General Debate 18 January 2018

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holysheet

See I told you, “we will be rid of poverdy before treasury can say they were wrong” Said the tooth fairy to the fat fairy.
“Yeah right” said Steven Joyce. “That fiscal hole just got a bit deeper”
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January 18, 2018 8:00am
- igm
  
  Notice this is not reported in either Fairfax or NZME publications. Shows the stranglehold Crockery and her band of incompetent troughers have on media unions and members.
  
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  January 18, 2018 8:03am
  - Albert_Ross
    
    If by “this” you are referring to the story about Treasury getting its sums wrong on child poverty, it’s here
    
    https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/100668792/government-number-crunches-get-child-poverty-figures-wrong
    
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    January 18, 2018 8:16am
    - SGA
      
      Seems pretty straightfoward –
      
      It’s not yet clear whether heads will roll over the coding error, but officials have confirmed that child poverty reductions were over-estimated when the previous National Government delivered its Budget in May last year and the error appears to have carried through to affect the current Government.
      
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      January 18, 2018 8:21am
      - igm
        
        I take you are yet another Labour apologist. Fat fairy could not balance Alf’s bus float and Crockery could not get five fish and chip orders correct . . . tells us something of their fiscal abilities, and they expect to run a national budget.
        
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        January 18, 2018 9:56am
      - SGA
        
        I have no particular loyalty to the Labour Party. From what I read in the article, it seems that National’s claim to have already reduced child poverty (which DPF commented on very positively here, from memory) may have arisen, in part, from some errors by Treasury. Hard to see why the present government should carry the can?
        If that’s not the case, I’m sure the relevant National spokesperson will shortly present their version of events.
        
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        January 18, 2018 10:22am
    - Shaun the Sheep
      
      Should that be “number-crunchers”?
      
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      January 18, 2018 8:23am
    - mandk
      
      It looks like the number being referred to is based on relative incomes, and this means that the number has no real value anyway.
      
      Any policy based on relative incomes should be dismissed out of hand.
      
      The only defensible measure is the one based on material deprivation.
      
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      January 18, 2018 8:52am
    - skyblue
      
      To be fair to Taxinda, you can only go on the information in front of you, same was for National as well. But since the CoL have spent like drunken sailors like giving landlords an extra $50pw per room there is bugger all available now to have a lolly scramble to decrease poverdy.
      
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      January 18, 2018 9:24am
    - GoVege
      
      Poverty will never be resolved while the po-ar are paid to breed.
      They must be paid to Use Contraception!
      This week a GoVege clan member met a 23 year old solo mum of 6…the eldest child is 10.
      I’m sure the great Dame Tariana’s heart swells with pride at all the 13 year olds bearing children at the honky’s expense, but these are not good environments to raise kids.
      Not to mention the cost to the nation.
      
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      January 18, 2018 10:49am
      - MrLovebucket
        
        It’s not in Labours interest to solve poverdy.
        
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        January 18, 2018 11:19am
  - flipper
    
    Yeah, but add to that the fact that they are all children born of the left wing journo training scheme. Bloody useless, just like the MSM mob in USA who deride a top rated Navy physician who has served three Presidents – Bush, Obama, and now Trump. Of course he is “now biased” and “untruthful”.
    Same Shit, Different Day !
    
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    January 18, 2018 8:19am
    - ztev
      
      3 presidents ?
      July 2013 to present: RADM Ronny Jackson, MD
      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Physician_to_the_President
      
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      January 18, 2018 9:56am
    - ztev
      
      Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
      Thank god for that.
      
      Now we can rest easily that Trump passed a test designed to see if you can go shopping on your own.
      
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      January 18, 2018 10:17am
      - sooty
        
        Can you go and sit the same test, please.
        
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        January 18, 2018 10:57am
      - Paulus Gnome
        
        The messiah should be able to help you with some of the answers, those that he can remember that is.
        
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        January 18, 2018 12:37pm
      - MH
        
        has Trump been made to walk the line and have a sobriquet test ?
        
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        January 18, 2018 5:06pm
  - hullkiwi
    
    It’s not just the unions at NZME, it is also the CEO & other board members who are Liebore groupies. Editorial policy, us the Liebore line, & Taxcinda walks on water.
    
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    January 18, 2018 9:09am
    - GazzaW
      
      The NZME and Fairfax CEOs and board members may not necessarily be left wingers but the opportunity to create and market their very own PM of a sovereign nation with obvious downstream benefits was impossible to refuse. Make no mistake Jacinda was created by the media. How this game turns out will be quite fascinating.
      
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      January 18, 2018 12:16pm
- cmm
  
  Quick, throw a squirrel bomb…
  https://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/food-wine/100652849/the-great-kiwi-mystery-just-how-big-is-a-scoop-of-chips
  
  We need the government to step in and regulate the size of a scoop of chips.
  
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  January 18, 2018 8:06am
  - holysheet
    
    You think they would have asked their go to person from the Morrinsville chippy for her opinion on such an important topic.
    
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    January 18, 2018 8:10am
    - cmm
      
      Well that’s clearly a role she has been building for her whole life and would be a good use of her talents.
      
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      January 18, 2018 8:18am
      - ztev
        
        Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
        As opposed to having a degree in medieval english ?
        
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        January 18, 2018 8:19am
      - holysheet
        
        Yeah. You and I might think that, but those whose opinion really really really matters obviously have a different view on her ability to even do this right.
        
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        January 18, 2018 8:22am
      - skyblue
        
        Dont forget she can also regulate the size of your shitter, she has experience there too.
        
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        January 18, 2018 9:26am
      - ztev
        
        Steve Jobs studied poetry and calligraphy
        
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        January 18, 2018 9:27am
      - cmm
        
        Did you just try to compare Jacinda to Steve Jobs?
        
        By the time Steve Jobs was 22 he had done all the business hustling to get Apple off the ground.
        
        By the time Cindy was 22 she had [insert something here].
        
        By the time Steve Jobs was 30 he had been instrumental in getting Apple to the Mac stage.
        
        By the age of 30 Cindy had [ummmm].
        
        I am no Jobs fan. He was a real dick, mistreated people and abused the welfare system. I only met him once. I have never met Cindy, so I will reserve judgement.
        
        Both huge Al Gore fans, but that’s about it.
        
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        January 18, 2018 2:49pm
      - GazzaW
        
        There’s no degree that qualifies you to be a highly successful entrepreneur ztev. Steve Jobs has that gift, Cindy clearly hasn’t.
        
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        January 18, 2018 4:31pm
  - dime
    
    330grams of hot chips.. thats like 120 grams of carbs.
    
    that would put me in a coma.
    
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    January 18, 2018 9:29am
- stigie
  
  Yes, Steven Joyce will be smiling to himself and knowing that the 11.7 billion hole that he fucked up is now a shit load more !~
  
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  January 18, 2018 8:09am
  - cmm
    
    I doubt Joyce is smiling. It’s just more shit he will have to clean up in 2020.
    
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    January 18, 2018 8:19am
    - wiseowl
      
      Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
      After listening to Joyce on the radio yesterday it was clear he has learned nothing.
      He continues to repeat the word ‘growth’ when talking of the NZ economy when the truth and the facts show there has been no growth for years.
      What he should say is the immigration fueled economy which is going nowhere and making us all poorer.
      Same in Australia.
      He would do well to take a seat and observe what Trumpy is doing but like many mixed up progressives he can’t remember how things should work.
      
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      January 18, 2018 8:33am
      - Harkman
        
        “Rockstar economy???”
        
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        January 18, 2018 1:03pm
  - Salacious Crumb
    
    Newshub are running it although with mitigations:
    http://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2018/01/child-poverty-miscalculation-hardly-ranks-as-a-scandal.html
    
    It doesn’t refer to the poverty of parenting or morality which are the underlying causes of our appalling child abuse statistics or the fact that multigenerational welfarism has only served to exacerbate this; all aided and enabled by a succession of governments who proceed to double down on it.
    
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    January 18, 2018 8:23am
holysheet

Mrs holy and I had to laugh this morning. Watching the AM show, Mark Richardson said with a twinkle in his eye that he had tried “Almond Milk” recently, and he thought it was nice.
The comment went right over ruby lips head.
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January 18, 2018 8:08am
- RF
  
  For christs sake someone do something about those bloody ruby lips. They are shocking. Looks like an inflamed cats arse.
  
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  January 18, 2018 9:10am
  - lifesgood
    
    Who is “ruby lips”?
    
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    January 18, 2018 9:16am
    - namron
      
      Astute comment RF. Amanda Gillies’ mouth has always annoyed me and I have just checked my cat and “yes” you’re right, they DO look like and “inflamed cat’s arse!”
      namron
      
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      January 18, 2018 10:19am
      - Gabby
        
        You didn’t inflame your cat’s arse did you normie?
        
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        January 18, 2018 11:12am
  - Gabby
    
    You been chasing cats again rf rf? We need to fetch the choke chain again do we?
    
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    January 18, 2018 11:11am
    - RF
      
      Gabby. Is that the same chain used in your sexual daliences with animals.
      
      Thanks but I will pass this time.
      
      P.s. When are you going to come home for tea. The family misses you.
      
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      January 18, 2018 3:37pm
  - Old.Mickey.Blue.Eyes
    
    I listened to her read the news, and the emphasis she places on words is so annoying……just read the news, I’ll decide what is worthy of shock and awe…..
    
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    January 18, 2018 12:29pm
- Shaun the Sheep
  
  I’ve never seen the AM show, so a little Google found me this:
  
  https://thespinoff.co.nz/tv/15-01-2018/the-bleakest-moments-from-the-return-of-the-am-show/
  
  My New Year’s resolution is to ensure I miss a whole lot more of it.
  
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  January 18, 2018 5:06pm
  - Old.Mickey.Blue.Eyes
    
    It is amazing how much better you feel by avoiding shit pollution. Since the election I have avoided seeing or hearing the mule toothed communist on tv and radio. Life is good. Have avoided political news As much as possible….i inadvertently saw a Megan woods – apparently minister responsible for Callaghan, couldn’t mute/change channel in time…..i was a little sick in my mouth, but that feeling passed.
    
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    January 18, 2018 9:52pm
oldpark

Wonder what type of result NZ would get if there was a cognitive test on NZs pest for all reasons and seasons the wee dictator called Peters.
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January 18, 2018 8:08am
- igm
  
  Reckon he would struggle with a breathalyser test any time of the day, so a cognitive test would surely be a definite failure.
  
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  January 18, 2018 8:11am
  - peterwn
    
    See my comments about Donald Trump below. Winston IMO is also in robust physical and mental health. AFAIK he has never had a drink-drive issue and that indicates that he can handle liquor to the extent that it does not get the better of him.
    OK, Winston might have trouble with the 30 question cognitive test if taken late in the evening, but otherwise, like Donald Trump, he would have no trouble getting a 30/30 score.
    
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    January 18, 2018 8:24am
    - tf78
      
      But, when was the last time Winston actually drove himself?
      
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      January 18, 2018 8:51am
      - lifesgood
        
        He gets his live in love to drive him and then makes her sit waiting in the car.
        
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        January 18, 2018 9:18am
      - ztev
        
        Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
        At least Peters hasnt been known to harass the waitresses
        
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        January 18, 2018 9:59am
      - peterwn
        
        Granted, while a MP or Minister he can avoid driving. However I would be extremely surprised if he did not drive a car regularly in his earlier years. And it is that time he would have been caught drink-drive if he has a significant drink problem.
        
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        January 18, 2018 10:07am
      - ztev
        
        I dont think Peters drives at all
        
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        January 18, 2018 10:20am
      - wombatge
        
        Years ago I had the pleasure of running hire cars in Rotorua. In between large garbage bags of dope left in boot and back windows shot out, Winnie used to make his way home through Rotorua. I also remember it well, because he couldn’t drive a manual, only automatic. My best effort in stopping an ensuing hissy fit, was relocating a car from Auckland for his commute to Tauranga.
        I guess he hasn’t had to drive himself in years.
        
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        January 18, 2018 10:26am
      - RF
        
        His vehicle is fitted with a drivers booster seat and foot extensions on brake & accelerator. It’s an automatic.
        
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        January 18, 2018 1:03pm
peterwn

I remember at school that a nasty putdown was ‘you should go to Kingseat (or Porirua, Seacliff etc)’, or even worse Avondale (Carrington / Oakley).
Nowadays adults are playing this nasty game with respect to Donald Trump by suggesting from their armchairs that he has mental health issues.
OK he might possibly have some slight mental health tendencies, but this would be no different from the vast majority of the population. Indeed one of NZ’s foremost psychiatrists, the late Dr Fraser McDonald, stated that one in five people had mental health issues at some time during their lives.
As far as Donald Trump’s physical and mental health issues are concerned, I conclude (after filtering out the nonsense in media reports) that he is pretty normal. Indeed I am coming around to liking the guy.
There are big problems with President – for example you cannot take a stroll down Pennsylvania Avenue when you feel like it.
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January 18, 2018 8:12am
- SGA
  
  As far as Donald Trump’s physical and mental health issues are concerned, I conclude (after filtering out the nonsense in media reports) that he is pretty normal.
  
  I share your distaste for armchair psychiatry and diagnosis, and I’d guess that Trump probably doesn’t have a “mental disorder”. That said, I’m not sure I would say he is “normal”. 🙂
  In fact, I’m not sure that anyone wanting to be POTUS is normal 🙂
  
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  January 18, 2018 8:28am
  - Keeping Stock
    
    In fact, I’m not sure that anyone wanting to be POTUS is normal
    
    That’s probably the truest statement that will be made on Kiwiblog today.
    
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    January 18, 2018 10:13am
    - hullkiwi
      
      Zdivvy, seems when conclusive results of a recognised test don’t fit your narrative you still try to discredit it for your fan base. You really do fit into Orwell’s definition of “Group think”, don’t you?
      
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      January 18, 2018 10:54am
  - ztev
    
    Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
    Trump just passed a test designed to see if he can go shopping on his own- big deal.
    
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    January 18, 2018 10:22am
    - axeman
      
      Meanwhile booby still needs Caropotamus to hold his hand when he goes shopping
      
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      January 18, 2018 4:27pm
- Maggy Wassilieff
  
  I remember at school that a nasty putdown was ‘you should go to Kingseat (or Porirua, Seacliff etc)’
  
  My mother was told that Wanganui Hospital could not offer any more effective treatment for her depression and she would need to go to Porirua Hospital for more intensive treatment.
  She shot herself instead.
  
  My best friend at the age of 14 died in Porirua Hospital. She suffered from “depressive bouts” following severe asthma attacks.
  
  It is clear those on KB that wield the Trump is mad/ or commenter X is mad memes have little awareness of mental health issues.
  
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  January 18, 2018 8:52am
  - Chuck Bird
    
    Sorry to hear about your mother Maggy.
    
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    January 18, 2018 9:00am
    - Maggy Wassilieff
      
      It was 54 years ago, Chuck.
      
      I would have thought adults of today might have advanced a little in their thinking and understanding than to still be spilling out schoolyard crap.
      
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      January 18, 2018 9:13am
      - RalphT
        
        Sadly, if you scratch many people it doesn’t take much to reveal the feral instincts.
        
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        January 18, 2018 9:47am
      - Keeping Stock
        
        Quite so Ralph. I had a reasonably significant meltdown as a result of depression, anxiety and stress around three months ago. Recovery is going well, and I hope to resume work next month once my doctor gives me the OK, but it has been a journey.
        
        I’ve taken a few close friends into my confidence, most of whom have had their own experiences with depression. I’ve also encountered the odd “feral” whose response has been to tell me to get over it.
        
        We do, in general, have a much more empathetic attitude to mental illness than was the case even 20 years ago, but there is certainly still a sector of society whose attitudes towards those battling mental health issues needs readjustment.
        
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        January 18, 2018 10:21am
      - Maggy Wassilieff
        
        @Keeping Stock
        
        This site is dangerous for personal disclosures such as yours.
        I was subjected to months of abuse on this site that I was mad, deranged etc.. after I first wrote that I was the child of a depressive and suicidal mother.
        What effect such relentless abuse and bullying has on a depressive person, I can only imagine.
        
        Fortunately I seem to have inherited my father’s nature and, to date, have never been depressed;
        but I don’t discount the possibility, as I have seen resilient folk stricken with depression following a severe illness or family tragedy.
        
        I just wonder how many folk are prevented from commenting here because of the abusive actions of the cowardly few that infest this site?
        
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        January 18, 2018 10:59am
      - RalphT
        
        Sorry to hear about that KS. While I’ve never been there I have a child who suffers from depression and goes off the radar two or three times a year and even from the outside it is not a pleasant experience. Fortunately he is blessed with understanding friends (and of course supportive parents) but there is the odd person who thinks all he needs to do is man up. And yes while there is still the odd feral, by and large the attitude is better than it was 20 years ago.
        
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        January 18, 2018 10:59am
      - Keeping Stock
        
        I have a pretty thick skin Maggy, but thanks for the warning. Three months on (and almost 13kg lighter, as a consequence of doing something about my unhealthy eating habits), I’m in a far better place.
        
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        January 18, 2018 11:01am
      - UrbanNeocolonialist
        
        We are a perverse species – for a large proportion of our number our brains are actively trying to kill us.
        
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        January 18, 2018 11:25am
      - GoVege
        
        UrbanNeocolonialist: that’s the trouble with belonging to a species who’s brain got too big.
        We may rule the planet, but at what cost in actual happiness?
        I am lucky to have one child who is intellectually disabled, but knows how to be happy.
        He knows the solution for most problems….a hug!
        
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        January 18, 2018 12:18pm
  - stephieboy
    
    MW, one of the first things you need to learn on a blog like KB is cultivate a thick skin like I do . I’ve been subjected to all kinds of abuse and invective that you will never have to deal with.
    
    KS, thank you for that disclosure and self honesty re mental health issues . I Will never hold it against you in any shape or form .
    
    We are all human .
    
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    January 18, 2018 1:57pm
    - Maggy Wassilieff
      
      I don’t indulge in personal abuse.
      I don’t tell lies about people.
      I don’t tell people how to live their lives.
      I apologise when I am in the wrong.
      I take responsibility for my actions.
      
      In this country no-one is forced to abuse other people.
      We are all adults here. If someone chooses to abuse others, it’s a reflection of them, the abuser – not the abused person.
      
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      January 18, 2018 2:54pm
- Ross12
  
  The performance of the White House press at the press conference with the doctor who did the tests on President Trump showed clearly who have the “mental health” issues. They must have to achieve well below average in an IQ test to qualify for their Press Pass.
  Good on President Trump for telling the doctor to answer every question –he clearly knew what was likely to happen. Another win.
  
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  January 18, 2018 9:12am
  - VicParking
    
    Watched the video it was a hoot. Especially the fat overweight reporters questioning his numbers.
    
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    January 18, 2018 10:06am
- Gabby
  
  Loony Donald can cope, he’s a big boy.
  
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  January 18, 2018 12:25pm
Awww C-mon

Question if I may trendsetters,

Considering Re-locating out of Tauranga, it will need to be North Is. based (no offence southerners, just practicalities)

Give me your best pitch on where to go…

TIA
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January 18, 2018 8:13am
- holysheet
  
  ABC (anywhere but Cambridge). This place is booming and will only get worse once the expressway north is finished.
  
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  January 18, 2018 8:17am
  - Awww C-mon
    
    I do like Cambridge, was born there so it would be a return to the roots…. however I aim to escape family not return to the scene of the crime!
    
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    January 18, 2018 8:25am
    - ztev
      
      Morrinsville or Te Awamutu
      
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      January 18, 2018 8:38am
      - holysheet
        
        The problem with these Waikato towns that is impeding growth is a lack of water. Yes I know we are next to rivers but all the future water allocation from the Waikato River is earmarked for Auckland.
        Waipa Council just cannot put another pump into the river and draw off the water.
        
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        January 18, 2018 8:48am
      - peterwn
        
        holysheet – I cannot see anything in the Waikato Region Policy Statement or any relevant government policy which says Auckland has first dibs in Waikato water ahead of Waikato communities. Auckland Council may like to think it has first dibs on Waikato water but as far as I can see can only ‘control’ Waikato water north of the Auckland/ Waikato region boundary. Perhaps at some point the Government is going to have to make an allocation, similar to the Australian Federal Government stepping in with regards to the Murray River.
        
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        January 18, 2018 5:36pm
      - holysheet
        
        I have inside information that what I said is correct. They have spent and continue to spend 1000’s of dollars drilling for water, so far without success.
        
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        January 18, 2018 7:26pm
  - Poppa
    
    Cambridge sure is booming & one day will probably be a Hamilton suburb
    
    A nice town to be honest & with the expressway close it is easy to go anywhere
    
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    January 18, 2018 8:51am
  - Lance
    
    Always dreamed of setting up in Queenstown, Arrowtown or Cromwell once I’ve finished with Auckland. Grew up in Southland and always loved spending time in Central Otago
    Alas my latest visit rules that out. It’s turned into an expensive, overcrowded shit-hole. Bugger
    
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    January 18, 2018 9:58am
    - GazzaW
      
      Spot on Lance. We had a love affair with Arrowtown starting about twenty five years ago and holidayed there from Auckland a couple of times a year. Alas, it has gradually become more ‘touristified’ and increasingly a dormitory suburb of Queenstown. Any plans for a permanent move evaporated a few years back. We still love ‘Central’ and are seeking a new out of the way holiday location. Naseby has been recommended – thoughts?
      
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      January 18, 2018 1:47pm
- Paulus Gnome
  
  And you are talking about what?
  
  A bit of context would be useful or am I the one who has missed something?
  
  You are welcome.
  
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  January 18, 2018 8:21am
  - waikatogirl
    
    Speaking of context PG, what are you missing?
    
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    January 18, 2018 8:27am
    - Paulus Gnome
      
      One or two grey matter cells I suspect after reading my post (my hand did it! It pressed post when it should have hit Cancel Repy)
      
      Apologies all round.
      
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      January 18, 2018 12:45pm
- James Stephenson
  
  My festive season roadtrip took me through Masterton which looked like a very suitable small town to escape Auckland for, if my medium term plan wasn’t focused on the mainland.
  
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  January 18, 2018 8:31am
  - Scott
    
    That’s right James. Nothing wrong with Masterton ??
    
    10 4
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    January 18, 2018 9:27am
- SGA
  
  Perhaps you could give a few general pointers to help people? Would you prefer living near the ocean, or is inland ok? A centre with at least a pop of 35,000 but less than 100,000? Should it be within 2 hours drive (say) of Wellington or Auckland? You get the idea.
  
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  January 18, 2018 8:39am
  - Digmen1
    
    Yes and do you want to retire there or go to a place with plenty of jobs.
    
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    January 18, 2018 8:44am
  - GazzaW
    
    Hawkes Bay and if Napier doesn’t appeal then Havelock North is a beautiful little town and I doubt the water problems will ever be allowed to recur.
    
    7 0
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    January 18, 2018 1:53pm
    - Shaun the Sheep
      
      HNth is full of people called Tarquin and Prue, and folk who don’t know how to turn their collars down, and speak a strange dialect with frightfully round vowels.
      If you’re into organic bean sprouts you’ll fit right in
      
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      January 18, 2018 5:16pm
- Sideoiler
  
  Are you retiring?
  Are you looking at trading up or releasing some cash?
  Need to be close to relatives, where are they?
  Any out door hobbies?
  
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  January 18, 2018 8:46am
- Awww C-mon
  
  Ahhh so more details…
  
  I’m a fairly open book so didn’t add to much detail as I am keen to hear what people like about the areas they recommend.
  
  Small towns have less opportunity for business and employment (generally) but the property is cheaper so my need for income decreases, larger population and that equation generally changes and if you spend more you need more $$$
  
  Why move? Bored, in a rut. Keen to try somewhere new.
  
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  January 18, 2018 9:02am
  - waikatogirl
    
    AwwwC-mon, The grass may appear greener over the fence but life is pretty much the same wherever you reside. ?
    
    15 0
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    January 18, 2018 9:10am
    - Awww C-mon
      
      Mid-life crisis??
      
      Kids a pretty much gone, time to try something and somewhere new. Needs to be something like this because if I try someone new SWMBO will not be happy. ??
      
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      January 18, 2018 9:16am
      - Sideoiler
        
        Mid-life crisis??
        
        Kids a pretty much gone, time to try something and somewhere new. Needs to be something like this because if I try someone new SWMBO will not be happy.
        
        Looking at the walls and the “stuff”and going if I don’t get out of here I’ll die here??
        
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        January 18, 2018 9:22am
      - waikatogirl
        
        Good luck with your quest. ??
        
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        January 18, 2018 9:48am
      - Don the Kiwi
        
        Why don’t you try one of the small towns in the Coromandel?
        
        BTW It’s time we had another beer at Imbibe to discusss this. We were going to have one last year but it fell of the radar. I’ll Get in touch when I get back from Auckland next week if you like.
        
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        January 18, 2018 12:48pm
      - Awww C-mon
        
        Good Idea Don, keen as
        
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        January 18, 2018 3:59pm
    - Sideoiler
      
      The grass may appear greener over the fence but life is pretty much the same wherever you reside.
      
      I wouldn’t say that.
      I recently made a move inter island and largely because I was in a rut.
      Have to admit moving house was a PITA, but we are much the better for it.
      
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      January 18, 2018 9:19am
      - waikatogirl
        
        Actually, have moved recently as well. Hate shifting, but the new abode is excellent. You have to know what makes you happy and that you are making the right choice for the change to be really successful.
        
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        January 18, 2018 9:54am
  - Maggy Wassilieff
    
    My shift to Gisborne was primarily because of the weather.
    But because property was so cheap here, it meant we both could give up work years before our “gold card” day.
    Major advantage to living in an agricultural/horticultural service hub is that there are plenty of knowledgeable folks with useful skills in heavy machinery, engineering works, plumbing, roofing etc.
    Because it’s a port town, there’s usually lots of fresh fish available. Wines, fruit, veges are abundant and cheap.
    Sports of all sorts are well catered for… and its not too far to travel for hunting, fishing, tramping, etc.
    
    There’s been plenty of opportunity to become involved in social/volunteer life and its been an effort for both of us to avoid paid employment.
    
    If we were younger we would have looked seriously at investment opportunities in some of the businesses here… As it is, we’re dabbling in one of the developing businesses… tuff luck it goes belly-up, you tax-payers can support us in our dotage.
    (and there’s no shortage of retirement/rest homes here).
    
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    January 18, 2018 9:56am
    - Awww C-mon
      
      Gissy is on the list Maggy, lot of the reasons you mention.
      
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      January 18, 2018 10:45am
    - labrator
      
      What’s the airline service/price out of Gisborne? I’m similarly looking to get out of dodge and must say I ruled it out because of the isolated (comparative) nature of it.
      
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      January 18, 2018 11:14am
      - Maggy Wassilieff
        
        Another reason why we chose Gizzy was that it was just 1hr (or less) from Auckland & Wellington by plane… we had kids in both cities at that time.
        
        there’s 5 flights/day to each.
        Gizzy airport is just the best in the world for leaving/arriving.
        NO HASSLES!
        
        Once one of my morning flights to Wn was cancelled (? not enuf passengers)… I was a bit pissed off… but probably no more of a hassle than Wn & Auckland always having Fog problems.
        
        No real cheapie flights out of Gizzy though.
        
        If you book weeks ahead you can get flights to Wn/Auckland around the $120-150 price; closer to your flight time/holidays , the price sometimes hits $400.
        
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        January 18, 2018 1:21pm
      - labrator
        
        Great info, thanks Maggy.
        
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        January 18, 2018 1:51pm
  - GoVege
    
    Take a holiday first before you sell up AC.
    You might be surprised how badly you miss your home.
    I was!
    
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    January 18, 2018 12:22pm
- dime
  
  join Dime in the rodney district. glorious.
  
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  January 18, 2018 9:32am
  - Awww C-mon
    
    Joining Dime sounds like a whole lot of trouble and even more fun.
    
    Rodney too close to Auckland though??
    
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    January 18, 2018 10:46am
    - dime
      
      yeah rodney is part of auckland. i like it!
      
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      January 18, 2018 11:55am
- JibberJabber
  
  EketaHOONA!
  
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  January 18, 2018 9:48am
  - Awww C-mon
    
    Cheap Tires via Jason Johns? Burnouts on Saturday, new rubber on Mondays?
    
    7 0
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    January 18, 2018 10:49am
- Keeping Stock
  
  Don’t believe all the media perceptions of Whanganui. The city is growing for the first time in a couple of decades, new businesses are relocating here, there is a flourishing cafe and arts scene, no traffic jams, and house prices are still modest by most comparisons.
  
  Make a plan to spend a weekend here; it’s Vintage Weekend this weekend, and town will be pumping, House and Garden magazine have a tour here next month, and in March there’s the annual Artists Open Studios where over 60 local artists will open up their studios to visitors from all over the country and overseas. The Wanganui Opera School is just winding up, and for those less culturally inclined, the Wanganui rugby team is the most successful since the Heartland Championship began in 2006, we host the New Zealand Masters Games every two years, the city boasts two 18-hole and a nine hole golf course, and the Wanganui Jockey Club is the oldest in New Zealand to still be racing.
  
  Schooling here is excellent, the Bachelor in Computer Graphic Design taught at UCOL in Wanganui is recognised around the world, and technologically, we have been one of the Intelligent Communities Forums’s Top 21 Intelligent Cities for the last five years (and were in the Top 7 in 2016, alongside the likes of Montreal in Canada, and New Taipei City in Taiwan.)
  
  Come for a visit, and I’ll even take you out for a beer!
  
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  January 18, 2018 10:43am
  - Awww C-mon
    
    Mr K.S.
    
    I may just take you up on that offer!!
    
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    January 18, 2018 11:02am
  - wiseowl
    
    KS
    Couldn’t reply to your earlier post as the only option was report.
    Over the last six years have learned too much about the issues you mention and can’t believe the number of people affected.
    Depending on the situation CBT can be very effective in helping .
    
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    January 18, 2018 12:02pm
    - Keeping Stock
      
      Thanks Wiseowl; that’s another good thing about Whanganui; an abundance of health professionals, including in the field of mental health. The bloke is have been seeing is first-rate and has been a big help, as has my GP.
      
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      January 18, 2018 12:20pm
- hullkiwi
  
  Try Napier/Hastings, has got:
  Reasonable climate;
  The vineyards & orchards near by;
  Nature – Cape Kidnappers;
  Culture – the art deco thing; and
  Central Plateau & Taupo etc a couple of hours away;
  Cheaper than Auckland & Waikato/BOP
  There!
  
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  January 18, 2018 11:01am
  - Awww C-mon
    
    Thanks hullkiwi, it’s an awesome part of the country.
    
    Good to see the first thing on your list the vineyards!! Reason enough to move there themselves
    
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    January 18, 2018 11:15am
    - hullkiwi
      
      AC, although a born Jafa & live in Rodney, I wouldn’t wish the new breed of Aucklanders (a significant proportion of whom were not born in Auckland & are creating an even bigger abomination in their own image) on anyone.
      For my sins my father’s family are from southern HB & even still have an affinity for Dannevirke.
      Mrs HK & I loved the food & wine trail of Napier/Hastings & it is good up the coast around Gisborne.
      
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      January 18, 2018 1:03pm
  - Shaun the Sheep
    
    Peak traffic congestion lasts about 3 minutes.
    
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    January 18, 2018 9:35pm
- UrbanNeocolonialist
  
  NI east coast anywhere north of Rodney district (cos fuck paying for Auckland’s incompetence)
  
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  January 18, 2018 11:26am
  - hullkiwi
    
    I agree & I live in Rodney. Except for 1 point Kaipara district is still f****d up financially because of Mangawhai & their sewerage scheme.
    The reorganisation of local govt in Auckland & north of Waiwera was a major screw up by Key & Hide.
    As a policy shift for the Nats at the next election, it would help with the death of NZ Last.
    
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    January 18, 2018 12:55pm
- Stars And Stripes
  
  Got to be Patea.
  Main highlights and benefits:
  1.Heaps of solo mums if that’s your kind of thing.
  2.Neighbours are always home for a chat because no one has a job.
  3.Vehicle regulatory costs are the lowest in the country because they are optional.
  4.Greasy chicken drums are on offer at the gas station.
  5.The junk shop on the main drag sells old Jim Reeves LP’s.
  
  Sounds like paradise right?.☺
  
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  January 18, 2018 11:28am
  - Awww C-mon
    
    Got a lot I could get used too 😉
    
    8 0
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    January 18, 2018 11:36am
  - holysheet
    
    Oi nothing wrong with Jim Reeves
    
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    January 18, 2018 11:52am
  - GazzaW
    
    Any pokies or bingo for a cultural night out?
    
    4 2
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    January 18, 2018 1:57pm
- stephieboy
  
  Try Kati Kati or Maclean Falls .
  
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  January 18, 2018 2:04pm
  - holysheet
    
    Stoooopidboy, you cannot even get that right. It’s Mclaren Falls numbnuts
    
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    January 18, 2018 2:14pm
  - Awww C-mon
    
    2 points Stephiebitch
    
    1/ asked trendsetters for opinions, not two-bit trolls
    
    2/ I want to leave Tga, not move up the road.
    
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    January 18, 2018 4:04pm
Yvette

Metiria Turei case of self-admitted fraud.
Does anyone think the authorities are still gathering information and trying to work out the amount involved?
Has she not already settled, but isn’t intending to make anything public now?
The entire issue was announced in a no less public way than the key speech in a annual national political party conference.
Now : nothing.

Apparently those who should monitor the criminal status of Parliamentarians, and their continuing to sit when this sort of thing happens, although knowing a fraud was committed, seem publicly – along with the rest of us – totally ignorant of the extent of that fraud.

And several of the caucus which rallied around her, except for two honourable members who left the waka, are now part of the present Government, without their knowing or acknowledging the extent of the offending of their colleague.

Rather than Winston’s “waka-jumping” legislation, is there not a greater need for a law that prevents a Member, admitting fraud, from any duties – especially from voting – until the extent of the fraud is at least established?
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January 18, 2018 8:15am
- kowtow
  
  Waka ?
  
  And those 2 suddenly honourable?
  
  More like rats jumping from what they saw was a sinking ship.
  
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  January 18, 2018 8:27am
- SGA
  
  is there not a greater need for a law that prevents a Member, admitting fraud, from any duties – especially from voting – until the extent of the fraud is at least established?
  
  Why is this need so great? What happened that such a law would have prevented or corrected? And why limit it to fraud?
  
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  January 18, 2018 9:31am
  - Yvette
    
    The point was: a Member of Parliament admitted fraud but did not admit or know the extent of that fraud.
    Neither, it appeared, did anyone else know, particularly whether it was extensive enough to require her to stand down.
    
    And it is not limited to fraud – any crime which could stand down a Member if the crime is extensive enough.
    
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    January 18, 2018 10:53am
    - GazzaW
      
      She will never appear before a court of law. Betcha! The COL would find it all too uncomfortable. Shaw will have an unwritten ‘arrangement’.
      
      It’s over to the shit-stirrers on KB and the Taxpayers Union to keep the heat turned up.
      
      8 1
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      January 18, 2018 2:02pm
      - GoVege
        
        Leave Metiria alone!
        She is a great example for Maori womanhood to emulate:
        Only had one child; that child has been well cared for; holds down a job; doesn’t do drugs/booze/ smoke/play pokies…what more do you want?
        Don’t forget our former deputy PM stated that she didn’t “knowingly” commit benny fraud. 🙂
        
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        January 18, 2018 7:39pm
Paulus Gnome

Reading this article this morning which states: ‘According to Statistics New Zealand, only 7 per cent of 18 to 24-year-olds were in full-time employment.’

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11976841

I can see a percentage in part time work and possibly a larger percentage taking advantage of the taxpayer largesse and creating a rental housing shortage by being full time students with a ‘free’ year, however, where are all the apprentices? Are all the female 50% pregnant, stay at home mothers? What are 93% of 18 to 24 year olds doing?

A degree in communication studies is not much help when the hot water cylinder throws its hand in at 3.00am
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January 18, 2018 8:16am
- VicParking
  
  Typical crap from the failing newspaper, just ignore it.
  
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  January 18, 2018 8:45am
  - ztev
    
    readers may be down , revenue not so much.
    
    eg Fairfax revenue:
    2017 was $1.72 bill,
    while 2005 it was $1.87 bill.
    Thats the whole group just not NZ
    http://www.fairfaxmedia.co.nz/Investors/Annual-Reports/annual-reports
    
    Yes its no longer a ‘growth industry’ but still pretty healthy
    
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    January 18, 2018 9:05am
    - Inandout
      
      NZ total growth minus 7%. For most companies that is a disastrous figure.
      
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      January 18, 2018 9:22am
      - ztev
        
        Stable is the number I would use.
        Disasterous is 50% down.
        
        if you were talking about mining iron ore there would be wild swings but say down 60% from peak in 2013 or so.
        
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        January 18, 2018 9:35am
      - Harkman
        
        “NZ total growth minus 7%. For most companies that is a disastrous figure.”
        
        True, especially considering nominal GDP is double 2005 levels, my local rag was like 80c in 2005 it is now like $2.50.
        
        The one thing that we can tell from all this is that ztev is certainly not an economist.
        
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        January 18, 2018 1:11pm
    - VicParking
      
      Failing in quality of content as well as circulation
      
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      January 18, 2018 10:09am
    - UrbanNeocolonialist
      
      But cumulative GDP growth 2005-2017 is about 70%. So a 7% drop is not looking too good.
      
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      January 18, 2018 11:33am
    - hullkiwi
      
      Zdiv, in real terms, that is called going backwards at a rate of knots. Inflation over 12 years means that although revenue went down $150m, in real terms the reduction was even more significant. Without context of how turnover was achieved in either period, it is difficult to say anymore.
      
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      January 18, 2018 2:08pm
Paulus

Once again, following the Christchurch and Kaikoura Earthquakes, it is now reported that many people in the Thames inundations do not have or have inadequate insurance cover.
So here we go again the Mayor or somebody asking the the Government – us the real tax and insurance premium payers, should pay for their incompetency.
If help is required it should be the Council and ratepayers, not like the stupid Christchurch precedent which has cost taxpayers Billions and still paying.
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January 18, 2018 8:23am
- Shaun the Sheep
  
  I’m thinking of cancelling my property insurance.
  Clearly it is not needed. If something bad happens I’ll be able to rely on gummint like everyone else.
  
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  January 18, 2018 8:29am
- ztev
  
  Christchurch homes who werent insured didnt get anything !
  
  The only pay out for those not insured was for the LAND in the red zone. The land was made worthless just by the government saying so.
  Vacant land was uninsured as well as you cant insure just the land.
  
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  January 18, 2018 8:45am
  - skyblue
    
    No insurance should mean no cover.
    
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    January 18, 2018 9:30am
EAD_TWO

Articles like these is why retired Engineer, Irish Savant, is one of the best bloggers on the planet. Here he is commenting on the MSMs reaction to the shithole “controversy”

http://irishsavant.blogspot.co.nz/2018/01/some-observations-on-trumps-observation.html?m=0

heavily abridged:

I think it was Voltaire who said “I have never made but one prayer to God, a very short one: ‘O Lord make my enemies ridiculous.’ He prayed that his enemies would defend the demonstrably indefensible, justify the demonstrably unjustifiable, attack what’s demonstrably true and defend what’s demonstrably untrue. And to make themselves look ridiculous in the process. Well in this instance our enemies obliged – in spades. Their outpourings of bogus outrage and subsequent acrobatics trying to defend the indefensible were a joy to behold. (The simple question of ‘would you rather live in Norway or Haiti?’ was followed by spluttering and evasions that bordered on comical)…………

Again Trump has pushed the Overton Window back over to the right. He openly said what probably the majority of Americans believe and planted a seed of race realism among those who might not have believed. By using a profanity he undermined the prim mind-control shackles that have increasingly constrained what we can say. This is important as George Orwell recognised many years ago. Strictly limit what people can say and in time you’ll limit what they can think. When it becomes impossible to speak openly about the truth, every civic function in what had once been a democracy gets neutralised. Those with the power to define the parameters of permitted speech get to control the political process, curtail criticism of their actions and thus destroy democracy itself

Here’s Orwell again:……..

Sooooo much better than all those mind-numbing “Trumps a racist”, “I’m outraged” articles spewed forth by the MSM that may as well have been written by trained monkeys. Contemporary, historical references, social commentary, drawing on the titans of the written word, the lot. One actually gets an education reading bloggers like Savant.
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January 18, 2018 8:28am
- Scott
  
  What amazed me is that Trump made some comments in a private meeting with senators about immigration. One senator dick durbin then rushes to the media and complains Trump used a bad word. That’s so pathetic. Yet the media jump on it as if this is a story.
  
  The story is the sad betrayal of trust by Durbin who showed that he was not interested in negotiating in good faith with trump. He just wants Trump to look bad.
  
  The Democrats say they care about the dreamers but this shows that they don’t. They deliberately undermined the talks for political gain.
  
  And the media bought it! They should have said, well we know that bad language is sometimes used in negotiations but what about the substance? What about the deal? Are you trying to kill off the deal?
  
  But no, every day in every way the media exist for only one purpose – kill off Donald trump.
  Oh and make the world safe for liberal Democrats.
  
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  January 18, 2018 9:36am
  - stephieboy
    
    Scott , does your pastor use the S or F word liberally during his sermons ?
    
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    January 18, 2018 9:53am
- Gabby
  
  Trust the paddy sav smoker to drag race into it.
  
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  January 18, 2018 11:35am
waikatogirl

The number of rentals available in Wellington have halved and rents have increased.

Unintended consequences Cindy!
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January 18, 2018 8:31am
- ex-golfer
  
  But, but, but…….it’s those nasty greedy landlords fault!
  Because……feelz!
  
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  January 18, 2018 9:51am
  - GoVege
    
    They got their beady eyes on that extra $50 the students are gonna get….
    
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    January 18, 2018 12:31pm
    - ex-golfer
      
      Or maybe they are attempting to at the very least cover the additional regulation costs – including WCC’s WOF scheme – that the new Government is imposing on them.
      
      But hey – lets all blame the landlords – thats a great strategy. Do tell us how it works out for you in the long run…….
      
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      January 18, 2018 2:01pm
    - kloyd0306
      
      Where does the $50 come from?
      If your answer is: the government, you are clearly a lefty and a failure, but then I repeat myself.
      
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      January 18, 2018 10:35pm
      - GoVege
        
        It comes from the taxpayers Kloyd. …..but it’s a better investment than paying troubled teenagers to breed.
        
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        January 18, 2018 11:04pm
- GoVege
  
  Bring in rent controls Jacinda!
  Worked in my parents’ younger days…. 🙂
  
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  January 18, 2018 12:29pm
NK

From Reuters:

Crowds jostle for Hong Kong flats, no end in sight to housing boom

(Reuters) – HONG KONG –

Hong Kong’s red-hot property market kicked off 2018 with hundreds queuing to buy flats in the first major property launch of the year on Saturday (January 13 2018), backing expectations strong demand will further lift record prices by 5 to 20 percent over the year. The Asian financial hub has one of the most expensive housing markets in the world, with private home prices shattering historic records for 13 months in a row and rising almost 200 percent since 2008. Among the some 100 pre-sale apartments offered by major local developer Sun Hung Kai Properties on Saturday, the least expensive flat at a size of 382 square feet costs about HK$8 million (US$1.02 million), or HK$21,000 per square foot, though with a certain payment plan the buyer could get a 22 percent discount.

The flats are located about an hour’s commute away from the central business district.
“For everybody in Hong Kong, buying a flat is a life goal,” said 26-year-old Ms. Chau, one of the some 600 potential buyers queueing up in the first hour.
“I am angry that housing prices keep going up. Now the value of HK$10,000 is like HK$1,000 in the past. For many people they cannot afford to buy unless they have their family’s help.”

While Hong Kong’s flats are getting more expensive, many are also getting smaller. Later this month, major developer Henderson Land Development is expected to launch sales for a residential project with flat sizes ranging between 180 and 420 square feet. Multiple property consultancies and agencies expect home prices to climb a further five to 20 percent in 2018 with no immediate end in sight to the boom.

Although the city’s de facto central bank has imposed eight rounds of mortgage tightening measures since 2009 on top of the government’s tax and regulatory measures, analysts say these measures have effectively locked up the second-hand market’s supply, further fueling prices. But the government stresses it has no intention to relax the so-called “spicy measures.” “Due to very low interest rates, high liquidity and the imbalance of housing demand and supply, the property market is now still red-hot, prices are still at an extremely high level and there is no sign of it coming down,” Acting Secretary for Transport and Housing, Raymond So, told legislators on Thursday. “Therefore, at the moment the government has no intention to ease ‘spicy measures.'”

Almost identical to the situation here. This is what government regulation does to a housing market: It creates homelessness.

But we shouldn’t worry. Phil Twyford will fix it. After all, the sidebar on this blog confirms he is already 2,300 homes behind schedule.
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January 18, 2018 8:34am
- Happychappy
  
  NK : Haven’t they asked Hugh to send his expert advice yet. Twyford got all his expert knowledge from Mentor Hugh.
  
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  January 18, 2018 8:54am
Yvette

There seem to be four definitions of poverty –

1 – Of a list of 17 material items (2 pairs of shoes, fish or meat each second day, to home contents insurance) those in poverty have access to only nine items
2 – A group that has seven or less of those items
and then –
3 – families earning less than 60% of the average wage, and
4 – those earning less than 50% of the average wage.
Or something like that.

So when Ardern announced it was projected to lift 88,000 families out of poverty, there seemed to be no indication of what group was been spoken of – and if the worse effected, were completely removed from risk, would the same policy half-lift (or to some extent lift) the next endangered group out of their poverty?

Before the NZF/Labour/Green coalition Government do much else, they need to define poverty more clearly.
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January 18, 2018 8:44am
- VicParking
  
  It’s true then all vegetarians are in poverty.
  
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  January 18, 2018 8:48am
  - GoVege
    
    We veges can live off the smell of an oily rag, Vic…..canola oil of course. 🙂
    
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    January 18, 2018 12:40pm
- ztev
  
  Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
  60% of median disposable income for families.
  The 60% is the widely accepted value.
  
  Why are you seeing imprecision when there is none.
  http://www.inequality.org.nz/why-the-poverty-line-is-valid-and-265000-children-really-are-in-poverty/
  
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  January 18, 2018 8:49am
  - Happychappy
    
    Well if that’s the case why did Governments do nothing about Poverty in the 1940’s 50’s and 60’s and the baby boomers seem to have coped alright, lots of families had four,five or six kids in them days and had hand downs in clothes and shoes didn’t have bikes,play stations or computers like they have now days but survived and learn’t the lessons of having a lot of children. Maybe if they had learn’t about the birds and the bees and the values of family, and work ethic jobs, poverty wouldn’t be the problem of families today
    
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    January 18, 2018 9:12am
    - Gabby
      
      Fucking hell crappy, do nothing about poverty in the 40s – 60s? You didn’t notice the largesse being shoved into your chubby lil hands? You losing your memory?
      
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      January 18, 2018 11:40am
      - holysheet
        
        It’s all that warm milk in bottles that used to sit in the sun until lunchtime that saved us from poverdy.
        
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        January 18, 2018 11:54am
      - GoVege
        
        Ah…I loved that warm mulk! !! 🙂
        
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        January 18, 2018 12:33pm
      - Paulus Gnome
        
        15 bob a week, no rent subsidies, it must have been glorious for parents with four children like mine
        
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        January 18, 2018 12:53pm
    - Rachael Membery
      
      We had stocks to replenish after the war.
      
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      January 18, 2018 12:50pm
  - Yvette
    
    When asked if Labour would commit to the same number by 2020, she [Ardern} said yes – measured as 50 percent of the median income.
    
    … In the debate she claimed 290,000 children in New Zealand were living in poverty. “That’s what most organisations in New Zealand tend to use,” she told Morning Report. That was based on UNICEF figures.
    “It’s the number of families living on 60 percent or less of the median income.
    – https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/political/338701/labour-would-lift-100-000-children-out-of-poverty-by-2020-ardern
    
    So both measures used in the same media item.
    Of course it is easier, is it not, to lift income to 50% of the median income, than 60%
    
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    January 18, 2018 9:28am
  - mandk
    
    See my 8.52.
    
    The relative income measure is stupid.
    
    There is no way to eliminate poverty using that measure, unless you are prepared to adopt one of the following:
    1. Stopping low income people from having babies.
    2. Taking babies from low income people at birth.
    3. Collapsing everyone’s income.
    4. Adopting Swift’s “Modest proposal”
    
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    January 18, 2018 10:26am
    - GoVege
      
      You PAY them $1000 (in groceries) to have the contraceptive injection.
      (They’d actually get way more pushing out babies to a life of poverty and neglect BUT that takes a wait of 9 months! )
      Win…win. 🙂
      
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      January 18, 2018 12:38pm
      - big bruv
        
        Better than that. You pay them a lump sum, say $20k to be irreversibly sterilised and also promise them a benefit for life with no requirement that they every have to look for work.
        The scum would be dead in two years anyway having killed themselves via drugs or booze.
        It’s a win/win scenario.
        
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        January 18, 2018 7:23pm
      - GoVege
        
        This may surprise you, BB, but quite a few of those “scum” do actually have a few dreams of independence/ self-sufficiency.
        I’ve gotten to know a few of them and its sad to see how they lose their dreams after being abused and neglected.
        The best thing for them is to at least delay having kids until they’ve had a chance to sort their own lives out.
        What they really need is mentoring, because their own parent/s have addictions and are unable to BE parents to them.
        
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        January 18, 2018 11:18pm
- Digmen1
  
  Based on those criteria, everytime time you like some families out of poverty you are making more people move into poverdy as that 60^ and 50% averages move up as well.
  
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  January 18, 2018 8:54am
  - ztev
    
    Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
    Have you a mental illness that means you dont read properly ?
    
    Its always median , not average. read the link!
    
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    January 18, 2018 8:58am
    - Odakyu-sen
      
      In large, normally distributed populations, the median and the average will tend to converge.
      
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      January 18, 2018 9:14am
      - ztev
        
        income isnt normally distributed !
        
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        January 18, 2018 9:17am
      - Politburo of the Democratic Peoples Republic of Aotearoa
        
        That’s where we, The State come in Comrade 🙂
        Oh, happy, glorious days of complete wealth redistribution when everyone is equal!
        #LetsDoThis
        #MakeAotearoaMeadianAgain
        #YouDidntBuildThat
        
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        January 18, 2018 11:38am
    - fernglas
      
      The difficulty with the 60% median criteria is that it measures relative, not absolute poverty. So there would be the same proportion of people in poverty in Norway as there are in Sudan, and conversely, the same proportion who are NOT in poverty, even though the difference in living standards is demonstrably different. That is where the measure of poverty becomes more an instrument of wealth redistribution than relief of material hardship. I do not doubt that many children in this country are in difficult circumstances, but the politicisation of the issue is likely to make it harder to deal with meaningfully
      
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      January 18, 2018 10:23am
    - mandk
      
      The median is an average (as is the mean and the mode).
      
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      January 18, 2018 10:29am
  - Digmen1
    
    Woops typos “lift” not like. and 60%
    
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    January 18, 2018 9:26am
- Odakyu-sen
  
  The NZ definition of “poverty” is a construct.
  
  The assumption is that families in “poverty” stay there forever. I suspect that there is a “churn” where families move in and out of the “definition of poverty” over time. In other words, it’s not always the same people in “poverty” (although the percentage of the total population may stay around the same over time).
  
  People from cultures that do not prize personal enterprise and diligence are probably more likely to turn to “big wealthy brother” government to support them.
  
  The more the State does for people, the less they will do for themselves.
  
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  January 18, 2018 9:07am
  - ztev
    
    The richer the country the more they do for the population.
    
    I presume you would have intimate knowledge of Japan where they are both wealthy and high government support.
    Even agriculture in Japan has high government support, same applies to US
    
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    January 18, 2018 9:14am
    - Odakyu-sen
      
      Don’t get me started on government support for agriculture in Japan.
      It is a complex social issue. In the meantime, the median age of a rice farmer is in the 70s, and the youngsters don’t want to farm (who would?) so there are forces for change at work as we speak.
      The old ways are dying and Japan is facing huge demographic changes as its population ages and birthrate remains well below replacement level.
      
      What are the prefectural governments to do? Throw local communities under the bus so that Tokyoites can eat cheaper American rice?
      
      It’s complicated, but changes are happening.
      
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      January 18, 2018 9:23am
      - stephieboy
        
        Odakyu , sen Japanese rice farmers try this ?
        
        http://cdn.nff.org.au/images/photos/large/commodities-rice.html_PHOTO.jpg
        
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        January 18, 2018 9:51am
      - ztev
        
        Its complicated…
        
        Immigration could solve the elderly farmers issue, but thats complicated too ?
        And yet they subsidise very high tech newer industries too, like making fuselage sections for Boeing or a money pit like the Mitsubishi MRJ small airliner.
        Dont tell me ….its complicated ?
        
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        January 18, 2018 10:33am
      - Odakyu-sen
        
        stephieboy,
        
        Here is a look at reality in many parts of Japan
        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4N2wwGSBMs
        
        Many of the rice farms would be “hobby farms” under NZ criteria. Only the regulated high price of Japanese rice makes them barely viable (until the current farmers retire in a few years).
        
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        January 18, 2018 11:00am
      - Odakyu-sen
        
        ztev,
        
        Try not to view Japan as a monolith.
        
        While some private Japanese companies are world-class, competitive and wealthy, facets of rural Japan are quite poor and un-competitive.
        
        Japan has this obsession with “purity” and is deeply conscious that immigration will interfere in the ability of its society to decide things solely on their terms. And that’s really important to a people. How would you like it if some foreign culture came into your community and started building funny-looking temples, and your streets gradually became filled with outsiders. You would get the feeling that your own government was displacing you (even though you had never been consulted about it).
        
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        January 18, 2018 11:16am
    - Maggy Wassilieff
      
      Japan is going the way of most other industrialised countries
      
      It’s not yet mega-corporation agriculture, but it is turning to high-tech, large-scale agriculture.
      https://www.reuters.com/article/us-japan-farming-transformation/tech-savvy-farmers-a-new-hope-for-japans-shrinking-agriculture-sector-idUSKBN1AP0JF
      
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      January 18, 2018 10:32am
  - VicParking
    
    That is what the outcome of socialism is.
    
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    January 18, 2018 10:15am
    - ztev
      
      Its the natural progression of wealthy societies.
      
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      January 18, 2018 10:37am
      - Salacious Crumb
        
        Yet Socialism neither creates nor generates wealth.
        
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        January 18, 2018 11:27am
      - dime
        
        lmao yeah, a natural progression to decline.
        
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        January 18, 2018 11:58am
      - stephieboy
        
        SC , it can and does like Swede as but one example. Here also.
        
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        January 18, 2018 2:07pm
      - hullkiwi
        
        Stepboy, Sweden is not the growing economy it was. It is protect by the closed shop of the EU. Volvo – cars & buses were sold off years ago, Saab is dead, Scania is owned by the Germans, & Abba don’t earn what they use too.
        
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        January 18, 2018 5:30pm
- KiWombat
  
  Under the various definitions, my own 4 year old grand-daughter would be considered to be living in poverty. She has an Air New Zealand air points card, and already qualifies for free flights. She asked Santa for an iPhone this year, fortunately Santa saw the merit in substituting a Go-Cart for that along with a pair of mandatory Adidas shoes. Poverty my ass !!
  
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  January 18, 2018 10:03am
  - ztev
    
    Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
    No she wouldnt.
    You , however clearly dont pass the cognitive test, so its off to the funny farm for you, to dribble and drool for the few years you have left.
    
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    January 18, 2018 10:38am
    - KiWombat
      
      On the “Child Poverty NZ” list she fails on items 3,4,5,6,7,8,10,12,13,14 and15.
      That’s a fail on 11 of the 17 measures, and that’s a fail in any language!
      
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      January 18, 2018 11:20am
Peter

Will William of Occam revise his certainty?

https://www.wired.com/story/the-dizzying-science-of-climate-change-gets-a-bit-clearer/

“But today in the journal Nature, researchers claim they’ve reduced the uncertainty in a key metric of climate change by 60 percent, narrowing a range of potential warming from 3°C to 1.2°C. And that could have implications for how the international community arrives at climate goals like it did in Paris. Bonus: The new numbers paint a not altogether terrifying picture of humanity’s response to a climate crisis. Hell, you might even call it vaguely optimistic.”

In other words the skeptics are RIGHT and the “science is settled” crowd were WRONG. It’s not settled. The appropriate stance is to investigate, but show some humility in the face of uncertainty.

Not a trait the activist left are known for, of course.
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January 18, 2018 8:45am
- ztev
  
  Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
  May extend the inter-glacial period we are currently in ?
  
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  January 18, 2018 8:54am
  - Peter
    
    May extend the inter-glacial period we are currently in ?
    
    So, not “settled”, then. Anyone who agreed with that notion was wrong.
    
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    January 18, 2018 8:59am
  - Peter
    
    “Settled” crowd wrong
    
    http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/climate-change-global-warming-paris-climate-agreement-nature-geoscience-myles-allen-michael-grubb-a7954496.html
    
    “Computer modelling used a decade ago to predict how quickly global average temperatures would rise may have forecast too much warming, a study has found….Scientists said previous models may have been “on the hot side. We haven’t seen that rapid acceleration in warming after 2000 that we see in the models. We haven’t seen that in the observations
    
    Oh really? How can this be! Such certainty! The models were wrong? All those scientists were WRONG?
    
    Wait a minute….
    
    This must mean….
    
    Surely not…
    
    The skeptics were right
    
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    January 18, 2018 9:19am
    - Bullion
      
      If you read further down that article:
      
      The previous scenario allowed for the planet to emit a total of 70 billion tonnes of Carbon after 2015, in order to keep temperature rises to just 1.5C above pre-industrial levels.
      
      But the reassessment allows for a “carbon budget” of another 240bn tonnes of emissions before catastrophic damage is done.
      
      “That’s about 20 years of emissions before temperatures are likely to cross 1.5C,” Professor Allen said.
      
      “It’s the difference between being not doable and being just doable.”
      
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      January 18, 2018 1:07pm
      - Peter
        
        The point is not whether it is “doable” or not, it is that ANY debate on AGW gets one labelled “denier”.
        
        To merely suggest that these estimates are just that is reason to be abused and be called a flat-earther.
        
        Well, what do you know…
        
        Turns out “the scientists” were WRONG about their estimates. Are they now “deniers”, too? “Deniers” of their previous position? The skeptics were correct – the models overshot – which is their track record, BTW. I don’t blame many of the scientists as I think their position has been misrepresented by left wing activists.
        
        So, the rational position is to keep asking questions and show a little humility in the face of chaotic, unpredictable systems – not to treat questions as “denial”, like a few idiots in here make a habit of doing.
        
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        January 18, 2018 1:48pm
  - UrbanNeocolonialist
    
    Let’s hope. A return to glaciation would kill billions (much of South Island was covered)
    
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    January 18, 2018 11:38am
- KevOB
  
  Here’s the backgrounder to this bit of nonsense:
  https://wattsupwiththat.com/2018/01/17/claim-future-climate-change-revealed-by-current-climate-variations/
  
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  January 18, 2018 11:51am
- Bullion
  
  I think you may have misread what the article is saying, rather than a range of 3°C (as in warming in the range of 1.5°C to 4.5°C in the most recent IPCC report), the range has been narrowed to between 2.2°C to 3.4°C warming (a difference of 1.2°C).
  
  The science is settled – it’s going to get warmer (and very likely above the goal of the Paris Climate Agreement according to this study). Its like the science of evolution, the principle theory of evolution through natual selection is settled but there are still people studying the various mechanisms of evolution – the same with climate change.
  
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  January 18, 2018 11:53am
  - Peter
    
    I have not misread it.
    
    The point is that merely questioning it gets one labelled a denier. Well, now the scientists are (rightly) questioning their own previous work and revising the top end down. It’s not the first time, and won’t be the last.
    
    It’s hardly “settled”. It’s guesswork about the future involving a massive, chaotic system of which little is known. It’s nothing like evolution. False equivalence.
    
    Maybe it will get warmer, but the question remains “how much influence does man have”? We do not know.
    
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    January 18, 2018 2:01pm
    - KevOB
      
      The fun is that there are serious, able, scientists out there who believe that we have entered a long term cooling downturn. The sun is without spots. There has been ice skating on the Thames previously. All will be revealed over the next few years.
      
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      January 18, 2018 3:11pm
      - Disaster Area
        
        KevOB,
        In which case these Scientists should be publishing their research in peer reviewed journals.
        If they are correct, they will be very, very famous.
        If it is claimed that they are prevented from publishing because of ‘the establishment’, it starts to sound a bit conspiracy theory…
        
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        January 18, 2018 6:16pm
      - Maggy Wassilieff
        
        In which case these Scientists should be publishing their research in peer reviewed journals.
        
        They are.
        Here read the abstracts of recently published papers that do not exactly conform to the “settled science” of Man-made global warming.
        http://notrickszone.com/2017/10/23/400-scientific-papers-published-in-2017-support-a-skeptical-position-on-climate-alarm/#sthash.rwpDhFPa.dpbs
        http://notrickszone.com/100-papers-sun-drives-climate/#sthash.fLMk2VYr.dpbs
        http://notrickszone.com/50-papers-low-sensitivity/#sthash.sCduWcg2.dpbs
        
        There’s more papers to explore…
        
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        January 18, 2018 7:26pm
      - Disaster Area
        
        Maggy,
        The very first comment on the first link is a whole list of why the authors of the reports are objecting to the conclusions drawn.
        Here are some quotes from the authors:
        ‘my paper has nothing to do with global warming or human activities.’
        
        ‘This article has misunderstood my findings and in no way supports my view on climate change’
        
        ‘The blog post maliciously tampered with figures from my paper’
        
        ‘My conclusion from this is that Breitbart was not careful in its compilation, and for me this calls into question their methods for collecting data on other articles’
        
        ‘The data were taken out of context.’
        
        ‘[I would like the author of the No Tricks Zone post to] remove my name from the blog since it is not reflecting our research conclusion.’
        
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        January 18, 2018 9:08pm
      - Disaster Area
        
        Also, https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/feb/21/climate-change-denier-willie-soon-funded-energy-industry
        
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        January 18, 2018 9:13pm
    - Bullion
      
      At the same time as revising the bottom end up. This model narrows the range of expected warming (though the bottom end is still above the goal of the Paris Climate Agreement of 2°C warming).
      
      There is no serious debate. Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas, its physical properties as a greenhouse gas has been known since the 1890’s. Human activity that releases more greenhouses gases, CO2 being the main culprit, has resulted in increases in average global temperatures.
      
      They test for accuracy of the models by looking at how the models would do predicting historic changes in temperature (which they can compare with actual historic data) and the extend that out.
      
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      January 18, 2018 3:48pm
      - Peter
        
        So? The point is their models were wrong. It is ridiculous to characterise the science as “settled” and to label anyone questioning this assumption as “deniers”.
        
        A more accurate description of the science is that “it’s debatable how much man affects climate”.
        
        Research. Ask questions. Verify.
        
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        January 18, 2018 4:28pm
      - Disaster Area
        
        Peter,
        The models can’t be ‘wrong’ as we haven’t reached the time period at the end of the prediction.
        To use my previous analogy, its like me predicting it will rain next Saturday, then revising that to say it will rain at 3 pm.
        You can’t claim that the first prediction is ‘wrong’ before next Saturday.
        
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        January 18, 2018 6:14pm
- Bullion
  
  You say the “skeptics are RIGHT”, well what are you skeptical about?
  
  Is the climate warming – yes, that is settled.
  
  Is the result of this warming due to human activity – yes, that is settled.
  
  Ok, so its warming and its because of human activity – so how much is it going to warm by 2100? Well, we thought, after averaging (IIRC) 10 models, somewhere between 1.5°C and 4.5°C. Now we think we can narrow that prediction to between 2.2°C and 3.4°C – somewhere within our earlier preditions.
  
  New Zealand Climate Change Research Institute Director Professor David Frame said other recent studies indicated similar figures, further reinforcing predictions made by scientists.
  
  He said although the International Panel on Climate Change have previously agreed to the 1.5°C and 4.5°C prediction, they may narrow this as a result of such studies.
  no caption
  
  He said while the study helps to more confidently rule out higher levels of warming, it also rules out low degrees of warming as well.
  
  “It gives the people who think it’s the end of the world and the people who think it’s nothing to worry about a problem, because the evidence keeps stacking up, that climate change is a lot like we’ve long thought,” he said.
  
  https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/348349/scientists-refine-global-warming-predictions
  
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  January 18, 2018 4:49pm
- Disaster Area
  
  But this narrowing of the warming IS more investigation.
  
  This is the same problem that evolutionary biologists have with creationists: Creationists ask for a ‘transitional’ form that links two fossils. As soon as one is found, the creationists say ‘ah, but there’s now two gaps: we need the transitions between the transition fossil and both of the originals.’
  
  The climate model has been refined – improved – and has reduced the uncertainty and people on here immediately cite that as evidence that the original prediction was wrong.
  If I say that it’s going to rain tomorrow afternoon, and then refine that to say it’s going to rain at 3 pm, my original prediction is not wrong, just less precise.
  
  The question that I ask again is ‘what piece of evidence would you require in order to change your mind about climate change?’
  
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  January 18, 2018 5:14pm
MCos

I don’t know about Africa, I’ve never been there, but the Tekapo township is turning into a bit of a tourist shithole.
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January 18, 2018 8:48am
- ztev
  
  Thats nothing , you should see the center of Washington DC
  
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  January 18, 2018 8:57am
  - holysheet
    
    Nothing like Chicago though is it ztev.
    
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    January 18, 2018 9:03am
    - ztev
      
      Tourist shithole ?
      
      3 24
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      January 18, 2018 9:10am
      - Maggy Wassilieff
        
        Not at all.
        Don’t know about winter, but Chicago is definitely a fine place to visit in late summer.
        
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        January 18, 2018 10:35am
- VicParking
  
  It’s improving then since I was last there
  
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  January 18, 2018 10:17am
- cha
  
  USA! USA! USA!
  
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zvCGtxeknSg
  
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  January 18, 2018 4:00pm
tedbear

So all this Dutch Reach requirement crap for car drivers.

I clearly recall from almost sixty years ago when going for my drivers licence.
The questions and rules around following distances and safe stopping speeds.
Basically, you must not drive at speeds where you cannot stop in half the clear distance in front of you.

It’s high time cyclists joined the real world of how to survive on the road and treat other road users.
A licence to use a cycle must be mandatory.
Riders must obey the same rules as car drivers. No more weaving in and out of lanes, Strewth, they’ve got their own use lanes for crying out loud.
The rule whereby car, truck, motorcyclist drivers must not drive at speeds where they cannot stop in half the clear distance in front of them, must also apply to cyclists. If cyclists are paying attention and can stop in half the clear distance in front of them, then they wouldn’t be crashing into anything, let alone car doors or pedestrians.
And this nonsense I see so often where cyclists make up their own rules on traffic lights must end.
Plus no more ducking off onto a footpath when they feel like it.
No more wibbly wobbly balancing acts just to avoid actually stopping and putting one foot on the ground.
A defensive riding course may have to be mandatory for cyclists.

All cycles must be registered and wof’d. So number plates and wof sticker. Pay your way. Pay your share of ACC and road user charges (cycle lane making).
I’m not sure flashing lights front and rear are sensible or safe. You can’t have that system on a car, so why on a cycle?

I read recently where e-bikes are forbidden in New York because there were too many people getting knocked over by speeding e-bikes they can’t hear coming.
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January 18, 2018 8:49am
- MCos
  
  If cyclists kept the correct following distance they’d be just about the the only people on the roads that did.
  I would suggest that just about all cyclists also own a car and therefore already ACC.
  Those NY pedestrians need to keep their wits about them. Electric cars are coming!
  
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  January 18, 2018 9:19am
- Disaster Area
  
  Flashing lights and hi viz clothing are important because of saccadic masking.
  
  Have a read of this: https://motorbikewriter.com/scientific-studies-explain-smidsy/
  
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  January 18, 2018 9:23am
- SGA
  
  Some cyclists are their own worst enemy, agreed. They annoy me too. But in terms of the “Dutch Reach”, all this talk about following distances, hi viz clothing, and wibbly wobbly balancing acts is irrelevant. It’s about someone in a parked car (what is the correct following distance to a parked car 🙂 ) throwing open a door on an unsuspecting cyclist. Years and years ago, it happened to me and I wasn’t doing anything stupid. If the car has tinted glass, stuff that obscures some of the back window, or high seat back or large headrests, it’s not always easy to see if there is someone in there. And even if you do see someone, you can’t tell if they are waiting for someone or on their phone.
  Encouraging this small change in behaviour mightn’t be a bad thing?
  
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  January 18, 2018 9:51am
  - Flash
    
    Many years ago my husband half-opened the passenger door if the car and was punched in the back of his head by a cyclist as he stood up – who had time to swerve out of the way of the door and curse him while doing so.
    Things like that can put you off some people for life.
    
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    January 18, 2018 6:52pm
Digmen1

I cant believe that anyone owning a house would not have it insured.
That is just madness.
I would cut back on everything to keep my house insured.
If it went up or got flooded I would have nothing!
And no where to live!
And nothing to pass on to my children.

And yes the govt should not help any of those who dont.
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January 18, 2018 8:51am
- tf78
  
  Does it mean that all these uninsured properties were mortgage free – I thought to have a mortgage you had to have your property insured.
  
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  January 18, 2018 8:58am
  - ztev
    
    yes, once that mattered but now they dont really bother to check up after the first few years.
    Cutting costs means it cheaper .
    
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    January 18, 2018 9:08am
- VicParking
  
  But the capitalistic experiment is dead and we a moving into a socialistic wonderland ruled by a tooth fairy. Who needs insurance the state will provide
  
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  January 18, 2018 10:21am
thedavincimode

Finally, a subject upon which the full force of our prime minister’s intellect and experience can be brought to bear. Let’s sort this out!
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January 18, 2018 8:55am
- SGA
  
  see above 🙂
  
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  January 18, 2018 9:02am
Digmen1

My definition of poverdy
Is having skinny emaciated children.
Having to go to the rubbish tip each day to find some food.
Having more than one child if you don’t have a husband or a job.
Not being able to afford McDonalds 4 times a week.
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January 18, 2018 8:56am
- VicParking
  
  Don’t forget..Sending the kids up and down the street to pick up buts from the gutter, check the return slots in the parking meters and empty can from the rubbish bins.
  On the subject of children have you noticed the number of children in the Refugee camps in the Middle East. The people have been in these shithole camps for years yet they still keep popping out kids as fast as they can get pregnant. You would have thought that the UN would be providing Pregnancy advice first (Give a man a fishing line etc) instead of having to stand at the bottom of the cliff and support the starving childern once they are born.
  Another example of not upsetting the Muslims where “The husband must approve the use of birth control.”
  
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  January 18, 2018 9:11am
- KiWombat
  
  I have recently returned from a holiday in Sydney. My sister is teaching her child to collect empty bottles and cans, which they take to a local recycling machine and exchange for cash. They frequently receive $50 – $70 for their efforts, and the cash received is split between the child and a local charity. Of course the Christmas/New Year period provided a real bonanza, and my niece was returning bottles and cans every day – $250 or so in a week. So it occurs to me that many of the households allegedly living in poverty may generate a considerable stockpile of “empties” in a week – perhaps a similar recycling scheme could go a long way toward lifting these families out of poverty. Of course there is another way . . . . . . !
  
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  January 18, 2018 10:16am
  - Albert_Ross
    
    Who is it that actually pays the money, is it taxpayers or is this a commercial operation?
    
    If it’s the latter, fine – clearly somebody thinks the price for the material is worth paying and they can still turn a profit, in which case good on them (and it’s not my problem if they’re wrong). And there’s nothing stopping some enterprising individual from doing the same here.
    
    If it’s the taxpayer, I’d want to see a proper cost-benefit analysis before concluding that we should do the same here.
    
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    January 18, 2018 12:02pm
    - KiWombat
      
      The cost is funded by the soft drink manufacturers/breweries etc. Price of Coke has not risen even though there is a refund of 10 cents per bottle, probably because the cost was added in decades ago when South Australia added a 10 cent per container levy on every bottle.
      
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      January 18, 2018 1:30pm
      - wombatge
        
        Sorry KiWombat this is not true.
        The consumer always ultimately pays.
        Easy to check, look up catalogues Coles in Hamilton Vic and Mount Gambier SA, clearly will show you the consumer pay the 10 cents and more.
        In fact, you can play the system, buy in Victoria and cash in in South Australia.
        We had a large food van, never bought in SA unless we ran out.
        We did sell cheaper than most, this helped us.
        All cans have same markings Australia wide.
        
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        January 18, 2018 2:53pm
      - wombatge
        
        I forgot, please never hold the South Australian Government of an example of achieving something.
        These are the idiots that at 16.30 this arvo will be burning thousands of tons of Diesel in an attempt to keep the power on.
        Wholesale price to hit $13,100 MW, Victoria $9,999 MW, NSW $119. NZ I am guessing $40
        These stupid pricks blew up their last coal station a few years back with a wholesale price $39.29 MW, last year it was $108.66.
        They now have dearest power in the world.
        It is like letting a vampire run a blood bank.
        They destroy everything they touch and the rest of Australia pays.
        Leave South Australia out, wish we could.
        
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        January 18, 2018 3:45pm
VicParking

Like me have KB’s notice that the weather forecasts are getting more and more obscure. Today the north islands weather was broken into two parts, basically north of Taupo and south of Taupo.
Weather from Whanganui….to Wellington including Hawkes Bay. “Will be raining in Wellington and the Kapiti Coast”. That was it.
Does that means it will be Sunny everywhere else, Cloudy, Cold/Hot, Windy/Calm ????? I’m beginning to think that the staff reductions at Weather office has forced them to predict the weather by sticking their finger out the Window.
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January 18, 2018 8:57am
- Shaun the Sheep
  
  They struggle to tell us accurately what weather we’ve just had.
  Unrealistic to expect them to predict tomorrow’s weather with any accuracy.
  
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  January 18, 2018 8:07pm
Rodney Randall

Ravings by Rodney

The business confidence surveys have major political bias
The following link will take you to the latest Raving – http://www.sra.co.nz/pdf/PoliticalbiasJan18.pdf.
Rodney’s Ravings are for general distribution and you are welcome to forward these reports to other people. To learn about our services visit our website – http://www.sra.co.nz.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The ANZ business survey has gone AWOL again. Unfortunately, the bank economists and therefore the media haven’t focused enough on the massive political bias that currently overwhelms the results of the survey and make it a poor input into business and investment decisions. The NZIER business survey has been corrupted less by political gamesmanship but some components have become poor leading indicators while even the most useful component is under a cloud.
This Raving puts the two main components of the ANZ and NZIER surveys in context which is critical for assessing whether much if any weight should be put on them in making business and investment decisions. When what were once useful leading indicators can’t be relied on it increases the importance of having access to quality analysis of economic and housing prospects as input into business and investment decisions. Our driver-based approach to forecasting that is supported by educated interpretation of the leading indicators rather than blind faith in indicators that have gone AWOL should be a must have for any businesses and investors wanting to make informed and profitable decisions. Contact me if you want to know about our regular reports or other services.
Regards
Rodney
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January 18, 2018 9:14am
Disaster Area

Seeing as yesterday’s GD had a couple of jokes, I thought I’d share another favourite of mine.

A man walks into the pub with an amphibian on his shoulder and says “A pint for me, and a pint for Tiny”
The barman answers “Why do you call it Tiny?”
The man replies “because it’s my newt”.

A common behaviour management technique in my classroom is me saying “If you don’t get on with your work quietly, I’ll tell you another joke”…
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January 18, 2018 9:20am
- kowtow
  
  A guy walks into a pub and he has a frog on his head.
  
  Barman staring quizically at the punter and the frog says ;
  
  Yeah I know,It started as a pimple on my bum.
  
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  January 18, 2018 2:05pm
Digmen1

Mmm.
The first one took me a while, but then I could not start laughing.
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January 18, 2018 9:30am
tedbear

MCos @ 9.19am
So two wrongs do make a right then?

Or perhaps there’s a bit of an advantage being in vehicles with decent braking systems and drivers actually come to a complete stop when required rather than the two-wheelers trying ridiculous balancing acts in order to avoid the complete stop.

Your ACC argument holds no water. People that own two cars pay ACC x 2.
A company that owns say ten trucks pays ACC x 10.
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January 18, 2018 9:35am
Stars And Stripes

Southern Cross Earns Rainbow Tick For Insurance
https://www.stuff.co.nz/about-stuff/100644563/insurance-for-when-you-cant-tick-either-the-male-or-female-box-on-the-form
“Southern Cross has changed its insurance application forms so people who identify as neither male or female don’t feel excluded.
It’s earned the insurer a Rainbow Tick, a mark given to employers who prove they are operating inclusive workplaces.
The new application forms were “thorough, clear and offer dignity and inclusion to people who often find it emotionally challenging to obtain health insurance,” he said”.

Well all the managers at Southern Cross must be sitting around having a big jerk off about this achievement.
Anyone who finds it “emotionally challenging” applying for health insurance is a crank and should be treated accordingly not babied with this PC rubbish.
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January 18, 2018 9:39am
- stephieboy
  
  Stars and Stripes , makes you feel marginlised ?
  
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  January 18, 2018 9:44am
- simpleton1
  
  Now that there is a declaration, I trust that all actuarial is calculated for this group, and all costs removed from the other two groups.
  
  Remember that not making the right declaration may remove your right to a claim.
  
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  January 18, 2018 10:22am
- VicParking
  
  I wonder if you get a lower rate if you are transgender, I would think not as your demand on services would increase. Therefore that should decrease the rates for all us sane people. Go for it Southern Cross
  
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  January 18, 2018 10:28am
- Gabby
  
  Nice of the clients to define themselves as high risk. Now you’d own up to your various poxes and claps wouldn’ you starBubba.
  
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  January 18, 2018 12:31pm
Manolo

The MSM push for Oprah:
https://www.politico.com/story/2018/01/17/oprah-winfrey-2020-poll-343096
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January 18, 2018 9:42am
Manolo

The markets are very happy the Obama-era is over. stephieboy is not!
https://www.cnbc.com/2018/01/17/stock-market-optimism-from-pros-reaches-highest-level-since-1986.html

Stock market optimism among professional investors just keeps on surging, and is now at the highest levels since before the crash of 1987.

Bullishness, or the belief that the market is heading higher, is now at 66.7% in the latest Investors Intelligence survey, a widely followed gauge of sentiment among investment newsletter authors.
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January 18, 2018 9:51am
- Mattb
  
  Manolo said: Stock market optimism among professional investors just keeps on surging, and is now at the highest levels since before the crash of 1987.
  Oh the irony.
  
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  January 18, 2018 10:17pm
ex-golfer

From today Oranga Tamariki – Ministry for Vulnerable Children is to be renamed:
Oranga Tamariki – Ministry for Children.

New name, new logos, more staff.
What a complete waste of taxpayer money.
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January 18, 2018 9:56am
- sooty
  
  Not going to be cheap, but just think of the feelz!
  
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  January 18, 2018 11:36am
Manolo

All because of President Trump’s tax reform:
https://www.cnbc.com/2018/01/17/apple-announces-350-billion-investment-20k-jobs-over-5-years.html

Apple on Wednesday made a slew of announcements about its investment in and contribution to the U.S. economy in part because of the new tax law.

The headline from Apple is that it will make a $350 billion “contribution” to the U.S. economy over the next five years, although it’s unclear exactly how the company came to that number.

The company also promised to create 20,000 new jobs and open a new campus.
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January 18, 2018 10:07am
- ztev
  
  $350 bill investment says the headline.
  
  In China probably
  
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  January 18, 2018 10:25am
  - Inandout
    
    Lefty echo chamber, in a bubble, shouting to each other,’bad Trump. bad Trump’. Nothing Trump does, absolutely nothing, satisfies the loopy Left.
    
    17 2
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    January 18, 2018 10:33am
  - Ross12
    
    BS ztev –yet again
    Read beyond the headlines!
    From another site :
    “Apple has announced it will pay $38 billion in taxes to the U.S. government to return money it had stashed overseas. Apple has $252.3 billion in cash abroad.
    In addition, the tech giant announced today it has plans to open a new facility and add 20,000 employees over the next five years.
    Apple’s new plans include $350 billion in U.S. investments ”
    The talk is they may buy Netflix.
    But even in an economy the size of the US a $350 billion spend ( even if spread over a few years) is not “pocket change”
    
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    January 18, 2018 1:25pm
godruelf

Dear Ms Sage, Congratulations on your stand against single use plastic bags. Now what do you want me to do with these bags of dog crap?
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January 18, 2018 10:13am
- VicParking
  
  Wash them out by hand and use them again or Post them to “Hon W Peters, Parliament Buildings, Wellington”
  
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  January 18, 2018 10:33am
  - RalphT
    
    Nah, don’t bother washing them out; just send them as is.
    
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    January 18, 2018 10:54am
- waikatogirl
  
  godruelf, you are now required by the Green party to pick your dog crap up with your bare hands. ? ?
  
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  January 18, 2018 1:25pm
Manolo

Where are the nefarious pair of Ardern and Peters these days?
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January 18, 2018 10:16am
- Inandout
  
  Surely Winnie isn’t a father figure?
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzV4t9r7Lho
  
  Will daddy (politically) dispense with ‘daughter’ when she has passed her use by date?
  
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  January 18, 2018 10:36am
VicParking

Peters is in Canada solving the North Korea problem and Jacinda is in measuring scoops of Chips and studying politics 101.
15 1
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January 18, 2018 10:36am
- Happychappy
  
  Me thinks his fishing expedition into who leaked his Pension details has hit a brick wall so he is taking more interest in what he is actually paid to do like focusing on his duty of Foriegn Affairs Minister. In the past he has taken others to task on not doing their job in Parliament and one of his pet subjects was absentee but like last year he was the main offender.
  
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  January 18, 2018 11:15am
  - stigie
    
    Winston Raymond Peters negotiated coalition talks with National and Labour in bad faith.
    Still owes the taxpayer $158000.
    How can anyone not call this politician a prick !~
    
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    January 18, 2018 11:48am
    - Paulus Gnome
      
      why do we suffer this prick as a politician?
      
      14 1
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      January 18, 2018 1:07pm
  - marcw
    
    Barry Soper told everyone who would listen that he ‘knew’ it was a National MP who leaked the data. So it gets me, why isn’t barely sober one of those served with papers to supply evidence. Yet other “journalists” are required. It just doesn’t pass the smell test.
    
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    January 18, 2018 11:49am
    - stigie
      
      Barely Sober is probably Winston’s drinking buddy..?
      
      16 1
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      January 18, 2018 12:09pm
      - GazzaW
        
        He’s anybody’s drinking buddy as long as he’s not paying.
        
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        January 18, 2018 2:39pm
Manolo

Monica’s anniversary:
http://dailycaller.com/2018/01/17/twenty-years-drudge-lewinsky/?utm_source=site-share

In late January 1998, little known blogger Matt Drudge exposed then President Bill Clinton’s sexual relationship with an unnamed White House intern, sparking a political scandal that has followed the Clintons for the past two decades.
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January 18, 2018 10:39am
- Inandout
  
  Thank you for the ‘heads up’.
  
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  January 18, 2018 10:44am
  - skyblue
    
    Clinton’s heads up?
    
    5 1
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    January 18, 2018 11:29am
    - sooty
      
      WO had a picture of Bill and Trump side by side, both are 71yrs. Bill’s had a hard life, looking over his shoulder, l would think. For all the millions we have given the Clinton foundation, they should ask for a refund, because his face lift ain’t working. His face is looking like his sorry arse!
      
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      January 18, 2018 11:43am
  - RalphT
    
    Are people still going on about Monica Lewinsky? I thought that had all blown over.
    
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    January 18, 2018 11:47am
    - fernglas
      
      That assumption is fellatious.
      
      22 0
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      January 18, 2018 12:07pm
      - oob
        
        That chap, is brilliant wit.
        
        7 1
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        January 18, 2018 12:42pm
      - Paulus Gnome
        
        Give the man a cigar!
        
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        January 18, 2018 1:08pm
    - kowtow
      
      She blew and Bill’s was all over her.
      
      5 2
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      January 18, 2018 1:20pm
- stephieboy
  
  Manolo, , kindly do something worthwhile and research the anniversaries of the President’s groping and paying porn stars his monies .
  
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  January 18, 2018 2:11pm
  - Manolo
    
    Now you know why Hillary looks always grumpy. 🙂
    
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    January 18, 2018 2:14pm
UpandComer

In Scott Adams’ is proven right again about the future:

http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2018/01/11/male-sex-robots-with-unstoppable-bionic-penises-are-to-go-on-sale/

Who is going to win the sex robot wars – men or women?
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January 18, 2018 11:29am
- Gabby
  
  Or gay men?
  
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  January 18, 2018 12:33pm
Manolo

More lone wolves?
https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/906242/Sweden-explosion-Malmo-Von-Lingens-police-station-lockdown

A police station in Malmo, Sweden has been struck by a big explosion forcing the area to be in lockdown.

The explosion was caused by a hand grenade according to local news reports.
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January 18, 2018 11:36am
- Digmen1
  
  They have got some balls, attacking police stations.
  Need a few more really big ones on shopping centres or schools to wake the Swedish people up!
  
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  January 18, 2018 12:29pm
  - kowtow
    
    The Swedes are welcome to it.
    They’ve had a “mu;ticultural” society ,imposed on them by the political elite there since the ’70s.
    
    Plenty of chances to vote for real change there (unlike here) but only 20 odd % have any sense.
    
    http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/anti-immigrant-sweden-democrats-yougov-poll-first-most-popular-refugee-a7649506.html
    
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    January 18, 2018 1:23pm
- kowtow
  
  At least one town in Germany has some sense.
  
  ‘Mayor of Cottbus, Holger Kelch, decided on Tuesday that the teenage asylum seeker and his father would have to move away from the town and the surrounding district, according to the German Press Agency (DPA). Kelch came to the decision after consulting with local police and immigration authorities.
  
  The 15 year old was allegedly one of three teenagers involved in an assault on a 51-year-old man at a shopping centre in the town centre on Friday.’
  
  https://www.thelocal.de/20180117/refugee-banished-from-east-german-town-after-knife-attack
  
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  January 18, 2018 1:25pm
- lifesgood
  
  I’ve been to Malmo. Unbridled middle eastern immigration has turned this pretty little town into a shit hole. You reap what you sow, Sweden.
  
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  January 18, 2018 4:09pm
- ztev
  
  You must only have the fake news version, The totally fake version I have seen says it was an explosion outside a ‘jewish centre’
  https://www.timesofisrael.com/explosion-rocks-jewish-community-center-in-malmo-sweden/
  
  Wait that was 6 years ago….
  
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  January 18, 2018 7:38pm
UpandComer

http://dailycaller.com/2018/01/13/how-to-trump-the-media-avoid-conservatives-biggest-mistake/

This is a great article. The way to deal with the media is to lower it’s status to reduce it’s power.

The Goolag and Facebook-stan crack downs on conservative thought are dangerous. The only way to deal to them is to reduce the status of these organisations.

That shouldn’t be difficult, given Google is a freak-show for furries and ‘pluralism’ where diversity > quality and getting work there is an affirmative action lottery.

Facebook needs to die. It’s just a vehicle for an autistic DNC presidential candidate and all the corruption that entails.

Our media are no better.

Nothing on poverty. Poverty doesn’t exist anymore. Ardern beat poverty just by giving it a toothy smile and stupid trite slogans.

Where is the media reporting on Grant almost certainly breaching the Public Finance Act by shunting billions of dollars of capital spending to the back page as unrelated to ‘fiscal risk’?

Where are the stories on the pending shut down of charter schools?

Where are the stories on Labour’s breaking it’s immigration promises by keeping permanent residencies at 45,000?

Where are the stories about the conflicts of interest inherent in the media getting millions and millions of funding from Labour in return for…. what exactly?

Where are the stories about the realities of Grant’s budget and the fucking ridiculous fiscal austerity they guarantee?

Where are the stories about the impossibility of Labour’s infrastructure plans?

Where are the stories praising social investment and the profound potentialities it held and still holds for solving these fucking endless poverty issues that persist (except when Labour are in charge).

Where are the stories interposed amongst the endless ‘what Trump said, ‘horror” about the realities of DNC corruption, of DACA, of Chicago etc.

It’s a joke.

No one should apologise anymore about going hard right.

http://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2018/01/what_i_learned_in_peace_corps_in_africa_trump_is_right.html

It’s a choice between the corpse of ‘diversity’ and endless lies about it’s reality, or indoor plumbing.

I choose indoor plumbing.
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January 18, 2018 11:56am
- EAD_TWO
  
  Great comment UpandComer
  
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  January 18, 2018 8:21pm
- stephieboy
  
  Upandcomer , this will give you all the other garbage Karin Mc Quillan has written on American “ Thinker “
  
  http://www.americanthinker.com/author/karin_mcquillan/
  
  I wonder if she thinks there should be an extermination and sterislation drive against the Senegalese ?
  
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  January 18, 2018 8:29pm
greybeard

“Stuff” is an interesting website, isn’t it?
The very relevant article about Treasury’s balls-up with the “child poverty” figures was quickly relegated to a minor position off the main page, but a Special Projects item called “The demise and rise of Andrew Little” has been on the homepage for literally months.
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January 18, 2018 12:04pm
- Digmen1
  
  Yes that article on Angry Andy has been there for ages.
  
  Don’t they ever look at their site?
  Or are they trying to send us a message?
  
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  January 18, 2018 12:28pm
  - Paulus
    
    Message is that little Little will soon be back as Deputy to Cinderella after the Maori Schoolteacher moves to say Education which he will say he loves better.
    The Unions will see to it at the next Labour Party Conference, if not sooner.
    He might actually be better than littler funkface there currently making a right arse of himself.
    
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    January 18, 2018 1:52pm
    - ztev
      
      Unlike national, labour doesnt do recycling when it comes to leaders
      
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      January 18, 2018 7:32pm
- Albert_Ross
  
  Contrast with the high profile given to the complete non-story about the opinions of a miserable old besom about something that’s absolutely none of her business.
  
  https://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/news/100649366/new-zealand-doctor-says-disgusting-airasia-uniforms-are-ruining-malaysias-reputation
  
  What an embarrassment to New Zealand!
  
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  January 18, 2018 1:16pm
  - Ross12
    
    Tony Fernandaz who built up Air Asia is seen as a “rock star” businessman in Malaysia. I’ve flown with them several times –they are fantastic.
    There is new book out about his story on building the airline.
    
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    January 18, 2018 5:24pm
  - Gabby
    
    Never heard of her. Reckon she’s a militant islamist or an ocker.
    
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    January 18, 2018 5:43pm
- ztev
  
  Dotard!
  Its because it doesnt get clicks it gets moved away.
  
  Will never get a much clicks as the hot story about what names Kim Kardashian will ‘possibly’ call their ‘yet to be born ‘ kids
  
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  January 18, 2018 7:34pm
UpandComer

http://www.breitbart.com/national-security/2018/01/17/pope-francis-honors-dutch-abortion-activist-with-pontifical-medal-of-knighthood/

“Pope Francis has conferred the title of ‘Commander of the Pontifical Equestrian Order of St. Gregory the Great’ on Lilianne Ploumen, a Dutch politician and vocal agitator for abortion rights.

Last year, Ploumen founded a pro-abortion organization called She Decides, which offers funding and support for international NGOs that provide, facilitate or campaign for abortion.

In an email to the Catholic Herald, Ms. Ploumen said that she was “very honoured” by the pontifical medal, which was sent via the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs last month.

In an interview with Dutch radio, Ploumen said she views the honor as a sign of the pope’s progressivism, as well as acknowledgement for her work in supporting abortion rights”.

Thanks for your support and leadership on the cause of life Pope Francis. Salute.
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January 18, 2018 12:09pm
- lifesgood
  
  You need to read the whole article where the Vatican explicitly comments that this award was merely given for organising the diplomatic visit by the Dutch Royals to the Vatican and nothing whatever to do with her political pro abortion activities which the Vatican strongly opposes. In essence just a symbolic transfer of pleasantries as is usual for diplomatic visits.
  
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  January 18, 2018 4:17pm
  - UpandComer
    
    membership in the Pontifical Order of St Gregory the Great “is conferred as a reward for services to the Holy See and the Church on gentlemen/ladies of proved loyalty who must maintain unswerving fidelity to God, the Supreme Pontiff, the Holy See and the Church.”
    
    “Becoming a Knight/Dame does not merely mean receiving a title of honour—even though it is well deserved—but fighting evil, promoting good and defending the weak and oppressed against injustice,” the rite continues.
    
    The approval of candidates for this high honor must be given by the pope himself.
    
    The Vatican press office has confirmed that the honor was indeed awarded to Lilianne Ploumen, but insists that it was not meant to signal approval of her pro-abortion activities.
    
    On Monday, Paloma García Ovejero, deputy spokesperson of the Holy See Press Office, said the medal was part of an exchange of honors between delegations after she took part in an official state visit to the Vatican last year of Dutch King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima.
    
    Pure sophistry.
    
    Give her something meaningless. Her mere involvement is a joke.
    
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    January 18, 2018 5:07pm
UpandComer

http://sacramento.cbslocal.com/2018/01/16/ca-bullet-train-2-8-billion/amp/

This is what is going to happen to Labour’s rail plans.
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January 18, 2018 12:12pm
Manolo

The Swedes would do better by looking at their internal enemies and new arrivals:
https://uk.news.yahoo.com/sweden-distributes-4-7-million-leaflets-prepare-war-russia-154020224.html

Sweden is reportedly preparing to issue a public information manual on the best way to deal with the prospect of war, as talk rages over an apparent rise in the rest from Russia.

The brochure, which will be sent to 4.7 million households, will tell the public how they can take part in ‘total defence’ during a war and secure food, water and heating.
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January 18, 2018 12:29pm
- kowtow
  
  The Russia ‘threat” is being played by western politicians and media very hard……all the while the same people advocate open borders and Muslim migration.
  
  The enemy is our political and media class.
  
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  January 18, 2018 1:33pm
- kowtow
  
  When Trump said Look at Sweden the media went ballistic. But the Swedes are saying the same thing, officially.
  
  “One factor we’ve highlighted that’s particularly important is these kids live with violence in their environment: they live with shootings, stone-throwing, drug trade, gang crime. They live with that in their everyday lives,” Sweden’s deputy Ombudsman for Children Anna Karin Hildingson Boqvist told The Local.’
  
  https://www.thelocal.se/20180117/violent-upbringing-and-feeling-of-hopelessness-leaves-kids-vulnerable-to-islamic-extremism-swedish-report
  
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  January 18, 2018 1:53pm
Digmen1

I had to laugh.
The Palestinians are “outraged’ that the USA has cut its funding to them by half.

They should have been be saying thankyou – every year.

I’d cut it all off.
They have gone from 500,000 refugees in 1948 to 7 million now!!
Another over breeding shithole.
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January 18, 2018 12:33pm
- GoVege
  
  You’re kidding, Digmen!
  At the rate they “honour” murder their young females, I’m amazed they’ve managed to increase their numbers by that much.
  
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  January 18, 2018 12:49pm
  - Digmen1
    
    I wish you were right.
    But sadly I think my figures are right.
    There are Palestinians in Gaza, The Weest Bank, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria. And they all claim support from the UN.
    
    Yemen has had 3 million new children born in the last few years during its civil war!
    
    Most muslim countries have huge numbers of young people as well (Mostly unemployed)
    
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    January 18, 2018 1:01pm
    - kowtow
      
      Probably right.
      
      Bangladesh , a darling of the left wing global warmists at the Guardian, had a population in 1960 of 48 million . Today it is 163 million and projected to be 218 million in 2050.
      
      It’s a huge river delta , mad of silt and where do people have to live , on river banks.
      
      Global warming isn’t the problem.
      Western politicians failing to protect our borders are the problem.
      
      ‘Angela Merkel and her Austrian counterpart Sebastian Kurz clashed over immigration in their first meeting Wednesday, with the seasoned German chancellor saying Vienna’s resistance to sharing out refugees across the bloc was “wrong”.’
      
      https://www.thelocal.de/20180117/merkel-rebukes-austrian-chancellor-over-refugees-on-first-to-berlin
      
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      January 18, 2018 1:44pm
      - VicParking
        
        The delta is made of Shit not Silt. 163 million shits a day.
        
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        January 18, 2018 4:01pm
      - kowtow
        
        VP
        
        Meanwhile next door in India ,a country with a space program, huge blue water navy and nuclear weapons…..
        
        “Pradeep is one of thousands across India who are trying to solve one of the world’s greatest challenges; how to get 560 million people in India to stop going to the toilet outside.”
        
        https://www.theguardian.com/global-development-professionals-network/2016/nov/18/open-defecation-india-solution-world-toilet-day
        
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        January 18, 2018 4:43pm
      - stephieboy
        
        kowtow , how many million Bangladeshis have invaded Europe and the USA ?
        
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        January 18, 2018 4:59pm
    - GoVege
      
      In the west they used to call that level of reproduction….”canon fodder”.
      
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      January 18, 2018 9:42pm
- Gabby
  
  What was our population in 1948 dicman.
  
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  January 18, 2018 5:41pm
Manolo

An incredible amount of money:
https://www.futureofcapitalism.com/2018/01/apple-38-billion

Apple says it will pay $38 billion in U.S. taxes to bring home cash that it had stashed abroad.

It’s an astonishing number, even by the vast standards of Washington spending.
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January 18, 2018 12:34pm
- KevOB
  
  I believe the USA tax system exempts profits outside the US from tax but taxes them when repatriated. The tax rate for that has been reduced making it much cheaper to return the funds to the US.
  
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  January 18, 2018 12:49pm
- Digmen1
  
  Sounds like Trump had a good idea!
  
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  January 18, 2018 12:57pm
- Gabby
  
  38 bill will just be the tip of the dinero pile manuro.
  
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  January 18, 2018 5:38pm
Digmen1

There are many other US corporations in the same position.

That shows how silly Obama was.
And it also shows how biased the MSM were for saying that the tax cuts were only for the rich, and would add to the defecit.
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January 18, 2018 1:06pm
- stephieboy
  
  Digmen1 , examples of tax cuts for Trump’s constituency the lowest paid and unemployed in the rust belt .
  
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  January 18, 2018 5:01pm
Maggy Wassilieff

“Now, how do we drive science innovation forward?”

“Hell, let’s not bother our little brains with such trivia here. It’s a night out at the Nuts on Sluts that we need for determining our spending criteria”.
http://www.newshub.co.nz/home/money/2018/01/crown-agency-spent-2000-on-drag-queens-300-000-on-entertainment.html
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January 18, 2018 2:06pm
- holysheet
  
  Dare we ask cmm for a report on this night out, being a scientist and all?
  
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  January 18, 2018 2:20pm
  - cmm
    
    As I am on record saying many times: If you want to help science and innovation then get rid of Callahagns. They are absolutely the worst form of corporate welfare.
    
    If they really must be in the business of corporate welfare (corporate WINZ), then they can do so from a WINZ-style office. They don’t need an expensive waterfront office next to the Saudi Embassy and pissing away $300k on entertainment. People will still take their hand outs if they had an office in Glenn Innes and without the dancing drag queens.
    
    Ultimately governments should not be handing out tax to subsidise marginal companies.
    
    Why should a baker be taxed more (ie. making his company less profitable and more likely to fail) so that a software company (or that Marton Jetpack hobby-business) can get a hand out and entertainment?
    
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    January 18, 2018 3:02pm
    - VicParking
      
      Dont you get invited to any other their corporate “WingDings”. I used to they were good shows, Getting some of my tax back.
      
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      January 18, 2018 3:59pm
      - Gabby
        
        Is a wing ding a shindig for wingnuts vicBarking?
        
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        January 18, 2018 5:30pm
      - cmm
        
        Going and swinging dicks with the troughers at Callahagns for a few “free” (taxpayer funded) beers is not my idea of a good time, even if “they” (also known as us the tax payer) paid for the airfare from Christchurch to Auckland.
        
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        January 18, 2018 6:05pm
- KevOB
  
  Good one Maggy.
  
  Its easy when you’re a quasi Govt agency with your own budget to spend beyond public service rules.
  
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  January 18, 2018 3:14pm
- Gabby
  
  Not MBIE? How refreshing.
  
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  January 18, 2018 5:29pm
- Nostradamus
  
  Maggy:
  
  This Stuff article provides more context:
  
  The team dinner and drinks followed a “Business Innovation Group team day”, the agency said.
  
  Yeah right!
  
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  January 18, 2018 6:54pm
  - Maggy Wassilieff
    
    Oh, you mean a BIG team day!
    
    HHey boys, it’s our BIG day.
    
    R these folks for real?
    Did our taxes pay for their education and salaries?
    
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    January 18, 2018 7:33pm
gump

The Whitehouse has confirmed that Trump is no longer proposing to build a wall on the Mexican border.

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/17/us/politics/chief-of-staff-kelly-trump-not-fully-informed.html

Is this what Trump meant by when he talked about winning?
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January 18, 2018 3:11pm
- VicParking
  
  He does not need to as people trying to come to the USA from the south has dropped by 80% and those that do will be sent straight back.
  The Snowflakes (you Gump) don’t realise how smart the man is. He lets all the left wing moaners and CNN do all the work for him.
  
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  January 18, 2018 3:57pm
  - Gabby
    
    They stopped coming because it’s turned into a bit of a shithole vicBarking.
    
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    January 18, 2018 5:21pm
- stephieboy
  
  Vic Parking , why did Trump then make a key election promise to build a wall if stopping the flow was so easy ??
  
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  January 18, 2018 5:04pm
  - Digmen1
    
    Stopping the flow is not easy, because they are like locusts, and they come from all over Latin America.
    
    That is why they need a wall and lots more Border Patrols.
    
    Also, because some got thought and got jobs, then others think they can do it.
    
    Its like the boats going to Australia, when they turned them back, they stopped coming.
    
    Oh we paid $10,000 for nothing!
    
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    January 18, 2018 8:15pm
- Scott
  
  Umm General Kelly said that they need about 600 miles of additional wall on the southern border (Fox news special report). Because of geography there are parts of the border that don’t need a wall to keep people out.
  Write this down – there will be a wall. Mexico will pay for it, not through a direct payment but through other indirect mechanisms.
  But the main thing is the border will be secure. Which is what Trump actually promised on the campaign trail.
  
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  January 18, 2018 5:12pm
  - stephieboy
    
    Scott , we will wait to see if it actually happens . Inform us when the blueprints are completed and the actual construction start date .
    
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    January 18, 2018 5:21pm
Digmen1

He is winning in lots of areas.
The USA can build a wall if it wants to.
It built the nuclear bomb in a few years
It put a man on the moon in a few years.
It has 11 carrier groups
It has the MOAB bomb.
It has $38 billion coming back from just apple.
It has the Warthog.

There are lots of other walls around the world. Saudi built one in the desert.

Of course there are some areas you cant build a wall. But a few fences and night cameras and viewing towers would do there.
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January 18, 2018 3:21pm
- holysheet
  
  Most important thing you missed out;
  
  IT HAS TRUMP
  
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  January 18, 2018 3:29pm
  - stephieboy
    
    hs ,
    
    IT HAS TRUMP
    
    What ? To drop ?
    
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    January 18, 2018 5:22pm
    - holysheet
      
      No to take the ultimate step and make the sands glow if the ragheds are stooooopid enough to try something.
      
      4 3
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      January 18, 2018 7:29pm
      - stephieboy
        
        hs, like you I believe Trump is a lunatic enough to do just that .
        
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        January 18, 2018 7:39pm
- stephieboy
  
  Digmen1 . over powered by Military razzle dazzle and hi tech that got the US in so much trouble in Vietnam and Iraq .
  
  And it hasn’t won the war in Afghanistan thus far . Warthogs and all.
  
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  January 18, 2018 4:49pm
  - stephieboy
    
    And dropping the MOAB in Afghanistan did not achieve its desired military objective ,
    
    http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-39705128
    
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    January 18, 2018 5:10pm
    - Manolo
      
      At least made a few barbarians meet their paedophile prophet, don’t you think?
      
      3 1
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      January 18, 2018 8:20pm
      - stephieboy
        
        Mnalo , your a sick man ! Seek help
        
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        January 18, 2018 9:24pm
  - Digmen1
    
    They could have won in Vietnam if they had the political will.
    They won in Iraq in 2 weeks.
    They just stuffed up the replacement of Saddam by something else.
    
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    January 18, 2018 8:12pm
    - stephieboy
      
      Digmen1 , In two weeks ? Highly questionable . They certainly did not win the peace . Dismantling Hussein’s army led to civil war and the rise of ISIS
      
      http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-36702957
      
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      January 18, 2018 8:20pm
- ztev
  
  cough….. It wont stop the biggest way people arrive in US.
  Its the airport stupid…. they just overstay their visa
  
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  January 18, 2018 7:29pm
  - Digmen1
    
    In that case, they need to fine (or close) any company that hires them without a Visa.
    
    Here in NZ most reputable companies have very strict visa requirements.
    
    And they need to deport anyone found without a current visa.
    Have you checked yours Ztev?
    
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    January 18, 2018 8:19pm
VicParking

About 2 weeks ago I received a Trash email. I checked and it had been sent to over 100 others.
I Junked & deleted it however others that received it mailed back to the sender “Fk Off etc etc”. The email was set up so any reply was sent to all CC’s so I got back (as CC’c) 40 odd emails. Well so did everybody else so it started all over again “Stop emailing me etc etc”. A it’s been going on now for two weeks. If you get a crap email just delete it, Not unsubscribe( that just tells them you got it). The original was flagged as Junk but not the 100 CC’s.
The original Email asked for your address as you won a prize. 10 odd people sent them their address.
Some people are so Email illiterate.
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January 18, 2018 3:52pm
- stigie
  
  Nothing like a good rodgering VicParking..?
  
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  January 18, 2018 3:54pm
wreck1080

Over the years councils regularly abusing the RMA, by classifying developments as having less than minor impact even when those developments are rather large and block views/sun etc from neighbouring properties. This means neighbours can be legally ignored when issuing the consent which in my view is a digusting breach of process.

Then councils rely on the fact that people in residential neighbourhoods do not have the same financial ability as large corporates/companies. It can cost in the hundreds of thousands of dollars to complain with no guarantee of success. And in the case of a loss you could be up for hundreds of thousands or even millions in damages against you. Who would be crazy enough to stick up for ones rights?

Upper hutt council is the most recent case I’ve heard. . .
https://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/100658841/upper-hutt-couple-say-new-retirement-home-will-block-their-hill-views

The council says about the proposed retirement home….
“The council ruled its owners would experience a “less than minor adverse effect” and the property’s distance from the development meant it would not be “perceived as dominant or overbearing”.”

The mayor of the council says…
“Upper Hutt Mayor Wayne Guppy said the Saunders deserved an explanation about the process and why these decisions were made.

“There’s no doubt this development is going to make a difference.””

It seems, there is some contradictory information from the council. The operations people say it has very little impact, the mayor says there is no doubt there will be a difference.

Abuse of council power…. makes you wonder if there was some corruption going on here, as clearly a whopping great retirement home does not fit into the “less than minor” category.
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January 18, 2018 3:55pm
- waikatogirl
  
  I have a friend in a residential street who had two 3 story blocks of flats built next door to her house, one on the northern side and one on the eastern side. She complained to the council but there was no recourse.
  
  The developer went bung when the economy nosedived – nice to see karma in action!
  
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  January 18, 2018 4:19pm
RF

Now that socialist Cindy is making a shit load of money has she donated any to the poverdy kids who look to miss out after the treasury stuff up.

Or is she too busy dunking Gaymans nuts in almond milk.
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January 18, 2018 4:37pm
- Harriet
  
  Nothing to see here, now shut up and keep paying your taxes. /sarc
  
  12 2
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  January 18, 2018 4:50pm
  - sooty
    
    Remember, that John Key worked for free!
    
    10 2
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    January 18, 2018 6:10pm
    - Gabby
      
      Remember, stuff that didn’t happen sooky!
      
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      January 18, 2018 9:51pm
Viking2

The hidden message here is clear; sorry but this is all a lot harder than it first looked. We are doing our best, but reducing child poverty will take a fair bit longer than we thought.

Let’s look at the legacy of the last Labour-led Government. They came into power promising to ‘Close the Gaps’, but on their watch the gap between rich and poor, by most measures, stayed the same. No gap was closed.

This Labour-led Government is looking much the same. Instead of allowing them to claim it is all too hard, let’s look at their record thus far. The big ticket spending items in their first 100 days – free tertiary education, paid parental leave and Kiwibuild – all strongly favour the middle class. There isn’t a lot for the poor in any of those multi-billion dollar initiatives.

It appears we are being softened-up for a watering-down of Labour’s target on child poverty.

https://www.interest.co.nz/opinion/91657/geoff-simmons-takes-aim-government-its-middle-class-cheerleading-arguing-we-are-being

Their initial plan was to reduce the number of children in poverty by 100,000. Their much vaunted Families Package alone was predicted to reduce poverty by around 88,000 (compared to National’s tax cut package with 50,000). But apparently someone in Treasury got their numbers wrong – the number is likely to be a lot lower (they don’t know how much yet).

Bhahahahahahaha. fucking numpties.
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January 18, 2018 5:38pm
- Harriet
  
  “….. middle class….”
  
  They are essentially all homeowners……..most who aren’t homeowners are acceptable to poverty.
  In other words it’s ‘annual incomes’ – affordability – for both mum and dad, that makes the difference.
  It all comes back to pay rates and being able to INREASE your pay rates through productive work – something that a lot of NZ businesses seem to have a problem with; they pay far too many of their workers the same rate[s], where it then becomes hard, or impossible for the productive worker to get ahead.
  
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  January 18, 2018 6:35pm
Morrissey

A history lesson….

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9c2mDdkoZc
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January 18, 2018 6:01pm
tedbear

ex-golfer @ 9.56am
“From today Oranga Tamariki – Ministry for Vulnerable Children is to be renamed: Oranga Tamariki – Ministry for Children.

If Labour insist Maori language lessons be compulsory, and there’s no maori word for vulnerable, then there is no such thing as vulnerable children, anywhere.
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January 18, 2018 6:30pm
- cha
  
  It’s not that fucking hard, is it?.
  
  /
  
  whakaraerae
  
  1. (verb) (-tia) to expose oneself, be vulnerable.
  
  4 7
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  January 18, 2018 7:05pm
  - nasska
    
    But do the Stoneagers have an adjective synonymous with “vulnerable”?
    
    8 3
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    January 18, 2018 7:10pm
    - holysheet
      
      “muhore”
      to be unsuccessful (in an activity), unproductive, without result, futile, fruitless, barren.
      
      Always reliant on mofos to supply the readies.
      
      6 1
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      January 18, 2018 7:34pm
    - Morrissey
      
      nasska, if you want to make stupid and racist statements, why don’t you see if you can get a talkback hosting slot with NewstalkZB?
      
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      January 18, 2018 9:31pm
      - Nostradamus
        
        Morrissey:
        
        Strictly speaking, whether you agree with the premise or not, Nasska didn’t make a statement. He asked a question. Is the NewstalkZB vacancy still open? 🙂
        
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        January 18, 2018 9:41pm
      - Morrissey
        
        Yes, Nostradamus, the vacancy at NewstalkZB—particularly the vacancy of the hosts—continues to be a major problem.
        
        https://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-10-12-2017/#comment-1424441
        
        https://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-29072015/#comment-1051571
        
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        January 19, 2018 11:35am
Nostradamus

LGBTIQ + A

A for Asexual

Sex sells. Whether you’re getting it or not, it’s hard to avoid it. So imagine what it would be like to live in this sexed-up world and yet never experience sexual attraction. We’re not talking about lapses in libido, or a decline in desire. We’re talking about asexuality.

Although the visibility around it has increased in recent years, the first time I learned about it was when I met my friend Steph in 2015. She is asexual and aromantic — which means she doesn’t experience sexual or romantic attraction.

What a progressive society we’ve become!
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January 18, 2018 7:09pm
- nasska
  
  She can always use that old fallback trick beloved of ugly spinsters.
  
  She could marry her cat(s)! 🙂
  
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  January 18, 2018 7:15pm
  - Nostradamus
    
    Speaking of which, Nasska, I hope someone’s looking after Penny’s cats while she’s camping on Quay St in solidarity with Tiddles the Tree!
    
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    January 18, 2018 7:30pm
    - nasska
      
      It concerns me that the cats may be short of water at the Kingsland address. The effects of her body odour on the trees of Quay St is a worry too. 🙂
      
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      January 18, 2018 7:38pm
      - Nostradamus
        
        On the Bright side, if you’ll excuse the pun, the long-suffering neighbours will get to breathe fresh air for a while!
        
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        January 18, 2018 7:44pm
- Nostradamus
  
  It seems that we have at least 1 grumpy asexual Kiwiblog reader with us. Are you here for Nasska’s therapy session?
  
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  January 18, 2018 7:47pm
  - stigie
    
    “Are you here for Nasska’s therapy session?”
    
    Im intrigued Nostra, wouldn’t have anything to do with how to become an Eco-sexual would it..?
    
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    January 18, 2018 8:55pm
    - Nostradamus
      
      I’m not sure of the exact details, Stigie. Nasska mentioned something about a wire and hairbrush. It sounds interesting!
      
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      January 18, 2018 9:13pm
    - Maggy Wassilieff
      
      Well, that was a new term for me…
      Seems to have been omitted from my ecology lectures..
      
      but perhaps it was information I didn’t need to know
      https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/wdbgyq/ecosexuals-believe-having-sex-with-the-earth-could-save-it
      
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      January 18, 2018 9:23pm
      - stigie
        
        If Johnboy was here Maggy im sure he would be fairly knowlegable on anything you would like to grasp..?
        
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        January 18, 2018 9:30pm
      - Maggy Wassilieff
        
        I had a brief read through and I think that Ecosexuality might just be another of life’s various experiences that can pass me by.
        
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        January 18, 2018 9:37pm
tedbear

cha
Please don’t insist on yet another name change.
The ex-vulnerable will again be instantly vulnerable and the dept name change will cost another few million.
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January 18, 2018 7:49pm
- Nostradamus
  
  But Tedbear, how else can we keep the kaumatua gainfully employed with their cultural blessing services and our money? 🙂
  
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  January 18, 2018 7:55pm
  - nasska
    
    They’ll be back to placating Taniwha in drains just to pay for the servicing of their new BMWs without that income stream.
    
    Will no one think of the kaumatua! 🙂
    
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    January 18, 2018 8:02pm
    - Nostradamus
      
      It’s a hard life being a Kaumatua, Nasska. He can’t be expected to turn up under-dressed, and as we know from Tuku’s wardrobe malfunction, maintaining a drawer of silk undies requires lots of taxpayer money!
      
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      January 18, 2018 8:11pm
tedbear

Nostradamus, I was hoping he/she/it would be happy to be off the couch and planting trees.
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January 18, 2018 8:02pm
Digmen1

I am sick of Aoeteroa This and Aeoteroa That.
Breast Sceen Aoteroa, Tourism Aoteroa
Its New Zealand!

Its part of a gradual campaign on the left and maori aspirations.
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January 18, 2018 8:07pm
- GoVege
  
  Zealandotearoa maybe?
  
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  January 18, 2018 9:36pm
tedbear

Digmen1, settle down or you’ll be next up to have it tatooed on your forehead followed by waterboarding interspersed with tea-rayo injections.
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January 18, 2018 8:15pm
- Digmen1
  
  Ha ha, very good.
  
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  January 18, 2018 8:21pm
EAD_TWO

The taboos around the JQ continue to be smashed:

http://russia-insider.com/en/its-time-drop-jew-taboo/ri22186

Most people know about, but few are willing to condemn, the strict taboo in the media, of criticizing Jews as a group, using that term. One cannot even criticize a small subsection of Jews, a miniscule percentage of the Jewish population, even when they richly deserve it.

Obviously, this is a ridiculous way to run a publication whose object is to get to the truth, so I am writing this to explain why, from now on, the pages of Russia Insider will be open to articles which fairly and honestly address the influence of Jewish elites, including pointing out when it is malevolent, which it often is, and try to understand it and explain it, with malice towards none.

I have become convinced that unless we break this taboo, nothing will improve in the human catastrophe unfolding in geopolitics. Millions have died over the past 30 years, and if we want it to stop, and to avoid a cataclysm which seems to approach inexorably, we have to have the freedom to criticize those responsible. It is very clear to me, as it is to many others, that much of the guilt for this comes from Jewish pressure groups, particularly in the media.

Bravo that man. This is what you call real courage – Speaking truth to power

This puts him miles ahead of any Alt-Lite YouTube channel and miles ahead of any other alt-media news site. It also means that from now on, I’m going to be posting links to his work.

In the several thousands of words-long essay, he talks a lot about how the Jews were to blame for the Communist revolution in Russia and how they killed millions of White Russian Christian peasants because they hate the goyim and it was all just one big revenge orgy for them.

Fascinating stuff.

He even talks about how White Russian officers ran away into Europe and got Henry Ford and the Nazis to become anti-Semites by telling them about the Jewish coup in Russia.
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January 18, 2018 8:53pm
- EAD_TWO
  
  The author also has an entire section dedicated to praising the Alt-Right for the work it has done.
  
  The Alt-Right is a youth movement. Its leaders are mostly in their 30s, and the rank and file, which is large indeed, running, by some estimates, into the 10s of millions globally, seems to mostly range from mid- teens to mid 20s. Much of the Alt-Right has completely discarded this taboo and revels in flouting it, indeed, trampling on it, as is the wont of young people regarding the more tedious and preposterous conventions of every era.
  
  It is axiomatic I think, that one way youth benefits society, is that they question what the old men are saying, – shake things up a bit, make them examine their assumptions. It is no coincidence that in the Emperor With No Clothes children’s story, it is a child who points out the obvious, what the adults are so desperately pretending not to see, because it will impair their material well-being.
  
  Pointing out the pernicious effects of the influence of certain Jewish elites on many aspects of American and European society and politics, as the Alt-Right does, greatly assists in understanding how politics really work.
  
  So true. Things are all right on the alt-right.
  
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  January 18, 2018 8:58pm
- stephieboy
  
  EAD TWO , a rationale for making hatred of Jews respectable based on unfounded claims and assertions and scurrilous lies .
  
  The role of the Jews in Bolshevism and Soviet Communism is grossly exaggerated . Just as many gentiles ( goyim ) played their part in its rise and many. many Jews ended getting either exiled , sent to Gulags or shot .
  
  At the end of the day the Communist experiment failed ,collapsing in 1991 . So much for the international communist Jewish conspiracy !
  
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  January 18, 2018 9:17pm
  - EAD_TWO
    
    EAD TWO , a rationale for making hatred of Jews respectable based on unfounded claims and assertions and scurrilous lies
    
    You really are living in an upside down, Alice through the Looking Glass type world Stupidboy.
    
    What you have described is in fact Critical Theory that was invented by the Jew Max Horkheimer in the Jewish run and financed Frankfurt School.
    
    A theory which is doing a rather good job in promoting hatred of Goyim and their history and thus enabling the final destruction of all White Goyim nations.
    
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    January 19, 2018 7:24am
igm

See now Labour are in power weirdos are coming out of woodwork seeking gender reassignment paid for by taxpayers. No bloody way, come and see me, I have applicators and rubber rings, and would love to see a pervert jumping around a paddock with its nuts freshly ringed.
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January 19, 2018 7:23am

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