General Debate 31 January 2020

Email
Facebook
Twitter
Comment422

Uncategorized
General Debate

Comments (422)

Login to comment or vote

Maggie Pie

What goes with the Coronavirus?

Lyme Disease.

😀 😀
35 14
Log in to Reply
Report
January 31, 2020 8:00am
- Biscuit
  
  My first ‘Groan!’ of the day, Maggie!
  
  21 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 31, 2020 8:17am
  - Tall Man
    
    That’s a shame 😉
    
    8 5
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 31, 2020 8:23am
    - Biscuit
      
      I’ll cope, Tall Man. Maggie will doubtless have guessed that my ‘Groan!’ was a faux-Groan.
      
      Life is pretty good at present: Liverpool are so far in front of the Premiership that they’ve just about lapped the ‘opposition’, Super Rugby kicks off tonight, a horse I part-own had a $19.50-for-1 across the ditch on Tuesday, I’m off for a round of golf in a couple of hours…
      
      I trust you are similarly winning YOUR battles withn this strange thing we call life…
      
      20 1
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 31, 2020 8:48am
      - Tall Man
        
        All I’m prepared to say is that I managed a groan before I got to Maggie’s post 🙂
        
        Glad things are on a roll for you as .
        
        8 2
        Report
        January 31, 2020 9:42am
      - Fisiani
        
        I put $100 on a horse at 20 to one ……and it finished at half past three.
        
        11 0
        Report
        January 31, 2020 11:53am
- mikenmildagain
  
  https://www.businessinsider.com.au/coronavirus-corona-beer-not-related-google-trends-2020-1?r=US&IR=T
  People are dumb…
  
  15 19
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 31, 2020 8:42am
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    Ever think they are looking for ‘Corona’ jokes Mike.
    There are a few people with a sense of humour, not on the left though
    
    34 2
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 31, 2020 8:59am
    - Simon
      
      Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
      The Wuhan coronavirus has hit Xinjiang, where China has imprisoned at least 1 million Uighur Muslims. Its filthy detention camps will make inmates sitting ducks.
      
      https://www.businessinsider.com.au/wuhan-coronavirus-xinjiang-uighur-squalid-detention-camps-2020-1?r=US&IR=T
      
      John Keys is good mates with Xi. If only someone here can get word to John Keys who can call his mate. Xi will go thanks mate I didnt know.
      
      2 39
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 31, 2020 9:06am
      - Lance
        
        Who is John Keys?
        
        25 1
        Report
        January 31, 2020 10:30am
      - ex-golfer
        
        @Lance
        Alicia Keys brother?
        
        10 0
        Report
        January 31, 2020 11:51am
      - stigie
        
        This is John Keys, you mean the musician.
        
        https://www.discogs.com/artist/791414-John-Keys?noanv=1
        
        10 0
        Report
        January 31, 2020 11:57am
    - mikenmildagain
      
      I dunno, morons are everywhere – time to cash in:
      https://www.thedailybeast.com/qanon-conspiracy-theorists-magic-cure-for-coronavirus-is-drinking-lethal-bleach
      
      5 22
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 31, 2020 9:09am
      - Jules99
        
        That substance is the same stuff that you can buy at camping shops to purify water for drinking. It’s similar to the chlorine in tap water and does the same job. Calling it lethal bleach is a bit silly. In fact, if you needed to kill germs in water to drink it, putting a small amount of bleach in it would do the job. Just like in swimming pools – drinking a bit won’t hurt you.
        
        17 1
        Report
        January 31, 2020 10:14am
      - Steve Otto(North Shore)
        
        Attempt at ‘humour?’ Must try harder
        
        11 2
        Report
        January 31, 2020 10:24am
      - Greg Ettridge
        
        What it is time for is to not have every live animal known to man all crushed into a tiny market for people to eat alive or still wriggling.
        I tend to leave these markets and areas to the gamer people of the world.
        One of the best was in Mandalay, stir fried chicken anus. I went for the deep fried grasshoppers instead.
        When you ho down on your favourite snake dish, do you have any guarantee what it has eaten, bat is a favourite for them.
        Like playing Russian roulette with your menu.
        
        10 0
        Report
        January 31, 2020 10:58am
      - mikenmildagain
        
        Jules
        ‘Miracle Mineral Solution’ is an aquesous solutoin of 28% sodium chlorite.
        Taken as directed by the promotors, the likely effects include severe nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea, dehydration and hypotension. If the solution is diluted less than instructed, it could cause damage to the gut and red blood cells, potentially resulting in respiratory failure.
        
        1 8
        Report
        January 31, 2020 11:53am
      - Tall Man
        
        No different to the abusive phone calls directed at any poor bastard called El Nino…….
        
        https://www.sanluisobispo.com/news/local/news-columns-blogs/photos-from-the-vault/article39058071.html
        
        2 1
        Report
        January 31, 2020 11:57am
      - Gazza the Giant
        
        [Mod: that sort of incitement of other commenters to harm is not permitted]
        
        1 3
        Report
        January 31, 2020 12:09pm
  - Maggie Pie
    
    First case of Coronavirus reported in Palmerston North.
    
    https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EPCmp3pWAAI6Ntb?format=jpg&name=medium
    
    23 2
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 31, 2020 9:05am
    - Aunty
      
      Ah yes, looks like a picture of one of its more knowledgeable, sophisticated citizens.
      
      10 4
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 31, 2020 9:21am
      - Tall Man
        
        Probably just had a conversation with psycho milt ….
        
        8 2
        Report
        January 31, 2020 12:01pm
    - Steve Otto(North Shore)
      
      See Mike? This is called ‘humour’
      
      21 3
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 31, 2020 9:22am
    - Liberty
      
      Looks more like a PN labour party supporter
      listening to his local member.
      
      16 1
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 31, 2020 9:42am
    - Tall Man
      
      That’s what happens when you drink straight olive oil. Gay olive oil is ok though………
      
      https://3.bp.blogspot.com/_UgJT7XB2G0Y/TD-qwv633fI/AAAAAAAAOwY/FgZ03O4pJG0/s1600/oliveoyl1.jpg
      
      5 2
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 31, 2020 12:00pm
  - JamesP
    
    Hey boomer, what is a meme?
    
    8 3
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 31, 2020 9:17am
  - Maggie Pie
    
    -1
    
    3 2
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 31, 2020 9:49am
Hugh Pavletich

Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
CORONAVIRUS …

Stock market news live: Stocks drop as coronavirus fatalities rise … Yahoo Finance

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/stock-market-news-live-january-30-2020-122503490.html

‘Are you CRAZY?’ Italian mayor rushes to quarantine cruise liner with 7,000 on board and stops crew from letting 1,140 people off the ship where two Chinese passengers are being tested for coronavirus … UK Daily Mail

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7947003/6-000-trapped-cruise-ship-Italy-two-people-board-tested-coronavirus.html

7,000 held on cruise ship in Italy as global fears spread over coronavirus … CNN

https://edition.cnn.com/2020/01/30/asia/wuhan-coronavirus-update-china-spread-intl-hnk/index.html
11 46
Log in to Reply
Report
January 31, 2020 8:02am
igm

Would be interesting to get an honest report on the actual number of virus fatalities in China . . . seems we are not getting the full facts.
Typical when media is controlled by government which seems to be on the agenda of this despicable CoL.
45 4
Log in to Reply
Report
January 31, 2020 8:11am
- sooty
  
  That’s funny, ours is trying to do the samething!
  
  18 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 31, 2020 8:36am
- Simon
  
  “seems we are not getting the full facts.”
  
  Yeah and Cindy is big on facts apparently. She needs to skype Xi tilt her head and frown at him. That should work.
  
  But we will get the full facts when they have tied coronavirus to climate change.
  
  33 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 31, 2020 8:48am
- NoCash
  
  I beg to differ. The WHO and other govts seem to be happy with the reporting so far.
  
  Let’s assume China is under-reporting the deaths, then the mortality rate would be higher than the reported rate of around 2%. However, many alarmists are claiming the number of infections has been hugely underreported, if you accept that, then the actual mortality rate would be much lower than the reported rate, which would be a good thing.
  
  On the other hand, if you think the CCP has been under-reporting both the number of deaths and infections, then we are back to square one with the official mortality rate or thereabouts.
  
  Sure one could argue that they are manipulating both numbers to make the situation look less serious and bleak, but why bother then acting the opposite by locking down cities home to some 60 million people, plus other measures around the country that are seriously impacting the economy.
  
  Alternatively, perhaps the Chinese govt has been transparent and can only report on confirmed cases. Considering the zero death so far outside of China, which seems to corroborate the official figures.
  
  11 2
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 31, 2020 8:57am
  - UrbanNeocolonialist
    
    It generally takes weeks between infection and death, during which time (at current estimates of doubling every 2 days) the number of infected increases by about 100x – so deaths lag way behind infections and you don’t get an accurate picture of mortality due to the rapid growth rate. It is heartening that there are no deaths outside of China yet – maybe with good treatment the mortality rate is very low, but it is still early days.
    
    6 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 31, 2020 10:32am
    - NoCash
      
      Agree, it’s still early but I see no evidence to support that the Chinese govt has been under-reporting the confirmed numbers, either deaths or infections.
      
      5 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 31, 2020 11:05am
      - UrbanNeocolonialist
        
        It is as clear as day that there are at least 10-100x more cases in China than are being reported. Patient zero is known to have been at start of December, and at least until significant quarantine measures were instituted mid-late January numbers doubled about every 2 days. But if you look at the very consistent exponential growth curve of reported cases out of China it extrapolates back to a single patient in early January. There is a missing month of exponential growth in the reported figures. There are also widespread reports that Chinese hospitals are unable or unwilling to test or accept new patients – no test=no case, even though there are about 250000 hospital beds in Hubei alone – just not credible that there are only 6000 infected. There are most likely up to a million infected, and 1000’s or 10’s of 1000s dead already.
        
        4 2
        Report
        January 31, 2020 12:16pm
      - NoCash
        
        UrbanNeocolonialist, we are talking about confirmed cases, the actual number of infections is no doubt higher. There are people who only developed mild illness and required no hospital treatment, they are not recorded as confirmed cases.
        
        Like I said, focus on not just the reported numbers in China, but the overseas data too. Also the actions by the Chinese govt so far don’t support the speculation of down playing the crisis or underreporting.
        
        Hockey stick is the likely reason for your so called “missing month” I would suggest.
        
        0 0
        Report
        January 31, 2020 2:00pm
      - UrbanNeocolonialist
        
        hockey stick??? just look at that amazingly linear reported cases semi log graph with data from mid Jan to now, extrapolate back to 1 case and you get a time around the start of January. But genetic testing and other evidence from hospitals and news clearly show that first case was start of december, and it’s infectious within days of catching it. There is just no case you can make that explains that discrepancy in any way except a vastly greater hidden epidemic, intentional or not, and to be fair their testing capacity for iron-clad confirmation has been far exceeded.
        
        And here is official acknowledgement that they have more than 102,000 ‘under medical observation’
        
        “Update on pneumonia of new coronavirus infections as of 24:00 on January 30
        Published: 2020-01-31Source : Health Emergency Office
        At 04:00 on January 30, 31 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities) and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps reported 1982 new confirmed cases, 157 severe cases, and 43 new deaths (42 cases in Hubei Province, Heilongjiang Province). 1 case in the province), 47 new cases were cured and discharged, and 4812 new cases were suspected.
        　　As of 2400 on January 30, the National Health and Health Commission has received a total of 9,692 confirmed cases (31 cases in Sichuan Province were subtracted from the cumulative confirmed cases) in 31 provinces (autonomous regions, municipalities) and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps. A total of 213 deaths and 171 cases were cured and discharged, with a total of 15,238 suspected cases.
        　　At present, a total of 1,13579 close contacts have been tracked (21 cases of reductions in Beijing). On the day, 4,201 people were released from medical observation, and a total of 102,427 people were receiving medical observation.
        　　A total of 28 confirmed cases were reported from Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan: 12 from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, 7 from the Macao Special Administrative Region, and 9 from Taiwan.”
        
        https://flutrackers.com/forum/forum/-2019-ncov-new-coronavirus/china-2019-ncov/824791-china-2019ncov-cases-outbreak-news-and-information-week-5-january-26-february-1-2020?p=826249#post826249
        
        3 0
        Report
        January 31, 2020 2:51pm
- G152
  
  And any-one know the level of influenza deaths so far this year and why isn’t it newsworthy ?????
  
  7 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 31, 2020 9:17am
  - MCos
    
    If you go to Asia there’s a chance of getting Dengue Fever, which hit a million people last year including around two hundred thousand in Thailand of whom 110 died. If you don’t die you feel like you will. No vaccine.
    It’s mosquito borne.
    
    14 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 31, 2020 9:58am
    - Greg Ettridge
      
      You are correct but it is not just Asia you can pick it up, it is endemic in around 100 countries.
      Dengue fever is found in Africa, the Americas, the Mediterranean region, South-East Asia and the Western Pacific region.
      You don’t have to travel far from NZ shores to be exposed to this.
      
      11 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 31, 2020 10:48am
    - cha
      
      aka breakbone fever
      
      3 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 31, 2020 10:52am
Doubledimp

I think the National Party should pay a polling company to go out to the people living in cars and homless shelters, and couch surfing and asking for accommodation grants, and ask them to rate the top 5 issues for new zealanders. I bet all of them rate housing above climate change, which would be a great strap-line for RMA reform.
53 2
Log in to Reply
Report
January 31, 2020 8:15am
- oldpark
  
  @Doubledimp 8.15 am .
  Great idea . To think the $1,300,000,000 Committment by NZ to pay China and India for the global warming myth was infact used to build houses for the homeless would quickly solve NZs living in cars . Yes the same people that Ardern threatened /promised to house in a hearbeat, as an 2017 election promise. How is that working out.
  
  29 2
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 31, 2020 8:29am
- peterwn
  
  A big challenge for RMA reform is it potentially depowers those those who have their own homes and do not want to see neighbours develop their properties or neighbourhoods being intensified etc. Their collective political clout at local and national level is significant. This is why Winston Peters and Peter Dunne stymied the previous government’s proposed RMA changes.
  There was news the other day about possible development of land north of Churton Park, Wellington. It is owned by a retired surveyor and his brother who are in no hurry to develop it. The Council planners have one view on the land but if this does not reasonably align with the the owners’ views nothing is going to happen.
  The Council envisages higher density development than surrounding areas but if people are going to live in higher density areas they would expect to be close to amenities, shopping and regular public transport (15 minute intervals at least).
  
  22 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 31, 2020 8:38am
- Hugh Pavletich
  
  Doubledimp … The quarterly IPSOS Issues Monitors are essential reading.
  
  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
  
  No wonder Greater Christchurch is the fastest growing (2% pa against Auckland at 1.5%) because it is the most affordable (5.4 Median Multiple) larger city in New Zealand, as Anne Gibson of The NZ Herald explained at the time of the release of the Demographia Housing Survey 20 January …
  
  New survey ranks NZ’s most and least affordable cities … Anne Gibson … NZ Herald
  
  https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=12301144
  
  … and TV One News at 6 made clear recently …
  
  Calls for more affordable housing as council promotes central city Christchurch living (VIDEO) … TV One News
  
  https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/calls-more-affordable-housing-council-promotes-central-city-christchurch-living?auto=6127114633001
  
  3 30
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 31, 2020 8:43am
Biscuit

‘Drop’, Hugh?

My Livetracker has it as:

S&P 500 (^GSPC): -0.43% or -14.22 points to 3,259.18
Dow (^DJI): -0.29% or -83.13 points to 28,651.32
Nasdaq (^IXIC): -0.49% or -45.41 points to 9,229.54

I can’t get too downhearted over a fall of under half of one percentage point!

Especially given the massive rises over recent years.

The Dow, eg, was at the 17,000 level five years ago…
17 2
Log in to Reply
Report
January 31, 2020 8:15am
ldypen

I have to inform you all that I seem to have caught the coronavirus.. was out last night at an event and consumed six Corona beers… woke this morning to a headache, don’t feel very well at all so there can be no doubt I have the virus, I have done the responsible thing and will quarantine my self on my boat for the weekend.
44 7
Log in to Reply
Report
January 31, 2020 8:21am
- Tall Man
  
  I have that problem with just 1 corona. Nasty stuff in my opinion. Any beer that needs fruit shoved in it isn’t really beer.
  
  20 4
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 31, 2020 8:37am
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    Strange – I quite like it. Not a bad drop when my fav lager is not available. Just forget the lemon, that is for trendsetters
    
    10 2
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 31, 2020 9:05am
    - Tarquin North
      
      I had a fairly serious bout of fosters fever last night, I’m currently taking the standard medication for this type of malady – pies and coffee. I think going in to quarantine on the boat for the weekend is probably the safest option.
      
      9 1
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 31, 2020 9:48am
    - Sideoiler
      
      The lime was originally to plug the neck of the bottle up to keep flies and other insects out of the beer.
      The lime was used to clean the top of the bottle to ensure it was sanitary before drinkers would put their lips to the glass.
      Not many people know that.
      Michael Caine
      
      14 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 31, 2020 9:55am
      - Gazza the Giant
        
        The acidity keeps all bugs away , including fly’s
        
        6 0
        Report
        January 31, 2020 12:11pm
- sooty
  
  While consuming more medication!
  
  12 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 31, 2020 8:37am
- info@cruzpro.com
  
  I understand that vaccines are made from dead virus. Create yourself some more dead Coronas and self medicate.
  
  20 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 31, 2020 8:41am
Paulus

If I read that New Zealand media today and the last few days why bother spending all that money on an election.
National are not considered to be in the game as they cannot out promise to spend what has already been promised with more to come.
I had a mate years ago and he was called “Gunner” because he was gunna do this and gunna do that.
Reminds me of this Peters government.
From the Beehive there is a sworn silence over the super announcement that she (and presumably Neve) will make at Waitangi next week.
Peters says before Waitangi Day but any impact will be enhanced by doing it at Waitangi (although it will not happen for a long while yet). It is said that only certain Press Gallery people have been nodded to.
31 2
Log in to Reply
Report
January 31, 2020 8:21am
- KevO'Brien
  
  Labour promise.
  National Do.
  
  ☑️☑️Rout2020☑️☑️
  
  43 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 31, 2020 8:55am
- Steve Otto(North Shore)
  
  ‘Gunner’ David Lange had that title too
  
  13 2
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 31, 2020 9:08am
  - godruelf
    
    At least Gunner Lange has some real visionary and effective backup in Douglas Prebble and Co
    
    8 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 31, 2020 10:23am
    - Tall Man
      
      Although at the time many didn’t think so.
      
      0 3
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 31, 2020 1:50pm
fernglas

The Labour party has now embraced National party infrastructure policies. The National party has social policies that have delivered more for the working class than Labour has. Why not bow to reality and have those two form a coalition?
25 12
Log in to Reply
Report
January 31, 2020 8:22am
- Sydney Alvarado
  
  You are partly right. But the outlook and life experiences of National MPs is vastly different to that of Labour MPs. Totally different cultures.
  
  31 2
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 31, 2020 8:39am
  - Stephieboy2
    
    Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
    Sydney Alvarado, not in this case ,
    
    This infrastructure spend up is really quite massive and awesome ,
    
    ‘Govt’s $12b infrastructure spend: Rail, roads and DHBs the big winners”
    
    The Prime Minister has revealed a huge spend-up on roads, to come out of the $12 billion Infrastructure Fund.
    
    Jacinda Ardern made the announcement in Auckland in lieu of the traditional State of the Nation speech.
    
    Rail, roads and district health boards are the biggest winners.
    
    https://www.google.co.nz/amp/s/amp.rnz.co.nz/article/8f41a728-70d9-417a-92e1-008133b7827d
    
    Tony Stuart and other Nat diehards must be livid!
    
    2 49
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 31, 2020 9:03am
    - Tony Stuart
      
      Yeah, I am livid stephie, but not for the reasons you think. National handed Labour an economy forecast to be handsomely in surplus for the next ten years or more. But Robertson, Ardern and co have not only blown the surpluses already (this year is forecast to end in a small deficit), but they’ve borrowed $12b, most of which is going to be spend on projects that National had already planned.
      
      The economic record of this government is appalling. All the hugs and concerned looks in the world won’t matter a jot in September, because people vote with their wallets.
      
      63 1
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 31, 2020 9:13am
    - alloytoo
      
      After two years of dithering and wasting the dosh earmarked for these project originally.
      
      That’s a Stephieboy measure of success a day late and a dollar poorer.
      
      36 1
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 31, 2020 9:21am
    - RoboRob
      
      Have you not yet worked it out Stephie, there is a difference between saying you will do something and actually doing it. Remember we were having rail from the Airport to the CBD by this year, they still haven’t even decided which plan they will use.
      
      All of the promised roads will be up for renegotiation after the election. If Labour get back in most / all will be cancelled, do to the Greens. Labour know this but Labour will have the money anyway. If you believe all these projects are actually going ahead under Labour I have a bridge to sell you.
      
      This is electioneering pure and simple.
      
      35 1
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 31, 2020 9:42am
      - freethinker
        
        I hear backgound music – Lies lies tell me sweet little lies!
        
        9 1
        Report
        January 31, 2020 12:22pm
    - Liberty
      
      Stephie
      “This infrastructure spend up is really quite massive and awesome”
      
      Yes it is awesome as it was all going to happen before COL cancelled.
      Apart from spending money on northland rail which is about as much good
      As pissing against the wind.
      But what is really despicable is COL is only spending where there are large concentrations of list votes. and they can buy more votes per dollar.
      
      20 1
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 31, 2020 10:23am
  - MCos
    
    “the outlook and life experiences of National MPs is vastly different”
    Especially Mark Mitchell – mercenary, Paul Goldsmith – speech writer for Phil Goff & Don Brash, Jian Yang – communist
    
    2 22
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 31, 2020 10:31am
    - Gazza the Giant
      
      And all are better equipped for government than the disgusting and useless COL
      
      8 1
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 31, 2020 12:14pm
    - Tall Man
      
      Pretty sure the mercenaries ended up working for Mark Mitchell but hey, vent your jealousy if it makes you feel better.
      
      “He was in the New Zealand Police for thirteen years from 1989 to 2002, including time as a dog handler and in the Armed Offenders Squad.[3] After leaving the police, Mitchell undertook an executive education short course at Wharton Business School.[5]
      
      Mitchell worked for eight years as a private security contractor and spent time in Iraq, including the siege of the Italian-run An Nasiriyah compound in Southern Iraq by the Mahdi militia in 2004.”
      
      And our Chinese friend, in addition to supposedly training spies
      
      “He earned his MA and PhD in international relations from the Australian National University.[2]
      
      In 1999 Yang joined the University of Auckland as a Senior Lecturer in Political Studies”
      
      “In 2000 Goldsmith became a public relations adviser and worked for Tranz Rail and the University of Auckland.[2] Goldsmith graduated with an MA in history.[1] He has written the biographies of John Banks, Don Brash, William Gallagher, Alan Gibbs and Te Hemara Tauhia as well as a history of taxes “
      
      7 2
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 31, 2020 1:49pm
- mikenmildagain
  
  Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
  Hush. That might expose the truth that there are not really any substantial areas of political disagreement in this country.
  
  2 34
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 31, 2020 8:44am
  - UrbanNeocolonialist
    
    If that is true then I assume you will be voting National – so that we can at least get competent MPs into the Ministerial jobs, right?
    
    38 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 31, 2020 9:13am
  - Simon
    
    “Hush. That might expose the truth that there are not really any substantial areas of political disagreement in this country.”
    
    Very true – that just competence and character thats left. Labo are a clown show and Ardern covered for a rapist.
    
    Didnt like John Keys or most of his policies but he was very competent. He could run any NZ company standing on his head. Whereas this Labo lot couldnt be charge of say a small fruit and vegetable shop.
    
    28 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 31, 2020 9:16am
    - RalphT
      
      Or a chip shop…
      
      19 1
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 31, 2020 9:23am
    - sooty
      
      Or a lemonade stand on the side of the road!
      
      8 1
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 31, 2020 9:38am
    - adamsmith1922
      
      Or as the English saying goes ‘not fit to run a whelk stall’
      
      9 1
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 31, 2020 9:39am
      - curry4me
        
        Couldn’t run a whelk stall in Whelkland in the middle of the whelking season if they were giving them away.
        
        0 0
        Report
        January 31, 2020 7:08pm
    - Tall Man
      
      Key dammit, no “S”.
      
      3 1
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 31, 2020 2:21pm
- Steve Otto(North Shore)
  
  Labour National coalition? One huge problem. Labour have never had a real job and have no business sense. They don’t understand numbers
  
  34 2
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 31, 2020 9:10am
oldpark

Check out Coronavirus on Wikipedia. Seems same family as common cold. yet the Common Cold dosn’tget the same panic reactions . What is going on.
2 12
Log in to Reply
Report
January 31, 2020 8:22am
- mikenmildagain
  
  I suggest you visit Wuhan to investigate…
  
  7 29
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 31, 2020 8:45am
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    Bit early for a smarmy smartarse comment
    
    25 5
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 31, 2020 9:11am
    - Tall Man
      
      [Mod: calling someone that word twice, even by inference, in one comment is great way to get a warning and close to a week holiday. You know the long-standing policy about that word.]
      
      2 2
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 31, 2020 1:41pm
      - Tall Man
        
        Hang on, I didn’t use “the word ” and a sitting mp was able to use the actual word in the presence of children at a public meeting without issue. I said (the marama davidson owned word) and I would happily apologise to mikey or anyone else if they are offended by that phrase.
        
        FFS man, where’s your sense of humour? Even mikey, the recipient of my comment, wouldn’t have given a stuff and may have even seen the use of the phrase as humourous… I did 😉
        
        Is this the new standard, threaten a week off for every post that a mod doesn’t like even with tongue firmly placed in cheek.
        
        9 2
        Report
        January 31, 2020 2:11pm
- info@cruzpro.com
  
  There are about 7.7 billion people in the world. Adults get one or two colds a year. Children get a lot more.
  
  The Corona virus kills about 2% of it’s victims, if the common cold ends up killing 2% of it’s victims (about 300 million a year) you would be much more concerned about catching a cold.
  
  16 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 31, 2020 8:53am
  - UrbanNeocolonialist
    
    111 infected internationally, but no deaths. Looks like mortality could be <1% with good treatment.
    But there are at least 10-100x more cases in China than are being reported. Patient zero was start of December, and at least until quarantine measures were instituted mid-January numbers doubled about every 2 days.
    
    7 2
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 31, 2020 9:17am
- KevO'Brien
  
  The virus is part of generic family which when magnified show little “crowns” projecting from its substance ball.
  Individually they have their own characteristics. These can change but the “crown” remains. Shapes are used extensively at the microbiology level for cells to identify each other like jig saw pieces. A foreign cell with the right shape can get attached and deliver a different package to what was expected. The complexity of life at that level is amazing.
  
  18 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 31, 2020 9:04am
- oldpark
  
  @oldpark 8.22am.
  Even worse same virus tied to the flu is responsible for up to 61000 Deaths in USA. Figure that one .
  
  0 2
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 31, 2020 2:42pm
hullkiwi

As I wrote yesterday, Peters was interviewed on RNZ about the Coronavirus. In the interview he sounded like he didn’t know what he was talking about. One of the reasons I speculated was he hadn’t been briefed because the govt didnt know what it was doing. Sadly, I was right.

24 hours on, we know the govt has chartered a plane, it has volunteers to go, and health officials are doing a lot of work, but not much of the detail has been worked out. Thus what has become evident is that NZ’s bureaucrats in the Min of Health were caught flat footed and clueless and our equally clueless politicians were left like possums caught in the headlights of the on coming dilemma.

This event highlights that NZ needs both a change of government and a new government who are prepared go drain the swamp of under performing & overpaid bureaucrats who are not serving NZ or New Zealanders well.
53 2
Log in to Reply
Report
January 31, 2020 8:24am
- Simon
  
  Last chopper out of WuNam.
  
  Will Cindy be hugging the evacuated?
  
  32 6
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 31, 2020 8:41am
  - Richard
    
    They will each be given a picture of Cindy’s concerned face which they will be encourged to hug.
    
    26 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 31, 2020 9:06am
    - Steve Otto(North Shore)
      
      How about a digital version, so they can make it wallpaper on their smartphones?
      
      11 2
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 31, 2020 9:36am
      - Two fish and a scoop thanks Cindy
        
        Joke all you want, but a former colleague had this as her desktop background…
        
        7 1
        Report
        January 31, 2020 11:53am
- sooty
  
  As far as I know, they don’t know where they are going yet!
  Aussie is charging 1thou for the trip and require then to stay on Christmas island, then dumped in Perth, to travel home by own arrangemenet.
  Don’t like that, stay in China!
  
  16 3
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 31, 2020 8:42am
  - godruelf
    
    Surely that would all be covered by their Travel Insurance…
    
    8 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 31, 2020 10:28am
    - Paulus
      
      No, I do not believe that any of this will be covered by any normal Travel Insurance.
      It is a Word Heath Pandemic effectively and such is a normal standard exclusion.
      
      7 1
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 31, 2020 11:18am
      - Tall Man
        
        Not for those already on their journey but anything starting today then yes.
        
        1 2
        Report
        January 31, 2020 1:39pm
- Gazza the Giant
  
  Its time the media asked the nasty old mongrel what happen to the Aussies giving us a lift home , I suggest Cindy has put her blabbing mouth in it , the Christmas island stop over may have done it , she is such a risk to this country
  
  7 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 31, 2020 12:16pm
Yvette

… as Justice Minister Andrew Little reviews options for strengthening the country’s hate speech laws.

Since many media articles have introduced comment on Justice Minister Andrew Little’s considerations by saying “In the aftermath of the Christchurch terror attack on March 15”, I wonder when will Little actually deliver any proposals on this matter and how close might any presentation of possible new laws or measures be to co-inciding with commemorations of the March 15 Christchurch mosques shootings – particularly as neither the Royal Commission has reported back, nor the court case yet happened?

There is likely no need to emphasise the politicisation, bias, or other negative aspects of such a co-incidence, until it seems it can happen.
I trust that in a transparent, honest Government of integrity that it won’t.
40 1
Log in to Reply
Report
January 31, 2020 8:24am
- sooty
  
  [Making fun of tragedy and unnecessary racial term earns a week holiday – mod.]
  
  2 8
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 31, 2020 8:44am
  - Classic Liberal
    
    I don’t know what sooty said, but I hope you, moderator, aren’t implying that muslims are a ‘race’?
    
    Very dangerous to start believing that ideologies make people different ‘races’.
    
    6 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 31, 2020 4:07pm
    - Classic Liberal
      
      Hey downticker, you have offended my ‘race’ of atheist libertarians and I should be able to drag you before the HRC for ‘racism’!
      
      3 1
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 31, 2020 5:51pm
- freethinker
  
  I hear backgound music – Lies lies tell me sweet little lies!
  
  5 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 31, 2020 12:45pm
- freethinker
  
  Sorry Yvette you are destined to be disappointed.
  
  0 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 31, 2020 12:46pm
KevO'Brien

Backgrounder on Coronavirus patents:
https://bigleaguepolitics.com/hmm-coronavirus-patent-is-owned-by-vaccine-production-institute-funded-by-bill-gates/
4 18
Log in to Reply
Report
January 31, 2020 8:25am
- chaos
  
  No it is not.
  
  https://www.pirbright.ac.uk/news/2020/01/pirbright’s-livestock-coronavirus-research-–-your-questions-answered
  
  13 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 31, 2020 8:33am
  - KevO'Brien
    
    Thanks.
    
    8 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 31, 2020 9:10am
- Stephieboy2
  
  KevOBrein , do you subscribe to Natural News and Infowars?
  
  1 23
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 31, 2020 8:56am
  - KevO'Brien
    
    Kev of Brian(Boru) doesn’t subscribe either to the Standard, Fraser House Daily, Interns Policy Punts, Arderns Markle Mag, Pragmatic Alinsky Weekly, COL’s Climateric Porkys, NZF Topical Disease monthly, Robbo Flagrancy, Water for Maori…
    
    19 3
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 31, 2020 9:23am
    - Swifty
      
      Goat Fanciers Monthly.
      
      12 1
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 31, 2020 9:32am
Simon

Air NZ chief medical officer says everything is fine as Air NZ continues to fly into China.

How can you argue against the science of a chief medical officer? Could his science be conflicted by his employment??

HOW TO REACT TO PANDEMICS can be dowloaded belo
https://twitter.com/nntaleb/status/1221486205847646208

Nassim Taleb on the precautionary principle.

The precautionary principle is a strategy for approaching issues of potential harm when extensive scientific knowledge on the matter is lacking. It emphasizes caution, pausing and review before leaping into new innovations that may prove disastrous.

So the coronavirus is probably not that bad. But if there are enough coronavirus over the years then one is going to wipe out large portion of the population.

Panic now just in case because panic later aint gonna help.
5 10
Log in to Reply
Report
January 31, 2020 8:29am
- mark15
  
  I wonder who’s right.
  Airnz medical officer or British Airways medical officer.
  
  13 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 31, 2020 8:37am
- peterwn
  
  The ‘precautionary principle’ is at the heart of the RMA and has made it difficult to develop things.
  For example the ‘precautionary principle’ indicates a Kiwisaver should nominate a ‘defensive’ fund since if he nominates an ‘aggressive’ fund the sharemarket may collapse leaving him high and dry. But the ‘defensive’ fund probably cannot keep up with inflation.
  The Air NZ Management and Board would want their medical adviser to frank advice, not biased advice. Far better to continue flying to China if the risk can be managed – for the airline’s and New Zealand’s sake. Undue application of the ‘precautionary principle’ would adversely affect both for little benefit.
  
  8 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 31, 2020 8:56am
  - Simon
    
    “The ‘precautionary principle’ is at the heart of the RMA and has made it difficult to develop things.”
    
    Talking about pandemics or issues where the science is lacking not a bunch of jobsworth clowns who missed the whole leaking building problem.
    
    Dont take chances on something like this our lot are because the potential costs – lives, far out weigh the limited benefits.
    
    “The Air NZ Management and Board would want their medical adviser to frank advice, not biased advice.”
    
    Its the risk factor that is being overlooked. Its not a medical decesion anymore because the information is lacking. The medical officer couldnt say for sure there will be no problem. Air NZ tart it up to look like medical science but again the information is missing. Its risk assessment.
    
    Its a biased decision to put profits ahead of people’s safety.
    
    If they said the plane has a 98% chance of operating safely you would never fly again. This is what is happening with Air NZ they are flying with their 98% plane.
    
    2 5
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 31, 2020 9:42am
    - peterwn
      
      Presumably you think 5G cell phone technology should be banned until it can be proved beyond all theoretical doubt that it is safe.
      Also – ‘precautionary principle’ is not placing a bet or buying a Lotto ticket because you may lose money.
      
      7 1
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 31, 2020 10:09am
    - calendar girl
      
      “Its a biased decision to put profits ahead of people’s safety.”
      
      Give us your hard evidence in support of that claim, simon. Otherwise your statement appears to be an unsubstantiated slur directed at the Board & Management of Air NZ.
      
      3 2
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 31, 2020 10:45am
rouppe

Coronavirus surpasses SARS.

Interesting, isn’t it, that when global temperature moves half a degree, a Climate Emergency is declared, but here people are actually dying and the WHO and UN don’t think its important.
16 5
Log in to Reply
Report
January 31, 2020 8:35am
- Stephieboy2
  
  Utter nonsense!
  
  From your link,
  
  “World Health Organisation to reconvene emergency committee to address coronavirus outbreak”
  
  3 29
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 31, 2020 8:51am
  - Maggy Wassilieff
    
    WHO has declared A Global Health Emergency
    
    https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/world/408540/coronavirus-declared-global-health-emergency
    
    23 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 31, 2020 9:14am
  - rouppe
    
    Took ’em long enough.
    
    5 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 31, 2020 10:52am
- Andrei
  
  … people are actually dying…
  
  Get a grip – I have bad news for you, you are going to die someday.
  
  A new variant of Coronovirius which in most people produces symptoms no worse than the common cold has in a some cases allowed vunerable people to develop pneumonia and subsequently die. Not a great number in the scheme of things – even in Wuhan, ground zero for this outbreak, the daily mortlity rate for its citzens will have barely changed
  
  It is certainly worth public health authorities monitoring what is occuring and contingency planning but for the rest of us life should go on as ususal – we don’t need to don hazmat suits or even surgical masks
  
  9 5
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 31, 2020 9:00am
  - rouppe
    
    That rant seems to have totally ignored the point.
    
    Which is now moot since the WHO has finally issued the notice
    
    4 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 31, 2020 10:55am
- Rachael Membery
  
  Or said that it was due to climate change, amazing, everything else is.
  
  0 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  February 1, 2020 6:22pm
chaos

Pretty sure that if people wanted to rent their properties out they would without the council writing them and asking them to give it to homeless people

* A proposal to use vacant houses in Auckland for the homeless or lower-income workers is being discussed by Auckland Council and the Government.

But it could be complicated by privacy concerns, because the plan would require utilities companies to find and contact the owners of homes which are not using any power or water.*

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12304723
29 1
Log in to Reply
Report
January 31, 2020 8:39am
- sooty
  
  Yer, like that’ll work!
  Government pays the rent,
  Can’t get rid of them,
  Every other renter will want the samething!
  Someone had a wetdream!
  
  23 2
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 31, 2020 8:48am
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    Wet dream? That would be the usual culprit Phil Goff
    
    17 2
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 31, 2020 9:42am
    - Tarquin North
      
      Telling people what to do with their assets is communism – simple as that. National and Act should be screaming that out from the roof tops.
      
      19 1
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 31, 2020 10:20am
      - Steve Otto(North Shore)
        
        Communism? – as I said, Phil Goff.
        Change my mind.
        
        16 2
        Report
        January 31, 2020 10:28am
      - GazzaW
        
        Maybe Mayor Goff can donate a couple of unused acres from his gentleman farmer’s block so that HNZ can build a couple of apartment blocks for the homeless.
        
        20 1
        Report
        January 31, 2020 10:47am
- Bobba Fret
  
  Phil Goff is stupid. So as per the article, you have a property in Ponsonby worth $1.52m that they had previously rented. I bet they would just love some HNZ tenants moving in and inviting their extended family around for “party at the mansion bro” every weekend!
  
  10 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 31, 2020 12:10pm
- Classic Liberal
  
  Next step: seize and occupy against ‘owner’s’ will. Because the obvious answer from many owners when asked ” would you consider having it managed by Housing NZ or someone else?” would be “NO”.
  
  Then we have the truly communist state Taxinda wants.
  
  By the look of it, the house in the picture with the article would not meet most of the standards the govt has recently brought in. Expensive for taxpayers, if govt. pays to bring such houses up to their new standards.
  
  Or maybe they would try and force owners to do it.
  
  3 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 31, 2020 3:09pm
brett68

Reading on Reddit, apparently Simon Bridges went on to One news and said industry leaders were complaining about a staff shortage and that the governments infrastructure package wouldn’t work unless we imported more people.

He then said that he would look into changing the immigration rules to make it easier for workers to come here

I haven’t watched broadcast TV news in a decade, can anyone confirm that?

If so what planet is the guy on?, madness.
12 18
Log in to Reply
Report
January 31, 2020 8:41am
- Prince
  
  That’s pretty much what I saw from the selected snippets shown on TV.
  Bridges said we would need to import more people. Labour said the focus should be on upskilling NZ’ers.
  
  No guessing who won that little soundbite battle.
  Bridges really needs to up his game quickly.
  
  17 5
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 31, 2020 9:22am
  - Swifty
    
    Bridges will be proven correct though….
    
    21 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 31, 2020 10:07am
    - Prince
      
      Of course. That doesn’t matter.
      
      3 1
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 31, 2020 12:49pm
      - Swifty
        
        Yes, I suspect you’re right on that.
        
        1 0
        Report
        January 31, 2020 1:55pm
  - brett68
    
    To me that tells me two things about Simon Bridges
    
    1) He has no idea or interest in what’s going on in middle NZ and how this open door immigration policy is impacting the lives of New Zealanders.
    
    2) He’s working for Nationals financial backers not the voters.
    
    4 25
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 31, 2020 10:07am
    - Batman
      
      1) it’s not open door immigration. Go look on the INZ website.
      
      2) Bridges is entirely correct that we need to change settings in order to grow. That includes major housing reform to accommodate population growth for the workforce we need.
      
      28 2
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 31, 2020 10:16am
      - brett68
        
        It is open door immigration and it’s been done via the student visa rort.
        
        5 14
        Report
        January 31, 2020 10:35am
      - Batman
        
        No. I used to deal with those student stats and the student visa work permits are far outnumbered by regular immigration and work visas.
        
        16 1
        Report
        January 31, 2020 10:50am
      - Prince
        
        He is correct. But what the voters heard was;
        National – we need to free up immigration criteria.
        Labour – we need to invest in, and upskill New Zealanders.
        
        Of course Labour is just waffling and Bridges is being practical, but the election is just 8 months away.
        
        7 1
        Report
        January 31, 2020 12:52pm
    - Tall Man
      
      So brett, back on the anti Simon band wagon.
      
      Obviously you are the type that would prefer soundbites rather than reasoned thinking.
      
      I can assure you that there will be fuckall of anything if New Zealand reduced immigration of legitimate workers and last month when I was in the emergency ward immigrant nurses outnumbered NZ born ones, based on my speedy assessment of looks and accents. Even the attending Doctor was born in Texas.
      
      2 5
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 31, 2020 1:35pm
  - Paulus
    
    Most New Zealand chippies and similar are incapable of upskilling, if they are over how many years ?
    No baccy and booze first.
    
    6 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 31, 2020 11:21am
- Gazza the Giant
  
  No matter how much we hate it , this country needs the use of over seas workers , remember a year ago this COL tried to halt that ,l and GDP started dropping with staffing issues the main problem , what people need to remember with road staff , is that thanks to Cindy and the Greens nutters , many of the road staff have been laid off , and there is more to go , but they have all left for Aussie for huge road projects , we need these roads , the staff will refuse to come back while these losers are at the helm , but Bridges is right , we will need to get staff from overseas , Cindy has a cheek telling roading companies that we expect you to educate your staff , well that’s bollocks , they did that , and they had to let them go , she is so full of it , and has no idea of the damage she does
  
  9 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 31, 2020 12:23pm
kevn

Interesting seeing all those people with face masks on but not wearing gloves. Handles, rails and everything you touch are perfect bug transfer sites. Magazines at the doctors? Don’t touch. The mags are endlessly handled by sick people.
32 0
Log in to Reply
Report
January 31, 2020 8:41am
- Biscuit
  
  And, kevn, most of the magazines at doctors’ offices (and dentists’ offices, too) are so old that many probably still have traces of the Middle Ages plagues(s)!
  
  31 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 31, 2020 8:51am
- Steve Otto(North Shore)
  
  Supermarket trolleys. When was the last time you saw one being cleaned/waterblasted?
  
  20 2
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 31, 2020 9:44am
  - kevn
    
    @Steve…
    One of our local supermarkets has a sterilized wipe box at the trolley pickup area. Just to clean the trolley handle.
    
    17 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 31, 2020 10:01am
    - Steve Otto(North Shore)
      
      I will ask for that today. They get enough money from me, they can supply wipes.
      
      9 3
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 31, 2020 10:22am
      - Steve Otto(North Shore)
        
        Did ask. They looked at me like I got 3 heads. And that was 2 of the senior on floor managers
        
        0 1
        Report
        January 31, 2020 4:52pm
    - Ruawai
      
      I hope these wipes are not single use, the Greens will not like this.
      
      10 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 31, 2020 10:54am
    - curry4me
      
      Pack&Save in Moorhouse Ave do.
      
      1 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 31, 2020 7:18pm
- Akarak
  
  I’ve often wondered about those toys that some medical centres have for children to play with.
  
  10 2
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 31, 2020 10:49am
rouppe

Can you imagine if a man did this?

It would be mysogeny, rape culture, patriarchy… A woman does it, just a bit of a laugh
27 0
Log in to Reply
Report
January 31, 2020 8:45am
- Suze Wainwright
  
  I seem to remember a female streaker at a rugby match a year or so ago was treated way more lightly from male streakers at sporting events.
  There is no true equality in the nation of aotearoa!
  
  26 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 31, 2020 9:14am
- freethinker
  
  She may want to be a close friend of Katies but Kudos to Katie for carrying on, a true professional
  
  2 2
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 31, 2020 1:07pm
MeNotYou

There was an article last night telling us one of the people who had been charged – well that Barry Soper has named one of the alleged people having charged laid against them.

Where did it go? Lawyers got involved?
25 1
Log in to Reply
Report
January 31, 2020 8:46am
- sooty
  
  Barry been charged yet has he?
  
  10 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 31, 2020 8:49am
- Maggy Wassilieff
  
  DPF was asked to take it down
  
  https://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/2020/01/general_debate_30_january_2020.html#comment-2633642
  
  13 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 31, 2020 9:08am
  - MeNotYou
    
    Ah got ya. Reading that it looks as though Soper told DPF he didn’t say what DPF said he’d said.
    
    Interesting that NewstalkZB’s On Demand clip from 16:45 yesterday is not available…
    
    15 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 31, 2020 9:18am
  - Gazza the Giant
    
    We know all that , but Soper is lying , we all heard it , and I went back to on demand trying to re listen in case I heard it wrong , but that very 15 minute section was taken down , I think high fliers are involved with JLR and they have threatened the media and the staff , why would Soper lie about what he said , and why has the evidence been stripped ?
    
    13 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 31, 2020 12:26pm
- chaos
  
  barry denied saying that on David’s Twitter last night and had said so the day before that person was not believed to be one of the charged.
  
  https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/andrew-geddis-why-simon-bridges-is-off-the-hook-in-serious-fraud-office-charges/
  
  * Newstalk ZB political editor Barry Soper says he has tried to contact Ross, but understands he has not been charged either. *
  
  11 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 31, 2020 9:08am
  - Gazza the Giant
    
    That’s what he said the day before , and that is the opposite of what he said last night , he said he had done some digging , and is pretty sure that JLR is one that has been charged , he has contacts with these people that were helping JLR while he was trying to destabilise the nat party , and we all know who was behind that
    
    10 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 31, 2020 12:28pm
- alloytoo
  
  A rapid cleansing event followed.
  
  15 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 31, 2020 9:11am
- tui47
  
  I noticed that as of last night The BFD blog do not seem to have reported the latest news regarding the four people charged by the SFO.
  
  17 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 31, 2020 9:11am
  - Gazza the Giant
    
    Yes , 2 days , and not one word or thread , I note as well , no staffer is discussing it with posters on the open threads .
    
    9 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 31, 2020 12:30pm
    - tui47
      
      I have three suggested names for the others charged but will not risk issues with name suppression. I think that all others who regularly follow this blog should also be able to guess the names.
      
      1 1
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 31, 2020 1:46pm
      - Gazza the Giant
        
        There is no name suppression , the SFO said they would not name them in case there is name suppression at the first court case
        
        1 0
        Report
        January 31, 2020 5:02pm
- Ruawai
  
  JLR is one of the charged.
  
  14 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 31, 2020 12:43pm
  - Gazza the Giant
    
    Confirmed by Plunket
    
    8 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 31, 2020 1:07pm
    - tui47
      
      Surely JLR needs to resign from Parliament if this is the case? Was he intending to stand for re-election? I am assuming he was the one behind Simon’s expense leak. If Simon has been ‘set up’ the facts need to be out there before we go to the polls as the results of the investigation should be of benefit to National.
      
      6 1
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 31, 2020 1:50pm
    - MeNotYou
      
      Yep just said it again and is talking about it with Simon.
      
      Interestingly BFD had a post about it in their general debate thread which has now been removed by mods.
      
      4 1
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 31, 2020 2:44pm
pdm

Bloody hell.

Just back from dropping a form in to the Hastings WINZ Office in respect of our 15 year old grandson who lives with us. I counted 5 Security Guards on site – only one of whom seemed capable of intervening in event of any sort of fracas.

Is that overkill?
15 1
Log in to Reply
Report
January 31, 2020 8:47am
- alex Masterley
  
  Almost all the event security guards i see these days couldn’t outrun a big mack.
  
  24 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 31, 2020 9:03am
  - Suze Wainwright
    
    If you can wake them up…
    
    14 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 31, 2020 9:15am
  - Wangas Feral
    
    Actually I think you will find that they can in fact outrun a Big Mac. Which is why you thought they probably couldn’t.
    
    6 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 31, 2020 9:21am
    - Tall Man
      
      Only until they catch it then woosh….. gone burger 🙂
      
      2 3
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 31, 2020 1:23pm
  - MCos
    
    I was taking lunch with my wife in the Manukau Mall food court one day when two chaps started throwing punches at each other only a few metres from our table.
    Next minute.
    A short, overweight security woman came racing over and tackled one of the pugilists to the ground before he knew what happened, pulled him to his feet and marched him out the door. She barely came to his shoulders.
    The other one was hustled off by his family.
    A few minutes later the security guard was back laughing and chatting to her mate the cleaning woman.
    
    24 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 31, 2020 10:58am
    - Tall Man
      
      Haven’t you got a smart phone? You could have been a star 2nd hand 🙂
      
      That would be an awesome clip.
      
      2 2
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 31, 2020 1:25pm
- JamesP
  
  The few times I’ve been in a WINZ office I was amazed at the sheer number of workers sitting at desks, apparently not doing too much. Certainly vastly outnumbering the few waiting clients. It made me wonder in WINZ was, in itself, a vast employment scheme. Same phenomena here.
  
  16 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 31, 2020 9:26am
  - cmm
    
    ” few waiting clients”
    
    Clients? FFS
    
    4 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 31, 2020 12:38pm
  - Tall Man
    
    In their defense, there is a large load of people claiming benefits and just processing the extra payments would be a task and a half plus, contrary to popular belief, there is still a fraud unit and they are still chasing people even if the minister says it’s alright to cheat the system.
    
    3 2
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 31, 2020 1:21pm
    - cmm
      
      “chasing people”… in the very non-athletic sense of the word.
      
      Every time a crim gets done the following should happen:
      1) A reasonable assessment of their “livelihood” and how long it seems they have been “earning”.
      2) Complete rogering by the IRD as if they were self employed and evading tax: tax, interest, penalties, etc etc.
      3) Assessment and prosecution by WINZ for fraudulently claiming benefit and all associated sanctions, penalties etc.
      
      4 1
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 31, 2020 1:57pm
      - Tall Man
        
        They are prosecuting those that are clearly fraudulent but also seek repayment if that is feasible.
        
        2 1
        Report
        January 31, 2020 4:52pm
- Biscuit
  
  I strolled past the WINZ Office here yesterday, pdm, and chuckled to myself that whoever wanted to get into said office was gonna have MAJOR difficulties squeezing past the bulk of the security officer blocking the entrance.
  
  Watch the Super Rugby (or the Creekit) tonight and count the numbers of security officers on duty that AREN’T heavier than most of the players!
  You won’t need many fingers!
  
  I remember Jimmy Carr during a comedy tour.
  ‘I got told by a heavy girl that my jokes were ‘Fatist’.
  I replied, ‘No, YOU’RE fattest!’
  
  13 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 31, 2020 9:36am
Tall Man

From Newshub

“Christchurch solo mum Dayna Clark knows all too well what the financial pressures of a new school year can like.

“I have four [children] at primary school level, and I’ve got three at high school level,” she said.

“There’s stationery and uniforms and things like that… it’s very hard to maintain. Especially the expensive uniforms. The scheme would definitely help a lot… just being able to go out and get the stuff without having to save up for it.”

Now I know that circumstances can change but in today’s who has 7 kids when they can’t afford them?

Now nothing in the article states that she is on a benefit but I have a feeling that these kids are being funded by the taxpayer. Where is the father and why is he not paying?
27 2
Log in to Reply
Report
January 31, 2020 8:53am
- Prince
  
  “just being able to go out and get the stuff without having to save up for it.”
  Saving up for things is such a Boomer concept.
  
  26 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 31, 2020 9:17am
- chaos
  
  She lost everything in a fire last year.
  
  https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/113282583/mum-and-seven-children-narrowly-miss-being-caught-in-destructive-house-fire
  
  11 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 31, 2020 9:25am
  - MCos
    
    Just waiting for someone to say that she shouldn’t have had all those kids if her home was going to get burned down.
    
    6 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 31, 2020 11:16am
    - Tall Man
      
      A rented house, solo mother with 7 school age kids. What do you think that costs the tax payer?
      
      4 1
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 31, 2020 1:16pm
      - MCos
        
        When I was at school one family had twelve kids.
        (Well, more than one family because that’s what the church wanted)
        This particular family, however, had all those kids because half of them were cousins. Their mum died of cancer and her sister promised her she’d take care of them as if they were her own.
        
        4 1
        Report
        January 31, 2020 1:52pm
      - UrbanNeocolonialist
        
        Depends how good a mum she is. If she instills a strong work ethic, and ensures they are well educated then they are each worth up to a million on average in net tax contributions during their lives like most middle-class kids. If she is failing at that then they more likely to be a net burden on the taxpayer forever.
        
        3 1
        Report
        January 31, 2020 1:58pm
      - Tall Man
        
        MCos that would have been well before WFF and solo parent benefits. Even the family allowance was only a few bucks a week but for some strange reason kids from large families weren’t starving to death or being hospitalised with the regularity they seem to be today.
        
        2 0
        Report
        January 31, 2020 4:55pm
- KevO'Brien
  
  Are the schools and the uniform suppliers still doing deals?
  
  4 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 31, 2020 9:37am
- tf78
  
  Heard of hand-me-downs, no that’s so old fashioned.
  
  8 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 31, 2020 9:40am
  - KevO'Brien
    
    Not allowed under some school/supplier arrangements.
    
    3 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 31, 2020 12:17pm
    - curry4me
      
      A certain posh private school in Christchurch has had a second hand uniform service for decades.
      
      0 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 31, 2020 7:29pm
- Ruawai
  
  Correction probably ‘fathers’ not ‘father’.
  
  5 3
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 31, 2020 11:04am
kevn

@Me… We will have to ‘read between the lines’ I guess. Screensave is a great tool as well.
7 1
Log in to Reply
Report
January 31, 2020 8:53am
secondcumming

*COMPULSIVE VIEWING* 😎

Chilling video out of *Trudeau’s Canada* in attempt to limit FREE SPEECH.

How long until we have the same thing here?

https://twitter.com/ezralevant/status/1222873374122299392
15 3
Log in to Reply
Report
January 31, 2020 8:54am
Sydney Alvarado

At the infrastructure announcement I heard the Prime Minister say that the government was committed to a continued cycleway program because more people cycling to work would help climate change.

So I wondered how many commuting journeys were by cycling. Well it is tiny. 2.0 percent of journeys in 2017.
https://www.stats.govt.nz/news/car-streets-ahead-for-travel-to-work-and-education

But it is increasing right? No in 2013 it was 2.5 percent and it was marginally higher still way back in 2001.

How on earth can the Government make statements that bear no relation to facts? And if I found this information in 5 minutes why can’t a journalist do it and ask the question next time a minister says that cycling commuters are saving the planet?
29 1
Log in to Reply
Report
January 31, 2020 9:00am
- cmm
  
  “statements that bear no relation to facts?”
  
  What, you mean LYING?
  
  27 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 31, 2020 9:13am
  - alloytoo
    
    Our PM? surely not.
    
    Thing is, our current PM was unemployable outside government circles before, and remains so.
    
    She therefor has no business reputation, hard won and valuable, worth protecting and will simply say anything so long as it promises a rise in the polls.
    
    22 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 31, 2020 9:18am
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    The ‘facts’ have not been released for her to be advised. The working group has not even started on them yet
    
    6 2
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 31, 2020 10:01am
- alloytoo
  
  And if we are forced to build the damn things bicycles should be licenced, ACC levied and RUC’d to pay for them.
  
  Any cyclist could not using them should be fined.
  
  16 5
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 31, 2020 9:14am
  - Ian Boag
    
    Probably a bit more revenue could be raised by doing all that to pedestrians …..
    
    5 2
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 31, 2020 9:17am
    - alloytoo
      
      False equivalence.
      
      4 2
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 31, 2020 9:26am
  - Two fish and a scoop thanks Cindy
    
    Get stuffed.
    I already pay Wof and Rego on several vehicles, but I cycle because it’s uneconomic to park where I work.
    
    3 3
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 31, 2020 12:23pm
    - alloytoo
      
      All my vehicles need a WOF and REGO if I use them on the road, why shouldn’t your Bicycle?
      
      Further, your Bicycle isn’t paying a petrol tax, so RUC’s should apply to pay for your cycle lane.
      
      5 3
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 31, 2020 12:44pm
      - Two fish and a scoop thanks Cindy
        
        My bike does not cause damage to the road surface, and it is also not capable of killing me or others should it fail mechanically.
        Happy to pay a nominal fee for a delineation stripe, as long as I can summarily execute drivers who can’t keep in their lane or use the bike lane for parking.
        
        Happy for drivers to have similar rights to deal with red light runners.
        
        I pay the same as you and do less no damage, bike lanes keep us out of your way and reduces you running us over so stick your tax up your arse.
        
        1 4
        Report
        January 31, 2020 1:11pm
      - alloytoo
        
        Whether or not your bike causes “Damage” is moot.
        
        I assure you that it can cause death to both you and pedestrians, as well as significant injury resulting in potential ACC claims.
        
        The cost and maintenance of the bike lane needs to be met by cyclists through some mechanism.
        
        That means either a toll, or RUC’s, and to use Cindy’s obfuscation “These aren’t taxes.”
        
        Have nice day 🙂
        
        2 1
        Report
        January 31, 2020 1:47pm
      - Ed Snack
        
        Two Fish, it is indeed perfectly capable of killing you by mechanical failure – front wheel fails/collapses/comes lose down a significant hill just as one example. Brakes also might put you into a rather fraught situation if they fail.
        
        But don’t see a lot of sense in having a bicycle WOF anyway.
        
        Bikes don’t damage the road, but you do benefit from the road being made available. But as with the WOF, not a lot of financial sense in charging cyclists, just not a practical matter.
        
        1 0
        Report
        January 31, 2020 2:11pm
    - Steve Otto(North Shore)
      
      That is for your vehicles – not your freeloading of cycle lanes. If you crash your bike on a cycle lane, your vehicle ACC premium is not for any injury on your bike – or any damage to property you may cause.
      
      1 1
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 31, 2020 4:58pm
  - cmm
    
    Well somehow Auckland needs to find a way to squeeze $350M out of their cyclists…
    
    6 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 31, 2020 12:39pm
    - Two fish and a scoop thanks Cindy
      
      Or, design practical, cost effective rather than pretty “solutions”…
      
      2 1
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 31, 2020 1:13pm
- LTA1955
  
  Seems from an eyeball count on the new Northwestern Cycleway from Westgate to the city its for lycred road maggots to use on the weekends.
  
  12 2
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 31, 2020 9:21am
  - Sydney Alvarado
    
    I did a lot of cycling when I was young. Maybe 400 km per week for a few years, including racing. I managed just fine on “roads”.
    
    Then there is public transport. I caught a bus in Wellington yesterday. I was on it for 40 minutes. Packed, hot, children crying. Teenagers shrieking. The PM makes public transport sound idyllic but it is often unpleasant.
    
    Got back to Christchurch and was relieved to get in my air conditioned car with Eric Clapton playing.
    
    There are very good reasons that given a choice and means people drive cars. Something JAG cannot relate to.
    
    22 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 31, 2020 9:39am
    - Tall Man
      
      jag doesn’t have to. She will be in the limo that you and I pay for.
      
      6 2
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 31, 2020 1:11pm
- ronsegal
  
  Even if one believes in catastrophic anthropogenic global warming, which is being hammered into peoples’ heads in this country like we’re some kind of extreme theocracy; the notion that anything much we do here, even if everybody cycled everywhere, could have any significant impact makes no physical sense. It’s just a religious ritual.
  
  11 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 31, 2020 9:25am
- tf78
  
  The day I see Cindy, Clarke and Neve on cycles I might think about it.
  
  15 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 31, 2020 9:41am
  - plc
    
    They cycled to Australia for Xmas hols
    
    10 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 31, 2020 10:24am
- KevO'Brien
  
  Have they ran their cost/benefit calculations past Poohbah?
  Is this the start of a bicycles for all for home electricity supply?
  https://www.goodshomedesign.com/60-minutes-on-this-bicycle-can-power-your-home-for-twenty-four-hours/
  
  4 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 31, 2020 9:42am
  - cha
    
    Is this the start of a bicycles for all for home electricity supply?
    
    There’s one born every minute.
    
    An hour on the bike will generate around 0.11 kWh (more or less, depending on how fast you cycle, but probably not much more).
    
    The average american house uses 30 kWh per day. So an hour on the bike provides only 0.37% of the energy needed for 24 hours, or approximately enough for five minutes.
    
    https://www.metabunk.org/threads/debunked-1-hour-on-this-bike-can-power-your-home-for-24-hours-more-like-5-minutes.7332/
    
    6 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 31, 2020 10:21am
    - KevO'Brien
      
      Confirmed by an Exercycle. Might power a small torch.
      
      5 1
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 31, 2020 12:19pm
Stephieboy2

Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
Another of our PM’s Winston Churchill moments. ( may I add the deputy PM too!)

“Government charters Air New Zealand flight to evacuate Kiwis from coronavirus epicentre in China”

https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/government-charters-air-new-zealand-flight-evacuate-kiwis-coronavirus-epicentre-in-china
0 36
Log in to Reply
Report
January 31, 2020 9:05am
- alloytoo
  
  Shamed into it by the Australians.
  
  28 2
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 31, 2020 9:15am
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    What happened to the joint ANZAC thing to evacuate Kiwis? Now there is a 340+ seat plane to bring in about 56 from Wuhan.
    Don’t worry, the Taxpayer will fund it, and PTPM will get photo opps, and be made a hero yet again
    
    19 2
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 31, 2020 10:07am
    - alloytoo
      
      You know our government could have simply offer to reinburse the Aussies for the flights to Christmas Island and sent an Air NZ flight there.
      
      3 1
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 31, 2020 1:49pm
  - Stephieboy2
    
    alloytoo, no!
    
    1 20
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 31, 2020 10:24am
- Captain Mainwaring
  
  Christ Steph, you have a bizarre infatuation with the most useless PM we’ve had since the days of Churchill.
  Easy to run along to Air NZ and charter a plane, not so easy to get China’s permission for it to go to Wuhan.
  It’s still sitting on the ground in Auckland.
  
  31 3
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 31, 2020 9:17am
  - alloytoo
    
    Man it would be funny if Air NZ turned around and asked “What plane? No body chartered anything.”
    
    14 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 31, 2020 9:56am
  - hullkiwi
    
    Captain, listing to RNZ this morning, the CoL and the bureaucrats are still flat footed and playing catch up.
    
    With the hiring of the aircraft, did no one learn from a year or two back when Air NZ had a problem landing a flight in China and had to turn back?
    
    As for the bureaucrats running around clueless. The first step is don’t do interviews if you have nothing to say, because:
    1. You make yourself look clueless (Ashley Bloomfield); and
    2. You make the entire NZ government look rudderless and clueless.
    
    So Stephie, if you think we are witnessing an on the ball govt ready to solve a problem, then you have low expectations. I on the other hand, want rid of them and want my money back because under trade descriptions they are not delivering to NZ what they sold themselves as, namely a government!
    
    16 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 31, 2020 10:24am
  - plc
    
    “It’s still sitting on the ground in Auckland”
    
    Perhaps the crew are sitting at the station waiting for their light rail ride to the airport
    
    16 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 31, 2020 10:26am
  - Stephieboy2
    
    Captain Mainwaring, the Beehive office will let you know about tske off time!
    
    China has given Japan, USA permissions so no reason why they wont do the same to us and Aussie
    
    1 22
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 31, 2020 10:27am
  - Tony Stuart
    
    Christ Steph…
    
    To quote the late Terry Jones “‘E’s not the Messiah; ‘e’s a very naughty boy”. Please do not elevate Stephieboy above his station 😀
    
    5 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 31, 2020 6:25pm
- cmm
  
  Good morning Dokta Stephie
  
  Good to have you helping out the muggles.
  
  15 2
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 31, 2020 9:40am
- ronsegal
  
  Churchill must be turning in his grave at the comparison.
  
  20 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 31, 2020 9:58am
  - Swifty
    
    You must remember that the elderly gentleman who posted that thinks that the pinnacle of a politician’s success is them announcing that they are to spend taxpayers money on something…..
    
    https://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/2020/01/general_debate_31_january_2020.html#comment-2633770
    
    It is ‘massive, and ‘awesome’.
    
    Trust me, anything from Stiffyboy can be safely ignored.
    
    15 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 31, 2020 10:14am
- RW Capitalist
  
  here’s a few she might want to start on.
  
  An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last.”
  
  I never worry about action, but only inaction.”
  Ardern’s abilities in this area would have frightened Churchill…miss inaction herself
  
  Politics is the ability to foretell what is going to happen tomorrow, next week, next month and next year. And to have the ability afterwards to explain why it didn’t happen.”
  Ardern couldn’t predict she’d get wet, if she was standing in a river.
  
  4 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 31, 2020 1:40pm
Maggy Wassilieff

It’s a Global Emergency, folks
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-51318246
13 1
Log in to Reply
Report
January 31, 2020 9:05am
- Aunty
  
  Fasten your seat-belts everybody, there’s turbulence ahead.
  
  9 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 31, 2020 9:30am
chaos

* Also, one thing that #China is hiding is the number of death caused by the virus. Credible Chinese media outlet @initiumnews interviewed people working at local cremation centers, confirming that many dead bodies were sent directly from the hospitals to the cremation centers…

without properly identifying these patients, which means there are patients who died from the virus but not adding to the official record. That shows the current death toll of 133 that we are seeing is way too low.

So there are reasons to remain skeptical about what #Chins has been sharing with the world because while they have been more transparent about certain things related to the virus, they continue to be sketchy and unreliable in other aspects.*

https://twitter.com/WilliamYang120/status/1222612869260333056
14 3
Log in to Reply
Report
January 31, 2020 9:07am
- NoCash
  
  What can I say… refer to my reply to igm earlier this morning.
  
  We need critical thinking, not mindlessly spreading misinformation… like when you said the CCP was lying about closing down the Wuhan airport as the airport website was still showing flights scheduled for departure (likely due to not updating the database or feed from airlines with forward planned schedules). It was easily debunked by checking flightradar24.com showing no movements at the airport.
  
  5 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 31, 2020 10:16am
  - chaos
    
    Who lied I linked to the wuhan airport showing the flights. And it was being updated, showing cancelled flights, delayed, arrived and departed so you are wrong
    
    So what part of the Ccp do you work for, denying what the Chinese media are saying. It’s obvious you work for them, turn up and deny everything that shows china is lying.
    
    4 3
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 31, 2020 10:26am
    - NoCash
      
      Nice. Urging for critical thinking can now be branded as working for the CCP.
      
      3 1
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 31, 2020 10:47am
    - NoCash
      
      If flights are/were still coming and going, why the stuck expats need evacuation, why not just rock up to the airport and fly out?
      
      You wouldn’t accept the flightradar24.com data and refuse to consider the likelihood that the website or data feed simply hasn’t been updated, I rest my case.
      
      5 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 31, 2020 10:54am
  - chaos
    
    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=12304547
    
    https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/william-yang-concerns-that-china-is-downplaying-number-of-coronavirus-deaths/#ath
    
    3 2
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 31, 2020 10:31am
    - NoCash
      
      Refer to my reply to igm
      https://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/2020/01/general_debate_31_january_2020.html/comment-page-1#comment-2633766
      
      I trust logic and critical thinking over speculations.
      
      4 2
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 31, 2020 10:58am
curry4me

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TTXdhTwO320

Who is behind Saint Greta? Lots of questions. Only a few answers.
14 3
Log in to Reply
Report
January 31, 2020 9:09am
- Richard
  
  She’s got a heavy handed security team with her on her travels.
  
  11 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 31, 2020 9:22am
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    Don’t tell me they have guns – how dare they?
    
    12 2
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 31, 2020 10:11am
    - Tall Man
      
      It’s alright, they’re biodegradable.
      
      4 2
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 31, 2020 1:07pm
- Steve Otto(North Shore)
  
  That commie prick Soros
  
  14 2
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 31, 2020 10:10am
  - rangitoto
    
    I thought it was one of those “we are from microsoft scam teams in India”. Most people have wised up to that, so they have joined the climate fraud scam.
    
    5 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 31, 2020 10:53am
  - Batman
    
    Lol Steve you absolute spanner, have you looked into what Soros actually does?
    
    He’s a bloody arch-capitalist investor. He’s about as communist as you in ya Trump hat and T-shirt! Haha
    
    3 7
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 31, 2020 1:44pm
    - Steve Otto(North Shore)
      
      You know he is disliked in his homeland – in fact, I think he is not able to go there (banned) He has interests in many businesses and companys, something like maybe 200 of them. I did see a list once, it is extensive. All about control. But he is also part of the New World Order Brigade (rich elite socialists)
      Socialism is a precursor to communism
      
      3 2
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 31, 2020 3:51pm
curry4me

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-UZpWS-1ztc

BoJo snubs aunty Beeb. He has the facilities, and should do this with every news release. He should forbid ministers and civil servants from talking to BBC ‘ournalists’.
14 2
Log in to Reply
Report
January 31, 2020 9:11am
ronsegal

Thinking about the piece on Hosking this morning, where Mike questioned the economics of subsidising the film industry in NZ as a race to the bottom with e.g. Ireland, Canada and India (also considering the KB debate on film vs computer games subsidisation).
Also, why just films, why not subsidise other industries to attract overseas investment?

Surely this needs thinking through with some simple tests applied. For example subsidies are justified only if:
a. For a single event, national income significantly outstrips the economic risk.
b. For a given industry, such as films, gaming, space etc the value of the sustainable (long term) ‘ecosystem of capability’ precipitated by subsidisation is significantly greater (huge leverage) than the cost of those subsidies.

Films, as more of a one off event, might well fail the above tests (?), apart from film production, such as provided by Weta. Whereas ‘space’ with Rocket Lab (https://www.rocketlabusa.com/) would likely pass b. with flying colours.

Then the more general question, should Government get involved anyway, by ‘betting’ on certain industries?
Essential surely, particularly in a country this tiny, for Government to engage in ‘bootstrapping’, as there are rarely companies with the critical mass of resources to enable new industries on their own.
11 1
Log in to Reply
Report
January 31, 2020 9:11am
- cmm
  
  There is arguably a point in helping a fledgling industry build over 10 years to the point where:
  a) It is self-sustaining
  b) Can pay back all the subsidies.
  c) Will last for a long time once built.
  
  The movie industry achieves none of these. All it is doing is becoming a growing burden.
  
  10 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 31, 2020 9:28am
  - ronsegal
    
    You may well be right cnm.
    
    2 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 31, 2020 9:52am
  - rangitoto
    
    Yeah. The reason the politicians love it is because they are bedazzled by the glamour of the movie industry.
    
    5 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 31, 2020 10:55am
    - cmm
      
      Quite.
      
      They go to the red carpet event. They tell themselves “I made this”.
      
      They forget the damage that their policies inflicted on other businesses to make it happen.
      
      6 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 31, 2020 11:24am
    - cmm
      
      Yup, you won’t ever see subsidies for the drainlayer industry.
      
      Somehow a selfie with Mr Poo doesn’t quite fit their self-image.
      
      4 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 31, 2020 1:59pm
  - Tall Man
    
    I suggest you take a wander around Miramar. You obviously have no idea what is happening there.
    
    1 4
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 31, 2020 1:05pm
    - cmm
      
      Please enlighten us.
      
      If they are doing Amazeballs things, then surely they are a viable industry and don’t need bakers and plumbers subsidising them.
      
      5 2
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 31, 2020 2:01pm
  - Tall Man
    
    Rubbish.
    
    As long as there is a zero net cost to the taxpayer what’s the problem? With it there are heaps of people working who would not, there are heaps of small companies, including bakers, who are being very well paid for services rendered so who cares?
    
    As long as a net gain is there I am comfortable with the subsidy and if there is a net gain or zero cost, your drainlayer and baker have lost nothing.,
    
    3 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 31, 2020 5:09pm
- Aunty
  
  I think of it this way. Is the economic return to the country going to be greater or less than the subsidy given for film X and the film industry as a whole. If it’s more then we should proceed. If it is less, then we should not.
  
  But one must think carefully and clearly here to make the correct judgment. The tourism boost and the GST receipts to New Zealand from both the LOTR and the Hobbit movies for example far outweighs any subsidy given to the studios to make the films. As one film critic said, the New Zealand landscape in these movies was one of the major characters in it, and large numbers of people have traveled here just for that. The same phenomena is now happening to the countries where the Game of Thrones was filmed. Iceland, Northern Ireland and Croatia.
  
  It’s difficult to see plane loads of tourists getting excited and coming to New Zealand to see a rocket factory, Whittakers in Porirua or a muscle farm in the Coromandel.
  
  So for me it comes down to the quanta of the benefit that the subsidy brings that needs to be very carefully and correctly judged.
  
  7 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 31, 2020 9:51am
  - cmm
    
    Well that is one way of looking at it.
    
    The other is to remember that every $ that was diverted into film is a $ taken out of some other comany’s operating funds, by force, then allocated by PriNZess and Robbo.
    
    Say, for example, from a bakery which is going to be taxed harder. The bakery might have use the money to install more ovens to increase capacity, output and employment.
    
    The only way anyone can possibly believe that subsidies are good is if you believe that PriNZess and Robbo are better at running a business than the businesses they are taxing.
    
    6 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 31, 2020 11:23am
    - ronsegal
      
      Sure but it is important to separate ineptness at implementing a goal from the merits of one done well.
      Failure of Kiwibuild doesn’t meant that it’s either impossible or wrong to develop affordable housing (maybe change some regulations and encourage pre-fabrication).
      Anyway, not so much subsidies per se but any method to build new, long term, profitable industries, which generally will require attracting overseas investment. Also, nothing to stop Governments from hiring the best in the world to drive those initiatives.
      
      4 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 31, 2020 11:47am
      - cmm
        
        “Failure of Kiwibuild doesn’t meant that it’s either impossible or wrong”
        
        No, but the sheer arrogance of the politicains in thinking they can solve the problem is ridiculous.
        
        It is explained very well by the Dunning-Kruger Effect where stupid, incompetent people vastly over-estimate their ability.
        
        “Also, nothing to stop Governments from hiring the best in the world to drive those initiatives.”
        
        A) They clearly are not hiring competent people otherwise the industry would be self sustaining by now.
        B)Do you really believe that PriNZess is smart enough to identify good people? She tried to dump her Handley mate on us at the “New Zealand CTO” with a $400k salary and $4M budget – meanwhile he was only capable of getting a lecturing job without her help.
        
        5 0
        Report
        January 31, 2020 12:49pm
    - Tall Man
      
      FFS, what a load of crap. At worst it could be tax neutral but is more likely to be tax positive so what the fuck is your problem?
      
      If zero then nobody is paying, at tax positive we’re all better off and I really don’t believe we are even close to tax negative so nobody is loosing a penny.
      
      Did a movie star laugh at you willie or something because I can’t see what your problem is.
      
      0 1
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 31, 2020 8:29pm
      - Tall Man
        
        losing!!!!!
        
        0 1
        Report
        January 31, 2020 8:36pm
  - Tall Man
    
    We have a couple of neighbours who are in the industry. They are exceedingly well paid and so the tax dollars coming from their house would be impressive.
    
    The other aspect is the amount of stuff they buy for the production and again, locally bought and runs into massive numbers. Everything is new and is replaced frequently.
    
    I really don’t think many outside the industry really understand the big numbers here.
    
    5 2
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 31, 2020 1:02pm
    - cmm
      
      A baker could tell you the same thing. Have you seen what a steam injection oven costs to buy and install?
      
      So what if they are buying all this stuff. If they are not profitable, then they are not sustainable as a business.
      
      An “industry” that still needs to depend on sucking the life-force (money) out of productive businesses does not deserve to be in business.
      
      4 3
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 31, 2020 2:05pm
      - Tall Man
        
        I’d be keen to see the baker with a $500 million budget.
        
        Many industries receive some form of subsidy. Middle class families just received an income subsidy with the “first year free” policy.
        
        Employment subsidies which have been around for donkey’s years, on and off, are another subsidy.
        
        Benefits are a subsidy as without them the baker would sell fuckall bread.
        
        2 0
        Report
        January 31, 2020 5:03pm
- Tall Man
  
  “Also, why just films, why not subsidise other industries to attract overseas investment?”
  
  Put up a working plan, you never know.
  
  3 2
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 31, 2020 1:04pm
  - cmm
    
    “Put up a working plan, you never know.”
    
    So the solution to one industry ripping us off is for ALL industries to rip us off?
    
    That very much puts faith in the government’s ability to pick winners.
    
    I an in the electronics/software sector. I could easily get funding of a few hundred k through Callaghans’s. But I refuse to do so.
    
    Again, why should a baker or a plumber’s business be made less profitable to fund sexy industries like movies, software and such?
    
    Do you really think the government should be calling the shots and picking the winners that they promote?
    
    4 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 31, 2020 2:11pm
    - Tall Man
      
      I think you’re running off on an incorrect train of thought.
      
      Although there may be a subsidy there is still a massive net gain to the economy from the industry.
      
      From the insurance premium paid to the catering there are millions pumped into the local economy and while the coalition may be as thick as pig shit this is one policy I agree with.
      
      I have seen at first hand the cash flowing with many on $300K plus salaries plus millions of dollars spent on asset purchase. I have lost count of the number of houses owned and rented by and to movie industry personnel in the Miramar area.
      
      0 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 31, 2020 5:01pm
Richard

I see the Russians have closed the border. Declared infections in China are about 8,000 so far. Real number likely to be much higher. Same situation for real death rates. Even the WHO have said real death rate is not certain currently. I think its time to stop accepting direct commercial flights from China for a while. This decision needs to be made today.
Yes I know tourism is going to take a hit. But frankly it is already and mass infection in this little country would have a far greater negative ecomonic impact than no more Chinese tourists for a few months. I’m surpirsed the opposition aren’t demanding this now. If NZ got hit by this in the form of a mass outbreak in election year it would kill not only New Zealanders but also the current govt.
17 1
Log in to Reply
Report
January 31, 2020 9:18am
- Maggy Wassilieff
  
  Heck, it’s just not flights from China….
  
  https://www.smh.com.au/national/victoria/lunar-new-year-festival-cancelled-amid-coronavirus-outbreak-20200130-p53w2o.html
  
  8 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 31, 2020 9:41am
Maggy Wassilieff

BBC is facing hard times…
BBC to axe 450 newsroom jobs

https://today.rtl.lu/news/business-and-tech/a/1463419.html

I wonder where those dumped journos might start looking for employment?
18 1
Log in to Reply
Report
January 31, 2020 9:27am
- cmm
  
  Cool.
  
  More participants for the Journalist Survivor reality show I proposed last week.
  
  16 2
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 31, 2020 9:29am
  - Stephieboy2
    
    And get jobs Infowars, WND and Natural News ?
    
    1 7
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 31, 2020 12:49pm
    - cmm
      
      There really are some dumb people in the world:
      
      https://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/travel-troubles/119043125/a-cautionary-tale-about-travelling-without-new-zealand-permanent-residency
      
      The “reporter” does not help explain it either.
      
      You do not travel with permanent residency. You travel with a returning resident’s visa.
      
      When you get back to NZ the permanent residence is reestablished.
      
      If your returning resident’s visa expires when you are out of the country then you lose your PR status.
      
      THis is well known. It is well understood by most.
      
      But somehow people think they need to whinge in the media.
      
      6 1
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 31, 2020 2:22pm
- Dan
  
  I read this article yesterday, and was somewhat encouraged.
  Perhaps the Beeb are trying to right the ship by providing slightly more balanced reporting.
  
  https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-51281986
  
  6 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 31, 2020 9:38am
  - Inandout
    
    Dan, that is ‘I hope this ensures I keep my job’ and don’t join the ‘600’.
    
    6 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 31, 2020 9:58am
- curry4me
  
  If they’re they might still be able to enrol in coding courses.
  
  0 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 31, 2020 7:43pm
Tony Stuart

Another cracking National advertisement rubbing Phil Twyford’s nose in words he delivered just six weeks ago:

https://youtu.be/TTWE9R1PWFc
31 2
Log in to Reply
Report
January 31, 2020 9:46am
- Swifty
  
  Heh
  
  12 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 31, 2020 10:26am
Justitia

Is the National Party becoming anxious about potential blowback from the SFO investigation? Their Meme Working Group on Facebook have begun attacking JLR…Not pleasant, and drew many negative comments.
7 5
Log in to Reply
Report
January 31, 2020 9:51am
- chaos
  
  I cant see any on Jamie can you provide a link
  
  10 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 31, 2020 10:06am
  - Justitia
    
    @chaos: having trouble copying. It was posted at 17.52 on 29 Jan so you will find it there if you look in their feed. I should note the meme working group claims it is not part of the National Party.
    
    9 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 31, 2020 10:31am
- Gazza the Giant
  
  Do you have a link to that ? , because I have been looking all day and can not find that anywhere , JLR is the one that is anxious , running away from the media like a stupid frightened little boy says it all for me , and the question is , who are the other 3 , we all know who the other 3 that were trying to shit on the Nats , but have we noticed a certain woman reporter from newshub lately ? nope
  
  8 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 31, 2020 12:39pm
Maggie Pie

My partner just shot over to the ‘VICE’ shop in Ponsonby and bought a couple of those life-size Male and Female ‘Sex Dolls’.
He’s going to take them up to Tindalls this arvo and leave them sitting in the upstairs window – just in case that bloody Phil Goff or his staff come sniffing about.

https://twitter.com/nzherald/status/1222930988054921216
16 2
Log in to Reply
Report
January 31, 2020 10:04am
- chaos
  
  So water toys for the asians next door
  
  7 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 31, 2020 10:19am
  - Maggie Pie
    
    Our lawnmower man was saying they left suddenly on Wednesday.
    Bit of family trouble back home by the sound of things.
    
    13 2
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 31, 2020 10:41am
marcw

A ‘heads up’ for those interested. Rocket Lab has a launch window today for their 11th mission, timing from 1300 hrs to 1900 hrs. Live streaming 20 mins prior.
13 0
Log in to Reply
Report
January 31, 2020 10:08am
Steve Otto(North Shore)

Chinese New Year. Tomorrow there is a Chinese/Korean New Year Festival at the Northcote Town Centre. Not worried about virus. I am going for the traditional costume dancing and the great Asian food. Thai moneybags!
Also going to heckle Phil Goff. I will de the one wearing a Trump 2020 tee and hat
17 3
Log in to Reply
Report
January 31, 2020 10:16am
- Maggie Pie
  
  O.M.G. – Thai is my absolute fave!
  We’re heading up to ‘The Thai Village’ tonite. I have the same thing every time… Money Bags, Kari Puffs, Red Duck Curry, followed by the Hot Banana.
  
  Roll on 7pm 😛
  
  9 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 31, 2020 10:36am
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    Thai food is great. I have a Thai friend who married an Alaskan man and moved to Alaska. We have been twice. She used to work at a cooking school in Bangkok – she has taught us a lot
    
    9 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 31, 2020 12:01pm
    - Swifty
      
      If you ever feel like rattling your pots – this woman is worth a watch:
      
      https://www.youtube.com/user/PailinsKitchen/videos
      
      I’ve done a good 15 or 20 of her dishes at various times – and find her very good.
      
      5 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 31, 2020 1:11pm
    - cmm
      
      “I have a Thai friend who married an Alaskan man ”
      
      Sounds like the lead in to a bloody good joke, but your punchline sucks.
      
      4 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 31, 2020 3:28pm
      - Steve Otto(North Shore)
        
        cmm, she is like a stepdaughter to me. Met 19 years ago. Has a 3 year old son – like a grandson to me.
        If I follow what you wrote, your mind is in the gutter
        
        1 2
        Report
        January 31, 2020 3:55pm
      - cmm
        
        Sorry mate it must be your mind in the gutter.
        
        I was thinking more along the likes of a Chilli baded Alaska.
        
        2 0
        Report
        January 31, 2020 5:58pm
  - Bobba Fret
    
    Thai village Remuera is great. Trying a different one in the weekend .. the Blue Elephant in Parnell
    
    5 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 31, 2020 4:16pm
- NoCash
  
  It’s been cancelled.
  http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/119155847/auckland-suburb-cancels-chinese-new-year-festival-amid-coronavirus-concerns?cid=app-android
  
  8 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 31, 2020 10:40am
  - Richard
    
    Finally. People starting to take this seriously.
    
    8 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 31, 2020 10:56am
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    Fuck! I was so looking forward to this
    
    4 2
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 31, 2020 12:03pm
    - cmm
      
      Just do it at home. All the ingredients you need at your local pet shop.
      
      7 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 31, 2020 12:51pm
      - Steve Otto(North Shore)
        
        It’s not cats and dogs – that would be China/Korea.
        This is the place that my Thai friend worked at. Try Thai, you may be surprised.
        https://www.baipai.com/
        
        1 2
        Report
        January 31, 2020 1:42pm
chaos

*
China introduced tight censorship restrictions on information relating to #coronavirus aimed at controlling the narrative Those who “disrupt social order” by posting on social media information other than Xinhua, govt sources, risk 3-7 years imprisonment *

https://mobile.twitter.com/Anne_MarieBrady/status/1221543476992495616
10 2
Log in to Reply
Report
January 31, 2020 10:49am
Mod echo chamber

We should be hearing medical information and instructions, instead we are being told it’s racist to not let in thousands of infected Chinese people.

The US state department has ordered ALL personal to evacuate China…

But it’s just a flu bro…

Reminder that WHO covered up 3 malaria epidemics in Ethiopia they called it ‘acute watery diarrhea’ it killed 10’s of thousands,

They now call this killer virus ‘acute respiratory disease’

Your health is being sacrificed for the rich to maintain their global gdp.
13 1
Log in to Reply
Report
January 31, 2020 11:05am
Steve Otto(North Shore)

NZ Taxpayer’s Union. Grant Robertson casually announced he would spend $12 billion. That is a lot of your money.
$12 Billion laid out in $5 notes would circle the earth 8 times. Proof that the left have no concept of numbers
18 2
Log in to Reply
Report
January 31, 2020 11:08am
- MCos
  
  The Union could make it go even further if they converted it to American currency and used dollar notes.
  For that matter the American budget deficit is a trillion dollars. That would fill a few Olympic sized swimming pools with NZ dollars.
  That’s another meaningless shock horror comparison they could work on to justify their wretched existence to their donors.
  
  7 5
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 31, 2020 11:28am
  - Swifty
    
    wretched exist
    
    0 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 31, 2020 12:01pm
secondcumming

Reading this in the Herald reminded me of a bloke I knew at Otago by the name of *Turner*.

We used to joke that the only thing he was good for was…. “Turning food into shit”.
Never heard what happened to him. Maybe he became a Judge 😎

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12304889
5 0
Log in to Reply
Report
January 31, 2020 11:59am
Swifty

Wretched existence?

How so?
1 1
Log in to Reply
Report
January 31, 2020 12:02pm
Steve Otto(North Shore)

I think what Sweetcheeks would like to do is increase the atomic number of Gold (79) to 82, to make the $12B go further. Like that’s gonna work.
Print as much money as you like
9 2
Log in to Reply
Report
January 31, 2020 12:28pm
- rangitoto
  
  Turning Gold into Lead? That would be normal for the CoL.
  
  7 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 31, 2020 1:19pm
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    Yeah! A smart person would want to turn Lead into Gold, that is good economics, but I guess there are some that are not that smart ……
    
    5 2
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 31, 2020 4:00pm
Prince

It appears homelessness in Wellington has worsened despite several ‘programs’ to address it.
‘The Ministry of Social Development handed out $560,889 in emergency housing grants in 2018. That number more than tripled to nearly $1.9 million in 2019. ‘

https://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/wellington/119086047/2020-deadline-arrives-for-housing-wellington-homelessness–now-its-worse

But don’t worry, the Council says it’s all good.
A Wellington City Council spokesperson said there was a “considerable decrease in [homelessness] numbers when individuals are under case management”.
“Unfortunately, the shortage of suitable accommodation has limited the ability to house Housing First clients.
“While there is always room for improvement, Wellington has made great progress in taking a sector wide collaborative approach.”
6 1
Log in to Reply
Report
January 31, 2020 12:32pm
- Tall Man
  
  Sounds like a labour jobbie, the more they “help” the worse it gets.
  
  6 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 31, 2020 2:05pm
Maggie Pie

Shaun Plunket just opened his Magic show with a huge serve to Jamie Lee Ross –
naming him as one of the four to be facing charges relating to the donations scandal brought by the SFO.

[I really love listening to Shaun, but he has more sick-days off than a Labor voter]
21 1
Log in to Reply
Report
January 31, 2020 12:32pm
Tony Stuart

Sean Plunket on Twitter:

Sean Plunket @SeanPlunket
8m
Jamilee Ross is 1 of the 4 charged by SFO over Chinese donations. #nzpol
@MagicTalkRadio

https://twitter.com/SeanPlunket/status/1223023250113880064

Make of this what you will, but the words “massive”, “own” and “goal”, in that order, wouldn’t be inaccurate.
22 1
Log in to Reply
Report
January 31, 2020 12:32pm
- Gazza the Giant
  
  TYes m, had a look , pretty clear he is charged , and to think , no nat or staffer or MP is charged , and the SFO is no longer investigating , clearly something more sinister has been found , bringing down a political party in a democracy is a huge crime , cant remember seeing a certain newshub reporter of late , and why is BFD not posting any thread , not one bit of info to kick the Nats , pretty sure we can see where all the dots join
  
  19 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 31, 2020 1:11pm
  - cmm
    
    You’d think God’s Gift To Blogging would be all over this…
    
    12 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 31, 2020 1:42pm
    - Gazza the Giant
      
      Yes , BDF has not posted one thread m, or even mentioned that the nat donations have charges against , they know who it is , and its possibly a bit closer to home as well
      
      5 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 31, 2020 5:07pm
  - chaos
    
    Not sure why people follow bfd, he used to lie his ass off constantly on whaleoil, claiming he had stories that never proved factual, claiming things were coming that never were. The guy wouldn’t know the truth if it sat on his face
    
    19 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 31, 2020 1:45pm
    - Tall Man
      
      In the “what’s in it for wynston” mode.
      
      Seriously, ardern and “what’s in it for wynston” really are two sides of the same coin.
      
      6 2
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 31, 2020 2:04pm
    - Poppa
      
      That blog is going to dead shortly I reckon. I very rarely visit there now. I do admit I did follow Whaleoil closely for a while
      
      It is a shadow of its former self & not worth wasting time on
      
      13 1
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 31, 2020 2:07pm
      - Steve Otto(North Shore)
        
        I left after I had a gutsful of Pete Belt
        
        7 2
        Report
        January 31, 2020 4:02pm
      - chaos
        
        I quit after he dropped hints Key had an affair. He is a pathological liar.
        
        8 1
        Report
        January 31, 2020 4:35pm
      - Gazza the Giant
        
        Yes , to see Hooker Phil on here sometimes , and never on BDF is rather telling
        
        3 0
        Report
        January 31, 2020 5:09pm
    - waldonz
      
      Whale oil is a shill for NZ First. I’m surprised anyone visits the BFD these days.
      
      7 1
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 31, 2020 2:20pm
  - Jules99
    
    I just noticed that BFD have taken taken down a post in GD on the topic. The whole business was a load of nonsense. I just listened to the phone call on YouTube and it sounds to me like JLR is trying to entrap Bridges. Wonder who was behind that!
    
    8 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 31, 2020 2:52pm
    - Gazza the Giant
      
      He was trying to entrap him , and Slater , Lusk and Peters were trying to help him do it
      
      10 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 31, 2020 5:12pm
MrTips

Apparently, Sean Plunket just told his listeners on air that JLR is one of the 4 folk charged by the SFO. This means he and Barry Soper have done the same thing (cf. so have MagicRadio and NewstalkZB).

Does this mean the other 3 could/should be named? I guess JLR would think so now.
14 0
Log in to Reply
Report
January 31, 2020 12:33pm
- chaos
  
  Yeah and something about Winston to come he said
  
  Also saying tax payers will pay for mallards legal defence
  
  Now saying the Governor General wanted to go to the holocaust ceremony when the invitation was sent in Israel but Winston blocked her going.
  
  12 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 31, 2020 1:07pm
rangitoto

So Sean Plunket says JLR is one of the four.
15 0
Log in to Reply
Report
January 31, 2020 12:45pm
Maggie Pie

My partners mum was just telling me she heard that Deputy Speaker Ann Tollay has authorised Parliamentary Services to fund Trev’s defamation case with taxpayer money to the tune of about 400k! She reckons his lawyer Linda Clarke must be cremeing her jeans 😀
But its like she sez, “How many Hip Ops would that have funded?”
14 4
Log in to Reply
Report
January 31, 2020 1:02pm
- chaos
  
  None, would of been dealt with just as the current funding that disappeared and has lead to reducing hip and knee replacements.
  
  7 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 31, 2020 1:17pm
- cmm
  
  Swamp, that’s what it is. Red/Blue is just to pretend you have a choice!
  
  But, hey, smug parliamentary worker doesn’t mind taking us all for a ride just because Trev said mean things about him.
  
  6 3
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 31, 2020 1:41pm
rangitoto

I see Goof is planning to install ferals in your holiday home if you have one in the Auckland region. No doubt you will also be charged to bring it up to scratch as a rental property.
13 1
Log in to Reply
Report
January 31, 2020 1:30pm
- MCos
  
  The primary purpose of houses is to house people, usually as a families principal place of residence or, in a few cases, as holiday home.
  In NZ it has been very profitable to invest in housing and depending on the state of the house it might just as well be left empty. My freehold house probably earned more p a, tax free, excepting rates, than I did before I retired.
  You could say that all this empty housing is upsetting the equilibrium. Rents are high, house prices are high, money is invested in the wrong place.
  Politicians have been grizzling about speculators gambling on other people’s homes for decades.
  However.
  Nothing’s going to change if nothing changes.
  
  3 7
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 31, 2020 2:28pm
- Steve Otto(North Shore)
  
  He can foxtrot Oscar. It is mine. In a trust so fuck him
  
  5 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 31, 2020 5:04pm
Minsk400

https://www.stuff.co.nz/motoring/119177256/kiwi-companies-team-up-to-build-hydrogen-refueling-network
This is really cool. Build the network and I’ll buy the car.
0 4
Log in to Reply
Report
January 31, 2020 1:42pm
- alloytoo
  
  I think the cost is in extracting the Hydrogen from whatever it’s in.
  
  I think that takes electricity…….
  
  6 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 31, 2020 1:54pm
  - Stephieboy2
    
    I think that takes electricity…….
    
    Oil rigs too!
    
    https://www.repcoinc.com/about/blog/Oil-rigs-need-power-too-bd.html
    
    Or do they have clockwork wind up generators?
    
    LOL
    
    1 15
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 31, 2020 2:17pm
    - rangitoto
      
      You miss the point. The energy you have to put in splitting water by electrolysis is greater than the energy you get out from burning the hydrogen. I suggest you investigate the meaning of the word efficiency.
      
      6 1
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 31, 2020 3:55pm
      - Steve Otto(North Shore)
        
        Sssssh, he’s a socialist leftie. No idea of numbers or economics
        
        5 2
        Report
        January 31, 2020 4:05pm
      - Tall Man
        
        No Steve, she’s an idiot.
        
        By the way, I’ve never seen an oil rig plugged in to a power point!
        
        6 2
        Report
        January 31, 2020 4:48pm
      - cmm
        
        “Efficient” means the taxpayer pays for it.
        
        5 0
        Report
        January 31, 2020 6:46pm
- rangitoto
  
  Really dumb idea. How are you going to produce the hydrogen. The cheapest way is via natural gas but Cindy has banned that.
  
  6 2
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 31, 2020 1:54pm
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    Why not use natural gas? Oh wait, we tried that.
    CNG = car no go
    
    5 2
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 31, 2020 4:06pm
- UrbanNeocolonialist
  
  Hydrogen for cars is idiotic. Low efficiency, expensive, fucking dangerous, bulky.
  Batteries have already won, and will only continue to get better and cheaper.
  
  7 4
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 31, 2020 2:08pm
  - Stephieboy2
    
    UN, operation chronic know it all!
    
    1 12
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 31, 2020 3:11pm
    - cmm
      
      Thank you for taking off your medical expert hat and putting on your chemistry expert hat and helping us mere muggles.
      
      10 2
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 31, 2020 3:21pm
  - cmm
    
    People keep on saying hydrogen is clean. Not even close.
    
    Hydrogen comes from 2 sources:
    A) electrolysis – using electricity to break down H2O into H2 and O2. Terribly inefficient.
    B) Take natural gas and steam and react them together to make a gas mixture from which the hydrogen can be extracted. Inefficient.
    
    The only people that believe the hydrogen economy bullshit are complete troughers who think socialism actually makes stuff.
    
    7 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 31, 2020 3:20pm
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    Still need a charging supply. Go back to hydro – fuck the Greens
    
    5 2
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 31, 2020 4:08pm
    - alloytoo
      
      The hydrogen economy depends on lots and lots of cheap energy.
      
      0 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 31, 2020 10:13pm
- Stephieboy2
  
  The Hyundai Nexo is one to seriously consider,
  
  https://www.digitaltrends.com/cars/hydrogen-cars-for-sale/
  
  V 12, V8 Petrol Heads prepared to meet thy doom!
  
  0 19
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 31, 2020 2:16pm
  - rangitoto
    
    When are you buying yours?
    
    5 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 31, 2020 3:07pm
    - Stephieboy2
      
      When you fund it on most fsavourable terms!
      
      1 14
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 31, 2020 3:16pm
      - rangitoto
        
        You better ask your social welfare officer for a grant.
        
        7 2
        Report
        January 31, 2020 3:33pm
      - Steve Otto(North Shore)
        
        You mean you can’t just go down the road and buy a car? Must be a leftie wanting OPM – other people’s money
        
        9 2
        Report
        January 31, 2020 4:11pm
  - Swifty
    
    https://youtu.be/toURS5_8kXM?t=238
    
    0 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 31, 2020 3:13pm
Maggie Pie

JUSTIN

Chinese language newspaper Initium is reporting that Chinese authorites are sending bodies direct to crematoriums in secret without proper indentification, in order to cover up the actual death toll from the Coronavirus.
8 2
Log in to Reply
Report
January 31, 2020 1:48pm
Maggie Pie

RT are reporting that people with ‘Asian sounding surnames’ are finding that
their Uber is not turning up.
Yet that’s the very same reason we stopped ordering Uber.
Its a funny old world.
12 2
Log in to Reply
Report
January 31, 2020 2:11pm
- Prince
  
  Who’s the Minister of Transport ? Phil Twyford. Hmmm.
  
  7 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 31, 2020 5:00pm
Maggie Pie

I said to my partner when he walked in, “WHO has just declared that the Coronavirus
is a public health emergency of international concern”

He stood there looking at me for a moment and said, “Well how the f~~k should I know?”

SHEEEESH!
10 1
Log in to Reply
Report
January 31, 2020 2:41pm
- chaos
  
  Bullshit, I just watched dr who, she never said that, sadly she was busy blabbering on about climate change like a greta puppet
  
  7 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 31, 2020 2:51pm
- cmm
  
  Looking for new blood in the pub quiz team?
  
  5 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 31, 2020 3:15pm
cmm

You know it’s no longer the 1900s when you can book a satellite launch as easy as ordering a book from Amazon:

https://www.rocketlabusa.com/book-my-launch/
6 0
Log in to Reply
Report
January 31, 2020 3:14pm
Stephieboy2

Climate Change Denier Funny Joke Noahs Ark God Drowned T-Shirt

https://www.amazon.com/Climate-Change-Denier-Drowned-T-Shirt/dp/B07WHMWPP9
3 14
Log in to Reply
Report
January 31, 2020 3:15pm
- cmm
  
  So there were SUVs back in biblical times???
  
  Fuck me, you lot just don’t make sense do you!
  
  13 2
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 31, 2020 3:31pm
- Steve Otto(North Shore)
  
  On the Amazon site it says you are in New Zealand – but you can change Countries.
  Why don’t you do everyone a favour and do that?
  
  7 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 31, 2020 5:12pm
Maggy Wassilieff

The Brits have got their UK nationals out of Wuhan

https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2020/jan/31/coronavirus-live-updates-china-wuhan-death-toll-who-global-health-emergency-latest-news
7 1
Log in to Reply
Report
January 31, 2020 3:37pm
- rangitoto
  
  BoJo walks. Cindy talks.
  
  10 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 31, 2020 3:57pm
  - cmm
    
    Cindy LIES.
    
    9 2
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 31, 2020 4:51pm
    - Steve Otto(North Shore)
      
      Let me be clear. We did not like the way Australia was going to do it, so we will do it the NZ way.
      How the fuck am I going to get a photo shoot at Christmas Island? That means taking MY 757 to a nuclear infested place, and what happens to my baby next time we get on MY plane?
      This is why we do it MY way!
      OK OK OK stop it with the music!!!!
      
      8 2
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 31, 2020 5:18pm
Maggy Wassilieff

I have been rendered speechless (metaphorically speaking)

https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/lifestyle/2020/01/doctors-warn-women-not-to-put-crocheted-tampons-in-their-vaginas.html
7 0
Log in to Reply
Report
January 31, 2020 3:54pm
- chaos
  
  Lol.
  
  Coming next crochet toilet paper?
  
  Lol
  
  https://www.pinterest.nz/pin/275845545898751741/
  
  6 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 31, 2020 4:33pm
  - KevO'Brien
    
    I have seen 12 packs boldly labelled: RECYCLED
    
    It transpires that the label referred to the outer plastic packaging, but it was far from obvious and a bit concerning.
    
    4 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 31, 2020 5:13pm
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    My partner is going to do at least 3. She is good at that stuff
    
    2 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 31, 2020 5:31pm
- Tall Man
  
  Maggy at the risk of offending a mod… yet again, there are a couple of other places I’d happily recommend a few out there stick em 🙂
  
  2 2
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 31, 2020 4:44pm
Hugh Pavletich

Coronavirus: NZ businesses exporting to China take a hit … Hamish Cardwell … Radio New Zealand

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/wuhan-coronavirus/408548/coronavirus-nz-businesses-exporting-to-china-take-a-hit

New Zealand exporters are nervously waiting to see how big an impact the deadly coronavirus will have on their businesses. … read more via hyperlink above …
2 9
Log in to Reply
Report
January 31, 2020 4:15pm
- Hugh Pavletich
  
  Coronavirus and the world economy … GNS Economics Finland
  
  h/t https://www.macrobusiness.com.au/
  
  https://gnseconomics.com/en_US/2020/01/30/coronavirus-and-the-world-economy/
  
  The outbreak of the coronavirus epidemic in China has shaken the global asset markets—and with good reason. The coronavirus has the potential of being the ‘trigger’ which will push the world into a global depression.
  
  Here, we briefly explain why. … read more via hyperlink above …
  
  1 8
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 31, 2020 4:27pm
  - Hugh Pavletich
    
    NZ tourism braces for coronavirus hit, 9000 cancellations already … New Zealand Herald
    
    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=12305050
    
    Virus sparks close to 10,000 Chinese cancellations, more to come … Amanda Cropp … Stuff NZ
    
    https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/119175105/virus-sparks-close-to-10000-chinese-cancellations-more-to-come
    
    Global tourism is bracing for a deadly blow from coronavirus as Chinese stop travelling … the Print
    
    https://theprint.in/world/global-tourism-is-bracing-for-a-deadly-blow-from-coronavirus-as-chinese-stop-travelling/357004/
    
    0 5
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 31, 2020 6:44pm
chaos

What a bizarre article from stuff

* Several panels of new barrier being installed along the US-Mexico border were blown down by high winds Wednesday, landing in Mexican territory, US Border Patrol said.*

https://www.stuff.co.nz/world/americas/119169815/donald-trumps-border-wall-blows-over-in-high-winds

No mention of what happened. That the panel had just been installed and the concrete hadn’t cured.

* The section of wall was under construction at the time, with concrete anchors being put in place. But the strong winds blew the panels over onto the Mexican side of the border before the concrete had cured, according to reports and photographs. *

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jan/30/trump-border-wall-between-us-and-mexico-blows-over-in-high-winds

* Agent Carlos Pitones of the Customs and Border Protection sector in El Centro, California, told CNN that the sections that gave way had recently been set in a new concrete foundation in Calexico, California. The concrete had not yet cured, according to Pitones, and the wall panels were unable to withstand the windy conditions.*

https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/news/world/part-of-trumps-border-wall-falls-over-in-high-winds-lands-in-mexico/
10 1
Log in to Reply
Report
January 31, 2020 4:42pm
- cmm
  
  You’re supposed to laugh and say Trump’s wall is so weak that it falls over with a bit of wind.
  
  9 3
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 31, 2020 4:54pm
- Steve Otto(North Shore)
  
  Old wall being pushed over for demolition. Look at the tree size you stupid people. That wall was fucked and a new one is being built.
  Guardian and newstalkzb? Saw my dick off
  
  9 2
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 31, 2020 5:40pm
  - Maggie Pie
    
    I can borrow a Gigli saw if you want any assistance Steve?
    
    1 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 31, 2020 5:52pm
    - MrTips
      
      Lol. That’s a little over kill innit?
      
      3 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 31, 2020 6:34pm
    - Steve Otto(North Shore)
      
      Ouch
      
      0 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      February 1, 2020 9:04am
Tall Man

Anyone else notice the Hong Kong protests have dried up?

You’d think they’d carry on as most of them are already masked up!
7 3
Log in to Reply
Report
January 31, 2020 4:46pm
- Jack5
  
  Something else now to worry about in Hong Kong.
  
  More than 500 Hong Kong doctors, nurses and other health workers are threatening to strike unless the border with “Mainland China” is closed.
  
  Meanwhile more than 12 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Hong Kong.
  
  https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3048302/coronavirus-more-500-doctors-health-care-workers
  
  5 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 31, 2020 5:46pm
chaos

* A woman arrested at Auckland Airport for unpaid student loan debt has reached a settlement with Inland Revenue.

Rebecca Browne was arrested on January 10 as she tried to leave New Zealand, and appeared at the Manukau District Court the next day.

Court documents show she reached a settlement with Inland Revenue on her second appearance at court on January 13. *

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/119155633/woman-arrested-at-airport-airport-for-unpaid-student-debt-reaches-ird-settlement
8 0
Log in to Reply
Report
January 31, 2020 4:47pm
- Steve Otto(North Shore)
  
  OK, this means her proxy vote has been done.
  I say no more other than every VOTE counts
  
  6 2
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 31, 2020 5:44pm
chaos

Haha haha,

* I Flew Katie Hopkins to Prague to Win a Fake Award*

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRIdtMlqwNA
0 0
Log in to Reply
Report
January 31, 2020 4:50pm
- mikenmildagain
  
  I see crazy Katie’s Twitter account has been suspended.
  
  0 9
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 31, 2020 5:17pm
- Maggie Pie
  
  I absolutely adore Katie! I’ve been a yuge fan and devout follower of hers for years.
  Its unbelieveable how many nasty a-holes hate on her for no reason whatsoever.
  
  7 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 31, 2020 6:12pm
  - chaos
    
    I liked her on big brother.
    
    4 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 31, 2020 6:42pm
    - Maggie Pie
      
      Me too! Especially when she was asked who she wouldn’t like to share a room with and she said, “Anybody thats fat”
      LOL!!!!!!!!!
      
      5 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 31, 2020 7:39pm
greybeard

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/119139908/renewed-and-radical-could-the-mori-party-make-it-back-to-parliament-in-2020

The Maori Party stands for “Maori Sovereignty”: well, that alone is enough to stop most people voting for it.

The Maori Party wants to change the Treaty of Waitangi settlement process: and that is the final nail in the coffin for re-election.

The Treaty settlements to date have given maori billions of $$, but very little of it has been of benefit to maori in general. There should be no homeless maori in this country right now.
9 0
Log in to Reply
Report
January 31, 2020 5:02pm
- Steve Otto(North Shore)
  
  Moari in general do get some. In my Father’s business in Hamilton, early 1970s we cashed cheques for $0.23. That was the yearly payout for some.
  This has not changed. The elite live the high life, and the poor live in poverty.
  Natural socialist design
  
  9 2
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 31, 2020 5:49pm
  - cmm
    
    It is how their culture is structured. Who are we to stand in judgement? If they vote for this then they must want it.
    
    4 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 31, 2020 6:41pm
- curry4me
  
  I hope the racist party never makes it back into parliament. A partner brown mailing National would be worse long term than another htree years of the CoL.
  
  3 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 31, 2020 8:04pm
Jack5

One Johnny Chen, who runs three accommodation firms that provide homes for about 1200 foreign tertiary students in Auckland, says children as young as 10 are being sent to NZ for education.

Are these just going into the State education system for taxpayers to finance their education?

Mr Chen explains in a Radio NZ report how he takes young people with suspicious symptoms straight to hospital, but the fact that kids as young as 10 are being sent to NZ for education seems to me to be more surprising than fears about coronavirus in foreign students.

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/408554/coronavirus-nz-homestays-rejecting-chinese-students-over-virus-fears
7 0
Log in to Reply
Report
January 31, 2020 5:36pm
rouppe

Student loan defaulter reaches settlement with IRD

So she COULD pay, just couldn’t be arsed. Good job, IRD
10 0
Log in to Reply
Report
January 31, 2020 6:29pm
All_on_Red

So just how is that Impeachment thingy going?
Lol
7 1
Log in to Reply
Report
January 31, 2020 6:31pm
- mikenmildagain
  
  “Witnesses? Who needs to hear any witnesses when we’ve already decided to vote for acquittal?”
  
  1 10
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 31, 2020 7:50pm
  - All_on_Red
    
    Be nice if the GOP were allowed witnesses in the House hearing eh disengenuous liar
    
    1 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    January 31, 2020 10:33pm
    - All_on_Red
      
      It’s funny to watch Smarmy lie
      But the reality is within weeks no one is going to be talking about impeachment anymore
      What is going to happen after that is going to have a much bigger impact on the 2020 race: The Durham criminal investigation
      People will likely be charged and that will be used by Trump on the campaign trail
      Now, that will be delicious
      After 3 years of bullshit TDS the tables are turned
      
      1 1
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      January 31, 2020 11:01pm
      - Vory v zakone
        
        Yep get ready to see indictments drop on the Demtard side, the foreign governments who spied on Trump’s team and interfered in the 2016 election exposed and a landslide in 2020 with the house flipping red. The attempt to coverup the truth has ended.
        
        1 1
        Report
        February 1, 2020 5:31am
      - MCos
        
        According to Barr the Durham Report won’t be ready for quite a few months.
        Sounds like he’s got a bob each way.
        
        0 0
        Report
        February 1, 2020 5:16pm
- curry4me
  
  Superbly…. for POTUS. A sweep of forty states should be easy. For the Dims, not so well. Americans have tuned it out.
  
  4 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 31, 2020 8:07pm
- JulieBabe
  
  Looks like it nearly all over for the slimocrats.
  
  2 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  January 31, 2020 10:12pm
chaos

Mods, I can’t confirm as I cannot find an article yet, but I’ve read some comments on Twitter that this afternoon the 4 people to appear in court regards national donations now have name suppression. Just a heads up for comments about it being posted here now if true.

[Thanks, yes we are aware, cheers – mods.]
5 0
Log in to Reply
Report
January 31, 2020 7:41pm
Komata

BREXIT DAY!!!!!

Yaaaaaay!!

(Just HAD to do that; go the Boris!).
7 0
Log in to Reply
Report
January 31, 2020 8:14pm
Gravelroad

So here’s a good idea for the Democrats – get the dog to stand as a presidential candidate.
What’s not to like given some of the others giving it a go.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/bravo/news/119184004/elizabeth-warrens-dog-hits-the-campaign-trail-in-her-place-as-impeachment-trial-continues
1 0
Log in to Reply
Report
January 31, 2020 8:47pm
rangitoto

Paid for not generating electricity. How does one get in on this rort.

https://www.scotsman.com/news/environment/scottish-wind-farm-paid-96m-to-switch-off-1-4846602
2 0
Log in to Reply
Report
January 31, 2020 10:15pm
MCos

Bit of a laugh

https://twitter.com/joe_gerth/status/1223278777045856257?s=21
0 0
Log in to Reply
Report
February 1, 2020 4:50pm

Add a Comment Cancel reply

Login to comment or vote

« Why is NZ not a member of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance?

Good restrictions »

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

Woman of the day
Hompaddock
It was Gen-X Wot Won It
No Minister
Maori Party fails to scuttle Treaty Principles Bill – why do they fear debate?
Point of Order
A Shift in Time Saves Nine: How The Trump Election Impacts the Supreme Court
Utopia
The woke and a broken Fourth Estate handed Trump the culture war ammunition he used to destroy America
The Daily Blog
Open mike 09/11/2024
The Standard
More on trade
Not PC
Sifting through the wreckage.
Kiwipolitico
Remember the Algerian Olympic boxer in the women’s ring?
Bob McCoskrie's McBlog
Climate Change: Raising the bar
No Right Turn
THE AMERICAN ELECTION
No Punches Pulled (Bob Jones)
Transforming Our Future
NZCPR
Top 14 Predictions for Round 10
Stats Chat
Pretty (il)legal
Croaking Cassandra
Where are the food carts?
Offsetting Behaviour
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