General Debate 29 December 2019

Email
Facebook
Twitter
Comment142

Uncategorized
General Debate

Comments (142)

Login to comment or vote

artemisia

Promises, promises. What did Minister Sepuloni think would happen when the door to socialist wishlists was flung wide. Whoever could have predicted that any working group of experts she appointed was ever going to recommend a spot of personal responsibility over fleecing taxpayers.

The Government’s landmark report into fixing New Zealand’s welfare system reported back in February, with recommendations published in May. The Government accepted changes worth $285.8 million over four years, roughly 1 per cent of what the group recommended, which worked out to be $5.2 billion a year.

Instead of appointing expensive experts, then ignoring them, Minister Sepuloni could have written her own one paragraph report for free, like for example borrowing this from Thomas Sowell –

“Since this is an era when many people are concerned about ‘fairness’ and ‘social justice,’ what is your ‘fair share’ of what someone else has worked for?”

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/118490028/where-is-the-governments-landmark-welfare-report
53 3
Log in to Reply
Report
December 29, 2019 8:03am
- JibberJabber
  
  Income tax, the fine you pay for being a productive member of society.
  
  48 4
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  December 29, 2019 8:59am
- Sir Cullen's Sidekick
  
  Bro – Give her some time. She is still studying the report and forming further working groups. Now that my master Sir Cullen is free, he needs some work right?
  
  34 2
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  December 29, 2019 9:22am
  - Tall Man
    
    “Sir Cullen free”…
    
    I don’t think so 😉
    
    17 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    December 29, 2019 10:00am
  - Colville
    
    “Call me Sir” Cullen has never been “free” He is the most expensive consultant ever.!!
    
    Give him enough latitude and you will end up owning a multi billion dollar broken train set!
    
    24 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    December 29, 2019 11:43am
    - sooty
      
      He’s tied up with the local trough.
      The local DHB, so he only needs the occasional topup!
      
      10 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      December 29, 2019 1:04pm
    - Tall Man
      
      A perfect example of the effects of moderation.
      
      Multiple comments saying the same thing.
      
      8 1
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      December 29, 2019 1:25pm
    - Paulus
      
      Don’t forget Cullen has just been appointed Chairman of the BOP Health Board too – for a price no doubt.
      
      10 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      December 29, 2019 2:14pm
- Swifty
  
  artemisia – notice too the language used:
  
  ‘…report into fixing New Zealand’s welfare system…’
  
  Fixing?
  
  Anyone reading that will come away thinking our current welfare system is ‘broken’.
  
  Surely this government is merely facing calls by some to make it (even) more generous. It is neither broken nor unbroken.
  
  It’s the same tactic used by the left by calling anything they want changed as ‘an injustice’.
  
  22 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  December 29, 2019 9:51am
  - Ruahine
    
    The other word much beloved of the bullies and the busybodies is Reform. Very little that gets the label Reform attached to is anything like Reform. All it amounts to is that something is changed. Not always for the better either.
    
    7 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    December 29, 2019 2:33pm
  - WaveyDavey
    
    Yes, as I’ve said before: how come I have to earn more to stand still while those who choose nothing get index-linked increases that I have to pay for?
    
    None of our socialist-leaning commenters have ever had the guts/ability to explain.
    
    11 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    December 29, 2019 2:58pm
    - WaveyDavey
      
      choose to do nothing
      
      4 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      December 29, 2019 3:06pm
    - suzieq
      
      And someone on welfare gets to claim more for every subsequent child when no employer in the country accepts “I’m having another child” as a reason to fatten the pay packet.
      
      1 1
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      December 29, 2019 7:46pm
- theoldbloke
  
  Seems we have systemic failure to understand personal responsibility.
  
  Just flew in to Auckland from Asia(No boarding announcements in Asia)
  
  Auckland PA riddled with boarding announcements AND calling passengers who have not turned up.
  Their fault if they miss the flight, nothing to do with Air NZ (rife at Domestic)
  Cancel the PA system I say.
  
  15 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  December 29, 2019 10:39am
igm

No wonder these creeps are referred to as “Fairfax Filth”.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/118500070/all-black-jordie-barrett-kicked-out-of-cricket-test-banned-for-behavioural-issues
Had this been a ethnic from a softball team there would not have been a word reported.
29 6
Log in to Reply
Report
December 29, 2019 8:10am
- Tony Stuart
  
  How far Australia has plunged. Barrett was allegedly ejected from the Gee yesterday for sculling what was left of a beer. Yet only five years ago, former PM the late Bob Hawke was lauded for doing exactly the same thing:
  
  https://youtu.be/q33Xgu5CZtM
  
  Hand in your Man Card Australia!
  
  43 4
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  December 29, 2019 8:40am
  - sooty
    
    So in Australia, you are only allowed to sip your beer gently, in between eating your cucumber sandwhiches.
    
    25 3
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    December 29, 2019 9:25am
    - Batman
      
      The Police and cricket Australia have gone totally mad.
      
      I follow the alternative commentary Instagram and their story has all sorts of people being kicked out for making beer snakes from other people’s cups, and collecting up the plastic drinks trays.
      
      So if you’re being a tidy patron and not making a mess, you’ll be kicked out.
      
      It’s ridiculous. Especially given the brass are all getting sauced on full strength beer in glass bottles in the corporate areas.
      
      18 1
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      December 29, 2019 12:51pm
  - IC5000
    
    Our country, our rules. Never forget you’re merely visitors here just passing through.
    
    0 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    December 29, 2019 10:11pm
oldpark

Black Caps new batting coach. A guy called two metre Peter. How is that working out . Just saying.
16 2
Log in to Reply
Report
December 29, 2019 8:11am
- Tony Stuart
  
  It worked out pretty well against England, but Cummins at the moment is far and away the most lethal fast bowler in the world, and yesterday he showed why. Starc isn’t far behind.
  
  However I wonder what New Zealand’s Mental Skills coach is doing with Kane Williamson. The shot he played to get out at the end of Day Two was appalling, and he seems to not be enjoying his cricket at all at the moment. Maybe if we lose this match, and with it the series, Williamson should be sent home to get away from cricket during the third test, and sort his headspace out.
  
  12 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  December 29, 2019 8:43am
  - Gravelroad
    
    It is as though the NZ batsmen were unprepared physically and mentally for the power of the Australian fast bowlers.
    Surely a coach would have given them a fast bowling workout before they went to Oz along with some advice and skills to deal with the onslaught?
    And if there are no bowlers in NZ who could bowl at 145km plus at practice, maybe they should have employed some from the West Indies or similar to come over and do it.
    As it is, our batsmen look well out of their depth.
    
    6 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    December 29, 2019 12:33pm
- Captain Mainwaring
  
  He was a very average batsman at best. What qualifies him to be batting coach?
  
  14 5
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  December 29, 2019 8:49am
  - Tony Stuart
    
    Enrico Caruso’s singing teacher couldn’t sing a note. You don’t have to have been a good player to become a world-class coach.
    
    26 2
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    December 29, 2019 8:52am
    - Paulus Gnome
      
      ‘Ur Jacinda couldn’t manage to wrap chips and yet . . .
      
      21 1
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      December 29, 2019 9:13am
    - oldpark
      
      @TS
      Of course except the singers coach got positive results. As for Two Metre Peter.Hmmmmm
      
      10 6
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      December 29, 2019 9:23am
  - In Vino Veritas
    
    Coaching isn’t predicated on being a great player. Hesson for instance. Foster and Hansen with the AB’s for instance.
    
    10 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    December 29, 2019 11:18am
  - In Vino Veritas
    
    In fact, using great batter as a coach, you’d only have a few to choose from:
    
    Donnelly, Sutcliffe, Turner, Crowe, Williamson, Taylor. Hmm, its a short list indeed.
    
    Even if you went down to better than average, Wallace, JR Reid, Burgess, Congdon, Wright, Howarth, Fleming, Astle, Richardson and I’m bound to have missed a couple, but you get the picture.
    
    7 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    December 29, 2019 11:26am
  - Humble Capitalist
    
    Hesson would have had a woeful coaching record by that logic Captain. Coaching and playing are two totally different arts. Coaches that had limited success as players sometimes have a greater appreciation of what it takes to get your game to the next level
    
    7 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    December 29, 2019 12:29pm
    - toby1845
      
      And vice versa. Witness Geoff Haworth.
      
      1 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      December 29, 2019 5:51pm
- In Vino Veritas
  
  Lol Oldpark. Its always the coaches fault isn’t it? After all, he’s the one carrying the bat onto the field of play, and hitting the ball, or not. Oh wait!
  Blundell played a shit shot, Williamson same, Nicholls got a good one first up, and it happens, Taylor played at one he could have left, Watling got a peach. De Granhomme is a hitter who likes to feel bat on ball and doesnt have the patience to wait. But he’s 7 or 8.
  
  2 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  December 29, 2019 11:08am
- Humble Capitalist
  
  Hardly Fulton’s fault this effort. If McMillan was still there I dont think it would have made any difference. White, Stead, Larsen and Williamson should be the main ones under the microscope for the preparation of the players, the selection and the tactics
  
  2 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  December 29, 2019 12:27pm
Paulus Gnome

The writing is on the wall Trev . . .

‘No one in this Government will be rushing to give Bercow a peerage. He likes to think of himself as a reforming Speaker, yet he’s been dogged by scandals and given up any pretence he is impartial.

‘With bullying claims, his Brexit bias and a willingness to ride roughshod over established procedures, this Speaker has undermined public faith in Parliament.’

Should happen here.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7832217/John-Bercow-Speaker-denied-peerage-Tory-revenge.html
42 2
Log in to Reply
Report
December 29, 2019 8:15am
- artemisia
  
  A very telling little vid at that link. Opposition benches full to overflowing and no jazz hands in sight. Government benches – ha!
  
  16 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  December 29, 2019 9:38am
Happychappy

Is it ironic when hear Jacinda and David Clark talk about how the previous Government had under funded the Health budget for nine years and what a disgrace it was, then you get Headlines like this.
Coromandel first responders have rescue helicopter removed, warn Government it could endanger lives. Also weeks before, St Johns Government puts lives at risk with no funding.
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2019/12/coromandel-first-responders-have-rescue-helicopter-removed-warn-government-it-could-endanger-lives.html
The Health sector is struggling without enough funding around the Country for Xmas holidays and the summer activities when people are most vulnerable with drowning, accidents and bad Health, but has a Government that is more about blame and less about promises to fund what’s required by the taxpayer.
40 1
Log in to Reply
Report
December 29, 2019 8:21am
- chaos
  
  I have a relative who went in with a collapsed hip, first appointment, they rushed him through the system and made it an urgent job, had it done in less than a month, und the previous government. We hear constantly from his surgeon that they are turning people away now because the money is not there, fuck you labour
  
  https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/118108146/waiting-in-pain-canterbury-woman-with-a-collapsed-hip-desperate-for-treatment
  
  39 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  December 29, 2019 8:51am
  - Sir Cullen's Sidekick
    
    All the money is with Shame Jones.
    
    38 2
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    December 29, 2019 9:24am
    - Tall Man
      
      Page 1, Item 1 of the trougher’s manual:
      
      Do whatever it takes to stay in power.
      
      16 1
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      December 29, 2019 10:04am
    - backster
      
      To do quid pro quo dosh to Iwi Trusts for votes in Northland.
      
      0 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      December 30, 2019 12:29pm
  - septic skeptic
    
    They put the money where they will get the best bang for buck – payrises for union members.
    
    15 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    December 29, 2019 10:54am
    - chaos
      
      not Just that but it is the local dhb that are in charge of the go practices so the cheaper doctors visits would I guess also come from the local dhb budgets so basically the hospitals would have less funding when everything is taken out than they did beforehand
      
      4 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      December 29, 2019 1:39pm
- info@cruzpro.com
  
  Lost the sight in one eye due to cataract. The surgery to correct this takes approximately one hour. Can’t get the surgery until you’re blind in both eyes and then they will only fix one. The waiting list is 3-6 months after you qualify. Doesn’t sound like a quality health system to me.
  
  42 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  December 29, 2019 9:05am
  - theoldbloke
    
    Had my cataracts done in Asia,
    Excellent Surgeon has Kiwi grand daughter and understands our “”lingo””.
    
    No waiting list!!!! as He operates every day.
    Actually operation is 10-12 minutes. His support team prep everything
    
    $700 USD including all followups (1 day, 3 days,1 week, 2 weeks)
    
    23 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    December 29, 2019 10:42am
    - Jules99
      
      Wow – my dad paid around $8K in Auckland. Only one person in the theatre spoke English as a first language and he happened to come from my dad’s home town. Sadly he would never consider going overseas but I would.
      
      10 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      December 29, 2019 12:56pm
    - chaos
      
      My parents had theirs done here, yes 10 minute procedure that changes lives. When my mother had it done the specialist said she just got in before labour put up the points you needed and then for her next one if he decides it needs doing pretend you are half blind from that eye.
      
      8 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      December 29, 2019 1:41pm
    - Paulus
      
      My wife had a sudden serious eye problem in Shanghai flew back to Singapore next day, as scheduled, where they have a single Eye Hospital – they were brilliant, nearly all as we found out trained in London’s Moorfields Hospital.
      
      7 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      December 29, 2019 2:21pm
- Sir Cullen's Sidekick
  
  All John Key’s fault bro. Move on….
  
  18 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  December 29, 2019 9:24am
- Jules99
  
  I spoke to a leftie the other day who was saying that the government should fund or give tax rebates to encourage people to get electric cars. I said if they have to fund anything, I would rather it was ambulances, like they do in other countries. She went quiet after that.
  
  23 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  December 29, 2019 9:49am
Yvette

A small but significant announcement from [Ardern’s] office this year was the hiring of 17 new full-time investigators dedicated to finding and stopping violent extremism online – something this country has never had, nor needed, until March 15. https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/406116/progressive-legislation-results-from-year-s-tragedy-and-trauma

Why does this receive less attention than the so-called “Christchurch Call”?
Unless it has been badly explained, aren’t the “Christchurch Call” protocols aimed at eliminating video or manifestos being distributed with a future attack – so doesn’t it actually preordain another attack before any of it has any meaning?
Doesn’t the “Christchurch Call” protocols depend on the 17 investigators failing.
Wouldn’t it be smarter to increase their numbers or facilities to ensure their greater success?
33 2
Log in to Reply
Report
December 29, 2019 8:29am
- Tony Stuart
  
  What’s the bet one of those 17 is assigned to monitor Kiwiblog every day?
  
  Perhaps DPF’s team of moderators is actually doing some contributors a favour if they are, as alleged by some, deleting comments before they appear.
  
  39 5
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  December 29, 2019 8:50am
  - The King
    
    Yeah, trade freedom of speech for a Stasi unit so you can feel secure, about mean words online.
    
    Tarrant never said anything violent or extreme online, now think about that for a minute.
    
    12 4
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    December 29, 2019 9:59am
  - Liberty
    
    Tony at least 5 of the spooks have you in their
    Little book.
    
    10 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    December 29, 2019 12:04pm
    - Tony Stuart
      
      I’m sure they do.
      
      How are you going fellas? Did Jacinda give you Christmas off, or did you all have to work?
      
      9 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      December 29, 2019 3:10pm
- chaos
  
  The Christchurch call as I understand it is basically just for the social media companies to tell them what they were already doing before this but Jacinda didn’t understand that you cannot monitor every damn thing put on social media or streamed and have to rely on users to report. These 17 people are to take over what until then was added to other departments to monitor of people in NZ doing online, monitoring people who visit sites they deem to be dangerous. All in all if you want to avoid them it isn’t hard to do. Smoke and mirrors, look what we are doing to stop this happening again, let’s hope that they don’t realise we were ignoring some in the mosque who were dangerous to this country and ssssh, we let in some of their even more dangerous relatives
  
  28 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  December 29, 2019 8:57am
  - igm
    
    [Mod: deleted. If you insist on repeating this you may find yourself on a commenting holiday.]
    
    3 4
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    December 29, 2019 10:08am
- MrLovebucket
  
  Not a super surprise to see a communist start their own secret police. Nothing good will come from this.
  
  47 2
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  December 29, 2019 8:59am
  - mikenmildagain
    
    Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
    You don’t think we already had a ‘secret police’?
    
    5 37
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    December 29, 2019 9:40am
    - Maggy Wassilieff
      
      So why the heck did we need another 17?
      
      Was it because the cops let a mad Ozzie slip under their radar?
      
      50 1
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      December 29, 2019 9:52am
      - rangitoto
        
        Will Cindy call it the GUGB?
        
        11 0
        Report
        December 29, 2019 10:28am
  - Stephieboy2
    
    Mr Lovebucket, where do think our Lubyanka should be located?
    
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lubyanka_Building
    
    0 18
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    December 29, 2019 10:46am
    - MrLovebucket
      
      She’ll want it in Mt Albert. I suspect Hellun will eagerly volunteer to manage the interrogation squad.
      
      8 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      December 29, 2019 1:02pm
      - Stephieboy2
        
        Go and see your Doctor!
        
        0 12
        Report
        December 29, 2019 3:12pm
- Ruahine
  
  Remember the lie that was put around that John Key and the GCSB was spying on us. How about the truth then. Jacinda Ardern is spying on us. Not a word from the unctuous John Campbell about this.
  
  61 2
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  December 29, 2019 9:14am
  - mikenmildagain
    
    Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
    Have you checked under your bed for ‘spies’ this morning?
    
    4 58
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    December 29, 2019 9:42am
    - Tall Man
      
      What a particularly pathetic comment, even from one such as you.
      
      Why don’t you leave the abject stupidity to steffy?
      
      15 2
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      December 29, 2019 10:06am
  - Yvette
    
    Ruahine, it was Winston’s imagined explanation that Key had agencies spying for him.
    
    Regarding alleged secret visits to the giant German Kim Dotcom’s rented mansion, Mr Peters refused to confirm or deny the liaisons, saying it was a private issue.
    Then Kim Dotcom tweeted, “Winston Peters didn’t answer questions about his visit because we agreed on confidence. I release him from this confidence now.”
    
    In a statement, Mr Peters said National Party sources obviously knew of the three meetings and this points to information being passed to and from the top floor of the Beehive … “New Zealanders should be outraged that a former Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Minister and Opposition party leader has apparently been spied on,” he said.
    Mr Dotcom built on this theory, tweeting, “Ask John Key how he knew about Winston Peters visiting the mansion 3 times. Only 4 people knew about it & probably Ian Fletcher at the GCSB.” [1]
    
    (An aside here is that Winston denied meeting Dotcom three times. Turns out that one time Dotcom met him – just a little technicality that seems to determine the truth with certain people: unless you are literally word-for-word right, you are wrong. Like: $18,000, say no more … or less)
    
    However … it was the GCSB and the SIS that Winston accused of telling John Key how often Winston went to see Kim Dotcom, but of course it transpired that it was Winston (with an apparent memory fade) who himself told Rachel Glucina, reporter, at a Waitangi Day race meeting, and Key read it in Rachel’s Herald gossip column, before that being highlighted on WhaleOil. [2]
    
    So it appears to be a prior example of something Winston considered “private” but he had himself apparently revealed more about it than anyone else concerned.
    And Winston can make statements that are apparently unfounded and not return to correct those in any way so they remain almost as recorded “history”.
    
    [1] https://www.nbr.co.nz/article/peters-admits-mansion-visits-sides-dotcom-against-key-and-claims-govt-could-be-spying-him-ck
    [2] WhaleOil
    
    9 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    December 29, 2019 10:03am
    - Paulus
      
      Possibly Sir Winston on Tuesday – last chance !
      
      2 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      December 29, 2019 2:24pm
- KevO'Brien
  
  Ardern’s personal witch hunters?
  
  4 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  December 29, 2019 3:34pm
tedbear

Is this the future of the suburbia greenie road system?
https://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/climate-news/118433513/petrol-station-next-to-cycleway-beggars-belief-upset-nelson-locals-say
Now that 3 metres of the road that motorists pay for has been given to cyclists for free, motorists may have to squeeze past each other to avoid collisions. Could be fun for trucks and buses.
There doesn’t appear to be yellow lines on the cycle road but if/when they’re painted, you will now have to park over and down the road if you used to park your car outside your front gate.
32 2
Log in to Reply
Report
December 29, 2019 8:40am
- Paulus Gnome
  
  Did these dicks not learn a thing from the Island Bay debacle?
  
  Looks the same sort of mayhem but in Nelson.
  
  Socialism; just one more try and it will work this time . . .
  
  33 2
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  December 29, 2019 9:18am
- sooty
  
  Yet, cycleways pass many high traffic fow enterances along many streets, to supermarkets, building suppliers, garden centres!
  Yet they are different?
  Would it be different if they sold cheaper petrol?
  NIMBYs, I think!
  
  22 2
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  December 29, 2019 9:31am
- Tall Man
  
  Sorry Teddy, downticked in error.
  
  4 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  December 29, 2019 10:07am
- JackRabbit
  
  These cycle tracks are created by people stuck in their own Lycra clad wet dreams. It is all about them, not road safely or road users as a whole.
  
  16 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  December 29, 2019 10:09am
- MCos
  
  Not a cycle way to be seen in our suburb.
  All the streets have footpaths for those freeloading pedestrians and ever increasing numbers of mobility scooters.
  Plenty of people are fighting back by parking their cars on the footpaths.
  
  8 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  December 29, 2019 11:18am
chaos

I saw this morning and had a little chuckle, stuff pushing the line that this govt is doing so well, that they have 11 billion in bribes for the election year, yes, borrowing 19 billion, and another 3 billion for housing nz. Great books passed on to them and they have wrecked it already. The regions aren’t thriving as the media want to tell you, some are actually so bad farmers are struggling and sadly thensuicide rate there will go up again, not because times are bad but because this govt is fucking the over

https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/118299370/government-could-yet-squeak-into-surplus-despite-opening-wallet
44 2
Log in to Reply
Report
December 29, 2019 9:00am
- JackRabbit
  
  The German with the bad haircut used to report that as a country, Germany was a united success, all the while running gas chambers 24/7.
  
  9 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  December 29, 2019 10:12am
- RW Capitalist
  
  The regions are doing SSSOOO well, that 2 regional Bunning’s stores are closing, costing about 35 jobs.
  I say, this is just the beginning, watch out 2020.
  
  15 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  December 29, 2019 12:26pm
  - Tall Man
    
    They were tired old buildings and that did have some bearing on the decision.
    
    As usual, a labour government is good for our business and the past year has been no exception.
    
    6 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    December 29, 2019 1:32pm
Sir Cullen's Sidekick

I think NZ has made great progress under Jacinda Ardern. Poverty has been completely eliminated, clime crisis under control thanks to plastic bags ban, oil prices are down at the pump due to Taranki oil ban, trees everywhere thanks to Shame Jones’ cousies, people seem to be very happy. Bring on 2020 election Mr Bridges!
50 3
Log in to Reply
Report
December 29, 2019 9:27am
- tedbear
  
  And light rail to Mt Roskill will be up and running by next month.
  
  19 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  December 29, 2019 10:05am
  - Tall Man
    
    In the alternate universe ardern’s mind inhabits.
    
    6 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    December 29, 2019 1:30pm
- Tall Man
  
  I know you won’t mind but I changed your final statement a tad to reflect more accurately the situation 😉
  
  “Bring on Mr Bridges’ 2020 election!”
  
  12 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  December 29, 2019 10:10am
  - KevO'Brien
    
    ☑️☑️Rout2020☑️☑️
    
    6 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    December 29, 2019 3:37pm
- Stephieboy2
  
  Only about 335 sleeps left and begin cutting notches on your belt when you get out of your cot each day!
  
  1 30
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  December 29, 2019 10:55am
-D

From Damien Grant’s current opinion piece in Stuff:

“Sadly, the demise of iPredict means I can no longer test my wits against others in the market and it is only fair to disclose that my past predictions of economic collapse have proved wrong.”

The ‘demise’ of iPredict is another example of the country’s mania for banning things perceived (by some) to cause ‘harm’. It is dim-witted and diminishing for the rest of us.

I say BRING BACK iPredict !!
28 1
Log in to Reply
Report
December 29, 2019 9:37am
- Jules99
  
  I suspect you would make more money betting on the opposite of every one of his predictions in that column.
  
  8 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  December 29, 2019 9:53am
  - -D
    
    That is exactly what iPredict is for.
    
    2 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    December 29, 2019 5:25pm
- Wired-one
  
  I’ll add this part which was from the same article
  
  “most media commentators have been blindsided by their enthusiasm for her abundant personal qualities and have engaged a wilful blindness to the failings of her administration.”
  
  Sums up my feelings exactly. We deserve better from our MSM.
  
  26 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  December 29, 2019 10:16am
Rodney Randall

https://www.stuff.co.nz/world/africa/118501137/truck-bomb-explodes-in-somalias-capital-killing-at-least-61-people

https://www.counterextremism.com/threat/al-shabab

“Doctrine:

Al-Shabab’s ideology is typically described as a brand of Salafism and Wahhabism that supports takfir, the excommunication of apostates or unbelievers. Though it has stated many goals in the past, the group fights first and foremost to create a fundamentalist Islamic state in the Horn of Africa* that would include not only Somalia but also Djibouti, Kenya, and Ethiopia.*

Under al-Shabab’s strict brand of sharia, stonings, amputations, and beheadings are regular punishment for criminals and apostates. The group violently persecutes non-Muslims and clashes frequently with humanitarian and international aid workers.* Out of an estimated 6,000-12,000 fighters as of March 2016, only a small handful are believed to be ethnically non-Somali.”

Timeline:

Timeline of Violent Activities:

[Mod: cut from comment as copy/paste spam. Don’t be that guy.]
6 4
Log in to Reply
Report
December 29, 2019 9:41am
- Rodney Randall
  
  A bit heavy handed Mod in my humble opinion given this is General Debate.
  
  Perhaps Al Shabab’s Timeline of Violent Activities, as listed on the counter exremism website, makes you uncomfortable?
  
  For the most part my posts are short and sweet.
  
  Ocasionally, in light of world events, it is helpful to provide some objective historicity in an attempt to illucidate the magnitude of world events. This is done as a matter of courtesy.
  
  It was my sincere intention to provide that objectivity: in list form.
  
  Your rightful decision to label that as spam is most vexing although I suspect you are under house orders.
  
  I will let others make up their minds.
  
  5 2
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  December 29, 2019 3:31pm
  - Tall Man
    
    And yet we have hugh and steffy…….
    
    6 2
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    December 29, 2019 6:45pm
Maggie Pie

“What’s ClarkE getting up to in Sydney tonite?”

Asking for a friend…… 😛

https://twitter.com/pulpyfictorious/status/1210833585004875776
21 2
Log in to Reply
Report
December 29, 2019 10:13am
- sooty
  
  Depends if he is carrying the handbag or not!
  
  8 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  December 29, 2019 12:55pm
- Tall Man
  
  Searching Tinder as usual.
  
  3 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  December 29, 2019 4:35pm
MCos

We usually go to the Avondale Market on Sunday morning and I buy a coffee off some Indian blokes.
When the English cricketers were here the Blackcaps were ‘our’ team.
Now they’re my team.
8 0
Log in to Reply
Report
December 29, 2019 10:28am
Stephieboy2

Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
The many ludicrous justifications right-wing media used to call for Obama’s impeachment”

Ludicruous justifications ?

Well yes if you fast backwards in history

Examples , Right wing conservative media , Tea party nutters questioning Obama’s citizenship and born outside the US as grounds for impeachment

Some kind of malevolence towards the land of the free all vague and nonspecific towards the land of the free further ground so impeachment

Conspiracy theories whirling around Obama cited for 12 impeachable offences . Again all nebulous , vague and all untrue.

The Arab Spring, Benghazi etc etc

Bad Faith actors wanting “Obama’s head on pike” over Obama’s investment in Green Energy cf Trump supporting failed Coal Companies and bailing out US Farmers over a trade war started by him,

https://www.mediamatters.org/barack-obama/looking-back-many-ludicrous-justifications-right-wing-media-used-call-obamas
0 31
Log in to Reply
Report
December 29, 2019 10:51am
- KevO'Brien
  
  Obama appears to be implicated in the illegal surveillance of Trump’s campaign. If so he should be exposed too.
  
  If the Dems continue their present way of disrespecting law there will be no more United States. Retaliation is being invited and so on to civil war.
  
  8 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  December 29, 2019 3:43pm
Tall Man

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/10631647/boris-johnson-and-girlfriend-carrie-symonds-save-taxpayers-thousands-by-flying-economy-to-caribbean-for-new-year/

Two things spring to mind.

1) Can anyone see ardern doing this?

2) Notice that the photo and story came from a member of the public, not one of the overpaid bullshit spreaders employed by us, the taxpayers, to promote the virtual signalling of our corrupt pm.
35 3
Log in to Reply
Report
December 29, 2019 11:15am
Maggy Wassilieff

A sensible opinion piece in Stuff today.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/opinion/118491108/turn-down-the-hysterics-on-turnardern-or-risk-alienating-many-on-the-left
31 0
Log in to Reply
Report
December 29, 2019 11:34am
- Gravelroad
  
  Reminds me of the US presidential debate when the grinning left wing candidate Hillary Clinton referred to “the deplorables” as being voters for Trump – “the deplorables” being “red neck” rurals and tradespeople presumably.
  I watched that debate and knew then that Trump would win.
  
  12 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  December 29, 2019 1:15pm
  - Stephieboy2
    
    Deplorables? As it turned out she was correct!
    
    0 16
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    December 29, 2019 3:14pm
    - Gravelroad
      
      So you agree with Hillary that tradies and rural people are deplorable then?
      Nice.
      
      7 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      December 29, 2019 4:28pm
- Fletch
  
  I turned a magazine and a book the other day just where I happened to be. I wasn’t planning to, but then i thought, well why not?
  
  1 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  December 29, 2019 7:38pm
curry4me

No deal Brexit is coming according to the WTO.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQRSxpM5jjU
6 0
Log in to Reply
Report
December 29, 2019 11:44am
- Michael
  
  about time.
  ots what people voted for…..
  
  0 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  December 29, 2019 11:05pm
tedbear

In a unique study Massey University’s Dr Diane ‘Dee’ Muller found Māori are twice as likely to have short and inconsistent sleep.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/parenting/118249327/research-shows-inequities-in-childrens-sleep
“Access to resources, even something as simple as a warm, dry house, or the ability to darken a room to encourage deeper sleep are out of the reach of some families.”

Hey Jacinda I’m sure you can find a few $$$ laying around to provide Maori families with curtains for the kiddies’ bedrooms to fix these inequities.
16 2
Log in to Reply
Report
December 29, 2019 11:46am
tedbear

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/ldr/406325/pay-rise-for-gisborne-councillors-as-candidate-expenses-revealed

“Gisborne district councillors will receive an 11 percent pay rise while the deputy mayor’s salary is going up by 28.5 percent to $66,014, compared to before the election in October.”

How the hell can they get away with those obscene pay rise percentages?
14 2
Log in to Reply
Report
December 29, 2019 12:00pm
- chaos
  
  blame the Remuneration Authority
  
  4 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  December 29, 2019 1:34pm
- Ruahine
  
  Ross seems to be doing quite well for himself.
  
  1 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  December 29, 2019 2:16pm
- Maggy Wassilieff
  
  I see that RNZ article is written by one of the tax-payer supported Local Democracy Reporters.
  
  The article has a photo of Ross Meurant captioned as one of the GDC councillors.
  
  Ross Meurant is not a GDC councillor…. he did not stand for council… only for the Mayoralty (which he was never going to win).
  
  https://www.gdc.govt.nz/councillor-contact-details/
  
  It might help if some of the Local Democracy reporters knew what they were writing about.
  
  14 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  December 29, 2019 2:28pm
- curry4me
  
  They should be 2%, or inflation, whichever is the lowest.
  
  0 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  December 29, 2019 8:55pm
curry4me

A Croatian pop singer might become their next PM.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PoXQXHboT-U
3 0
Log in to Reply
Report
December 29, 2019 12:03pm
- Jack5
  
  The election’s for the post of President of Croatia.
  
  After the first round, the current president, Kolinda Grabar Kitarovic, is up against a former president, Zoran Milanovic. The entertainer, Miroslav Skoro, a conservative folk musician and former member of Parliament, is now out of contention.
  
  The run-off election between Zoran Milanovic and Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic will be held next Sunday.
  
  Grabar-Kitarovic is an eye-catching politician.
  
  http://socialnewselites.blogspot.com/2016/01/kolinda-grabar-kitarovic-croatian.html
  
  4 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  December 29, 2019 1:40pm
  - Tall Man
    
    She has certainly caught your eye 🙂
    
    2 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    December 29, 2019 6:41pm
    - Jack5
      
      Yep, more appealing than Jacinderella. ?
      
      1 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      December 29, 2019 9:13pm
Batman

Every base has a fringe but sometimes that fringe looks pretty damn stupid.

‘Nothing Less Than a Civil War’: These White Voters on the Far Right See Doom Without Trump https://nyti.ms/2ssSW7o

The end times are coming I tells ya! ?
3 16
Log in to Reply
Report
December 29, 2019 12:58pm
- Tall Man
  
  However, as time moves on and the aoc’s of this world become the majority without maturity what do you see coming?
  
  6 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  December 29, 2019 1:26pm
- All_on_Red
  
  When it comes to the Democrats the mainstream looks pretty stupid.
  Seriously, have you heard the shit which Pelosi mumbles?
  Let alone some of their Congress and Senate members.
  Then there’s all the nonsense their Candidates are saying.
  But hey, you look down your nose at those poor Trump voters- snob.
  
  17 3
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  December 29, 2019 1:33pm
Paulus

Is the deliberate overstayer Behrouz Boochani still here courtesy of his compatriot Golriz Ghahraman and the complicit Immigration Minister ?
16 1
Log in to Reply
Report
December 29, 2019 2:29pm
- Tall Man
  
  Hey, he’s a real vote getter for G—-. I used to use her nickname but that was vetoed by the mods for some inane reason.
  
  Those that support mass immigration and open borders will throng to the ballot boxes to give her the big tick… all 12 of them.
  
  I’d rather she popped down to the local paddock and picked up a couple of local ticks 😉
  
  8 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  December 29, 2019 6:38pm
greybeard

Looks as though Ross Taylor couldn’t be bothered batting for 2 days to save the test.
He can now put his feet up and rest for the remainder of the game.
Pathetic for someone with his experience and salary.
6 6
Log in to Reply
Report
December 29, 2019 2:30pm
- Gravelroad
  
  Yes, their complacency is puzzling.
  These people are meant to be professional cricketers. They get paid for playing. It is their job.
  Yet some of them just don’t seem to be too bothered.
  Maybe it’s because they know their spots in the team are not under threat as there is no one better in New Zealand’s small player pool to replace them?
  
  7 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  December 29, 2019 3:41pm
Swifty

1970 Daytona 500:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4TlXmZJtEB0
4 0
Log in to Reply
Report
December 29, 2019 2:34pm
- GregM
  
  Awesome stuff. Back in the good days of big ole carbureted V8’s in real cars, not space frames with body panels tacked on.
  Makes the modern supercars look like a kids go kart race.
  
  5 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  December 29, 2019 3:19pm
  - Swifty
    
    Agreed – I love that era.
    
    3 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    December 29, 2019 3:47pm
Sydney Alvarado

I heard David Seymour on the radio pre Christmas. Apparantly the employment contracts of all MP staffers says that they “must comply with the principles of the Treaty. ” Seymour makes his staff cross out the clause. He said he gets endless grief from Parliamentary Services but he just ignores them. Yet another example of why he is MP of the year.
31 1
Log in to Reply
Report
December 29, 2019 2:46pm
- KevO'Brien
  
  As such terms of issues of conscience their enforecability is dubious.
  
  9 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  December 29, 2019 3:50pm
WaveyDavey

“Millions spent on assault rifles that Australian police don’t use”

https://www.stuff.co.nz/world/australia/118504829/millions-spent-on-assault-rifles-that-australian-police-dont-use

Well so f*cking what? Yep someone is whining, maybe they’d have preferred it if the polis had had to use them?

The lunatics are, if not in charge, free from the asylum.
4 2
Log in to Reply
Report
December 29, 2019 2:56pm
- Tall Man
  
  The photo of “screw” face doesn’t add to the article.
  
  1 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  December 29, 2019 4:28pm
chaos

Good video in this. I personally believe deep fakes are more common than people realise

* Imagine a scenario where, on the eve of next year’s presidential election, the Democratic nominee appears in a video where he or she endorses President Trump.

Now, imagine it the other way around. Or that both endorse the other.

Preposterous, right?

But it’s exactly what a British think tank, Future Advocacy, was able to show is possible — as a warning of sorts — in the weeks leading up to the Dec. 12 election in the United Kingdom. It created two videos which, despite never happening, appeared entirely authentic, one with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson endorsing his opponent, Jeremy Corbyn; and another, with Corbyn endorsing Johnson. *

https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2019/12/24/deepfakes-michigan-members-of-congress-address-threat/2679222001/
3 0
Log in to Reply
Report
December 29, 2019 3:33pm
- Tall Man
  
  Now, can we get a couple of deep fakes for ardern and “what’s in it for wynston” and use them to replace the real ones? We’ll get more sense out of the fakes I think.
  
  1 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  December 29, 2019 4:24pm
  - chaos
    
    But the. We will know they are deep fakes instead of just the fakes they are
    
    0 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    December 29, 2019 7:19pm
chaos

Heartbreaking. Seriously time we look at how we are raising kids now and why they are turning out like this

* An Australian step-father will soon have his life support stopped after being bashed by a gang of up to 15 youths following a neighbourhood dispute over fireworks.

Jess Clark has confirmed to 9News that her step-father Anthony Clark was to have his life support turned off on Sunday after he was left braindead on Christmas night in Melbourne.

She believes Anthony was beaten up by the group as they were angry a firework had gone off, disturbing their dog. A neighbour also heard a firework before the incident.*

https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/world/2019/12/australian-man-s-life-support-to-end-after-bashed-by-gang-of-youths-over-fireworks-dispute.html
7 0
Log in to Reply
Report
December 29, 2019 5:08pm
chaos

As we go into 2020 let us remember what the world now looks like, omg it’s really bad……

* A secret report, suppressed by US defence chiefs and obtained by The Observer, warns that major European cities will be sunk beneath rising seas as Britain is plunged into a ‘Siberian’ climate by 2020. Nuclear conflict, mega-droughts, famine and widespread rioting will erupt across the world.*

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2004/feb/22/usnews.theobserver
10 1
Log in to Reply
Report
December 29, 2019 5:39pm
chaos

Sold in nz, if you have kids on an acne drug check into it.

* Ten suicides this year have been linked to a powerful acne drug as the medicines regulator reopens an inquiry into it after being contacted by patients.

Twelve deaths were recorded in 2019, 10 by suicide, by people who had been prescribed Roaccutane, according to data from the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).*

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2019/dec/27/suicides-linked-to-acne-drug-roaccutane-as-regulator-reopens-inquiry
6 0
Log in to Reply
Report
December 29, 2019 5:46pm
greybeard

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/118111369/fire-destroys-hamilton-familys-safe-place

“I was burning some gift wrapping in the fireplace and went outside to hang some towels on the line. A spark must have come out on the Christmas tree because it was right next to the fireplace – and it was a real Christmas tree,” she said.

“All the kids Christmas presents like new tablets.
“Stuff for our house: the TV, lounge suite, washing machine, all our food and all our bedroom stuff.”

“she is hoping that it won’t take as long this time around to get another house.”

There is so much wrong with this ‘story’ I don’t know where to begin.

I am really sorry for what the little kids are enduring. As a father and grandfather whose family is secure and sensible I feel for those who are not, but sometimes stories like this come up and I question their truthfulness.

– if she is a solo mother with 4 young kids, from where does she get money to buy tablets, bicycles etc, on top of the money needed to keep them alive ?
– has she a job ?
– did she have insurance?
5 3
Log in to Reply
Report
December 29, 2019 5:49pm
wreck1080

You national bigots need to read this….

https://www.nbr.co.nz/story/won-t-somebody-think-productivity

Labour supporters should t be smug as labour are even worse.

When will politicians address real living improvements?

I don’t expect many here to read the link anyway, as most kiwi bloggers don’t subscribe to quality media publications.
1 10
Log in to Reply
Report
December 29, 2019 7:35pm
- chaos
  
  Always strange when someone gets abusive then claims people won’t read it but they link to a paywall article that people can’t read. What a dick post really mods why approve a post that just abuses people?
  
  1 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  December 29, 2019 8:22pm
  - Steve Todd
    
    Yes, it appears that wreck seized upon a flimsy excuse to churlishly denigrate those who choose to frequent a blogsite that expresses points of view that he generally disagrees with.
    
    If he thinks we need to read this article, even though he “[knows that] most kiwi bloggers don’t subscribe to quality media publications”, then all he needed to do, as Maggy has pointed out, is provide us with a summary of it.
    
    That way, he would have ensured that we were made aware of an alternative point of view, which some of us may have appreciated. Instead, by approaching this matter the way he has, not only do we remain ignorant of the content of the article, but, from now on, we will pay less attention to his future comments, knowing the person behind them is just a/an [insert your own adjective].
    
    Basically, an “own goal” for wreck1080.
    
    0 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    December 30, 2019 7:35am
- Steve Todd
  
  There’s no point in giving us a link to an article that’s paywalled, wreck.
  
  1 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  December 29, 2019 8:29pm
- Tall Man
  
  Why post a link that needs a subscription?
  
  2 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  December 29, 2019 8:45pm
Maggy Wassilieff

I don’t expect many here to read the link anyway, as most kiwi bloggers don’t subscribe to</i.

Can't afford a subscription.
Do you think we are all rich pricks on KB?

Why don't you provide us with a summary of the article?
5 1
Log in to Reply
Report
December 29, 2019 9:30pm

Add a Comment Cancel reply

Login to comment or vote

« The best decade ever

The lack of knowledge on NZ history »

Donations

You can now donate to Kiwiblog

Exclusive content from DPF on Patreon

Become a Patron!

Never miss a post

Email Address

Join 37.4K other subscribers

Highlights

Health Target 5 – elective treatments
Health Target 4 – Specialist appointments
Health Target 3 – Emergency Dept Waiting Times
Health Target 2 – Immunisations

Links

Property Rights for “Sesame Street”
Not PC
Airstrip One Policing
No Minister
Word of the day
Hompaddock
Watts will be bracing for the cold in Antarctica while Luxon is bracing for a White House change (and Trump’s taste for tariffs)
Point of Order
Justice Department Indicts Alleged Swatters of Turley, Members of Congress, and Others
Utopia
BISHOP BRIAN TAMAKI
No Punches Pulled (Bob Jones)
Green Party out of the woke frying pan into the woke fire
The Daily Blog
Treaty Principles Debate
NZCPR
Justice in Brazil
No Right Turn
The transgender agenda sunk Kamala
Bob McCoskrie's McBlog
What does “reciprocity” mean in New Zealand laws?
Croaking Cassandra
Media Link: “A View from Afar” on the US elections.
Kiwipolitico
This will not end well
Offsetting Behaviour
Top 14 Predictions for Round 10
Stats Chat
Tory Whanau may have to sell Wellington mayoralty to make ends meet
The Civilian
The Accidental Engagement
Imperator Fish
Legal Beagle: Election '23: The Special Votes
Public Address
Making this movie might have been a mistake
Liam Hehir
Why I am retiring from political blogging
Kiwi FireWalker
Angie Warren-Clark: Meet the Newbies
Dan Moskovitz

editor@kiwiblog.co.nz

PO Box 12270, Thorndon, Wellington 6144

Facebook
Twitter
FourSquare
Instagram
LinkedIn
Google+

Archives
Disclosure Statement
Editorial Policy
Privacy Policy
Complaints Policy
Comments Policy

Design by cre8d