General Debate 22 February 2018

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waikatogirl

7 years since the Christchurch earthquake at 12.51pm. Congrats Chch on the rebuild, and thanks to the NZ taxpayers for their huge contribution.
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February 22, 2018 8:03am
- Paulus
  
  And thanks to the Worldwide Reinsurers who commercially bailed out the Insurance Companies and EQC.
  Only AMI failed to buy enough catastrophe cover but the tax payer bailed them out.
  
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  February 22, 2018 8:07am
  - Inandout
    
    Yes AMI failed big time.
    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10724664
    
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    February 22, 2018 8:12am
    - freethinker
      
      And the NZ regulator has no responsibility ??? If you look carefully all the major insurers under estimated the risk IAG is now partially owned by Warren Buffets insurance business and now the ex BNZ CEO states that the RBNZ is unfit to properly regulate the Banking industry so unsurprised they failed with insurers. Nz may be the least “corrupt” but probably ranks high on the most incompetent.
      
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      February 22, 2018 12:43pm
  - cmm
    
    “And thanks to the Worldwide Reinsurers who commercially bailed out the Insurance Companies and EQC.”
    
    That’s how the industry works: underwriting.
    
    Big insurance companies underwriting smaller companies. The whole insurance industry is massively connected.
    
    A Japanese earthquake impacts our local insurance almost as much as a local one. Well at least to the extent it can drive up insurance rates etc.
    
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    February 22, 2018 8:12am
    - mandk
      
      Yes, reinsurance is standard practice to avoid exposure to a major event.
      
      It’s a bit like bookies laying-off bets.
      
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      February 22, 2018 8:29am
    - MCos
      
      I would have no doubts whatsoever that the reinsurer wouldn’t have paid out if the paperwork wasn’t in order.
      It’s a bit like those blokes that buy the tee shirt and catch the cricket ball. They thank Tui because that’s the polite thing to do in our society. However you can guarantee Tui were looking for any way they could to disqualify the catches.
      
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      February 22, 2018 8:39am
    - Inandout
      
      cmm: Japan has an unusual reinsurance system whereby the government handles it.
      
      http://www.mof.go.jp/english/financial_system/earthquake_insurance/outline_of_earthquake_insurance.html
      
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      February 22, 2018 9:15am
      - cmm
        
        The problem with the government handling insurance is that it does not flatten out the load over a wide enough base.
        
        Underwriting works because people chip in from across the world: people in France and USA are paying into the NZ earthquakes and we pay into hurricane damage.
        
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        February 22, 2018 9:29am
  - flipper
    
    But that should not have happened. The Government should have left the ungrateful Cantabrians to suffer for all the thanks they showed to the rest of the country.
    Why? How, you ask?
    Well Poofie would have declined to borrow, Peters would have blamed it all on W English, and Ardern would have had a conversation. The dyke would have saved the day for the Peters-Ardern Regime by ordering the anorexic expectant mother to be to follow her conversation by spreading her magic dust. And Mallard would have ruled out any question or statement that sought to hold the sad bunch of liars and obfuscators to account…….
    
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    February 22, 2018 8:27am
    - igm
      
      Wonderful
      
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      February 22, 2018 8:44am
    - SGA
      
      @flipper
      I’m guessing from the subtle subtext of your post that you weren’t happy with the election result?
      🙂
      
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      February 22, 2018 8:59am
      - flipper
        
        You might well reach that conclusion, because we have a false pretences regime, a false pretences ministry, a Peters ordained “prime minister” and a pathological liar driving our would be government.
        The election winner was cut out, mainly by the lying, drunken duplicitous SOBitches that is the Peters Party………
        
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        February 22, 2018 9:11am
    - stephieboy
      
      Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
      flipper , pout , sulk !
      
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      February 22, 2018 9:10am
      - KiWombat
        
        The COL is full of children.
        
        We need to find somebody brave enough to leave them all parked in a hot car !
        
        By the time they decided to convene a conversation, all our problems would have been solved !
        
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        February 22, 2018 9:36am
      - Salacious Crumb
        
        Stephieboy: How would you describe your obsession with the current POTUS?
        
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        February 22, 2018 9:49am
    - Que Sera Sera
      
      Time for Flipper to go visit a shrink, you need help mate.
      
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      February 22, 2018 9:53am
    - Paulus
      
      Many years ago under the Lange Government he personally told me that there was no need for EQC to purchase Catastrophe Reinsurance cover as Reinsurers were “a pack of crooks” he said.
      I would not comment here on his employment in London when I understand he was employed by an large Insurance company and the reflection of the time.
      Luckily after his political departure Government under pressures from overseas relented.
      Yes, I was part of the whole thing.
      
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      February 22, 2018 11:23am
- Inandout
  
  How would Labour have handled such an upheaval one wonders? Working parties take time to talk.
  
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  February 22, 2018 8:07am
  - GazzaW
    
    Hmmm. Two earthquakes, the GFC and a continuing depressed economy from the 2000-2008 era. No chance that Ch’ch would be in the position it’s in today.
    
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    February 22, 2018 8:16am
    - mandk
      
      Don’t forget that the second quake also completely destroyed the fairy dust mining operations in the Port Hills.
      
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      February 22, 2018 8:23am
    - Shaun the Sheep
      
      There was a lot of housing and infrastructural damage in the Seddon earthquakes as well, not to forget Kaikoura in all of that. Small place, big damage.
      Compare to the two major weather events on the West Coast recently – Jacinderella is smiling for the cameras in Christchurch, and the CD minister is … In Wellington?
      
      No need to wonder how the Christchurch rebuild would have fared under this shower of ninnies.
      
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      February 22, 2018 4:28pm
      - KiWombat
        
        You will be pleased to learn that the MP for West Coast is planning to visit NEXT WEEK. He heard about the disaster yesterday, and has cancelled a golf engagement so he can visit the coast.
        
        I think he is taking CD Minister as well so they can see how the coasters have managed with the clean up.
        
        Of course it will be too late to pick up a shovel by then, but perhaps we’ll get a photo holding a hammer?
        
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        February 22, 2018 6:21pm
      - KiWombat
        
        UPDATE – They actually visited the West Coast this week !
        
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        February 22, 2018 6:54pm
  - Harkman
    
    “How would Labour have handled such an upheaval one wonders? Working parties take time to talk.”
    
    Jim Anderton wanted to have lots of community committees where whatever they demanded would be granted, like a genie. That would have bankrupted NZ.
    
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    February 22, 2018 9:14am
    - Shaun the Sheep
      
      I hope Anderton bequeathed a not small fortune to the Cathedral rebuild project.
      
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      February 22, 2018 4:32pm
  - KiWombat
    
    Dear Lord,
    
    Recently you have called home several of my favourite celebrities:-
    
    Roger Moore, Glen Campbell and Mary Tyler-Moore.
    
    FYI my current favourite TV personality is Wynston Peters, although he prefers “Winston.”
    
    Amen
    
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    February 22, 2018 10:16am
    - holysheet
      
      Be very careful about what you wish for. Kimbo will be on your case for inciting the death of the drunken dwarf. I am in his sights for saying a similar thing.
      Surprised I am still here, given Kimbos supposed influence with the sky fairy and all.
      
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      February 22, 2018 10:46am
      - Kimbo
        
        No, you went a bit further than passive imprecation (google it) to deity. And I claim no ability to influence him. But judging by your protestation, your troubled conscience may be another matter…
        
        But on a positive note, and speaking of Mary Tyler Moore, this is cool:
        
        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NI8WJ85EVw
        
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        February 22, 2018 11:13am
      - holysheet
        
        My conscience is good, how about yours?
        Hope those daily prayers are helping in your health issues.
        
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        February 22, 2018 11:28am
      - Kimbo
        
        Good, and seems so, hs. Thanks.
        
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        February 22, 2018 11:31am
KiWombat

Go CHCH

I’m always amazed at the new infrastructure I see in Chch, every time I go there I seem to find a new road that is not yet in the current street directory – a bit of a pain sometimes, but at least it is a clear signal they are getting on with the rebuild.

Always room for improvement though – I suppose there are some problems that just cannot be fixed !
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February 22, 2018 8:05am
cmm

Hi stephie

Can you believe galaxy command IT managed to get another message through. Two days in a row is a minor miracle! Perhaps they stopped tying to “improve” things.

I have a bit more news for you. I have a small off-the-books intel team working the Ukrainian taxi-driver and so far we have found out that he is ex-KGB and good at karaoke. That’s a worry.

I have a wetwork team on standby that can control the KGB side, but the karaoke is the problem: people from my galaxy love karaoke. That shouldn’t count in a leadership race but it does. Look how that useless snowboard instructor became PM for Canada, and, well, look at New Zealand for that matter!

Anyway we’re working hard to queer his pitch. (har, har: get it… karaoke… singing… pitch.. never mind).

It is a slight problem that maybe they were the people that hacked the Maggy-bot. We think they might be onto your location but we can’t tell for sure.

Please be very careful of them trying to sabotage your dental hygiene. Have a close look at your toothbrush and count the bristles. Make sure you don’t show it to anybody except people with coffee cups.

Stay vigilant!
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February 22, 2018 8:09am
- Maggy Wassilieff
  
  Доброе утро, товарищ
  
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  February 22, 2018 8:13am
  - redqueen
    
    Ochen horishaw! (Badly transliterated)
    
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    February 22, 2018 8:19am
    - Maggy Wassilieff
      
      очень хорошо
      
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      February 22, 2018 8:29am
      - hullkiwi
        
        …..yly dobro dyen (also badly transliterated).
        
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        February 22, 2018 8:36am
  - billmurray
    
    Maggy are you a beautiful Russian spy?.
    My name is Bond, James Bond.
    Can we meet for dinner?.
    Fish and chips okay?.
    Bring you own napkins and wine.
    Cheap!.
    Yes, I know.
    Blame the Labour government.
    
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    February 22, 2018 8:38am
    - Inandout
      
      Ah, James Bond….shaken, not stirred.
      
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      February 22, 2018 9:01am
  - Andrei
    
    Привет, Комарада Мэгги;
    
    RU all set for another day of trolling little old ladies who support Donald Trump?
    
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    February 22, 2018 8:44am
  - stephieboy
    
    Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
    Good morning, comrade Waggy !
    
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    February 22, 2018 9:05am
    - cmm
      
      Geez, “Comrade Waggy”
      
      I’m sure Maggy would be proud to wear a Tshirt that said that.
      
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      February 22, 2018 9:57am
- KiWombat
  
  If his IQ goes any lower we’ll have to start watering him twice a day !
  
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  February 22, 2018 8:14am
- flipper
  
  Is stupidboy Major Tong (Fong, Pong) ???
  
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  February 22, 2018 8:31am
holysheet

The feminizing of males.
Why is it when we see obviously gay men walking around in public, they ponce around, waving their weak wristed hands at every chance. While walking in the supermarket with Mrs Holy yesterday, an obviously gay man was walking up the isle towards us. His hands had very much a mind of their own. It was near the soy milk and she said he must be a soy boy.
We rarely see females poncing around like this, so it cannot be an excess of eostrogen or a lack of testosterone.
It baffles me why they do this. Is it a cry for attention? Look at me, look at me?
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February 22, 2018 8:15am
- Odakyu-sen
  
  Maybe he was broadcasting the fact that he was gay, by using shortwave.
  
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  February 22, 2018 8:28am
  - RalphT
    
    But it sounds as though he was giving long waves, not short ones.
    
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    February 22, 2018 8:30am
    - cmm
      
      Are you thinking of gaydar?
      
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      February 22, 2018 8:49am
- waikatogirl
  
  Perhaps he found you attractive holy and was giving you the secret signal. ? ?
  
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  February 22, 2018 8:31am
- RRM
  
  Well he obviously turned your head holysheet.
  
  What trash do you reckon he’s telling his mates about you and your missus and whatever you look like?
  
  Wait, he probably isn’t is he.
  
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  February 22, 2018 8:37am
- igm
  
  Was it the Minister of Finance?
  
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  February 22, 2018 8:46am
  - VicParking
    
    Where is the Minister of Finance. Is he recovering from a fisting in Auckland on the weekend
    
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    February 22, 2018 1:36pm
    - KiWombat
      
      Finding it challenging to sit comfortably at this time
      
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      February 23, 2018 6:47am
- Inandout
  
  Gay display is rather like tattoos; look at me, look at me! TV breakfast shows are chokka with gaylords.
  
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  February 22, 2018 9:04am
  - kowtow
    
    The tats are an interesting one. In the old days it might have been the name of the ship served on and that was on the forearm and was/is a comfortable opening conversation opportunity ( no , not hello sailor !).
    
    Today I see a lot of people with tats on their faces / necks and they are on people of the type you definitley wouldn’t want to be looking at ….
    
    “Wot the fuck you staring at , cunt”
    
    So even though they are Look at me type tats , they are sending a very definite message….
    …..”The wearer of this tat is a c#nt”
    
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    February 22, 2018 9:17am
    - Gravelroad
      
      Have just had a few days holiday and visited two large camp sites. There were many, many middle aged men of all shapes and sizes displaying ugly, ugly tattoos on their arms and legs.
      What is it with these tattoos? What is the appeal?
      Most are nowhere near “Art” and appear to have no attribution to “I love Mum” ,or the dog, or whatever.
      
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      February 22, 2018 11:50am
      - RRM
        
        Why don’t you ask someone who has them?
        
        I imagine people get them done for their own reasons, not seeking your approval.
        
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        February 22, 2018 1:04pm
      - waikatogirl
        
        Apparently, the cost is exorbitant for those large tattoo artworks. People cry poor, can’t buy a house, etc but it is their decision what they spend their money on… Not to mention possible infections and worse catching Hep.C from a dirty tattoo needle.
        
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        February 22, 2018 1:15pm
      - kowtow
        
        “This fellow was so deeply in love that just before he was married, he had his bride’s name tattooed on his love muscle. Normally, only the first and last letters were visible, although when he was aroused, the tattoo spelled out W-E-N-D-Y. Now they’re on their honeymoon at a resort in Montego Bay. One night, in the men’s room, this fellow finds himself standing next to a tall Jamaican at the urinal.
        
        To his amazement, he notices that this man, too, has the letters W-Y tattooed on his penis. “Excuse me,” he says, “but I couldn’t help noticing your tattoo. Do you have a girlfriend named Wendy?” “No way, mon, I work for the Tourist board. Mine reads, “Welcome to Jamaica, mon. We have great beaches, great ladies, and great sun, mon! Have a nice day.'” ‘
        
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        February 22, 2018 2:55pm
- SGA
  
  My goodness, holysheet, that’s terrible. No one should be made to suffer that way. There should be a law against it.
  PS – For the sake of your sanity, keep well away from any reruns of the Dick Emery show.
  
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  February 22, 2018 9:04am
  - 4077th
    
    Ooooh you are awful…But I like you 🙂
    
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    February 22, 2018 10:21am
- lifesgood
  
  Holysheet. This is something I’ve often wondered about too. When, why, how do gays learn to ponce and flutter and wave their limps wrists around? Also their voices….urrrgh! I know a few gays who are just normal men and if you didn’t know they were gay you’d never guess, but these fairies mincing about, oh lord!!
  
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  February 22, 2018 2:03pm
- Duxton
  
  Shaking something off his fingers?
  
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  February 22, 2018 5:49pm
Maggy Wassilieff

Pack your thermals if you are traveling North next week.
http://notrickszone.com/2018/02/21/the-long-winter-of-2017-18-numerous-records-set-as-ferocious-cold-and-snow-batter-northern-hemisphere/#sthash.BVt2n2g6.dpbs
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February 22, 2018 8:16am
- stephieboy
  
  Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
  Maggy W, more typical weather patterns ?
  
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  February 22, 2018 9:14am
  - AgentBallSack
    
    No stephie, just more weather.
    
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    February 22, 2018 9:27am
    - stephieboy
      
      ABS, no just more of this ,
      
      http://www.wri.org/blog/2017/09/extreme-weather-whats-climate-change-got-do-it
      
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      February 22, 2018 9:52am
KiWombat

“A politician needs the ability to foretell what is going to happen tomorrow, next week, next month, and next year. And to have the ability afterwards to explain why it didn’t happen.”

– Winston Churchill
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February 22, 2018 8:16am
- AgentBallSack
  
  “Whenever there is a quote that makes perfect sense, it can always be attributed to Winston Churchill”
  
  – Winston Churchill
  
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  February 22, 2018 9:15am
- EAD_TWO
  
  Perhaps the most apt Churchill quote given the ills that have befallen civilisation at the hands of Marxism:
  
  “the schemes of the International Jews. The adherents of this sinister confederacy are mostly men reared up among the unhappy populations of countries where Jews are persecuted on account of their race. Most, if not all of them, have forsaken the faith of their forefathers, and divorced from their minds all spiritual hopes of the next world. This movement among the Jews is not new.
  
  From the days of Spartacus-Weishaupt to those of Karl Marx, and down to Trotsky (Russia), Bela Kun (Hungary), Rosa Luxembourg (Germany), and Emma Goldman (United States), this world-wide conspiracy for the overthrow of civilisation and for the reconstitution of society on the basis of arrested development, of envious malevolence, and impossible equality, has been steadily growing.
  
  It played, as a modern writer, Mrs. Webster, has so ably shown, a definitely recognisable part in the tragedy of the French Revolution. It has been the mainspring of every subversive movement during the Nineteenth Century; and now at last this band of extraordinary personalities from the underworld of the great cities of Europe and America have gripped the Russian people by the hair of their heads and have become practically the undisputed masters of that enormous empire.” – Winston Churchill
  
  This was written and published in February 1920, in the British Illustrated Daily Herald in an article titled: ‘Zionism versus Bolshevism’
  
  In his defence he also wrote about the ‘national’ and ‘loyal’ Jews who served the nations in which they lived but prophetically warned the world about a the schemes of a small sub sect who are turning the world we’ve as we know it upside down.
  
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  February 22, 2018 9:30am
cmm

What’re really good is to see people of Christchurch starting to act like normal people again: going to the beach, smiles on faces,…

I would say it took a good 5 years before we started to see a glimpse of that through the strain. Now things are getting back to normal.

Not all the way there, but massively improved.

I went through the Darfield quake (5km or so from the epicentre). Bloody lucky that one didn’t go off under Christchurch!
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February 22, 2018 8:18am
- Keeping Stock
  
  My wife has a large extended family in Christchurch, and my daughter was at university there throughout the ‘quake season. Several family members had their houses red-stickered, and others, including my in-laws had repairs in the six-figure bracket.
  
  We were in Christchurch on Boxing Day 2010 when there was a significant aftershock close to the central city. I’ve felt a few earthquakes over the years, but none quite as violent as that one. I cannot even begin to comprehend what it was like this day seven years ago.
  
  Cantabrians are by nature resilient folk, and they have needed to be. I saw first-hand how much the constant stream of aftershocks did people’s heads in. My in-laws flew up to Whanganui for Christmas 2012, and moments after they had left, there was a 5-plus aftershock which again caused liquefaction in many suburbs. When they heard about it on arrival in the North Island, their reaction was a mixture of relief for missing it, and guilt for not being there to help people in need.
  
  I have nothing but admiration for the people who have mucked in and started to rebuild Christchurch. When the rebuild is finished, the city is going to be modern, spacious and a great place to live, so much so that my daughter has made her post-university career and home there. We visit regularly, and are always blown away by the rate of progress.
  
  I knew four people who lost their lives today, seven years ago. I remember them with fondness today, and my thoughts are with the people of Canterbury, including my family and friends, for whom this will always be a very special day, for all the wrong reasons.
  
  Kia kaha Christchurch.
  
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  February 22, 2018 9:28am
  - Captain Mainwaring
    
    Why would some sad fuck downtick that?
    
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    February 22, 2018 9:36am
    - Captain Mainwaring
      
      There’s Mr. sad fuck again. Stephie or Splooge?
      
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      February 22, 2018 9:53am
      - Captain Mainwaring
        
        Oh, both of them now.
        
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        February 22, 2018 10:05am
DigNap15

Why is this Labour review on education going to take 3 years!
Surely six months would be sufficient
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February 22, 2018 8:20am
- cmm
  
  You’re only asking because you know the answer right?
  
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  February 22, 2018 8:25am
- KiWombat
  
  It’s fast approaching the point where I don’t want to elect anybody stupid enough to want the job !
  
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  February 22, 2018 8:25am
  - sooty
    
    The reason.
    #To spin it out past the next election#
    Because then they will be safely back in the opposition benches and will not have to do any thing, except complain.
    
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    February 22, 2018 8:49am
- JIV
  
  I hadnt heard that. Thats excellent news as my kid’s in year 11 so should get through unscathed.
  
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  February 22, 2018 8:56am
- KiWombat
  
  Because the government wants to extend tax cuts for the underearners, but compensate by cutting government spending at a later date using an amazing new spend-cutting device they have seen advertised on TV
  
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  February 22, 2018 9:04am
- kowtow
  
  They need to address the long summer holiday.
  
  Kids are no longer needed for the harvest so they should be in skool doing better .
  
  But the teachers’ unions and their poodle Labour Pardy would never allow shorter holidays for their members to stand in the way of improving education outcomes for our young , who are falling behind.
  
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  February 22, 2018 9:53am
- rangitoto
  
  Once the review is complete they will have to have a conversation about it and then have lots of inquiries. It will keep many consultant’s bums on seats for many, many years.
  
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  February 22, 2018 11:12am
- Shaun the Sheep
  
  Everything takes longer if you don’t know what you’re doing in the first place.
  
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  February 22, 2018 4:38pm
waikatogirl

Census forms are being posted out today and will soon arrive in your letterbox. Census workers will not be knocking on your door this time to hand you the form and reinforce how important it is to complete this census. Questions from population to how high your income is. This year census are also including questions about cold, mouldy houses.

The census survey is to be completed online, however, hard copies are available on request. I do wonder how many people will duck this survey now it is online. All those who don’t want to be counted or get half-way through and resent all the personal information being requested, those who don’t care, and all those elderly who are not computer literate…
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February 22, 2018 8:21am
- KiWombat
  
  Maybe I’ll go away on the boat for a couple of weeks, and see if they manage to find me somehow WG
  
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  February 22, 2018 8:28am
- holysheet
  
  Great news. Now when I do not complete mine I can now say I had a senior moment and forgot to do it.
  Being a senile old coot has finally got it’s benefits.
  
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  February 22, 2018 8:30am
- peterwn
  
  There would be a third option that is not mentioned. If you do not respond to the mailed census request by doing it online or requesting a form the friendly census taker will still be banging on your door giving you the opportunity to do the census in the traditional manner. Presumably Statistics Dept think enough people will do it online to make developing the online option worthwhile.
  Wonder if the online option is the biggest step forward since waiving the requirement of 2000 years ago that you had to return to your place of birth on census night
  
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  February 22, 2018 8:36am
  - sooty
    
    Trying out for online elections, me thinks.
    
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    February 22, 2018 8:51am
    - peterwn
      
      The previous National government was too scared stiff to allow Wellington and Whanganui councils to do online elections in 2017. There may have some issues but they most probably would have been resolved satisfactorily.
      
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      February 22, 2018 10:45am
- Gravelroad
  
  There is a new question in this census relating to “do you live in a house affected by mould?”
  That may not be the exact wording, but the outcome will be the same.
  Lots of dwellings can be affected by mound – clean houses and dirty ones. Household mould is a cleaning issue. People can open windows and clean off the stuff if they so choose.
  I bet you now, that thousands of respondents will answer yes to this census question, which will reinforce the Labour Party’s mantra about the huge number of people living in poverdy.
  
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  February 22, 2018 8:42am
  - KiWombat
    
    My house is affected by mould.
    
    It seems to spread to the bread every week or so.
    
    But I’m sure that Jack ‘n Jill will find a solution !
    
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    February 22, 2018 8:53am
    - waikatogirl
      
      KiWombat, A dehumidifier will help sort much of the mouldy problem.
      
      Even in a new, double glazed, fully-insulated house, it is necessary to circulate fresh air through to prevent mould. Open a window or even use a dehumidifier in moist/humid weather.
      
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      February 22, 2018 9:02am
      - KiWombat
        
        Thanks WG – but that was my attempt at sarcasm !
        
        The only mould I have attaches itself to week-old bread !
        
        Appreciate your concern though – x
        
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        February 22, 2018 9:09am
      - GazzaW
        
        …..and for those who are too poverdy-stricken to buy and operate a dehumidifier, open windows and a wipe down with a cloth dampened in a weak Janola solution does the job.
        
        It’s called basic hygiene.
        
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        February 22, 2018 9:57am
      - waikatogirl
        
        Sorry KiW, I’m a bit slow in the mornings.
        We lived in a flat some time ago where mould was even attaching itself to the wooden chopping board. The dehumidifier we bought chugged away for literally 5 weeks sucking moisture out of the air but it solved the mould problem.
        
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        February 22, 2018 1:27pm
  - Rich Prick
    
    I presume there is no follow up question about how often those affected clean, with bleach. I think we’re being set up to fund something.
    
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    February 22, 2018 9:01am
    - Gravelroad
      
      It will depend on the extent of the mould being asked about.
      Does it mean mould growing on walls, showers, back steps etc, or, will food mould be included?
      People being as dopey as they are, will no doubt see a piece of old cheese in the fridge with a touch of mould on it and, bingo!: “yes, I live in a dwelling affected by mould”.
      
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      February 22, 2018 9:19am
  - Inandout
    
    If your house is affected by Mouldies living next door, then answer ‘yes’.
    
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    February 22, 2018 9:09am
- G152
  
  Since we’ve had computers since the 80s and FidoNet from the late 80s I fail to see how the ‘elderly’ now can claim to be computer illiterate…
  I bought my first in about 1983
  
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  February 22, 2018 9:01am
  - Tauhei Notts
    
    Is Fido Net something you use to catch small dogs?
    
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    February 22, 2018 9:38am
  - Captain Mainwaring
    
    I was talking with an older guy yesterday and he doesn’t have a computer. He pays his bills by writing out what we used to know as a cheque, puts in in an envelope , sticks a funny thing called a ‘stamp’ on it and takes it to the post office.
    Quaint.
    
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    February 22, 2018 9:40am
    - KiWombat
      
      CM – I’ll bet he wasn’t named Robinson Crusoe !
      
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      February 22, 2018 10:21am
  - waikatogirl
    
    Computers have changed considerably over the years. Memory for many elderly is not what it used to be and they can’t retain the changes to computing and finally give up.
    Something for you to look forward to G152, except you won’t remember what you forgot. ?
    
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    February 22, 2018 1:32pm
- kowtow
  
  This expensive exercise is always passed off as “the gummint need to plan”
  
  WTF , there is no plan , other than , Keep the economy going by bringing in more Indians and Chinese!
  
  That part of the plan is going to plan , but it will create huge problems down the line and has already created a lot of problems in the short term.
  
  Corruption
  Expensive housing
  Hospital queues
  Strain on welfare
  New security laws
  Chinese spies
  Muslim jihadis.
  
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  February 22, 2018 10:09am
- Shaun the Sheep
  
  As a person who has dabbled a little in genealogy, I value the census as a research tool.
  However I do not intend to be remotely accurate about the social engineering questions.
  Its Jedi knight for me and downhill from there.
  
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  February 22, 2018 10:27am
- rangitoto
  
  I could put 99.9999% of the country into extreme poverty by putting my income down as $10000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000.45
  
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  February 22, 2018 11:14am
Odakyu-sen

“Auckland health bosses have revealed a picture of a health system at breaking point from underfunding and population growth.” Ref: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11999171

The downside of using immigration as a steroid for economic growth is that while GDP may increase, the per-capita quality of life degrades as Auckland becomes more like an Asian city.
– Sky-high housing costs
– Long commutes
– Stretched medical services
– Zero native population growth (can’t afford kids)
– Shortage of free time
– Cramped apartment living
– Hobbies reduced to eating and walking in the park
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February 22, 2018 8:26am
- holysheet
  
  At least it not yet a shit hole city.
  
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  February 22, 2018 8:35am
  - kowtow
    
    Beaches are covered in shit every time it rains and your drinking water gets lots of shit infiltrating too.
    
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    February 22, 2018 10:10am
    - freethinker
      
      Must be those Queen street farmers milking cows on the wharf, or perhaps the results of a Curry dinner eaten by Auckland Councilors.
      
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      February 22, 2018 1:40pm
  - Classic Liberal
    
    Holysheet, not quite, yet, but look at the plans for medium/high density that our crazy politicians somehow think are a good idea. Wouldn’t be necessary if they didn’t keep pushing more people into NZ, esp. Auckland. We must tell our politicians if we don’t want an overpopulated city. Tell them that a stable economy and stable population is better than this Ponzi scheme of pushing more and more people in.
    
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    February 22, 2018 10:54am
    - Odakyu-sen
      
      Auckland is the only place a self-respecting Chinese would want to live, I assume. It has the “community” and so a Chinese can feel right at home.
      
      Unless you were into outdoor sports and rural pursuits, why would you want to live anywhere else than in Auckland?
      
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      February 22, 2018 11:20am
      - Jack5
        
        And where are all the exports the influx of rich Chinese were supposed to bring.
        
        Still the same agriculture-horticulture-forestry-fishing mix that hasn’t been able to give us a positive balance of payments for 40 years.
        
        Remember it’s GDP per capita that counts.
        
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        February 22, 2018 11:30am
      - Garbageman
        
        Having lived in Auckland twice and now back in Invers i could give you a thousand reasons why people live anywhere other than there i would hate to upset those that believe NZ stops at the Bombays though
        
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        February 22, 2018 1:41pm
- Salacious Crumb
  
  Garner on TV3 made a very salient point about this; he said there should be a referendum about how big NZ’ers want their population to be rather than letting governments dictate this to the population. I wonder what people think a good population size for NZ is?
  
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  February 22, 2018 8:38am
  - DigNap15
    
    Fifteen or 20 million.
    
    Good people, with our values, and all spread out.
    
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    February 22, 2018 8:48am
  - mandk
    
    NZ has plenty of room for a much bigger population.
    
    It’s just that our largest and third largest cities have been allowed to develop at the most ridiculous sites.
    
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    February 22, 2018 8:56am
    - Classic Liberal
      
      Be careful what you wish for. A huge population of what kind of people, with what values and what connection to the land? I strongly appreciate Asians with high IQs, great education values and around whom one generally can feel very safe. But with a leftie government we could easily end up like France or Germany with many people who don’t respect equal rights for women and gays. Because the left now values religious rights above protecting equal rights for women and gays.
      
      When German women complain about being sexually abused by some ‘refugees’ or immigrants (Police statistics show that this is a real problem), they get called ‘racists’. ‘Just lie back and take it’, seems to be the message, because a complaint about a sexist, homophobic ideology is now ‘racist’ in Germany and can be prosecuted as ‘hate speech’.
      
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      February 22, 2018 11:10am
      - Odakyu-sen
        
        Be sure to let in immigrants and not colonists.
        
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        February 22, 2018 1:16pm
- MCos
  
  If there was no immigration, on the other hand, our medical centre wouldn’t have 90% of it’s staff.
  At least half of the district nurses that came to my house would have been immigrants.
  
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  February 22, 2018 8:55am
  - Salacious Crumb
    
    Hospitals are full of migrant nurses too. Good, hard workers but not as well trained as the locals yet NZ nursing graduates often struggle to find placements. Can’t work that one out.
    
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    February 22, 2018 8:59am
  - Classic Liberal
    
    MCos I half agree (see many excellent Asian Drs, physios etc), but a Caucasian young friend trying to get into Med School thought that his Asian friends were given preferential assessments (i.e. racist against Caucasians). I’m not sure if that’s true – does anyone here have evidence?
    
    I want no racism, either way. Nobody should be treated by race, but by merit.
    
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    February 22, 2018 11:15am
- stephieboy
  
  Odakyu-se,
  
  “.. more like an Asian city.” ?
  
  You’ve got too be thinking of cities like Yokohama , Osaka , Kobe etc ??
  
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  February 22, 2018 9:20am
  - Odakyu-sen
    
    Don’t get me wrong. Modern city living is fine, but you can’t expect to live the “traditional Kiwi life” (vegetable garden, trailer-boat in the back yard, detached house, lawns to mow, double garage, etc.)
    
    Japanese apartments are small and cosy. Crime is virtually zero. The dining and shopping is world-class (there isn’t a lot of room in your apartment to hoard stuff, though). It’s a modern, urban lifestyle. Women love it, but Kiwi blokes might find it a bit limiting.
    
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    February 22, 2018 9:35am
    - Classic Liberal
      
      I enjoyed a holiday in Japan: the streets felt very safe, public transport was crowded but felt safe and the food was fabulous and easily available everywhere.
      
      But it’s no place for children to run about or to have the things many kiwis (including women) enjoy.
      
      Also, it only works because the Japanese values seemed to include a huge sense of politeness and consideration. For instance, I was worried about all the smokers, but they carry around their own little portable ashtrays and don’t leave their butts lying around like filthy smokers in NZ.
      
      A huge population of people without values of politeness and consideration would be HELL.
      
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      February 22, 2018 11:22am
      - Odakyu-sen
        
        If Japan were populated by Aucklanders, the nation would explode.
        
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        February 22, 2018 12:01pm
- GazzaW
  
  Auckland is already an Asian city but lacks the high standards of infrastructure of Singapore, Seoul, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing or any of the major Japanese cities.
  
  I remember the days when students from Asia competed hard to attend NZ universities under the Colombo Plan and now the boot is on the other foot as NZ students strive for scholarships to the likes of Singapore University. Oh the irony.
  
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  February 22, 2018 10:09am
  - Classic Liberal
    
    It could be a lot worse, Gazza – look at France and Germany.
    
    Considerate, educated Asians would be my preference for immigrants, but not further overpopulating Auckland would be my greatest preference.
    
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    February 22, 2018 11:25am
- wreck1080
  
  Pre-election DPF was crowing about our great 3% gdp growth. However, per capita gdp growth was virtually 0.
  
  I don’t know why DPF doesn’t get this is the important figure, given his maths background.
  
  We have very poor quality immigrants, who boost our economy only through what they consume. There is no money to expand services and infrastructure for these people .
  
  We need immigrants who create high growth business. We don’t have those, or our per capita GDP growth would be higher.
  
  National really were a failure economically speaking.
  
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  February 22, 2018 10:26am
- Classic Liberal
  
  100% right, Odadyu-sen. A horrible way of living (I’ve experienced it) compared to the traditional kiwi lifestyle of having a house, garden and hobbies that need a bit of space or water.
  
  Why are we allowing our governments and Councils to throw all this away? We keep being told that Auckland ‘must’ grow. WHY? Just limit immigration to keep the population stable.
  
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  February 22, 2018 10:51am
  - Odakyu-sen
    
    Classic Liberal,
    
    It would be a horrible way of life if you want to live like a “traditional kiwi.”
    
    I enjoy my house in Auckland that I could only dream about in Japan. Every single time I drive up my driveway and open my garage with my remote control, I feel a profound sense of affluence. In Japan, I had to park my car in an outdoor car park, and then walk some 300 m to my apartment.
    
    I feel that Aucklanders have given up so much just for a rise in property prices. How will my children ever afford to own their own houses in Auckland? I expect they will move overseas or live in a rural center in New Zealand.
    
    At least in Japan, the millennials can refuse to have children, to influence government policy. But the NZ government simply opens up the immigration pipeline. Since no-one knows what a New Zealander is, anyone can qualify for the job. We have an unlimited supply of Kiwis-to-be in China and India. What could possibly go wrong?
    
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    February 22, 2018 11:29am
    - Classic Liberal
      
      Which is why Japanese immigration law is so ‘xenophobic’. They know damn well that their population density can only be tolerable if there is basic agreement on some decent values.
      
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      February 22, 2018 12:23pm
      - Classic Liberal
        
        Btw Odakyu-sen, you must really miss the food?
        
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        February 22, 2018 12:24pm
      - Odakyu-sen
        
        Ahh, the food in Japan.
        Last year I was up in Tokyo, and stopped in at a Lawsons convenience store. I paid 100 yen ($NZ1.25) for a long black. I took the cup they gave me and put it under the spout of a fully automatic coffee maker, which ground the beans and made me the coffee on the spot. Let me tell you, the $1.25 coffee was as good as an Auckland $4.00 coffee. I also bought a delicious tuna sandwich for $3.50 that would have cost $5 in Mission Bay.
        
        “They know damn well that their population density can only be tolerable if there is basic agreement on some decent values.”
        You’re right. Harmony and high density are helped by a homogeneous population (in terms of high IQ, relatively even levels of income, and shared values).
        
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        February 22, 2018 1:28pm
      - stephieboy
        
        Classical Liberal , could it be also that with a land area only a little larger than NZ and a population go 120 million or so ?
        
        I can assure that we here in NZ attempt to adhere to cent values no less than Japan .
        
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        February 22, 2018 1:42pm
- Piniwi
  
  Well O it is just the same old blame game. What has the DHB been doing about to keep pace with this situation? Their reckless squandering of funding has them whinging about a shortfall of funding. Very poor management since it is continual process of ATEED chasing more people at great cost to the taxpayer.
  There is a strong case with such concentrated growth so obvious that they have every reason to seek more funding even if they only use the percentage of growth as the basis for more funding. While health funding is one of the of the biggest and first to receive funding in any budget it is logical that rapid growth will need extra consideration. Sorry but the DHB need to bear the brunt of their sad failings on this one.
  
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  February 22, 2018 3:35pm
hullkiwi

Morning all. Yesterday there was a post about Fairfax & amongst the posts was one from resident Labour spokesman ztev extolling the great Rupert Murdoch & NewsCorp. When I read it i did a double take & asked could that be the real ztev?
It was only later that I had an “oh fuck moment, as a light bulb went on”, as I had seen this before. This is where I a begin joining some dots and realised, NZ Labour sometime in the past year have done a Tony Blair (in 1995 he flew around the world to get Murdoch’s 2 UK papers to back Labour in 1997) and have sold their souls to the media devils in a dirty deal.

Here is what I realised:
1. Since August, there has not been 1 negative article against taxcinda or Labour in the MSM. They have refused to look at her CV or even question her lazy track record in parliament since becoming an MP.
2. The next question was what’s in it for Newscorp, NZME & Fairfax? Easy after the Commerce Commission & the courts have dumped all the merger proposals, the proposals will all end up on Currant Bun’s desk, remembering Labour wants to establish RNZ+, we can imagine there will be some secret negotiations and hey presto the 3 media companies plus Vodafone will get what they want.
3. Messages for National. Not gopd, the person for media relations and media watch last year, dropped the ball completely. This brings into question Joyce & the campaign team. Hence new leader, needs new team & new media strategy – they need to speak to the UK Conservative Party & Linton Crosby (the Australian who has supported UK Tory & Australian Liberal party election campaigns).
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February 22, 2018 8:29am
- KiWombat
  
  Clocksucker ztev attempted to obfuscate the comments by referring to another journal.
  
  I referred to TWT – The Weekly Times
  http://www.weeklytimes.com.au/
  
  and he went on to disparage my comment by referring to a completely separate and unrelated journal. But that’s what clocksuckers do !
  
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  February 22, 2018 8:47am
  - hullkiwi
    
    Yes, I read. Then he couldn’t help himself & sang the praises of Murdoch & NewsCorp. That was when I did a double take, a Labourite singing the praises of the world’s biggest media baron. As I said above, you can now realise what happened & is happening and for it National need to be more aware/adept than they have been.
    This means not just a new leader, but a clean out of the Board & campaign team including Joyce. All who set Bill up to fail, because they were asleep at the wheel.
    
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    February 22, 2018 9:00am
- Keeping Stock
  
  When did you last read a story about people living in cars? Apart from all the stories about people queueing at Auckland City Mission at Christmas to get free stuff, homelessness and poverty have disappeared from the media.
  
  I can only speculate that now that Labour is in government, its press secretaries no longer use their hotline to Simon Collins at the Herald to pimp the poor.
  
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  February 22, 2018 9:32am
  - KiWombat
    
    Now that the election is over they have all packed up and gone back to their jobs as government staffers.
    
    Problem solved !
    
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    February 22, 2018 10:23am
  - itstricky
    
    homelessness and poverty have disappeared from the media.
    
    I can only speculate that now that Labour is in government, its press secretaries no longer use their hotline to Simon Collins at the Herald to pimp the poor.
    
    Or not:
    
    03/02/18 http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11982370
    
    12/02/18 http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11992371
    
    12/02/18 http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11992651
    
    02/01/18 http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11968652
    
    07/12/17 http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11955097
    
    01/12/17 http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11948898
    
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    February 22, 2018 10:43am
  - Shaun the Sheep
    
    Is it wrong to tell a knock-knock joke to a homeless person?
    
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    February 22, 2018 11:00am
  - Garbageman
    
    “Interesting to note how everything National related has open comments but not on the TPPA or whatever its called or NZs corruption ratings etc things the left were in fits over last year but notably quiet over now and weirdly all the pimping the poor living in garages etc stories have dried up as well what miracle workers Labour truly are”
    i managed to get that through on a story on Stuff about Mark Mitchell someone was asleep at the wheel i think
    
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    February 22, 2018 2:05pm
- UrbanNeocolonialist
  
  I would bet that the CoL are going to massively fund NZ news media sometime during their term in power (more than just RNZ+) – effectively turning NZ news into a propaganda arm for the Labour party.
  
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  February 22, 2018 1:14pm
  - hullkiwi
    
    Deals have almost certainly been done between the MSM and Labour. Further the deals done will ensure the MSM get what they want & Labour get RNZ+ irrespective of the amount spent. Providing NZ with govt propaganda mouth pieces and it will be hard to distinguish govt news from Labour policy statements.
    
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    February 22, 2018 5:01pm
DifferentPerspective

Cricket: Williamson Clueless

Once again, it looks like Simon Doull was utterly correct about Captain Clueless Williamson.

I get that he is a great test and one day player, but T20 is almost a totally different sport. Yes, OK the big bash is a far bigger, tougher deal than NZ’s crappy T20 comp and it generates far better talent.

However, Williamson looks totally clueless when put under pressure as a captain. Equally, he doesn’t seem to have the knack that BMac did of lifting his players to a higher level.

BMac had the uncanny ability to find ways to create pressure, especially when up against tough opposition. Williamson sadly does not.

Three losses in a row, two of which were capitulations. One against a weak-kneed English team that flattered to deceive in the extreme.

Hesson was bold enough to dump Taylor as captain when he was offering the same milksop captaincy, will he do the same with Williamson?

Which all begs the question, who would step in? The only one that has the ‘in-your-face’ attitude backed up by a good game is Monroe. I’m sure there’ll be howls of derision, but the rest they’re very “porridge”.

Simon Doull was right. Williamson isn’t the T20 batsman NZ needs and he certainly isn’t the captain leader the team needs.
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February 22, 2018 8:34am
- brett68
  
  T20 sucks.
  
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  February 22, 2018 8:41am
  - alex Masterley
    
    Don’t bother watching it myself.
    
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    February 22, 2018 8:48am
    - brett68
      
      It’s such a bastardized version of what is a great game.
      T20 is nothing more than having a bash in the nets, there’s no strategy or tactics.
      
      It’s nothing more than a bunch of guys with bats the thickness of 4×2’s trying to hit each ball for six.
      
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      February 22, 2018 8:52am
      - Urban Redneck
        
        All Very True.
        
        The England coach is correct in that T20 should be kept out of the regular international schedule and be confined to the franchises like the IPL.
        
        T20 is a grotesque neon-clad razzle dazzle abomination of the sport of cricket.
        
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        February 22, 2018 9:06am
      - brett68
        
        I would agree with that.
        
        If the ICC isn’t careful T20 will end up destroying cricket and turning into a variant of baseball.
        
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        February 22, 2018 9:16am
      - Keeping Stock
        
        I disagree Brett. You only had to watch the Australians in the field last night to appreciate how much they had thought through their bowling/field setting tactics since last Friday night. They had a plan, and they executed it to perfection, albeit assisted by some awful shots played by Kiwi batsmen. Williamson’s ugly slog to get bowled was perhaps the most awful of all.
        
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        February 22, 2018 9:35am
      - Longknives
        
        Correct Brett
        I’ve been a cricket fanatic my whole life- I won’t watch a game of T20 ‘Hit and Giggle’
        Ask yourself? When was the last time you saw a good shot in T20? And by ‘good shot’ I mean something like a beautiful square cut or a crisp cover drive..
        If I wanted to watch ugly cross the line slogging, kiddie boundaries and bowlers bowling full tosses I’d go watch drunk guys playing Beach Cricket..
        
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        February 22, 2018 10:44am
  - GazzaW
    
    T20 just isn’t cricket. An endless procession of sixes into the stand with more attention paid whether a spectator will hold a one handed catch than what’s happening on the field. Very dodgy results and performances in the IPL bring cricket as a whole into disrepute.
    
    T20 is a necessary evil given that it bankrolls the precious traditions of test cricket.
    
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    February 22, 2018 10:40am
- Poppa
  
  I agree with you, he looks out of his depth in that form of the game.
  
  Munro could actually be a good choice as Captain but to my knowledge he has no experience as a captain.
  
  I think although our batting let us down last night, the problem has actually been in the bowling apart from Sodhi
  
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  February 22, 2018 8:45am
- Happychappy
  
  DP as you seem to have a problem about “Leaders” maybe you should ask your mate Winston for his views.
  
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  February 22, 2018 8:48am
  - DifferentPerspective
    
    I would explain (again) but as there’s none so deaf as them that won’t listen – so yeah nah!
    
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    February 22, 2018 8:50am
- MCos
  
  NZ’s problem is that we don’t have the depth.
  Boult is lucky to be there, the keeper is poor, de Grandhomme is marginal.
  Our team played a million games, but unlike all the opposition except the Windies, couldn’t adjust.
  
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  February 22, 2018 9:05am
- dime
  
  i couldnt believe when we bowled first. insanity.
  
  the coach must have had some input?
  
  make fleming or vettori the coach for t20’s. or some other specialist.
  
  kane – too much cricket. ya dont see steve smith turning out in these games.
  
  i dont see a clear replacement yet. they must know internally who is capable of stepping up though?
  
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  February 22, 2018 9:24am
  - Captain Mainwaring
    
    We actually batted first.
    
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    February 22, 2018 11:48am
Happychappy

What is Labour going to say and do about all the academics and activists that don’t want more prisons or the criminal population to grow in NZ. Who is going to be held responsible if people are released and sentences are down graded for criminals if one commits a violent crime not long after being given a free get out of jail pass. I don’t give sweet fanny adams about the so called poor that commit these crimes because of poverty and other excuses as the old saying goes you do the crime you do the time. We will end up with this being a fall time job like it is today for seasoned criminals and or youth will think this is the life I want if people like Jacinda, Little and Davis with their academic friends get their way.
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February 22, 2018 8:34am
- DifferentPerspective
  
  More criminals on the streets, more violent crimes, more use of guns by the bad guys, more calls for gun control, more harrassment of legtimate gun owners, gun control, disarmed populace are far easier to oppress under the yoke of communist totalitarianism.
  
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  February 22, 2018 8:48am
  - DigNap15
    
    Yes, we need to nip it in the bud now.
    Keep them locked up, as a deterrent to to others and to keep us safe.
    Otherwise we will end up like Mexico where even the army is scared to go to some places, or Brazil or South Africa.
    
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    February 22, 2018 8:51am
    - sooty
      
      No catch and release program!
      
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      February 22, 2018 6:23pm
- peterwn
  
  It will just go through the cycle again. Reformists got the ear of policy makers in the 1970’s or so and there was a trend away from sending people to prison and long sentences. However major repeat offending causes such public outcries that lead to mandatory minimum sentences, escalation of sentences for ‘home invasion’ and ‘three strikes’ provisions. The business is pulling in two directions at present. One direction is the easing of sentencing of serious crime to empty out prisons, but the other is demands to send more people to prison for other things such as making rape easier to prosecute (I know a guy who could well be ‘inside’ for rape with such a law change – and he is not a crime by nature) or offences which tread on pet corns such as so-called ‘hate speech’.
  Then there will be incidents such as the Panmure RSA crimes and the politicians will toughen up again in response to public opinion.
  
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  February 22, 2018 8:49am
  - kowtow
    
    Started earlier that the 70’s.
    
    The UK did away with the death penalty , initially in the 50’s. Violent crime took off after that.
    
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    February 22, 2018 9:28am
Huevon

Billy Graham is dead.

I don’t really go in for the hands-in-the-air, “oh sweet mercy” brand of Christianity preferred by Graham, but you have to acknowledge he was probably the most effective preacher of the Gospel since St Paul in the first century.

The world is immeasurable better off for his efforts spreading just a bit more of Christian love.

Rest in Peace.
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February 22, 2018 8:38am
- Kimbo
  
  Yes, RIP.
  
  Not sure I’d agree Billy Graham was the most “effective” – which is always a slippery term as God expects faithfulness in the first instance, not necessarily “results” from our ministry. But he was certainly high profile and popularised a form of evangelism (Charles Finney’s 2nd great awakening transactional, “let’s make a deal with God” methods) throughout the world. For good and bad, terms like “born again” and “invite and accept Jesus into your heart” are now part of the common vernacular. 😉
  
  OK, so my Calvinist bias is shining through, and if there is not another “altar call” by an evangelist between now and the return of Christ it will be one too many! 😉 And I’d still plump for John Calvin as the greatest preacher (and reformer, and theologian, and church builder) since Paul – he laid the modern foundation for the likes of Graham, and Charles Wesley, and George Whifield, and Jonathan Edwards, and Dwight Moody, and Charles Haddon Spurgeon, and…
  😉
  
  Also, interesting Graham became the “pastor/spiritual guide” to a series of US Presidents, or at least Republican ones. The Rev Jesse Jackson seemed to be the guy for the Democrats.
  
  But well done, Billy Graham. Seems to have done more for the kingdom of God than I, or most Christians ever will…
  
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  February 22, 2018 9:11am
  - Jack5
    
    Some reactions to Billy Graham’s death:
    
    1. Jews seem in two minds, seeing him as a friend of Israel and of persecuted Russian Jews, but disparaging Jewish influence in the US media. Link:
    
    https://www.jta.org/2018/02/21/news-opinion/politics/billy-graham-who-championed-israel-in-public-and-derided-jews-in-private-dies-at-99?utm_source=JTA%20Maropost&utm_campaign=JTA&utm_medium=email&mpweb=1161-3028-4812
    
    2. English Anglicans and Catholics’ praise for Graham:
    
    http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5418057/Dr-Billy-Graham-preached-120-000-Wembley-Stadium.html
    
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    February 22, 2018 11:08am
    - Kimbo
      
      Yep. Graham got caught on some of the Watergate tapes agreeing with Ricahrd Nixon about the ellegedly pernicious influence of “East Coast liberal Jewish intellectual elites”. To be fair to Graham, it was a regular topic of discussion in the Nixon White House, including when Henry Kissenger was in the room! 😉
      
      But as Richard Nixon once assured Golda Meir, “the cut-and-run-from Vietnam Democrats like Teddy Kennedy are not the friends of Israel. When the pressure goes on they will fold and forsake you. Instead Richard Nixon (yes, he really did use the third person! 😉 ), whom American Jews vote against 8-1 (yes, he really had to mention that to the Israeli Prime Minister! 😉 ) has been tested in the furnace, and his steely resolve for Israel is sure”.
      
      A boast he fulfilled (to us a Nixonism) “in spades” in the 1973 Yom Kippur War.
      
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      February 22, 2018 11:58am
  - Inandout
    
    One of Billy’s quotes I quite like, but I would put health on an equal footing to character.
    
    ‘When wealth is lost, nothing is lost; when health is lost, something is lost; when character is lost, all is lost’.
    
    On a negative note, how long before an accusing ‘woman re-caller’ comes out of the woodwork?
    
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    February 22, 2018 11:10am
  - KevOB
    
    Billy Graham enabled many people to come to know and accept Jesus Christ as their Saviour.
    
    Thank God for a life of service.
    
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    February 22, 2018 11:31am
    - Kimbo
      
      Yeah. Although, as per my previous post, he popularised a style of evangelism that (in the opinion of a thoroughly biased Calvinist like me 😉 ) is probably counter-productive overall to the church, or facilitating Christian converts of quality. But then, as in many things, pragmatism seems to be the primary determinant practice in much of the Western church today.
      
      But doesn’t change the fact that Billy Graham is a giant of Christian and wider-American, indeed global life and culture.
      
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      February 22, 2018 12:03pm
  - UrbanNeocolonialist
    
    Outside of Africa Christianity is dying, unable to meet the twin challenges of greater education and improved standard of living. Who need’s the promise of a hereafter when life is good?
    
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    February 22, 2018 12:28pm
    - Jack5
      
      Christianity isn’t dying in Russia. It’s resurging.
      
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      February 23, 2018 12:13am
- dime
  
  geez, i just watched him on season 2 of the crown!
  
  RIP Billy
  
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  February 22, 2018 9:25am
  - Kimbo
    
    BTW – they did a good job of portraying David/EdwardVIII/The Duke of Windsor as the thoroughly selfish, self-pitying, self-absorbed, hypocritical, backstabbing mercenary bastard that he was.
    
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    February 22, 2018 9:51am
- Keeping Stock
  
  “Well done, good and faithful servant”
  
  Rest Peacefully Mr Graham.
  
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  February 22, 2018 9:37am
DifferentPerspective

Puritanism – FFS

The human race really seems to be regressing, utterly proving Churchill’s words about those who can’t learn from the mistakes of the past are doomed to repeat them.

On the one hand we’re returning to a Spanish Inquisition approach to justice with the mere act of making an accusation being sufficient to consider someone guilty of any crime (citing the #MeToo witch hunts and a government hunting for ways to remove the concept of ‘innocent until proven guilty’ in rape cases)

And now we’ve got the emergence of a radical puritanism with massive gasps of dismay and disgust because Duncan Garner uttered the foul and heinous unspeakable word shitty on breakfast time TV. I suspect of course this has more to do with another continuing witch hunt after Mr Garner’s scalp after he was so bold as to express an opinion on immigration when the nation’s Torquemada Susan Devoy scolded him for wrongthink (another of the unspeakably retarded results of an uber-cucked Key Labour Lite government – along with the Misandryist-in-Chief Jackie Blue TYVM NP).

Can’t have people having opinions, can’t have people using language that is used a gazillion times a day in common conversation!

Creeping censorship to accompany the creeping totalitarianism of cultural marxism.

Je suis fucking Duncan!
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February 22, 2018 8:45am
- stephieboy
  
  DP , how is this so called ? Creeping censorship to accompany the creeping totalitarianism of cultural marxism.” personally affecting your right to an opinion on KB or elsewhere ?
  
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  February 22, 2018 9:25am
  - Salacious Crumb
    
    Well when people like you appear to twist and distort the meaning of posted opinions, only on a larger scale, you kind of get the idea.
    
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    February 22, 2018 9:55am
    - stephieboy
      
      “ Can’t have people having opinions, …” ??
      
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      February 22, 2018 11:37am
      - sooty
        
        Because you have never had an original thought!
        Cut and paste troll. Ralph.
        
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        February 22, 2018 6:27pm
  - DifferentPerspective
    
    First they came for Duncan Garner, and I said nothing….
    
    (see the bit in my post about being too “stephieboy” to learn from the mistakes of the past)
    
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    February 22, 2018 10:37am
  - Classic Liberal
    
    ‘elsewhere’ Stephieboy, it’s already law. Read up on the German Netzwerkdurchsetzungsgesetz and come back then.
    
    50 Million Euro fines for large sites like FB if they publish something someone complains is ‘hate speech’. No court decision, just a complaint needed. Then FB shivers in fear and deletes the message.
    
    Just try and understand this: the values you and I probably share are now under threat from crazy ‘hate-speech’ laws in Germany.
    
    In Germany it is now ‘hate-speech’ to criticize a medieval religion that encourages men to beat their wives, have sex slaves (‘those the right hand possesses’), wants gays murdered and is violently antisemitic. And that religion, within a few generations, could form a majority and establish the kind of theocracy that Erdogan is going for in Turkey.
    
    Every time you laugh at our concerns about freedom of speech *you* are closing your eyes to the threat of these very real ‘hate-speech’ laws.
    
    Please don’t give me the ‘but the Old Testament’ spiel. Firstly, I’m an atheist. Secondly, Christianity is based on the New Testament. Thirdly, the Old Testament’s teeth have been thoroughly pulled by decent Christians and secular democracies.
    
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    February 22, 2018 11:57am
    - Jack5
      
      Some people in important posts in NZ and on high salaries provided by taxpayers want “hate-speech” laws here.
      
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      February 23, 2018 12:15am
- mara
  
  Remember how the sky fell down when Trump uttered the word ” pussy” and media worldwide felt compelled to say “pu**y”? Hilarious and pathetic at the same time.
  
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  February 22, 2018 9:30am
  - DifferentPerspective
    
    Like when CNN said “Shithole” 527 times in one day
    
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    February 22, 2018 10:39am
    - stephieboy
      
      DP ,background and context please ?
      
      1 19
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      February 22, 2018 10:42am
      - AgentBallSack
        
        See where DP has some highlighted text in blue? That’s called a “link”.
        If you hover your mouse over it it will turn into a little hand indicating you can click on it. Try it!
        There’s the fucking background and context you retard.
        
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        February 22, 2018 12:00pm
      - DifferentPerspective
        
        Thanks AgentBallSack
        
        But I don’t think you can fix libtard.
        
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        February 22, 2018 1:27pm
    - AgentBallSack
      
      One guy said “nigger” a couple of times too. Trump gets inside their heads.
      
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      February 22, 2018 11:57am
    - Rich Prick
      
      You have to admire Trump’s handling of the media, toss a ball of string for them to play with and get with the job while they’re distracted.
      
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      February 22, 2018 12:24pm
    - stephieboy
      
      DP , only a memorable catch phrase by the President created surely worthy of some repetition .
      
      Even if 527 times .
      
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      February 22, 2018 2:25pm
- Albert_Ross
  
  the emergence of a radical puritanism with massive gasps of dismay and disgust because Duncan Garner uttered the foul and heinous unspeakable word shitty on breakfast time TV
  
  Are you claiming that in the less radically puritanist past it used to be perfectly OK and nobody would have turned a hair if somebody had used the word “shitty” on breakfast television?
  
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  February 22, 2018 9:45am
- Morrissey
  
  Duncan is a twit. You are Duncan? Really? I think you should think a bit more carefully about this.
  
  http://morrisseybreen.blogspot.co.nz/2017/12/duncan-vyshinsky-garners-laughable.html
  
  http://morrisseybreen.blogspot.co.nz/2018/01/phil-wallington-told-us-this-programme.html
  
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  February 22, 2018 4:41pm
SPLOOGE

Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
Gerry Brownlee’s two Chistchurch houses were amongst the first to be repaired and he was in control of the rebuild.
Coincidence?
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February 22, 2018 8:46am
- igm
  
  Absolute crap . . . show us the facts.
  
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  February 22, 2018 8:51am
  - SPLOOGE
    
    Absolute truth.
    And may I say the rebuild under the wood working teacher was shoddy at best.
    He was clearly out of his depth and the job should have gone to someone qualified and who wasn’t a MP.
    
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    February 22, 2018 9:07am
    - KiWombat
      
      Even if there is an iota of truth to this accusation – WHO CARES ?
      
      If I was a woodwork teacher I would fix my own bungalow first before moving on to help others – in much the same way as airlines advise you to put on your own mask first before helping others.
      
      What’s the issue ?
      
      I’m sure the fish ‘n chip girl ate a few before serving customers, or that Jack ‘n Jill filled up their own bank accounts before helping anybody else !
      
      SPRUNG ?
      
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      February 22, 2018 9:17am
      - Keeping Stock
        
        There’s no truth whatsoever in the allegation KW; Splooge is just behaving like an arsehole as usual.
        
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        February 22, 2018 9:43am
      - KiWombat
        
        He’s pretty good at that – well educated !
        
        Or should I say indoctrinated?
        
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        February 22, 2018 10:25am
      - SPLOOGE
        
        Sprung? Nah.
        Brownlee’s properties got a priority rebuild.
        
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        February 22, 2018 7:01pm
    - igm
      
      Hope you are right as Gerry has been sent a copy of this accusation.
      
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      February 22, 2018 9:40am
      - SPLOOGE
        
        Goodo. I’m sure he’ll tell you that it is indeed correct.
        Or more likely not reply because it is indeed true.
        
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        February 22, 2018 1:54pm
    - Jack5
      
      Splooge will the yacht, the BMW cover the libel damages you are going to be hit with?
      
      Oh, that’s right, they’re phantoms. So you’ll be a bankrupt but perhaps you are already.
      
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      February 22, 2018 11:25am
      - SPLOOGE
        
        Jack arse you are the complete moron.
        You don’t know what the fuck you are talking about.
        Now listen here and learn.
        Brownlee’s properties were indeed the amongst the first to be rebuilt.
        That is a fact. Suck it up .
        
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        February 22, 2018 7:03pm
- Happychappy
  
  Can we have the source and documentations concerning this allegation SPLOOGE. I received a strike from DPF for making a similar allegation against Penny Bright two years ago so I look forward to see if others receive the same.
  
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  February 22, 2018 8:55am
  - SPLOOGE
    
    I won’t be getting banned for telling the truth.
    You were obviously doing what you always do. Spouting shit.
    
    1 25
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    February 22, 2018 9:08am
    - Happychappy
      
      Put up or shut up, you made the statement now prove it or is it the same beat up as your extra small dick and P class yacht.
      
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      February 22, 2018 9:18am
      - SPLOOGE
        
        Bahahahaaaaaa.
        Do you think I’ll respond to a shill idiot’s demands from a clown like yourself?
        I’m right, you’re easily upset, get a life you stupid fool.
        
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        February 22, 2018 9:29am
    - Jack5
      
      Splooge says: “I won’t be getting banned for telling the truth.”
      
      Dead right there Splooge. You don’t know what it is.
      
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      February 22, 2018 11:26am
      - SPLOOGE
        
        I do know that his properties were given a priority rebuild, his own and a rental.
        Prove me wrong fool.
        
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        February 22, 2018 7:11pm
  - SPLOOGE
    
    A similar allegation about two of her houses being rebuilt ahead of others because she was in control of the Christchurch rebuild?
    
    1 21
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    February 22, 2018 9:16am
    - AgentBallSack
      
      Drunk again so early fuckstain? I thought we talked about this.
      
      3 0
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      February 22, 2018 10:33am
      - SPLOOGE
        
        ABS. Up your game child.
        
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        February 22, 2018 7:14pm
- brett68
  
  I thought it was the other way around?
  
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  February 22, 2018 9:01am
- cmm
  
  Gerry Brownlee took up a poisoned chalice when he took on EQC Minister.
  
  Whatever you do in a position like that you’re going to cop a whole lot of negativity and hate from some quarters, especially the over-entitled and proffesional whingers.
  
  Putting up his hand for that earns him some respect in my book.
  
  He is still really well respected in his electorate (I live there), so the people on the ground can recognise this.
  
  By the way: I did not live in his electorate at the time of the earthquakes, so it is not a matter of him seeing to his constituents first.
  
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  February 22, 2018 9:01am
- Harkman
  
  Not true, his were repaired mid-pack. Don’t know about two houses either, he lives next door to my niece’s friend. Very swanky street though.
  
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  February 22, 2018 9:21am
  - SPLOOGE
    
    Bullshit.
    You state not true then immediately admit you don’t know what you’re talking about.
    You can’t have it both ways Harkman.
    
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    February 22, 2018 9:42am
- dime
  
  jacinda only paid the money back after being caught..
  
  Coincidence?
  
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  February 22, 2018 9:26am
- Keeping Stock
  
  That’s an outright lie Splooge. Why though would we expect anything different from you, given your track record?
  
  Brownlee lives just around the corner from my in-laws. I know, because I saw it with my own eyes, that his Fendalton property, “munted” in the September 2010 quake, was not rebuilt until at least 2015.
  
  Interestingly, you never heard Brownlee complain about his own circumstances. That, to me, is the mark of the man; his focus was on helping others.
  
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  February 22, 2018 9:41am
  - SPLOOGE
    
    KS. I know my complete ownership of you has hurt your feelings however the facts are as stated by my good self..
    Your need to defend those your so deeply admire has clouded your sensibilities and turned you into a dribbling fool.
    Have a lay down, put away your devices and learn to accept the truth.
    
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    February 22, 2018 9:47am
    - Captain Mainwaring
      
      Christ on a bike, what a fucking idiot!
      
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      February 22, 2018 10:10am
      - Inandout
        
        On any other blog or message board splooge would be gone. I hope Gerry sues the idiot.
        
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        February 22, 2018 11:16am
      - Keeping Stock
        
        Yes indeed. I appreciate DPF’s attitude towards free speech, but Splooge’s blatant trolling and lies break every rule in the book.
        
        Unfortunately, Gerry can’t sue an anonymous blog commenter if he can’t get evidence as to his identity. He could however sue DPF for allowing a defamatory statement to be published.
        
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        February 22, 2018 11:22am
    - Keeping Stock
      
      No one owns me Splooge, although I allow my wife to think that she does; happy wife, happy life 😀
      
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      February 22, 2018 11:24am
      - SPLOOGE
        
        I imagine she gets her jollies elsewhere.
        
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        February 22, 2018 12:10pm
      - SPLOOGE
        
        Keeping Shit for brains.
        I now take it that after exhaustive inquiries you are now aware that the fat controller’s houses were indeed given priority when it came to being rebuilt.
        It’s fact you fuckwit.
        Why are you such a fucking idiot when it comes to the truth?
        Are you in love with the man? Are you a closet maniac on the chocolate speedway?
        One thing for sure is your are the complete idiot.
        
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        February 22, 2018 7:07pm
    - SPLOOGE
      
      Now KS.
      One cannot be sued for speaking the truth, no matter how unpalatable it is to the psychopathic knob gobbling fools that adore the fat man.
      And now I suppose you’re going to tell me he isn’t fat?
      
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      February 22, 2018 3:20pm
Southern Raider

So even the university’s are turning against Labour’s free student fees policy

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11999085

Funniest part is Maori and Pacifica students on entry level courses designed to help them transition to degrees will pay shit loads more than rich kids.
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February 22, 2018 8:48am
- mandk
  
  I expect we will see course and qualification completion rates decline.
  
  Kids (especially Maori and Pasifika) will be betrayed by this policy because they will be encouraged to enroll at an unsuitable level.
  
  Still, who cares? Socialism is cruelest to the very people it purports to help.
  
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  February 22, 2018 9:03am
  - Classic Liberal
    
    “I expect we will see course and qualification completion rates decline.”
    
    Universities won’t want that statistic, as it looks bad. Instead, they will up the entry requirements to only let in people likely to pass. And rightly so.
    
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    February 22, 2018 12:02pm
    - Paulus
      
      Is it correct that those who get “free” money courses will have to repay the money if they do not reach the required level at the end of the year ?
      
      Hipkins is going a long way to continue to destroy the Parliamentary Labour Party.
      Cindy – suggest you note the incompetence and arrogance which you used against National.
      Hipkins is well underway towards your demise.
      
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      February 22, 2018 1:23pm
- Ross12
  
  Southern Raider
  Another sign of a poorly thought out and planned policy change. Hipkin’s is really becoming a liability for the PM and he will test her leadership/ management skills.
  
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  February 22, 2018 9:18am
- UrbanNeocolonialist
  
  Universities are in a bit of a bind – they need to restrict passing to maintain their value as an exclusive asset to their passing students, but they can’t afford to fail too many lest potential students be put off by low pass rates. Ideally they want to restrict entry to course to those who have already proven they have what it takes to pass.
  
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  February 22, 2018 12:20pm
  - MCos
    
    I would have thought the criteria would have been based on previous academic achievement not ability to cough up the fees?
    
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    February 22, 2018 1:38pm
DigNap15

And what about the hundreds of trained criminals that are being deported back to NZ from Australia.

I read the other day that they have or will deported 300 from NSW and 300 from Victoria.

I imagine most of them will be our PI and Maori brothers from NZ.

Is our government tracking them, to see that they have a job and become productive members of our society.
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February 22, 2018 8:55am
- Southern Raider
  
  Labour just had their voting base increased by 600
  
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  February 22, 2018 9:13am
  - cmm
    
    Well it would be…. if they voted!
    
    6 1
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    February 22, 2018 9:35am
- waikatogirl
  
  Shut down the Comanchero ‘motorbike club’ while there are still only 15 of them, ex-Aussie Comanchero bikers. If the government waits till there are a large number NZ will be stuck with these unwanted criminal bikers for good.
  
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  February 22, 2018 9:34am
  - SPLOOGE
    
    Welcome them home and to a brighter future.
    
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    February 22, 2018 5:41pm
Manolo

This ridiculous woman plumbs new depths:
https://www.wsj.com/articles/elizabeth-warren-lectures-native-americans-about-pocahontas-1519168877?mod=e2tw
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February 22, 2018 8:58am
Captain Mainwaring

HPDA getting stuck in big time to the free first year at university on Newstalk this morning. Apparently the universities are calling it out as a failure before it even starts as it will attract all kinds of students who will fail the courses they choose, but we all knew that already. She says there is two weeks to go before university starts and Labour should abandon the policy NOW.
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February 22, 2018 9:00am
- Stars And Stripes
  
  Sorry Captain but this policy will be a success because if to many students fail they will just have a “review” of the passing criteria and lower the bar as required.
  They have NCEA to follow as a model of how to do it.
  
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  February 22, 2018 9:14am
- Poppa
  
  It will not be abandoned, it will be expanded
  
  Anyway what does it matter if they squander my money?
  
  I think education could be this Government’s downfall. Charter school issue will bite them big time
  
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  February 22, 2018 9:18am
- KevOB
  
  That’s why the fees were introduced!
  
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  February 22, 2018 11:36am
- Shaun the Sheep
  
  It should be the last year of your first degree that is free. Not the first.
  Incentivise kids to finish their courses.
  
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  February 22, 2018 11:44am
Swifty

A sick joke – Indian Muslims burning nappies because they offend their sensibilities:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5418129/Muslims-burn-Pampers-nappies-cartoon-cat.html

Let me preface this by saying I loathe Islam. I believe it is based on events that did not happen – or at least in the manner that they have been portrayed. As a result, I find myself holding in a little contempt those who believe Islamic teachings and beliefs and I find their credulity disappointing. I do though, at all times, force myself to distinguish between Islam the ideology versus Muslims the people and as such I don’t ‘hate’ Muslims. I just believe them to be delusional, misguided and misled. I wish more of them would realise they’re being constantly lied to.

However, it seems to me that what we see with the nappy business is nothing to do with Islam per se – but much more likely some Muslims in India seizing upon this (in my view) non-event and using it to raise their profile in the local Muslim community and shore up their base.

It is manufactured outrage for political purposes – and I think we’re wise to recognise it for what it is.

I also think that the majority of Muslims would not link the two images and in fact would consider it laughable to attempt to do so.

Interested in the thoughts of others.

Oh and by the way I still loathe Islam 🙂
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February 22, 2018 9:01am
- mandk
  
  Why does Mohammed’s name look like a pair of buttocks when it is written in Arabic text?
  
  Perhaps Stephie can tell us.
  
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  February 22, 2018 9:34am
  - KiWombat
    
    Answer is probably simple.
    
    They drew an ass – and thought “that’ll do!”
    
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    February 22, 2018 9:48am
- Kimbo
  
  Is a standard technique of some religions and ideologies to create some point of friction/difference. Demarcates the adherents from the rest of the “world”, energises them, and feeds the paranoid “they are out to destroy us so we had better stick together” mentality. Jehovah’s Witnesses not celebrating birthdays, Christmas or Easter, nor singing the national anthem or taking blood transfusions is an example.
  
  But yes, Islam is an interesting one. Other religions can and do get political, but Islam seems unique in the respect that it is as much a political ideology as a religion. Or at least according to its founder. Hence displays of naked political power and intimidation.
  
  But as you imply Muslims can and do live in contradiction to the tenets of their faith. Like Buddhists eat meat, Roman Catholics take artificial birth control, Jews function without a temple…
  
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  February 22, 2018 9:35am
  - Harkman
    
    Yes, McDonald’s is doing well in India. Mum said that there was girls in her early 1960s Catholic high school that were pregnant.
    
    The funny one is that every 6-9 months I get a group of well dressed Koreans turn up at my door barely able to speak English asking, “You’ve heard about God the Father but what about God the Mother?” I never know how to respond to that one. Sometimes I crack up laughing spontaneously.
    
    A well dressed Jehovah’s Witness guy turned up at my door 2 weeks ago, luckily (or unfortunately) we had the excuse of a death in the family to get rid of him, “we are currently contemplating our faith.”
    
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    February 22, 2018 9:51am
    - Kimbo
      
      Yes, SGA also had that Korean group, the World Mission Society Church of God, knock on his door a few months ago, as I have too here in West Auckland at least once a year. They sometimes also have Pacific Island and/or Maori acolytes in tow, so, like most cults, they target the stray sheep with enough biblical knowledge to be dangerous, but not enough to discern the poison in the message. They bullshit that they are “bible students wanting to do a survey”, but that is just the pretext to get in the door. For some reason they didn’t like me pointing out that their pitch was a case of false witness. 😉
      
      http://www.cults.co.nz/w.php#worldmissionsoc
      
      https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/korean-cult-recruiting-dunedin
      
      Like Jehovah’s Witnesses I usually ask ’em in (on the principle that a pre-evangelised mission field has just arrived on my doorstep! 😉 ), but refuse to let them take control with their pre-programed sales pitch and tag-team routine. So after a few minutes, they are the ones bolting for the door! 😉
      
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      February 22, 2018 10:06am
      - Captain Mainwaring
        
        Speaking of Jehovahs, did you hear about the one who knocked on some guy’s door and promptly got invited inside.
        “Have a seat,” said the homeowner, “now what do you want to talk about.”
        “I dunno, I never got this far before.”
        
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        February 22, 2018 10:14am
      - Scott Hamilton
        
        I find the JWs irritating, but whenever I feel tempted to slam the door in their faces I remember their church’s great moment of courage and distinction:
        https://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10005433
        
        They put Nazi Germany’s other churches to shame. It’s quite incredible that JWs could leave the concentration camps at any time, simply by denouncing their faith and agreeing to war service, and yet that so few did this.
        
        Here in NZ the JWs also got a hard time during WW2, tho of course there’s no comparison to the German situation. They were often called traitors, and a man enraged by their refusal to support the war effort stormed a JW service in Otago with a shotgun and opened fire on the congregation, killing one worshipper.
        
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        February 22, 2018 10:49am
      - Harkman
        
        Do you folks remember Billy Connelly’s trick when they knock on your door? “I’m naked and I have an erection” he then counts down from five. He reckoned you could hear their footsteps on the porch as they rushed off.
        
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        February 22, 2018 10:55am
      - Kimbo
        
        @ Scott Hamilton
        
        They put Nazi Germany’s other churches to shame. It’s quite incredible that JWs could leave the concentration camps at any time, simply by denouncing their faith and agreeing to war service, and yet that so few did this.
        
        Two things:
        
        1. Pedantic I know, but the Jehovah’s Witnesses are not, nor do they claim to be a “church”. As per their theology, only 144,000 throughout history have been, are or will be part of Christ’s church. Instead they describe themselves as “Jehovah’s organisation on earth”. Hence when inquiring of the faith of others, they will usually pitch their question as “what religious organisation do you belong to?”.
        
        2. While the persecution they suffered at the hands of the Nazis was real, and awful, and they are worthy of praise for their steadfastness and martyrdom for their beliefs, the ire of the Nazis was not due to any specific denunciation or opposition to Nazism as such. Instead, in line with their non-aligned political stance, they considered the Nazi regime as satanic and compromised as the British, American, everyone. So they aren’t pacifists as such – they will use violence in the form of self-defense, and to protect family and property. Either way, and in no way trying to justify the churches (Catholic and Protestants) who compromised with the Nazais, I wouldn’t put them on a par with the likes of the “Confessing Church” of the likes of Karl Barth and Dietrich Bonhoeffer…who actually attempted to do something tangible to stop the Nazis…because they were Nazis.
        
        But yes, the principle of conscientious objection is one worth defending. Mind you, conscientious objectors are also subject to just criticism. Personally I find the JW stance that of hypocritical bludgers. Yeah, they do victory laps and make capital out of the story of their persecution at the hands of the Nazis, but they still also despise and hold in contempt the secular atheists, agnostics, Catholics, Lutherans, Presbyterians, Anglicans et. al. who, on account of their political and/or religious principles, sacrificed and sometimes died to free Jehovah’s Witnesses from persecution.
        
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        February 22, 2018 12:19pm
      - Jack5
        
        The Jehovah’s Witnesses were the prisoners of choice for servants of the camp SS officers and their families. They were regarded as trustworthy enough to look after their children.
        
        They received high praise from another source in another war. Jacobo Timerman, the (Jewish) editor and publisher of a leading Argentinian newspaper, was imprisoned for 30 months in the late 1970s, and sometimes tortured. It was during the time the Argentine Government “disappeared” thousands of people, some by tossing them into the ocean from aircraft.
        
        Timerman in his book, Prisoner without a Name, Cell without a Number, heaps praise on gentle, hymn-singing Jehovah’s Witnesses who were fellow prisoners — because they were conscientious objectors to military service. The Argentine military seems to have used them as “trusties”.
        
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        February 22, 2018 4:52pm
Andrei

Last night on TV ONE News they refered to the Duchess of Cambridge , consort to Prince William, heir to the English throne as Kate Middleton whne commenting on the dress she wore to the Baftas, it being green rather than black as required to show solididarity with abused sisters

And today Jennifer Lawrence is under fire for wearing a glamourous dress

Of course Jennifer Lawerence’s entire livlihood is based upon her being er glamerous and if she was an overweight lesbo with cropped hair and tattoos she wouldn’t be where she is today
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February 22, 2018 9:07am
- SGA
  
  @Andrei
  
  And today Jennifer Lawrence is under fire for wearing a glamourous dress –
  
  Yes and no, Andrei, you are telling only half the story. The four males in the photo are casually dressed appropriately for a very cold London day, and she’s dressed in some sort of flimsy evening dress. While the part of me that it is a long-time admirer of the female form approved, another part thought it did look odd in the circumstances.
  
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  February 22, 2018 9:15am
  - Andrei
    
    https://www.facebook.com/JenniferLawrence/posts/10155066698041793
    
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    February 22, 2018 9:19am
  - Kimbo
    
    Context: it was a publicity shot for a movie in which she plays a seductive sex spy.
    
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    February 22, 2018 9:20am
    - SGA
      
      And the men play longshoremen or some such? 😉
      
      fwiw – I recognised that it was a publicity shot, I’m not particularly offended, but I also found the contrast in expectations interesting.
      
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      February 22, 2018 9:27am
    - Jack5
      
      The frilly dress discussion is on at the Winter Olympics, with a Latvian in a cat suit:
      
      http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-5418255/Latvian-figure-skating-star-wins-legion-fans.html
      
      Andre: from her surname, I would say she might be from Latvia’s large ethnic-Russian minority.
      
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      February 22, 2018 11:43am
  - freethinker
    
    Must be those Queen street farmers milking cows on the wharf, or perhaps the results of a Curry dinner eaten by Auckland Councilors.
    
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    February 22, 2018 2:27pm
- Rich Prick
  
  See what happens when you don’t virtue signal to the standard required by the sistas. The world has gone slightly mad. Or left.
  
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  February 22, 2018 9:15am
- AgentBallSack
  
  You will be pleased to know that JLaw is quitting acting to focus on “fixing democracy”.
  Translation: No more roles (or bukkake) forthcoming from Weinstein.
  
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  February 22, 2018 9:25am
- mandk
  
  The feminazis have really got their knickers in a twist over this story.
  
  First they were enraged because they assumed that JL was being oppressed by being forced to wear a skimpy dress while all the men around her were wrapped up against the cold.
  
  Then they found they needed to change tack and take umbrage because JL had elected to objectify women by wearing the dress.
  
  And in other important news, the Kapiti community is still grieving the passing of a gay goose, or maybe it was trans, or something like that. Anyway, we’re all supposed to be jolly sad.
  
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  February 22, 2018 9:28am
  - Andrei
    
    That truly is a story form the department of oh FFS
    
    Apprently Thomas the goose had a long term relationship with Henry the Black Swan
    
    Then Henrietta a female black swan turned up and Henry and Henrietta made babies (cygnets) together
    
    The story contains a photo captioned “Thomas the goose and Henry the swan with their babies” even though a male goose cannot create goslings with a male swan and it was Henrietta who laid the eggs,
    
    Never let facts get in the way of a fairy tale
    
    The mayor gave a speech at the funeral
    
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    February 22, 2018 10:05am
    - G152
      
      He roasted the goose and swanned about then?
      
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      February 22, 2018 10:58am
- Shaun the Sheep
  
  Yes, it’s Kate Middleton all the way despite an elaborate wedding that our media somehow missed.
  And the royals will not be seen to be political, hence the Duchess did not dress in black.
  
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  February 22, 2018 4:55pm
DigNap15

So do I.
It is a curse on its adherents and to the rest of the world that just wants to get on with life and enjoy it.
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February 22, 2018 9:08am
Manolo

The worldwide collapse of the MSM and fake-news industry:
https://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek-top-editors-threaten-to-resign-claiming-company-tried-to-silence-investigation-of-owners/main-info

Several Newsweek staffers threatened to resign earlier this week, accusing the company of attempting to muzzle the publishing of a story further detailing internal turmoil at the magazine and ties to a controversial Christian college.

On Tuesday evening, Newsweek published a story about previously unreported ties between Newsweek Media Group (which also owns International Business Times) and Olivet University’s efforts to develop a campus in upstate New York. Olivet, which is affiliated with a mysterious religious sect called “The Community,” has numerous connections to former leaders of NMG.

But not before several reporters and editors made it clear to management that they would quit if Newsweek did not publish the story.
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February 22, 2018 9:14am
- Inandout
  
  I always regarded Newsweek as ultra Left, so being Christian aligned interests me.
  
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  February 22, 2018 9:25am
  - stephieboy
    
    If Newsweek is Ultra Left what is Ultra Right ?
    
    Fox , Alex Jones , WND , frontpage ???
    
    1 24
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    February 22, 2018 9:37am
- stephieboy
  
  Manolo , surely leftwing Daily Beast has got to be unreliable
  
  Plus,
  
  AS TRUMP’S PROBLEMS MOUNT, BREITBART’S NUMBERS ARE CRATERING
  
  A media business based on attack has been much less successful when forced to defend.
  
  https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2017/05/breitbart-traffic-numbers-are-cratering.
  
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  February 22, 2018 9:39am
  - Harkman
    
    “AS TRUMP’S PROBLEMS MOUNT, BREITBART’S NUMBERS ARE CRATERING”
    
    Trump’s in better shape today then this time last year. I think you’ve got Trump derangement syndrome. You need to seek help.
    
    17 2
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    February 22, 2018 9:54am
    - All_on_Red
      
      Rassmussin has Trump at 48% yesterday.
      Meanwhile Vox just laid off 50 staff
      CNN’s ratings have plummeted. Not even in the top ten and is below Home and Garden!
      Fox is number one- easily
      
      10 1
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      February 22, 2018 1:02pm
      - stephieboy
        
        All on Red , its tabloid factoid format might explain it ,
        
        https://www.ranker.com/list/best-gossip-magazines/ranker-books
        
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        February 22, 2018 1:50pm
  - All_on_Red
    
    Stephie/Frank
    Your link is a bit old. May last year? Really.
    According to Alexa they have bounced back.
    48th most popular at the end of the year. Slid slightly back to 53 today.
    Still ahead of Wapo.
    
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    February 22, 2018 1:10pm
    - stephieboy
      
      All on Red, gullible as you are a refresher on Fox ( Faux ) News lie of the day ,
      
      https://www.facebook.com/FoxNewsLiesOfTheDay/
      
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      February 22, 2018 1:54pm
      - All_on_Red
        
        Look at actual Alexa results you dumb retard
        What a Mong, posting data 9 months old
        
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        February 22, 2018 2:54pm
KiWombat

In this world of sin and sorrow there is always something to be grateful for.

As for me, I’m grateful that I never joined NZ1st

Hallelujah !
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February 22, 2018 9:22am
Poppa

Is the new modern version of TPP due to be released today?

Somehow Labour have changed from marching in the streets against it to now they are proudly promoting it. It must have fairy dust spread all over it or something
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February 22, 2018 9:27am
- Manolo
  
  Where is the communist mad professor Jane Kelsey?
  
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  February 22, 2018 9:34am
  - RalphT
    
    Who cares?
    (Though she was on the TV news last night* spouting her usual piece about how the TPP, sorry the comprehensive and progressive TPP, was still going to lead to the downfall of civilisation.)
    *sorry, I’m old and still watch the TV news occasionally.
    
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    February 22, 2018 9:48am
- waikatogirl
  
  Yep, Todd McClay who helped negotiate the TPP says the trumpeted changes are so negligible by the CoL as to be no change at all.
  
  The people are being sucked in by virtue signalling Cindy and crew.
  
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  February 22, 2018 9:55am
  - Rachael Membery
    
    Well I am just glad if it is signed sealed and delivered, that Labour will take the credit, ‘real’ people know the truth.
    
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    February 23, 2018 8:56am
Harkman

So I almost forgot over all these years. So on election day 2008, I opened up a letter that just arrived in the post, it was from Winston berating John Key. This was campaigning on Election day. I was delighted though he was booted out that night but I did save the letter. Then when the 2011 election rolled around and he made a come back I was going to find the letter and lay an official complaint. But because of the earthquakes (I moved into temporary accommodation) and because shysters had looted my place, I couldn’t find the letter. Gutted.

Anyone else get an electioneering letter from Winston on election day 2008?
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February 22, 2018 9:34am
Scott Hamilton

I was hoping that National’s leadership contest would generate some debate about the big issues, but so far National’s candidates, just like the candidates in Labour’s earlier leadership contests, seem to have focused on tactical and fairly trivial questions, like whether the party needs to promote a lot of backbench MPs or not.

It’d be fascinating to hear the leadership candidates debate NZ’s relations with China. The Key government was so close to Beijing that one Chinese diplomat compared NZ to Albania, China’s best ally back in the ’60s. Under Key and English, NZ became the only Western state to support China’s Belt Road and Maritime Silk Road project, which is aimed at improving the access of Beijing’s businesses and military to distant parts of the world.

National support for the Maritime Silk Road put NZ on China’s side of the ongoing dispute about the ownership of the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea (a dozen Southeast Asian nations have been protesting China’s seizure of atolls and sandbanks in the Spratlys, and its building of huge military bases there, and demanding that China allow open navigation through the area).

NZ’s new government has changed tack, and said that it is opposed to the Belt Road and Maritime Silk Road projects.

In the last week a series of Australian academics have complained of harassment from China, and a professor from Christchurch has alleged that agents of the Chinese government sent her a threat and twice burgled her home. Jacinda Ardern has said the intelligence services are investigating these attacks.

Professor Marie-Anne Brady had previously warned about a number of Chinese attempts to undermine NZ sovereignty. One of the Beijing-controlled organisations she’d talked about is the Confucius Institute, which teaches Chinese language and culture in many Western universities, including the University of Auckland, and has been accused of spying on students and pressuring lecturers to sanitise Chinese history. The FBI has been investigating the Confucius Institute, and in the last 24 hours the Republican senator Marco Rubio has called for it to be kicked out of American colleges:
http://dailybruin.com/2018/02/15/despite-federal-concerns-ucla-will-not-close-confucius-institute/

Given recent events, I’d like to know whether National is still in favour of the Belt Road and Maritime Silk Road projects, and whether it feels that an investigation into Chinese interference in NZ affairs would be a good idea. Judith Collins has been known in the past for her very friendly attitude towards China. Does she still take the same attitude?
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February 22, 2018 9:36am
- mikenmild
  
  Here’s my prediction: no senior National or Labour figure will express concern, much less do anything about, the dubious ties their parties and individual members (and ex-Ministers) have to the Chinese communists.
  
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  February 22, 2018 10:03am
  - Scott Hamilton
    
    I’m sure you’re right mike, but I suspect that, as the confrontation between China and some of NZ’s traditional allies heats up, National and Labour will have to make some difficult choices. The parties stands for friendly ties and military cooperation with the US, but they’ve created a situation where NZ’s economically dependent on China, and some of their key members have cosy relationship with Chinese business. So what happens if, for example, missiles start flying in the South China Sea, or China announces it’ll end trade with countries that don’t recognise its s’posed rights to the region?
    
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    February 22, 2018 10:54am
    - Jack5
      
      Scott, yes it will be interesting.
      
      We’ve already had experience of, first, a hostile reception by the peaceniks of Auckland to the US Navy, which saved NZ from occupation in World War 2; and, second, ships from the People’s Liberation Army Navy have been welcomed in Auckland.
      
      Australia is in the same bind. China buys its coal and iron ore, but Australia positions itself as a close American ally.
      
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      February 22, 2018 12:02pm
      - stephieboy
        
        Jack 5 ,
        
        “People’s Liberation Army Navy have been welcomed in Auckland.” ??
        
        Barely noticed I believe. Pix and videos of ticker tape and flag waving ?
        
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        February 22, 2018 1:57pm
      - Jack5
        
        Stephie X:
        
        This is from an Auckland Chinese web site (link below) 19 Nov 2017:
        
        “Last night, New Zealand Chinese community held a fellowship and welcome party for officers and soldiers of the Chinese navy Yancheng ship at Auckland Metropolis Museum.”
        
        The second link below includes pictures of Auckland Chinese queueing to welcome Chinese warships in 2010. Some of the Auckland Chinese are waving red flags.
        
        http://metropoliseventscentre.co.nz/welcome-party-for-yancheng-ship/
        
        The 2010 welcome:
        http://joelcayford.blogspot.co.nz/2010/09/chinese-warships-at-queens-wharf.html
        
        Well, Stephie X, you got me! What am I doing replying to a TROLL TEAM, a group of semi-literate, Stephiestani trolls?
        
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        February 22, 2018 3:20pm
      - Scott Hamilton
        
        Hi Jack, I’m not keen on having US or Chinese warships in NZ. With Trump in power a coherent US foreign policy is more or less absent, but Obama and Clinton were implementing a ‘pivot to the east’ that was seeing them open new bases in the Pacific and closing facilities down in Europe, and pursue confrontation with China. I don’t see any benefit to NZ from lining up with a declining power against China. At the same time, I didn’t like the way a Chinese diplomat recently described NZ as China’s Albania!
        
        There are a score of Asian nations that China has aggrieved with its aggression in the South China Sea. If they work together, they may well be a match for the superpower. China’s recent decision to confront India on their shared border is bringing India into an alliance with Malaysia, Vietnam, the Philippines and other nations that Beijing has been stealing islands from in the South China Sea. I’m pleased that Labour has put us on the right side – and it is the right side from both an ethical and a strategic perspective – of the South China Sea conflict, by abandoning National’s support for the Maritime Silk Road.
        
        Can any National supporter explain why the Key and English governments got in behind the Maritime Silk Road, in defiance of world opinion?
        
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        February 22, 2018 3:47pm
      - Scott Hamilton
        
        I think plenty of people welcomed the US ships, Jack5. Was there a mixture of protesters and welcomers when the PLA arrived? I don’t know. But I do know some members of the ‘peacenik left’ were involved in giving Auckland the world’s only public monument to the Tiananmen Square massacre, back in ’89:
        https://nzhistory.govt.nz/media/photo/tiananmen-square-memorial
        
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        February 22, 2018 3:51pm
      - stephieboy
        
        Jack 5 , hardly a ticker tape flag waving parade down Queen St Americas cup style !
        
        https://www.sail-world.com/Australia/Americas-Cup—Huge-crowds-brave-rain-and-thunder-to-welcome-Cup/155279
        
        LOL
        
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        February 22, 2018 8:45pm
    - kowtow
      
      Looks like Duterte has already taken sides.
      
      “It’s not intended for us. The contending ideological powers of the world or the geopolitics has greatly changed. It’s really intended against those who the Chinese think would destroy them and that is America.”
      
      I wonder how much the Chinese paid him?
      
      https://www.reuters.com/article/us-philippines-china-southchinasea/philippines-duterte-plays-down-china-military-facilities-in-disputed-sea-idUSKCN1G31KQ
      
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      February 22, 2018 5:13pm
cmm

First Goof, now Dalziel. The joys of having ex Labour MPs as mayors!

https://www.stuff.co.nz/motoring/101640372/christchurch-city-council-wants-to-introduce-fuel-tax-to-pay-for-road-repairs

“I don’t understand why Auckland can have something and we can’t.”
15 1
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February 22, 2018 9:44am
Keeping Stock

I see that the Hager family has re-released a chapter of their book they wrote from stolen emails. I won’t dignify them with a link. In the chapter Cameron Slater and Simon Lusk have a number of conversations about Mark Mitchell, but there is no evidence whatsoever of Mitchell being involved in any wrongdoing. Simultaneously, Newshub is trying to get Mitchell to admit that he killed a number of insurgents in Iraq.

The Left is clearly shitting itself at the prospect of Mitchell winning the National Party leadership. Last week, there was lots of scuttlebutt around Judith Collins. Maybe a Collins/Mitchell leadership team is just what New Zealand needs; it will certainly send the political Left apoplectic!
33 4
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February 22, 2018 9:58am
- Captain Mainwaring
  
  Love your work KS, Collins and Mitchell are the dream team.
  
  13 2
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  February 22, 2018 10:18am
  - Dave Mann
    
    Maybe just the best of a bad bunch.
    
    3 8
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    February 22, 2018 10:36am
- kowtow
  
  Yep look at this for a ridiculous headline, again from shit stirrer Burr.
  
  “The bloody past of National leadership contender Mark Mitchell”
  
  http://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2018/02/the-bloody-past-of-national-leadership-contender-mark-mitchell.html
  
  You’d never get a similar headline for any of the rabidly feminist abortionists who have been so prominently in our headlines.
  
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  February 22, 2018 12:41pm
- Morrissey
  
  Leaked emails.
  
  1 4
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  February 22, 2018 5:01pm
stephieboy

Closing in on the White House ,

“Lawyer Pleads Guilty to Lying in Russia Probe Case”

“A London-based lawyer pleaded guilty Tuesday to lying to U.S. investigators about his contacts with Rick Gates, a former campaign aide to President Donald Trump, as part of the widening probe of Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. election.

The office of Special Counsel Robert Mueller disclosed the accusations against attorney Alex Van der Zwaan early Tuesday, and he pleaded guilty later in the day in a Washington court. Van der Zwaan is the son-in-law of Russian billionaire German Khan and had been working for the prominent New York law firm of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom until the firm said it fired him last year….”

https://www.voanews.com/a/mueller-charges-lawyer-/4262244.html
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February 22, 2018 10:31am
- Inandout
  
  stephie, keep repeating the truth, ‘there was no collusion by Trump at any time with Russia’. Then keep saying ‘Clinton colluded with Russians over the uranium deal’. Repeat until it enters your subconscious.
  
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  February 22, 2018 11:30am
  - virtualmark
    
    Inandout,
    
    Perhaps you can help me with a question … why hasn’t Trump had the DOJ appoint a Special Investigator to look at the uranium deal?
    
    0 2
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    February 22, 2018 8:38pm
    - stephieboy
      
      Vm , because its conspiracy theory Territory and untrue !
      
      0 6
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      February 22, 2018 8:50pm
DigNap15

Yes, I’d like that Collins and Mitchell

But I’d also like a five minute speech from each of them on what they stand for, and what they’d like to achieve if they were Prime Minister.
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February 22, 2018 10:32am
- kevn
  
  @Dig…
  Bit soon for Mitchell to go for Nats leader. Apprenticeship as deputy needed with Judith Collins as leader.
  
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  February 22, 2018 11:23am
KiWombat

Last year we had a footrace between Cindy and Bill.

Bill came first.

The MSM reported that Cindy came in second, and that Bill had come home next to last.

Wee man read the MSM and made an appointment.

Easy !
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February 22, 2018 10:42am
Longknives

I’m enjoying watching those utter hypocritical wankers at Hollywood turning on each other.

So the Femnazis attack Jennifer Lawrence for wearing a revealing dress during a publicity photoshoot- ‘Waah those evil Men made her do it’ etc etc
Now Lawrence is attacking the Femnazis with ‘It’s my choice what I wear’
Sit back and enjoy your Popcorn while Hollywood implodes.
*Seriously- If all us evil blokes really wanted to see the annoying Jennifer Lawrence undressed we could just Google her umm ‘private collection’ that is splashed all over the Net
16 1
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February 22, 2018 10:53am
- Kimbo
  
  Jennifer Larence was good as the ghastly wife from hell in ‘American Hustle’. Really good. Like, you really want to smack her! Ooops, somewhere in the Universe, that will likely trigger a reaction to my inherent misogyny. 😉
  
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wpDGRufNdDk
  
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6N8z2WIYr4M
  
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BB6DI0AlNw
  
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  February 22, 2018 11:01am
  - Longknives
    
    I’m actually amazed the airhead still has a career after she blamed the killer Hurricanes on Trump!
    ‘Mother Nature is punishing us for Electing him’ kinda thing..
    Because nothing bad ever happened when a Democrat was in office..
    
    8 1
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    February 22, 2018 11:20am
    - itstricky
      
      after she blamed the killer Hurricanes on Trump
      
      Pffft
      
      https://www.snopes.com/jennifer-lawrence-hurricanes-trump/
      
      3 8
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      February 22, 2018 12:23pm
  - AgentBallSack
    
    I actually enjoyed her performance in Silver Linings Playbook. De Niro stole the show though.
    (She played a psychotic foul mouthed bitch in that. Perhaps she just played herself on second thoughts)
    
    5 1
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    February 22, 2018 11:52am
    - Longknives
      
      I must confess- I’ve been pretty underwhelmed by everything De Niro has done since the days of Heat and Cape Fear.
      In the days of Godfather, Taxi Driver and Raging Bull he was one of the greatest actors on the planet..
      
      9 1
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      February 22, 2018 12:13pm
      - Kimbo
        
        Yep. Now he chases the money…
        
        6 1
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        February 22, 2018 12:30pm
Manolo

Rust and Mueller never sleep:
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/mueller-asking-if-manafort-promised-banker-white-house-job-return-n849916

Federal investigators are probing whether former Trump campaign chair Paul Manafort promised a Chicago banker a job in the Trump White House in return for $16 million in home loans, two people with direct knowledge of the matter told NBC News.
6 2
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February 22, 2018 11:01am
- Inandout
  
  Another leak from ‘official sources’?
  
  6 2
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  February 22, 2018 11:32am
- waripori
  
  Curious why Manolo gets three upticks and Stephie gets 13 downticks for what is essentially the same sort of post. Although Van der Zwaan and Manafort are different defendants it is more or less the same crime and all part of Mueller putting pressure on Manafort to flip.
  
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  February 22, 2018 12:15pm
  - Manolo
    
    @waripori: Our resident Muslim stephieboy appears to have a worse reputation than me. Would that explain the figures? 😀
    
    9 3
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    February 22, 2018 1:34pm
    - waripori
      
      I am sure that does explain it but it might not be a bad idea for people to read posts before downticking, especially if it is short.
      Incidentally, I had you down as a Trumpster. Maybe not so much.
      
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      February 22, 2018 3:01pm
      - sooty
        
        Stephieboy deserves each and every downtick!
        
        5 1
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        February 22, 2018 6:48pm
Hugh Pavletich

Posted at … https://www.macrobusiness.com.au/2018/02/links-22-february-2018/#comment-3054117 … and … https://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/2018/02/general_debate_21_february_2018.html/comment-page-1#comment-2144263 ( with extensive further posts )

UNITED STATES: Existing Home Sales Extend Plunge, Biggest Annual Drop Since 2014 | Zero Hedge

https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-02-21/existing-home-sales-extend-plunge-december-nar-blames-inventory-not-rates

After new- and existing-home sales tumbled in December, expectations were for a modest 0.5% rebound in January (despite plunging mortgage applications and soaring rates). But that did not happen as existing home sales tumbled 3.2% MoM to its lowest level since Aug 2016. … read more via hyperlink above …

Mortgage Applications Plunge Most Since 2015 As Rates Soar | Zero Hedge

https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-02-21/mortgage-applications-plunge-most-2015-rates-soar

A week ago we highlighted the tumble in US mortgage applications, and things just got worser-er. As mortgage rates extend 4-year highs, home purchase applications plunged 15% in the last few weeks – the biggest drop since Feb 2015. … read more via hyperlink above …

Mortgage applications tank, as rising rates make homes less affordable … CNBC

https://www.cnbc.com/2018/02/21/mortgage-applications-tank-as-rising-rates-make-homes-less-affordable.html

•The numbers are getting uglier for potential homebuyers and homeowners looking to save some money.

•Mortgage interest rates jumped again last week, causing mortgage application volume to fall 6.6 percent from the previous week.

•Volume was just 3.5 percent higher than the same week one year ago, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association. … VIEW & READ more via hyperlink above …
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February 22, 2018 11:01am
- Hugh Pavletich
  
  NAB (National Australia Bank) tightens loan-to-income limits – MacroBusiness Australia
  
  https://www.macrobusiness.com.au/2018/02/nab-tightens-loan-income-limits/
  
  … Pavletich comment on thread …
  
  LEARNING FROM THE IRISH 2007 HOUSING CRASH … THE SEVERE COSTS OF MULTIPLE STRETCH …
  
  It’s high multiple lending that ‘does in’ the Banks and their customers … as they learned with the Irish housing bubble collapse in 2007.
  
  When the housing bubble burst there … putting all its Banks to the wall and requiring bailouts exceeding 70 billion euro or about $NZ 109 billion (note interview with Prof Bill Black and others link below).
  
  Irish housing across its metros on average went from 4.7 times annual household income in 2007 to 2.8 a few years later … refer the schedule of Demographia Surveys at http://www.PerformanceUrbanPlanning.org .
  
  Australia is currently 5.9 times … New Zealand 5.8.
  
  What was the capital base of the Irish Banks in 2006 and 2007 ?
  
  If a 4.7 unweighted median multiple across its metros blew the Irish banks out of the water, how come the Australian and New Zealand ones are supposed to survive 5.9 and 5.8 respectively ?
  
  Following the bust, the Central Bank of Ireland found in subsequent research, it was high income multiple lending (more so than high loan to value lending) that did the most damage to the Irish Banks … and it imposed a general lending cap of 3.5 times gross annual household incomes.
  
  A year earlier the Bank of England had capped at 4.5 times.
  
  In normal housing markets house prices should not exceed 3.0 times annual household income, requiring sensible mortgage loads of about 2.5 times (Demographia Survey http://www.demographia.com ).
  
  Prof Bill Black & others discussing the Irish financial system performance may be of interest … Youtube
  
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7zd5dRILBw
  
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  February 22, 2018 11:05am
  - Longknives
    
    Jesus you must be the ‘Life of the Party’ Hugh…
    
    21 4
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    February 22, 2018 11:21am
  - Luke Piewalker
    
    For gods sake Hugh. I read up to the first link of your posts and wake up two weeks later.
    
    4 1
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    February 22, 2018 4:42pm
- Keeping Stock
  
  Why are you re-posting something you posted yesterday Hugh. Did it get down-ticked into obscurity too quickly?
  
  How would you feel if someone walked into your place, and crapped all over the carpet? That’s what you are doing to DPF’s blog.
  
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  February 22, 2018 11:08am
  - AgentBallSack
    
    Do what I do KS, downtick, report and move on. One day DPF might get sick of all the negative reports clogging up his inbox and ban this crap
    
    16 3
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    February 22, 2018 11:50am
    - stephieboy
      
      ABS ,David is genuine classical liberal and doesn’t believe in censorship as you do and you get over at Whale Blubber .
      
      3 16
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      February 22, 2018 2:03pm
      - SPLOOGE
        
        They likes of KS and ABS are just bitter twisted fuckwits with ideas above their station.
        They talk a lot without saying anything.
        Blow hard attention seekers who live their lives vicariously through this blog.
        Outside here they are nothing. In here they are also nothing.
        
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        February 22, 2018 5:55pm
      - KiWombat
        
        Are you always so stupid, or is today a special occasion?
        
        4 1
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        February 22, 2018 6:33pm
  - Hugh Pavletich
    
    I expect National will be down in the 30%’s in the next Colmar Brunton poll … following the demoralizing leadership changes. It sure is a hell of a mess …
    
    Labour soars to highest level in 15 years in new 1 NEWS Colmar Brunton poll | 1 NEWS NOW | TVNZ
    
    https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/labour-soars-highest-level-in-15-years-new-1-news-colmar-brunton-poll
    
    Support for Labour has jumped strongly in the latest 1 NEWS Colmar Brunton political poll.
    
    The party is at 48 per cent, up nine points on its December poll result, its highest level in 15 years.
    
    And it now has a clear lead over National which has slipped three points since December to be at 43 per cent. … VIEW & READ more via hyperlink above …
    .
    .
    We can thank Captain ‘Costa Concordia’ Key for the shambles … refer the GONE GONE GOING section at http://www.PerformanceUrbanPlanning.org .
    
    3 27
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    February 22, 2018 11:53am
  - stephieboy
    
    KS , not your blog . Go and suck eggs !
    
    2 21
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    February 22, 2018 2:01pm
    - lofty
      
      Oh Stephie you really are an eggomaniac.
      
      12 2
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      February 22, 2018 3:06pm
      - Jack5
        
        The Stephies have no grasp of current English idiom.
        
        They are stuck in the days of the Raj, with phrases from the comic books that used to circulate among colonial civil servants.
        
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        February 22, 2018 3:24pm
      - Hugh Pavletich
        
        AUCKLAND: Not a single sale at Barfoot’s main apartment auction, two out of five sell at Ray White City Apartments | interest.co.nz
        
        https://www.interest.co.nz/property/92276/not-single-sale-barfoots-main-apartment-auction-two-out-five-sell-ray-white-city
        
        The omens weren’t good at the start of Barfoot & Thompson’s main CBD apartment auction this week, with a very thin crowd of potential buyers turning up at the agency’s Shortland Street rooms, although there were also some phone bidders. … read more via hyperlink above …
        
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        February 22, 2018 4:18pm
UpandComer

http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2018/02/20/delingpole-noaa-caught-adjusting-big-freeze-out-of-existence/

Where is William of Ockham? Dammit willy I want to believe but your gods keep showing all their wires and levers.

What is the deal on climate change? Is Dilbertman right? Is it all a ruse like ‘diversity’ to disenfranchise evil Nazbol whites and empower superior ‘vibrants ‘who ignore it completely? What do?
15 3
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February 22, 2018 11:09am
cmm

Transparencey International still has us rated as the least corrupt country for 2017:

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/101662094/nz-ranked-least-corrupt-country-again

What are the odds for 2018 with:
a) A PM who lied about and concealed her breeding ambitions and status.
b) A duplicitous deputy PM who has lied about:
* negotiating in good faith
* overclaiming super.
* $158k
c) whatever else is still coming out.

And the statistician in me would also like to point out that a change in score from 90 to 89 is not significant. Nor is the difference in scores between the top two or three.

Notice how Africa and the shitholistans are scoring very low? Somalia taking the prize for the worst.
18 2
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February 22, 2018 11:14am
- DigNap15
  
  Geez
  With all the immigrant scams, driver license giveaways, paying tradies under the table, paying restuarant workers $5 an hour and tax evasions its a wonder we are still up there!
  The other countries must be really bad.
  
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  February 22, 2018 12:54pm
  - cmm
    
    You don’t get out much do you?
    
    We really live in a patch of heaven on earth.
    
    Even those living in “poverdy” love it here. The proof is in the thousands of Polynesians and others at the “poverdy” end of the spectrum that flood in every year.
    
    9 2
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    February 22, 2018 2:17pm
    - sooty
      
      Free money!
      
      4 1
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      February 22, 2018 6:54pm
kevn

Anyway…. where did this smarmy chris hipkins crawl out from? He has too much (negative) impact.
16 1
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February 22, 2018 11:21am
rouppe

There’s a story in the Herald about the unintended consequences looming as a result of the 1 year fees-free tertiary study.

In it Hipkins says “Muslim students, for example, under their religious beliefs aren’t able to borrow money. So they wouldn’t have been able to access it.”

My understanding is that strict Islam says that a Muslim cannot charge interest on money they loan, but as far as I am aware that means nothing when the lender is not Muslim, and Islam says nothing about borrowing.

What is the correct situation?
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February 22, 2018 12:03pm
- rangitoto
  
  Hipkins is talking absolute rubbish. Given that student loans are interest free it doesn’t cause any issues for Islam.
  
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  February 22, 2018 12:23pm
- Maggy Wassilieff
  
  For muslims that adhere to Sharia law, they cannot pay interest on loans.
  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riba
  
  If the student remains in NZ, then the loan is interest-free. However if the student goes overseas for longer than 6months before settling the debt, then interest is charged.
  https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/93071153/how-to-keep-out-of-student-loan-trouble-while-overseas
  
  Britain is considering Sharia-friendly student loans.
  http://www.halalstudentloans.co.uk/
  
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  February 22, 2018 2:59pm
big bruv

Re Billy Graham. I am tempted to say something along the lines of how comforting it is that in death a low life like Graham discovers there is no heaven. However, the reality is that a charlatan like Graham knew all along that there is no higher being.

Graham was an evil man, the world is better off without him.
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February 22, 2018 12:05pm
- Inandout
  
  Please link us to this ‘evilness’.
  
  8 3
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  February 22, 2018 12:09pm
  - Swifty
    
    I’ll have a crack.
    
    Billy Graham made a very comfortable living for himself, family and friends by telling lies. For decade upon decade he presented as facts things he either knew were untrue or couldn’t possibly know to be true.
    
    Any number of his speeches on Youtube show him declaring “the problems in America today are directly caused by people turning away from god” or “are god’s punishment”, “join with us or you’ll spent eternity in a place called hell” etc etc.
    
    I could go on and on and on about all the lies he told. And to children!
    
    If people want to look up to or celebrate this sort of behaviour, well that’s up to them. I however will not be joining them.
    
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    February 22, 2018 1:20pm
    - lifesgood
      
      He did a heap more good for people than you will ever do, Swifty. You sound like a miserable sod.
      
      7 1
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      February 22, 2018 3:32pm
      - Swifty
        
        You have completely missed my point.
        
        Hamas do a lot of good as well with their charitable works. Does that prove their Islamic babbling is true?
        
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        February 22, 2018 5:06pm
- softail 1450
  
  big bruv, you are talking shit,graham was a saint when compared to 60% of catholic priests on the planet.
  
  7 5
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  February 22, 2018 12:31pm
  - lifesgood
    
    What utter crap.
    
    1 0
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    February 22, 2018 6:19pm
Manolo

A violation of the rights of these poor and defenseless African invaders, claim the European elites and their do-gooders. What will our resident Muslim have to say?

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/france-immigration-emmanuel-macron-crackdown-french-protests-refugee-a8221611.html

Emmanuel Macron’s government is clamping down on illegal immigration with a new bill that accelerates the expulsion of people who do not qualify for asylum.

The plan will reduce France’s “consideration period” for an asylum application to a maximum of six months, down from about one year including appeal. It will also and make the illegal crossing of borders an offence punishable by one year in jail and fines.

The French President has been criticised by human rights organisations who have argued the policy represses asylum-seekers, as it will make it more difficult for them to defend their rights.
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February 22, 2018 12:10pm
Surely Knott

Ban Update: On Tuesday Akd Council voted to ban entry into Akds Regional Parks and forests. On Wednesday , an article that Maori don’t think it’s gone far enough and we should close all forests with Kauri in NZ. On Thursday Akd Council are lobbying to ban private fireworks across the Nation. Anyone want to make a guess what they will ban on Friday?
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February 22, 2018 12:12pm
- Longknives
  
  “Maori don’t think it’s gone far enough and we should close all forests with Kauri in NZ”
  
  Closed except for the ‘Chosen People’ themselves- Who can enter the forest and Hunt/Grow Weed /Whatever at their leisure..
  
  21 3
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  February 22, 2018 12:20pm
  - itstricky
    
    Closed except for the ‘Chosen People’ themselves- Who can enter the forest and Hunt/Grow Weed /Whatever at their leisure..
    
    And you know that because…
    
    3 19
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    February 22, 2018 12:28pm
    - softail 1450
      
      itstricky, if you dont “know that” i assume you must be new to our country .
      
      14 1
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      February 22, 2018 12:48pm
  - Surely Knott
    
    Yes a ban plus multi million dollar contract for security and enforcement of the forest ban. Which will go to whom? No wonder they are keen on more bans elsewhere. And yes I bet your right. Will they then give limited permission for certain people to re enter the forest.
    
    13 1
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    February 22, 2018 12:32pm
  - lifesgood
    
    Anyone would think maori own or have rights over the kauri. What tosh! The kauri were here for hundreds and hundreds of years before maori set foot in the place. They did not bring them, they did not plant them, they have no more right to them than anyone else.
    
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    February 22, 2018 3:26pm
big bruv

It’s just a few trees for fuck sake. It’s not as if we are short of the bloody things in this country.
9 3
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February 22, 2018 1:20pm
- Paulus
  
  Koori die back is not man made anyway – it is natural and is likened to Phytophera which is a root virus.
  Ask any Horticulturist, especially an Avocado grower who generally injects for it every year or so.
  
  7 1
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  February 22, 2018 1:35pm
- RalphT
  
  “It’s not as if we are short of the bloody things…”
  
  Oh yes we are. Our leader tells us that we are short by a billion and she must be right.
  
  9 2
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  February 22, 2018 1:45pm
- Surely Knott
  
  Agree! There are heaps of them. Barton: Spokesperson at the council meeting, Research scientist, and Head of the Tree Council was until a year ago Twyfords assistant.
  
  4 1
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  February 22, 2018 2:16pm
Poppa

In my time I have never seen such a destructive little weasel as Hipkins. He makes my blood boil

Looks like he should still be at school himself & is acting like a self appointed prefect

Anyway where is Ztev today?
12 1
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February 22, 2018 2:01pm
- KiWombat
  
  He was dealt a glancing blow thismorning, so has gone off to sulk
  
  10 1
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  February 22, 2018 3:02pm
- RF
  
  Chippy is a nerdy snitch…
  
  7 1
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  February 22, 2018 3:23pm
- lifesgood
  
  Yeah, Hipkins is an arrogant upstart barely out of short pants. What does he know about anything? It is embarrassing that someone like him can wield power over the education of young New Zealanders when he shows no signs of having been educated himself. I am really curious to know what on earth his thought processes are because they seem to be mighty mysterious or he is simply shit scared of the teachers unions.
  
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  February 22, 2018 3:24pm
  - Maggy Wassilieff
    
    Actually, Hipkins does know a lot about Education.
    
    He served as senior advisor to 2 Education Ministers before entering parliament.
    http://www.chrishipkins.org.nz/about_me
    
    He is the son of Rose Hipkins, Chief Researcher at the NZ Council for Educational Research.
    http://www.nzcer.org.nz/research/rosemary-hipkins
    (She was one of my Lecturers at Teacher’s Training College)
    
    4 1
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    February 22, 2018 4:00pm
    - lifesgood
      
      Interesting, Maggy, so why are his thoughts on education so off the planet?
      
      4 1
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      February 22, 2018 4:21pm
      - Maggy Wassilieff
        
        Some of his ideas I agree with, but I’m afraid he’ll want to effect too much change too rapidly.
        
        In his favour is the fact that he must have a damn good inkling of how/why schools fail. He was the last head Boy of Petone Tech as/or just before that school imploded.
        
        He is one of the few Labour MPs who will always be on top of his portfolio. National will need to be very clear about its Educational philosophy if they want to shift him from his views.
        
        I think the long tail of failure in NZ schools is the Achille’s Heel of NZ education. This is where National must challenge the teachers/ unions.
        
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        February 22, 2018 4:44pm
Odakyu-sen

On one hand, supermarkets are to stop selling caged-hen eggs, and yet, with the ongoing densification of Auckland housing, living like a caged-hen seems to be the way to go, as far as planners are concerned…
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February 22, 2018 2:48pm
freemark

I just read another “feral goes bad” article, and have some questions for the legal beagles on KB.
Do these Judges actually corroborate (or even attempt to) the tales of woe (victim of DV, addiction issues, some other event(s)) that apparently led to the offending, or are used as mitigation? Or are these just standard stories by Defence lawyers etc?
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/101649031/home-detention-for-pair-who-tried-to-commit-redneck-revenge
4 1
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February 22, 2018 3:18pm
Maggy Wassilieff

Labor’s Old Turks at knife-point.
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/labor-mp-threatened-minister-with-a-knife-at-state-parliament-cafe-20180222-p4z17q.html
6 1
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February 22, 2018 3:20pm
- nasska
  
  Storm in a teacup. NZ Labour MPs don’t threaten with poofy butter knives.
  
  They wait for the next leadership meltdown & stab their mates in the back!
  
  6 1
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  February 22, 2018 4:16pm
  - Maggy Wassilieff
    
    If it was after 6pm, I’d direct you to stephieboy’s favourite dictionary to check out Turkish butterknife.
    
    4 1
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    February 22, 2018 4:36pm
Maggy Wassilieff

Iranian delegation won’t shake Female Labour MP’s hand.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11999765

Welcome to the real world Ms Luxton….. it’s what female school teachers have been putting up with for years.
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February 22, 2018 3:24pm
- Longknives
  
  Talk to any Female Cop who works Mt Roskill…
  
  13 1
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  February 22, 2018 3:48pm
- Morrissey
  
  Japanese men don’t shake hands either, Maggy. Perhaps you can launch into a deranged harangue against the Japanese as well.
  
  2 17
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  February 22, 2018 4:38pm
  - Maggy Wassilieff
    
    is that so?
    
    Better tell Helen and Shinzo Abe then
    https://www.gettyimages.co.nz/detail/news-photo/united-nations-development-programme-administrator-helen-news-photo/452591552#/united-nations-development-programme-administrator-helen-clark-shakes-picture-id452591552
    
    10 2
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    February 22, 2018 5:00pm
    - Morrissey
      
      Shinzo Abe, grandson of a war criminal, is an aggressive shill for war with North Korea and China. Surely you should be focusing on that rather than hyperventilating on the fact that Iranians have different customs than we do.
      
      2 15
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      February 22, 2018 5:21pm
      - Awww C-mon
        
        oh shit, I’m wrong….. change the subject!!!
        
        Fuck off Mossey
        
        12 2
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        February 22, 2018 5:26pm
      - Maggy Wassilieff
        
        You did notice that it was Helen Clark having her hand shook by Shinzo Abe.
        
        It was not me.
        
        Take your outrage out on her, not me.
        
        I have never been an apologist for Shinzo Abe or Japanese War Criminals.
        
        8 1
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        February 22, 2018 7:17pm
  - Swifty
    
    Rubbish.
    
    7 2
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    February 22, 2018 5:12pm
  - Awww C-mon
    
    deranged harangue? fuck you are excitable!!
    
    I’d say it was a comment more related to sexist attitudes not racial but that’s OK.
    
    10 1
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    February 22, 2018 5:25pm
    - Morrissey
      
      Yes, my friend, I was a bit harsh on Maggy there. She doesn’t really harangue people, and she’s clearly not deranged.
      
      Oh God! I was PROJECTING, wasn’t I?!??!???!?
      
      https://www.someecards.com/usercards/viewcard/attention-world-im-an-idiot–d9d8e/
      
      1 14
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      February 22, 2018 5:34pm
- Inandout
  
  Winston slips around the issue as usual. In Opposition he was so bolshie.
  
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  February 22, 2018 4:38pm
- stephieboy
  
  Maggy W, I think that Jo Luxton is coping quite well and has the matter in hand without you pontificating .
  
  The report is not earth shattering as you’re trying to stir up a cyclone in a teacup might suggest .
  
  1 19
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  February 22, 2018 4:55pm
  - Maggy Wassilieff
    
    Morrissey reckons I’m haranguing; you reckon I’m pontificating.
    Sort it out amongst yourself, trolls.
    
    Let’s see you follow up with Chuck, also.
    https://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/2018/02/general_debate_22_february_2018.html/comment-page-1#comment-2144810
    Or is it just me you harass?
    
    14 1
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    February 22, 2018 5:10pm
    - stephieboy
      
      Maggy W, it’s not harassment . It’s an” opinion” as to how you seem to have misconstrued an event that the Jo Luxton was able to brush off .
      
      An opinion ! Got that ?
      
      1 19
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      February 22, 2018 5:18pm
      - Awww C-mon
        
        In case you missed my request, black coffee and gluten free cakes for Sunday chap….
        I’ll be the guy wearing the “Real Men don’t Bully Girls” shirt
        
        10 1
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        February 22, 2018 5:29pm
      - Nookin
        
        An opinion was it Stephie? Isn’t that just what Maggy expressed –an opinion?
        Is that something that you are allowed but not others?
        
        12 1
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        February 22, 2018 5:32pm
      - Maggy Wassilieff
        
        @ stephieboy
        Did you read the article?
        
        Headline: Diplomatic Incident.
        Then the article states:
        Labour MPs have taken offence at an Iranian agricultural delegation after they were told the Iranians wouldn’t shake the hand of their female counterpart.
        
        It’s not me who has raised the stink. It’s the Labour MPs and the MSM.
        Take your problem up with them!
        
        13 1
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        February 22, 2018 5:35pm
      - Maggy Wassilieff
        
        @stephieboy
        
        Do you think Rino Tirikatene and Kieran McAnulty are trying to stir up a cyclone in a teacup?
        Labour’s Rino Tirikatene called it an affront, while Kieran McAnulty says it’s unacceptable.
        or is it just me that you are harassing?
        
        http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11999765
        
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        February 22, 2018 6:05pm
      - stephieboy
        
        Nookin . or to split hairs shall we say a” perspective “on the actions of Jo Luxton .
        
        Where am I denying MW a perspective or viewpoint ?
        
        Why are people on the alt right are seemingly so supersensitive ?
        
        1 13
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        February 22, 2018 6:38pm
      - Maggy Wassilieff
        
        You didn’t read the article before you launched into me with your perspective, did you stephieboy?
        
        Now, what’s your perspective/opinion on the Agricultural select committee sending a report on this “Diplomatic Incident” to the P.M.?
        
        Reckon they’d just be stirring up a storm in a tea cup, do you?
        
        7 1
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        February 22, 2018 7:05pm
RF

Anyone heard what Cindy the skull got up to in Christchurch today.

She was laying on hands down there whilst attending the EQ memorial service.

I bet she was throwing our money around.
7 1
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February 22, 2018 3:33pm
- Longknives
  
  “I bet she was throwing our money around.”
  
  It’s HER Money RF!
  As Supreme Leader of the Proletariat she can tax us lowly peasants as much as she desires and spend the loot how she likes…
  
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  February 22, 2018 3:47pm
- stephieboy
  
  RF , another who still sulking and whimpering post 23/9/17 !
  
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  February 22, 2018 4:56pm
RF

Longknives.

Correct. Silly old me.

Watching her in the house this week. Gritting her teeth and pulling faces whilst trying to avoid answering questions. Not a pretty sight. Stress must be getting to her.
9 1
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February 22, 2018 4:07pm
- Longknives
  
  She look pretty relaxed and happy on the multiple (Airbrushed to Hell) Woman’s Magazine Covers I saw on the Whitcoull’s Newstand today!
  ‘Jacinda’s Baby Miracle’ ‘Everything you need to know about Jacinda’s baby’ etc etc
  
  Those magazines pay big $$ for trashy fluff stories from ‘Celebrities’- I guess Capitalism isn’t so bad when all that cash is coming to you! Is it Comrade??
  
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  February 22, 2018 4:28pm
wombatge

here is a good example of why Fairfax is finished in producing newspapers.
Two despots bash two police doing their duty.
here is The Ages comprehensive report.
https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/duo-charged-after-brutal-bashing-of-two-female-police-officers-20180221-p4z16h.html
Same article covered in Daily Mail
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5416949/Man-woman-accused-bashing-two-policewomen.html#ixzz57nNWHB3k
10 1
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February 22, 2018 4:13pm
- Longknives
  
  Aah The ‘Diversity Dividend’!
  So Culturally Enriching..
  
  Just wait until the African Gangs settle in here in New Zealand..We won’t know what fucking hit us.
  
  9 1
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  February 22, 2018 4:23pm
  - Jack5
    
    Our gutless, Leftist-liberal refugee appeal structure will make it nigh-impossible to deport the scum.
    
    Right now there is a petition to the NZ Government to stop building new prisons. The list of signatories is thick with lecturers in criminology. Why do we have so many lecturers in criminology in NZ? We’ve become a country that talks instead of acts. Talk, talk, inquiry, inquiry, commission, commission, submission, submission, report, report. And fuck all is done.
    
    10 2
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    February 22, 2018 4:31pm
  - stephieboy
    
    Longknives , as you see will the annals of Australian Violent crime has no racial or ethnic discrimination ,
    
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Australian_criminals
    
    1 16
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    February 22, 2018 5:21pm
- Chuck Bird
  
  If you like diversity check this out.
  
  Diplomatic incident: Iranian delegation refuse to shake Labour MP Jo Luxton’s hand
  
  http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11999765
  
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  February 22, 2018 4:30pm
  - Jack5
    
    Should have tried a hongi.
    
    9 1
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    February 22, 2018 4:36pm
  - rightoverlabour
    
    This is one time I support the Labour MPs. Why the fuck do we allow people with stoneage ideas into the country? When moderate Iranians take control over their once wonderful country, then we should be talking to them.
    
    9 0
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    February 22, 2018 7:32pm
    - Maggy Wassilieff
      
      Yes, congratulations to Rino Tirikatene and Kieran McAnulty.
      
      “I was appalled to witness my friend and colleague [Jo Luxton] be advised not to approach and shake hands with an Iranian delegation meeting with us today. I refused to shake their hands in support of Jo,” he tweeted.
      “It’s unacceptable that such an instruction can be made of any woman in this country.”
      
      https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/labour-mp-appalled-over-iranian-delegations-handshake-snub-his-female-colleague
      
      6 0
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      February 22, 2018 7:53pm
      - Kimbo
        
        Just wondering if Rino Tirikatene also boycotts marae, including in his own electorate, where the local tikanga prohibits women from speaking? I’d be much more impressed with that act of courage on behalf of gender equality. 😉
        
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        February 22, 2018 7:57pm
      - Maggy Wassilieff
        
        @Kimbo
        
        Of course that is the next step… but things are changing on Ngai Tahu marae
        http://ngaitahu.iwi.nz/our_stories/wahine-toa/
        
        And their big boss is a woman now.
        http://ngaitahu.iwi.nz/te-runanga-o-ngai-tahu/chief-executive/
        
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        February 22, 2018 8:05pm
      - Kimbo
        
        How’s Ngati Nine doing in that regard?
        
        Rino has deep connections…to Ngati Hine in the Far North on his maternal side.
        
        http://www.labour.org.nz/rinotirikatene
        
        Also, besides the entire South Island/Te Wai Pounamu, Tirikatene’s Te Tai Tonga electorate also covers Wellington City as far as Johnsonville, and Petone, Lower Hutt and Eastbourne from the Hutt Valley (Ngati Toa), and the Chathams (Moriori).
        
        https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Te_Tai_Tonga
        
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        February 22, 2018 8:18pm
      - Maggy Wassilieff
        
        As far as I am aware women can speak on the Kopinga Marae (Moriori Marae), but I’ve only been there on a short visit… very relaxed, informal.
        
        I’ve never been on a Northern Marae.
        
        The Wellington/Wairarapa Marae I’ve been on have run along the usual manner of Males only speaking on formal occasions.
        
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        February 22, 2018 8:38pm
- Jack5
  
  The Age on Melbourne’s African gangs is better than TVNZ reporting a young Muslim’s plot to mass murder people in Christchurch by car and knife. Don’t think the State TV company noticed.
  
  11 1
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  February 22, 2018 4:40pm
  - stephieboy
    
    Jack 5 , maybe the TVNZ were wary over this ,
    
    The Sun pays out ‘substantial damages’ after wrongly claiming couple part of Islamic ‘Trojan Horse’ plot to take over primary school’
    
    The Sun has paid “substantial damages” to a Muslim couple whom it wrongly alleged were involved in a “Trojan Horse” plot to take over a primary school and enforce a “separatist agenda”.
    
    The paper has apologised to Nasim Ashraf and his wife Hafizan Zaman ovre articles published in 20 February last year, including a column by former Sun editor Kelvin MacKenzie.
    
    http://www.pressgazette.co.uk/the-sun-pays-out-substantial-damages-after-wrongly-claiming-couple-part-of-islamic-trojan-horse-plot-to-take-over-primary-school/
    
    2 19
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    February 22, 2018 5:33pm
    - Longknives
      
      Stephieboy.
      Are you claiming that the Guy in Christchurch wasn’t planning on Islamic Jihad??
      Do you know more about this matter than Judge O’Driscoll?
      Also- The kid admitted all eight charges Police laid against him…
      
      12 1
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      February 22, 2018 6:00pm
      - stephieboy
        
        Long knives , yes he may have being plotting thus But a sense of proportion is needed don’t you think ? It is not as though the 1 7 year old was trying to establish an ISIS type Caliphate .
        
        We will let the judge assess the facts at hand and no paranoid speculating .
        
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        February 22, 2018 6:49pm
      - Jack5
        
        Stephie X, you being extraordinarily fuckwitted on this, even for a Stephiestani Muslim apologist.
        
        In the West, our courts can be freely reported, except when the court rules name suppression.
        
        The young man was planning to murder Christchurch people by car and knife attacks.
        
        TVNZ did not report it, as far as I am aware.
        
        The Islamic community goes out of its way to try to subdue publicity about such incidents, and sometimes our media complies. It looks to me that this is what has caused TVNZ to report this would-be terrorism.
        
        Gutless, fawning, incompetent are words that spring to mind.
        
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        February 22, 2018 9:13pm
      - Jack5
        
        Edit: …. what has caused TVNZ to fail to report this would-be terrorism.
        
        4 0
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        February 22, 2018 9:18pm
Komata

Lk: And you can bet good money that those who imported such individuals will distance themselves from all and any responsibility for the consequences and heap blame and scorn on the Police when they try to deal with the situation. Susan Devoy will, of course, add her self-righteous little pronouncements…
7 1
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February 22, 2018 4:32pm
Morrissey

Yet more catastrophic news for the Nasty Party

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11999841
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February 22, 2018 4:32pm
- Jack5
  
  Morrissey, so you believe in both guilt by association and prejudging cases?
  
  18 3
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  February 22, 2018 4:42pm
  - Swifty
    
    His hate blinds him.
    
    He is demented with it.
    
    16 1
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    February 22, 2018 5:15pm
    - Morrissey
      
      “Hate”? I was expressing concern for the party. It’s in bad shape, and this kind of news is the worst thing possible for it—even worse than Labour’s steady and inexorable ascendancy in the polls.
      
      1 21
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      February 22, 2018 5:26pm
- Doubledimp
  
  And where’s the coverage of the drug charges of a spouse of a prominent lefty politician? And note that the article critical of the TPP under labour is hidden in the “national – politics” section of stuff, not front and centre on the main page #mediaparty
  
  11 2
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  February 22, 2018 5:45pm
  - cha
    
    the drug charges of a spouse of a prominent lefty politician
    
    Cite?
    
    2 8
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    February 22, 2018 5:57pm
- rangitoto
  
  What have Labour done now?
  
  4 0
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  February 22, 2018 8:55pm
VicParking

America has too many Guns, so what do they do, they add more guns.
Arm the teachers!!!. Until the first mad teacher shoots his class.
2 8
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February 22, 2018 5:16pm
- VicParking
  
  Who will be the first shot? The teacher with the Gun.
  Madness
  
  2 7
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  February 22, 2018 5:43pm
nasska

Sick of women being treated as sex objects, female music stars at the Brit Awards showed their solidarity with the #metoo campaign by sporting a white rose.

If you look closely you’ll see them, held in front of their exposed tits and fannies.

https://www.google.co.nz/search?hl=en&tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=1282&bih=647&ei=TUOOWvSpN4fE0gSL77XoDw&q=the+brits+2018&oq=the+brits&gs_l=img.1.2.0l10.1483.11140.0.15560.9.9.0.0.0.0.679.3255.2-2j5j1j1.9.0….0…1ac.1.64.img..0.9.3251….0.bNb5lm8C7L0
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February 22, 2018 5:16pm
publicwatchdog

NZ WHISTLE-BLOWER ALERT!

(Thursday 22 February 2018)

Anti-corruption ‘whistle-blower’ Penny Bright’s presentation to Ak Council Governing Body 22 Feb 2018.

The need to include the PUBLIC as a ‘stakeholder’ in the process to review the Auckland Council ‘Code of Conduct’ for elected representatives.

https://councillive.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/video/220218-governing-body-item-02-05

(Scroll through to 11 minutes ?
2 22
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February 22, 2018 5:47pm
- mandk
  
  Er, no thanks.
  
  I’m too busy celebrating the fact that NZ is the least corrupt country in the world.
  
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  February 22, 2018 6:05pm
Ross12

Well done to the two young Kiwis winning bronze medals in the Winter Olympics !!
10 3
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February 22, 2018 5:48pm
- Inandout
  
  Or more correctly, receiving bronze. You receive gold when you win.
  
  5 10
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  February 22, 2018 6:03pm
  - nasska
    
    Settle down. This is NZ where you get a certificate for participating.
    
    Trophies & medals for winners would make the losers feel bad about themselves. //
    
    3 3
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    February 22, 2018 6:22pm
    - MCos
      
      I wonder if there are awards for being most mean spirited
      
      2 2
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      February 22, 2018 9:41pm
      - stephieboy
        
        MCos ,well said! . Eliza Mc Cartney’s achievement at Rio was exceptional under the circumstances ,
        
        https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/olympics/83383207/Rio-Olympics-2016-New-Zealands-Eliza-McCartney-claims-bronze-medal-in-pole-vault
        
        Same with our Winter Olympics medal winners !
        
        2 4
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        February 22, 2018 9:50pm
- Longknives
  
  X-Games ‘Extreme’ Sports excite me about as much as IPL T20 ‘Hit and Giggle’ Cricket, Sarah Walker riding her kid’s BMX bike, and the ‘Sevens Sistas’ in Rugby…
  
  2 7
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  February 22, 2018 6:11pm
  - Longknives
    
    And predictably the NZ Media are going completely fucking nuts.
    From Stuff-
    
    “It’s a sporting fairytale to match the Disney fantasy Frozen – 26 years since New Zealand won its first Winter Olympic medal, then two on the same day as a new Snow Prince and Princess were born.”
    
    A “New Snow Prince and Princess”??
    Jesus Wept….
    
    5 1
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    February 22, 2018 8:05pm
    - stephieboy
      
      Tall poppy scything at its best !
      
      1 11
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      February 22, 2018 8:53pm
  - SPLOOGE
    
    Winding up the gormless right wingers that inhabit these pages is the sport of my choice.
    Just throw them a few unpalatable facts, sit back and watch them tear themselves to pieces.
    I know it’s not particularly athletically challenging but the belly laughs I make are considerable. These clowns make me laugh til I cry tears of joy (from my cock).
    Keep it up.
    
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    February 22, 2018 9:59pm
VicParking

Why does Air New Zealand sell one way tickets to Countries that you can’t visit unless you have a return ticket. Accept of course if you are a citizen of that Country. But then how did you get into NZ with a one way ticket????
8 0
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February 22, 2018 6:21pm
- Manolo
  
  It is a crap idea AirNZ has been exploiting for a few years now.
  
  4 1
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  February 22, 2018 7:54pm
- SPLOOGE
  
  You guys need to get out more often.
  I take advantage of cheap flying often and I can assure you that the need to have ongoing flights are a thing of the past.
  Playing it by ear is a common form of travel now, that is unless you turn up with the kitchen sink.
  At worse now they’ll ask you your intentions.
  
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  February 22, 2018 10:04pm
lifesgood

Why do some comments just have “report” and not “reply” under them. They are often perfectly sane comments.
2 0
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February 22, 2018 6:22pm
- nasska
  
  It’s part of the ‘nesting’ comments system. An original comment can be replied to, a response made, then another reply. After that you have to scroll back up to the last comment with a ‘reply’ under it.
  
  Presumably it is designed to prevent conversations becoming ‘over-extended’ but that has never stopped a good KB commenter in high dudgeon from having his/her say. 🙂
  
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  February 22, 2018 6:33pm
InsaneBorg

I looked the Policy section of the Green Party website and noticed they have appeared to have completely dropped their policy of banning semiautomatic firearms and am curious as to why because i do remember checking their site a few years ago and that was a distinct policy of theirs.
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February 22, 2018 6:28pm
- cha
  
  Didn’t look very fucking hard, did you.
  
  /
  
  Make private ownership of fully functional semi-automatic weapons illegal.
  
  https://www.greens.org.nz/sites/default/files/Justice%20Policy.pdf
  
  5 5
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  February 22, 2018 6:42pm
  - Newbie
    
    Before the election last year I emailed Dave Clendon whether their policy on firearms as per the link as above was still valid – considering that link was dated Feb 2014. He replied that he acknowledged it was out of date and that it should be updated.
    
    Unfortunately, as you know, he got the sack, so it would seem that no one in the Green Party have bothered to update it.
    
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    February 22, 2018 9:43pm
wiseowl

Bill to Improve Gender equality in Wages drawn from the ballot.
Sounds like something straight out of Labour or Greens.
But no.
This Bill is by a National MP.
Unbelievable.
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February 22, 2018 6:49pm
Komata

Wiseowl

Attempting to be ‘All things to all people’, perhaps?
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February 22, 2018 7:26pm
rightoverlabour

Scum media distorting the truth. Stuff Headline screams “US President Donald Trump says arming teachers could ‘solve the problem’ of school shootings”

https://www.stuff.co.nz/world/americas/101671388/us-president-donald-trump-says-arming-teachers-could-solve-the-problem-of-school-shootings

Fortunately someone in the comments posted this: “The president asked for suggestions to prevent school shootings, leaving the floor open to parents and teachers.

A parent from Parkland High School suggested that a select few teachers, administrators, or other school employees volunteer to become a designated “undercover police officer,” to manage a potential tragedy prior to the arrival of first responders.

“If a tragedy strikes, can we wait for first responders to get to the campus minutes later?” the parent said. “The challenge becomes, once it starts, to end it as quickly as possible.”

The president said the administration would look “very strongly” at the option for “concealed carry” at schools, but acknowledged that “a lot of people will be opposed to it.”

“Concealed carry only works for people that are very adept at carrying a gun,” Trump said. “Where a teacher would have a concealed gun on them, go for special training and they would be there and you would no longer have a gun free zone.”

Trump added: “A gun-free zone to a maniac, they’re all cowards, it’s ‘let’s go in and attack because bullets aren’t coming at us.’”

The president said that an attack lasts, on average “three minutes.”

“It takes five to eight minutes for first responders. So the attack is over. If you had a teacher who was adept at firearms, they could very well end [the attack],” Trump said. “We are looking at that very strongly. A lot of people will be opposed to it. A lot of people are gonna like it.”

Trump suggested having “20 percent of your teaching force” representing the “type of talent” capable of concealed carry. Trump also floated the idea to add security, like former “marines, people who left the Air Force” to be “spread evenly throughout the school.”

The president has also signaled a willingness to raise the minimum age for purchasing certain firearms in the wake of last week’s school shooting in Parkland.”

Can’t wait to see Stuff go down the gurgler as well.
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February 22, 2018 7:29pm
- nasska
  
  …..”“A gun-free zone to a maniac, they’re all cowards, it’s ‘let’s go in and attack because bullets aren’t coming at us.’””….
  
  Truer words have seldom been spoken.
  
  But trying getting that past the crim cuddling mumsies & gun hating feminists.
  
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  February 22, 2018 7:46pm
- mikenmild
  
  True. He didn’t say arming teachers would solve the problem; just gave a whole bunch of related ideas that would be looked at “very strongly”.
  I’m only surprised that he didn’t endorse the idea of lowering the minimum age for purchasing firearms and advocate open carry for students.
  
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  February 22, 2018 8:10pm
  - nasska
    
    Has it ever occurred to you that unarmed appeasement has very poor record for producing desirable outcomes Mike?
    
    If there’s one thing I’ve never be able to get my head around it is why socialists who are dedicated to equality of both opportunity & outcomes oppose an armed citizenry.
    
    A pistol in the hands of a pensioner makes them the equal of a physically able assailant. What’s bad about that?
    
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    February 22, 2018 8:28pm
    - Kimbo
      
      It’s not resisting assailants I’m afraid of, nasska. More that a grumpy old bastards like you would take a shot at the paper boy for throwing his delivery on your lawn, and not placing it in your post box. 😉
      
      And as much as I despise the theology of the Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses, I shudder to think of the reception they could get from you on a realllly good day. 😉
      
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      February 22, 2018 8:32pm
      - mikenmild
        
        Given the number of commenters here who regularly bag teachers, I’m astonished that anyone would suggest they should be routinely armed.
        
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        February 22, 2018 8:34pm
      - nasska
        
        I’d fire a shot over their heads as a warning first Kimbo. 🙂
        
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        February 22, 2018 8:34pm
      - nasska
        
        …..”I’m astonished that anyone would suggest they should be routinely armed”…..
        
        Good point. 🙂
        
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        February 22, 2018 8:36pm
      - cha
        
        I’m astonished that anyone would suggest they should be routinely armed.
        
        Armed teacher says…and that’s when I saw him reach for his waistband….
        
        Anyhoo, to attain the sort of precision shooting insurance companies will insist on, most teachers will need to be tooled up with lighter firearms with manageable recoil.
        
        And the response to lightly armed teachers? Kevlar.
        
        The crazy fuckers will invest in some level II body armour and the teacher who’s been drilled on aiming center-mass will be shit out of luck.
        
        https://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2012/08/lone_shooters_a.html
        
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        February 22, 2018 9:01pm
      - nasska
        
        …..”the teacher who’s been drilled on aiming center-mass will be shit out of luck”…..
        
        Who cares? Fat feminist teachers are a dime a dozen.
        
        It would give the kids a chance to take cover!
        
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        February 22, 2018 9:12pm
    - stephieboy
      
      nasska , so trying to diminish e.g the influence of the NRA and bring in sane gun control measure is the spirit of Munich prevailing ?
      
      Crap !
      
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      February 22, 2018 8:56pm
Longknives

Pretty quiet round here tonight.
Might head over to ‘Whoar’ to see if there is any action over there…
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February 22, 2018 7:35pm
- Longknives
  
  Nope.
  Poor old lonely Philu- At least he still has his copious amounts of weed to keep him company…
  
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  February 22, 2018 7:38pm
Manolo

Will our resident Muslim dare to defend these barbarians and primitives?
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11999765

Labour MPs have taken offence at an Iranian agricultural delegation after they were told the Iranians wouldn’t shake the hand of their female counterpart.

Labour’s Jo Luxton is the deputy chair of the Primary Production select committee, which held a meeting with the Iranians today.

Luxton says they were told at the start of the meeting it wouldn’t be appropriate for her to approach the visitors, to shake their hand.
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February 22, 2018 7:53pm
- Maggy Wassilieff
  
  Morrissey and Stephieboy already have.
  
  I’ve been told that I’m haranguing and pontificating for daring to put up a link and comment.
  
  https://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/2018/02/general_debate_22_february_2018.html/comment-page-1#comment-2144820
  
  https://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/2018/02/general_debate_22_february_2018.html/comment-page-1#comment-2144839
  
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  February 22, 2018 7:59pm
  - Manolo
    
    Shame on those appeasers and supporters of primitive behaviour towards women. Not a surprising attitude from two leftists, though.
    
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    February 22, 2018 8:05pm
  - stephieboy
    
    Maggy W, oh come on . Your posts are a kind of short hand for Islamaphobia or as I prefer to call it ,Muslim bashing !
    
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    February 22, 2018 9:00pm
    - Maggy Wassilieff
      
      No, stephieboy
      
      I seem to have more knowledge and experience dealing with people of the Muslim faith than you have.
      
      You do not know me. You do not know who I have worked with, who I have advised, who I have assisted with problems.
      
      I am against sexist attitudes and violence.
      
      You mistake what I post here as Muslim bashing.
      You fail to read what I post and you jump to incorrect conclusions.
      
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      February 22, 2018 9:10pm
      - stephieboy
        
        “ I seem to have more knowledge and experience dealing with people of the Muslim faith than you have “
        
        Such as ?
        
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        February 22, 2018 9:19pm
      - Awww C-mon
        
        Oh FFS Stephie-moaner
        
        Get over it! Maggy isn’t going to kiss you behind the bike sheds and running around the playground pulling her pig tails and throwing mud isn’t going to change that!
        
        That’s what your doing aye, behaving like a rejected little 6 yr old with a crush. Have some fucking dignity man!!!
        
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        February 22, 2018 9:30pm
      - Maggy Wassilieff
        
        Such as ?
        
        So you are admitting you didn’t read what I wrote last week about some of my experiences with Muslim immigrants in my classes.
        https://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/2018/02/general_debate_16_february_2018.html#comment-2139989
        
        Shall we add some other tales…
        Getting “My own copy” of the Koran from some young guys in Kuala Lumpur.
        
        Touring Malacca for a couple of days with a Muslim Engineer
        
        Botanising in the FRIM with an Iranian Student
        
        Advising a Muslim wife whose Hubby (Maori) wouldn’t let her go to the Kilbirnie Mosque for Prayers.
        
        Trying to get advice/assistance from Local GP about said female’s condition.
        
        Requesting one of my Muslim fathers translate my horticultural notes into Arabic for Iraqi students.
        
        Study buddies with 3 Moslem students in Korean 101/102 classes
        
        Still think I am a Muslim Basher, stephieboy?
        Still wanting to throw filthy smears at me?
        Not content with labelling me as an Alt-right trumpeter, Neo Nazi, deranged, eh?
        Now you have to add Muslim-basher to your list of smears against me?
        
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        February 22, 2018 9:55pm
- holysheet
  
  Last week I called a suicide hotline in Iran.. to my surprise they seemed excited and asked if I knew how to drive a truck….
  
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  February 22, 2018 8:01pm
- MCos
  
  Who are you referring to as barbarians & primitives?
  The Iranians I suspect.
  Winston Peters may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but I think his advice in cases such as this makes sense
  “You’ve got to have regard to cultural sensitivities, looking around the world, and be very aware of the environment that they are in. And a Member of Parliament would be expected to know that.”
  
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  February 22, 2018 8:30pm
  - Maggy Wassilieff
    
    And a Member of Parliament would be expected to know that.”
    
    But the Labour MPs didn’t know this until a couple of minutes before they were to meet the Iranian delegation.
    
    Why hadn’t they been briefed by Foreign Affairs?
    
    How come female School teachers in NZ know that a Moslem father may not shake your hand, but female MPs don’t know this?
    
    Why didn’t NZ ask for female delegates to be sent from Iran?
    
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    February 22, 2018 8:57pm
    - stephieboy
      
      Maggy W , there you go again on another Muslim bashing tirade .
      
      Have ever really tried communicate with a Muslim in Gisborne ?
      
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      February 22, 2018 9:02pm
      - Maggy Wassilieff
        
        This is not a muslim bashing tirade.
        
        I have just launched a tirade against Labour’s advisors.
        Do you lack comprehension skills?
        
        What business is it of yours who I communicate with in Gisborne?
        But if you wish to continue calling me a Muslim -basher in a Public forum, I would suggest you start looking for a good lawyer.
        
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        February 22, 2018 9:14pm
      - Jack5
        
        I can’t speak for Maggy, but why would anyone who follows Kiwiblog ever want to communicate with a Muslim when they have to put up with the Stephiestani Troll Team’s neurotic Islamic burbling throughout the day and evening.
        
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        February 22, 2018 9:15pm
      - stephieboy
        
        jack5 , another one who is hysterical and paranoid about the 17 year old charged as though it will usher in a Iraqi and Syrian civil war !
        
        Read this Stuff editorial and get some balance and perspective in your life ,
        
        https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/opinion/101514751/editorial-terrorists-include-the-mentally-ill-as-well-as-religious-fanatics
        
        Sanity too !
        
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        February 22, 2018 9:22pm
      - Awww C-mon
        
        So you have another go at Maggy for Muslim bashing, when she clearly wasn’t but ignore this comment
        
        https://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/2018/02/general_debate_22_february_2018.html/comment-page-1#comment-2144938
        
        What the fuck Stephie-coward?
        
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        February 22, 2018 9:35pm
      - stephieboy
        
        Awww C-mon, as I see it Maggy W has this tendency to try and discredit Muslims by fair means or foul .
        
        IMO , IMO, IMO !
        
        Got it ?
        
        Furthermore without your kind of abuse and expletives !
        
        Got it ?
        
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        February 22, 2018 9:40pm
      - Awww C-mon
        
        IMO? No I don’t fucking get it.
        
        You cherry pick those who you respond too. Regardless of subject.
        
        You are more than often aggressive and or dismissive to the point of rudeness to the ladies yet either argue respectfully or avoid in engaging with the guys.
        
        You must be a sad and unfortunate individual to behave in such a way, your behaviour brings shame to your faith and leads to the mocking of your God.
        
        Check y’self before you wreck y’self Stephie-embarrassment
        
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        February 22, 2018 9:48pm
      - Awww C-mon
        
        Sorry, Stephie-flower. I didn’t realise my expletive’s offended you….
        
        Actually…. truth be told I don’t give a fuck
        
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        February 22, 2018 9:52pm
      - Jack5
        
        The Stephiestani trolls just can’t get their head-banging heads around English punctuation.
        
        It’s been pointed out to them scores of time that there is no space between the last letter of a sentence and the following full stop or question mark or exclamation mark.
        
        I can imagine the madrassa head cherang burying his head in his hands and pleading with the Islamic authorities: “Please, please, please, just send these bone heads to the West. As far away in the West as possible.”
        
        Illiterate Stephiestani trolls are thus a price New Zealand pays for its isolation.
        
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        February 22, 2018 9:54pm
  - rangitoto
    
    They are visitors here then their customs are irrelevant.
    
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    February 22, 2018 9:28pm
    - Kimbo
      
      No, not entirely. It would be poor form and the act of a tactless or thoughtless host to serve them pork at a banquet. No problem accommodating that as abstaining from pork for one meal for the sake of a guest does not compromise and important NZ cultural, political or ethical value.
      
      Not sure the generosity should extend to not shaking one our women MPs hand. Jo Luxton goes on official government business to Iran she is likely expected to and does wear a head scarf. Ok, so now they are in our backyard. Our customs and protocol should apply. Especially as pre-Islamic Revolution Iran had relatively liberal attitudes to women’s equality, so Iranians are not entirely unfamiliar with the concept and practice.
      
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      February 22, 2018 9:37pm
      - Jack5
        
        Hi Kimbo!
        
        To keep the debate rolling.
        
        If hand shaking should be a requirement of visiting diplomats, what of the hongi?
        
        Ay, there’s the rub.
        
        Who knows and whose nose?
        
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        February 22, 2018 10:24pm
      - SPLOOGE
        
        Like most Maori traditions foisted upon the non Maori population the hongi is an unwelcome intrusion on good manners and civilised behaviour.
        Keep it on the marae.
        
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        February 22, 2018 10:33pm
      - Kimbo
        
        Yep. Seems a reasonable requirement/expectation of guests. And most seem to enjoy it in my experience. Communication and understanding and a spirit of generosity by all concerned helps. My Samoan mate realised he had made a faux pas when, as Pacific Islanders do, he greeted the newly-introduced wife of a recent Muslim friend with a kiss on the cheek, and they instinctively froze and displayed their discomfort . But because they were all determine to act like adults to form a friendship based on mutual understanding and good will, it was not a problem.
        
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        February 22, 2018 10:36pm
softail 1450

has the well endowed little drunken superyacht owner known as splooge been banned,either that or hes blacklisted me for calling him a raging drunken buffoon on tues night.
i wasnt aware you could blacklist someone on KB.
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February 22, 2018 8:18pm
- SPLOOGE
  
  Put down the bottle you fool.
  I am though pleased that my comments on the internet has triggered you to such an extent that you feel the need to bring me up in your ramblings.
  Triggered? On your mind?
  I think so.
  
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  February 22, 2018 10:11pm
  - softail 1450
    
    splodge..you were drunk again last night , seek help you blowhard nutcase.
    
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    February 23, 2018 5:31am
Maggy Wassilieff

Venezuela launches its cryptocurrency – the Petro
http://fortune.com/2018/02/21/petro-bitcoin-venezuela-ico-cryptocurrency-maduro/
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February 22, 2018 8:20pm
- UrbanNeocolonialist
  
  Pity it’s not edible.
  
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  February 22, 2018 11:16pm
noskire

Troll-bait:
“Meet the high-flying 16-year-olds who made New Zealand proud on the snow” cries Stuff.
Really, has anyone taken more than a passing glance at the Winter Olympics?
Two over-indulged kids with very un-Kiwi names with parents who obviously have more money than a bull can sh*t, i.e. skiing in France at the age of four!
This is not sport.
P.S. When is Lydia Ko going to pay back her $1m grant?
Troll-bait ends.
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February 22, 2018 9:14pm
- Jack5
  
  Nope, sorry. Great performance by the two young New Zealanders at the Winter Games.
  
  And WTF is a Kiwi name? Fred Bloggs? Mary Smith?
  
  These daredevil kids have imaginative names, and why not?
  
  Congratulations to 16-year-old Nico and 16-year-old Zoe, whose name originates as a Greek version of Eve.
  
  As for the Winter Games rating only a glance … I wonder how participation in and audience-following of its winter sports compares with world participation in rugby and netball.
  
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  February 22, 2018 9:48pm
  - noskire
    
    Wow, only 30 minutes for a bite.
    
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    February 22, 2018 9:52pm
  - mikenmild
    
    No macrons in those names.
    
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    February 22, 2018 9:59pm
  - Jack5
    
    But I think calling them “a new Snow Prince and Princess” is much too syrupy.
    
    As for the macrons.
    
    Milky plays the race card.
    
    A bit like the idiot in the Telegraph who said something should be done to bring tropical countries into winter sports.
    
    Like ice-skating rinks and artificial snow fields and refrigerated curling courses? While these developing countries need hospitals and sewerage systems and schools. And the cost of making ice and snow in the tropics …
    
    I suppose, Milky, you think yachting is a bit too whitie as well, especially as landlocked countries such as Mongolia and Turkestan and Uzbekistan and Chad and Ethiopia haven’t got access to the sea.
    
    Milky, it does seem a coincidence that whenever the Stephiestani Trolls are active these days, you seem to pop up, and even defend them. You haven’t been recruited by the Islamicists, have you?
    
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    February 22, 2018 10:09pm
    - Jack5
      
      And the kids are snow boarders!
      
      Haven’t snowboarders democratised the skifields, widening them from destinations for the social set who were as much interested in the “après ski” experience as they were in skiing?
      
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      February 22, 2018 10:30pm
srylands

This person is unhinged.

https://tinyurl.com/y7mzobzj
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February 22, 2018 9:17pm
- noskire
  
  There is not even one part of a hinge hooked – watch her eyes.
  
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  February 22, 2018 9:24pm
stigie

“has the well endowed little drunken superyacht owner known as splooge”

This is more like Splurge !!
http://www.mensize.com/imageszx/comp11.jpg
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February 22, 2018 9:24pm
- SPLOOGE
  
  Put down the bottle you fool.
  I am though pleased that my comments on the internet has triggered you to such an extent that you feel the need to bring me up in your ramblings.
  On your mind?
  I think so.
  
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  February 22, 2018 10:12pm
- softail 1450
  
  stigie, is that splooges cock or his superyacht?
  
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  February 23, 2018 5:41am
Jack5

An opening for National!

Labour’s Little wants to slash prisons – they don’t work. His Utopian answer is to “fix the causes of crime”.

With NZ First sinking, the law-and-order leadership is open for National to cash in on, and that would be a good plank for Collins.

This is typical of what Little wants:

Little also said he believed prisoners should again have the right to vote, although qualified the comment at this stage to those serving three years or less.

Every murder, every one of the thousands of unsolved burglaries, every expansion of gangs will be a chance to whack Labour.

Little’s love-em and save-em approach to criminals:

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11999980

Footnote: the photograph in the article linked to shows the zombie stare that Little has been left with since he escaped wearing spectacles.
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February 22, 2018 9:40pm
SPLOOGE

Staples.
We need more of them.
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February 22, 2018 10:14pm
DigNap15

Andrew Little on prisons.
The last 30 years have not worked!
Well how much more crime would there have been if we had had weaker laws.
In my opinion sentences are not tough enough.
There is far too much violence in our community, so if he comes up with a way to stop that, first then great.
Why are Maoris 50% of the prison population? Because they do 50 or more, of the crime!
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February 22, 2018 10:16pm
DigNap15

The number one priority for a goverment is to keep its people and border safe.

Not education
Not transport
Not health
Not rubbish bags

Safety, law and order and border control
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February 22, 2018 10:18pm
- SPLOOGE
  
  Which border would you be talking about?
  
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  February 22, 2018 10:44pm
DigNap15

The number one cause of crime is our indigenous population and their under achievement in every sphere except rugby.
So the best answer is birth control for them.
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February 22, 2018 10:21pm
- Jack5
  
  Or how about compulsory Maori-Pakeha intermarriage.
  
  Ah, a race to dream of: snowboarding rugby stalwarts.
  
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  February 22, 2018 10:32pm
- SPLOOGE
  
  I’d suggest that the Polynesian are the better players as our local indigenous players are all in jail, bed or on probation.
  
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  February 22, 2018 10:46pm
- rightoverlabour
  
  Not even sure about the rugby. All brawn and fuck all brains. SBW case in point.
  
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  February 22, 2018 11:22pm
  - Kimbo
    
    Aaron Smith may not be the sharpest knife in the drawer off the field. but on it he is about the best and most complete NZ half back of all time, I reckon, better than Laidlaw, Going, Loveridge and Marshall. And on top of all his skills – passing, running and kicking – he has superb judgment in his option taking. About equal to Dave Loveridge in that regard, and he has a better and stronger passer than Trapper.
    
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    February 22, 2018 11:36pm
rightoverlabour

Oh Bugger. More global warming on the way… Not

http://veryweather.co.uk/warning-week-of-severe-disruption-likely-as-beast-from-the-east-brings-heavy-snow/
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February 22, 2018 10:35pm
Jack5

Have the Stephiestanis and Milky packed up their toys and gone home?

Have to be up for the first adhan prayer call before sunrise ….
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February 22, 2018 10:36pm
- Maggy Wassilieff
  
  They’ve done their duty here.
  
  Another day disrupting the flow of information and lively discussion.
  
  Do they really think this type of behaviour impresses anyone?
  
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  February 22, 2018 10:51pm
  - SPLOOGE
    
    Ohh gawd.
    Pack up your sensibilities and go home Maggot.
    No one likes a maggot and I’ve never met one I liked either.
    Fuck off.
    
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    February 22, 2018 11:03pm
    - Maggy Wassilieff
      
      Dear Splooge,
      I am at home.
      Any other suggestions where I should fuck off to?
      (p.s. – I don’t mind if you don’t like me)
      
      (pps. do you really think I have sensibilities? – I think I like you, – so sensitive and clever for recognising the REAL me)
      
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      February 22, 2018 11:22pm
    - softail 1450
      
      splodge, pissed again you little cowardly ferret.
      
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      February 23, 2018 5:56am
noskire

Yeah, just like our “indigenous” population paddled all the way here.
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February 22, 2018 10:47pm
- SPLOOGE
  
  A prevailing wind probably helped.
  One thing for sure is they never went back.
  
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  February 22, 2018 10:50pm
  - noskire
    
    Which is a shame.
    
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    February 22, 2018 11:04pm
    - SPLOOGE
      
      With an untouched wilderness ripe for exploitation, why would you want to go back?
      
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      February 22, 2018 11:17pm
rightoverlabour

More stoneage shit.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/101623745/iwi-move-to-ban-cars-from-devonports-takarungamt-victoria-upsets-locals

Cān’t drivē up āny of thēsē hills āny lōnger ās sōme dūmb fūck ōbjēcts. Cān’t sūmmit hālf thē mōuntains ārōūnd Nēw Zēāland fōr the sāmē rēasōn. It’s abōūt timē wē tōld thēsē ārsehōles tō fūck ōff.
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February 22, 2018 11:06pm
- noskire
  
  rightoverlabour – they didn’t even reach the Stone Age. If they did they would have mastered pottery. At best they could weave some baskets.
  
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  February 22, 2018 11:13pm
- SPLOOGE
  
  Ban Maori from driving cars.
  
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  February 22, 2018 11:19pm
noskire

Did archaeologists happen upon something of a profound military nature in the Waipoua Forest, the significance of which was so vital to New Zealand’s national security that it needed to be enshrouded under the “State Secrets Act”?

How could 2000 ancient, stacked stone structures pose a threat to national security?

Was the archaeological information derived from the dig somehow threatening to the Maori claim of being the original inhabitants of New Zealand (the Tangata Whenua) and restricted on the basis that any devolution of such knowledge was disadvantageous to Maori claims of sovereignty?
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February 22, 2018 11:35pm

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