General Debate 3 April 2019

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DigNap15

An article in Stuff about the slowing economy.
Its only taken 18 months.
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April 3, 2019 8:05am
- Scott
  
  I am surprised that the economy lasted as long as it did given this government? This government wants higher taxes, more regulation and is clamping down on oil and gas and coal.
  
  In the United States their government has lower taxes, slashed regulations and has encouraged oil and gas and coal.
  
  The New Zealand economy is slowing because it is being strangled by high taxes, the prospect of even higher taxes, too much regulation and what seems to be a war on the energy sector.
  
  We need to reverse course. Unfortunately this government is incapable of thinking outside of the redistributionist, high taxes, more regulations, big government mindset.
  
  Rhetorical question – could it possibly be that we need a change of government? A government that understands that we need businesses to flourish and encourage private enterprise and entrepreneurs?
  
  A government of the right that believes freedom and opportunity is more important than equality of outcome.
  
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  April 3, 2019 8:38am
  - Sacha
    
    It doesn’t take people long to realise that they are being taken advantage of. The result is that they withdraw in order to protect themselves.
    We all know the misery of someone who has free-loading family members and who are forever short of cash because of this.
    Passive resistance is the only way to deal with this sort of imposition.
    
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    April 3, 2019 9:46am
  - KevO'Brien
    
    The NZ economy is slowing along with rest of the world. The COL has no awareness of how we float in the international seas. They are powerless to change the currents and tides or to see the winds over the horizon or the approaching tsunami.
    
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    April 3, 2019 2:13pm
- fluffykiwi
  
  The story or the slowing? lol
  
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  April 3, 2019 9:15am
- JB.49
  
  “Think of the press as a great keyboard on which the government can play.”
  Adolf Hitler
  
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  April 3, 2019 9:22am
- Sir Cullen's Sidekick
  
  CGT will fix everything and Winston supports it. So it has to be good.
  
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  April 3, 2019 10:49am
Yvette

Jacinda Ardern’s grief should not eclipse that of Muslims
Since the Christchurch terror attack, much of the focus has been not on the mourning of New Zealand’s Muslim community, but on white people. This has been repeated across the west, and in parts of the Middle East. Jacinda Ardern’s face was projected on to the outside of the Burj Khalifa in Dubai days after the attack …

To give an example, as I opened the pages of a prominent London magazine, I saw the face of Ardern, eyes closed, hugging a hijab-wearing Muslim woman whose back was to the camera. I thought about the positioning, about whose grief we were seeing …

I trust very much that Ardern is unbothered about the online world demanding she receive the Nobel peace prize – she is getting on with her job. But the framing of Muslim pain through the words and actions of Ardern has been so overwhelming and disturbing that I’m unwilling to sit quietly and let it pass. Because I’m worried that next time there is a massacre of a Muslim community, for anyone to care it will take another Ardern to lead the mourning. More than 130 Muslims were killed in Mali just over a week ago. Where is the coverage? Internment camps in China continue to hold Uighur Muslims; the war in Yemen shows no sign of ending; the Rohingya crisis had its five minutes of fame in the media and isn’t making headlines any more. – Mariam Khan, the Guardian, UK
______

Approximately one million Uighurs and other Turkic minority groups have been thrown into “detention camps” without charge in the Xinjiang Province in western China. It’s said something as simple as taking a call from overseas or going to a mosque is enough to be detained.

“There is an expectation that the Prime Minister will raise the human rights abuses and perhaps even greater expectation now that she has been such a phenomenal force for the Muslim community in the wake of the Christchurch attack.”

An opinion article in Dubai-based Gulf News, titled ‘In a dark world, the Kiwis shine bright’, Ardern was praised for giving Muslims hope.
… the world is looking to Ardern to raise the issue of Uighur Muslim treatment in China.

Did she?
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April 3, 2019 8:10am
- Tony Stuart
  
  I think we all know the answer to that. It’s the same as that sign Winston Peters held up in 2008…
  
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  April 3, 2019 8:30am
  - Simon
    
    MSM over did it with Jacinda now they need to row back. MSM over sold her so much to the general moron population (those inclined to vote Green) that the Greens are finished.
    
    There will be quiet a few MSM hit pieces against Jacinda but it is solely designed to attempt to keep the Greens in the race.
    
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    April 3, 2019 8:42am
- Scott
  
  What I would say is that we are often obsessed with the image. The Prime Minister has to look compassionate. She has to project the feeling that we want her to project. It seems to be about the feeling as the only thing.
  Now we all feel sorry for the Muslims that were killed and maimed in Christchurch. A terrible act of multiple murders was perpetrated upon them.
  
  However for me it is not what the Prime Minister feels but more about what she does. The action on gun laws appears to be reasonably well accepted as necessary? People I have spoken to, including hunters, feel that bolt action rifles are enough firepower for what they need.
  
  Where many of us split with the Prime Minister is the “hate speech” actions. Many of us feel that our freedom of speech is going to be drastically reduced. It is a major concern for those of us that are actually “liberal” in the classical sense of believing that freedom of speech is vital for a civilised democracy.
  
  Some of us are concerned about Islam making more gains in New Zealand. The wearing of the hijab by the Prime Minister did not sit well for us. Particularly when women overseas in places such as Iran are trying to have the freedom not to wear the hijab.
  
  And some of us are concerned about the plight of our fellow Christians overseas. This massacre by a western person of Muslims worshipping in mosques was terrible and evil. However it is the only such event that I am aware of.
  
  On the other hand massacres of Christians in church by Muslims is a common occurrence. In March 30 Christians were killed by Muslims in Nigeria. In January 20 Christians were killed by Muslims in the Philippines. So I am concerned about my fellow Christians.
  
  Unfortunately our Prime Minister and the New Zealand government in general does not appear to share my concern? Of approximately 1000 refugees granted asylum in New Zealand up to the end of October 2018, not one of them was Christian.
  
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  April 3, 2019 8:31am
  - burt
    
    You make a valid point, there was no global media coverage of Muslim woman gathering as equals with men not wearing Hijab’s to support the murdered Christians.
    
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    April 3, 2019 8:50am
    - kowtow
      
      Plenty of media coverage about Steven Demetre Georgiou ,aka Cat Stevens,aka Yusuf Islam entertaining at the Chch memorial , but no mention of the fact that he once agreed very publicly with an Iranian ayatollah that Salman Rushdie should be killed.
      
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      April 3, 2019 10:53am
      - Tall Man
        
        “That was taken out of context”… he immediately said that he wouldn’t object if ambulance staff were able to resusitate him…….
        
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        April 3, 2019 11:48am
  - Tall Man
    
    As a hunter I do not disagree with you about a firearm for hunting but I do disagree with you that the legislation is needed.
    
    Why the haste, do we have a group of semi auto firearms owners in training somewhere preparing to unleash hell on the populace?
    
    Why don’t we wait until we see what “flaws”, if any, there were in the current legislation that allowed this guy to get a firearms license.
    
    The argument that such weapons are not needed is irrelevant. As long as my hobby or interests do not have an impact on you why should you bother suppressing my rights.
    
    Ferraris are not needed, tailored suits are not needed, expensive jewellery is not needed, $5 million dollar mansions are not needed, pistols are not needed yet all these things are legal and will not be impacted by this legislation.
    
    What if next week some nutjob with an e cat license and half a dozen pistols lets fly at a supermarket? Do we then make them illegal or just stop people shopping.
    
    At no time has a licensed firearms owner with a “legal” firearm committed such an attack in New Zealand.
    
    Throughout the world there have been numerous “incidents” with bolt action firearms, pistols, bombs, vehicles and knives.
    
    Please explain what “problem” this legislation is going to solve or is it just “window dressing” for the pr girl?
    
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    April 3, 2019 8:52am
    - SGA
      
      Ferraris are not needed, tailored suits are not needed, expensive jewellery is not needed, $5 million dollar mansions are not needed, pistols are not needed yet all these things are legal and will not be impacted by this legislation.
      
      Sure they aren’t needed, but also they weren’t designed with the specific purpose of killing large animals (and for military-style, people) quickly and efficiently in mind.
      
      Throughout the world there have been numerous “incidents” with bolt action firearms, pistols, bombs, vehicles and knives.
      
      Sure, but vehicles and knives are useful, even necessary, tools in day to day life. They weren’t designed with killing things (in particular, people) as their prime function. In terms of knives, flick knives/switch blades have restrictions on their importation, I think? I don’t know if it is illegal to own one though, to be fair.
      
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      April 3, 2019 10:22am
      - Tall Man
        
        378 road deaths in 2018. They may not be Ferraris but they are killers.
        
        Did anyone hold a vigil?
        
        Almost 700 suicides over the past 12 months.
        
        Anyone hold a vigil?
        
        Do we now expect legislation to limit, reduce or ban cars because they are certainly vastly more efficient than semi automatic firearms.
        
        Do we institute a 24 hour watch on all at risk citizens on the offchance they commit suicide?
        
        “On the evening of 14 July 2016, a 19-tonne cargo truck was deliberately driven into crowds of people celebrating Bastille Day on the Promenade des Anglais in Nice, France, resulting in the deaths of 86 people[2] and the injury of 458 others”
        
        So, do we ban the use of 19 tonne trucks or reduce the size limit to 3 tonnes for afety?
        
        Sure, a semi automatic weapon was used in a mass shooting but that is irrelevant as he could just have easily used other weapons from a pump shotgun to a lever action lower caliber weapon.
        
        The problems was not the firearm, it was the system that licensed him. How about we fix that before some nutjob uses a bolt action rifle and kills even more.
        
        As a firearms owner, I am happy to face more scrutiny when applying for or renewing my license and I know many other who deel the same.
        
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        April 3, 2019 11:47am
      - kloyd0306
        
        Congratulations for falling into the same trap that most (all?) knee-jerk liberals fall into.
        
        Evil minded perpetrators of terrorism use anything at their disposal as their means.
        
        Box cutters, used by crazed radial Muslims brought down four jet planes on Sept 11th, killing more than 3000 innocent people.
        
        A truck, driven by a crazed Muslim terrorist, kills 86 people walking on sidewalks in Nice, France.
        
        Where are the guns?
        
        Do you need any further examples?
        
        NZ is passing knee-jerk legislation, caused by a crazed AUSTRALIAN (not even a Kiwi) yet law abiding New Zealanders are being punished.
        
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        April 3, 2019 12:10pm
      - SGA
        
        As I said before – yes, you can use trucks to kill people. But that’s not the reason they were designed or their prime function. We need trucks.
        
        Not only don’t we not need powerful semi-automatic rifles, but also, and unlike Ferraris and jewellry, they are explicitly designed to kill large animals quickly and efficiently. That is what they are meant for.
        
        Just because we need the various components that could be used to make explosives at home, doesn’t mean that you should be able to readily get your hands on C4.
        
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        April 3, 2019 12:40pm
      - All_on_Red
        
        High powered semi autos are essential for Deer/Thar culling by Helicopter
        Eugenie Sage has probably got hunters using them to cull out the Thar right now…
        Hunters should be able to get exemptions- maybe put them in a higher Category for approval.
        Got to say I find this objection to a rifle ‘looking like’ a military issue rifle pretty facile.
        A gun is a gun.
        I also think a lot of owners just like to play with them on a range, so maybe restrict ownership to that. I think some weapons are already like that? Others may be able to clarify.
        This whole thing smacks of an overreaction. I’m not against tightening up the laws, especially the vetting.
        But too often bad law results when laws are passed too quickly.
        
        It would be good if an experienced gun owner could do a guest post to clarify things and maybe make some suggestions.
        
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        April 3, 2019 1:25pm
      - SGA
        
        High powered semi autos are essential for Deer/Thar culling by Helicopter
        
        And my understanding is that high-powered semi autos will still be available for such specific uses?
        
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        April 3, 2019 1:33pm
      - All_on_Red
        
        SGA
        You said ‘Not only don’t we not need powerful semi-automatic rifles,’
        
        I was just pointing out one need.
        But no matter.
        I see DPF has linked to the legislation. I’ll have a read.
        It does seem silly, that regardless of whether we ‘need’ something or not, that law abiding citizens are getting caught up in a knee jerk overreaction.
        Personally I’d rather see increased vetting. Maybe the Legislation fixes that.
        
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        April 3, 2019 3:08pm
    - Brian Marshall
      
      TM, the law didn’t need changing 4 weeks ago, so why does it need changing urgently now?
      The reason is that police failed in its duty to prevent an unsuitable person from obtaining a firearm. These changes are needed urgently to distract from that fact, and instead blame the firearms.
      They failed with the non vetting of David Grey, as they failed here. Maybe the laws need changing, or maybe the suitability of firearm ownership needs reviewing. Either way, rushed laws make bad laws.
      (Non firearms owner here, but did hunt with licenced firearms owners when younger).
      
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      April 3, 2019 10:23am
      - Tall Man
        
        I agree.
        
        The review post David Gray caused changes to be made Properly applied those changes have created a relatively safe place for it’s citizens.
        
        I believe there was a failure in procedure here so let’s wait until that review is completed and adjust the law to fit.
        
        The spurious argument that semi auto rifles are designed for killing and bolt action are not is just stupid at best.
        
        The bulk of military sniper rifes are bolt action and they are pretty efficient “human killing” machines.
        
        I have a decent scope that would turn almost any rifle into a decent mid range sniper rifle so saying a semi auto is worse than any other is just stupid. What if he had taken a “sniper” bolt action rifle to a sports stadium and used that to pick of a hundred people. Tarrant fired over 200 rounds according to the media, based on my kill ratio on pests that many rounds would have resulted in almost 150 kills so the knee jerk reaction is nothing more than “virtue signalling” by all mps.
        
        It’s annoying and reactionary and I do not own any semi auto rifle.
        
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        April 3, 2019 2:29pm
  - SGA
    
    Of approximately 1000 refugees granted asylum in New Zealand up to the end of October 2018, not one of them was Christian.
    
    Scott, where do I find the data you are basing that on? While I am sure that the majority of refugees are from countries with largely muslim populations, over the last few years NZ has also accepted refugees from places like Columbia and Congo.
    
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    April 3, 2019 9:01am
    - Scott
      
      SGA – sorry I can’t recall my source at this point of time? If I do I will post a link.
      Your point is well taken. My point relates to the 12 months up to the end of October 2018. Apologies that I did not make that clearer.
      
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      April 3, 2019 9:29am
      - Scientific American
        
        There is a report on the barnabasfund website that covers the year to the end of October. Is that your source? That does not say that there were no refugees who were Christian. It says that of the refugees from 3 predominantly Muslim countries (Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq) none were Christian. That group comprised 389 of a 1019 total.
        
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        April 3, 2019 10:17am
    - Scott
      
      SGA -found it-
      New Zealand fails to offer sanctuary to any Christian refugees from Syria, Afghanistan or Iraq
      
      In the 12 months up to 31 October 2018, the country gave sanctuary to 1,019 refugees. Of these 277 were from Syria, 105 from Afghanistan and seven from Iraq – and all were Muslims.
      
      Figures for previous years, obtained by Barnabas Fund under the Official Information Act, are equally bleak. In 2016, only six Christians were among the 377 Syrians granted sanctuary, and in the five weeks up to 10 February 2017 no Christians were among the 45 Syrians, all Muslims, who were allowed to settle. Christians made up 10% of the population of Syria before the war.
      
      https://barnabasfund.org/en/news/new-zealand-fails-to-offer-sanctuary-to-any-christian-refugees-from-syria-afghanistan-or-iraq
      
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      April 3, 2019 10:43am
      - SGA
        
        Scott
        As SciAm point out, that’s a lot different from your original claim “Of approximately 1000 refugees granted asylum in New Zealand up to the end of October 2018, not one of them was Christian”, isn’t it?
        
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        April 3, 2019 10:57am
      - Scott
        
        SGA – fair enough, I must have misremembered the report that I had originally read.
        But still we have well over 300 refugees from the Middle East and particularly Syria. Not one was Christian. Given 10% Christians in Syria there should be around 30?
        
        So I revise my report on the conditions of Christians in the Middle East and the chances of them being granted refugee status. I thought it was extremely bleak. I would henceforth revise it to very bleak.
        
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        April 3, 2019 1:39pm
      - SGA
        
        Ok Scott, so we started with 1019 refugees, and no Christians.
        Now we are down to 389 from Syria (277), Afghanistan (105), Iraq (7). Wikipedia tells me that Afghanistan is 99% muslim and Iraq about 95% muslim, so no Christians from those two isn’t that surprising.
        So, that leaves 277 Syrians from the original 1019. And, “yes”, no Christians at all in the first 10 months looks odd given that 10% of Syria is Christian. Ten minutes on Google suggests that the main problem is that Syrian Christians make up a very small proportion on the refugee lists to start with (the lists that NZ would use to get refugees). Part of the problem is that they tend to avoid the largely muslim refugee camps*. This isn’t good, granted, but it isn’t something the NZ government can really do a lot to solve, as I see it.
        
        * another source argued this is overstated and considers other factors as well (I am in no position to judge its veracity). Here it is if you want a different perspective.
        http://rozenbergquarterly.com/why-do-so-few-christian-syrian-refugees-register-with-the-united-nations-high-commissioner-for-refugees/
        
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        April 3, 2019 2:21pm
      - Scientific American
        
        The Rosenberg Quarterly report that SGA references, that I had independently come across, appears to suggest that around 1.2% of Registered Syrian refugees are Christian. So if one totals the Syrian numbers that Scott has provided then one might expect something like 7 or 8 to be Christian, very close to the actual total of 6.
        
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        April 3, 2019 4:47pm
    - tf78
      
      They were based on Government figures released to Barnabas Fund.
      
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      April 3, 2019 10:56am
- Rich Prick
  
  I think it’s called media induced grief fatigue.
  
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  April 3, 2019 9:14am
- fluffykiwi
  
  We could go further and suggest she could cross the lines and raise the treatment and killing of Christians as well. A truly inclusive person rather than just selective.
  
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  April 3, 2019 9:17am
- John Warren
  
  I was with Mariam Khan except where she got in the obligatory dig at white people.
  
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  April 3, 2019 9:40am
- Sarkozygroupie
  
  Finally we have some coverage that actually speaks to the truth of wearing the hijab and what it actually means for women’s oppression.
  
  This virtue-signalling hijab wearing carry-on shows just how incredibly ignorant many people in this country actually are. It’s embarrasing.
  
  And if they really want to show solidarity with hijab-wearing women in Chch why haven’t they kept wearing the hijab since then? A one-day self indulgent feelgood exercise allowing preening about virtuosity does not cut it.
  
  And now these New Zealand women have gone back to their real lives where they have the freedom to choose to cover up or not.
  
  https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12218679
  
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  April 3, 2019 11:43am
KiWombat

Noticed the tree counter has clicked over to 150,000,000 today. How are the bro’s managing Shame?
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April 3, 2019 8:14am
- Bill felt
  
  “This government is committed to a new planting programme, planting 100 million trees a year to reach a billion more trees in ten years.”
  
  JA Speech From The Throne 8 Nov 2017
  
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  April 3, 2019 8:18am
  - freethinker
    
    This appear to confirm that the plantings will be New/Additional trees.
    
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    April 3, 2019 8:26am
    - fluffykiwi
      
      Similar to the houses that Twyford is claiming. Typical lefties claim others work as their own.
      
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      April 3, 2019 9:18am
      - septic skeptic
        
        The socialist mantra is “money stolen is twice as sweet as money earned”.
        
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        April 3, 2019 9:49am
      - tf78
        
        I wonder how many of them copied other peoples’ homework when they were at school.
        
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        April 3, 2019 10:57am
  - Yvette
    
    Bill, recent Cabinet papers indicate Shane is hopeful that the Forestry industry will, in the decade concerned, plant 770 million trees, leaving his resources to only plant 230 million.
    
    However in that time Forestry will elsewhere fell 95% of the number re-planted, so removing 731.5 million trees to leave 38.5 million trees as their net contribution.
    
    Add that net figure, 38.5 million, to the reduced number Shane might get in the ground, 230 million, and that gives a final total of 268.5 million, or just over a quarter of the proposed 1 billion.
    
    Only Phil Twyford could better obscure the forest for sake of not seeing the trees.
    
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    April 3, 2019 9:17am
    - david
      
      How many trees would you need to plant to bring 731.5 million trees to harvest?
      What I am saying is that if you replant 1 for 1, then by the time you take into account losses, thinnings and unusable, you will harvest a significantly smaller number in 30 years.
      I’m sure that the industry has some rules of thumb for these things but my gut feeling is that you probably need to plant 2 for 1 so this means that you are standing still if you plant 1.4 – 1.5 billion trees per year.
      Where does that leave the shortfall?
      
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      April 3, 2019 4:37pm
Maggie Pie

How could they stoop so low?

https://twitter.com/peterbakernyt/status/1113112132814503941
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April 3, 2019 8:14am
- Bill felt
  
  It makes me want to reach
  
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  April 3, 2019 8:23am
- mark15
  
  Not all superheroes wear shorts
  
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  April 3, 2019 8:38am
- Monique Watson
  
  https://youtu.be/sExg4ta2gbY
  
  Play the ball not the man!
  
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  April 3, 2019 8:50am
- Rachael Membery
  
  Everyone else would have had to.
  
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  April 3, 2019 9:56am
  - Rachael Membery
    
    Stoop low that was.
    
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    April 3, 2019 5:45pm
Lee C

An adapted quote – post it on fb:

“Child poverty under the last Government dropped on seven of the nine measures, stayed static for one, and increased for one.
Child poverty in the current government’s first year increased on seven of the nine measures and dropped on only two of them.”
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April 3, 2019 8:16am
- Bill felt
  
  “This government will put child poverty at the heart of government policy development and decision-making. It will establish targets to reduce the impact of child poverty and it will put these into law. A work programme will be put in place across all relevant areas of government to achieve these targets. Heads of government departments will be required to work together to deliver real reductions in child poverty.”
  
  “To deliver genuine change for children, transparent mechanisms are needed to hold the government to account on poverty reduction. This government will also change the Public Finance Act so that, every Budget, New Zealanders will hear about how many kids have been lifted out of poverty and we can all see clearly what more needs to be done.”
  
  JA Speech From The Throne 8 Nov 2017
  
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  April 3, 2019 8:20am
  - DigNap15
    
    So will we now be told how many children have drifted back into poverdy under Ardern’s watch
    
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    April 3, 2019 8:39am
  - Tall Man
    
    Yes but was she speaking as appointed pm, had she run the plan past a certain bitter little man, was she speaking as labour leader so making the statement irrelevant and was she speaking from the throne….or in her mind was she speaking from the “porcelain throne”?
    
    These are very important considerations.
    
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    April 3, 2019 8:57am
    - Rachael Membery
      
      Self plumbed, not that I am opposed to a bit of DIY?
      
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      April 3, 2019 9:59am
      - Tall Man
        
        Illegally “self plumbed” I believe.
        
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        April 3, 2019 11:49am
- freethinker
  
  Why are we not surprised, if this is the COLL standards just imagine what Taxinda will deliver this year of delivery.
  
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  April 3, 2019 8:29am
  - sooty
    
    More taxes, you can bet your boots on that!
    Election next year.
    Has to be this year.
    All sweetness and extras for the bennies next year. Hoping to bribe a second term by doing a Helen, to makeup for the horrible little trolls tax!
    
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    April 3, 2019 9:03am
- Odakyu-sen
  
  Eliminate the factors that encourage “meal-ticket” children.
  There, that should go some way to reduce “child poverty” (since all children are poor because they do not work, the “poverty” must rest upon the shoulders of the mother).
  
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  April 3, 2019 8:39am
  - Rachael Membery
    
    Both parents surely.
    
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    April 3, 2019 10:00am
    - Odakyu-sen
      
      Show me the fathers…
      
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      April 3, 2019 10:47am
  - tf78
    
    Didn’t Jacinda last July give an extra $65/week to mothers of new babies.
    
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    April 3, 2019 11:03am
- krazykiwi
  
  Feelz vs facts. Politicians, aided and abetted by a duplicit media, have learned that today’s inconvenient facts can be smothered by selfies, feelz and platitudes.
  
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  April 3, 2019 8:40am
- Piniwi
  
  @Lee C not to overlook that the cancelled tax deductions would have lifted 50,000 children out of poverty. Seems the COL are getting some Karma as they feel the effects of their ineptitude of unintended consequences. Sadly those most in need are again the ones who suffer most. Lol.
  
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  April 3, 2019 1:20pm
freethinker

I listened to an interview with Sepuloni on the $3.4 million of winter heating allowances last year that may have been wrongly paid out but Sepuloni succeeded in leaving me confused. According to Sepuloni the drafted legislation was wrong and now requires amendment but the bills intention has been correctly applied by the Ministry. The illustrated point was super annuitants being out of NZ for more than a month which she indicated would stop their entitlement after a month during winter and then confirmed this would not be recovered. So the Ministry followed the bills intention but not the law as enacted? Sepuloni said she would take responsibility as the minister so what does this all mean – the Ministry either didn’t read or understand the actual law so used intentions, did Sepuloni as minister not understand the Law as drafted she is responsible for or is it a case that the minister has no idea of the meaning of words and the ministry doesn’t bother with the law just pays out taxpayers $ on the basis of intent? Whichever it does illuminate the micrometre thin level of competence in the minister and her ministry – worst govt ever resign minister you are a disgrace.
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April 3, 2019 8:17am
- hullkiwi
  
  Freethinkers, you are being harsh on the Ministry, why can’t they do things by “feelz”, everybody else in govt does?
  
  As Sepuloni, the bar for competence was set low last year with Curran. If “compotency” was the measure for CoL cabinet ministers, each week’s cabinet meeting would fail to happen because they would struggle for a quorum!
  
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  April 3, 2019 8:30am
  - alloytoo
    
    The only competent Minister is Chris Fafoi and he sits outside cabinet.
    
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    April 3, 2019 11:00am
- DigNap15
  
  Sepuloni is very incompetent.
  She never replies to my emails either.
  
  This just goes to show the lack of talent on the government benches.
  
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  April 3, 2019 8:38am
  - LTA1955
    
    Labour don’t understand or acknowledge competence is an attribute they require to govern. I reckon after 9 years of good governance from National, they have underestimated that New Zealanders demand this as a essential skill for any MP. Bye Bye COL in 2020…unless the COL fiddle the MMP thresholds. If they do, we will descend into a Venezuelan dictatorship.
    
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    April 3, 2019 11:25am
- burt
  
  Labour MPs never resign for incompetence, if any of them ever did there would be no Labour Party at all.
  
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  April 3, 2019 8:53am
- RW Capitalist
  
  Didn’t the holiday’s act require a rewrite under Helen Clark, after being warned that it had loop holes?
  So
  “According to Sepuloni the drafted legislation was wrong and now requires amendment…”
  Seems Labour are good at and have a track record of poorly written legislation.
  Inconvenient question:
  Why are we rushing the fire arms legislation?
  
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  April 3, 2019 9:25am
- Rachael Membery
  
  That’s a lot of super-annuitants out of the country.
  
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  April 3, 2019 10:03am
  - Overworked
    
    Rest home resident’s were also paid and shouldn’t have been.
    
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    April 3, 2019 1:05pm
- KevO'Brien
  
  How many COL MP’s can capably read any Parliamentary Bill? Some can barely speak. Any CGT Bill will be utterly incomprehensible except to Judith Collins and possibly a few others. Even then it may still be incomprehensible to mask its content.
  
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  April 3, 2019 12:30pm
  - Tall Man
    
    I think Simon Bridges may struggle through…. 🙂
    
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    April 3, 2019 4:47pm
hullkiwi

We must all give praise for our dynamic government.

New gun law passed first reading yesterday;

Written submissions must be received today;

Select committee hearings tomorrow;

Select committee reports to the House next week;

Parliament will take urgency to pass the bill through all stages;

The bill will be law by the end of next week.

Praise be for such a dynamic govt (more happy to play to a dumb downed audience than concentrating on giving good govt, but hey ho that is govt CoL style);

But where is the democracy, one asks?
– a bill passed in haste after a terrible tragedy;
– due process and consideration thrown out the window in the name of populist law making that plays to the media spin;
– but hey ho, we’ve all seen it before when law is made in haste; and
– don’t worry those of you clinging to our last vestiges of democracy – we have the head of the Hamilton Mongeral Mob telling the world, they will not be handing in their guns. So, I hope Jancinda’s and Winnie’s followers (plus the media) will all feel safe because all the currently held legitimate guns will be illegal next week and will be handed in, while the guns in the hands of criminal elements will remain in circulation.

You couldn’t make this s**t up if you tried!
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April 3, 2019 8:17am
- fernglas
  
  Festina lente.
  
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  April 3, 2019 8:33am
  - Tall Man
    
    Good quote….. 5th form latin pays of hugely….(finally) 🙂
    
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    April 3, 2019 8:58am
    - RW Capitalist
      
      Smart ass….but thank god for Google translate.
      
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      April 3, 2019 9:28am
      - kowtow
        
        Thank Jupiter.
        
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        April 3, 2019 10:59am
      - Tall Man
        
        “The more haste…the less speed” unless you’re on a lunge to the “cultus”….
        
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        April 3, 2019 11:55am
  - KevO'Brien
    
    A COL festival in Lent.
    
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    April 3, 2019 12:31pm
    - RW Capitalist
      
      a model of our economy will be presented on Shrove Tuesday….
      (pancake day to non bible readers)
      
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      April 3, 2019 3:05pm
- Tony Stuart
  
  Rushed legislation is seldom good legislation. We’re now seeing the unintended consequences of the rushed Days Winter Energy Payment legislation, pushed through in the government’s first 100 days in office.
  
  They got that one wrong by $3.4 million; how much worse will a law rushed through Parliament in barely a week be?
  
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  April 3, 2019 8:34am
  - waikatogirl
    
    Shame on Sepiloni for dismissing wasting taxpayers hard earned money on those who weren’t eligible for the winter energy payments. A report the other day said there isn’t enough money for hip operations. $3.4m would have been more effective going to those desperate for a life-improving operation than wasting it and not apologising for her incompetence.
    
    This CoL states NZ is all about “well-being and kindness”. Leaving patients to suffer in excruciating pain while Sepiloni wastes taxpayers dollars without care is something not to be dismissed so lightly by her. What else do we expect from this bunch, they have proved time and time again they don’t understand finance and economics and are sloppy with our taxes.
    
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    April 3, 2019 8:54am
    - sooty
      
      Could have used that money for something good, like a pay rise for the nurses, maybe!
      
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      April 3, 2019 9:08am
    - fluffykiwi
      
      Yes, but at least they were warm, albeit briefly, while they were in pain. Imagine if they had also been cold and in pain, see it is easy to buy into the leftie logic on things.
      
      Computer programs should have been able to sort this matter out. The government knows who they pay for in resthomes because those people do not receive their benefit should be simple to sort that part out.
      
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      April 3, 2019 9:24am
  - Tall Man
    
    “Consequences”…there are no consequences for this government.
    
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    April 3, 2019 8:59am
- mark15
  
  Enough with your logic,stop it.
  Incidentally,tell me what you think ‘erk’ is.
  
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  April 3, 2019 8:40am
- srylands
  
  I doubt the gangs give a shit about gun laws. They would already hold guns illegally. Just business as usual.
  
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  April 3, 2019 8:58am
  - fluffykiwi
    
    They will hand their broken ones in and get the payout from the government, laugh all the way to the bank., or use them for spare parts.
    
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    April 3, 2019 9:24am
  - Nigel Kearney
    
    This is a great buying opportunity for the gangs. Lots of people are being told they have to hand over their guns in exchange for an uncertain amount of compensation at some future date. I expect some of those people would prefer cash now.
    
    A gun registry would do more to reduce gun crime than anything the government is actually doing.
    
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    April 3, 2019 9:42am
    - Local Miller
      
      Actually it’s a fallacy that a gun registry would be of any value. The government knowing you have a firearms license is enough. Nowhere in the world where a gun registry is or was held has a single crime been solved because of registry, and there is no evidence crime has been reduced by one either. The reality is that except for “nut jobs”, very little crime is committed by licensed firearms owners with their firearms.
      
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      April 3, 2019 9:59am
    - sooty
      
      Chances are the police will lose a few guns?
      Will the gangs raid the armoury?
      
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      April 3, 2019 10:03am
    - Berend de Boer
      
      Just as much as the police interviewing the shooter and handing him a license I suspect.
      
      Look, perhaps it could. But these people are not interested in making laws that allow civilians to enjoy hobbies like target shooting or hunting with suitable weapons. Jacinda needs to ban guns, so she’ll get her Nobel Peace prize.
      
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      April 3, 2019 10:19am
    - tf78
      
      This article was in Muriel Newman’s latest news letter.
      
      “The PM presided over an executive committee that introduced significant changes to the gun laws late last year. Using an Order in Council to avoid Parliamentary scrutiny, she introduced the Arms (Electronic Transactions)Amendment Regulations 2018, which came into effect on January 2019, to enable anyone applying to become a gun dealer, get a firearms licence, obtain an endorsement for a restricted firearm secure a permit buy a military style semi-automatic, or import a restricted weapon, to do so online through the internet”.
      
      This could explain the speed in which changes are being hurried through.
      
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      April 3, 2019 11:34am
    - Tall Man
      
      “A gun registry would do more to reduce gun crime than anything the government is actually doing.”
      
      Please explain how?
      
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      April 3, 2019 4:46pm
- MCos
  
  Urgency wasn’t taken.
  
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  April 3, 2019 9:06am
  - Tall Man
    
    Seriously?
    
    Rushed was the description and it is.
    
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    April 3, 2019 9:33am
    - srylands
      
      Urgency is a different thing. If Parliament agrees unanimously on a curtailed timetable there is no need for the government to use urgency.
      
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      April 3, 2019 9:52am
  - hullkiwi
    
    It will be next week. They will not get it through in the time schedule – unless National rolls over for bad legislation!
    
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    April 3, 2019 1:10pm
    - Tall Man
      
      Let’s hope they look at it carefully.
      
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      April 3, 2019 4:44pm
- lastmanstanding
  
  Watch all the loop holes appear in the gun legislation.
  
  The COL will be scrambling to close them up. I hope the sharp legal eagles on the RIGHT just keep drip feeding the loop holes one at a time to show that rushed knee jerk legislation is flawed legislation.
  
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  April 3, 2019 9:47am
- Local Miller
  
  A similar thing happened to us in South Africa. All firearms licence holders had to reapply for their licence, providing “proof of need”. What a bloody farce, basically no ones licences were renewed. Now look at the state of the place, only criminals have firearms, and at the stroke of a pen every law abiding firearms owner became a criminal.
  Add to that no buy back if you handed your firearm back. My father had a beautiful, .22 bolt action rifle he bought when he was 17, so it was 55 years old when he just handed it to the police. There’s probably some criminal wondering around SA using it now.
  
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  April 3, 2019 9:48am
- Rachael Membery
  
  I thought that it was just supported for the first stage.
  
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  April 3, 2019 10:03am
  - Tall Man
    
    Correct.
    
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    April 3, 2019 4:43pm
krazykiwi

KB moderation. A month ago a 1:1 conversation on KB was like iMessage. Now it’s like writing letters 🙂
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April 3, 2019 8:32am
- sooty
  
  Snail mail, killed the post office!
  
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  April 3, 2019 9:09am
  - freethinker
    
    It helped but the main reason was lousy management that failed to recognize what e-mail would do to paper copy posted eg invoices. A majority of the board are female – 5 draw your own conclusions.
    
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    April 3, 2019 9:37am
    - Local Miller
      
      Better be careful there this is bordering on sexist hate speech. You’ll be in the gulags soon if you don’t toe the line.
      
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      April 3, 2019 10:02am
  - kowtow
    
    NZ Post killed the post office. All they’ve done is close PO’s but someone else still has to provide the counter services.
    
    Strange how redundancies are ok under a left wing gubmint .
    
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    April 3, 2019 11:04am
- Odakyu-sen
  
  How long will this moderation continue?
  What circumstances will have to change before the “good old days” return?
  Is it possible that this moderation will become permanent?
  Will we see two classes of KB user: 1) fee-paying, registered, non-moderated and 2) the rest of us?
  Will KB be shut down or sold off?
  
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  April 3, 2019 9:23am
  - DigNap15
    
    Its not as if its one of the highest ratings blogs in NZ.
    When I joined I thought it was a right wing blog.
    Now I’ve realised that its really a Liberal blog.
    
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    April 3, 2019 10:04am
    - Tall Man
      
      A blog is nothing more than a window to it’s members.
      
      The moderation is a little heavy at the moment, especially surrounding a certain appointed assistant to “what’s in it for wynston”.
      
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      April 3, 2019 4:42pm
  - DigNap15
    
    Making changes to moderation rules in view of Christchurch attack is just a knee jerk reaction.
    Was it demanded by anyone?
    
    Freedom of speech is very important.
    
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    April 3, 2019 10:05am
  - SGA
    
    Depends – I imagine the important thing for advertisers is the number of people looking at KB, not the number posting*. So long as that stays reasonably high, then it’s still a going concern.
    
    * I would be interesting to look at a week’s KB and see how many unique commentators there were. It wouldn’t surprise me if a small group (20 or so, to grab a number) made up a significant proportion of the total comments.
    
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    April 3, 2019 10:14am
    - mark15
      
      80/20 rule?
      
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      April 3, 2019 11:21am
freethinker

The EU really is the evil union –
The Financial Times covers another step in the journey to curb freedom of expression on the internet in favour of other social goods (in this case, intellectual property rights). New European copyright laws will make tech platforms buy licenses to show copyrighted content and impose stricter and more costly obligations to remove content should the owner object.

‘What Europe’s copyright overhaul means for YouTube, Facebook and the way you use the internet’
CNBC (on a free-access site) says if you’re an internet user in Europe, chances are the way you use platforms like YouTube and Facebook could be about to shift drastically in the coming years after the European Parliament recently passed sweeping changes to the EU’s copyright rules. Critics are worried it could be a misfire that ultimately results in online censorship. Among other things, news organisations are given more protections to ensure they’re paid fairly for the dissemination of their stories online. Services like Google News will be under particular pressure, as the rules will mean tech firms need to agree to licenses with publishers to share their articles.
More attacks on free speech Jacinda Little Andrew – Reichmaster Junker will be proud of you.
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April 3, 2019 8:37am
Yvette

New speech laws?
Australian Senator Fraser Anning, who Winston Peters described as a “moron”, says he “fully endorsed” comments Peters made in a 2005 speech, that –
“In New Zealand, the Muslim community have been quick to show us their more moderate face, but as some media reports have shown, there is a militant underbelly here as well,” and that “the moderate and militant fit hand and glove everywhere they exist”.

Anning seems to have missed Winston’s more recent 2016 remarks –

Mr Peters said migration should be limited to a maximum of 15,000 people a year and he called for every migrant to be interviewed at the border to check that they respected New Zealand’s “views”.
“But here’s what we want. We want them to salute our flag, respect our laws, honour our institutions and, above all, don’t bring absolutely anti-women attitudes with them, treating women like cattle, like fourth-class citizens.”
Asked how he would choose who came to New Zealand, he said: “You interview each one”.
Mr Peters said he did not know the cost of vetting all migrants at the border, but there was a “massive cost” to New Zealand of not controlling immigration.
– TVNZ Q+A, June 5 , 2016

Will Winston still be able to say “Absolutely anti-women attitudes, treating women like cattle, like fourth-class citizens” under any new speech laws?

And, to be balanced, there is also –
“There is no deity worthy of worship except the One God, and Muhammad (peace be upon him) is the Servant and final Messenger of God”
(New Zealanders should be familiar now with this statement, screened nation-wide recently on television, radio and appearing in most media outlets)

Will this ultimately non-inclusive authoritarian religious statement be permitted under any new speech laws?
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April 3, 2019 8:41am
burt

Any news on the Labour Youth camp sexual predator (who was previously protected by the Labour Party) having his moment in court?
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April 3, 2019 8:51am
- stigie
  
  “No” Imagine if this was a National Youth Camp..?
  
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  April 3, 2019 9:09am
- sooty
  
  Protected by the Labour Media Party!
  
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  April 3, 2019 9:10am
- freethinker
  
  I have been concerned about that and the absolute lack of any information. Perhaps I need to write to the court and ask if a trial has taken place, if not why, if so what is the result and when will the sentence be announced publicly?
  
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  April 3, 2019 9:11am
  - fluffykiwi
    
    You could ask whether it was a closed court. Imagine if it was the most crowded day of the year in a courtroom. Then what for their name suppression laws, we would all know just couldn’t mention the word, A bit like Jacinda not naming the “alleged” gunman in chch.
    
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    April 3, 2019 9:26am
  - RW Capitalist
    
    I tried to look up the court reports on their website.
    But couldn’t find it.
    It’s difficult to navigate, as you seem to have to know EXACTLY what he was charged with.
    I put in the court date and still couldn’t find it.
    Usually I’m pretty good at finding stuff, but failed.
    Maybe another pair of eyes is needed.
    
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    April 3, 2019 9:33am
    - Maggy Wassilieff
      
      He is/was charged with 4 counts of indecent assault.
      His defending lawyer (in Sept 2018) was Emma Priest.
      https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12123823
      
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      April 3, 2019 10:23am
  - calendar girl
    
    Has there ever been such lack of public information on the intended date and location of a newsworthy NZ criminal trial to which a defendant has been remanded (some nine months ago in this case)?
    
    There is significant and justified public interest in this case of an alleged sexual offender, at a Labour Party Youth Camp in the Bay of Plenty around a year ago. We know that a man was duly charged in Court, was remanded (with name suppression), and ever since there seems to have been a deafening silence.
    
    Is someone pulling the strings to bury this criminal charge, the identity of the accused, and/or any family political association that he may have? Someone must have reliable facts on the status of the criminal proceedings, and be able to place them in front of the public.
    
    And why are NZ’s energetic ‘investigative’ journalists remaining silent on the issue? One would normally expect them to be clamouring all over such a news-worthy case.
    
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    April 3, 2019 10:10am
    - Rachael Membery
      
      Yes there is public interest.
      
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      April 3, 2019 6:17pm
- Rich Prick
  
  Nope, just crickets where the media should be. He’s one lucky perp.
  
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  April 3, 2019 9:19am
  - Rachael Membery
    
    Unlike the victims.
    
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    April 3, 2019 10:08am
  - sooty
    
    Not lucky, it was carefully planned by the labour party in damage control!
    
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    April 3, 2019 10:17am
- alien
  
  The media have never covered this story up. They’ve always reported on it and when it goes to court you’ll find they will report on it so wait until then. A lot of court cases for some reason were postponed because of the Christchurch shooting.
  
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  April 3, 2019 9:49am
  - RW Capitalist
    
    Then why didn’t they report that?
    
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    April 3, 2019 10:23am
    - Batman
      
      Because they were too busy reporting grief porn
      
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      April 3, 2019 1:19pm
  - calendar girl
    
    1. How can we find when and where this case will go to full trial?
    
    2. Your last sentence IMO is nonsence, probably purely diversionary in its intentions. Please show us any plausible evidence that, a mere two and a half weeks after the Christchurch terrorist attack and tragedy, the trial of the alleged sexual molester at the 2018 Labour Party Youth Camp had previously been scheduled, perhaps even to have occured by now, but has now been delayed to xx xx xxxx specific date because of the prosecution of accomplices, etc, of a seriously-deceased terrorist gunman.
    
    The unpleasant smell around the Labour 2018 Youth Camp’s alleged sexual assaults becomes ever-more intensive, now raising a serious possibility of corruption within the internal Labour Party or even within the senior ranks of Government.
    
    Again, why have investigative and crime journalists chosen to remain silent on what looks increasingly like an attempt to bury a serious sexual assault that could bring major embarrassment to the Party leading NZ’s Coalition Government. The public of New Zealand deserves greater respect from the NZ Courts structure, and a measure of frankness and honesty from a Labour Party that organised the Youth Camp at which the alleged sexual assaults occurred. No longer should New Zealand be prepared to be treated in this manner by Labour Party strategists who appear to want to seek to control and / or conceal the truth about that Youth Camp in question.
    
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    April 3, 2019 9:42pm
- Nermal
  
  Just like #MeTurei – shhhh!
  
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  April 3, 2019 3:32pm
Poppa

So again we have this inept bunch of fools drafting legislation which has unintended consequences. Bus drivers will be required to have a ten minute break every two hours.

So what happens when the two hours is up? Just park on the side of the motorway?

Even a 5yr old could work out this is sheer stupidity
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April 3, 2019 8:52am
- sooty
  
  If they can not get back to their depot, the employer has to give them all a thermas to hold their tea/coffee and have a 20lt container of water/towels aswell to wash hands! Maybe you will see some bus shelters with a porta pottie hidden behind a tree as well!
  
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  April 3, 2019 9:16am
  - Paulus
    
    New bus stop areas in Tauranga with new excellent public toilets specially on one side of the road and two opposing bus drivers having a natter and break with passengers on board awaiting.
    Pity the total new service and timetables are ratshit too !
    Same company as Wellington I believe.
    
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    April 3, 2019 1:44pm
MCos

Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
Looks like Simon Bridges has gone off with a hamstring injury and been temporarily replaced by John Key.
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April 3, 2019 8:55am
- Tall Man
  
  Stupid comment without elaboration.
  
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  April 3, 2019 9:31am
  - RW Capitalist
    
    Stupid comment.
    There, fixed it for ya.
    
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    April 3, 2019 10:24am
    - Tall Man
      
      Thanks.
      
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      April 3, 2019 11:51am
- Sacha
  
  @ MCos – what are you talking about?
  Or are you referring to the Key interview with Hosking this morning? Key, ever the diplomat, refused to be drawn into criticism of the PM, and outlined the approach that he had followed when he was PM. And left it at that.
  
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  April 3, 2019 10:01am
  - RW Capitalist
    
    A lesson in class.
    
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    April 3, 2019 2:41pm
- redeye
  
  I miss the logic and clarity of Sir John.
  
  https://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/checkpoint/audio/2018689247/watch-sir-john-key-opposes-capital-gains-tax-in-wide-ranging-discussion
  
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  April 3, 2019 12:23pm
Happychappy

Will Jones 3 billion slush fund be need for Phil Twyfords promises to housing developers that the government will buy the houses that are not sold after designated time. This scheme could end up costing taxpayers big bucks especially if the guts falls out of the housing market that Hugh has been preaching for the last couple of years.
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April 3, 2019 8:55am
- fluffykiwi
  
  He can turn them into state houses, just in time for the election so they can show there is no waiting list .
  
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  April 3, 2019 10:01am
  - Tony Stuart
    
    As long as the prospective tenants on the waiting list in the North Island don’t mind moving to Wanaka 😀
    
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    April 3, 2019 11:49am
Simon

Newmarket shopping mall will absolutely fuck traffic on the motorway and ofcourse Newmarket on weekends. Too bad if you are trying to get across the city.

The on off ramps around Newmarket are from the 1970s.

Greedy fucking Auckland Shitty council. So much in debt they need these ponzi schemes up and running.
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April 3, 2019 8:58am
- alex Masterley
  
  My work is adjacent to the new development.
  Clovernook, Mortimer Pass and Morrow street will be clogged with shoppers cars.
  And then the staff for all of the new shops that are planned will clog parking around the area in an area where there is already limited parking, mostly gone by 7.00am in term time.
  It will be fun. and not in a good way.
  
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  April 3, 2019 9:29am
  - sooty
    
    But will not they all be catching the bus?
    
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    April 3, 2019 10:19am
  - RW Capitalist
    
    Don’t know Auckland too well.
    But maybe they will recommend buses or is it on some proposed rail link?
    OOPPPSSS
    Cat meet pigeons.
    
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    April 3, 2019 10:26am
Guy Preston

Serious question:
Employer has constructed and circulated diversity survey with 5 questions:
First Name
Last name
Gender identity
Ethnic identity
Religious affiliation.

There is soft pressure to complete the survey,am I obligated to answer the questions?
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April 3, 2019 9:19am
- Tall Man
  
  First and second only.
  
  Even then, they already have that data.
  
  The remainder are OTT and quite possibly illegal.
  
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  April 3, 2019 9:30am
- Odakyu-sen
  
  Why would your HR department want to know this information?
  
  19 0
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  April 3, 2019 9:34am
  - Guy Preston
    
    “as an organisation, we want to allow everyone to feel that their values, beliefs and experiences are fully appreciated”
    
    “we want to incorporate cultural diversity and awareness throughout the workplace, and to do so, we need to gather some statistics.”
    
    highlighted in email: Please complete this by COB Tuesday 2 April
    
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    April 3, 2019 9:48am
    - Antoine
      
      > Ethnic identity
      
      Can I suggest you put “New Zealander”?
      
      > Religious affiliation.
      
      Now this is what the Jedi religion was invented for!
      
      A.
      
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      April 3, 2019 10:03am
      - tf78
        
        What about the Spaghetti religion – (or some such name).
        And “undecided” about the sexual identity.
        
        6 0
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        April 3, 2019 11:52am
      - Batman
        
        Pastafarian ?
        
        7 1
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        April 3, 2019 11:54am
    - Odakyu-sen
      
      Is it the business of an enterprise to “allow everyone to feel that their values, beliefs and experiences are fully appreciated”?
      
      It sounds like someone in HR is infatuated with the notion of “equality of outcomes.”
      
      In my experience, people who desire equality of outcome have a strong authoritarian streak running through them and are convinced that their actions will be “for your own good, because we know what is best.”
      
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      April 3, 2019 10:05am
      - Guy Preston
        
        follow up email:
        “Hello
        
        Can you please complete the survey below? I have to report back to {Executive Director} tomorrow so need this done by COB today ? “
        
        6 0
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        April 3, 2019 11:03am
      - Odakyu-sen
        
        It sounds like the company is under pressure to “conform” to an ideal metric of diversity that “all good companies should have.”
        In other words, people who are guided by ideology and who have little business experience have somehow gotten into the control room and want to manipulate the levers so that the company can be made to conform to their ideology.
        
        How will “more diversity” increase the company’s bottom line?
        
        7 0
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        April 3, 2019 11:33am
    - brett68
      
      Governmental, private or some local council?
      
      7 0
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      April 3, 2019 10:10am
      - Guy Preston
        
        Private.
        
        6 0
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        April 3, 2019 11:04am
    - Odakyu-sen
      
      I’d have a quiet word to your union representative.
      
      6 0
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      April 3, 2019 10:20am
      - Guy Preston
        
        Professional, No unions in this field.
        
        6 0
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        April 3, 2019 11:05am
      - Tall Man
        
        Privacy Commissioner.
        
        4 0
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        April 3, 2019 11:50am
    - rightoverlabour
      
      Gender Identity – Fluid
      Ethnic Identity – Earthling
      Religious Identity – Agnostic Atheist
      
      12 0
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      April 3, 2019 10:28am
- waikatogirl
  
  .
  
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  April 3, 2019 9:57am
  - Odakyu-sen
    
    Is that a comodone, singularity, period or a representation of the COL’s collective brain cell?
    
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    April 3, 2019 10:07am
- Rachael Membery
  
  At least they didn’t ask for how you voted. Maybe in the next one.
  
  7 0
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  April 3, 2019 10:16am
- Berend de Boer
  
  Gender when open? Always apache attack helicopter.
  
  8 1
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  April 3, 2019 10:17am
  - sooty
    
    Berend, you could have fun expanding on that with the other questions. It would make them weep with frustration!
    
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    April 3, 2019 10:23am
- Jules99
  
  Most surveys I’ve seen have ‘prefer not to answer’ options for the last three. Even the census has this I think.
  
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  April 3, 2019 10:21am
  - Guy Preston
    
    This is a survey within a private company, there was no obvious opt out.
    
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    April 3, 2019 11:06am
    - Batman
      
      Tell them that they’re breaching your privacy by conducting it via email. They should use survey monkey or a similar service to provide anonymous statistics automatically
      
      4 0
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      April 3, 2019 1:25pm
      - Guy Preston
        
        It is a survey monkey operation.
        
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        April 3, 2019 3:19pm
    - waikatogirl
      
      So what happens when later on down the line there is an employment dispute, will this personal info held by the company hinder you or help you? Slippery slope. Tell them nothing, but that is then helped against you?
      
      In communist Russia, the Starzi used personal information to ruin individuals who did not conform with the State ideals.
      
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      April 3, 2019 1:29pm
- RW Capitalist
  
  May be relevant if you are applying to be a Catholic Priest, but not required (except 1 and 2) for any other job.
  
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  April 3, 2019 10:28am
- Maggy Wassilieff
  
  Go with Parsee (Zoroastrianism), Bahai, or Jainism.
  
  Diverse, but not too diverse to cause a problem for your employer.
  
  11 0
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  April 3, 2019 10:31am
  - Tony Stuart
    
    I found Methylated Spiritualist always worked well 😀
    
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    April 3, 2019 11:51am
    - Odakyu-sen
      
      Ah, the Cult of the Blue Flame…
      
      4 0
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      April 3, 2019 3:59pm
      - RW Capitalist
        
        eyebrows, optional.
        
        1 0
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        April 3, 2019 6:39pm
- alloytoo
  
  Choose the most obscure minorities you can imagine and chuckle about how it will screw up their diversity stats upon your departure.
  
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  April 3, 2019 11:47am
- Nermal
  
  I guess they wouldn’t appreciate flippant answers, but I’ve seen a few suggestions above you might get away with if you can keep a straight face
  
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  April 3, 2019 3:35pm
  - Guy Preston
    
    True, but I really wanted to know if I was obliged to answer, legally. Not sure if tall man is a lawyer…?
    
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    April 3, 2019 4:56pm
Fletch

NZ’s gun laws in Newsweek –

McKee said the proposed bill was a “lot more wide sweeping” than what Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern had initially indicated when she first promised to urgently change the law after 50 people were killed in the Christchurch mosque attacks, on March 15. She said that the expected exemption for international sporting users had not been included and this was “very, very concerning.”

“We think that the bill is a bit too extensive and very vague…. We see a very serious error in there…. The way that it has been written, there is an unintended consequence in regard to parts,” McKee told Newstalk ZB.

“There are prohibited parts that have placed into this bill, which would actually mean on interpretation, that stock-standard parts on every type of firearm would deem that firearm to be a prohibited item, because it has a prohibited part to it.”

McKee said that the proposed bill as it stands would outlaw typical weapons’ parts like sights, butts or stocks. “If this goes through as written on April 12 everyone who owns a firearm will be criminalized for doing so,” McKee said.

https://www.newsweek.com/serious-error-new-zealands-new-gun-laws-could-accidentally-criminalize-all-1383054
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April 3, 2019 9:24am
- Scientific American
  
  I had a glance at the Bill and I could not see how it would make everyone who owned a firearm a criminal. It would be good if Nicole McKee (or anyone) could explain that a bit more. The Bill does seem quite enabling of future Ministerial decision (on prohibiting parts) and maybe that is the concern?
  
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  April 3, 2019 12:29pm
  - Tall Man
    
    It would appear that some of the “parts” to be banned are actually part of a normal firearm.
    
    Suppressors are vital for pest control as the neighbours may get a bit scratchy by round 100 before breakfast….
    
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    April 3, 2019 4:37pm
    - Scientific American
      
      Thank you. That is helpful. But grateful if you or someone could point me at the relevant part of the Bill. I have seen suggestions elsewhere that use of suppressors should be restricted, but I can’t find the relevant clause in the Bill.
      
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      April 3, 2019 7:51pm
srylands

https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/opinion-analysis/111491947/air-new-zealand-treads-fine-line-between-cultural-tattoos-and-presentation-standards

Here we go again. Get prominent tattoos and then run to the press when a company refuses to employ you in a customer service role.
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April 3, 2019 9:32am
- DigNap15
  
  If you get big prominent tattooes and have a stupid name, then you are less likely to be employed.
  And more likely to end up in a, blue collar job, or a life of crime or dead.
  It seems to be a fact.
  
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  April 3, 2019 10:01am
  - Odakyu-sen
    
    Could it be that a “funny name” was given to you by parents of less-than-average intelligence, and that IQ is heritable?
    
    People who go for big, prominent tattoos may be less likely than average to defer gratification.
    
    So, big prominent tattooes and having a stupid name may be correlated with negative factors for “success in life” (whatever you define “success in life” to mean).
    
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    April 3, 2019 11:00am
lastmanstanding

Meanwhile over in OZ tax cuts and surpluses for the next 4 years.

Result an expanding economy and less on welfare and more in jobs.

Also big boost the Education and Health Spending.

Contrast with NZ.

More taxes levies and duties in the first 18 months than in 9 years with the Nats.

AND the promise of CGT which will negatively impact 66% of Kiwis.

Well done Scott Morrison.

Can we swap you with our Air Head.
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April 3, 2019 9:36am
- srylands
  
  Yes at the end of the day, higher productivity and higher growth than New Zealand over several decades buys a lot of “wellbeing”.
  
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  April 3, 2019 9:50am
- RW Capitalist
  
  They laughed when Bill and John said they were aiming to over take Australia.
  They stopped laughing as we, in many areas, started to achieve it.
  Now they are ZOOMING away from us again.
  
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  April 3, 2019 10:30am
  - srylands
    
    It’s depressing that we have dropped the ball on the basics. We have unaffordable housing, low skilled immigrants staffing gas stations while tens of thousands of young people stay on the couch, and about a hundred other problems that are in the too hard basket.
    
    Almost monthly there are sob stories about someone dying of cancer who can’t access a drug available in Australia. Within a decade, Australia could have double our GDP per capita. That’s why they can afford better drugs, and roads, and cars.
    
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    April 3, 2019 12:05pm
    - RW Capitalist
      
      “…access a drug available in Australia..”
      That’s OK we’ll just go back to Annette King’s solution and send them (cancer patients) to Australia.
      Talk about back to the future.
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sT8646Nx2C0
      
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      April 3, 2019 2:45pm
- JB.49
  
  It’s very sad, but it appears “Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm.”
  
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  April 3, 2019 1:41pm
- Scientific American
  
  I am not sure what exactly you are comparing. The NZ record on surpluses in recent years is better that in Australia, as is the debt to GDP ratio. And expenditure on health and education would seem higher (in relation to GDP) in NZ than in Australia. Correct that the Australian Government has announced reduction in income tax. There is a mooted introduction of Capital Gains Tax in NZ (which already exists in some ways here, and certainly exists in Australia). Which is quite possibly a bad idea if it is implemented. But has the current Labour Government to date actually changed much in terms of tax take?
  
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  April 3, 2019 8:44pm
Inandout

Why the tears Simon? As a Spark customer I am very afraid of what is around the corner, price wise.

https://i.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/111748619/spark-ceo-simon-moutter-resigns
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April 3, 2019 9:36am
- greybeard
  
  You mean the “sinking ship / rats” scenario ?
  
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  April 3, 2019 10:42am
Maggie Pie

Goodness, i sooo remember this sad case! Hard to believe it was 20 years ago, i was training in the UK at the time. Looks like new info may be coming to light about the murder of beautiful TV presentre Jill Dando 🙁

https://twitter.com/TonyGosling/status/1113173594094305281
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April 3, 2019 9:49am
Ross12

I hope this does not happen for our MPs. In the UK they get paid for each vote they make according to this post on a UK blog

“No it is not fun voting, it is business.
They receive £260 extra for every vote they take,
8 last Thursday costing the taxpayer 1.3 million.”
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April 3, 2019 9:54am
- srylands
  
  Someone is having you on.
  
  https://www.parliament.uk/about/mps-and-lords/members/pay-mps/
  
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  April 3, 2019 10:23am
DigNap15

Anyone who is with Spark should wake up and join another ISP.
They have been ripping NZ and you off for years.
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April 3, 2019 9:59am
- freethinker
  
  Already moved, my ISP has real NZ staff who you can talk to and actually get problems sorted, Ashvegas is sure a great place for staff who deliver their promises.
  
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  April 3, 2019 10:51am
- Komata
  
  DigNap15@0959
  
  Re: ‘Anyone who is with Spark should wake up and join another ISP.
  They have been ripping NZ and you off for years’.
  
  Agree completely and at one time Spark / Telecom etc. used to have all my business until they overstepped the mark in a big way (no details). They lost the majority of my trade to a competitior as a result, but unfortunately that organisation doesn’t currently offer mobile acess, while my experience with Vodafone and 2 Degrees has been significantly less than wonderful!
  
  With no viable alternative currently available, I’m stuck with Spark for the moment (very reluctantly it should be added), but given the chance I’d change over to my ‘replacement’ organisation immediately.
  
  I live in hope…
  
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  April 3, 2019 2:27pm
Hugh Pavletich

Latest QV figures show housing values are falling in Auckland while the rate of growth is slowing in the rest of the country | interest.co.nz

https://www.interest.co.nz/property/98934/latest-qv-figures-show-housing-values-are-falling-auckland-while-rate-growth-slowing
.
.
Auction sales eased back last week suggesting the peak summer season is drawing to a close | interest.co.nz

https://www.interest.co.nz/property/98911/auction-sales-eased-back-last-week-suggesting-peak-summer-season-drawing-close
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April 3, 2019 10:02am
- Cobolt24
  
  House price growth continues to cool… RNZ News.
  .
  https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/business/386195/house-price-growth-continues-to-cool
  
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  April 3, 2019 1:36pm
  - Hugh Pavletich
    
    … AUSTRALIA …
    
    Desperate sellers offer to cover stamp duty, cut asking prices just to find a buyer | (original The Daily Telegraph) PerthNow
    
    https://www.perthnow.com.au/lifestyle/real-estate/desperate-sellers-offer-to-cover-stamp-duty-cut-asking-prices-just-to-find-a-buyer-ng-990f3da7f4ece56264d8ab5b308d20ed
    
    AIDAN DEVINET The Daily Telegraph
    
    April 3, 2019 1:57PM
    
    Sydney’s housing slump has delivered a feast of bargains for home seekers, with sellers offering to sponsor buyer stamp duty bills and cut up to $265,000 off their prices.
    
    The deals have come as data released this week showed Sydney’s median home price dropped another 0.9 per cent over March to hit $782,000 — nearly 14 per cent below what it was in July 2017 when the market peaked.
    
    Some of the biggest bargains are being offered in suburbs spread across Sydney’s north and south, where buyers are nabbing homes at an average of more than 10 per cent below listed prices. … read more via hyperlink above …
    
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    April 3, 2019 8:55pm
Odakyu-sen

I hear that the US is facing “Peak Avocado.”
Oh, the humanity…
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April 3, 2019 10:09am
- Batman
  
  Only if their President demonstrates his economic illiteracy by closing the border with Mexico…
  
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  April 3, 2019 1:28pm
  - All_on_Red
    
    Yeah, what’s $89 Billion really to the ‘economically literate’
    //
    And that’s just State costs
    https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/map-illegal-immigration-costs-california-most-23b-all-states-89b
    Processing and Healthcare costs for recent illegals by the DHS are huge
    I doubt Trump will close the Border but the law needs to be changed so they can send people back.
    I see Mexico has responded and started enforcing their Southern Border more rigorously.
    
    7 2
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    April 3, 2019 1:58pm
  - Tall Man
    
    Illegal immigration is a massive problem resulting in a massive cost to the country and the people legally living there.
    
    Immagine if we shard a land border with both Fiji and The Solomon Islands.
    
    Loads of really cheap labour coming across the border every day allowing employers to use them as a hammer to drive the wages of legitimate workers down.
    
    People complain here about the effect of legal immigration on wages so imagine the impact of an additional 156,000 illegals living here.
    
    Imagine more than 500 illegals entering NZ every month…every year.
    
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    April 3, 2019 2:55pm
    - Nermal
      
      It would do wonders for the Labour vote
      
      6 0
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      April 3, 2019 3:45pm
      - Tall Man
        
        As it does for the Democrats.
        
        3 1
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        April 3, 2019 4:34pm
- Maggy Wassilieff
  
  They were selling at $5.69/avo at the Kaiti 4 square this arvo….
  
  I suspect there’s going to be a lot of smashed avo on toast meals for the new boss in the next week or so…
  
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  April 3, 2019 1:41pm
Berend de Boer

Just 24 hours for submissions on gun law changes. No speaking to select committee. A travesty.

They could have done a temporary ban. If it was so urgent, they could have done one with a sunset, until the public could have had their input.

But no, this had to be rammed through. Shame on you.
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April 3, 2019 10:16am
- waikatogirl
  
  Time for someone to make a dramatic protest against rushing through the gun laws, such as National did by running Murtle the tractor up the steps of Parliament to stop the “Fart Tax”?
  
  http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0309/S00040.htm
  
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  April 3, 2019 10:27am
  - rightoverlabour
    
    Hmm can you imagine 200,000 armed gunowners descending on Parliament? What would they do?
    Not advocating this of course, but think about it…..
    
    4 1
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    April 3, 2019 2:41pm
- sooty
  
  Why did the parliment take a weeks holiday after the shooting?
  Are they aware of something we do not know?
  What did they achieve by the weeks holiday?
  
  16 2
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  April 3, 2019 10:27am
  - Steve Todd
    
    Relax, sooty, there was no conspiracy. Parliament was always going to take the second week off after the shooting (26, 27 and 28 March).
    
    The only scheduled sitting day they did not sit was Thursday 21 March. (See https://www.parliament.nz/en/calendar, then click on ‘Sitting Programme Calendar’ in the bottom right-hand corner.)
    
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    April 3, 2019 11:43am
    - Tony Stuart
      
      The only scheduled sitting day they did not sit was Thursday 21 March.
      
      And that, in the circumstances, was absolutely appropriate, and the correct thing to do.
      
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      April 3, 2019 11:54am
      - Steve Todd
        
        Absolutely. I assumed sooty would take that as read.
        
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        April 3, 2019 12:00pm
- freethinker
  
  Act in Haste – repent at leisure – the COLL will repent hugely when they find themselves kicked out of office with a legacy of abject failure through total incompetence, why will we not be surprised?
  
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  April 3, 2019 10:55am
- kowtow
  
  They did do an immediate ban. By order in council they restricted and called in all A cat semi autos with detachable magazines . How many have been reported and surrendered ?
  
  That’s where the real problem lay .
  
  Not with the E Cat who go through even more stringent vetting and seciurity requirements.
  
  Total knee jerk and the Nats are playing poodle to Lab/Green on this.
  
  Nats also want a registry , even Collins , what a waste of time and money .
  
  Surrender monkeys .
  
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  April 3, 2019 11:16am
  - Odakyu-sen
    
    Buy your next rifle from a National Party member. (Never used. Only dropped once.)
    
    7 2
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    April 3, 2019 11:35am
Maggie Pie

We heard ex PM John Key on the wireless with Mike Hosking this morning, giving his thoughts on China relations and gun control. My partner said he hopes John isn’t going to become a pain-in-the-arse like Helun Clarke has.
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April 3, 2019 10:31am
- greybeard
  
  I heard him as well.
  Bill English and John Key in the same week, brings a tear to my eye thinking about the good old days of NZ.
  
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  April 3, 2019 10:46am
- kevn
  
  @Mag… I really enjoyed hearing Key with Hosking this morning. A voice of reason.
  
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  April 3, 2019 10:49am
- secondcumming
  
  But JK’s an expert on ‘China relations’…..he resides on his own little PRC re-education camp in Parnell 😎
  
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  April 3, 2019 10:53am
RW Capitalist

The CoL over promised and under delivering?
Nurses got a MASSIVE pay rise,
students got money wasted on them (first yr free)
but
No money for St Johns Ambulance.
ie
Now we have high paid nurses
but
no ability/money to do their job and no way of getting patients to their place of work.
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April 3, 2019 10:36am
freethinker

Shame Jones up to his usual blundering self. The Logging Co appear to being equally stoopid and Little Andrew can hardly complain at any job losses as NZTA are just enforcing the law/regulations the Angry one and his Union Toadies wanted , in this case I totally support the NZTA in view of the serious safety issues which could seriously affect innocent bystanders.

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=12218441
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April 3, 2019 11:00am
- fernglas
  
  What did you think of Jones describing himself as “the first citizen of the provinces” in order to justify him throwing shade on his own department’s decision? What a bloated ego.
  
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  April 3, 2019 11:59am
Maggie Pie

When my partner read this, he said “So the fat c**t isn’t as smart as he thinks he is then” 🙂

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=12218602
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April 3, 2019 11:14am
- Jules99
  
  Headline: married to his cousin
  Real story: his second-cousin actually
  
  Quite a difference.
  
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  April 3, 2019 11:40am
  - secondcumming
    
    All the same when the lights off 😎
    
    6 0
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    April 3, 2019 11:55am
    - sooty
      
      Labour voters, maybe?
      
      5 2
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      April 3, 2019 12:50pm
      - RW Capitalist
        
        What no banjo’s dueling or other wise?
        
        6 0
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        April 3, 2019 2:50pm
DigNap15

Car Chase

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/111749371/police-pursuit–delays-expected-on-state-higway-1

Guys like this need to be charged for every offence and sentenced for each one CUMULATIVLY.

They also need to do hard labour to pay back all the damage the caused.

Scum like this cost us all in increased insurance premiums
19 2
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April 3, 2019 11:22am
- Maggy Wassilieff
  
  Now if he had been a Youth…he might not have had the cops in pursuit
  
  https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/386198/police-consider-trialling-no-pursuit-policy-for-young-drivers
  
  8 1
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  April 3, 2019 12:05pm
  - Prince
    
    Out of interest, how do they know if the thief/potential killer is a youth ? Do the Police stop the car and ask for proof of age ?
    
    If under 20, carry on sir/madam, sorry for the delay.
    
    If over 20, full force of law applied, 1 month home detention.
    Meanwhile the victims try to get their lives back on track.
    
    9 0
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    April 3, 2019 12:21pm
    - sooty
      
      Some middle aged white guy won’t be wearing the hoodie?
      Tweedle dee and tweedle dumb!
      
      4 1
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      April 3, 2019 12:47pm
  - Paulus
    
    Do they stop the car first and ask are you a Youff – if so away you go !
    
    4 0
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    April 3, 2019 1:51pm
    - Rachael Membery
      
      Would youth adjacent count?
      
      2 0
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      April 3, 2019 7:59pm
krazykiwi

Russia opens military helicopter training centre in Venezuela… Because it’s a bit hard to live-fire on your starving, frightened populace if your Heli goons aren’t properly trained.
13 2
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April 3, 2019 11:24am
- sooty
  
  Just getting ready for crowd control!
  Have they lost free speach yet?
  Labour have started here as well.
  Outlaw guns and only outlaws have guns!
  
  9 0
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  April 3, 2019 12:45pm
- Rachael Membery
  
  Should be good for the economy and they will have food to barter for sex
  
  2 0
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  April 3, 2019 8:02pm
All_on_Red

Three separate Polls now show massive increase in support for President Trump amongst Hispanics.
That will lock in Florida and a number of other States for him.
‘McLaughlin & Associates revealed that Hispanic approval for Trump in March jumped to 50%. This number matched the January Marist/NPR/PBS survey that shocked cynics with its own 50% approval finding. Even if those polls are too aggressive, February’s Morning Consult/Politico poll showed Trump’s Hispanic approval vaulting to a still-impressive 45%.’
https://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2019/04/02/hispanics_rally_to_trump_boosting_his_2020_chances_139933.html

Interesting reasons why in the link
15 2
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April 3, 2019 12:00pm
- Ross12
  
  Also read earlier that with the new law in Florida to allow those in jail to vote has resulted in more registering as Republicans than Democrats.
  
  8 0
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  April 3, 2019 12:45pm
  - All_on_Red
    
    Bwhahahahaha
    
    8 1
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    April 3, 2019 2:01pm
All_on_Red

‘The irony of the entire Russian collusion hoax is that accusers who cried the loudest about leaking, collusion, lying, and obstruction are themselves soon very likely to be accused of just those crimes.’
https://amgreatness.com/2019/03/31/the-tables-turn-in-russian-collusion-hunt/

There’s quite a list.
Also remember last year ex Director of National Intelligence James Clapper confirmed that Obama ordered the Counter Intelligence operation which involved spying on Trump and Trumps Campaign.
https://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2018/07/24/clapper_obama_ordered_the_intelligence_assessment_that_resulted_in_mueller_investigation.html
Given how the Mueller report has turned out, Clapper possibly regrets that disclosure.
14 1
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April 3, 2019 12:37pm
- UrbanNeocolonialist
  
  That amgreatness article is a good read – summarises all the drip-fed revelations of illegality and conspiracy amongst anti-trump factions and Clinton operatives over the last 3 years.
  
  5 0
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  April 3, 2019 1:31pm
rangitoto

I see Judge Jeanine Pirro is baaack. Yay.
7 1
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April 3, 2019 12:57pm
- Steve Otto(North Shore)
  
  Fox screwed up there. Carlson and two others withdrew or threatened to do so I think. I also think Judge was approached by One America News (OAN) Carlson would have gone there as well. Teaming up with Liz Wheeler. Meanwhile Fox now have a DNC crony in the higher ups
  
  7 0
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  April 3, 2019 3:27pm
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    Moderation? For correcting a typo??
    
    4 1
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    April 3, 2019 3:29pm
    - Tall Man
      
      I think it is just making the enevitable more clear.
      
      3 0
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      April 3, 2019 4:33pm
      - Steve Otto(North Shore)
        
        I can see why the moderation is there Tall Man.
        Post a comment/reply – no mod.
        Alter the meaning with a correction, or even another sentence means you bypass moderation.
        Fair call by DPF and the new Mods
        
        3 0
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        April 3, 2019 5:43pm
hullkiwi

Sadly, as the clock passed the date of the end of the first calendar quarter of the year, a sad statistic also appeared in the media.

The number of people killed on NZ roads through road accidents. The number by 31/03/19 was 102 deaths, 24 hours later it was 111, these numbers compare with last year, as at 31/03/18 there had been 104 road deaths in NZ.

Why do I highlight this sad statistic? Well for political purposes, known only into herself, Julie-Ann Genter chose to politicise the recent growing annual road tolls. She did this in several ways which included:
– by claiming the previous govt wasted money on RoNS;
– by diverting money from the RoNS to other programmes such as Light Rail; instructing works roading programmes to be only consider “road safety measures” rather than building safe new roads (eg SH1 Dome Valley, and SH2 Katikati to Waihi);
Instructing regional transport authorities to increase emphasis on road safety programmes, rather than spend money on building safer roads eg Auckland is spending more money on road safety programmes and lower speed limits than fixing/sealing/maintaining its unsealed rural roads in 2018/19 and will do so for the next 2 years.

With this type of thinking, what chance of ever lowering the road toll? The only way to cut the road toll is to take the cars from drivers. Let’s bring NZ to a halt- real Green thinking!
17 1
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April 3, 2019 1:05pm
- DigNap15
  
  I wrote to Genter the other day telling her she will be to blame for every death on the roads of National Significance the COL cancelled.
  Two of the deaths were on the Northland one.
  
  12 3
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  April 3, 2019 1:33pm
- waikatogirl
  
  I would assume that as part of her portfolio it would be her responsibility to drive the roads of “national significance” she is refusing to fund new work on? So when was the last time the MP for the Greens and Associate Minister of Transport JAG drove NZ roads where safe expressways are required such as SH1 Dome Valley, SH2 Katikati to Waihi, and SH1 south of the existing Waikato expressway to Pairere? Does she have a car licence or has she not progressed past her bicycle? ? ?
  
  10 2
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  April 3, 2019 2:17pm
  - Tall Man
    
    Towed a large boat from Orewa to Whangarei in January.
    
    What a shitty road and I felt guilty about the poor buggers behind me until I realised they couldn’t go any faster than I was going.
    
    Have driven that road for many many years and many many times. It is certainly better than 40 years ago but doesn’t seem to have progressed much since then.
    
    A port being located at Ruakaka without an accompanying 4 lane highway is a sick joke. “what’s in it for wynston” just told a lie to buy a couple of extra votes.
    
    10 1
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    April 3, 2019 2:36pm
    - Steve Otto(North Shore)
      
      Between the tunnels and Warkworth, on to Mangawhai the road is a series of patchwork bandaids
      
      9 0
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      April 3, 2019 3:34pm
      - Tall Man
        
        Exactly but there is enough single lane roading to ensure no one goes faster than the slowest car on the route.
        
        Explains some of the car accidents with impatience and frustration being the key.
        
        7 0
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        April 3, 2019 4:32pm
- Tall Man
  
  Maybe a buy back scheme for petrol powered gas guzzlers…….
  
  5 1
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  April 3, 2019 2:32pm
Maggie Pie

QUESTION #1 this arvo is from Simon to the PM and asks: Does she stand by all her actions etc…..?

Will be interesting to see what Jacinda is wearing, she’s become quite the ‘style icon’ for a few of the girls i work with.
10 0
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April 3, 2019 1:36pm
- UrbanNeocolonialist
  
  Maybe a Burka today to get a few more column inches?
  
  8 1
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  April 3, 2019 2:07pm
- Tall Man
  
  False teeth?
  
  6 1
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  April 3, 2019 2:30pm
  - sooty
    
    Nah, maybe if she was away longer.
    
    0 1
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    April 3, 2019 5:13pm
dubya

Stuff reports that Shane Jones is related to the owner of a logging company he is lobbying for in it’s battle against NZTA. The owner, Jones’ mother’s cousin, is named Stan Semenoff.

You couldn’t make this stuff up!
18 1
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April 3, 2019 1:56pm
- KevO'Brien
  
  It’s reasonable for SJ to be concerned about the economic implications of a major logging company in Northland being put off the road. We all have distant relatives which we did not choose.
  I believe the Minister has probity. He also has a position in Northland which may appear to conflict with Pakeha society but which is appropriate for Maori.
  
  5 7
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  April 3, 2019 2:22pm
  - kowtow
    
    One law for all. Otherwise we become a third world sh#thole .
    
    10 0
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    April 3, 2019 2:43pm
  - Tall Man
    
    Your opinion but I disagree.
    
    He is slagging his own department. Not a good look and I’ll bet this is after the “private chat” having failed.
    
    10 0
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    April 3, 2019 2:43pm
  - Prince
    
    Ah yeah, the old Tuku Morgan ‘I have the Mana’ argument.
    Why should Pakeha impose their foreign ideas of probity and anti-corruption on the Tangata Whenua when the latter can thrive through nepotism and back handers.
    
    10 0
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    April 3, 2019 3:28pm
Prince

What a tinpot little fiefdom we are now.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/111758472/shane-jones-steps-into-case-between-company-owned-by-my-mothers-cousin-and-nzta

Like Lord of the Flies, the thin veneer of democracy and civilisation is soon stripped away when the kids are left in charge.
15 0
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April 3, 2019 2:00pm
- rangitoto
  
  Don’t worry. Jacinda will step up and sack him.
  
  8 0
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  April 3, 2019 2:11pm
- hullkiwi
  
  What accusations is he going to level at Hamish Rutherford over this story?
  
  7 0
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  April 3, 2019 2:30pm
JB.49

Socialism violates at least three of the Ten Commandments: It turns government into God, it legalizes thievery and it elevates covetousness. Discussions of income inequality, after all, aren’t about prosperity but about petty spite. Why should you care how much money I make, so long as you are happy?
6 0
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April 3, 2019 2:23pm
Maria

Does anybody agree that Guy Espiner’s grilling of Winston Peters about his prior stated views on the ‘underbelly’ of Islam in New Zealand, compared today etc etc, is concerning?

Not because Winston attempts to change, or clean up, by denying the import of his previous statements, but because such views will no longer be considered reasonable by New Zealand standards since the attack. Which is perhaps the point of Espiner bringing them up with Peters.

As I see it, the shutting down of criticism by journalists will be a disaster for debates that must be allowed to continue in the public domain.
15 0
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April 3, 2019 2:27pm
- secondcumming
  
  Oye Vey !!
  
  7 0
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  April 3, 2019 2:46pm
- Rachael Membery
  
  Seem happy to undermine Winnie now, for Jacinda’s ultimate benefit of course, go on Winston pull the pin.
  
  I wonder if there are time frames in the coalition document regarding snap elections with in the three year term, just like there was the clause in Labour’s about non union control?
  
  6 0
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  April 3, 2019 3:05pm
  - Tall Man
    
    One swallow does not a summer make.
    
    4 0
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    April 3, 2019 4:30pm
- hullkiwi
  
  Maria, I see your point. While, it is sickening that the media have taken it upon themselves to act like some modern PC warrior and work at shutting down opinion that is contrary to the “new NZ group think”. I believe it is also important for the media to highlight the rank hypocrisy of Winston Peters.
  
  His political career has been formed on sowing division between racial groups in NZ. Bless her cotton socks it was MeToo who two years ago called Peters out as a racist, she was right (despite what we think of her politics).
  
  In my opinion & FWIW, I think it is obscene that Peters is using Chch to bury his past.
  
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  April 3, 2019 6:21pm
DigNap15

Re the Gangs
If and when they legalise cannabis.
The gangs will loose a large portion of their income.
So what will they turn to?
Running prostitution?
Harder drugs (already)
Stand over tactics
Protection – like the Mafia in Italy and New York.
8 0
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April 3, 2019 2:35pm
- RW Capitalist
  
  Renting out illegal guns?
  
  8 0
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  April 3, 2019 3:11pm
  - Tall Man
    
    Storing them for a fee.
    
    6 0
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    April 3, 2019 4:29pm
- Tall Man
  
  Running prostitution? Doing it
  Harder drugs (already) Doing it
  Stand over tactics Doing it
  Protection – like the Mafia in Italy and New York. Doing it.
  
  Sorted?
  
  11 1
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  April 3, 2019 3:18pm
rangitoto

Interesting Brexit development. Tilbrook claims the UK left the EU on 29th of March as May’s extension deal is invalid. He’s asking the High Court for an urgent ruling.
9 0
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April 3, 2019 3:09pm
- All_on_Red
  
  Someone else making the decision will probably please May
  After all, she has been wriggling and squirming as she desperately tries not to have to make a decision and actually lead the country.
  Probably doesn’t want her ‘legacy’ to say she was responsible.
  Got it wrong way round I reckon.
  
  5 0
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  April 3, 2019 4:05pm
  - RW Capitalist
    
    To be fair, not that politics ever is.
    May has brought MANY options to the table and has shown leadership.
    It is the majority of the British Parliament that has gone against the wishes of the people.
    By obstructing May and by refusing to help in regard to BREXIT.
    
    4 1
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    April 3, 2019 4:14pm
    - All_on_Red
      
      I’d note that a lot of her ‘options’ are very much a form of remain not leave.
      
      7 1
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      April 3, 2019 4:27pm
      - All_on_Red
        
        Just announced after a marathon Cabinet meeting today
        See what I mean?
        https://order-order.com/2019/04/02/theresa-may-moves-soften-brexit-even/
        
        2 0
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        April 3, 2019 4:29pm
    - DigNap15
      
      May be if she had negotiated a better deal.
      No compensation fro the EU!
      
      1 0
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      April 3, 2019 5:47pm
    - Ross12
      
      RW
      I think reality is that May is just a puppet and it is Ollie Robbins in her office who is the real organ grinder. He is an ex Blair man (we know where Blair stands on the issue) as well as an ardent EU man himself.
      
      2 0
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      April 3, 2019 6:01pm
Prince

When ‘No Right Turn’ Blog finds our Attorney General guilty of an “appalling act of legal sophistry”, and compares us to the corrupt regime in the Kingdom of Tonga, you know the CoL is in trouble.
http://norightturn.blogspot.com/2019/04/pure-sophistry.html

There is no senior Minister (PM, Deputy PM, Finance Minister, Attorney General) with any ability or desire to maintain the basic foundations of democracy.

Parliament, and Cabinet, are a coalition of interests trading away our freedoms and taxes between themselves for electoral advantage. There is no comprehensive plan. The Budget process is a crapshootas Labour, NZF and the Greens divide the spoils with no clear guidelines.
The judicial branch is committed to be Social Justice Warriors. They are not interested in keeping Govt in check.
The media is hopelessly compromised, dominated by starry-eyed cheerleaders, becoming more irrelevant by the day.
11 0
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April 3, 2019 3:19pm
- krazykiwi
  
  Idiot/Savant lamenting the undemocratic actions of the left?!? What is the parallel universe in which I find myself?
  
  8 0
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  April 3, 2019 4:35pm
Happychappy

It looked like Trudeau has had to expel the whistle blowers in his own party to try and save his career and his party.
https://www.bbc.com/news/amp/world-us-canada-47754193.
Isn’t it amassing how power corrupts people.
11 0
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April 3, 2019 3:55pm
- Tall Man
  
  We don’t need to go far to find another example do we.
  
  genter’s partner, $360,000. jones, pushing funding for a group even his own leader ackowledges that he was part of, curran attempting to circumvent the Radio NZ chairman then threatening him, curran, acting under the leader’s instructions, appointing a mate to a job without due process, immigration minister ignoring his department’s “fact file” and granting permanent residence to a criminal with connections to the leader…..
  
  Attempting to subvert the course of justice by “tampering” with the witnesses of a sexual assault at a labour camp then pretending to know nothing about it….
  
  But you know, none of that is as bad as Sir John Key pulling a ponytail……
  
  16 1
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  April 3, 2019 5:01pm
  - Rachael Membery
    
    Ffs in a joking fashion, it wasn’t as if he could go off giving random hugs. So innocuous and ffs his wife was there and he stopped it and apologised when he found out that the joke was only one way.
    
    6 0
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    April 3, 2019 5:13pm
    - Tall Man
      
      I know but it’s just so much worse than anything the coalition have ever done or even thought of doing.
      
      Just ask gump or mikey or any of the other lefty apologists.
      
      I really do wonder sometimes late at night, just what any coalition member could actually do that any of their simple minded supporters would think was worse than that ponytail tug…..
      
      8 2
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      April 3, 2019 5:21pm
Graham Sharpe

One day a florist went to a barber for a haircut. After the cut, he asked about his bill, and the barber replied, ‘I cannot accept money from you,it’s the patron saint of barbers’ day so the haircuts this week are free.’

The florist was pleased and left the shop.

When the barber went to open his shop the next morning, there was a ‘thank you’ card and a dozen roses waiting for him at his door.

Later, a cop comes in for a haircut, and when he tries to pay his bill, the barber again replied, ‘I cannot accept money from you, it’s the patron saint of barbers’ day so the haircuts this week are free.” The cop was happy and left the shop.

The next morning when the barber went to open up, there was a ‘thank you ‘ card and a dozen donuts waiting for him at his door.

Then a Labour MP came in for a haircut, and when he went to pay his bill , the barber again replied, ‘I cannot accept money from you. It’s the patron saint of barbers’ day so the haircuts this week are free.” The MP was very happy and left the shop

The next morning, when the barber went to open up, there were a dozen Labour MPs lined up waiting for a free haircut.

And that, my friends, illustrates the fundamental difference between the citizens of our country and the politicians who run it.

As Margaret Thatcher said: “Both politicians and nappies need to be changed often and for the same reason!”
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April 3, 2019 4:52pm
Swifty

More top quality journalism from Fairfax:

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/111769164/woman-charged-with-murder-after-mans-death-in-south-head-auckland

South Head is a rural district – not a suburb, of Auckland.

Firearms are ‘discharged’ or ‘fired’ – they’re not ‘let off’; that’s for farts or fireworks.

Lift your game Caroline Williams.
12 1
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April 3, 2019 4:56pm
sooty

Does anyone know if Cindy went to work today?
6 1
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April 3, 2019 5:21pm
- Steve Otto(North Shore)
  
  She does not know
  
  5 2
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  April 3, 2019 6:04pm
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    I’m thinking she was in her own house, and there are a lot of lawnmowers
    
    5 3
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    April 3, 2019 6:06pm
MickMac

You’ve got to hand it to the Muslim world they know how to play the game??

I think the million Jews forced from Muslim countries since 1948 should do the same to their previous home countries.

https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2019/04/should_spain_apologize_to_muslims.html
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April 3, 2019 5:59pm
MickMac

Do we honestly think Jacinda is any match for the Chinese, who buy, bribe and monster countries as a matter of course?

https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2019/04/filipinos_getting_wise_to_chinadup_duterte_after_china_bites_off_a_chunk_of_the_philippines.html
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April 3, 2019 6:00pm
Steve Otto(North Shore)

Brexit.
For me a referendum means it is binding, otherwise why do it? (Slap slap)
Sorry chaps, this is not what we wanted is pathetic, and shows the desperation of holding power.
EU is desperate – a European Government that controls all Members’ Government? Fuck off. EU is as corrupt as United Nations
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April 3, 2019 6:03pm
waikatogirl

Been posted before but worth watching again…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jiUFPjulTW8
2 0
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April 3, 2019 8:23pm
Micky

Saw a family walking home from school with two very young girls in head scarves (aged about 4-7). Seems young. Reminds me of a girl aged about 12 at a local school who had to wear a heavy head scarf, plus full length tights on her arms and legs under her uniform mid summer. It’s gotta be some kind of human rights abuse on the part of the parents at some point. On the flipside we have schools which don’t allow kids to wear puffa jackets to school mid winter.
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April 3, 2019 8:42pm
- Franckuverymuch
  
  possible from the brethren group….although not sure if the scarf is still worn by their womenfolk in public these days…
  
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  April 3, 2019 11:10pm
Franckuverymuch

Anyone else read this….thought it was interesting.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/111757986/energy-company-pulls-pin-on-westport-waste-project-after-mayoral-controversy

Plant like this definitely needed in NZ re: waste/plastic etc disposal.

…interesting way the elected officials went about it
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April 3, 2019 11:06pm

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