justice in the military. No issue with the bill, all power to it’s passing.

But why, for the love of God, did we have to learn about Frederick the Great, Prussian Military discipline, my time in the Police, wah wah wah wah.

On and on and on! I used to think Greg was a blow hard when he was in the Police Association but now he’s even worse.

Even the Deputy Speaker (or whatever), Potato Williams had reached the end of her patience. “Time gentlemen,” I believe she called, suddenly realising she wasn’t pouring jugs down at the Linwood RSA.
14 1
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December 7, 2017 4:45pm
- Longknives
  
  Greg can talk up a storm alright.
  He sweet-talked/promised the World to Police for years and years and ultimately delivered not a sausage!
  Then he goes and joins Labour/Greens (Who openly Detest NZ Police)
  What a Guy..
  
  11 1
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  December 7, 2017 4:52pm
  - GoVege
    
    The cops don’t like Greenies much either.
    Apparently some of them call them unkind names such as “tree-huggers” and the like. 🙂
    
    3 3
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    December 7, 2017 5:50pm
- RF
  
  Greg is another member of the walking bird flock. Unable to fly as he is full of shit.
  
  Word is that he is not trusted by his labour colleagues and definately not trusted by his former Police mates who are pissed off by his flip flopping concerning arming the Police.
  
  0 0
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  December 8, 2017 9:18am
dad4justice

What secure mental health ward is patient Nick Smith the National MP currently at?
2 12
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December 7, 2017 7:33pm
- Happychappy
  
  The same one you have just been released from, did Winston put in a good word for you.
  
  8 1
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  December 7, 2017 7:46pm
  - stigie
    
    Dad must know Winston (Dad’s hero) like he knows Richie ?
    
    3 0
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    December 7, 2017 8:12pm
Jack5

A look at Maori Television’s new headquarters:

https://idealog.co.nz/urban/2017/12/how-new-maori-television-building-weaves-culture-modern-day-design?utm_source=IdealogUrban&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=20171207
2 0
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December 7, 2017 7:42pm
- Captain Mainwaring
  
  F**k! I paid for that?
  
  5 0
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  December 7, 2017 9:40pm
Jack5

Eighty thousand NZ children are living in severe poverty – that’s the assertion in a Radio NZ report on its web site.

If that’s true, we need to divert to these families cash going to a university fun year for all, to State broadcasting, to extracting bodies from the Pike River mine, to the Human Rorts Commission, to the country’s army of consultants …

http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/345690/how-is-a-parent-supposed-to-survive-on-20
6 0
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December 7, 2017 8:30pm
Jack5

Australia’s House of Representative has passed a bill legalising same-sex marriage.

The Sydney Morning Herald reports:

The MPs voting against the legislation are Russell Broadbent, Keith Pitt, David Littleproud and Bob Katter.

Because there are less than five MPs voting no the legislation is declared passed.

Tony Abbott left the chamber before the final vote.

The newspaper reports Australia’s LGBTIQ people will be able to marry early in the New Year. (LGBTIQ stands for “lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and questioning.”)

This will stuff up the tourist traffic from Aussie gays marrying and honeymooning in New Zealand.
4 0
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December 7, 2017 8:34pm
- Nostradamus
  
  Jack5:
  
  This will stuff up the tourist traffic from Aussie gays marrying and honeymooning in New Zealand.
  
  Not to worry. I gather Hagley Park has enough local activity to keep things ticking along. Stigie seems to be quite well-informed about these things, so perhaps he can tell us more!
  
  3 0
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  December 7, 2017 8:43pm
  - nasska
    
    All will be well Nostra. Christchurch has carved out a niche market in gay kink.
    
    B–E–H–I–N–D & beyond! 🙂
    
    3 0
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    December 7, 2017 9:04pm
Viking2

In Defence, the average salary was $124,912 and it had a gender pay gap of 37.8 per cent. Crown Law had an average salary of $98,477 and a pay gap of 30 per cent.

Genter said the Government was committed to “addressing the gender pay gap within the public service in this Parliamentary term”.

“We are working with public service chief executives to agree targets to accelerate the pace of change. I am delighted that all public service chief executives are committed to this effort.

“Māori and Pasifika women continue to be underpaid for the work that they do, so more attention needs to happen around the reasons why.”
——————————
No wonder we have a problem with productivity.
Why go toreal work for much less when you can become a public servant and trough it.

What about the poor you say. Yeah well bring them in as well.

And then there is this courtesy of the bloody useless Nats.

In the final year of the previous Government, the public service expanded at a rate of more than 100 new employees a month.

That was despite National promising to cap the number of public servants to 36,475 across the whole of the public service. That target was breached in 2013 and in the last year, the State Services Commission stopped reporting on the overall cap data.
———————-
Don’t know how the Nats can squeal like stuck pigs when they were unable to keep their promises to the electors.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/99624738/state-sector-report-shows-expanding-public-service-better-paid-more-educated

more to make you cry.
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December 8, 2017 6:30am
Manolo

Al Franken, a fallen pervert:
https://www.msn.com/en-nz/news/world/franken-irony-that-im-leaving-senate-while-the-president-is-a-man-who-has-bragged-about-history-of-sexual-assault/ar-BBGmC1h?li=BBqdg4K&ocid=mailsignout
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December 8, 2017 7:38am

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Bob McCoskrie's McBlog
Media Link: “A View from Afar” on the US elections.
Kiwipolitico
This will not end well
Offsetting Behaviour
Top 14 Predictions for Round 10
Stats Chat
Pretty (il)legal
Croaking Cassandra
Tory Whanau may have to sell Wellington mayoralty to make ends meet
The Civilian
The Accidental Engagement
Imperator Fish
Legal Beagle: Election '23: The Special Votes
Public Address
Making this movie might have been a mistake
Liam Hehir
Why I am retiring from political blogging
Kiwi FireWalker
Angie Warren-Clark: Meet the Newbies
Dan Moskovitz

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