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May 8, 2019 8:00am by Kokila Patel

General Debate 8 May 2019

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General Debate

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Wayne

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Tariff man destroying the markets lol.
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May 8, 2019 8:04am
- Tall Man
  
  MAGA… woo hoo.
  
  Stupid woman destroying New Zealand’s economy and credibility…..
  
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  May 8, 2019 11:54am
- double d
  
  What a silly comment.
  Little known and commented fact is that all the tariffs Trump has put in place are in response to existing tariffs the (Mexico or China) that are imposed on US goods.
  These countries seem to think they should have free access to the US but the US doesn’t have reciprocal rights. China is the worst offender.
  Fair enough to comment on how Trump goes about it but to come up with a silly name like tariff man makes you as infantile as Trump is.
  
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  May 8, 2019 2:17pm
Maggie Pie

-1
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May 8, 2019 8:06am
- Maggie Pie
  
  @1 17pm
  Just notice that i have 12 uptics for saying nothing! WTH??
  
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  May 8, 2019 1:20pm
  - calendar girl
    
    Might be your partner up-ticking you (under 12 different aliases) and showing his affection!
    
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    May 8, 2019 4:49pm
BrownSnake

Do not Use

Face Book

Google

or

YouTube
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May 8, 2019 8:09am
- Tall Man
  
  Good advice…
  
  Bad grammar….
  
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  May 8, 2019 11:55am
- Cobolt24
  
  Startpage.com uses Google results but doesn’t collect your data. But, I use DuckDuckGo.
  
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  May 8, 2019 12:39pm
Happychappy

It seems Jacinda won’t get the outcome she has lead the world to believe.
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2019/05/jacinda-ardern-s-christchurch-call-social-media-response-falls-short-report.html
You take on the big boys if you think you can win and have good legislation that most will agree with not half baked idea’s that suit your narrative.
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May 8, 2019 8:11am
- alloytoo
  
  This was a big PR ploy to get on the global stage alongside other Prima Donas.
  
  I doubt very much if she has the barest inkling of how these global platforms work, much less the labour intensive nature of her proposals, which conflict directly with the platforms business models.
  
  But at least she’ll get to make her “Blue Steel” face for the cameras.
  
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  May 8, 2019 8:32am
  - Paulus
    
    Of course she knows how the global platform works – she worked for Tony Blair (but never met him!).
    
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    May 8, 2019 1:39pm
    - Tall Man
      
      “(but never met him!)”
      
      I also call bullshit on that…
      
      What has she got to hide. I imagine Sir John Key knew everyone of his staff by name and many in other areas.
      
      She was either a complete non event in the office or lying about something.
      
      That’s a conundrum for the looney lefties isn’t it… is adern a liar or just an inconsequential bump in the office floor, even though she was “recommended” by helen clark…..
      
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      May 8, 2019 3:49pm
  - Komata
    
    Alloytoo@0832
    
    A bit late, but surely you mean ‘Blue Circle’ rather than ‘Blue Steel’?
    
    The former would be more in keeping… (Just saying).
    
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    May 8, 2019 5:03pm
    - alloytoo
      
      It’s a reference to the movie Zoolander.
      
      http://www.supernaturalwiki.com/images/thumb/1/15/Zoolander.jpg/300px-Zoolander.jpg
      
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      May 8, 2019 5:31pm
      - Komata
        
        Alloytoo@1731
        
        Thank you; mine was military.
        – same end result though.
        
        (2035)
        
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        May 8, 2019 8:35pm
- cmm
  
  Worse, you take on every voter who needs their Facebook fix.
  
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  May 8, 2019 8:36am
- Albert_Ross
  
  Given what the people criticising Jacinda in that article seem to want, we should be heartily grateful if she doesn’t deliver it
  
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  May 8, 2019 9:22am
- Liberty
  
  Dear Leader is on another junket.
  Under pretext she is going reign in facebook.
  The media imply if it is on face book everyone reads it.
  In reality only 200 people watched the christchurch massacre.
  Out of 2.38 billion monthly active users.
  It’s time Dear Leader moved on and stopped milking the tragedy.
  
  https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/christchurch-shooting/111412396/fewer-than-200-people-watched-shooters-christchurch-massacre-live-video-facebook-says
  
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  May 8, 2019 11:56am
- Rachael Membery
  
  But she will have tried, don’t be so mean.
  
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  May 8, 2019 8:51pm
Scott

Very good letter by White House special counsel Emmett Flood to Atty Gen William Barr complaining about the deficiencies in the Meuller report. As the letter rightly points out a person is innocent until proven guilty in the American justice system (and indeed our own).

So the Meuller report should either find evidence to prosecute Donald Trump for a crime or in the absence of evidence decline to prosecute. What they should not do is issue a contentious report suggesting that they would have liked to prosecute Pres Trump for obstruction of justice but couldn’t quite find enough evidence to do so. This meant that the Democrats and the mainstream media (here I repeat myself) were given plenty of material to continue their investigations on the grounds of Trump wasn’t exonerated for obstruction of justice by the special Counsel.

The problem is a question of law. Pres Trump and indeed any other citizen is innocent until proven guilty. The Meuller report turns that basic fact of law on its head and goes out of its way to fashion a political document with which to persecute the duly elected president of the United States.

Fortunately William Barr appears to be on the job and those responsible for starting this political investigation are going to be held to account.

https://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2019/05/a-letter-to-william-barr.php
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May 8, 2019 8:14am
cmm

Thnak goodness educational outcomes are just aspirational goals and not real targets.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/education/112386720/new-statistics-show-that-ncea-ethnicity-gaps-widen-as-pass-rates-fall

At least the unions will be happy.
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May 8, 2019 8:18am
- hullkiwi
  
  …and we are meant to be happy that our children are studying towards a substandard educational qualification with falling pass rates?
  
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  May 8, 2019 8:24am
  - alloytoo
    
    If the pass rates are falling doesn’t that suggest that the standards are being maintained?
    
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    May 8, 2019 8:34am
    - hullkiwi
      
      No.
      
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      May 8, 2019 12:02pm
    - Tall Man
      
      It does not as a type of scaling is still applied in some areas and there is a real effort to get “ethnic” rates up but even with that they are still failing.
      
      http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/opinion/perspective/5727206/NCEA-is-being-dumbed-down-by-exam-changes
      
      It is a substandard system which is why this is growing…..
      
      http://www.acsnz.org.nz/acsnzschools.cfm
      
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      May 8, 2019 12:28pm
- Hacked-Off
  
  Interesting article. Pass rates were rising under National – using both the new and old methodologies for measurement, but in Labour’s first full year of Government they decline – what I wonder is the reason. The article does not say.
  
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  May 8, 2019 10:36am
- krazykiwi
  
  The chart showing the ‘gap’ between Male and Female pass rates doesn’t make it clear if female pass rates are already higher (as I suspect they are).
  
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  May 8, 2019 11:36am
- krazykiwi
  
  From the article:
  
  Historical statistics from 2009-2017 have been “recast” using the new methodology.
  
  Prior to 2017 pass rates steadily increased across the board under the new methodology as well as the old.
  
  I smell climate-change-like manipulation here. How can anyone reconcile the apparently declining pass rates with the second paragraph above?
  
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  May 8, 2019 11:42am
Happychappy

I though Unions are suppose to be their for the worker, safety and good working conditions and if so why is Andrew Little MP, ex Union CEO prepared to risk work place disaster for legalization ofhttps://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2019/05/nightmare-for-employers-if-cannabis-legalised-expert.html marijuana.
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May 8, 2019 8:22am
- Happychappy
  
  This is the link.
  https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2019/05/nightmare-for-employers-if-cannabis-legalised-expert.html
  
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  May 8, 2019 8:27am
  - Tall Man
    
    Well that’s a surprise……. not.
    
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    May 8, 2019 12:39pm
- alex Masterley
  
  The problem is very real.
  
  A colleague who runs a transport company regularly deals with drug impaired drivers or drivers who fail compulsory drug tests.
  
  While his business follows process strictly the outcome for the failing employee is the same – job termination.
  
  My colleagues business cannot afford the consequences of an accident involving a drug impaired driver.
  
  The corollary of that is his business finds it very difficult to replace those drivers as there is a real shortage of experienced staff out there.
  
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  May 8, 2019 8:36am
  - Odakyu-sen
    
    Bring in more Indian drivers! (Problem solved.)
    
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    May 8, 2019 8:55am
    - Maggie Pie
      
      Why is it that whenever i’m out jogging in my lycra gear, i never ever see any Indians out running?
      Has anyone else noticed this as well?
      
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      May 8, 2019 9:35am
      - kevn
        
        @Maggie… Prob seen as a wasteful diversion, time is better spent making/counting money?
        
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        May 8, 2019 10:52am
      - MH
        
        Dairy I’ll say -They have been vapourised
        
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        May 8, 2019 11:11am
      - wreck1080
        
        Indians don’t like lycra?
        
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        May 8, 2019 11:50am
  - RW Capitalist
    
    Not to mention
    Driver not covered by driver insurance if impaired.
    So truck has to be replaced by profits not insurance.
    Company not covered by liability insurance if impaired driver causes damage to a 3rd party’s property.
    
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    May 8, 2019 10:31am
  - Captain Mainwaring
    
    At the weekend I went past the scene of the triple-fatal Truck/van crash near Hatepe. The cones and remains of the damage were hard over on the left side of the southbound lane. The Linfox truck was going north.
    4.30am. Anyone want to bet that the driver went to sleep?
    
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    May 8, 2019 11:15am
hullkiwi

Swarbrick this morning when interviewed by Ferguson on Morning Report gave a perfect example of why she should not be a MP.

She is the Green’s spokesman on drug reform.
Throughout the interview she wouldn’t give clear answers, but peddled myths that all will be fine in the hazy garden.

Then Ferguson hit her with the Canterbury study started in 1977 into what has happened in the lives of pot users who are the subjects of the study. In short, nothing good has happened to the participants of the study. Swarbrick acknowledged she had read the study and that it doesn’t paint a good picture. Despite the reality of the study, she attempted to cloud matters by raising “other studies” that showed what she wanted the argument to be rather than the impact of the use of the drug on peoples’ lives.

If people like her are MPs and ping to advocate policies that will cause harm to the public, then she has no place in Parliament.
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May 8, 2019 8:22am
- Scott
  
  hullkiwi – totally agree. Unfortunately MMP gives us people in parliament who would never be given a majority by the local electorate. That’s the problem with MMP. We get a lot of fringe characters whose only life is politics and have very little real life experience.
  I’m not sure what the answer is? It would be hard to go back to 1st past the post. But I actually think it gave us better outcomes and a better parliament made up of sounder people, then does our new system.
  
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  May 8, 2019 8:36am
  - Captain Mainwaring
    
    The answer is that list MPs for each party should be ranked from the highest-polling losing candidates from the electorate votes.
    That way at least they would at least have to demonstrate some ability to appeal to voters.
    
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    May 8, 2019 9:44am
  - RW Capitalist
    
    “Unfortunately MMP gives us people in parliament who would never be given a majority by the local electorate”
    Unfortunately MMP gives us people in parliament who don’t have the brain function to breathe, but miraculously…..there they are.
    Fixed it for ya.
    
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    May 8, 2019 10:34am
  - toby1845
    
    I’ve said it here before. List MPs should be paid by their Parties. Nothing focusses the mind on the quality of a good/service more than having to pay for the good/service oneself.
    
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    May 8, 2019 3:39pm
- alloytoo
  
  Swarbrick is the sweet young face of the career MP bludger.
  
  Labour and the current cabinet is full of them. I’m surprized JLR hasn’t crossed the floor to join them.
  
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  May 8, 2019 8:39am
  - rightoverlabour
    
    Hmm, if only to shag them….
    
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    May 8, 2019 4:06pm
- adamsmith1922
  
  Have not got to that yet, have saved it to consider later. However, my latest take on the Ardern/Little cunning plan to skew the 2020 election
  https://adamsmith.wordpress.com/2019/05/08/nz-cannabis-referendum-2-ardern-supports-littles-lies-incompetence-or-something-worse/
  
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  May 8, 2019 9:03am
- Piniwi
  
  The real problem with the NZ version of MMP is wonky algorithm that artificially adjust the vote value of all party votes. While the primary vote for constituents is a clear result of voter preference the same vote value is not the case for party votes. They are massaged with a wonky algorithm to fill the remaining seats with what we got from the last election.
  
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  May 8, 2019 12:44pm
Hugh Pavletich

Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
Posted at … https://www.macrobusiness.com.au/2019/05/links-8-may-2019/#comment-3342818

NEW ZEALAND Housing Minister’s concern as report reveals New Zealand cities ‘performing poorly’ | Newshub

https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2019/05/housing-minister-s-concern-as-report-reveals-new-zealand-cities-performing-poorly.html

Phil Twyford is concerned about the performance of New Zealand cities after a report revealed we’re struggling to compete against Australia’s.

High house prices, sluggish income growth and higher transport and food expenditure are to blame for New Zealand cities lagging behind, the report found.

“Our cities are performing poorly because we have not been managing growth properly,” Twyford, the Housing and Urban Development Minister, told Newshub. … read more via hyperlink above …
.
.
… New Zealand Housing Minister Twyfords important late March speech …

New Zealaned Housing Minister Phil Twyfords speech to the New Zealand Initiative Members Retreat … New Zealand Government / Beehive

https://www.beehive.govt.nz/speech/speech-nz-initiative-members%E2%80%99-retreat

… extract …

… In our view there are three big challenges that have to be addressed:

1. A broken system for financing infrastructure

2. A planning system based on urban containment

3. The failure of governments until now, both local and central, to actively work with the private sector to enable urban growth and expansion. … read more via hyperlink above …
.
.
… Important background information via …
http://www.PerformanceUrbanPlanning.org

The ‘flight to affordability’ will gain momentum … both internally and externally (to Australia) … should the political dithering continue Mr Twyford.
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May 8, 2019 8:34am
- Happychappy
  
  Hugh you are just like the Speaker of Parliament a hypocrite and bias. You continually post all the good in your opinion that Twyford supposedly does and when I post his bad things and bullshit the media put up you don’t even reply. Posting on here is not just about you or your prodigy it’s about facts not opinion.
  
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  May 8, 2019 8:55am
- Hugh Pavletich
  
  Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
  … New Zealand has the most severe housing bubble in the Anglosphere … with housing on an unweighted basis across its larger metros, about 6.5 times annual household income (Median Multiple) …well ahead of Australia at 5.6 and falling (becoming increasingly more affordable) …
  
  2019 15th Annual Demographia International Housing Affordability Survey
  
  http://www.demographia.com/dhi.pdf
  
  Watch the external ‘flight to affordability’ gain momentum … and internally too … as explained within the Carroll, McCarroll and Harris articles via the 2019 Section at http://www.PerformanceUrbanPlanning.org .
  
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  May 8, 2019 9:06am
  - Hugh Pavletich
    
    Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
    Happychappy … You should be happy about me being critical of Housing Minister Twyfords dithering.
    
    This from July last year …
    
    Govt criticised for moving slowly on Auckland growth boundary | Stuff.co.nz
    
    https://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/105295016/govt-criticised-for-moving-slowly-on-auckland-growth-boundary
    
    … and October last year …
    
    Falling Australian house prices a warning for NZ: commentator | Stuff.co.nz
    
    https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/property/108168646/falling-australian-house-prices-a-warning-for-nz-commentator
    
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    May 8, 2019 9:14am
    - Happychappy
      
      No Hugh that was ten months ago and the worse of Twyford policy is just being realized and where talking about dealings close to being corrupt and no paper work so your bullshit doesn’t cut it either.
      
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      May 8, 2019 10:20am
      - Hugh Pavletich
        
        Happychappy … With all due respects you are being way too harsh.
        
        Check out closely the IPSOS Issues Monitors which show firstly that housing pricing is by far and away the biggest concern of Kiwis … and second … about 40% of the public believe Labour will deal effectively with the issue, while just 20% are of the view National will.
        
        It was housing failure that in large measure cost National the 2017 election … and finished Key a year earlier.
        
        Note the GONE GONE GOING section (just updated … please reload / refresh
        http://www.PerformanceUrbanPlanning.org ).
        
        The National Party is in even a bigger mess now with housing than it was pre the 2017 election !
        
        The National Party needs to bring out to NZ the former Deputy Editor of the UK Telegraph Alister Heath, to spell it out to them the political costs and consequences of housing failure.
        
        Heath is of the view that the Conservatives / National should just shut up shop if they cant do housing properly.
        
        Does National have the capacity to restore public trust / credibility on housing issues ?
        
        I look forward to learning yours and other KBers view on this critically important issue.
        
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        May 8, 2019 12:40pm
      - Happychappy
        
        Oh Hugh your prodigy and hope for NZ housing crisis has fucked up again.
        https://i.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/112565769/kiwibuild-government-no-longer-guaranteeing-100000-homes
        If this had been National you would have had copy and paste articles all over kiwiblog.
        
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        May 8, 2019 4:16pm
      - Hugh Pavletich
        
        Happychappy … My views on KiwiBuild are well known.
        
        I am on the public record calling it a poorly conceived joke.
        
        Check out the just updated 2019 Section of ( reload / refresh) http://www.PerformanceUrbanPlanning.org … in particular the reporting that followed the release of the 15th Demographia Survey Monday 21 January.
        
        These comments were than followed up by The Guardian, The New York Times and a mid February The Listener ( From Crisis To Disaster ) Editorial.
        
        It was a full on assault on the governments housing failures to date … which in due course led to the hugely important Housing Minister Twyford speech to the NZ Initiative people late March.
        
        Oliver Hartwich from the Initiative and Don Brash spoke publicly in glowing terms about the speech. Links provided to these also within the 2019 Section of my archival website http://www.PerformanceUrbanPlanning.org .
        
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        May 8, 2019 5:45pm
- Tony Stuart
  
  Hugh – Phil Twyford is King Midas in reverse; everything he touches turns to shite!
  
  He was going on yesterday about how great it is that people can get into affordable housing through Kiwibuild, when Judith Collins presented him with an unpalatable fact. In a Kiwibuild development in Otahuhu, supposedly in the heart of the “housing crisis”, after six months one the market just ONE of twelve homes has been sold.
  
  Kiwibuild is a dog, and Kiwis know a dog when they see one.
  
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  May 8, 2019 9:08am
  - Rich Prick
    
    Who would want the stigma of owning a KiwiBuild hut? Millennials I’ve spoken to would rather have an entry level three beder in an established neighbourhood, not a breading box hard up against a slum of similar capital-gain repellent boxes. What is the point of KiwiBuild other than providing a reason for Twyford to puff his chest out?
    
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    May 8, 2019 9:17am
    - brett68
      
      What is the point of KiwiBuild other than providing a reason for Twyford to puff his chest out?
      
      It’s a massive State house construction program, which is
      hiding behind the Kiwibuild name.
      
      You’d have to be insane to buy a house in a Kiwibuild development.
      
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      May 8, 2019 9:38am
      - freethinker
        
        Hardly a massive scheme with less than 100 houses built/acquired from developers!
        
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        May 8, 2019 12:28pm
    - Captain Mainwaring
      
      RP, did you mean a bread box or a breeding box?
      
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      May 8, 2019 9:46am
      - Rich Prick
        
        Heh, take your pick, I like breeding box though.
        
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        May 8, 2019 10:57am
    - Swifty
      
      I do think that that is now becoming an issue – taint.
      
      I wouldn’t, also, like to be in Twyford’s shoes at the merest hint of substandard workmanship, leaky buildings, shoddy consents etc – potential buyers will then run for the hills and havoc will reign.
      
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      May 8, 2019 9:57am
  - RW Capitalist
    
    “Phil Twyford is King Midas in reverse; everything he touches turns to shite!”
    He still hasn’t, to spite it all, learned to leave it alone.
    Housing will sort itself out… the market works.
    People will buy what they can afford, compromise on what they want, live where they want and builders, who want to make a profit….will build them for them.
    When Auckland gets too crowded and too expensive, like EVERY other city in the world, people will move.
    If companies want to employ people, they will either pay more or move too.
    Labours false belief that the “market” is not working, is their down fall.
    Unfortunately their socialist experiment, is dragging us down too.
    
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    May 8, 2019 10:39am
  - Liberty
    
    Yesterday Phil Twyford ranted on that kiwi build can build a house at a lower cost.
    How can he do that when some of the houses are all ready built ?
    
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    May 8, 2019 1:07pm
    - Rich Prick
      
      Pull out the kitchen or knock over the garage. Nothing by this lot would surprise me.
      
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      May 8, 2019 2:38pm
  - Rich Prick
    
    Cindy has just said KiwiBuild is to be “reset”. I guess that’s what follows a “recalibration” in a “year of delivery”. Does anyone know what follows a “reset” that doesn’t work either?
    
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    May 8, 2019 4:02pm
secondcumming

cop: do you know who the murderer is?

detective quasimodo: i have a [takes sunglasses off] decent lead.

cop: [obviously disappointed] oh.

detective quasimodo: what?

cop: it’s just i thought you were gonna say you had a …….nvm it’s not important.
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May 8, 2019 8:43am
- cmm
  
  That joke rings a bell….
  
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  May 8, 2019 8:56am
  - stephieboy
    
    Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
    Joke ??
    
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    May 8, 2019 9:54am
    - cmm
      
      Yup, one of those funny things.
      
      Comedy is in the eye of the beholder.
      
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      May 8, 2019 10:31am
      - Maggy Wassilieff
        
        I had a hunch it would whoosh over some folks’ heads.
        
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        May 8, 2019 10:33am
    - UrbanNeocolonialist
      
      In spite of all your tedious and frequently nasty trolling occassionally I just feel embarrassed for you.
      
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      May 8, 2019 11:50am
Lee C

http://vjmpublishing.nz/?p=13103&fbclid=IwAR0OyrnPGjsKJFHGdtuNtOHoSTUw6ARcRrjNG6ZkCNkAMQKpT8elD-Pl3BU
For your interest…
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May 8, 2019 8:51am
- Paulus Gnome
  
  I thought it was interesting, it identifies with my global perspective, so I would!
  
  Clinton, a complete shit for a century (overtime accounted for)
  
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  May 8, 2019 9:43am
- dave_c_
  
  Indeed Lee C – this should be mandatory reading for those who stand by the criminal Clinton cabal et al, before they lay into excoriating Trump and the Tarrant guy
  
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  May 8, 2019 10:28am
alex Masterley

Well I never,
Liverpool 4 Barca 3.
Wonders never cease.
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May 8, 2019 8:58am
- Tony Stuart
  
  Liverpool fans will be unsufferable today, but deservedly so; to beat Barca four-zip after losing the first leg by three is a fantastic result.
  
  I wonder if anyone will be looking at the betting trends on the tie…
  
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  May 8, 2019 9:03am
  - RW Capitalist
    
    Yes we will be…..
    
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    May 8, 2019 9:11am
  - alex Masterley
    
    The 3rd and 4th goals were pretty special.
    Even the top teams fall asleep now and then (the 4th). But when it counts?.
    
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    May 8, 2019 9:57am
  - Biscuit
    
    Tony, dunno if you saw the First Leg but the result – 3-0 to Barca was a travesty on the run of play. Liverpool could have, but didn’t, score as many as five goals there.
    
    Today, all the shots ‘stuck’…
    
    And have a chortle at the ‘marking’ for the tie-winner, Origi’s second…
    
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    May 8, 2019 3:03pm
- Happychappy
  
  I have to eat humble pie after mentioning on here they were dead and buried, but to do it with their top four players out is incredible.
  
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  May 8, 2019 9:09am
  - Biscuit
    
    Agreed, happychappy.
    
    It’s why Sport is so wonderful.
    
    You never know…
    
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    May 8, 2019 3:04pm
Albert_Ross

So the so-called Greens prefer climate change to nuclear power, and they prefer the continuing decline of New Zealand’s native species to genetic engineering.

Isn’t there anybody out there who both cares about the environment and is capable of rational, evidence-informed thought?
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May 8, 2019 9:10am
- Albert_Ross
  
  PS: this https://www.forbes.com/sites/michaelshellenberger/2019/05/06/the-reason-renewables-cant-power-modern-civilization-is-because-they-were-never-meant-to/#4488804ea2b9
  
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  May 8, 2019 9:17am
  - Maggy Wassilieff
    
    Good article… some journalists are trying to get the message out.
    
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    May 8, 2019 10:20am
    - Tall Man
      
      Not in NZ though.
      
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      May 8, 2019 12:51pm
  - UrbanNeocolonialist
    
    New PV power in Idaho is now being sold at ~$0.025/kWh, that’s cheaper production than everything except legacy hydroelectricty. Add batteries for night time (in a year or two will be ~$0.03/kWh per charge/discharge cycle given $100/kWh capital cost batteries and >2000 cycle life) and they get very close to typical US wholesale prices ($0.04-0.08/kWh). Once batteries hit ~5000 cycle life it will undercut all other forms of electricity except legacy hydropower.
    
    So PV/Battery is basically cost competitive as baseload and pretty much inevitable that world will start to transition to it in a big way. Only thing it can’t do economically is winter in higher latitudes. post fossil-fuel that needs hydrogen or nuclear or grid connection to tropics (for winter baseload). But might just over-build PV and use summer excess to make fuel for boats planes and tractors.
    
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    May 8, 2019 11:47am
    - insider
      
      Bollocks. How can PV be baseload when it is charging batteries? How can discharged batteries be in any way considered baseload?
      
      For an example look to South Australia where the Tesla battery provides a maximum of 3 hours of reserve support and takes a long time to recharge (which can only be done when outside of peak).
      
      The only way this could possibly happen is by massive overconstruction and redundancy, which blows your cost/kWh out of the water.
      
      Baseload needs to be predictably available to match demand well in advance of dispatch and reliable in terms of fulfilling its dispatch contracts. Even with geographic diversity you have problems with reliability of supply.
      
      We have 700mw of wind spread across NZ yet there are many times When wind contributes nothing for hours and hours on end, usually on the days when demand is peaking. As I type it’s only generating 103mw in the NI and 3, yes three in the South.
      
      Batteries might be good for support roles when voltage drops but are not baseload replacement.
      
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      May 8, 2019 5:09pm
- Maggy Wassilieff
  
  Yep, lots of folks… but they are trying to work within a system that is hell-bent on diverting attention away from real-life problems such as inappropriate resource-use, invasive species, wars, poverty, lack of education.
  
  1. The worst environmental degradation is in countries with a low income per capita — when people are hungry they destroy forests and kill/poach wildlife.
  The most polluted cities are in places like Ghana, Ukraine, Bangladesh, Zambia, Argentina, and Nigeria.
  The most deforestation occurs in Brazil, Indonesia, Russia, and Mexico.
  The worst air is in India and China.
  
  2. Only rich nations have the resources to save the environment.
  
  3. Many folks would rather rich nations’ wealth was diverted into their own coffers.
  
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  May 8, 2019 10:02am
Maggy Wassilieff

Fonterra comes to the party
https://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/first-up/audio/2018694040/fonterra-changes-tanker-schedule-for-1-fan
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May 8, 2019 9:12am
- greybeard
  
  Christ, I had a tear in my eye after reading that.
  
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  May 8, 2019 11:46am
Lee C

Tony, I’m Liverpool fan.

I make it my policy to be insufferable every day…
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May 8, 2019 9:16am
- CHFR1
  
  Ditto
  
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  May 8, 2019 9:37am
  - lofty
    
    Also ditto.
    
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    May 8, 2019 12:46pm
Happychappy

The Coalition’s promise of 1800 hundred Police Officers at the 2017 election still has not been filled and unlikely to be by 2020 so Winston’s words can be taken with a grain of salt.
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2019/05/winston-peters-calls-for-more-police-if-cannabis-vote-doesn-t-pass.amp.html
All mouth no substance from the Messiah.
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May 8, 2019 9:20am
- Wired-one
  
  That figure was only aspirational, not a target…apparently.
  
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  May 8, 2019 12:38pm
Maggie Pie

Had a spare hour yesterday afternoon so thort i’d watch ‘Question Time’. One thing that really stood out was Judith’s cute lolly-pink paisley jacket [not something i’d be seen dead in] but looked fab on her. The other thing that really caught my attention during Q5, when David Parker stood up, it looked to me like he was wearing a ‘twin tailed Davy Crockett hat’ on his head – backwards (@42 sec)

https://www.parliament.nz/en/watch-parliament/ondemand?itemID=206262
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May 8, 2019 9:26am
kevn

@Happy… For every new cop on the ‘beat’ there will be one experienced cop leaving.
I gather lots of newbies leave early on in the job as well.
They have been lowering the intake standards as well I gather.
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May 8, 2019 9:34am
- backster
  
  I heard a recent newsclip about the hoped for makeup of the new wing of recruits 50% women, 25% maori 10% pacificIsland 10% Asian. Not stated but seemingly 5% whitey males…Godhelpus!
  
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  May 8, 2019 11:39am
  - Tall Man
    
    I really don’t care what race, religion, sex, colour or creed they are as long as they have the fortitude to do their job without a political agenda.
    
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    May 8, 2019 1:07pm
    - Tall Man
      
      Ran out of edit time…
      
      A friend of mine was an officer in the French Foreign Legion.
      
      He did not care who or what you were before you joined, after you joined, you became a “soldier” of France. That is how our police should be, New Zealand Police first and foremost.
      
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      May 8, 2019 1:15pm
BrownSnake

Paul Cadogan Aus Car expert is pretty funny

It would be interesting if the NZ police are allowed
to be filmed ? by the public esp when armed

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TkJjfCd7QoE
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May 8, 2019 9:36am
Ross12

The UK political scene resembles a Monty Python skit.
The UK will take part in the EU elections despite May’s Tui ad of “Brexit means Brexit”

May and her supporters are suggesting Court action against her MPs if they try to remove her.

The Government MPS say they will dump May if she does a deal with Corbyn.

Conservative Party coffers are running out.

What next?
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May 8, 2019 9:36am
- freethinker
  
  Wait for a Court hearing instigated by Bill Cash on whether May’s change of exit date is actually valid given no legislation passed the Commons/Lords/or received Royal assent. My understanding of the Bonding Referendum was MP’s were made into delegates to deliver the result as the Govt of the day confirmed their acceptance of the result as did May as the subsequent General Electionand, so failing any deal the default position is exit without a deal occurs which should mean the UK left the Evil Union on 29/3/2019 at 11pm. If the Court (2 Retired judges of Appeal confirm this is the situation) does confirm the exit occurence both the UK and EU have some issues to sort out, if not expect an even grteater backlash against the Judiciary than has already happened to the Conservative party which is looking like running out of money and foot soldiers to deliver a message.
  
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  May 8, 2019 1:06pm
  - Ross12
    
    I think the Tilbrook court case being championed by Bill Cash and the retired judges, if successful, would be the tidiest way to resolve the mess May has created.
    Here are the details:
    
    http://robintilbrook.blogspot.com/2019/03/
    
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    May 8, 2019 1:45pm
All_on_Red

Is time finally up for Theresa May?
The Chairman if the 1922 Committee,Graham Brady,met with the Prime Minister yesterday to in effect offer her an ultimatum, announce a timetable for her departure or his 1922 Executive Committee will change the rules to allow another confidence vote for the parliamentary party.

The 1922 Executive were finely balanced in terms of those who want to change the rules and those who don’t. It’s understood that two crucial MPs who were against a change in the rules two weeks ago could now swing the vote in favour of change: Cheryl Gillan, and Geoffrey Clifton-Brown. Sources close to the committee are adamant that their patience with May is running out…
No news yet how the meeting went.
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May 8, 2019 9:43am
- stephieboy
  
  Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
  The oddball and strange company you keep,
  
  https://www.theguardian.com/politics/video/2019/may/07/nigel-farage-ive-never-been-a-conspiracy-theorist-video
  
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  May 8, 2019 9:52am
  - All_on_Red
    
    My post is about the Conservative Party not Farage.
    But of course we all know you’re pretty dim
    
    Regarding your comment though, I liked Farages response
    ‘ Farage shut down a question from The Guardian over Farage having appeared on the conspiratorial InfoWars website by reminding the paper of its own wannabe Alex Jones. “I think when it comes to crackpot conspiracy theories, you’re way, way ahead of me.”
    Video in the link
    https://order-order.com/2019/05/07/farage-announces-parliamentary-candidate-selections/
    
    ‘Strange and oddball company’
    Are you talking about yourself on here?
    You do seem to be a stalker. How long do you think you will last this time? 7th Strike next time huh.
    
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    May 8, 2019 10:36am
- mark15
  
  Didn’t they already do a no confidence vote?
  
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  May 8, 2019 12:01pm
- freethinker
  
  The local parties have acquired sufficient support to raise a extraordinary general meeting with the purpose of removing May – I wish them every sauces so May will go down in history as the worst PM ever.
  
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  May 8, 2019 1:09pm
  - Tall Man
    
    ardern has that pretty much sewn up…..
    
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    May 8, 2019 3:44pm
Yvette

Folau’s Tweet was supposedly triggered by Tasmania law now allowing people to put whatever gender they want on birth certificates. It was Folau’s grouping those people with other liars and majority dishonest behaviour, and suggesting it needed reconsideration (repent) that media took and selectively turned into hate speech against “gays”.

It was media who made it exclusively about homophobia, basically dismissing Folau’s indication (by the text he chose to accompany his comments) that it was about falsity.

It is going to become bit of a bugger, if not only must you guard against what you yourself say, but also what media decide and promote you as having said.
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May 8, 2019 9:48am
- Fletch
  
  Yeh, judging by the amount of media coverage of Folau and his “trial”, you’d think he’d drawn a knife and killed a couple of opposition players on the field while attempting a try, but this whole thing is over…. an Instagram post? And not even his own, but a forwarded meme. It’s ridiculous the amount of media coverage this has got. It’s like they’re covering the Lundy trial.
  
  Maybe they’re using it as a warning to anyone who dare question the liberal gay orthodoxy…
  
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  May 8, 2019 12:16pm
- MCos
  
  Israel Folau said in a now deleted tweet that hell awaits homosexuals.
  If you are an afterlife denier this doesn’t carry any weight, but it’s dangerous talk to some young people.
  
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  May 8, 2019 1:13pm
Happychappy

More political bullshit and character assassination from Tova O’Brien, how much lower can Three News go.
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2019/05/angry-simon-bridges-receives-mixed-reaction-in-parliament-tova-o-brien.html
This is turning into a witch hunt and should be stopped. Where are the Senior Jounalists in NZ and why are they not doing something about this.
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May 8, 2019 10:09am
- Tony Stuart
  
  Well said Happychappy. O’Brien fails to mention that Bridges categorically denied making the noise Mallard supposedly heard. Her lack of objectivity with regard to Bridges should be of significant concern to her seniors at Newshub. Her pieces are tainted by a demonstrable lack of balance.
  
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  May 8, 2019 10:30am
  - brett68
    
    Have you thought that the government maybe one of their big revenue streams.
    
    The media has no issue taking money from the real estate industry to promote real estate and paint a positive view of the housing market.
    
    Why wouldn’t they do the same with the government? money is money and the MSM is in desperate need of that.
    
    Media works, NZME or New Zealand Media and Entertainment you may notices there’s no mention of the word news.
    
    The “news” has nothing to do with what’s factual anymore, it’s entertainment, it’s clicks, it’s eyeballs, it’s there to make money, that’s it.
    
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    May 8, 2019 10:46am
  - alloytoo
    
    By all appearances O’Brian is in bed with JLR (metaphorically, though I have my suspicions)
    
    O’Brian appears to have been complicit from the moment JLR decided to knife Bridges.
    
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    May 8, 2019 11:26am
- Maggie Pie
  
  My partner reckons that Tova is married to a famous Heavy Metal Band drummer – the only one i could think of was Tommy Lee but he didnt think that was his name. Has anyone got the goss on this?
  
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  May 8, 2019 10:59am
  - freethinker
    
    Is Johnny Rotten still alive??
    
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    May 8, 2019 1:11pm
  - 3-coil
    
    Maggie (10:59am) – Simon Bridges plays the drums …do you think he might have knocked her back? (hence: Tova’s bitter, twisted, vindictive, hell hath no fury etc etc)
    
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    May 8, 2019 1:36pm
  - Paulus
    
    Heard she was/is married to somebody called Hickey !
    Poor fool – imagine waking up to that every morning.
    
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    May 8, 2019 1:52pm
  - The Heat
    
    Beastwars
    
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    May 8, 2019 1:57pm
  - Maggy Wassilieff
    
    Nathan Hickey: Beastwars
    
    https://www.nowtolove.co.nz/celebrity/celeb-news/tova-obrien-marries-her-kiwi-sweetheart-in-london-20787
    
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    May 8, 2019 2:45pm
    - Tall Man
      
      “There were three in the bed and the little one said roll over……”
      
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      May 8, 2019 3:26pm
    - Maggie Pie
      
      Thnx Mags found them! No wonder poor Tova has such a high forhead – must be all the banging!!
      
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4l0Yb9BRkEE
      
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      May 8, 2019 3:49pm
- dave_c_
  
  I’d be very offended, and call it ‘hate speech’ – enough for tough sanctions against her . . .
  
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  May 8, 2019 11:30am
- Jules99
  
  They don’t employ senior journalists any more because they might have some independent critical thinking skills.
  
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  May 8, 2019 11:32am
- Tall Man
  
  I would say tova is no ones “cup of tea”.
  
  She is single-handedly eroding credibility within the media.
  
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  May 8, 2019 1:35pm
srylands

This is disappointing. How is gold mining inconsistent with a “sustainable economy”?

The problem is that these decisions send signals to prospective investors that cannot be corrected with a change of government.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/112518119/mayor-says-jobs-will-suffer-after-minister-eugenie-sage-cans-mining-companys-land-buy
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May 8, 2019 10:28am
- Komata
  
  Srylands@1028
  
  This was always going to happen, and is nothing new. Delahunty et al were advocates of this process and ‘Ministerial perogative’ has been a hazard for any mining hopeful for many years. Personal experience has shown that should a Minister be having a ‘Bad Hair Day’ when an application comes across his desk, then, despite the expenditure of considerable amounts of time and money, it wll count for nought!!
  
  The power weilded by such individuals is immense and Sage is merely the latest iteration, albeit ‘reinforced’ by her political idologies (aka ‘Mining of any sort utterly bad, sunshine, renewables etc, indeed anything to save gaia, very, very, good). The fact that she actually makes constant use of the products of the ‘utterly bad’ mining industry does, of course, escape her.
  
  Even the pushbike she used in her much publicised ‘pre-birth’ jaunt, was, of course, made from mined products.
  
  Selective hearing and wilful blindness seem to be an attribute she shares with others of her fraternity…
  
  (1746)
  
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  May 8, 2019 5:46pm
Fletch

Steve Bannon pointing out that Trump is doing exactly the right thing with China and tariffs.

https://youtu.be/0V7w0R12eos?t=85
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May 8, 2019 10:48am
Kabull

For heaven’s sake. The Greater Wellington Regional Council has released a discussion document on what should be done to protect Queen Elizabeth II Park. They say: This plan is being consulted on now as we want to allow ourselves time to make changes in the park to combat the effects of projected climate change. The outcome of this consultation process will be to have a response plan for our coastal areas which we can use to do work which will reduce the effect of climate change on the assets in the park. The effects of climate change on the park can include storm damage, more frequent flooding, drought and extreme winds.

This part of the coast, being west-facing and basically sand, is always going to be affected by natural erosion. (A good example is the Tahuna Beach in Nelson, which has moved around regularly.) Parts of the coast will periodically be rebuilt – like the area around Waiterere, where the wreck of the Hyderabad has been exposed and then recovered as the sand dunes shift. Other parts will recede as the dunes reform and reshape.

None of this is due to ‘climate change’ – it is a natural event which expensive attempts to mitigate will end in costly failure.

As an aside, noting the dire predictions this week about the loss of a million species I wonder what this constant barrage of negativity is doing to the minds of our children. Every day there is some new disaster prediction suggesting that the World be become unlivable within the lifetime of children born in the last 4-5 years. Why would I care about my career or my future life if it is all going to collapse. Funny, isn’t it, that we never hear of positive research outcomes … – oh, thats right – there is no funding for research that does not fit the political direction.

Sadly, all these climate predictions will continue to be disproved, as they have been since they were first made in the 70s and 80s. The Maldives, which were to have been evacuated by now, are having new airports and housing constructed. Polar bear numbers are exploding – yet there were supposed to be extinct by now. And at current rates of melting, it will take around 120,000 years for the Antarctic ice cap to disappear.

I see the Government’s climate change bill is tabled today.
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May 8, 2019 10:48am
- krazykiwi
  
  It’s not about climate.
  
  It’s about control.
  
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  May 8, 2019 12:46pm
- Piniwi
  
  Right Kabull one of the great beaches around the Tasman Bay is Kaiteriteri which has to be bragged back up frequently to keep the beach in place. Yet around the corner Split Apple rock remains in it’s usual place. Coastal erosion is most common in so many locations due to so many of those areas having a shallow shelf being an added disadvantage. Nature that brings us so much beauty also move to its own time cycle without any special lanes yet provided.
  
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  May 8, 2019 1:14pm
Fletch

George Carlin from 1996 on saving the planet. The planet is fine….

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7W33HRc1A6c

A perfect response to the U.N climate/extinction BS.
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May 8, 2019 10:52am
- stephieboy
  
  Fletch, his comment humans trying to control species extinction is dumb or words to that effect appear’s just that, dumb!
  
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  May 8, 2019 1:01pm
  - Tall Man
    
    Well steffy girl, no one is going to dispute that you definitely have a handle on dumb, in fact I would say that you really are the epitome of dumb.
    
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    May 8, 2019 1:43pm
  - Fletch
    
    Well, we are, aren’t we? We capture the last Pandas and put them in cages to mate, isolate other animals on special islands where we catch the rats and other ferals, etc. We do interfere. According to Carlin (and backed up by National Geographic), 90% of animals who have ever lived on the earth are extinct, and humans had nothing to do with it. Species come and species go. I read someone say once that humans trying to save the panda (a creature that seems indifferent to existing) is as pointless as taking your pants off before you fart.
    
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    May 8, 2019 2:37pm
    - Swifty
      
      Over 99% Fletch.
      
      ‘More than 99 percent of all species, amounting to over five billion species,[1] that ever lived on Earth are estimated to have died out.[2][3][4] Estimates on the number of Earth’s current species range from 10 million to 14 million,[5] of which about 1.2 million have been documented and over 86 percent have not yet been described.[6] In 2016, scientists reported that 1 trillion species are estimated to be on Earth currently with only one-thousandth of one percent described.[7]’
      
      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extinction
      
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      May 8, 2019 4:04pm
Johnboy

Dear, oh dear, oh deary deary me! The reason the useless greeny folk are getting ministerial salaries has been unveiled: https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/112546824/landmark-climate-change-bill-goes-to-parliament
Meanwhile as the Wainui hill cycle way reaches completion the recycle bins for plastic and cans are removed. All will go to landfill from now on. What a great new future the Eco-warriors have wrought! 🙂
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May 8, 2019 11:15am
- alloytoo
  
  Only common sense approach to global climate change is to build zero emission nuclear power stations.
  
  They will also prove useful when the ice-age arrives.
  
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  May 8, 2019 12:21pm
  - krazykiwi
    
    I suggest the common sense approach to [inferred anthropogenic] global climate change is to call it for what it is: a giant rort, without basis in science, and promoted as a means of advancing the UNs world governance aspirations.
    
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    May 8, 2019 12:42pm
    - Johnboy
      
      All you deniers should be burnt at the stake and would be if it didn’t contribute to climate change! 🙂
      
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      May 8, 2019 1:06pm
      - Maggy Wassilieff
        
        Yep,
        You’d better live for eva
        https://www.huffpost.com/entry/how-your-death-affects-cl_b_6263152
        
        Tho’ a mushroom suit sounds kinda ok
        https://www.bbc.com/news/48140812
        
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        May 8, 2019 4:52pm
- Tall Man
  
  Bloody hell, another piece of legislation National will repeal in 2020.
  
  Payback 2020.
  
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  May 8, 2019 1:47pm
  - Ross12
    
    No Tall Man, National will not repeal it. At least not a total repeal.
    Bridges has been partly on board with it from the start.
    Muller seems to be playing politics with it.
    
    In Australia a respected economist who has worked in the CC area for some time has costed out their Labour party’s energy/CC policy –it will cost the Aussie economy between A$264 and A$542 Billion between now and 2030 for probably no gain.
    
    http://www.baeconomics.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Economic-Consequences-of-Labors-Climate-Change-Action-Plan-1May19.pdf
    
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    May 8, 2019 5:10pm
    - Tall Man
      
      Downticked for pessimism…..
      
      We need one of the regular Nats on here to confirm their stance but my understanding was that it is still a work in progress
      
      2 0
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      May 8, 2019 6:59pm
      - Ross12
        
        You can down tick all you like Tall Man but the day Shaw announced they were progressing on with the Act, on the five o’clock news Bridges announced his bipartisan support for the Commission etc. This was before any detail came out, before any public consultation etc.
        My stand is not pessimism but cold hard reality as far it stands at present.
        
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        May 8, 2019 7:53pm
  - Komata
    
    Tm@1347
    
    If only; don’t hold your breath!
    
    Thanks.
    
    (1754)
    
    3 0
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    May 8, 2019 5:54pm
Ross12

Well done to ACT for coming out unequivocally to say they will oppose Shaw’s Zero Carbon Act.
Shaw has made it very similar to the UK act (ie. probably photocopied it ).
This report based on official figures shows the real cost to the UK economy of their act, for very little benefit.
https://www.thegwpf.org/report-reveals-300-billion-cost-of-britains-climate-change-act/

I hope this issue becomes as big in our election as it has across the ditch, in recent weeks, in their election.
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May 8, 2019 11:37am
- srylands
  
  It will only become an issue when people feel the impacts financially. That is probably a slow burn. A target in 2050 is simply too abstract for people to understand. They respond to petrol and power prices.
  
  What I don’t understand is how it “safeguards the future”. Nothing New Zealand does on emissions will safeguard anything.
  
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  May 8, 2019 12:50pm
  - Ross12
    
    Reluctantly, I agree srylands. Until the pocket is hit, like in Australia, not much is likely to happen.
    But I hope Seymour keeps it going because ACT will gain from it (NB. I have never voted for ACT)
    
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    May 8, 2019 1:31pm
Johnboy

This is orful: https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/112533266/as-employment-and-inflation-weaken-just-how-low-could-interest-rates-go
Under the wise leadership of the COL none of their target voters will be able to buy a first home as prices skyrocket as interest rates drop. What a fuckin disaster! 🙂
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May 8, 2019 11:40am
Happychappy

Climate change bill to go to Parliament after being agreed to by the three Coalition Parties.

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12228845
Now it’s just a matter to find out how much they want to fleece the Public and Business for. Zero omissions by 2050.
18 0
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May 8, 2019 11:40am
- alloytoo
  
  Will they ban veganism, all that methane……
  
  7 0
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  May 8, 2019 12:34pm
unaha-closp

Dear Aussie Media

Israel Folau is out of the World Cup for being a god-botherer. Can you now please try to get Hooper (the next best player) axed by calling him racist for being against Islander religious beliefs?

Respectfully Yours
NZ rugby supporter
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May 8, 2019 11:43am
mikenmildagain

Happy World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day!
2 18
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May 8, 2019 11:47am
- Johnboy
  
  And Red Face day Milkey: https://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/112540202/christchurch-call-fall-short-of-the-scale-of-terror-online-report-says
  “Overly simplistic” I see. Somewhat like our new great leader perhaps?
  At least she seems to have her Macron placement more correct than the rest of us give a shit about! 🙂
  
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  May 8, 2019 12:55pm
Surely Knott

“Asked if she’s smoked cannabis before, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said: “I was raised Mormon and then I was not Mormon – I let other people determine what that means.”” This open and transparent government thing sure is confusing. Utah (60% mormon) are reported to have an opiod crisis and have the 7th highest overdose rate of all the United States. https://www.cbc.ca/radio/tapestry/drugs-and-peace-1.4555956/opioid-addiction-in-the-heart-of-mormon-country-1.4556110
21 0
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May 8, 2019 12:12pm
- freethinker
  
  Delete 2 m’s and not, and the comment is 100%.
  
  7 0
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  May 8, 2019 1:20pm
- UrbanNeocolonialist
  
  “Religion is the opium of the people”. At least until they can get access to the real stuff 😉
  
  7 0
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  May 8, 2019 1:25pm
- BananaLlama
  
  She is still a Mormon, running around trying to save everyone from themselves.
  
  7 0
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  May 8, 2019 2:51pm
- Swifty
  
  Why not just give us a straight answer?
  
  Why all this clever-clogs stuff?
  
  ‘I let other people determine what that means’ – FFS.
  
  13 0
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  May 8, 2019 3:58pm
  - Maggy Wassilieff
    
    Yep, she’s a dozy drip.
    
    Compare her answer to the straight-out Yes or No given by other MPs.
    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12228749
    
    14 0
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    May 8, 2019 4:55pm
jonno1

Back in August 1963, my School Cert year, I had to decide whether to study for it, or whether the world would end before November thereby making study a waste of time. On balance I decided to study, which turned out to be the right call. Worrying about climate change is essentially the same issue, and will have the same outcome. As an aside, I’m still waiting for Pauanui prices to fall so that I can afford a beachfront property.
29 0
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May 8, 2019 12:48pm
- Andrei
  
  No need to worry we have intellectual heavyweights like James Shaw on the job.
  
  Apparently he can control the temperature of the entire planet with a magical thing called “Government Policy”.
  
  19 0
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  May 8, 2019 1:24pm
  - cmm
    
    Jimmy can tell the future. Pity he didn’t foresee someone smacking him in the face.
    
    14 0
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    May 8, 2019 1:42pm
- cmm
  
  Jonn01: You’re a survivor mate.
  
  Somehow you survived:
  * WW3 (at least three times now).
  * Nuclear winter
  * Nuclear inferno
  * Mini-ice age in the 1970s.
  * SARS
  * Swine flu (three or four times)
  * Bird flu (at least twice).
  * All burned to a crisp before 2018.
  * Drowned before 2018.
  * Russians taking over the world
  * Jews taking over the world.
  * Chinese taking over the world.
  * EMP
  * Solar mass ejection
  * Polar vortex
  * Magnetic polar flip.
  * Alpine fault (every few months when Herald feels we need a scare).
  
  Geez. what are the chances of escaping all that alive? You’re a lucky bugger!
  
  20 0
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  May 8, 2019 1:41pm
  - Maggy Wassilieff
    
    The Ozone hole
    Acid rain
    Y2K
    etc
    
    16 0
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    May 8, 2019 3:06pm
    - Rich Prick
      
      Peak oil.
      Peak food.
      Peak people.
      
      14 0
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      May 8, 2019 3:47pm
      - 453mm
        
        Sorry mods I clicked report by mistake.
        
        3 0
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        May 8, 2019 3:51pm
  - UrbanNeocolonialist
    
    5th labour government, 6th labour-ish government.
    
    7 0
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    May 8, 2019 4:48pm
- Johnboy
  
  Jono1….You’d have been better to die in the nuclear holocaust than want to live in a shithole like Pauanui! 🙂
  
  9 1
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  May 8, 2019 4:36pm
MCos

In 1973 there were 5.9 road deaths per 10,000 vehicles. The rate now is around one.
Back in the thirties the rate was over eight, but the healthcare, roads & cars were pretty primitive in those days.
It would be interesting to compare the road toll with changes to roads, car safety, driving laws & enforcement. One thing that is hard to shift is the aggressive attitude of drivers
Yesterday I was driving home and slowed down to turn right into my garage on a corner section.
Even though I had my indicator on a car overtook me on my right going through the intersection next to my house.
Our street is about 3/4km straight and cars scorch along . . . .
8 0
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May 8, 2019 1:48pm
- Tall Man
  
  An overlooked fact is that previously death was a regular outcome whereas today serious injury is the most likely outcome. That has a massive cost fiscally and personally which the numb skulls zooming along never factor in.
  
  9 0
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  May 8, 2019 2:51pm
- UrbanNeocolonialist
  
  prevalence of motorbikes was a huge factor. in 1988 146 motorcyclists died. In recent years 30-50. Also child deaths used to be >50 a year, now more like 6-17 (better seats).
  
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  May 8, 2019 4:06pm
Fletch

Adam Sandler on Saturday Night Live as ‘Opera Man’, a role he last played 24 years ago on the show, singing about current events and taking shots at both political parties equally 😆

https://twitter.com/nbcsnl/status/1124897934875734016
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May 8, 2019 2:27pm
- Tall Man
  
  How news could be….
  
  http://more.skynews.com.au/podcasts/paul-murray-live-podcast/
  
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  May 8, 2019 3:42pm
ex-golfer

How unfortunate:
https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/world/112558711/universal-basic-income-is-a-failure-new-report-says

I guess this report will be decried by those on the left expecting those that work to pay for everyone else.
Or will we see another report tomorrow saying the opposite?
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May 8, 2019 2:51pm
Lee C

Is Jacinda saying anyone who isn’t a Mormon is a reefer-fiend?

What even Muslims?

She’s obsessed with religion, that one.
15 0
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May 8, 2019 3:25pm
- RW Capitalist
  
  Especially a committed Socialist.
  But all socialists should be committed …….to an asylum.
  
  11 0
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  May 8, 2019 4:36pm
Captain Mainwaring

Interesting times in Parliament today,
Nick Smith ‘named’ after an exchange with Mallard.
And why is it that Ardern and Peters are allowed to operate as a tag-team? Isn’t she able to answer questions by herself?
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May 8, 2019 3:35pm
- UrbanNeocolonialist
  
  No, she’s always been lazy, obviously doesn’t do the reading and doesn’t understand what’s happening, avoids parliament whenever she possibly can (my understanding is worse attendance record of any NZ PM). She’s an autocue reader, can emote and grimace as needed, but not PM material.
  
  17 0
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  May 8, 2019 4:53pm
- Maggy Wassilieff
  
  Nash telling Porkies about road-side drug testing, it seems
  https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/112564741/national-mp-nick-smith-has-been-suspended-from-the-house
  
  (This Stuff link is a disaster… 3 embedded clips with audio at the same time)
  
  13 0
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  May 8, 2019 5:12pm
Happychappy

Wow interest rate cut to 1.5%.
Surely this will fuel the housing market which the Government was trying to soften.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business-video/news/video.cfm?c_id=1503079&gal_cid=1503079&gallery_id=206595
14 0
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May 8, 2019 3:50pm
- Captain Mainwaring
  
  Maybe this will help Twitford get rid of a few more of his failure houses.
  
  11 0
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  May 8, 2019 4:15pm
- RW Capitalist
  
  Unintended consequences.
  The mantra of CoL.
  
  9 0
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  May 8, 2019 4:40pm
Happychappy

Here is Wespac view.
https://www.interest.co.nz/property/99315/westpac-economists-say-if-reserve-bank-doesnt-cut-interest-rates-may-there-may-be-no
The economy can’t be that great if you have to cut rates to that percentage.
12 0
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May 8, 2019 4:03pm
- UrbanNeocolonialist
  
  GDP growth in last half year down to 0.9% (1.8% annualised), things aren’t going well for the CoL.
  
  10 0
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  May 8, 2019 4:54pm
Swifty

What’s this? Twyford and Ardern resiling from the 100,000 Kiwi Build homes election promise?

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/112565769/kiwibuild-government-no-longer-guaranteeing-100000-homes

Totally and utterly predictable……
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May 8, 2019 4:15pm
- UrbanNeocolonialist
  
  ~~recalibrating~~ lying. They’ve apparently spent $660million on kiwibuild. 80 houses another 260 being built, mostly bought off existing developers.
  
  8 0
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  May 8, 2019 4:57pm
MrTips

Anyone else noticed how angry and vicious the pro cannabis followers of Chloe Swarbrick are online? Its like somethings affected their brian……
24 1
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May 8, 2019 4:31pm
RW Capitalist

Reserve Bank has lowered the official cash rate “to stimulate the economy”
So we ARE heading into recession then?
15 0
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May 8, 2019 4:31pm
- RW Capitalist
  
  repost from yesterday, more relevant now.
  I hear the annual growth rate has fallen to 2.0%
  Doing a little Maths
  June quarter 2018…….0.9%
  Sept quarter 2018……..0.3%
  Dec quarter 2018………0.6%
  That would make the March 2019 quarter …0.2%
  Recession coming?
  I hear GDP growth per capita was 0.0%
  Was this the most important number according to the Labout opposition at the time, as CoL they are strangely SILENT and only want to talk about “wellness”
  I couldn’t begin to imagine why….(sarc)
  Meaning the next quarter would have to have a jump to 0.9%, just to hold at 2% annually
  Less than half of what that horrible man Trump has achieved…they are going forward and we are in full retreat.
  Wonder what the numbers would have looked like if National had been elected?
  Tax cuts
  No strikes
  followed by rising wages
  lower unemployment
  higher business confidence
  more respect internationally
  
  18 1
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  May 8, 2019 4:33pm
  - UrbanNeocolonialist
    
    Do you have any official source?
    
    0 5
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    May 8, 2019 4:58pm
    - RW Capitalist
      
      https://www.stats.govt.nz/topics/gross-domestic-product
      
      5 0
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      May 8, 2019 5:53pm
    - Rob2
      
      https://www.interest.co.nz/news/99576/masseys-gdplive-tool-now-integrates-use-nzta-traffic-data-improve-its-real-time
      
      0 0
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      May 8, 2019 8:24pm
  - Johnboy
    
    But..but…but. Surely poverdy is no more and head scarfs are now trendy in flash Ponsonby restaurants RWC?
    More baby’s and wedding bells are just hovering in the wings waiting for an opportune time to leap on to the stage that is Jacindamania! 🙂
    
    12 0
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    May 8, 2019 4:59pm
- Fletch
  
  Someone should tell her to try a little of what Trump is doing in the U.S. Love him, or hate him, what he’s doing is working. Capitalism WORKS. Tax cuts, WORK. Socialism, big government, and trying to tax a nation into prosperity do not work!
  
  12 3
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  May 8, 2019 5:25pm
  - Tall Man
    
    Have you got a farm nearby Fletch?
    
    You’ll get more success explaining those concepts to the livestock than this arsehole of a coalition.
    
    7 1
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    May 8, 2019 6:05pm
  - mikenmildagain
    
    See the latest? The failing New York Times has faked en years’ worth of tax records that purport to show Trump lost over a billion dollars up to the mid-90s.
    Do those fake news merchants really expect Americans to believe that the man who, single-handed, has made their country great again would be anything other than a very stable genius in business as well?
    
    2 5
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    May 8, 2019 8:04pm
Monique Watson

America’s at war. Sailed two warships past the shit-riddled islands in the South China Seas.

US guided-missile destroyers Preble and Chung-Hoon traveled within 12 nautical miles of Gaven and Johnson Reefs.
Reefs. ha-ha.
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May 8, 2019 5:11pm
- mikenmildagain
  
  Weren’t you all hot at the thought of that carrier group moving through the Mediterranean to rattle sabres at the Iranians?
  South China Sea as well?
  Where to invade next?
  Why does the Chinese dictator not get the Trump-love showered on the dictators in Russia, North Korea and Saudi Arabia?
  
  3 17
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  May 8, 2019 7:00pm
  - nasska
    
    I’ll give it a crack. Could it be that the leaders of Russia, North Korea & Saudi Arabia (for all their faults) are not hellbent on stuffing the USA’s economy?
    
    5 0
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    May 8, 2019 7:42pm
andydownhere

James Shaw started his answer on the Zero Carbon Bill question on parliament today saying he is responding to the 10 000 students who matched for climate change a few weeks ago. What about the half million? who didnt march who may not have agreed with it. If our laws are going to be governed ny brain washed school children, we are stuffed. How much research have these children put into investigating the whole climate change debate? Why is it every green MP agrees with it. How much research has each MP actually done. Reading The Dominion Post is not research! I have a challenge for James Shaw, Do a months worth of planting seedlings on rough hill country, show us u can use a chainsaw, and come back in 20 years and trim them all off the fences around New Zealand you made us build. Planting them is the easy part. I’m sure he is the kid out of “The Diary of a Wimpy Kid”
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May 8, 2019 7:06pm
Wired-one

Looking at how this government is abolishing most of their election promises, failing them miserably or re-calibrating the targets. Surely all that National needs to do heading into this next election to win, is promise the world, start working on some of it, and if its a massive flop, simply answer ”at least we are trying”… That seems to be more than palatable to our media and voters on the left. Hell we even might swing some lefties over to our side, especially if our policies and targets have plenty of ”aspiration”.
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May 8, 2019 7:50pm
Rob2

This is a letter that a Tauranga primary school teacher has written to the Minister of Education Chris Hipkins. She has had no reply so has posted the letter directly to his Facebook page. Are you a teacher or parent of a school child? What do you think of Sarah’s proposed solutions?
‎Sarah Lean‎
to
Chris Hipkins MP
11 hrs

I have recently written to you with the following letter. I have not had a response as yet but thought I would post it here for discussion.

This is an open letter to our Government and Industry leaders.

To Whom It May Concern:

Re: Employing teacher-aides in every primary classroom to solve the education crisis.

Read on before making a blanket judgment that this is unfeasible.

I am a NZ trained teacher working in the Bay of Plenty. I have been teaching since 2005 and in that time I have seen the decline of our education system. In my early years as a teacher I worked with busy but happy teachers in a climate where 100 applicants were applying for any one teaching position. Our students with additional needs were better supported and our salaries were not a draw card but certainly not a deterrent to the profession either.

We are all aware of the declining morale within the teaching community, especially in the primary sector. I am not going to reiterate all of the failings that have created the situation I am writing to provide a solution to the problem. Negotiations with NZEI in recent months has only decreased the morale and divided the teaching community. We are getting nowhere.

The main issues:

1 – Working conditions are such that the mental and physical health of teachers is in crisis. Teachers do not have adequate time to complete required paperwork. Teacher workload has grown exponentially over the years but without recompense. Expectations are increasing and teachers need access to better support to help them meet these expectations to prevent burnout. Burnout is real.

2 – Teacher shortage – trainee teacher numbers have reduced and cannot make up for the number of baby-boomers retiring. New trainees on average are quitting within the first 5 years in the occupation. Principals are struggling to fill teacher positions. This is even worse in our low decile schools where our learners are already disadvantaged. School should be a safe place with reliable and stable education providers. It is not.

3 – Students with additional needs – behavioural and learning difficulties – do not currently get the support they require. Schools have to support students by using funds from their operational budgets. This is wrong. Society is getting more complex and so are our students yet support is reducing.

What can we do?

Employ teacher-aides in every primary classroom to solve the education crisis.

What would they do?
Provide educational and emotional support to learners in partnership with teachers by:

Supporting teachers to reduce workload – maintaining the classroom, erecting displays, preparing resources and the classroom for learning, photocopying, returning resources, filing, tidying, supporting assessments, morning tea and lunchtime duties, lunch clubs etc. Freeing up teacher time to focus on planning, assessments, reporting to parents and developing programs for our target learners and in the long run raising achievement!

Supporting learners – providing consistent emotional support for learners with: anxiety, behavioural difficulties and learning difficulties. Providing consistent learning support for our target learners. Enabling teachers to have more time with target learners and learners in general. Every child could be read with everyday!

What would it look like?
Hours 9am – 3pm, Monday to Friday

Following the classroom support model (as apposed to one-to-one model or itinerant model). Every teacher-aide with the same class everyday like teachers or job share depending on circumstances. This is to provide consistent care for all of our learners.

How would we pay for it?

The Ministry of Education cannot currently afford to pay teachers more or to pay for a teacher-aide in every classroom. So where would the money come from?

If we had a teacher-aide in every classroom this would create a whole new workforce. Money could be pooled from many areas of government – Ministry of Education, MBIE and Ministry of Social Development. It would create a workforce that is within school hours therefore opening it up to tens of thousands of parents who cannot currently work due to inability to find work during school hours.

There are approximately 190,000 people either on a jobseekers allowance (131,720) or receiving Parent Support (58, 824). If say 20,000 of these people were then employed as a teacher-aide not only would there be a huge social benefit of being gainfully employed but you would save The Ministry of Social Development over $270 million alone. You are more than half way there to funding the project without us even having to dip in to Ministry of Educations pockets. I am not a finance expert but with careful planning and reallocation of funds it could easily be done.

Lastly, the government and treasury need to plain and simply allocate more funding to education and the ‘Foundations of our Future’. I hope to see treasury allocate a workable budget to education this May so that real change can be made. The proposed salary increase as it stands would not be enough to keep any teacher in a job when the mental and physical stress is too great.

Why would it work?

A full time teacher-aide would prevent teacher burnout, which is the major cause of teachers leaving the profession. The work-life balance for teachers is out of equilibrium. No amount of salary increase is going to fix this. As a teacher, if I had the choice of receiving the proposed salary increase or a full time teacher-aide I know which one I would choose.

Until the government, educators, school administrators, society and other professionals acknowledge the true nature of the education crisis we will continue to see proposals that scratch the surface of how we can move forward.

I want to start the conversation on solutions. We all want all of our tamariki to have a great future. We need to do better by them.

Yours sincerely,

Sarah
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May 8, 2019 8:22pm
- ex-golfer
  
  Well balanced letter.
  However it will go no where as Hipkins is directed by the teacher unions who will never support the concept of Teacher-aides unless they are fully unionised and qualified.
  Hipkins is quickly dismantling the education sector across all of its platforms – and most of the teachers can’t even see it coming.
  
  The issues with teaching would not be so bad if:
  – male teachers were not ostracized and driven out of the profession for fear of being accused of abuse
  – teachers were given the tools and ability to discipline students
  – pay was based on ability and performance
  – the unions got out of the way
  – the curriculum was not based on socialist agenda and ideology
  
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  May 8, 2019 10:17pm
ex-golfer

Credit where credit is due:
I submitted my IR3 to the IRD last Thursday – my income is made up of contract payments taxed at the highest rate (which I can claim expenses against).
Wake up this morning to find my submitted refund already direct-credited to my bank account.
Say what you will about the IRD, that is quite an impressive turn-around.
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May 8, 2019 8:51pm
Hugh Pavletich

… UNITED STATES …

Houston named the most affordable housing market for the middle class – CultureMap Houston

http://houston.culturemap.com/news/real-estate/05-06-19-houston-most-affordable-place-buy-home-middle-class/

When we talk about affordability, it’s often in relation to just one economic group, but a new study offers a more nuanced picture of housing affordability in Houston — and good news for a large portion of the middle class.

Houston is America’s most affordable housing market for lower- and middle-middle class families, according to LendingTree, which analyzed housing affordability in the nation’s 50 largest metros for its study. … read more via hyperlink above
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May 9, 2019 2:56am

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Tory Whanau may have to sell Wellington mayoralty to make ends meet
The Civilian
The Accidental Engagement
Imperator Fish
Legal Beagle: Election '23: The Special Votes
Public Address
Making this movie might have been a mistake
Liam Hehir
Why I am retiring from political blogging
Kiwi FireWalker
Angie Warren-Clark: Meet the Newbies
Dan Moskovitz

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