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December 10, 2019 8:00am by Kokila Patel

General Debate 10 December 2019

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General Debate

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tedbear

“There’ll be no strikes on my watch”
Tui anyone?

Then again to be fair, she’d have to be actually in the country to be on watch. So it’s possible she was away on a photoshoot when the latest strike was being organised.
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December 10, 2019 8:03am
KevO'Brien

Oh dear, never mind, NASA turns against AGW:
https://www.naturalnews.com/2019-08-30-nasa-admits-climate-change-not-caused-by-suvs-fossil-fuels.html
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December 10, 2019 8:03am
- Albert_Ross
  
  Where’s the link to NASA saying this? There’s nothing about it on their website.
  
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  December 10, 2019 8:42am
  - JackRabbit
    
    https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/features/Milankovitch/milankovitch.php
    
    https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/features/Milankovitch/milankovitch_2.php
    
    https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/features/Milankovitch/milankovitch_3.php
    
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    December 10, 2019 8:58am
    - Albert_Ross
      
      Nope. That’s a link to articles saying that Milankovitch established that orbital variations affect the Earth’s climate. It’s not a link to NASA saying that AGW isn’t happening. If you search for “climate change” on the NASA website you will not find any such thing. If you try “Does Milankovitch disprove global warming” you will find a number of explanations as to why he doesn’t.
      
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      December 10, 2019 9:25am
  - JackRabbit
    
    It wasn’t hard to find. Just followed the links in the article.
    
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    December 10, 2019 9:01am
- Odakyu-sen
  
  AGW is far too useful a political tool to be allowed to go to waste.
  
  //
  
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  December 10, 2019 8:42am
- JackRabbit
  
  Good link, backing up what has been obvious all along, even to many real scientists from the IPCC.
  
  Those who understand science know that the sun is the main influence on weather and temperature. There is no shortage of science and examples, that point to the numerous fallacies with populist AGW theories.
  
  The rest, having a lack of understanding, will believe whatever they are told by whoever have vested interests and who benefit financially from the Climate Change fraud.
  
  Those who maintain that man made climate change is real, only serve to identify themselves as simpletons, and lacking understanding in basic science taught in schools before state education became indoctrination.
  
  Or in past times, they were the ones that fully believed that the king wore fine clothes, and were unable to acknowledge that the king was in fact naked, and that the entire kingdom had been conned. Or that the wooden horse was truly an act of love from their mortal enemies, the greeks.
  
  It is of grave concern that we have a PM that in one scenario, is a simpleton, and in the other scenario a complicit and willing actor in the man made climate change swindle. Either way, she is an enemy of the people.
  
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  December 10, 2019 8:57am
  - UrbanNeocolonialist
    
    It’s a reasonably compelling thesis that increasing CO2 will produce some warming – there is pretty sound and replicatable and non-controversial science backing that. What is really contentious is whether there are large water feedbacks that magnify the CO2 warming a lot (ie a little CO2 results in more water in air that has a much greater effect). Analysis of actual climate data suggests water feedbacks are small so that CO2 doubling produces 1-2°C temp increase. Climate models tortured to produce politically useful doomcasts suggest they are large up to 3-4°C. Personally I trust data infinitely more than ludicrously crude climate models.
    
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    December 10, 2019 10:35am
    - KevO'Brien
      
      There is substantial scientific argument about Arrhenius observations in 1896 about CO2 and heating. He was physical chemist.
      https://www.rsc.org/images/Arrhenius1896_tcm18-173546.pdf
      
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      December 10, 2019 12:04pm
    - JackRabbit
      
      The moment we find points in history with high temperature and low Co2 and high Co2 and low temperature, the models fall apart.
      
      If you watch the Great Global Warming Swindle, you find actual scientists (and from the IPCC) who are qualified experts in their field that show that Co2 concentrations follow warming, not the other way around.
      
      Water Vapour and Nitrogen are much larger “greenhouse gases” than Co2. Nitrogen absorbs 300 time as much heat as Co2. Co2 gets a bad rap because it is assumed that Co2 lasts for years.
      
      *** Spoiler Alert ***. Co2 does not hang around because it is plant food. And being heavier than air, it falls to the ground and the sea, where plants and plankton respectively, turn it into O2. The concept that Co2 gets trapped in the upper atmosphere causing heating is a daft one.
      
      If Greta really could see Co2 she would see it on the ground being eaten up by plants, and being absorbed into the sea, being eaten up by plankton.
      
      The foundation of science is comprised of principles and concepts that can easily be absorbed.
      
      And in any case, Co2 levels through history as shown in ice samples, have always lagged behind temperature.
      
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      December 10, 2019 4:45pm
- Stephieboy2
  
  Natural News ??
  
  LOL!
  
  https://www.thedailybeast.com/how-natural-news-became-a-conspiracy-hub-rivaling-infowars
  
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  December 10, 2019 10:07am
  - KevO'Brien
    
    Do you stand by the gate post shooting messengers?
    Would Galileo ever got through your watch?
    
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    December 10, 2019 12:05pm
    - Tall Man
      
      Ignore, downtick and move on.
      
      She’s really not worth the effort.
      
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      December 10, 2019 8:02pm
Jack5

What is going on in GST on purchases of consumer goods on overseas sites such as Amazon and Aliexpress?

In the Kiwiblog General Debate thread a few days ago I posted about a Customs site giving a minimum purchase amount for imported goods on which GST would be levied. It seemed from this that most small online purchasers would be exempt, but another poster described now being charged GST by Aliexpress on a small purchase.

In a small purchase on Amazon yesterday, wham, GST was added at 15 per cent. It was applied to the delivery cost as well as to the purchase price. (More on this aspect later). So I go back to the Customs web site (Customs is reponsible for GST on imported goods) and first re-find this:

If you buy goods online and have them shipped or flown here, you will not have to pay GST, duty or fees to New Zealand Customs if the goods are valued $1000 or less, unless the goods are part of a large consignment. This does not apply to alcohol or tobacco products.

But I scratch around and find another Customs web site page which says this (both pages are linked to below):

GST of 15 per cent applies to all imported items, including anything you bought online or using a mail order catalogue. Overseas suppliers may charge GST on items sent to New Zealand consumers that are valued at NZ$1000 or less.

We [Customs] calculate GST based on the total of:
how much you paid for the item; plus
any international transport and insurance costs; plus
any import duty.

On my latest Amazon purchase, the equivalent model on sale in NZ is older, but GST made the Amazon model disproportionately (40 per cent) dearer. If GST had not been applied to delivery costs, it would have saved me only about 2.8 per cent on the total purchase cost, but, in principle, tax on transport is unfair. Our NZ retailers, and other businesses registered for GST, offset transport costs. They pay to IRD the GST received less the GST they pay , so in effect they don’t pay GST on their transport costs. To be fair therefore, New Zealand online consumers’ overseas costs of freight/delivery should be exempt from GST.

Hitting NZ consumers for small overseas online purchases is another tax grab. It’s worth remembering as politicians traverse our small country doling out ten million dollars for this, 20 million dollars for that, and a hundred million for something else. First, they’re taking this money off us. Bastards!

The Customs site links:

1.
https://www.customs.govt.nz/personal/online-shopping/

2.
https://www.customs.govt.nz/personal/duty-and-gst/duty-and-allowances/
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December 10, 2019 8:04am
- Tall Man
  
  I made a number of purchases over the weekend from AliExpress and all had gst added but free postage.
  
  The equivalent product in NZ was $25 plus freight and I paid just over $12 but with the number of items I still saved well in excess of $50.
  
  I live rural and if I want something fairly fast most of the local retailers/wholesalers charge approx $10 freight on each item so while the product may be occasionally iffy from Ali it saves me a trip and a ton of freight.
  
  I learned this lesson a couple of years ago when a John Deere part ended up with $50 freight because it came from Melbourne to a regional office then on to my local.
  
  Fuck em, I buy as much internationally as I can now on principle.
  
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  December 10, 2019 8:47am
  - Jack5
    
    I’ve had a good deal on Aliexpress, too.
    
    A replacement was quickly supplied for a screen cover that arrived cracked, and a quick refund was made on a non-fitting car part.
    
    NZ is extremely isolated, with geography making for expensive distribution (long, thin, mountainous islands with small population spread out).
    
    International online retailing is particularly useful for us.
    
    Within New Zealand, there’s no GST if you buy something (likely used) from a person not registered for GST. At least this seems the rule on TradeMe.
    
    What happens when you buy a used good from an overseas individual or tiny retailer?
    
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    December 10, 2019 9:06am
  - Toko
    
    If the overseas seller sells more than 60k pa into NZ they have to register for NZ GST now. If they aren’t GST registered then Customs can collect GST on imports, where it is worth pursuing. Eg over approximately $300 sales. It also charges extra fees such as duties or MPI levies for this process. That’s how I understand it.
    
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    December 10, 2019 9:09am
    - Ian Boag
      
      Duty if the stuff is dutiable (most things aren’t) but there is a Customs entry fee + biosecurity levy + GST. The fees are something like $50. Because of the huge volume of parcels it’s a bit of a raffle.
      
      Personally I am comfortable with the GST thing – if The Warehouse imports something, GST is collected at the border. When they sell it, GST is in the price. As lots of people have commented, universal GST is a simple tax …..if the overseas seller collects it, then there are no Customs fees. Works for me.
      
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      December 10, 2019 9:24am
- info@cruzpro.com
  
  As a small business we get our GST back but the bookkeeping efforts for numerous small purchases off AliExpress is depressing. In many other countries you are not required to pay GST if you are GST registered. That saves everyone (including the government) heaps of time.
  
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  December 10, 2019 10:07am
  - Jules99
    
    I have a small business and do the bookkeeping through Xero. I have connected my bank account and it automatically calculates the codes and GST on both sales and purchases. I even do my GST return directly through Xero – the only thing I have to do in addition is to actually pay the total. Other programmes probably do the same, but this is the one I know.
    
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    December 10, 2019 12:28pm
- Fletch
  
  There’s a rather lengthy PDF on it here, with many examples –
  
  https://taxpolicy.ird.govt.nz/sites/default/files/2019-sr-gst-low-value-imported-goods.pdf
  
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  December 10, 2019 10:47am
- KevO'Brien
  
  The rules really haven’t changed. Robbo wants a bigger tax grab so Customs have had their border leniency removed.
  If I buy plastic bottles through AliExpress it matters little if GST is charged I can reclaim it next GST cycle. GST is always levied on the price as delivered here. The worst is having to pay Customs charges for their handling as well. That can add another non-recoverable $200.
  
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  December 10, 2019 12:11pm
  - Jack5
    
    Kevin, you are speaking as a person registered for GST, and by far most consumers are not.
    
    Does anyone know whether GST is charged on goods New Zealanders travelling overseas bring back to the country with them.
    
    It would be nice if the bureaucrats and politicians, with their endless international visits, meetings, and conventions, got hit by the GST hammer that whacks NZ online purchasers.
    
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    December 10, 2019 1:47pm
    - Tall Man
      
      Yes, after a certain level.
      
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      December 10, 2019 7:56pm
Justitia

Yes it’s hindsight but why, when the alert level for White Island was raised a couple of weeks ago to indicate a moderate risk of eruption, was it left to tour operators to decide whether to take people there or not? Fair enough when properly prepared and experienced people who know the risks tackle dangerous challenges like the peaks of the Southern Alps but day-tripping tourists have no chance against the forces unleashed by a volcano.
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December 10, 2019 8:15am
- jacob
  
  But has the volcano paid for its carbon emissions? It should be taxed!
  
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  December 10, 2019 8:38am
  - cut n paster
    
    Yes designate White Island, a person and give it a tax number like the Whanganui River
    FFS… end the inequality
    
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    December 10, 2019 9:11am
    - Jack5
      
      Jacinderella seems to be the last to persevere with the Maori name of White Island. The world and local media have given up.
      
      In her release today, Jacinderella starts:
      
      Good morning.
      
      Yesterday at 2.11pm Whakaari / White Island erupted.
      
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      December 10, 2019 9:41am
      - Jack5
        
        And the web site headline writer at Radio NZ, too:
        
        “Live: Whakaari / White Island eruption – day 2”
        
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        December 10, 2019 10:08am
      - Nickc2
        
        Yep, she was a bit pissed off because she wasnt required to announce it in Arabic.
        Next time though she will have a Maori Cloak (made of dead birds), a skirt made out of dead flax and few out of date tennis balls with strings attached (no, not Shane Jones) mascradading as dancing toys in her Parliamentary Wardrobe eh bro and all announcements will made using a new age fake Maori accent.
        
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        December 10, 2019 11:00am
      - Michael
        
        it’s the maori activism coming to the fore.
        i won’t vote for anyone who puts maori first.
        
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        December 10, 2019 1:12pm
      - cut n paster
        
        Please, just once, can this play out like I want it to… please.
        https://ibb.co/CwtTLZK
        
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        December 10, 2019 1:32pm
      - cut n paster
        
        Honky Island…
        https://ibb.co/5v3mLLL
        
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        December 10, 2019 2:27pm
  - G152
    
    The greens should be on White Island with their banners protesting the CO2 emissions
    
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    December 10, 2019 10:02am
    - KevO'Brien
      
      Even worse–Sulphur, a really serious atmosphere destroying chemical producing acid rain.
      
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      December 10, 2019 12:14pm
    - Paulus
      
      Her headscarf should be white the colour of the Ash !
      
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      December 10, 2019 1:18pm
    - Morrissey
      
      You tried to be funny. Don’t do that again.
      
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      December 10, 2019 2:46pm
  - Stephieboy2
    
    Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
    jacob , lunatic post of the week!
    
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    December 10, 2019 10:10am
  - rangitoto
    
    Don’t worry, we can send Greta Thurnberg out to give it a good talking to.
    
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    December 10, 2019 7:23pm
- KiWombat
  
  We will need to convene a working group to discuss the possibility of a increased alert level such as this actually triggering a response from government.
  
  Perhaps flashing red lights and a siren outside Parliament House might be noticed ?
  
  To blame this on John Key, and on 9 long years of neglect just ain’t going to cut it this time !
  
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  December 10, 2019 8:43am
  - Stephieboy2
    
    Kiwombat, feeble and silly vpost if there ever was one!
    
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    December 10, 2019 10:11am
    - sooty
      
      Oh, I don’t know about that they got 17 up ticks and 5 downticks, where as you have got no up ticks and 7 downticks.
      So who is tell the porkies, that would be you!
      
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      December 10, 2019 12:12pm
- Odakyu-sen
  
  To be fair, you can’t compare weather forecasts with earthquake predictions.
  White Island had been making noises for several years, but no-one knew when this eruption would occur with any reliability. By all accounts, the onset was very rapid.
  Still, the lawyers for the deceased will argue that the tour operators had a “duty of care” to their clients, and so this whole tragic episode will probably spell the end to walk-on tours to the island, at least until far more accurate forecasting technology is developed in the decades ahead.
  
  (Now, where did I put my muon detector…)
  
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  December 10, 2019 8:48am
  - JackRabbit
    
    >>>”…By all accounts, the onset was very rapid.”
    
    Yep 3 weeks is very rapid. Duh!
    
    From Geonet: “…Volcanic Alert Level 2 is mostly associated with unrest hazards on the volcano and could include eruptions of steam, gas, mud and rocks. These eruptions can occur with little or no warning.”
    
    https://www.geonet.org.nz/news/1prVlz8jGXwWayA8D6Uu5y
    
    https://www.geonet.org.nz/news/7sXDNlKK9uRvcNKtH9UFbB
    
    and so on.
    
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    December 10, 2019 9:08am
  - Jack5
    
    Perhaps then, Odakyu-sen, our Government has a duty of care to move everyone out of Auckland, since it’s sitting on an active volcanic field.
    
    According to Geonet, the field, of more than 50 volcanoes, is still active.
    
    This is from Wikipedia:
    
    Since the field is not extinct, new volcanic events may occur at any time, though the usual period between events is, on average, somewhere between hundreds to thousands of years. However, the effects of such an event—especially a full-scale eruption—would be substantial, ranging from pyroclastic surges to earthquakes, lava bombs, ash falls, and the venting volcanic gas, as well as lava flows. These effects might continue for several months, potentially causing substantial destruction and disruption, ranging from the burial of substantial tracts of residential or commercial property, to the mid-to-long-term closures of major parts of the country’s infrastructure such as the Port of Auckland, the State Highway network, or the Auckland Airport. It is possible that several volcanoes could erupt simultaneously.
    
    The Geonet view:
    
    https://www.geonet.org.nz/about/volcano/aucklandvolcanicfield
    
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    December 10, 2019 9:20am
    - sooty
      
      Move the entire city as you have 23 volcanoes there. The good news is there will be no need for the train set. The bad news is the Twit is to continue building.
      
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      December 10, 2019 9:51am
    - KevO'Brien
      
      Rangitoto wasn’t there when the first Maori arrived.
      A walk up Queen Street in Auckland takes you up a volcano.
      
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      December 10, 2019 12:18pm
  - The Proper Ghandi
    
    Odakyu-sen
    So, what you’re saying is that, despite experienced scientists having monitored the situation, recorded the actual data, perhaps compared this observed data with similar events that were known to have actually occurred in the past, and maybe even using various computer models to make predictions…they still could not say with anything approaching certainty what would happen in the future?? Hmm.
    
    Does this remind anyone of another contemporary issue, involving science and the future? I’m at a loss…
    
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    December 10, 2019 11:40am
- Sacha
  
  I remember back in the ’60s the National Film Unit was making a film about White Island and filming was continually delayed because of the level of dangerous gasses, and the ever present danger of spontaneous eruption. Even flying over the island was considered risky. Actually landing on the island was very controlled and no-one was allowed into the crater because of the layers of deadly gasses which collected and drifted through the landscape.
  So what changed in the intervening years, except for increasing disregard for the known history of danger? It wouldn’t have anything to do with the current trend for discarding known historical dangers would it? Or ignorance. Or money?
  
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  December 10, 2019 9:02am
  - Tall Man
    
    I think there is an “adventure envelope” that some just need to push.
    
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    December 10, 2019 9:28am
    - Colville
      
      I have been on White 3 or 4 times. Its amazing but scarey as fuck even when dormant.
      
      I used to dive around it a lot and when we had people on board that hadnt seen it was always worth a quick look.
      
      The sea floor around it has places with hot water vents and gas vents.
      
      And HUGE kingfish to spear around the pinnacles.
      
      Do NOT however kneel on a https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diadema_palmeri
      
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      December 10, 2019 12:14pm
    - Michael
      
      and good for them, as long as they don’t moan now.
      
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      December 10, 2019 1:14pm
  - KevO'Brien
    
    Tourism.
    
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    December 10, 2019 12:19pm
Yvette

Wednesday, October 25, 2017
Jacinda Ardern, the prime minister elect of New Zealand, has announced she will take on the newly created role of minister for child poverty reduction.

Combating child poverty has been a lifelong cause for Ardern and is the reason she entered politics aged 17.
“As prime minister I want to see urgent progress in this area. That is why we will be introducing measures and targets to ensure our policies across government are making a difference to the lives of children.” [1]
__________

Monday December 9, 2019
Ardern government fails to reduce child poverty in New Zealand
Report found 148,000 children live in homes experiencing material hardship, the same number as when Labour took power

The Ardern government has failed to reduce child poverty in New Zealand, the children’s commissioner says, despite the prime minister’s pledge to make the country the best place in the world to be a child.

The children’s commissioner, Andrew Becroft, released the annual child poverty monitor on Monday which has found 148,000 children live in homes experiencing material hardship in six or more areas, including lack of access to basics such as warm clothing, health care and food. The figures are unchanged since the first report into child poverty in 2012. [2]

During the campaign Labour committed to lifting 100,000 New Zealand children out of poverty by 2020, with the end goal of eradicating child poverty in the country for good. [1]

… by 2020 – end of this month, in 20 days
“We are one” – doesn’t that include these 148,000 children?

both quotes are from the Guardian, UK
[1] https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/25/jacinda-ardern-takes-child-poverty-role-in-new-zealand-ministry
[2] https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/dec/09/ardern-government-fails-to-reduce-child-poverty-in-new-zealand
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December 10, 2019 8:19am
- Vallager
  
  In all fairness to our dear leader, this is nothing more than a simple spelling mistake.
  Her pledge to eradicate child poverdy (incorrectly reported by the Guardian as poverty), has been entirely successful There are no documented cases of poverdy, child or otherwise, in NZ today.
  
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  December 10, 2019 8:43am
  - Yvette
    
    Vallager, although both reports are on the Guardian website for the world’s information, both items are by Eleanor Ainge Roy in Dunedin, so it would seem nothing is “lost in translation” but rather “lost by Ardern and Labour (and so, Winston) in lack of performance and delivery”.
    
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    December 10, 2019 9:04am
    - fernglas
      
      Ms Ainge Roy has in the past been Ardern’s biggest cheerleader, so either she has had a change of heart or the truth became too hard to ignore.
      
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      December 10, 2019 9:16am
      - Tall Man
        
        “Truth will out”……
        
        That’s definitely not in the “Cabinet Manual”….
        
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        December 10, 2019 9:27am
    - Tall Man
      
      Tongue in cheek I think Yvette 🙂
      
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      December 10, 2019 9:26am
- RightFirstTime
  
  Andrew Becroft’s current term expires on 30 June 2021. Any more outbursts like this and I don’t fancy his chances of being reappointed. In the meantime he will no doubt be told (or “advised”) to pull his head in. What he is saying doesn’t fit the required narrative.
  
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  December 10, 2019 1:30pm
mikenmildagain

It’s Human Rights Day. You have the right to celebrate.
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December 10, 2019 8:25am
- mandk
  
  Out of interest, when is it going to be old, white, male, Christian conservative day?
  
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  December 10, 2019 8:45am
  - Maggy Wassilieff
    
    There is no Conservative day…
    
    But you can have:
    
    World Conservation Day (28 July)
    or
    World Conversation Day (8 June)
    
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    December 10, 2019 9:09am
    - Tall Man
      
      “World Conversation Day (8 June)”
      
      That’s one that needs a bit of reflection Maggy.
      
      “Conversation” is the one thing the new left and snowflakes are determined to close down yet without conversation we go no where.
      
      Depressing thought really. I wonder if it’s the 30 second attention span and social media that have caused this fear of conversation…..
      
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      December 10, 2019 9:25am
    - freethinker
      
      And every day Parliament sits we have a SAD day – stupid arseholes day.
      
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      December 10, 2019 10:48am
  - MH
    
    how dare you.
    
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    December 10, 2019 9:31am
  - Stephieboy2
    
    Christian conservative day???
    
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    December 10, 2019 10:14am
    - mandk
      
      Why not?
      Conservatives are evidently fair game for abuse in many circles.
      And, worldwide, Christians are more likely to face persecution than any other group, mainly at the hands of Moslems.
      
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      December 10, 2019 12:18pm
- Tall Man
  
  As long as my happiness does not offend a snowflake…. or a mod perhaps.
  
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  December 10, 2019 8:48am
igm

This is a very interesting read . . . seems MSM are starving NZ of anything that is descriptive of the vile Democrats, a lot like their attitudes towards National/Act here.
https://thebfd.co.nz/2019/12/hillarys-kiddy-fiddling-bag-man/
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December 10, 2019 8:35am
- chaos
  
  I posted about George Nader here a few days ago, I see no reason for the NZ media to run the story.
  
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  December 10, 2019 9:22am
Happychappy

National will use Wellington list MP Nicola Willis and Hutt MP Chris Bishop to push for a second Mt Vic Tunnel going into the 2020 General Election.

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=12292291
After the hoo ha of Julie Anne Genter and the secret deal that was done between Mayor Justin Lester, Julie Anne Genter and Phil Twyford, Labour could find themselves in trouble at the poll at the upcoming Elections as First term mayor Lester found out at the recent Local Body Election .
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December 10, 2019 8:35am
cut n paster

Working hard or hardly working….
https://ibb.co/2ZXgV1F
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December 10, 2019 8:38am
Tony Stuart

Great stuff from Wellington National MP’s Nicola Willis, Brett Hudson and Chris Bishop. They have today launched a petition for a second Mt Victoria tunnel, and will make this an election issue in and around Wellington for the next twelve months.

It sets National completely apart from Labour and the Greens, and by default, from New Zealand First. We saw how the whole Let’s Get Wellington Moving debacle hurt Labour at the local body elections, and it’s a fertile area to tap into. Well played National.

https://www.facebook.com/NicolaWillisMP/videos/1770006516470179/?comment_id=1770023823135115&notif_id=1575919238966802&notif_t=feedback_reaction_generic
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December 10, 2019 8:39am
- mikenmildagain
  
  Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
  Yay, a PETITION!!
  That’ll really shake things up.
  
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  December 10, 2019 8:49am
  - Tony Stuart
    
    It’s as good a place as any to start mikenmild. The petition launched by Bishop and Otaki candidate Tim Costley has already received thousands of signatures. For Costley, it’s a conversation starter as he gets around the electorate, getting to know people.
    
    In Wellington, Brett Hudson is already ramping up his campaign to unseat Greg O’Connor (given Peter Dunne is no longer part of the equation), and the Mt Vic tunnel is an issue for people in Ohariu, as it is in Wellington Central, where Nicola Willis is going to give Grant Robertson a decent run for his money; or should that be our money?!
    
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    December 10, 2019 9:03am
    - mikenmildagain
      
      There are currently 127 parliamentary petitons open for signature. Parliament receives about 150 per year. How many of those petitoin actually generate any interest, let alone lead to anything tangible?
      
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      December 10, 2019 10:21am
      - sooty
        
        Along with 250 working groups working hard for their masters donating 10% of their wages to the Labour party!
        
        13 0
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        December 10, 2019 12:05pm
      - Paulus Gnome
        
        That’s right Mike, a complete waste of time.
        
        I mean, why waste time with a petition with signatures from the masses when one can claim without any proof, that ‘I received thousands of letters’ and, poof, plastic bags are gone!
        
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        December 10, 2019 1:13pm
  - Libertarians are right
    
    A petition is a very cheap and public form of campaigning. They will get the signatures and that will force the media to cover it. They will therefore get more airtime to push their agenda while their opposition will be put on the back foot. Politically, it’s very smart.
    
    30 2
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    December 10, 2019 9:17am
  - Tall Man
    
    Gosh, a snarky comment… that’s not like you mikey………………..
    
    14 1
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    December 10, 2019 9:22am
  - Nigel Kearney
    
    Roads are popular with most people, including Labour voters. If Labour doesn’t do a U-turn before the election and agree to the second tunnel, that will be fine by me.
    
    34 1
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    December 10, 2019 9:46am
    - G152
      
      Dont just agree to a second tunnel.
      Get off your collective arses and build it
      
      8 2
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      December 10, 2019 10:06am
    - Than
      
      Grant Robertson has already set aside a war-chest for election year brib… I mean, infrastructure spending. Presumably some roads will be promised out of this (prioritized by politics, not BCRs, of course).
      
      And if anybody believes the Greens wouldn’t veto such promised roads as the price of their support, I’ve got a bridge to sell you.
      
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      December 10, 2019 10:19am
  - Lee C
    
    “Yay, a PETITION!!
    That’ll really shake things up.”
    
    Yes, it’s a bit like opening a dialogue with interested parties and finding out what those actual people who are affected by the issue think about it, and would like to see happen.
    
    you know – like Ardern’s defence of the legalisation of cannabis referendum in Parliament last week.
    
    Or when she came to the Beehive steps in her slippers to meet petitioners and make an un-mandated a ‘Captain’s call’ about a whole industry.
    
    Careful Milky, you’ll find yourself in a gulag for double-plus-bad thought-crimes.
    
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    December 10, 2019 11:38am
- KevO'Brien
  
  Our National friends are going to have to be careful. I have spent 45 years in and about that city and cannot see how another tunnel through Mt Vic will be helpful. It can only go to another congested road or takeout a park only to empty again into a car flooded congestion. Aerial ways may need to be explored. An around the sea route extension may work to get to the Airport.
  
  Wellington I suspect has reached it limit for cars.
  It was crowded 65 years ago.
  
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  December 10, 2019 12:27pm
mark15

‘Absolutely’ is the most overused word in new zealand.
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December 10, 2019 8:41am
- igm
  
  Also this Ardern buzzword “Robust” is pissing me off. At least it is one she has not butchered “Yet”!
  
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  December 10, 2019 8:54am
  - rangitoto
    
    Taxardern absoludely wefwutes that.
    
    18 0
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    December 10, 2019 10:47am
  - freethinker
    
    Robust is Labour code for Robbo will Bust Nz, just like his evil predecessor the C**t Cullen.
    
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    December 10, 2019 10:57am
  - cut n paster
    
    “Robust” is a common term found in parenting and leadership tutorials like –
    “How to ruin a Country for Dummies.”
    or a term picked up from conversation at home…
    https://ibb.co/QYLWz8P
    
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    December 10, 2019 11:47am
- mandk
  
  Absolutely correct.
  
  11 3
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  December 10, 2019 9:00am
  - mark15
    
    Grrr
    
    1 0
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    December 10, 2019 10:06pm
- Jack5
  
  Does Jacinderella say “absolutely” — or “absoludely”?
  
  20 2
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  December 10, 2019 9:26am
  - mark15
    
    Grrr
    
    1 0
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    December 10, 2019 10:06pm
- Lee C
  
  Absolutely.
  
  2 6
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  December 10, 2019 11:39am
  - mark15
    
    Grrr
    
    1 0
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    December 10, 2019 10:08pm
Maggie Pie

Well butter my butt and call me a muffin –
I would never have believed it possible 😛

https://twitter.com/LaIlahhaIllaAna/status/1203697727466545153
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December 10, 2019 8:43am
Inandout

BFD hit again by hackers this morning.
12 3
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December 10, 2019 8:44am
- Happychappy
  
  Any guesses to who is behind it, he has made plenty of enemies in his time.
  
  11 4
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  December 10, 2019 8:58am
  - chaos
    
    Probably himself after publicity.
    
    14 3
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    December 10, 2019 9:19am
- G152
  
  Most traffic the site has had in ages then
  
  7 1
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  December 10, 2019 10:07am
sooty

Has anything changed from the days of Pike river, within the police?
Too dangerous to land on the island,
Shutting down the spy cameras, incase someone is still alive.
11 15
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December 10, 2019 8:46am
- Odakyu-sen
  
  No need to be conspiratorial.
  
  (Adjusts tinfoil hat…)
  The cameras are the same ones as those used at the Metropolitan Correctional Center (MCC) in Manhattan. These high-tech devices have special quantum-field sensors that shut the camera off to protect personnel employed by the government departments concerned. It’s all about career safety, you know.
  
  //
  
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  December 10, 2019 8:52am
- chaos
  
  The cameras will be shut down most likely because it is a scene with dead bodies in it and should be turned off out of respect for them and their families. As for landing on it you will find the police are taking advice from the experts on the safety of returning there. Yes as reported in the herald
  
  * Police continue to receive information and advice from GeoNet experts to support the recovery operation.*
  
  12 2
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  December 10, 2019 9:03am
  - KevO'Brien
    
    No one can seriously expect anything but drones to visit White Island for some time. It is a well known sulphur producing site and the gases potentially toxic.
    It is not disrespectful to leave the dead where they cannot be retrieved except at extreme risk to the living. Just think of Rotorua–there are places there none would dare to go.
    
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    December 10, 2019 12:37pm
    - IC5000
      
      interesting enough many elite military units have an ethos that they will try to recover the bodies of their comrades fallen in battle as a sign of respect and honour.
      
      I guess some people have honour while others don’t.
      
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      December 10, 2019 5:37pm
      - KevO'Brien
        
        Most battlefields are not covered in sulphurous compounds or cause acid burn on contact.
        
        I am surprised that White Island became a tourist destination–it used to be seriously off limits with only geologists visiting.
        I can’t blame anyone, the island’s most unpredictable.
        
        7 0
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        December 10, 2019 6:58pm
      - Tall Man
        
        Most people aren’t pathetic arseholes either.
        
        1 0
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        December 10, 2019 7:40pm
      - IC5000
        
        They really already had a senior paramedic and another medical officer land to survey the site. It’s interesting that you make up execute for inaction. It goes toward character I guess.
        
        1 2
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        December 10, 2019 7:46pm
- Scott
  
  Sooty – if you need rescuing you better hope that your family or friends can do it. Because the police won’t unless it’s absolutely safe. White Island the police have just been reported as not going in till its absolutely safe.
  
  You’re stuffed!
  
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  December 10, 2019 9:03am
  - Stephieboy2
    
    KB’s search and rescue spokesman!
    
    1 20
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    December 10, 2019 10:22am
- Happychappy
  
  sotty the police have a job to do and to go into pike river mine after the first explosion would have been sending them to their deaths and even now Andrew Little can’t tell you with any certainty that they will survive going in now or they would have finished the job a year or more ago.
  
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  December 10, 2019 9:08am
  - Scott
    
    Haooychappy – lots of mine explosions around the world over the years. First responders always rush in straight away to rescue survivors. Straight away because after the explosion the gases have been cleared for a while.
    But look if you ever find yourself in a coal mine or active volcano site be assured the police will not rescue you unless it’s absolutely safe!!
    You’re stuffed!
    Unfortunately bureaucrats and health and safety laws have dampened the real kiwi spirit which is self reliance and get on with it attitude. Sad.
    
    16 6
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    December 10, 2019 10:11am
    - mark15
      
      Grrr
      
      0 0
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      December 10, 2019 10:09pm
  - freethinker
    
    Pike river mine was never a crime scene so Police involvement should have been under the direction of people who understand mining, and the R Sole in charge made every mistake in the book and wrote several new chapters as well – he is now hidden somewhere in Christchurch.
    
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    December 10, 2019 11:04am
Jack5

Australia, too, has a whiff of apartheid with different laws for the indigenous.

A South Australian off-duty cop walks along a road following a wombat and stoning it until he’s killed it.

This cruelty is caught on video. However, the South Australian police do not charge the cop. He’s an Aboriginal, and they say: “… as an Aboriginal man the officer had the appropriate permit to hunt wombats for food.”

You might get a trial access of one article at The Australian with a picture of the cop and a wombat:

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/wombatkilling-sa-cop-waylon-johncock-keeps-his-job/news-story/c852a7ae07cd27918d2aa9eedee95e1b

Or, the report’s at the Herald:
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=12292279
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December 10, 2019 8:48am
Maggy Wassilieff

An articulate Ozzie MP deconstructs the lies of UN Secretary-General at Climate-Change Conference

https://wattsupwiththat.com/2019/12/08/craig-kelly-mp-on-cop25/
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December 10, 2019 8:51am
- Stephieboy2
  
  Motar Mouth Craig Kelly is proving to be PM Scott Harrisons court jester,
  
  boy,,,https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/scott-morrison-banned-liberal-mp-craig-kelly-from-the-abc-s-q-and-a-program-20191025-p534ey.html
  
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  December 10, 2019 10:19am
  - Nickc2
    
    Craig Kelly is to be admired for speaking out. To stifle the truth is to take a nation further towards becoming a dictatorial Communist state.
    If our CoL are re-elected, we will be more that three quarters of the way there.
    
    9 0
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    December 10, 2019 12:32pm
    - Tall Man
      
      Do your best to ignore steffy girl. She has a weird masochistic streak that gets horny winding normal people up.
      
      2 0
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      December 10, 2019 7:38pm
redeye

The Survation Poll was almost spot on for the last general election and is currently considered to be the most accurate. Looks like finally the Brits may get some democracy back.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-britain-election-polls-survation/uk-pm-johnsons-conservatives-poll-lead-jumps-to-14-points-survation-idUSKBN1YD00T
“LONDON (Reuters) – British Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s Conservative Party extended its lead over the Labour Party to 14 percentage points, up from 9 percentage points a week ago, an opinion poll by Survation for ITV’s Good Morning Britain showed on Monday.

The poll put Johnson’s party on 45%, up 2 points, compared to Labour’s 31%, down 2 points, before Thursday’s national election.”
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December 10, 2019 8:51am
- Tall Man
  
  Looks like a done deal but with FPP I suppose you can never be certain.
  
  4 2
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  December 10, 2019 8:56am
  - redeye
    
    Yes you can never underestimate the deceitfulness of the Labour activist.
    And like a rabid dog with his back to the wall they have now pulled a Middlemore Hospital stunt.
    https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/boy-sleeping-hospital-floor-picture-bed-shortage-leeds-nhs-winter-crisis-a9238401.html
    Fortunately some fair minded nurses that were on duty have now made it clear the whole thing was staged by a Labour supporter, although that hasn’t stopped the BBC from perpetuating the lie.
    
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    December 10, 2019 11:50am
    - Inandout
      
      redeye, that is disgusting, more expected from CNN, but not from a UK source.
      
      8 0
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      December 10, 2019 12:08pm
    - Fisiani
      
      The child was taken off a trolley and placed on the floor for a photo-op. This was just like Jeremy Corbyn sitting on the floor of a train that had plenty of available seats a few months ago. The media hope that people will be outraged and will not discover that they have been played by the Left/BBC and SKY by fake news.
      
      10 0
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      December 10, 2019 2:20pm
      - lifesgood
        
        Just like the shit running down Middlemore hospital’s walls which was a big fat lie perpetuated by our corrupt media.
        
        6 0
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        December 10, 2019 4:05pm
      - Tall Man
        
        LG, there was shit on the walls but it went when the minister did…….
        
        2 0
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        December 10, 2019 7:37pm
- curry4me
  
  In an ideal world, the Tories would be dependant on the Brexit party to form a coalition. That situation would keep them honest.
  
  4 1
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  December 10, 2019 1:09pm
RoboRob

Does anyone know what is happening with the Kim DotCom extradition. Its about 7 years old now and as far as I can see the last two stages were June 2018 (court of appeal finds against Kim) and June 2019 Supreme court hears appeal.

Does anyone know the expected time line with regards to when the Supreme court might make it’s decision?

My understanding is that the next step will be Andrew Little. Very interested to see if Labour / Greens and NZF remain bought (remember these parties visited Kim for secret meetings, some of which bought suitcases with them).
30 1
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December 10, 2019 8:52am
- G152
  
  Depends upon the bought remaining bought
  
  8 2
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  December 10, 2019 10:09am
- cut n paster
  
  Secret COL document clause maybe?
  Be better if it was slowly like this…
  https://ibb.co/3Nkbykd
  
  3 0
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  December 10, 2019 4:11pm
cut n paster

NZF SW O’ the day…
https://ibb.co/jTnnzwW
Bonus special
https://ibb.co/L5j7RRn
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December 10, 2019 8:53am
Tall Man

Yesterday Maggy noted that the new PM in Finland was 34. This was partially a comment about our own pm being a relative youngster and also advised that all but one of the leaders of the 5 parties in the coalition in Finland were in their early 30’s. One granny at 55!!!!

I lightheartedly noted that unless she had a baby she’d be toast. Now draw whatever conclusion from that comment that you want but generally you’d have to be pretty thin skinned to find offense in that, especially considering the way that ardern has pushed her kid into the limelight whenever she wanted. However, a mod decided that the comment was too inflammatory/offensive/accurate or whatever and so deleted it and also deleted the followup query

Has this blog become a haven for snowflakes? I think not so WTF is the problem? Anyone?
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December 10, 2019 8:54am
- John Warren
  
  There is a rather a lot of inconsistency and snowflakery in the moderating.
  
  9 0
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  December 10, 2019 11:56am
- Michael
  
  mods protecting adhern’s baby?
  
  9 1
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  December 10, 2019 1:22pm
  - Tall Man
    
    How does saying she’ll (the PM of Finland) needs a baby or she’ll be toast threaten ardern’s child?
    
    The article referenced ardern as a comparison and my comment was clearly humourous but, with a hint of realism.
    
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    December 10, 2019 7:33pm
Chris2

Occasionally I’ve watched TV news reporting on Ardern’s Monday post-Cabinet press conference and became aware just how frequently she reads from a prepared script, rather that being impromptu.

And its again very evident with the coverage of White Island – all her comments have been scripted by someone else and she is simply reading out what has been written for her. No leadership here at all, no ability to stand on her own two feet and respond authentically.
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December 10, 2019 9:11am
- Tall Man
  
  Read: tick
  
  Comprehend: ……………….
  
  11 4
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  December 10, 2019 9:20am
- alloytoo
  
  We have an Australian relative (yes there are some in every family) staying for the week.
  
  She commented last night about the scripted performance.
  
  I took the opportunity to offer to swap SLG for ScoMo, even offered up Winston as a sweetener.
  
  She didn’t have to be so smug about turning me down :-(.
  
  30 3
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  December 10, 2019 9:29am
- chaos
  
  Welcome to the life of a PM, it is just a good PM can read the script without people realising they are reading
  
  17 3
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  December 10, 2019 9:29am
- igm
  
  She epitomises the term “clueless clot”, but added to this, she is dangerous in many respects. Sure as hell does not represent taxpaying decent people of NZ.
  
  31 5
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  December 10, 2019 9:30am
- John Warren
  
  I wondered why she had to be there at all, getting in the way. But then I remembered, photo-ops, hugs, etc.
  
  14 0
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  December 10, 2019 11:54am
  - Tall Man
    
    Ozzie media think she’s awesome because she hugged the rescue workers.
    
    FFS, keeping a promise means nothing these days.
    
    2 0
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    December 10, 2019 7:30pm
MH

Is that fake Annabel Langbein add meant to be on this site or just my computer at fault?
7 3
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December 10, 2019 9:22am
- Tall Man
  
  DuckDuckGo and addblocker.
  
  No adds.
  
  10 2
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  December 10, 2019 9:35am
- chaos
  
  What browser are you using?
  
  3 0
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  December 10, 2019 12:11pm
rockape

Just a thank-you and Christmas wishes to all the mods. I hope this task doesn’t interfere with your enjoyment at this time but I am sure we will all understand if it does.
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December 10, 2019 9:35am
The only red for me is that of Manchester United

I quite like historian David Starkey. Yes he’s an educated toff through and through. A supporter of the monarchy. A homosexual who isn’t part of the lefts identity politics game. His classical education and intelligence is welcomed in today world. He’s never been afraid to speak his mind.

His assessment on Corbyn is interesting. There are huge similarities to be made with our prime minister. A child like view of the world and politics where everything is divided into Left or Right. No life skills outside of endless committee meetings. Treating politics as student politics and a lack of engagement of being able to debate serious issue. Corbyn is a shallow man child who’s never grown up and never read a book. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7768141/The-strange-obsessive-changed-mind-50-years-DAVID-STARKEYS-portrait.html
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December 10, 2019 9:39am
- Maggy Wassilieff
  
  Corbyn is on to Wife #3, so I suspect he has changed his mind on a couple of occasions.
  
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  December 10, 2019 10:19am
  - Stephieboy2
    
    Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
    Donald Trump is today’s role model , surely!
    
    3 34
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    December 10, 2019 10:25am
  - alloytoo
    
    Or his ex-wives did.
    
    12 0
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    December 10, 2019 10:55am
    - Tall Man
      
      That’s is far more likely I think.
      
      4 0
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      December 10, 2019 11:55am
  - alwyn
    
    Why should it be that Corbyn is the one to change his mind?
    I think it is far more likely that his first two wives came to their senses and that they dumped him.
    God knows, he must be pretty bloody hard to put up with.
    
    17 2
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    December 10, 2019 11:13am
  - rouppe
    
    What makes you think HE made those decisions?
    
    5 0
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    December 10, 2019 3:37pm
- fightingtemeraire
  
  He aint a Toff he came from a working class background, look him up
  
  7 1
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  December 10, 2019 11:17am
  - Maggy Wassilieff
    
    Upper middle-class.
    
    According to Rosa Prince, Corbyn’s biographer, it was a ‘thoroughly upper-middle-class, scruffy country upbringing’.
    
    https://www.tatler.com/gallery/jeremy-corbyn-posh-background
    
    10 2
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    December 10, 2019 11:45am
  - mark15
    
    Ha!
    
    3 0
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    December 10, 2019 11:48am
- The Proper Ghandi
  
  Starkey is not a ‘toff’– he is from a distinctly working class background.
  
  3 0
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  December 10, 2019 1:12pm
  - Maggy Wassilieff
    
    Yeah, sorry,
    I thought fightingtemaraire was referring to Corbyn.
    
    Though coming from a Quaker family is hardly typical British Working class
    https://catholicherald.co.uk/magazine/britains-angriest-quaker/
    
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    December 10, 2019 2:12pm
    - Jack5
      
      Not sure of the relevance, but to save others looking it up as well…
      
      The Fighting Temeraire fought in Nelson’s fleet at Trafalgar and was the subject of a famous painting by Turner. It showed her being towed to her last berth to be broken up.
      
      You can see a picture of the painting here:
      
      https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/learn-about-art/paintings-in-depth/heroine-of-trafalgar-the-fighting-temeraire?viewPage=2
      
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      December 10, 2019 3:38pm
Maggy Wassilieff

Every post on GD has scored at least 1 down tick today.

Do we have a single down-ticker obsessive amongst our ranks?

Does anyone give a stuff if their posts score a few downticks (and no countering post)?
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December 10, 2019 10:11am
- Tall Man
  
  At least yours and others are getting through….. mine not so much.
  
  I guess having a strong opinion on a subject isn’t so popular here anymore.
  
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  December 10, 2019 10:19am
- mikenmildagain
  
  Some of the resident snowflakes seem to get upset when there are downticks on comments they feel should receive universal approval.
  
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  December 10, 2019 10:25am
- UrbanNeocolonialist
  
  The resident troll is back after his naughty-stepping.
  
  21 2
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  December 10, 2019 10:38am
- cut n paster
  
  I get a little offended Maggie, cos I’m an Artisté!!
  
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  December 10, 2019 10:46am
- Happychappy
  
  Maggy they did the same to the notice of DPF announcement of the of his second child, so that tells you what sort piece of crap is doing the down ticking.
  
  17 3
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  December 10, 2019 10:50am
- Maggy Wassilieff
  
  Holy Moley,
  I’ve scored 5 down-ticks in less than an hour.
  
  I don’t think I’ve ever had 5 down ticks before.
  I’m flattered, folks.
  
  23 5
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  December 10, 2019 11:04am
  - Captain Mainwaring
    
    Morrissey, Stephie, Martin Williams, Milky and R must have been here.
    
    27 4
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    December 10, 2019 11:08am
    - mikenmildagain
      
      It is possible to log on from a different email and downtick your own comment. For those with a martyr complex…
      
      3 15
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      December 10, 2019 12:44pm
      - sooty
        
        Is that why you get so many downticks?
        You are a busy boy, well I assume you are?
        
        6 0
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        December 10, 2019 5:06pm
      - Tall Man
        
        Not much else for a snake in the grass to do these is there?
        
        2 0
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        December 10, 2019 7:26pm
    - Morrissey
      
      I don’t downtick, Cap’n. I’ve got better things to do. Speakin’ of better things, where’s Waikato Gal?
      
      1 2
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      December 10, 2019 7:28pm
      - Maggy Wassilieff
        
        Waikato Girl is on YSB.
        https://ysb.co.nz/have-your-say-237/#comment-42392
        
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        December 10, 2019 8:09pm
  - UrbanNeocolonialist
    
    And the troll’s obviously figured out how to make additional sock-puppet accounts. Leading a rich and meaningful existence where he dedicates all his energies to embittered sniping and tediously annoying people for the little thrill of attention it gives him. A deeply ugly little pustule.
    
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    December 10, 2019 11:13am
    - Garbageman
      
      Yep imagine being that pitifully sad & lonely that you have to create another account while being banned just to add nothing to a blog that universally thinks you are a pillock at least MM had the decency to have a good old hissy fit and proclaim he would never be back until he realised his valuable comments and ability to further an interesting conversation would be sorely missed on KB
      
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      December 10, 2019 12:38pm
  - Bobba Fret
    
    Perhaps the site needs to be changed to show the names of the up and down tickers like on whaleoil or whatever its called now.
    
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    December 10, 2019 12:47pm
septic skeptic

Winston on with Peter Williams. Says the latest claims about conflict of interest between Jones and the Foresty company are “demonstrably false”. Then refuses to answer the $63.57c question as to specifically what is incorrect.
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December 10, 2019 10:44am
- BeaB
  
  But then remember all Winston’s pharmaceutical questions to Helen Clark when his partner Trotman was working for, I think, Johnson & Johnson.
  There are no conflicts of interest in Winst0n’s world.
  
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  December 10, 2019 11:55am
- DigNap15
  
  yes Winston uses that phrase a lot
  “demonstrably false”.
  And then fails to demonstrate how!
  
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  December 10, 2019 7:42pm
Fletch

Rep Doug Collins during the impeachment hearings totally smacking down Democratic counsel Daniel Goldman with the example of Joe Biden’s quid pro quo. About time somebody did.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCpbg_ycAlU

“Joe Biden, of everybody we discussed, is the only one who’s done a quid pro quo. He’s the only one to use taxpayer dollars to threaten a foreign government. And we’re sitting here pretending that a president of the United States would not be concerned?”
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December 10, 2019 10:52am
- Nickc2
  
  Well done Doug Collins. Such comments cannot be repeated too many times!
  
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  December 10, 2019 12:49pm
- mikenmildagain
  
  Meanwhile, the president is able to concentrate on the big issues:
  “People are flushing toilets 10 times, 15 times, as opposed to once. They end up using more water.”
  “We have a situation where we’re looking very strongly at sinks and showers and other elements of bathrooms, where you turn the faucet on in areas where there’s tremendous amounts of water, where it rushes out to sea because you could never handle it. And you don’t get any water. You turn on the faucet and you don’t get any water.”
  “You can’t wash your hands practically, there’s so little water comes out of the faucet” and you “end up using the same amount of water.”
  “There may be some areas where we’ll go the other route—desert areas, [b]ut for the most part, you have many states where they have so much water that it comes down—it’s called rain—that they don’t know, they don’t know what to do with it.”
  
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  December 10, 2019 12:53pm
- MH
  
  i smiled when I passed St Malachy’s church off Swanson rd West Akld today
  
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  December 10, 2019 2:43pm
Paulus

Understand there is serious comment re White Island for the Committee.
The helicopter pilots both national and private went to rescue people without have an approved plan with regard to Health and Safety.
This is not allowed.
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December 10, 2019 11:12am
- kevn
  
  @Paulus… I did hope for a large boat to be moored off the landing/wharf/jetty area last night with infra-red/heat seeking devices per drones.
  Just in case some poor sods managed to survive the blast and move towards the sea.
  
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  December 10, 2019 11:45am
- rouppe
  
  And if those pilots hadn’t done that more people would have died from their injuries.
  
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  December 10, 2019 3:34pm
  - sooty
    
    You have certainly got that right, mate!
    But don’t forget the boat was there too!
    
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    December 10, 2019 5:12pm
Yvette

Moving Auckland port
possible costs involve –
1 development of the Northland harbour
2 upgrading road and rail connection to Auckland
3 returning Auckland harbour to usable land
4 development of what harbour area is released in Auckland
5 consideration of a Stadium
6 compensation of iwi interests in released land
7 ongoing transport costs between Northland and Auckland
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December 10, 2019 11:14am
- MCos
  
  Plus an Auckland depot somewhere for rail freight.
  One imagines all the new infrastructure will be in place before Auckland port is wound down.
  I also heard imported second hand cars were going to land at Tauranga. Lucky them.
  With the flash new road and rail links it might be quicker to get to a stadium up in the north of the city.
  
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  December 10, 2019 11:36am
  - Paulus
    
    The same large car carrier that goes to Auckland is now landing cars in Tauranga as well.
    
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    December 10, 2019 1:26pm
    - sooty
      
      They might need to enlarge the port at Tauranga!
      
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      December 10, 2019 5:18pm
- Lance
  
  They can’t run bulk freight over commuter rail lines, and they have said so. Instead an entirely NEW rail corridor will have to be created across the isthmus. from outer West Auckland to South Auckland, maybe Wiri?
  Any anyone get their heads around the scale of that little overlooked issue?
  
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  December 10, 2019 4:23pm
  - sooty
    
    Make the holiday highway as well!
    Labour will only do that if they can rename to
    “The Helen Clark Highway to watersaving showerheads and floresent lightbulbs!”
    
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    December 10, 2019 5:22pm
- Nermal
  
  You have forgotten getting RM permission for interfering with our (Whangarei) harbour
  
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  December 10, 2019 7:38pm
softail 1450

C M,You forgot that over endowed “big Audi “owner Splooge ,the guy with the only 22 foot super yacht on the planet…
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December 10, 2019 11:15am
- Captain Mainwaring
  
  He hasn’t been around for quite a while so I left him off the list.
  
  4 1
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  December 10, 2019 11:44am
  - sooty
    
    Wasnt there a video of him launching a boat or somethin at the time?
    
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    December 10, 2019 5:23pm
Happychappy

Northland environmentalists say no Auckland Port shift,so the opposition to Winston and Shanes plan to shift the ports to Auckland has hit a snag put a halt to there rapid pace to get it shifted to Northland.https://i.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/local-government/118073644/northland-environmentalists-say-no-to-auckland-port-shift.
Winston Peters desperately needs this to happen as his Party needs the votes to survive the next Election and with a couple setbacks like Barry Soper said this could break up the Coalition.
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December 10, 2019 11:23am
tedbear

RNZ reports “A Ngāti Awa leader has confirmed a rāhui has been placed on Whakaari / White Island after the deadly eruption yesterday.”

Well blow me down with a feather, I thought only the Government could make such a call of where we can and can’t have free access to.
Just another example of our PTPM not leading by example.
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December 10, 2019 11:33am
- kevn
  
  @ted… Privately owned island.
  We can assume the owners were in-the-loop?
  Can we though?
  
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  December 10, 2019 11:40am
  - alwyn
    
    Who does own White Island?
    And the Company that runs the tourist trips for that matter? Are the likely to be in the gun for allowing people to go into a dangerous place without sufficient safety facilities in place.
    
    2 1
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    December 10, 2019 12:16pm
  - Maggy Wassilieff
    
    It’s been Owned by the Buttle Family since the 1930s…
    Now owned by the Buttle Family Trust.
    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=12292509
    
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    December 10, 2019 1:10pm
    - sooty
      
      Wonder who they are?
      
      2 0
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      December 10, 2019 5:25pm
      - Maggy Wassilieff
        
        “White Island eruption: How Auckland’s Buttle family came to own island”
        https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=12292509
        
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        December 10, 2019 5:38pm
- mark15
  
  Well,that should sort it out.
  Wtf.
  
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  December 10, 2019 11:50am
- MH
  
  Sulfur the little children
  
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  December 10, 2019 11:53am
- slightlyrighty
  
  I think Mother Nature made it clear yesterday that we shouldn’t be there, and I for one am paying attention…
  
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  December 10, 2019 12:37pm
- Stephieboy2
  
  tedbear , nonsense! But we will give you permission not to observe a rāhui and hang around Ruapehu’s or Whakaari White Island’s crater when they next erupt !
  
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  December 10, 2019 2:05pm
Hugh Pavletich

Australia … Bushfires …

NSW bushfires could turn ‘very dangerous’ as hot and windy weather forecast for Greater Sydney … Australian Broadcasting Corporation

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-12-10/nsw-bushfire-fears-as-weather-forecast-to-deteriorate/11780390

NSW fires: ‘very dangerous day’ for bushfires as Sydney shrouded in smoke and temperatures soar – live … The Guardian

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2019/dec/10/nsw-fires-sydney-smoke-bushfires-qld-australia-new-south-wales-rural-fire-live-news-latest-updates

New South Wales bushfires turn Sydney beach black with ash – video … The Guardian

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/video/2019/dec/09/new-south-wales-bushfires-turn-sydney-beach-black-with-ash-video
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December 10, 2019 11:53am
- Captain Mainwaring
  
  Yes Hugh, we know how to read the news.
  We’ve got our big boy pants on now.
  
  14 2
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  December 10, 2019 12:49pm
  - Hugh Pavletich
    
    Sydney Harbour ferries suspended as bushfire smoke shrouds NSW … 9 News
    
    https://www.9news.com.au/national/nsw-bushfire-heatwave-weather-forecast-dangerous-conditions/6fdf851a-55fd-42df-936e-efb0e08074fe
    
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    December 10, 2019 2:14pm
    - sooty
      
      Yet they can operate atn ight and in the wind and the rain!
      
      4 0
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      December 10, 2019 5:30pm
    - Ruahine
      
      Ferries now running as of around 5.00 pm Sydney time. Am in Sydney at this moment. This morning smoke was quite thick visibility poor but not hurting the eyes or making one cough. People just getting on with life.
      
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      December 10, 2019 8:17pm
tedbear

fair enough kevn.
However, the net tells me that Auckland stockbroker George Raymond Buttle bought the island (off?) in 1936. Some time in the 1990’s the Department of Conservation took it over, so still doesn’t explain how a Maori leader not part of that Department can make the call he did.
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December 10, 2019 12:02pm
- chaos
  
  To be honest who really gives a stuff. It is the right call to make. People have been injuries and killed there and you sit here whinging because Maori put a rāhui on White Island.
  
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  December 10, 2019 1:50pm
  - tedbear
    
    Well I give a stuff because I’d like to be assured we have well-organized centralised govt departments to make these types of calls, eg Civil Defence.
    I realise and accept the current PTPM is incapable of making any rational decisions.
    
    But perhaps some people would be perfectly fine waiting for a bunch of bystanders, some of whom refuse to move on past the 1800’s, making such calls when the next volcano blows it’s top or a major flood or earthquake occurs.
    And by the way, privately owned or not doesn’t really enter into it.
    
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    December 10, 2019 3:40pm
    - namron
      
      Maoris can put all their stone-age animistic “rahooeys” on whatever and whenever they like, but those of us who don’t also have primitive stone-age animistic beliefs are not likely to take much notice!!
      
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      December 10, 2019 4:38pm
      - KevO'Brien
        
        They still call on taniwha too when they need a little more cash from whoever.
        
        6 0
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        December 10, 2019 7:07pm
    - Maggy Wassilieff
      
      The Ministry for Primary Industries can impose rahui under section 186A of the Fisheries Act 1996.
      
      These will be legally enforceable.
      
      Other rahui are customary, imposed by a local iwi/tribe.
      
      4 1
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      December 10, 2019 4:39pm
    - chaos
      
      maybe you need to go educate yourself. As has been told to you a number of times White Island is privately owned. It is a private scenic reserve. You cannot go to White Island unless you are part of the approved firms that travel there. The minute White Island went boom boom the tourists firms stopped going there, you are not allowed to get in a private boat and go there. You need permission to go on White Island, and to go on it you have to sign a waiver.
      
      The rāhui is purely ceremonial. The police are not letting anyone go there. It is again a privately owned reserve, you do not have permission to go on the island unless you travel with the I think two companies that travel there.
      
      Shame you didn’t hold the same concern about the victims instead of rabbiting on because Maori have put a rāhui on the island after police have taken control of the island and those who can go there even for rescue purpose.
      
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      December 10, 2019 4:42pm
chaos

Two hero’s can now be publicly thanked. Thank you Jim and Scott for protecting New Zealand that day and every day you have been police officers.

* Name suppression has lifted on the two police officers involved in arresting the alleged Christchurch mosque gunman.

They are Senior Constable Jim Manning and Senior Constable Scott Carmody, both of Canterbury.

In the weeks following the attacks they were presented with the Police Commissioner’s Gold Merit Award.*

https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2019/12/christchurch-attack-name-suppression-lifts-for-hero-officers-who-arrested-accused-gunman.html
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December 10, 2019 12:02pm
- Jack5
  
  Hear! Hear!
  
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  December 10, 2019 3:23pm
MH

jainciderator is like the Briscoes lady, you never actually get to see her in the shop. 30% or 60 % agree ?
5 3
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December 10, 2019 12:14pm
- sooty
  
  Briscos have a few shops, you were at the wrong one!
  Where as Cindy has hundreds of kindys!
  
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  December 10, 2019 5:34pm
  - Tall Man
    
    And ardern is surrounded by kindy kids in cabinet… Tammy gets to play with adults.
    
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    December 10, 2019 7:17pm
- Tall Man
  
  Tammy is very very busy. ardern is not.
  
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  December 10, 2019 7:16pm
rightoverlabour

Once again the window of opportunity was lost. “GNS Science’s Dr Ken Gledhill said usually what happened was the eruption would be followed by a period of quiescence – inactivity.” from stuff article
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December 10, 2019 12:35pm
curry4me

Labour wipeout likely on the 12th in the UK election.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Dzco5nfyA8
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December 10, 2019 12:35pm
curry4me

The IG report has been released in the USA.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mysiZpsdvtg
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December 10, 2019 12:36pm
Maggy Wassilieff

Shaky big Earthquake here in Gizzy
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December 10, 2019 12:59pm
- chaos
  
  5.3 that is a good shake. Good time for everyone to check their emergency supplies
  
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  December 10, 2019 1:10pm
- journo
  
  Yes Maggy, up here on the 5th floor of the Emerald complex (just across the way from you) we have had quite a lot of superficial damage.
  
  Felt really weird – it came upwards and actually lifted me from my seat at the desk, then the buildings started swaying rather dramatically from side to side.
  
  Went on much longer than usual, too.
  
  But everyone is OK which is what matters, especially with White Island in mind.
  
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  December 10, 2019 2:29pm
  - Maggy Wassilieff
    
    Yikes…
    
    No damage here on the hill.
    I also experienced 2 different motions… initial sharp shock – then a real sideways rocking of the house. (I was upstairs… but hubby on gd floor said it felt much the same)
    
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    December 10, 2019 4:07pm
    - namron
      
      Over in Mangapapa it felt similar to the way you described it, Maggy.
      A bit of a surprise, though!
      
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      December 10, 2019 4:42pm
- rouppe
  
  Yet it is Wellington that is getting increased insurance premiums due to “earthquake risk”.
  
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  December 10, 2019 3:29pm
cmm

South Africa, yet another nail in the coffin…

Earlier today (our time), South Africa was at level 6 Load shedding which means you only get an average of about 15 hours of power a day.

That is on top of all the unscheduled outages due to transformers blowing up etc which are fairly common anyway.

This was the first time they have reached level 6 (previously level 4 was pretty common – 18 hours of power a day).

This shows huge instability and problems in their generation capacity and the odds of going to level 8 (around 12 hours a day) or a total collapse are pretty high.
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December 10, 2019 1:06pm
- Stephieboy2
  
  cmm, ” empty taps , drought , thirsty power plants ”
  
  https://mg.co.za/article/2019-10-25-00-our-future-is-here-empty-taps-dry-lands-thirsty-power-plants
  
  Thankfully no reason for a wistful to return to Apartheid !
  
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  December 10, 2019 1:48pm
  - Nostradamus
    
    Stephieboy:
    
    I doubt that you can link to a comment where CMM has expressed support for apartheid. And yet you continue to link him to pro-apartheid causes, in the same way that you’ve sought to discredit Maggy’s professional credentials over an extended period of time.. On the other hand we can link to multiple comments of yours that justify your label as Kiwiblog’s dumbest commenter and Kiwiblog’s resident pervert.
    
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    December 10, 2019 2:26pm
    - The King
      
      Many Blacks in SA say life was better under Apartheid, the end of Apartheid was another boomer virtue signal disaster.
      
      4 3
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      December 10, 2019 8:45pm
  - cmm
    
    Typical sick bastard stephie: make light of the suffering of others.
    
    I’m not sure what this has to do with apartheid which ended 25 years ago, except that that was really when the mismanagement of the power utility, Eskom, really took hold.
    
    While you are probably pushing it too far to say that the lack of electricity causes droughts, it does cause a lot of other problems.
    
    Or perhaps you thought the droughts cause the electricity shortages. Nope, it is all down to corruption and incompetence.
    
    SA’s economy is in the shithouse and getting worse. The lack of electricity makes this position ten times worse. That means lots of people, especially brown people, are losing their jobs.
    
    Electricity pumps water. No electricity = no water – especially for brown people who lack the basic survival preparations of water drums etc.
    
    No electricity means no sewerage system pumps. Contents settle making is even harder for the pumps to start again, meaning more strain on a crumbling system. More sewerage leaks, more sick people – especially the brown people who lack back up hygene etc.
    
    No electricity means no food in shops (due to lack of delivery, lack of refrigeration etc). Again, impact is hardest on brown people.
    
    No electricity means more crime, especially in problematic areas like black townships. Again, brown people suffer the most.
    
    But hey, they can vote and that’s the most important thing…. except that less than 50% vote so perhaps not that important.
    
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    December 10, 2019 2:44pm
- fightingtemeraire
  
  In Zimbabwe Ian Smith lived in the same area as Mugabe and his cronies. Their Mansions were surrounded by walls and barbed wire and armed guards.
  
  Ian Smiths was a nice bungalow surrounded by gardens and no fences.
  
  Bet the Zimbabweans wish Ian was back.
  
  I wonder how many countries that were part of the British Empire wish the “Hated white man” was back in charge.
  
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  December 10, 2019 5:02pm
- fightingtemeraire
  
  S African Airways is about to go bust for the same reason.
  
  Also Air India!!!!
  
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  December 10, 2019 5:02pm
Michael

rolling mass outages
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December 10, 2019 1:40pm
Morrissey

What media bias looks like

https://twitter.com/jeremycorbyn/status/1204168230346067968

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/ELYO9AVXUAAJmBc.jpg:large
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December 10, 2019 1:45pm
- Lance
  
  Oh look everyone.
  Morrissey thinks the BBC et al are FAR RIGHT Tory sock puppets……………………………
  ………………………. Bra ha ha ha ha ha
  
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  December 10, 2019 4:28pm
  - Tall Man
    
    “Morrissey thinks”
    
    Well you certainly got that wrong.
    
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    December 10, 2019 6:55pm
chaos

Ouch wrong time of year for this to happen

* Air passengers around the world are facing extensive delays after an apparent fault in the computer system used by customs officials worldwide.

There are long queues at Auckland Airport and passengers in Melbourne have told Newshub it’s the same there.

Passenger Graham Underwood, who is currently at check-in at Melbourne Airport, said the issue is affecting dozens of passengers.*

https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/travel/2019/12/flights-delayed-worldwide-due-to-massive-it-failure.html
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December 10, 2019 1:46pm
Ross Miller

Adolf at No Minister has posted the latest Boris Johnson campaign advert. Go to https://nominister.blogspot.com/2019/12/heres-why-boris-will-bolt-in.html

Topham Guerin methinks
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December 10, 2019 1:52pm
- Tall Man
  
  I think a National campaign will be similar in that they will campaign against “her and him”.
  
  Timing will be everything.
  
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  December 10, 2019 2:29pm
- Morrissey
  
  No, the reason that shyster will “bolt in”, assuming for the sake of argument he does, is because of massive and systemic bias against his opponent.
  
  https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vR-tiGv2w89fnqY1_cPygN8VlP4uROfF9ys8THXB1p0r-UTAPgmx5g3pgWfr-aeo3G3Ka1S-bbtmD1w/pub
  
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  December 10, 2019 2:34pm
  - Ross Miller
    
    When you are effectively dis-endorsed by The New Statesman doesn’t that really say everything.
    
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    December 10, 2019 3:16pm
  - mark15
    
    Perhaps labour will spend the entire next parliamentary term disagreeing with the results.
    Remind you of anything?
    
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    December 10, 2019 3:49pm
  - Libertarians are right
    
    Wow. One of those 59 was actually about Jews.
    
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    December 10, 2019 4:04pm
    - Morrissey
      
      It was fifty times, actually. Not that it matters to a liar like you.
      
      50 times Jeremy Corbyn took a stand to defend Jewish People and Jewish life in Britain. Jeremy attacked Holocaust deniers, and pressured the police to do more to tackle antisemitism.
      
      https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vR-tiGv2w89fnqY1_cPygN8VlP4uROfF9ys8THXB1p0r-UTAPgmx5g3pgWfr-aeo3G3Ka1S-bbtmD1w/pub
      
      This is what an actual anti-Semite looks like….
      
      https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/boris-johnson-book-jews-control-media-general-election-a9239346.html
      
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      December 10, 2019 7:25pm
      - The King
        
        The jews are attacking Trump now..
        
        “Donald Trump is bad for the Jews” – NY Times…
        
        https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/09/opinion/donald-trump-jews.html
        
        There is nothing you can do to please these people.
        
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        December 10, 2019 8:42pm
  - KevO'Brien
    
    When Corbyn announces from time to time that he doesn’t know where he stands on Brexit he disqualifies himself from any Office except Janitor.
    
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    December 10, 2019 7:12pm
- curry4me
  
  One of the best ads I’ve seen in ages.
  
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  December 10, 2019 8:23pm
MH

The only survivor of the White Isld 1914 eruption was Peter the Great.- but only by a whisker.
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December 10, 2019 2:53pm
rouppe

Here we go.

“Questions must be answered”. Looks like another set of law abiding citizens are about to be sacrificed because of an unexpected event.

And don’t say the eruption was easily predicted. White Island has been on Level 2 alert plenty of times where nothing has happened.
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December 10, 2019 3:20pm
chaos

For those wondering about anyone left on White Island yesterday, this is a good read

* Two senior medical clinicians spent about half an hour on Whakaari/White Island yesterday afternoon before concluding there was no one left who could be rescued.

Intensive care paramedic Rusty Clark was on board the Westpac 2 rescue helicopter from Auckland, which was sent out at 2.45pm yesterday.

The chopper arrived at Whakatane Airfield where a staging area was set up for a mass casualty incident.*

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12292582
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December 10, 2019 3:54pm
rightoverlabour

Hey Mikenmildagain, remember this non-story? Hope you feel really good about this now that this non-story has a rising death toll.

Quote from 1st November;

rightoverlabour
How come I have to find this out on an international site?

https://watchers.news/2019/10/31/increased-activity-at-white-island-volcano-new-zealand/

Thumb up 2 Thumb down 1LOG IN TO REPLY REPORTNOVEMBER 1, 2019 7:41PM
mikenmildagain
Perhaps because it’s a non-story.

Thumb up 1 Thumb down 5LOG IN TO REPLY REPORTNOVEMBER 1, 2019 8:10PM
rightoverlabour
Possibly a non-story to Lefty Twats. However, those who are interested in scientific developments, and especially those that suggest a link between enhanced volcanic activity and solar minima, and subsequent impacts on cooling climates, it’s definitely a story.

Thumb up 2 Thumb down 1LOG IN TO REPLY REPORTNOVEMBER 1, 2019 8:50PM

end quote….
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December 10, 2019 4:35pm
- Tall Man
  
  mikey will never let an opportunity to be a smartarse snarky bugger.
  
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  December 10, 2019 6:50pm
  - Ian Boag
    
    Lanky never misses the opportunity for a slap …
    
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    December 10, 2019 6:55pm
    - Tall Man
      
      You’re getting too old for this ian, look for another hobby, maybe macrame.
      
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      December 10, 2019 8:04pm
    - mikenmildagain
      
      He gets a bit antsy. Mum only lets him have internet access after school.
      
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      December 10, 2019 8:45pm
      - Tall Man
        
        Jeez mikey, you mean I’m still young and vital… not old, wizened and irrelevant like yourself?
        
        Awesome.
        
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        December 10, 2019 8:49pm
- mikenmildagain
  
  Um, it was a non-story. NZ media routinely report changes of volcanic alert statuses. No big deal. Show me that an important change was missed by the Nz media and I’ll go hee.
  
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  December 10, 2019 8:46pm
lifesgood

If I hear White Island called Fukery White Island again I’ll scream. I bet the owners, the Buttle family refer to it as White Island. Maori don’t own it so what’s the deal? God RNZ is so bloody woke its nauseating. How many NZers have ever known it as anything but White Island?
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December 10, 2019 4:57pm
- mikenmildagain
  
  Triggered.
  
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  December 10, 2019 8:44pm
  - Tall Man
    
    Seems like you inhabit a very sad and lonely world mikey.
    
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    December 10, 2019 8:55pm
- MCos
  
  The owner is the Whakaari Trust, which is managed by Whakaari Management Limited.
  Hence the name Whakaari/White Island is probably well recognized by the Buttles.
  
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  December 10, 2019 10:48pm
Hugh Pavletich

NEW ZEALAND … Belatedly getting contestable consenting and allowing proper infrastructure financing …

A closer look at Phil Twyford’s much-anticipated Bill that will give central government the power to fast-track large urban development projects … Jenee Tibshraeny … Interest Co NZ

https://www.interest.co.nz/property/102942/closer-look-phil-twyfords-much-anticipated-bill-will-give-central-government-power

One of Urban Development Minister Phil Twyford’s most important pieces of legislation is due to have its first reading in Parliament this week.

The Urban Development Bill is designed to give the new housing agency, Kāinga Ora – Homes and Communities, the power to speed up the development of large urban development projects.

It establishes a process the agency can use to cut the red tape from government-approved public or private urban development projects….

… concluding …

… National’s view

National’s housing spokesperson Judith Collins’ initial take on the Bill is that “it looks similar to some of the things we were doing”.

She said she would be able to comment further once her party’s caucus had discussed it.

National will release a discussion document on its housing policy next Monday.
.
.
… Latest Ipsos NZ Issues Monitor … 62% of New Zealanders cannot afford a home in their local market … with housing being still the major public policy issue, by a country mile …

Ipsos NZ Issues Monitor November 2019

https://www.ipsos.com/en-nz/ipsos-nz-issues-monitor-november-2019
.
.
… Earlier report …

Property owners and developers want more councils to be directed by Government under new planning rules … Marta Steeman … Stuff NZ

https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/116615782/property-owners-and-developers-want-more-councils-to-be-directed-by-government-under-new-planning-rules

… concluding …

… (Local Government New Zealand says …) … The real obstacles to development were a restrictive planning regime, too much risk on councils regarding building and the inability to open up land for development because of poor infrastructure funding and financing tools.
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December 10, 2019 6:31pm
rightoverlabour

Aussies are not happy….
Quote” NZ failed to prepare visitors before White Island eruption”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPc4WA01wJw
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December 10, 2019 8:30pm
- Maggy Wassilieff
  
  Oh dear,
  Our PM is going to look like she’s in charge of some dodgy little 3rd World semi-developed country
  
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  December 10, 2019 8:47pm
  - Tall Man
    
    At least she fits the bill…………….
    
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    December 10, 2019 8:54pm
  - chaos
    
    Well it was first world until her and her corrupt mob took over then things went down hill.
    
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    December 10, 2019 9:33pm
- chaos
  
  This is a better interview, heck better than what we have here too
  
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_93KoBrZEwY
  
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  December 10, 2019 8:59pm
Tall Man

Well, ardern’s pa did say she be back in the media when there was another “Christchurch”….

I guess this qualifies.
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December 10, 2019 9:27pm
Rodney Randall

posted a comment few hours ago.

do the mods have a problem?

have never had issue in the past.

perhaps they are drunk?

fair enough?
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December 10, 2019 10:24pm

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