General Debate 4 June 2019

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Maggie Pie

Tiananmen Square Massacre remembrance day
[unless of course you happen to be Chinese]
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June 4, 2019 8:03am
- hullkiwi
  
  Maggie, the 10,000 who died were Chinese. I’m sure the families of those who died will wish to remember the 30th anniversary, despite what the state says.
  
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  June 4, 2019 8:08am
  - Inandout
    
    hullkiwi, Mao got rid of 20 million. China of course is a lot different now with their world dominance a key factor.
    
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    June 4, 2019 8:37am
    - sooty
      
      Just think what their benefit bill, how much homelessness and their greenhouse gas emissions there would have been if they had not got rid of 20mill
      
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      June 4, 2019 2:43pm
- mikenmildagain
  
  It’s also the International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression.
  
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  June 4, 2019 8:22am
  - Odakyu-sen
    
    Is there a risk that “International days of …” could detract from local remembrance of important events?
    
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    June 4, 2019 8:27am
    - Inandout
      
      Oda, they can’t use ‘national’ because of our political names.
      
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      June 4, 2019 8:40am
    - mikenmildagain
      
      No.
      
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      June 4, 2019 10:26am
  - Happychappy
    
    Do they have a day for [Deleted – Mod] as you wouldn’t be out of place.
    
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    June 4, 2019 8:30am
    - mikenmildagain
      
      Why do your comments never read as happy, chappy?
      
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      June 4, 2019 10:26am
  - Alien
    
    It’s mike hijacking Maggie’s post day again because he has no respect for those that died in Tiananmen Square
    
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    June 4, 2019 9:41am
    - mikenmildagain
      
      Why do you hate innocent children victims of agression?
      
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      June 4, 2019 12:46pm
      - Alien
        
        Why don’t you start you own post instead of hijacking maggie’s
        
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        June 4, 2019 2:26pm
      - mikenmildagain
        
        That would not amuse me as much.
        Why don’t you care about the innocent children?
        
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        June 4, 2019 2:49pm
- kowtow
  
  “Massacre” you call it , the SCMP call it a “crackdown” while our good friends and major trading partner call it “political turbulence around the spring and summer of 1989.”
  
  https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3012785/tiananmen-square-dissident-feng-congde-held-hong-kong
  
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  June 4, 2019 9:05am
  - UrbanNeocolonialist
    
    I have it on good authority that it was a learner tank driver who mistakenly drove over 1500 democracy demonstrators.
    
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    June 4, 2019 2:39pm
- mikenmildagain
  
  It’s a shame parliament is not sitting today, as I’m sure that all our political parties would be joining in a motion to mark the anniversary of the massacre.
  
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  June 4, 2019 10:19am
  - GazzaW
    
    Yes it is a shame that Parliament is not sitting today Mike. The only massacre on show would have been that of Robbo courtesy of Simon at QT.
    
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    June 4, 2019 4:15pm
thetiedarch

https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/113160859/kiwirail-boss-greg-millers-plans-to-build-a-new-train-set

Within all this is this telling statement: “He can’t predict exactly how many jobs the new funding will create, but there will be many inside KiwiRail and “with our partner contractors”.”

Correct me if I’m wrong, but surely the government (and it’s companies) should have a good grasp on the economic benefits of any new funding it grants?…

Oh wait, this is Labour I’m talking about.
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June 4, 2019 8:05am
- MickMac
  
  Haha…
  Labour/Greens..
  Yep you got that right.
  
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  June 4, 2019 8:33am
- KevO'Brien
  
  Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters told a lunchtime business audience in Christchurch that the Government has invited KiwiRail to prepare an application to the Provincial Growth Fund (PGF) “to get the Northland rail line properly back up and running”.
  
  Buying SJ a seat and ensuring the survival of NZ Winston.
  No wonder teachers are revolting–there’s always money to be borrowed for political payoffs.
  
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  June 4, 2019 8:55am
  - RW Capitalist
    
    I’m going to call it:
    “Financial gerrymandering”
    Blair did it in Britain, free prescriptions, free university in Scotland only, where he/Labour got most of his votes.
    
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    June 4, 2019 9:29am
  - Tony Stuart
    
    Peters can try and by Jones a seat all he likes, but at the end of the day, the voters of Northland have the final say.
    
    There’s a good reason why Jones has never won an electorate contest. I saw first-hand in 2017 how much hard work aspiring MP’s have to put in to win an electorate. Then when you win, the hard work starts all over again. And let’s be honest; Jones has never been renowned – how can I say this – for his industry.
    
    Matt King won Northland back for National in 2017 with a majority of around 1400. He has the opportunity to make Northland a National fortress, as it was in John Carter’s day.
    
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    June 4, 2019 12:49pm
- RW Capitalist
  
  In opposition didn’t these party’s in the CoL, bleat on and on about cost benefit ratios for EVERYTHING.
  Now they are the govt………there is S I L E N C E.
  
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  June 4, 2019 9:04am
  - MickMac
    
    Especially from Jacinda Adhern and Robertson who you’d think as H1 and H2 should be on to it….
    
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    June 4, 2019 1:14pm
Rocky Jnr

Another bad long weekend on the roads. Where are you JAG and what happened to you zero road toll?

In reality you would have to legislate against stupidity to achieve it, (which at the time time might rid us of stupid politicians.)
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June 4, 2019 8:14am
- Greg Ettridge
  
  Time to make texting whilst driving instant loss of licence.
  
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  June 4, 2019 8:29am
  - MickMac
    
    $500 plus resit Licence.
    
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    June 4, 2019 8:33am
  - GazzaW
    
    …….and repeat for red light runners.
    
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    June 4, 2019 4:18pm
- kevn
  
  @Rocky… The rumble strip queen has it in hand. She told us so. Zero.
  
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  June 4, 2019 9:09am
- Alien
  
  Wanting to get the road toll to zero is a good ambition but how do you do it when there are so many idiots on na road. She was an idiot for saying that and what little she has done, but place blame where it belongs, the idiots on the road
  
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  June 4, 2019 9:42am
- Piniwi
  
  But RJ @ 8.14 am that would seem a bigger challenge as bulk dumbing down is already under way in the schools. A sign held high in the latest teachers strike read: “Treat us WRITE so your kids can RIGHT.” Are we really getting value for all those education dollars?
  The other major hindrance to learning the real language used is further boosted today as we read:
  “Government announces $32m funding boost to protect survival of Te Reo Māori.” Says Kelvin Davis confirming not only more wasted funding but that native gibberish is in survival mode. Even more interesting is how it will be spent as that big trough just gets bigger. Ironically announced on the day the teacher union start their month long withdrawal of teaching to selected age groups as a new form of striking. Nobody could make this sort of garbage up.
  
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  June 4, 2019 12:47pm
  - Alien
    
    Sounds like the purpose of that teachers sign went right over your head
    
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    June 4, 2019 2:21pm
hullkiwi

On Friday, was a piece of news that showed that councils passing motions on the climate emergency is nothing more than a fraudulent effort to take more money from local residents. Residents in low lying areas prone to coastal flooding have agreed to contribute $30 per annum to a climate emergency fund to support local infrastructure prone to flooding. The interesting point was that these funds will not be used to protect the residents’ properties. Evidence that the climate change movement is moving to take more money from the unsuspecting.
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June 4, 2019 8:18am
- mikenmildagain
  
  Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
  Now that we know global warming is a Chinese hoax (hat tip Mr Trump), it becomes easier to understand how the moon landings were faked, how 9/11 was an inside job, and how the deadly chemical fluoride is poisoning our precious bodily essences to further communist mind control.
  
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  June 4, 2019 8:29am
- MickMac
  
  I didn’t!
  
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  June 4, 2019 8:33am
- lilman
  
  Would just take the $30 off my rate demand.
  Then they can take me to court and prove it.
  
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  June 4, 2019 8:41am
  - kevn
    
    @lilman… I live on a hill, credit me.
    
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    June 4, 2019 9:10am
  - srylands
    
    You could be the new Penny ?
    
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    June 4, 2019 9:16am
    - lilman
      
      Yes never thought of that.
      
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      June 4, 2019 10:18am
- Sir Cullen's Sidekick
  
  Idiots agreed to pay. Let them pay.
  
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  June 4, 2019 8:52am
  - MickMac
    
    I didn’t.
    
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    June 4, 2019 1:16pm
- srylands
  
  Governments have been setting targets and declaring things on emissions for 20 years. However actually influencing the levels of emissions has proved elusive.
  
  In 2001 the Clark government committed to a “permanent downwards path in emissions by 2012.”
  
  https://www.beehive.govt.nz/speech/launch-communities-climate-change-protection-programme
  
  Unfortunately, emissions increased relentlessly, year on year. The exact opposite of what was required. The “target” was never abandoned. However over time it was referred to less often.
  
  Reducing emissions is incredibly difficult. When they do fall it is usually driven by technology changes or big shifts in energy prices. The UK switch from coal to gas is a good example. Looking ahead if oil becomes much more expensive and electric cars become much cheaper, people will switch. But governments can only hurry that process along at the margin.
  
  The next few years will be interesting.
  
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  June 4, 2019 9:27am
Maxx

I am grateful that we continue to have no national strikes under a Government that Jacinda Ardern leads.
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June 4, 2019 8:22am
- Lance
  
  You are either “one toke over the line” or that is sarcasm 🙂
  
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  June 4, 2019 8:29am
  - RW Capitalist
    
    and we all know that sarcasm will be taxed soon.
    
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    June 4, 2019 9:06am
Than

From a Newshub article on what changes will need to be made to prevent climate change;

The problem with renewables is their reliability. If the sun isn’t shining, or if our lakes are low, or if the wind isn’t blowing, our backup is burning fossil fuels like coal in power plants.

However, these power plants could be converted to burn other less-carbon heavy products like waste-wood from forestry.

Good to see them acknowledging the inherent limitations of wind and solar power. Too many people have the illusion that these could make up a large percentage of the grid, which just isn’t possible until somebody develops a practical and economic means of large scale energy storage. (The article mentions the idea of generating hydrogen as a form of storage; that sounds feasible, but its not yet a proven technology).

Regarding the second point, what we should be converting our coal plants to is modern high-efficiency gas-fired plants. Yes they produce emissions, but far less than coal, and it’s a proven, currently available technology. It may not be zero emissions, but right now it’s the best we can do as an interim step.

But you know what would be an obstacle to switching from coal to natural gas – if some shortsighted politician banned oil and gas exploration as a piece of petty virtue-signalling. But no politician would ever be that silly, would they?
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June 4, 2019 8:24am
- Ford Prefect
  
  Burning wood as opposed to coal is a ridiculous “solution”. Much less energy is stored in wood chips than in coal, therefore more CO2 is produced for similar power supply.
  
  However, wood supply is the biggest issue, with some converted power plants in Britain having to now import the wood from the USA. How can this be environmentally friendly?
  
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  June 4, 2019 8:38am
- kowtow
  
  You talk as if man has done something to alter the climate to warming and that we should be cooling it. The long term natural state of the planet is cold , very cold . We are currently enjoying a relatively short warm interval in a series of ice ages.
  
  We have an abundant, cheap, proven, reliable source of energy called coal , we should be using it.
  
  And enjoying this short but delightful warm period.
  
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  June 4, 2019 8:42am
- hullkiwi
  
  There is another answer but our politicians and bureaucrats are looking the wrong direction. All of Northland’s power could be provided by converting Marsden Power station to burning waste instead of dumping all the provinces waste in land fill. I worked on such projects in Europe. Technology has ensured that emissions have been reduced to minimal and non toxic levels.
  
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  June 4, 2019 8:46am
  - Captain Mainwaring
    
    And the rest of the North Island’s power could be provided by doing the same to Huntly.
    
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    June 4, 2019 9:35am
  - Tarquin North
    
    They’re talking about putting in an German EVT thermal waste treatment plant out at Marsden Point at the moment. I’m not very up on the technology but apparently it can get rid of just about anything and produce virtually no pollution.
    
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    June 4, 2019 10:21am
    - sooty
      
      They going to do this at Meremere power station 20 or so yrs ago!
      
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      June 4, 2019 11:25am
    - hullkiwi
      
      TN, that’s correct. Veolia run such a plant at Rostock, Germany.
      
      Not only that, green waste can be take and composted in anaerobic facilities. The output is compost and methane gas, which can be used also to generate electricity. With no harmful greenhouse gas emissions.
      
      Such plants would be beneficial and cost effective in Northland, the East Coast and the West Coast and give levels of non recyclable waste would provide an ample and reliable electricity source.
      
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      June 4, 2019 11:29am
      - Rob2
        
        already happening.
        
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        June 4, 2019 12:59pm
- peterwn
  
  The only remaining coal fired generation is at Huntly (the two remaining 250MW each ‘Rankine’ units) and these are run only as a last resort either because of a ‘down’ in renewables output or national grid issues (eg lines out for maintenance).
  If they are shut down then 500MW extra oil or gas fired generation would need to be built but would not be run that often.
  Currently the network of hydro stations provide storage which provides a buffer for wind generation now and into the medium term future.
  The issue then becomes which is more economic – storage of electricity or storage of feedstock such as oil or gas. Hydrogen is effectively feedstock even if the hydrogen is originally produced using electricity.
  Pumped storage schemes for electricity are possible but very often studies show that a similar sized hydro station is more appropriate. Possibly the most effective pumped storage scheme would be to add pumps and pipework to an existing hydro station or replace the machines so they can also function as pumps.
  
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  June 4, 2019 8:56am
  - rangitoto
    
    Nuclear power is the way to go.
    
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    June 4, 2019 10:11am
    - Than
      
      Worldwide, I’d agree. There is still strong anti-nuclear sentiment, but fear of climate change (and acceptance that there aren’t any other options while keeping the lights on) is starting to override that.
      
      Anti-nuclear sentiment is even stronger in NZ than the rest of the world, but even we may have no choice but to come around. Even if it takes facing routine brownouts and power cuts first.
      
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      June 4, 2019 11:57am
- backster
  
  Not unless she was a silly little girl
  
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  June 4, 2019 9:45am
Im Right

Well there was a public holiday yesterday, so I suspect the latest Shane Jones dodgy deal expose from the PGF may not be until a wee bit later in the week
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June 4, 2019 8:30am
Maggie Pie

My partner was wondering what ‘The Donald’ would have tweeted if he was arriving in Auckland for a State visit 🙂

https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1135453891326238721
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June 4, 2019 8:34am
- Inandout
  
  Maggie, that Khan maggot deserves all he gets. London is a cesspit of violent crime now. The strange Kray twins had nothing on modern day stabbers.
  
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  June 4, 2019 8:44am
  - All_on_Red
    
    Under Mayor Khan, violent crime in London has skyrocketed:
    Knife crime—up 52%
    Residential burglaries—up 37%
    Robberies—up 59%
    Homicides—up 26%, at highest levels in decades
    
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    June 4, 2019 9:10am
    - kevn
      
      @All on… Certain London residents are emboldened by their mayor and his stance on.
      So we see the result.
      
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      June 4, 2019 9:13am
    - Fletch
      
      The cops over there are now even confiscating screwdrivers and pliers….
      
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      June 4, 2019 9:40am
    - stephieboy
      
      All on Red , it would be helpful in future if you could provide a citation especially from Police and MOJ statistics.
      
      Not Fox , Breitbart, Gateway Pundit , Infowars etc.
      
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      June 4, 2019 9:41am
      - MickMac
        
        Stephie you are such a plank….
        I would address the same to you too.
        
        When I was in London 2 yrs back.
        Out shopping with my brother (policeman) he saw my multitool under my jacket.
        Told me to make sure I said it was for my bike in case I needed to use it…. if stopped.
        
        That’s from a cop who knew me..
        I declined to inform him about the penknife in my pocket.
        
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        June 4, 2019 1:23pm
    - The King
      
      Ah vibrant enrichment, such diversity, nobody could of predicted this.
      
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      June 4, 2019 9:46am
    - rangitoto
      
      Didn’t he also say that terrorist attacks were normal and expected in cities like London.
      
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      June 4, 2019 10:21am
      - stephieboy
        
        The answer is no!
        
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        June 4, 2019 11:27am
      - Maggy Wassilieff
        
        He said: “Terror attacks are part and parcel of life in a big city.”
        
        https://www.standard.co.uk/news/world/new-york-explosion-sadiq-khan-says-terror-attacks-are-part-and-parcel-of-life-in-a-big-city-a3347891.html
        
        https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3801018/Terror-attacks-parcel-living-big-city-claims-London-mayor-Sadiq-Khan.html
        
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        June 4, 2019 11:46am
      - sooty
        
        Oh dear, stephie is shotdown again!
        You had better learn how to goggle!
        
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        June 4, 2019 12:18pm
      - Alien
        
        It’s bizarre, usually the labour paid trolls are a bit smarter than the current lot, maybe they are no longer paying their trolls
        
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        June 4, 2019 12:30pm
      - MickMac
        
        yes he did in so many words.
        
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        June 4, 2019 1:24pm
    - JibberJabber
      
      Bizarre times when Somali migrants are sending their kids back to Mogadishu cos` the streets are safer there.
      https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-48353960
      
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      June 4, 2019 10:22am
    - freethinker
      
      Check out population changes and connect the dots.
      
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      June 4, 2019 1:13pm
  - G152
    
    He has to look after his brothers otherwise they might be a little physical with him
    
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    June 4, 2019 9:46am
- Alien
  
  It’s strange how these politicians can say anything they want about trump, but trump says something very minor to what they say and they have a meltdown in the media
  
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  June 4, 2019 9:44am
MickMac

Yes they would if they were Thick as short planks and twice as stupid!
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June 4, 2019 8:35am
Tony Stuart

Matthew Hooton has lodged a very interesting OIA request. The highlighted text makes for especially interesting reading.

From: Matthew Hooton

June 04, 2019
Dear Prime Minister

My request concerns the background to announcements made by the Treasury and the Minister of Finance on the evening of 28 May about a decision to refer to the police a complaint that the Treasury’s IT systems had been hacked.

The complaint was linked to statements made earlier in the day by the Opposition, but was quickly found by the police to not refer to any illegal activity.

To say the least, it is highly controversial for a government department to make a police complaint about the opposition, especially one that turns out to be unfounded, with or without its minister’s knowledge, acquiescence and/or encouragement. There is enormous public interest in all the background to the decision becoming public as soon as possible in order to explain what looks like, on the face of it, a politically motivated attempt to use an unfounded police allegation to interfere with what turned out to be legitimate activity by the opposition.

I therefore request under the OIA a timeline of all contact between all Treasury and DPMC officials and staff (including seconded staff) in the PMO and the offices of the Minister and Associate Ministers of Finance between 5pm and 9pm on 28 May.

This includes face-to-face discussions, phone calls, emails whether on public or private email addresses, texts, private WhatsApp, FaceBook or other similar messages, and any other communications whatsoever.

I do not at this stage seek information on the content of these communications.

I am sure you agree that it is desirable this matter be cleared up as soon as possible in order to protect your government’s and New Zealand’s reputation and therefore ask that this request be dealt with as a matter of urgency.

Yours faithfully,

Matthew Hooton

Let’s see where this goes 😀
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June 4, 2019 8:35am
- sooty
  
  Why would he be messaging the PM explaining what he is up to?
  
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  June 4, 2019 8:51am
  - Tony Stuart
    
    He’s not “messaging the PM” sooty. He has lodged a request under the Official Information Act, to which she is required by law to reply.
    
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    June 4, 2019 8:56am
    - calendar girl
      
      Ms Ardern and her minions will do everything possible to deflect or minimise the OIA request and response(s) arising from it.
      
      It’s somewhat surprising that by now the Government has not found one of its own, internally, to pin the blame on for the fallacious statements made about the Opposition. The CoL made a huge error in publicising erroneous accusations against the Opposition, and somebody is going to have to ‘pay’ for it.
      
      That should be Robertson, of course, but no replacement Minister of Finance is conspicuous in the wings. Perhaps our “Man for all Seasons”, Winston Peters (as the ultimate architect of this shambles of a Government) should be offered that particular poisoned chalice.
      
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      June 4, 2019 9:56am
      - calendar girl
        
        My comment at 9:56am took just a few minutes short of an hour to pass moderation. I don’t blame the poor moderators, who have a thankless task, but I find it a sad indictment of our kind of society when a few irresponsible can people have this kind of impact on freedom of speech and debate.
        
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        June 4, 2019 11:00am
      - sooty
        
        I maybe slow, but I do not think that you send to the PM for an OIA. There must be someone else to ask surely, because otherwise she would file them in the round filing cabinet sitting in the corner.
        
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        June 4, 2019 12:24pm
      - Tony Stuart
        
        Check out this website sooty – https://fyi.org.nz/
        
        It tells you everything you need to know about lodging an OIA request online.
        
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        June 4, 2019 12:51pm
      - mikenmildagain
        
        You can do it anonymously through fyi, which is a popular way for public servants to find out things about their own organisations.
        
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        June 4, 2019 1:03pm
      - Greg Ettridge
        
        Standard procedure is first move request to “awaiting classification”, this can take months, then partially answer question.
        Partial answer equates to no answer or irrevelant answer.
        Open government working for the voters.
        May as well ask the nearest five year old, more than likely get a more accurate answer.
        
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        June 4, 2019 1:36pm
    - Piniwi
      
      But TS @8.56 am reply is a big word which might be easily fobbed off by responding with claiming these matters are the subject of an internal inquiry. The outcome of which will be announced of it’s finding and conclusions.
      After hiding under a rock for a week as well as changing ( seemingly very late) soiled nappies the PM has spoken out on this issue. According to her it was just political points scoring. Really?
      
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      June 4, 2019 1:09pm
- Poppa
  
  My suspicion is that the police were brought into it so that the govt could deflect comment due to the investigation. They did not count on the police dismissing it so quickly
  
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  June 4, 2019 8:53am
  - Tony Stuart
    
    My suspicion is that you are 100% on the money Poppa.
    
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    June 4, 2019 8:56am
    - Ruawai
      
      Yes this government likes to defer everything to an investigation or inquiry to take the heat off. Might be time to release the investigation into the Labour party youth camp and who punched James Shaw.
      
      17 0
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      June 4, 2019 10:02am
      - freethinker
        
        Labour sex scandal case in Auckland District court 2/9 – only 18 months after the event!!!!!!!!!!!!
        
        10 2
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        June 4, 2019 1:22pm
      - sooty
        
        Sorry, report by mistake.
        You would think that they wood want it done and dusted well before the wedding and the next election
        
        5 1
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        June 4, 2019 2:56pm
      - mikenmildagain
        
        The man who assaulted James Shaw was identified, apprehended, charged, and entered a guilty plea. He next appears in court on Monday. So it would appear that investigation was completed some time ago.
        The Labour Party’s review of the youth camp had its recommendations released last year. The police invetigation led to one man appearing in court. He is due to reappear soon, I believe.
        
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        June 4, 2019 3:23pm
      - calendar girl
        
        After the seemingly inexcusable delays so far, will Labour-sympathisers be seeking to contrive a remand until after the next General Election?
        
        5 0
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        June 4, 2019 4:00pm
  - kowtow
    
    If that was their intention then that is a deliberate and criminal waste of police time , and should be investigated and if there’s sufficient evidence then charges brought.
    
    31 0
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    June 4, 2019 9:00am
- Sir Cullen's Sidekick
  
  In the interest of National security and safety, your request is politely declined. Please vote Labour in 2020 to maintain openness and transparency.
  
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  June 4, 2019 8:55am
- Ruahine
  
  I can just picture Ardern and Robertson putting a call through to Clare Curran to get this sorted.
  More work perhaps for Melissa.
  
  21 1
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  June 4, 2019 9:00am
- Maggy Wassilieff
  
  It was clear by Wed 2pm – Oral Question time that Jacinda Ardern and Grant Robertson were distancing themselves from Robertson’s and Peters’ earlier comments that the material had been hacked.
  
  https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/hansard-debates/rhr/document/HansD_20190529_20190529/tab/video?page=8&mode=form
  (from 3 min in)
  and
  https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/hansard-debates/rhr/document/HansD_20190529_20190529/tab/video?page=8&mode=form
  
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  June 4, 2019 9:21am
  - stephieboy
    
    Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
    When all is said and done it can be seen to be a Simon Bridges cock up.
    
    Move on.
    
    1 38
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    June 4, 2019 9:35am
    - Tony Stuart
      
      But it wasn’t stephie. It was a massive cock-up by Treasury to leave embargoed Budget data open on their website, and there was a massive cover-up from the 9th floor of the Beehive.
      
      But by all means, YOU move on; just don’t tell the rest of us what to do!
      
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      June 4, 2019 10:49am
      - Alien
        
        Why bother he doesn’t care, and likely can’t comprehend what you just said
        
        19 1
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        June 4, 2019 11:44am
    - In Vino Veritas
      
      There are those who would say stephie, that you haven’t seen one in a very long time, so would be unable to recognise one and therefore should find it impossible to comment…..
      
      14 0
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      June 4, 2019 11:31am
    - Maggy Wassilieff
      
      Perhaps you need to be better informed about how the NZ Public Service runs, stephieboy.
      
      If the Head of the SSC is investigating this mess, then perhaps it is something that needs his attention…and not a matter to move on from.
      Hughes later confirmed he was considering claims by National that Treasury and the Government were “sitting on a lie” for 36 hours before coming clean
      https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/113210553/pm-holding-judgement-on-treasury-boss-over-bungled-budget-for-investigation
      
      19 0
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      June 4, 2019 12:06pm
    - calendar girl
      
      Very witty, stephieboy.
      
      5 0
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      June 4, 2019 4:03pm
- Kevin Herlihy
  
  An update regarding Mathews letter is that the State Services Commission has announced they have commenced an inquiry into the alleged hacking.
  
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  June 4, 2019 4:47pm
jcuk

Another climber missing ,likely injured, lying in the mountains while searchers look for him
It is about time, really long overdue, that such people were required to carry personal locator beasons to reduce the time and cost involved in rescuing them.
I always had one with me when I went solo sailing and gave my son one for his birthday as an ‘on-land’ type.
27 1
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June 4, 2019 8:53am
- RW Capitalist
  
  Q:
  Who, in their right mind, goes tramping, when the weather forecast is so bad.
  
  22 0
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  June 4, 2019 9:16am
  - Odakyu-sen
    
    Mabe a tourist under time pressure to “tick the boxes” and then rush back to the northern hemisphere to get back to work.
    
    7 0
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    June 4, 2019 10:34am
    - Captain Mainwaring
      
      Not so, been here two years and lives in Wgtn.
      
      4 0
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      June 4, 2019 1:30pm
      - sooty
        
        Be there till it thaws now. Pulling out the people!
        
        3 0
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        June 4, 2019 2:58pm
  - Alien
    
    Have you never watched the news, seems to happen a lot with school trips going on with their camping with warnings of Storms coming in……
    
    3 1
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    June 4, 2019 11:43am
- mikenmildagain
  
  A sensible call to extend the nanny state’s reach.
  
  1 13
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  June 4, 2019 10:25am
Notsofast

Here is an extended interview with the mother of Luke Mitchell who was wrongly locked up for murdering his girl friend.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6ysPeri0O4&feature=youtu.be

The Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission just rejected the case. Andrew Little is using this as something of a template for New Zealand, and I would not trust him or the process as far as I could kick him. Within the interview is complete proof of the injustice. There are many other articles to research.
Our government will not attend to these issues, Jacinda Ardern struts the world stage but could not care less about local issues concerning justice, despite being opposition spokesperson for many years.
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June 4, 2019 8:55am
MCos

Minus two in Twizel last night.
Luxury.
When we lived there we had to check the fridge door was closed at night otherwise the milk would freeze.
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June 4, 2019 9:07am
Happychappy

Jacinda out to con the voter again with her statements that the happening over the budget leak were only political point scoring.

https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2019/06/early-budget-details-release-only-point-scoring-prime-minister-jacinda-ardern.html
So telling lies to the public and trying to blame National for a hack is point scoring.
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June 4, 2019 9:08am
Maggie Pie

“Brian Tamaki’s PR stunt was an epic fail for both him and his new-found LGBT allies” – writes the author of Gay-Express magazine.
The fallout from this has led to the resignation of ‘Rainbow Pride Auckland’ guardian, James Laverty.

https://gayexpress.co.nz/2019/06/james-laverty-resigns-from-rainbow-pride-auckland/

My partner was saying it sounds like this division may be causing the gay community to start eating their own.
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June 4, 2019 9:15am
- kowtow
  
  “LGBT” how uninclusive , we should follow the example of the oh so “progressive” Canadians……
  
  “The national inquiry’s findings support characterizing these acts, including violence against Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA people, as genocide.”
  
  2SLGBTQQIA is an abbreviation for different sexualities and gender identities. ‘
  
  Whatever about the genocide, 2SLGBTQQIA is a heck of a long abbreviation .
  
  https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/06/03/canada-complicit-genocide-thousands-indigenous-women-national/
  
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  June 4, 2019 9:35am
  - Maggy Wassilieff
    
    two-spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered, queer, questioning, intersex, asexual.
    
    11 1
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    June 4, 2019 9:48am
    - Gravelroad
      
      Maggy – what does two -spirit mean? (Genuine enquiry)..
      Also, I was given to understand that, in the olden day’s at least, the term “queer” was considered insulting and derogatory by homosexuals.
      Not any more?
      
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      June 4, 2019 10:33am
      - Maggy Wassilieff
        
        It’s a term American Indians are adopting for folks who played a specific role in their culture….
        
        perhaps the nearest is something like fa’afafine (Polynesia) or hijra (India)…
        
        9 0
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        June 4, 2019 11:05am
      - MickMac
        
        Gravel
        Queer is part of many of their everyday vernacular.
        
        3 0
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        June 4, 2019 1:28pm
  - Odakyu-sen
    
    Is it a good idea to pander to people with mental illnesses? We may be causing more harm in the long run.
    
    14 2
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    June 4, 2019 10:35am
    - MickMac
      
      Very good point Odakyu.
      
      esp with such abysmal staffing in the field.
      
      I do suspect drug taking in the background for many of them.
      It’s been known for a long time.
      
      Then there’s the whole snowflake ideology rubbish encouraged in schools and unis.
      
      7 1
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      June 4, 2019 1:29pm
- G152
  
  Mind scrubbing required after that comment.
  Eating their own ……..
  
  8 1
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  June 4, 2019 9:49am
- iMP
  
  The Hero Parade collapsed because gay men and lesbians fought like fox terriers on the organising committee.
  
  15 2
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  June 4, 2019 11:12am
  - mikenmildagain
    
    Sounds a bit like a religious political party.
    
    1 7
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    June 4, 2019 12:49pm
herb1

Anyone remember Aaron Gilmore?
He was sacked from the National Government for being a pratt.

This current Government neither sacks nor even criticises Ministers who deliberately and erroneously claim the opposition has committed a crime , which the Police very quickly deny.

They fail to sack a Govt employee “as above”.

they fail to sack a Minister who threatens decapitate the Govt. employee who released the Treasury docs, and incidentally the same Minister who attempted to interfere in a prosecution of his political donor and relative.

they failed to sack or even critics their Mp who is the speaker , for sacking and accusing publicly , a man who was allegedly investigated and cleared. for “hugging a woman.

Yet so many people think Ardern is wonderful. Whats wrong with the left?
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June 4, 2019 9:17am
- Im Right
  
  @Herb1…..it’s irrespective how the economy or Labour are doing in Govt, just pop over to The Standard or Daily Blog and you will see that even if NZ was a few days from bankrupsy the core leftists would STILL be happy National was not in Govt.
  
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  June 4, 2019 9:44am
- Sacha
  
  If they sacked everyone who committed an offence, they would have no-one left –
  
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  June 4, 2019 9:52am
  - sooty
    
    You are right there!
    That puddle certainly hinders Labour.
    
    5 1
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    June 4, 2019 11:35am
- JibberJabber
  
  The Left, it`s as if the truth is an anathema to them.
  I remember even as a kid thinking why are all the Communist countries called Democratic Republics? When it was blatantly obvious they were`nt.
  
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  June 4, 2019 10:27am
- Hacked-Off
  
  Hey Herb1, if they have to sack these people, and they are the most competent by any measure of Cindy’s crowd, then who will she have to replace them. Labour already has an acknowledged dearth of talent and so no room to do so least her Government totally collapse. As for Jones, and this goes for Peters, she cannot ‘Captain’s Call’ this one if she wants her Government to survive. Mr 7% will rather walk and subject NZ to another election, for his own self-interest, than discipline one of his own, let alone himself. Lets hope the Guy who was outed by the Duck raises a personal grievance or better takes it to court to create embarrassment and force the issue of a firing.
  
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  June 4, 2019 10:43am
- freethinker
  
  Everything – in a word, I have many more words but this is a summary.
  
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  June 4, 2019 1:27pm
- Prince
  
  I recall the media camping out outside Gilmore’s home, trapping him at airports, ‘interviewing’ his family etc.
  Same with Todd Barclay.
  
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  June 5, 2019 5:40pm
trout

The Blubberguts Riaz v Joshua has got to have been a fix. And the pundits fall for it. Danny Hearn and his associates get to clean up at 30 to 1 with a guaranteed rematch. Joshua will pound Riaz into oblivion for another multimillion payday. And Riaz will retire in comfort.
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June 4, 2019 9:36am
Happychappy

Mike Hosking can see through the rhetoric of Grant’s Robertsons beliefs.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12237028
They will be looking for more money from other taxes to cover their optimism.
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June 4, 2019 9:37am
Notsofast

In New Zealand dollar terms Brent crude is trading 14% below its price at the end of April.
This is worth watching as the new Z quasi monopoly bites hard. There is only one business to be in, while the government price enquiry proves to be a hoax like so many things the coalition trumpets.
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June 4, 2019 9:50am
iMP

WHALEOIL: the book.
Should really be called “Toxic 1 & Toxic 2.”
I wonder how much Matt Blomfld payed Margie Thomson to pen this hagiography?

http://www.pottonandburton.co.nz/store/whale-oil
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June 4, 2019 10:48am
iMP

One’s eyes would have to water at the claim of attempted murder in the book blurb, which is surely defamatory. But with Slater in such ill-health is he going to do anything? A soft target, and a rather sinister accusation.

From the book publishers promo on their website…”In May 2012 Auckland businessman Matt Blomfield found himself the target of a vicious online attack, the work of Whale Oil blogger Cameron Slater. The attack came out of the blue, destroying Blomfield’s reputation and career, stealing his identity, turning him into a social outcast. Two years after the online attack began an armed gunman came to Blomfield’s house and tried to kill him. He only survived because the intruder’s shotgun misfired.

“But Matt Blomfield decided to fight back. He spent seven years and many hundreds of thousands of dollars taking a defamation case against Slater…

WtFrig????

(The forwrad is by Nicky Hager)
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June 4, 2019 10:52am
- sooty
  
  It’s in the wrong part of the book,
  It should be at the arse end.
  
  4 2
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  June 4, 2019 12:32pm
- MCos
  
  So . . . . . . . what’s your problem with Blomfield’s side of the story?
  
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  June 4, 2019 7:40pm
Yvette

Worries over ‘power imbalance’ in Chistchurch attacks inquiry [Royal Commission] –
… Anjum Rahman from the Islamic Women’s Council is unhappy that while government agencies have the resources to pay for lawyers to help with evidence, Muslim community groups do not.
“One of the concerns we have is basically a power imbalance between a community organisation, with very little funding and volunteers, and government agencies that are well funded and have legal representation.”
The council is meeting the commission today to discuss this and how much of the hearings are being held in secret.
“If we don’t get to hear what’s being said we can’t present evidence in light of that, or say that was not correct in cases where it might not be correct.
… In mid-May, the commission released a five-page document ordering evidence and submissions made by government agencies to be kept secret.

A collateral situation surely applies to “right” labeled persons or groups who may be considered by the Commission as having involvement but may not be told, afforded right of reply, let alone enabled by resources as requested by the Islamic Women’s Council.
Surely those people the Commission chooses to involve will be suitably enabled where necessary, and surely anyone, who thinks their experience may be relevant, is free to submit whatever information the Commission may accept.

Barrister Jonathan Eaton QC said the public had no option but to trust the inquiry.
Does that not apply to the Islamic Women’s Council or any other Islamic group as it does to anyone else?
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June 4, 2019 10:53am
srylands

Back after a few days in Tasmania.

I was surprised at the recognition that the PM had there. People gushed about her. However with a little polite prompting, it is clear that few of these people knew anything about New Zealand or the policies of the Government. One person who had recently been to NZ went on about how expensive the petrol was for her rental car.

I am left with the impression that most people in Australia would be happy to have as PM a (relatively) young, attractive woman who has empathy and who is kind. Provided that she came with the policies of the current Australian Government that provides Australia with its wealth.

Just an aside. When I first began visiting Tasmania 20 years ago, it was the poor cousin of Australia. It seemed about on par with New Zealand in terms of the standard of living of the people who live there. Now it seems much richer than New Zealand. Tourism is booming. Lots more flash cars around. House prices in Hobart rising fast. In other words, it did not feel like a backwater at all.
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June 4, 2019 11:00am
- mikenmildagain
  
  We has a prime minister a while back who said we would ‘catch up with Australia’.
  
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  June 4, 2019 12:51pm
  - Tall Man
    
    And we will, as soon as normal service resumes and we get the “tax and spend” crew out of the place.
    
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    June 4, 2019 7:48pm
Maggie Pie

London is now unrecognizable 🙁
The video THEY did not want you to see.
https://twitter.com/KTHopkins/status/1135223272361136128
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June 4, 2019 11:05am
- stephieboy
  
  Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
  Maggie Pie, like Lauren Southern with Katie Hopkins you really need to engage your critical thinking skills
  
  Muslim no go areas , Sharia Courts above the UK legal system etc
  
  Really ?!
  
  2 38
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  June 4, 2019 11:25am
  - Maggie Pie
    
    You really just don’t get it – do you stephie?!
    Or maybe you just don’t want to 🙁
    
    21 2
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    June 4, 2019 12:02pm
    - stephieboy
      
      Maggie Pie,
      
      Get what precisely?
      
      2 27
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      June 4, 2019 12:16pm
      - Maggie Pie
        
        Look, I’m sure your opinion matters stephie – just not to me.
        
        18 1
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        June 4, 2019 1:22pm
  - MickMac
    
    Stephie
    It is true, you saying it isn’t doesn’t make it so.
    It is all over the web mate, you can only hide from it, but other people can go see it.
    
    Stop being a wally.
    
    15 2
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    June 4, 2019 1:12pm
  - mandk
    
    I suggest you try accompanying a young woman in a skirt along Brick Lane, or drinking a glass of wine in Mile End Park, and see what happens.
    
    17 1
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    June 4, 2019 1:17pm
- Alien
  
  I like Katie, but she is wrong, it’s not something they didn’t want seen, it made lots of news
  
  https://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=12215117
  
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  June 4, 2019 11:38am
Tony Stuart

Two Kiwis will tee it up at the US Open at Pebble Beach next week. Amateur Daniel Hillier came through the same qualifying tournament at Walton Heath in the UK overnight, and Ryan Fox has just qualified in Ohio.

They call today Golf’s Longest Day; 36 holes of qualifying, with only a few likely to progress. Fox finished in a tie for 7th in a field of 120, most of whom were PGA Tour players. Hillier finished T8th in a field of 109 players, also going for 14 qualifying places.

Well done lads!
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June 4, 2019 11:12am
- alex Masterley
  
  I watched Daniel Hillier at the recent Bob Charles tour event at the Akarana Golf Club.
  He played really well and made Josh Geary who won work for his victory.
  
  5 1
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  June 4, 2019 11:32am
Maggy Wassilieff

Oh shit!
https://www.stuff.co.nz/science/113147149/yersinia-infection-still-a-mystery-after-2014-outbreak-in-nz
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June 4, 2019 11:20am
peterwn

Well, Boxer (the hard working draft horse), the sheep and other animals thought that Napoleon and Squealer were wonderful (‘four legs good and two legs bad’).
Jacinda has both the Napoleon and Squealer riles – Discuss.
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June 4, 2019 11:31am
Alien

A sad article

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/113211247/disabled-workers-pay-for-wage-pressures

“Sixteen disabled Tokoroa workers have lost their jobs so 39 others can keep them.

The cull comes as part of a major shakeup of the South Waikato Achievement Trust which runs the South Waikato Achievement Centre where 55 disabled works are paid to package goods for companies throughout New Zealand, sort electronic waste, and process kerbside recycling.

…

The Government’s Wellbeing Budget released this month revealed that Ministry of Health disability support service funding will be cut by around $7 million this year.“

Disability services should be getting increases, not cuts, disgusting.
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June 4, 2019 12:15pm
- The Feed
  
  Aren’t disabled workers entitled to some Wellbeing?
  
  I’m sure our glorious leader will send hugs. That will make it all better. xx
  
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  June 4, 2019 12:48pm
  - Happychappy
    
    Your not allow to hug as the speaker deems that as rape.
    
    8 0
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    June 4, 2019 1:50pm
- Maggy Wassilieff
  
  They are the expendables:
  https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/saturday/audio/2018697760/martin-wylie-should-some-make-less-than-the-minimum-wage
  
  9 0
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  June 4, 2019 1:20pm
  - Alien
    
    There is a scheme to help unemployed back into work where the govt will pay part their wages I believe. Do not understand why the government can’t do this here.
    
    Money for foreign aid increased, but no money for where it matters. I suppose it will be ok, the mp’s will get a pay rise soon.
    
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    June 4, 2019 2:30pm
- Tall Man
  
  Got to find that money for those that want to get a new dick…. or loose an old one
  
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  June 4, 2019 7:44pm
Gravelroad

I see they are still bickering in Wellington over the budget leak scandal with the GCSB saying there was no hack and that they told Treasury this at the time.
Why don’t they just ask Winston?
Didn’t Winston proclaim that he knew all about it? That he knew who, why and how the hacking had been done?
Criminal behaviour etc etc.
Seems the Deputy Prime Minister can say what he likes with no consequences.
What a joke.
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June 4, 2019 12:54pm
- mikenmildagain
  
  Politicans very rarely face meaningful consequences for what they say. In theory, there might be political consequences. But it is rather difficult to imagine that someone who voted for Winston Peters last time would change that vote next time just because Peters accused someone of a crime.
  But perhaps Chuck Bird could provide a perspective on voting for NZ First and then changing his mind.
  
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  June 4, 2019 1:08pm
  - Tall Man
    
    Another day, another snide remark from mikey.
    
    Never let a chance go by eh mikey…..
    
    5 0
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    June 4, 2019 7:41pm
- mandk
  
  Ah yes, the old oral defecator seems to be able to spout any amount of lies and nonsense without anyone in the lick-spittle MSM challenging him about it.
  
  I’m still waiting for confirmation that the Chinese bought Huka Lodge five years ago.
  
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  June 4, 2019 1:10pm
Happychappy

Winston seems to want to fuck up our relationship with China.
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2019/06/winston-peters-condemns-china-over-tiananmen-square-massacre-on-30th-anniversary.html
Do we need to trade with China or don’t we as it seems Winston doesn’t care.
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June 4, 2019 2:44pm
- mikenmildagain
  
  How far do you think we should go in sucking up to the Chinese dictatorship?
  Do you have a list of other despots and murderers whose feelings we should respect?
  
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  June 4, 2019 3:15pm
Ross12

I was just shown an image going around on Facebook.
It is a female teacher in the strike last week, in Christchurch. It says that she earns 39c/hr too little to be able to apply for residency. She is a high school teacher from South Africa who teaches Maths.

OK for drug dealers but valuable teachers need not apply.

What is wrong with these idiots in Wellington ?
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June 4, 2019 3:32pm
- Alien
  
  Article
  
  https://www.times.co.nz/news/teachers-residency-rejected-due-to-low-pay/
  
  Two local beginner teachers have had their residency application rejected because their starting salary is too low.
  
  Chané and Chris van Tonder, both qualified teachers, arrived from South Africa in March and within three days had started working in two Auckland primary schools.
  
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  June 4, 2019 5:07pm
plc

I’m surprised you all missed it.

Our Wellbeing Budget has 25% more aspirations and has led to 10% annual growth in ambitions
14 1
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June 4, 2019 3:41pm
Fletch

Oh good grief…. the govt is planning on taxing Facebook for operating in NZ.

https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2019/06/government-releases-digital-service-tax-options.html

Next thing, we the users will be having to pay to use Facebook. Will the govt stop at nothing in their grabs for cash?
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June 4, 2019 4:25pm
- Maggy Wassilieff
  
  Not really going to affect an old fart like me…but will hit young folk and working families when Uber, Facebook , airbnb, etc pass on the tax.
  Thanks, CoL.
  
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  June 4, 2019 5:45pm
  - Alien
    
    No tax will be passed on, And it will never charge users to use it
    
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    June 4, 2019 5:57pm
  - nasska
    
    I fail to see how a users tax on Facebook could be collected. From what I see revenue is generated from advertisers but the service is free to the end user.
    
    Can anyone bring me up to speed on this?
    
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    June 4, 2019 6:03pm
    - Swifty
      
      You’re right – Facebook is free to use because Facebook users are not the customer – the advertisers are, in addition to the purchasers of Facebook data.
      
      In answer to your question, though, the only thing I’ve seen has been a proposal that Facebook et al would pay a tax on total revenue (rather than profits) and of a few percent. That way our government wouldn’t have to concern itself about pesky things like costs of sale etc.
      
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      June 4, 2019 6:37pm
      - nasska
        
        To say that they’re set to break new ground is an understatement. To set any tax on turnover rather than income less expenses is probably a world first.
        
        The only way they could get at Facebook would be to disallow their NZ advertisers claiming fees as expenses & the Flying Spaghetti Monster, alone in His wisdom, knows where that would take us.
        
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        June 4, 2019 8:13pm
      - KevO'Brien
        
        That’s been done for film royalties and may be the most practical way forward with these international wrigglers. They profit by stealth and aim to pay no taxes to anyone. Don’t expect their co-operation.
        At least 10% on turnover.
        
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        June 4, 2019 10:40pm
- Alien
  
  Good to see thngovt has continued the work national was doing on this.
  
  Out of interest why do you think a company shouldn’t pay tax off the income they are making in nz. If this follows the work national we’re doing this means Facebook will now have to pay tax on their income they make from nz advertising revenue. The nz govt alone spends a few million advertising on social media platforms. Next I hope they go after sanitarium for tax.
  
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  June 4, 2019 5:57pm
  - Swifty
    
    ‘Out of interest why do you think a company shouldn’t pay tax off the income they are making in nz….’
    
    Do you believe that every NZ company which exports to overseas territories should be taxed by the governments of those territories as well as by the NZ government?
    
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    June 4, 2019 6:33pm
    - Alien
      
      But that is different isn’t it. When a company works with Facebook to arrange for their advertising they aren’t not working with Facebook USA, or such, they are working with Facebook NZ through their office in NZ. Now if there was no office in nz and that purchasing of those adverts were done overseas it would be different.
      
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      June 4, 2019 6:43pm
      - WaveyDavey
        
        Unlikely as there isn’t a Facebook NZ. Just like when you buy an app from Apple you’re dealing with a ROI-based entity
        
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        June 4, 2019 8:11pm
      - Alien
        
        Actually there is a Facebook office in nz
        
        https://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/social-networking/90556933/the-disparate-global-locations-that-make-up-new-zealand-facebook–and-your-news-feed
        
        The company has operated an Auckland office since 2009, reportedly out of a Britomart office – although its registered offices are those of Kensington Swan lawyers in Wellington.
        
        …
        Conversations with former employees who wished not be named indicated the office was small and focused primarily on advertising. This is backed up by an analysis of public job listings for the office since 2013. Over those years, it appears less than five NZ-specific roles were publicly offered, although some job listings may have been filled internally or too fast to be cached by web archival tools.
        
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        June 4, 2019 8:58pm
    - nasska
      
      Tax, no as that is based on assessed income.
      
      But to play devil’s advocate; any sovereign nation can impose duties or levies on any goods or services that cross its borders. If the CoL are running out of money to throw at minority groups, sex freaks & other assorted losers this would be the way to go.
      
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      June 4, 2019 6:55pm
  - WaveyDavey
    
    You mean the same way that say Air New Zealand pays tax in the UK on ticket sales made online to travellers in the UK?
    
    Oh that’s right, it doesn’t.
    
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    June 4, 2019 7:49pm
  - WaveyDavey
    
    Have a read of this
    
    https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/113024087/facebook-tax–government-calls-for-submissions
    
    “…fears a broader tax based on marketing intangibles could also result in sales of New Zealand milk attracting extra taxes in foreign markets. ”
    
    And for what? $30m in revenue, that’s some gamble.
    
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    June 4, 2019 8:20pm
trout

The ‘sock’ syndrome strikes again:

An Upper Hutt man has pleaded not guilty of murdering his five-month-old stepson but agrees he killed the baby by shaking him.

William Martin Wakefield, 32, told police that he was “gutted” baby Lincoln was not his son and he shook him to hurt him.
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June 4, 2019 4:54pm
Tony Stuart

The PM has admitted today that Labour got rid of Charter Schools because the teacher unions didn’t like them.

https://twitter.com/i/status/1135738825844506626

If there was any doubt as to who is pulling the strings in the Education portfolio, it has been removed.
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June 4, 2019 5:08pm
- Ross12
  
  So the Govt. thinks they have paid the Teacher’s Union back enough for their support with that move. No need to give a significant pay rise, besides Shane’s got all the money / sarc
  
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  June 4, 2019 5:24pm
- Alien
  
  One of the problems we have in nz is an education. System that fails many people. That was something that charter schools addressed. This govt has thrown those kids on the fire, let them in a one size fits all education system that fails many kids. It’s obvious they don’t care about these kids.
  
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  June 4, 2019 5:59pm
  - barnacle bill
    
    Then why are Charter Schools failing in the USA ?
    
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    June 4, 2019 7:53pm
    - nasska
      
      Maybe the USA has Luddite teachers’ unions too.
      
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      June 4, 2019 8:19pm
      - Alien
        
        When teachers can’t be fired and are paid to sit in a class all day where they just go to collect a pay check, the. You know the USA education system has been screwed by the unions.
        
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        June 4, 2019 9:08pm
    - Alien
      
      I think you might find we live in New Zealand, not the USA, and the charter schools in New Zealand, where we live were achieving great result in ncea. And if you listen. To the parent their children who were failing in state schools were thriving in charter schools.
      
      Can someone please confirm for me that I am right, our country is actually called New Zealand and not USA
      
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      June 4, 2019 8:29pm
Maggy Wassilieff

Oh dear,
looks like the Head of the SSC has failed to take stephieboy’s advice to “move on”.

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/391209/investigation-launched-into-treasury-secretary-gabriel-makhlouf
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June 4, 2019 5:29pm
- Nostradamus
  
  Maggy:
  
  The “Candyman principle” doesn’t apply when it comes to you and Stephieboy. It doesn’t matter whether or not you say his name, or how many times you say it, he’ll still respond to all of your comments!
  
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  June 4, 2019 7:14pm
  - Maggy Wassilieff
    
    Yep,
    Thank Goodness every post on KB is timed and dated.
    
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    June 4, 2019 8:13pm
Johnboy

Jeeze! 🙂 …Only 179 at this time of a night! 🙂
KB Moderation is a really great idea! 🙂
6 1
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June 4, 2019 6:37pm
- Johnboy
  
  This might help. 🙂
  Four guys have been going to the same fishing spot for many years. Two days before the group is to leave, Frank’s wife puts her foot down and tells him he isn’t going. Frank’s friends are very upset that he can’t go, but what can they do.
  Two days later the three get to the camp site only to find Frank sitting there with a tent set up, firewood gathered, and dinner cooking on the fire.
  
  “Damn man, how long you been here, and how did you talk your wife into letting you go?”
  “Well, I’ve been here since yesterday. Yesterday evening, I was sitting in my chair and my wife came up behind me and put her hands over my eyes and said, ‘Guess who?’” I pulled her hands off, and she was wearing a brand new see through nightie. She took my hand and pulled me to our bedroom. The room had candles and rose petals all over. On the bed she had handcuffs, and ropes! She told me to tie and cuff her to the bed, and I did.
  And then she said, “Do whatever you want.”
  So, here I am.
  
  Thanks to Southern Norm!
  
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  June 4, 2019 7:24pm
  - Nostradamus
    
    Johnboy:
    
    We’ll need a lot more jokes from you if we’re to reach the 400+ target that we achieved daily in the glorious days!
    
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    June 4, 2019 8:45pm
Johnboy

https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/113227446/450000-people-have-been-paying-wrong-rate-of-tax-on-kiwisaver-and-other-investments-ird-discovers
Thank God/Allah/Buddah/Goodness! 🙂
The fiscal hole will soon be filled in chaps! 🙂
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June 4, 2019 6:40pm
- Maggy Wassilieff
  
  Gosh, not much empathy being shown in the Comments….
  
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  June 4, 2019 8:19pm
- WaveyDavey
  
  An acquaintance of mine who is a rather successful accountancy practitioner is convinced that Kiwisaver will be used to fund superannuation in the future. ie instead of that lump sum you were hoping for you’ll get it drip fed at (is it) $400pw until it’s all gone and then you’ll get Super.
  
  She says to watch out for the first step of it – being made compulsory. She’s also seething as she has nearly $200k in it and can’t leave the programme.
  
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  June 4, 2019 8:42pm
- KevO'Brien
  
  Catastrophic system failure. As the fault seem to be IRD’s they should forgo any resulting past underpayments and get the mess sorted out.
  
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  June 4, 2019 10:36pm
Ross12

It looks like Makhlouf is going to be the fall guy. Investigation on him has started.
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June 4, 2019 10:05pm
Prince

I recall the media camping out outside Gilmore’s home, trapping him at airports, ‘interviewing’ his family etc.
Same with Todd Barclay.
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June 5, 2019 5:41pm

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