General Debate 14 February 2020

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Maggy Wassilieff

Boris in control
Cabinet reshuffle: Sajid Javid resigns as chancellor
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-51491662
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February 14, 2020 8:05am
- curry4me
  
  Pretty sure I saw that on YouTube a few minutes ago. He is a good source. Reminds me of 60s TV news.
  
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  February 14, 2020 8:08am
- RW Capitalist
  
  Looks like there will be no more drifting or featherbedding in Boris’ cabinet.
  
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  February 14, 2020 8:37am
- Stephieboy2
  
  Replaced by Rishi Sunak. Boris still anxious to give his cabinet the benefits of UK diversity flavour.? Hopefully not a sign Trump revolving door of resignations
  
  https://www.bbc.com/news/business-51490893
  
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  February 14, 2020 8:55am
  - Minsk400
    
    Son of a Billionaire as Chancellor? That’s just Tory, not woke
    
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    February 14, 2020 10:02am
    - Maggy Wassilieff
      
      Sunak’s father is a NHS GP.
      
      It’s his F-in-law who has the mega Rupees
      
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      February 14, 2020 10:44am
  - Sir Cullen's Sidekick
    
    Rishi is educated at Lincoln College, Oxford, Stanford Graduate School of Business. Pfffft, no match for our Cindy.
    
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    February 14, 2020 10:28am
    - Stephieboy2
      
      Nor likely you or me!
      
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      February 14, 2020 10:37am
- Jack5
  
  Did BoJo fire Sajid Javid or was it Dominic Cummings, who seems to be emerging as the Rasputin to Czar Boris?
  
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  February 14, 2020 11:32am
  - Jack5
    
    Dominic Cummings gives a clue to his thinking and philosophy:
    
    https://dominiccummings.com/the-odyssean-project-2/
    
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    February 14, 2020 2:45pm
curry4me

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ZrDhNkxjtE

Taiwan’s Joe Rogan Fights China’s Communists
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February 14, 2020 8:05am
curry4me

This drone system
is a start. A battery of 6-8 lasers would have to be able to deal with multiple maneuvering drones in the field. New weapon systems always look a bit primitive to start with
https://www.lucianne.com/2020/02/12/watch_israel_unleashes_new_laser_weaponbrthat_shoots_down_drones_27168.html
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February 14, 2020 8:07am
Souvlaki

Random Question : Does the PMs abrupt/ overnight reversal on her ” trust” have anything to do with the ” truth” in the Sroubek imbroglio?
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February 14, 2020 8:08am
- cmm
  
  Oh bugger, more lines need to be read between…
  
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  February 14, 2020 9:11am
RW Capitalist

Is it me?
or
Are the TV channels being very quiet, just one day after a poll comes out saying that National would be the govt. if election held today.
Not just that, but if the Greens fell any further, National could govern alone.
They did seem to go on a bit when the polls last year said the CoL would remain govt.
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February 14, 2020 8:09am
- Nickc2
  
  Yes, the talking heads have their ovaries in an uproar over the latest political polls. I wonder if the Bradford Brat will once again offer her famous line “no matter what we do etc . . . . . .”?
  No doubt granny Helen will offer some Marxist words of wisdom to help Cindy out.
  
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  February 14, 2020 9:19am
- Than
  
  To be fair, the NZ First donation scandal is occupying a lot of the Politics headlines right now. And the ONCB poll didn’t contain any surprise results to be commented on; it essentially agreed with the Reid poll from a couple of weeks ago.
  
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  February 14, 2020 10:18am
- Sir Cullen's Sidekick
  
  Bro – Greens could have been 5.4% also. So don’t celebrate as yet. Also remember on special votes Greens always gain another MP. So even if they are on 4.5 or 4.6 on election night, after all special votes are counted they could still be over 5% and install Cindy as the PM. Unless Labour vote falls below 38%, Cindy will be your next PM.
  
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  February 14, 2020 10:31am
Luke Piewalker

Back in NZ and one can’t help but notice the stink/stench coming from Winston First.

Quite noticeable
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February 14, 2020 8:09am
- GazzaW
  
  Self-destructing from within and you can’t help wondering whether the Nats have something up their sleeves with which to deliver a final coup de grace closer to the election.
  
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  February 14, 2020 11:15am
Cobolt24

Auckland mother and six kids desperate for a new home after landlord decides to sell
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/119512997/housing-crisis-ive-rung-hundreds-of-places-to-ask-you-just-get-shut-down
Maybe she should have thought about not having kids (or at least not more than one) until she had a stable lifestyle?
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February 14, 2020 8:10am
- cmm
  
  sexist
  
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  February 14, 2020 8:30am
  - RW Capitalist
    
    Sarcasm…..I hope…but be warned, it will be taxed.
    
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    February 14, 2020 8:35am
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    Oh look, you got downticks. You must have upset someone with the truth!
    6 kids is nothing more than a meal ticket, she is doing well thankyou very much
    
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    February 14, 2020 8:42am
    - RW Capitalist
      
      Winston Churchill said, “You have enemies? Good. That means you’ve stood up for something, sometime in your life.”
      
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      February 14, 2020 8:51am
      - Jack5
        
        One of the many false quotes attributed to Churchill:
        
        https://richardlangworth.com/quotes-churchill-never-said-1
        
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        February 14, 2020 10:33am
      - mikenmildagain
        
        As Abraham Lincoln said, Jack:
        “Most internet quotes are bogus”
        
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        February 14, 2020 11:05am
      - Jack5
        
        Very witty, Milky. ?
        
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        February 14, 2020 11:17am
      - Jack5
        
        I may have given the wrong link to the false quote attributed to Churchill about “you have enemies…”
        
        This one is better:
        
        https://checkyourfact.com/2019/08/02/fact-check-churchill-enemies-stood-something/
        
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        February 14, 2020 2:19pm
    - MH
      
      blatant attempt to jump the queue and secure another wreckers car to house her family- must have tow bar.
      
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      February 14, 2020 1:29pm
  - cmm
    
    c’mon downtickers
    A woman has to get her breeding in before her egg timer goes off.
    It is the duty of every taxpayer and landlord to assist her in reaching her breeding goals.
    
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    February 14, 2020 8:43am
- RW Capitalist
  
  Advice to this woman dates back to Victorian times and is still good.
  “sixpence”……
  Put it between your knees and squeeze tight.
  
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  February 14, 2020 8:34am
- Paulus Gnome
  
  Six children. There is her problem there.
  
  Don’t breed if you can’t feed . . .
  
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  February 14, 2020 8:42am
- Steve Otto(North Shore)
  
  I’m sure the PTPM will help her out if she promised to vote Labour
  
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  February 14, 2020 8:47am
- Andrei
  
  Having children and raisng them well is the most important economic activity we undertake.
  
  This woman is more important to the future of this Nation than our lamentable PM and that is a fact.
  
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  February 14, 2020 8:56am
  - tf78
    
    Theoretically you are correct, but it depends on the upbringing and future contribution these children will make to our society.
    
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    February 14, 2020 9:51am
    - MH
      
      parking wardens ?
      
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      February 14, 2020 1:30pm
  - Jack5
    
    Some people would rather bring in hundreds of thousands of people from poorer countries than raise our own kids.
    
    Probably thinking about cheaper labour for the retirement homes ahead.
    
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    February 14, 2020 10:55am
    - Andrei
      
      Well said
      
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      February 14, 2020 12:36pm
- rouppe
  
  Once again it is the lack of information that doesn’t help.
  
  Six kids should be a truck load of child support payments from the father. A family of seven requires at least a 4 bedroom home assuming all the kids share a room. As rentals, those are few and far between.
  
  So her family size inhibits finding suitable housing. But she shouldn’t be struggling for money as there should be loads coming in from the liable parent or parents.
  
  So I think your comment is a little unfair as we don’t know how she came to be single with six kids.
  
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  February 14, 2020 8:59am
  - Right of way is Way of Right
    
    Don’t assume all six kids have the same father, in which case there should be some reporting as to what the father/fathers of these children are doing to help support their offspring.
    
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    February 14, 2020 11:30am
  - The Proper Ghandi
    
    “So I think your comment is a little unfair as we don’t know how she came to be single with six kids.”
    
    Either something like:
    
    1) She made bad decisions and has slept around with multiple loser men and produced offspring with them; or
    
    2) She made a bad decisions and partnered up with the wrong guy who gave her six kids and then shot through.
    
    Either way, she can’t really blame anyone but herself.
    
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    February 14, 2020 1:01pm
    - GoVege
      
      “..she can’t really blame anyone but herself”?
      It takes two to tango don’t it?
      Except in the case of a sex worker who just doesn’t bother to use contraception, knowing that the taxpayers will support her kids, I’d say we can definitely blame the sperm donors.
      After all, this woman at least has stuck around to look after her children.
      
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      February 14, 2020 7:36pm
      - The Proper Ghandi
        
        Women choose their partners, not the other way round. They accept or reject the advances of potential mates. The “Mother Nature” archetype is feminine for a reason. They need to take responsibility for their actions when they select losers and idiots. The moral is that they should be picky and not root the first ‘bad boy’ who gives them attention. Good guys generally don’t pump and dump.
        
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        February 14, 2020 10:39pm
  - MH
    
    just lucky I suppose.
    
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    February 14, 2020 1:31pm
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    a truck load of child support payments from WINZ.
    Fixed it for you
    
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    February 14, 2020 4:19pm
- Sydney Alvarado
  
  Unfortunately we have created a situation where the poor and uneducated have large families and the productive and educated have 1 or 2 children or none at all. Not unique to New Zealand of course.
  
  This woman is unusual in that she is not Maori. Indeed if you take Maori out of the picture, New Zealand’s poverty, education and other social indicators would look good. And despite the spin, Maori under achievement is just as severe as ever.
  
  Oh and as usual, there is no mention of the father or fathers in this story.
  
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  February 14, 2020 9:06am
- Chris R
  
  Where are any of the up to 6 fathers? Why aren’t they chipping in for a home for this lot?
  
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  February 14, 2020 10:00am
  - GoVege
    
    Chris, many people seem extremely naive about the difficulties in getting fathers to shell out for the support of their children.
    Once a man is no longer getting sex from a woman, even if she is the mother of his children, from then on virtually all his income will be invested in the woman currently giving it to him.
    It’s a story as old as humanity, and the reason why civilized societies these days are resigned to supporting the children of broken families.
    
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    February 14, 2020 7:42pm
    - The Proper Ghandi
      
      In a civilised society, people value child rearing partnerships in the nature of marriage, even if it is personally inconvenient to accept responsibility for one’s actions. In a healthy society, the notion of impregnating a woman and then leaving her and the child would not be countenanced. This has only come about through hyper-individualism, and a consequent disregard for the offspring. Your comment illustrates how far we have sunk where casual encounters followed by the selfishness and immorality of not accepting responsibility for those actions is widespread. The story isn’t “as old as humanity.” It is not much older than 70 or so years at the most.
      
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      February 14, 2020 10:49pm
- Lizziep
  
  Where is the father/fathers of all these children? Should he/they not be helping with providing the children with a home. Are they beneficiaries? No family help? Is up to the tax payers to provide for them?
  
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  February 14, 2020 10:14pm
Yvette

Parents of child severely beaten, critically injured in Hastings need to front – Police
Two weeks on from January 29 the police still do not know who hurt the boy – or how.
Up to four or five family members were with him that day – including his parents and other children at different points.

While the family of this child apparently refuses to tell Police what happened, comments alluding to the Peters’ case before the Serious Fraud Office frequently point out “You can not but answer SFO questions”

Indeed in this current case President of the New Zealand Police Association Chris Cahill has said,
The right to silence has been a long and important part of the country’s legal and justice system but there were exceptions to it in Serious Fraud Office cases

So, what additional powers of inquiry or consequences does the SFO have available to them in comparison to normal Police operations and a person’s obligations to answer questions?

Or is that bullshit?
And what will the Government that espouses “wellbeing” and “kindness” actually do about this situation?
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February 14, 2020 8:11am
- G152
  
  Find the family name.
  There is nowhere such people can remain unnamed and certainly no reason for anonymity.
  That poor kid
  
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  February 14, 2020 8:56am
- UrbanNeocolonialist
  
  family might be being intimidated by the perpetrator, particularly if they are gang affiliated. something like a 1/4 of all gang members are known child abusers to Oranga Tamariki
  
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  February 14, 2020 9:02am
- Minsk400
  
  If we had grand juries then they could subpoena family members to investigate, then would be in contempt of court for not attending. That at least would have a higher chance of success than what’s happening now
  
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  February 14, 2020 10:05am
  - Nigel Kearney
    
    That’s fine if you’re certain the person knows something. In this case, some of the people who would be rounded up may not have been there when it happened and may genuinely know nothing.
    
    Anyway the privilege against self-incrimination applies to a grand jury testimony. In order to overcome that you have to give the witness immunity from prosecution. Which might defeat the purpose unless you already know who did it.
    
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    February 14, 2020 10:48am
    - GoVege
      
      Wasn’t the poor kid previously taken off their parents/ caregivers and returned at Christmas?
      Surely they had collected some data then as to who the child was being harmed by?
      And why aren’t all those Dames holding a hui about this shocking case, as well as all the gang violence currently going on?
      
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      February 14, 2020 7:47pm
- rouppe
  
  The right to silence is fine. However with a victim clearly apparent, they should all be charged with being party to assault.
  
  That should flush out a few rabbits
  
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  February 14, 2020 10:10am
- DeepBlue
  
  The SFO does have extra special powers, for example to compel people to answer questions. That’s why they are separate to the Police and long may that separation last.
  
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  February 14, 2020 4:39pm
AgainstTheFlow

Netflix has announced a new drama series to be made in New Zealand.

Loosely based on HBO’s Breaking Bad, Better Call Brian is the story of one lawyer’s efforts to keep his clients out of trouble with the law.
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February 14, 2020 8:11am
- Komata
  
  ATF@0811
  
  So Winnie’s now in the movies?
  
  He’ll enjoy the attention
  
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  February 14, 2020 9:01am
- Sydney Alvarado
  
  I got quiet excited until the second sentence ?
  
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  February 14, 2020 9:07am
- Nickc2
  
  Starring ??????? as himself. The sequel will be ‘Political Death by 1000 Own Goals’.
  
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  February 14, 2020 9:36am
  - sooty
    
    Is this about Brian Henry and Whinestone!
    
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    February 14, 2020 11:39am
Happychappy

This saga of the NZ First Foundation is far from over with the latest on Lester Greys meeting with two of the Journalists that broke the story on the Foundation, in one instance Winston Peters has said the pictures and video appearing on the BDF the alleged site of the old Whale oil were taken by NZ First only hours later to contradict himself after obviously receiving bad press.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=12308449
This is the same as what is happening in a lot of the storylines told by Winston as he is saying one thing then hour later he contradicts facts of what he has just released.
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February 14, 2020 8:12am
- KevO'Brien
  
  Dementia among the ageing takes many forms, fixation is one with a minimum of substance; a certain busyness is common hiding vacuousness.
  
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  February 14, 2020 11:55am
  - Lee C
    
    Yup senility appears to feature in this.
    
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    February 14, 2020 8:05pm
fernglas

The notion of light rail in Auckland is already obsolete. It is really only those Luddites on the left who are pushing for it. Read this about trackless trams:
https://www.noted.co.nz/tech/tech-tech/three-technologies-that-could-change-nz-public-transport
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February 14, 2020 8:20am
- Stephieboy2
  
  Intersting and from your link this,
  
  Hydrogen power
  
  “Vehicle makers including Toyota and Hyundai are investing billions in developing fuel-cell electric vehicles as an alternative to electric vehicles charged by plugging into the electricity grid.
  
  The fuel cell combines hydrogen and oxygen to make electricity, which drives an electric motor. So, they are effectively electric vehicles, too. But they function more like conventional gas or diesel vehicles, without the emissions. Although hydrogen-powered systems are expensive, costing at least a third more than battery-powered electric vehicles, they generally have greater range, but rely on a network of hydrogen stations, so infrastructure costs are high. Auckland Transport will trial a hydrogen-powered bus from September, in conjunction with Ports of Auckland, which is building a hydrogen plant. Hydrogen for fuel cells requires energy to produce. There are moves to make New Zealand a green hydrogen exporter to countries such as South Korea, using our renewable energy to power hydrogen plants here and shipping liquid hydrogen overseas….”
  
  … [Deleted – any more gratuitous insults like this and you will be taking a break (again). Mod]
  
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  February 14, 2020 9:03am
  - Ed Snack
    
    Because (apart from your final comment) you seem serious, it is worth re-iterating the pro’s and cons of using H2 as a fuel.
    
    Pro’s are obvious, can be used in fuel cells with only output being H2O, and chemistry is reasonably well understood. Cons though are significant – H2 is difficult to store (it will permeate any container used when gaseous and the H2 can make some containers change their mechanical properties) and is best stored as a liquid which requires very low temperatures and significant pressures. H2 in certain proportions in air will spontaneously react (aka explode). H2 is a very low density fuel, so much larger tanks are needed than for something like petrol or LPG. It takes significant energy to create H2, it is easiest to make from CH4/natural gas, but that is just as polluting as burning the CH4. And we have no infrastructure for H2 distribution.
    
    It is a tempting fuel, but there are good reasons top consider other alternatives. If we have excess energy we can easily create H2 and use it as a store of the energy, not very efficiently though. Something that could be considered is to use that energy to create more complex hydrocarbons – it is currently less efficient than just getting H2 (say from electrolysis of H2O) but we already possess a huge investment in the storage and distribution of complex hydrocarbons so there is a saving there.
    
    Key point, having enough “surplus” energy to deploy this way. Note that this applies no matter how we store and re-use – we (NZ and the world) need huge amounts of additional energy generation to power transportation whether we do so using batteries, H2, or created HC’s instead of extracted HC’s. And where’s the planning for this energy supply ?
    
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    February 14, 2020 9:48am
    - Stephieboy2
      
      Ed Snack, those niceties are not stopping vehicle manufacturers like Toyota and Hyundai etc investing billions in H2 power.
      
      They must feel they’re onto a good thing.
      
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      February 14, 2020 10:28am
      - Than
        
        You say billions like it’s a big deal for companies on that scale.
        
        But H2 power is not something new, it has been around for decades. Hydrogen powered vehicles have some significant disadvantages, which Ed Snack covered quite well. In particular the elephant in the room for all electric vehicles, how we’re going to generate all that electricity. Greenie’s blithely talk about “New Zealand’s abundant hydro”, but we’ve built almost all of the dams we can and it’s still only generating around 75-80% of current electricity demand. There’s just no way we could build enough hydro to meet the 50-100% demand increase converting NZs transport fleet to electric will create.
        
        One other downside of H2 – the article says hydrogen powered cars cost at least a third more than battery-powered electric vehicles (which themselves aren’t cheap). How to pay for the transition to an electric-vehicle fleet is already a significant challenge, and this would be even worse for H2 vehicles.
        
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        February 14, 2020 11:07am
      - SGA
        
        but we’ve built almost all of the dams we can
        
        Is that true? Does that mean in terms of actual locations possible, the cost of building them in remaining locations, or the outrage such construction might generate? Genuine question, no agenda.
        
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        February 14, 2020 11:29am
      - sooty
        
        Trackless trains, oh you mean buses!
        
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        February 14, 2020 11:41am
      - Ed Snack
        
        Research into H2 fuel cells has been ongoing for decades – at least some of it is window-dressing. And sad to say that most of the more commercial forays in this area use Hydrocarbons directly as their source of H so not immediately as clean as H2.
        
        SGA, there are quite a few “possible” sites for additional Hydro in NZ, but almost none are “available”. For example the Buller river has the right characteristics and there are quite a few rivers and lakes in Fiordland that could theoretically be tapped. All (except for the Buller) are remote and would require significant investment in transmission, and most are in areas specifically completely protected from any significant development. So more hydro power is out.
        
        Biggest single available source would be bringing Manapouri into the main grid – $2-$3 Billion to connect it to the Benmore distribution centre and probably more to beef up the Benmore to North Island channels. And get rid of the smelter so the power is available.
        
        It would be a nice little extra to add to the pool, but not a game changer.
        
        We have a bit more potential geothermal, more if we go deeper, but not huge amounts. Some additional wind could be harvested and there’s some solar but in neither case is there anything like the potential to double our current capacity which we would need to support a full electrical transportation system. The only currently feasible route to that is Nuclear, probably 4 – 5 nuclear generator sites in NZ of the appropriate size would give us that capacity.
        
        That’s without “pie-in-the-sky” options. Assuming then that Fusion is the power source of the future and will always remain so.
        
        If such infrastructure is not built, then if ICE is phased out, personal transport will become restricted to the very rich and the ruling elite; and the rest of the country will have public transport and shank’s pony (and bicycles, don’t forget bicycles).
        
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        February 14, 2020 12:41pm
  - KevO'Brien
    
    Where they going to get the hydrogen from in NZ, the COL benches?
    This is pie in the sky stuff.
    
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    February 14, 2020 11:58am
- Lance
  
  I have never understood why O-Bahn busses weren’t considered?
  A great solution that hybrids standard roads and dedicated tracks.
  
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  February 14, 2020 9:36am
- Than
  
  So-called “trackless trams” are really just multi-carriage buses – they use rubber tires and run on regular roads. Most of their claimed advanced features could be installed in any other bus. Their only inherent advantage is the ability to carry more passengers than a standard bus, and I’m doubtful NZ has any bus routes busy enough to need this extra capacity.
  
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  February 14, 2020 10:43am
  - fernglas
    
    Well, they seem to think light rail down Dominion road is needed for its extra capacity, and that is already well served by buses.
    
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    February 14, 2020 11:55am
  - GazzaW
    
    They aren’t a new concept and were known as ‘bendy-busses’ in Auckland. They were withdrawn from service back in Len Brown days. As I recall the official excuse for getting rid of them before their ‘use by’ date was that they were difficult to manoeuvre in suburban streets.
    
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    February 14, 2020 3:57pm
oldpark

Meanwhile back to the future. In 2008 John Key and National virtually ran Helen Clark and her bunch of out of Government for their social engineering tactics.
Clark turned up at the United Nations for a few years and NZ was spared her rants and raves .
Well seems she is back big time . Not so long ago she ranted about Eden Park and its curfew hours for sports and concerts. Then same old ranter whinged about the Concert programme on Red Radio not being run to her satisfaction .
Now to cap it all also pulling the strings as puppet mum for NZs Peters selected PM the wee laughing girl from Morrinsville.
The so called Helen Clark Foundation has come up with a grand plan for NZs so called “Rich” residential property owners . A Capital Gains Tax.
Yes to quote a comment once made famous by another NZ Politician. Clark is missing her time as NZs kneecapping and social engineering PM. The appropiate words .How about “she is a shiver looking for a spine to crawl up” just to get some attention. She is sick and tired of NZs renegade Politician for 40 years getting all the attention.
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February 14, 2020 8:20am
- sooty
  
  What is the difference between Uncle Helen’s foundation and Whinestones?
  
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  February 14, 2020 11:46am
Paulus Gnome

Helen Clark, rich people, another step to irrelevance . . .
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February 14, 2020 8:27am
Ian Boag

Maybe she did have a stable lifestyle … we don’t know. Apparently she is in work, has always paid the rent on time etc.

Maybe she should have thought about …

Probably true. Looks like the kids are going to be hit hardest by all this. Your solution?
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February 14, 2020 8:34am
- RW Capitalist
  
  My solution is irrelevant.
  What’s her solution?
  What is SHE going to do for herself and HER kids?
  
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  February 14, 2020 8:36am
  - RW Capitalist
    
    Ok shot from the lip here.
    My suggestion
    Paternity test and name the father/s, make him/them pay.
    
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    February 14, 2020 8:53am
    - mandk
      
      Make the father(s) pay?
      
      That’s a quaint motion.
      
      Don’t you know this is 2020, and we have a caring government?
      
      Women can pop out as many babies as they like, and they don’t need to identify the dad(s).
      
      Jacinda says it’s ok.
      
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      February 14, 2020 9:07am
    - Steve Otto(North Shore)
      
      Never happen while she is welfare dependant.
      
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      February 14, 2020 9:26am
  - Ian Boag
    
    My solution is irrelevant.
    
    Well said.
    
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    February 14, 2020 10:07am
    - RW Capitalist
      
      AAAHHH…take anything out of context here?
      
      My solution is irrelevant……..but it is MY MONEY, paying for her lifestyle and choices.
      
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      February 14, 2020 10:16am
  - Simon Gotlieb
    
    A lot of assumptions going on here, and they sure as hell sound like they’re coming from a misogynistic viewpoint. I wish sometimes people would actually make the effort to find out what’s really going on before they start spouting off – it really makes for disappointing reading.
    
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    February 14, 2020 10:11am
    - Prince
      
      Perhaps the reporter could ask some of the harder questions to inform us ‘non-believers’.
      
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      February 14, 2020 11:17am
      - Simon Gotlieb
        
        Jesus. Don’t get me started on the quality of modern reporting mate.
        
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        February 14, 2020 12:09pm
- Sydney Alvarado
  
  I feel for her and the kids. But this will never stop. We need to target girls from 12 onwards and teaching them about family formation, birth control, and the sad fact that there is a never ending supply of men who will impregnate them and either run or bash them.
  
  Women have control of their fertility. And seriously if she ended up with 6 kids she is unlikely to ever have had a stable lifestyle, at least one that was affordable, happy, and sustainable.
  
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  February 14, 2020 9:12am
  - Simon Gotlieb
    
    A far more useful comment. You’ve pointed out a number of issues that need to be addressed, and doing so early is absolutely the best way to go about it. A feel a different approach is needed. Both National and Labour have tried to do something about this, coming from completely different directions, and both have failed.
    Education is most certainly the key. Punish doesn’t work. Just throwing money at the problem doesn’t either.
    
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    February 14, 2020 10:13am
  - Maggy Wassilieff
    
    Women have control of their fertility.
    
    In many cases they don’t.
    
    *Young ill-informed girls get pregnant and don’t know what to do…
    
    * Young girls/women are brainwashed to never use contraception
    
    * Some females are in relationships where the man controls everything
    
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    February 14, 2020 10:56am
    - rockape
      
      My wife when younger had a tiny implant that was contraceptive and lasted 5 years with no side effects. Maybe that’s the answer. $1000 if you get that implant and every time you renew, great investment for NZ.
      
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      February 14, 2020 11:52am
      - Simon Gotlieb
        
        I kind of like that, but 5 years is a long time. How many people can make decisions with five year long implications? Half of my business cases don’t have timeframes that long.
        
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        February 14, 2020 12:10pm
      - Classic Liberal
        
        Another issue is STDs: sex education needs to emphasize the importance of condoms until in a really stable relationship where preferably both have been tested. Any pill or implant for contraception should just be an extra precaution against unwanted pregnancy.
        
        However, few women could be stupid enough to have six children by accident. The only excuse would be that they aren’t all her own children and somehow she has become responsible for someone else’s.
        
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        February 14, 2020 1:06pm
      - Lizziep
        
        Why pay someone to not have children? They should be told there are consequences to having them and for multiple children with parents going it alone it It tough out there. They should be lining up for contraception.
        
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        February 14, 2020 10:27pm
- cmm
  
  Why does there have to be a solution?
  
  The time to think about finding a parachute is before you jump out of the plane.
  
  Sometimes the only way to solve a problem is BEFORE it happens. ie. don’t get into the problem in the first place.
  
  Same here think through if you have a stable enough situation before you have six kids. Think theough some of the “what if” scenarios (losing a job for a couple of months, rentals, etc).
  
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  February 14, 2020 9:20am
  - Sydney Alvarado
    
    I have 4 kids. I did my best but I was not parent of the year. I love my kids but with hind sight we should have stopped at 2. Anyway we always paid our way and when the marriage finally ended, I paid up huge on child support and the taxpayer was never called upon. But it was tough on us and the kids. Luckily they turned out OK ?
    
    My point is that you would need to be a remarkable couple to be good parents to six kids. I mean across all dimensions of parenthood. A single mother has no hope of being an effective parent to six kids. The end. It is just a matter of how bad it turns out and how big the cost to society. So having 6 kids or 5 or 4 or even 3, means that if things go wrong they go real wrong.
    
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    February 14, 2020 9:58am
    - Jack5
      
      ?Good on you Sydney. Raising four children well is a fine contribution to society.
      
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      February 14, 2020 11:23am
  - Simon Gotlieb
    
    Because half the population have below average intelligence. Those of us who are “better off”, usually through a more privileged upbringing coupled with a bit of intelligence, need to lead. Some people just aren’t capable of seeing the consequences of their actions. But lead doesn’t mean punish, which is National’s trap. Nor does it mean appease, which is the trap Labour falls into. Both parties tend to condescend to the less well off too, which is a problem IMO.
    
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    February 14, 2020 10:16am
    - Sydney Alvarado
      
      Good points.
      
      Two things we could do more of. First invest in teaching girls from disadvantaged families about relationships. I did a lot of work on family violence prevention and in reading case studies of injury and death, it is astounding the drop kicks that young women hook up with, get bashed, and hook up with another drop kick, and rinse and repeat…
      
      Secondly, there have been major advances in contraception in the last 10 years. But until 3 months ago these were not funded by pharmac and cost $400 plus in initial costs. So many young women did not use them, especially Maori.
      
      https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2019/10/pharmac-announces-funding-for-mirena-and-jaydess-contraceptives.html
      
      Go to South Auckland and promote the hell out of these in schools. And then do it again and again.
      
      Stopping young women hooking up with drop kicks, and especially, stopping them getting pregnant, AND lifting their education outcomes, are the most important things we can do to stop the the cycle of disadvantage.
      
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      February 14, 2020 1:31pm
      - tf78
        
        National made great inroads into young mum’s taking benefits, they were given cards for food and rent etc paid for. The teen pregnancy rate was the lowest ever in 2017. Two months after the election, Jacinda’s first bribe was to give new mum’s $65 extra/week for each child. Look at the result and the undoing of 9 years of work by National.
        
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        February 14, 2020 5:34pm
- rangitoto
  
  She should move to a caring socialist country like North Korea or Venezuela.
  
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  February 14, 2020 10:21am
MCos

One hundred years since the partition of Ireland and with Catholics now in the majority in the North who voted to remain in the EU and Sinn Fein winning the election in the south the time might be ready for reunification.
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February 14, 2020 8:41am
Stephieboy2

Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
A must watch ,

Michael Moore On Guns, Trump And The EU With Piers Morgan – Full Interview | Good Morning Britain

591,599 views•Jun 24, 2016

Broadcast on 14/06/2016 (extended interview)

Piers Morgan interviews award-winning documentary filmmaker Michael Moore. The pair discuss American gun laws, the Presidential election and the EU Referendum in this extended interview clip.

Prophetic, insightful and highly entertaining . Even at that stage Moore was hinting at Trump success at the Presidential election . A sundry range of topics covered including why an earth would the Brits sacrifice their NHS in exchange for a failed US model of health care? US s absurd gun control laws cf UK etc, GWB and the disastrous Iraq, t war, Brexit etc, etc

Something for everyone.
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February 14, 2020 8:48am
- Swifty
  
  Snooze button alert!
  
  Yawn!
  
  LOL!
  
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  February 14, 2020 8:56am
- cmm
  
  Please watch it twice so I don’t have to.
  
  Thanx – cmm
  
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  February 14, 2020 8:57am
  - Stephieboy2
    
    cmm,
    
    “Living is Easy with Eyes Closed.”
    
    ― John Lennon
    
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    February 14, 2020 9:05am
    - KevO'Brien
      
      How many time have you opened yours in the last 10 years?
      
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      February 14, 2020 12:03pm
- In Vino Veritas
  
  Absurd gun control laws Stephie? Which laws would those be? The American Constitution?
  
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  February 14, 2020 9:19am
  - Stephieboy2
    
    This one and how it is interpreted today,
    
    The Second Amendment of the United States Constitution reads: “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”
    
    I think the original framers of the constitution did not have the present proliferation of guns in mind.,
    
    https://www.forbes.com/sites/elizabethmacbride/2018/11/25/americas-gun-business-is-28b-the-gun-violence-business-is-bigger/#73b908b03ae8
    
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    February 14, 2020 10:15am
    - In Vino Veritas
      
      I’d suggest the ownership of guns and the bearing of them is exactly what the original framers had in mind Stephie, that is why the 2nd says “the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed”.
      And laughably, some of the biggest spikes in purchasing guns in the US come AFTER government officials either (1) make new laws around gun control, or (2) threaten to do so.
      The most interesting fact in the article you posted was that 2\3 rds of gun deaths in the US are suicides.
      
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      February 14, 2020 11:15am
  - Simon Gotlieb
    
    Second amendment only allows US Citizens to form an alarmed militia if the government becomes tyrannical. The modern interpretation of this, which personally I believe is inaccurate, has led to this “I have the right to have as many guns as I like”. Personally, I don’t give a shit whether somebody has a gun or not, but I believe there has to be a certain amount of responsibility attached to gun ownership. That’s what’s missing. And the US has a bit of a feral/criminal problem too.
    
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    February 14, 2020 10:22am
    - Ed Snack
      
      Disagree, if the government becomes tyrannical it is way too late to think of arming oneself. As tyrants the world over have shown, one of their first acts before becoming overtly tyrannical is to restrict access to weapons.
      
      They aren’t that stupid.
      
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      February 14, 2020 12:55pm
      - Stephieboy2
        
        Ed Snack , so how are UK, Aussie and our gun laws ” tyrannical?”
        
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        February 14, 2020 2:06pm
- In Vino Veritas
  
  Yup, as I thought, another Hollywood elite who believes his opinion is worth more than anyone else’s. A gun control looney who has armed guards to protect him. Hypocrite much?
  
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  February 14, 2020 10:10am
  - Gravelroad
    
    Yes, like the Millionaire Hollywood film stars who get up at award ceremonies and wail about gun crime then sign up for their next blockbuster film appearance which contains a lot of……….gun crime.
    Do they ever see the irony of this?
    
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    February 14, 2020 4:14pm
tedbear

Jacinda is really spreading her kindness around.
Now she demanding those put up in motels pay 25% rent.
I’ve a better idea.
Jacinda should just buy back motels like they did with guns.
The government never owned the guns it said it was buying back. So on that basis the government could just buy back motels it never owned.
That modus operandi worked once so why not do it again, and for a price that suits them.
As with the guns Jacinda wasn’t bothered owners were out of pocket.
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February 14, 2020 8:50am
- RW Capitalist
  
  Is it me, or does there appear to be more “gun violence” since the “buy back”.
  
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  February 14, 2020 8:55am
  - tedbear
    
    There’s definitely been more since Nash said the Police are tackling the country’s gang problem.
    
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    February 14, 2020 9:39am
    - Jack5
      
      And Nash has called on National to back his gun reforms, suggesting this would solve the gang problems.
      
      There will be a not inconsiderable portion of voters waiting for National’s reaction to this, given National’s enthusiastic joining in the the gallop to gun control after the mosque massacres.
      
      And they would like to know who strong-armed Seymour to break his own brave stand for a thorough, measured, rational review of the gun laws instead of a panicked, emotional revision.
      
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      February 14, 2020 11:01am
- Steve Otto(North Shore)
  
  No no. Be quiet or she will do it
  
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  February 14, 2020 9:28am
Surely Knott

Stuff gives white supremacists a platform when it suits their agenda. Lauren Southern was banned from speaking, Tarrants manifesto was banned which contained his support for a certain environmental ideology. But if they hate National it’s all on. Nick Smiths National Party sign is vandalised, and Stuff don’t just report this, they give 4 paragraphs of the spokespersons political opinion. I guess if it suits Stuffs agenda then giving white supremacists, who are vandalising property a platform is ok? “An Action Zealandia spokesman said the specific actions were taken because the National Party was “the most compromised political party in New Zealand”.

“”It isn’t hard to see National is compromised and controlled due to their actions (or inaction) in the previous government,” the spokesman said.

“Their refusal to do anything about Chinese investors ..” blah blah blah

I wonder which other racist criminal groups stuff will be giving page inches to on politics. Who will the Mongrel Mob be voting for this year and their thoughts on the economy and immigration. Maybe if we throw a dildo, deface a sign with racist material, or create a giant statue of an mp having a dump then our opinion would also be worthy of news space.

https://i.stuff.co.nz/national/119480860/white-nationalist-group-vandalises-nelson-mp-nick-smiths-electorate-office
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February 14, 2020 8:52am
Fletch

So, the abuse of the Moriori has officially been recognized, but somehow it’s the fault of the Crown for not stopping Maori “slaughtering and enslaving” them?

Moriori descendants and representatives of the Crown will meet in Rēkohu, or the Chatham Islands, today for the signing of the Moriori Treaty Settlement.

The settlement redress includes an agreed historical account, a Crown apology, and $18 million.

https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/true-story-moriori-entrenched-in-law-following-history-slaughter-and-enslavement

If anything, it is Maori who should be paying Moriori reparations, from the reparations we pay Maori. And giving up some of the land and fishing rights that have come with it. But no, it’s always the fault of the white man who always has to pay, and apologize, as well? Frickin’ unbelievable.. We’re sorry that the Maori killed and enslaved your ancestors. Here’s $18 million.
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February 14, 2020 8:55am
- Steve Otto(North Shore)
  
  Moari will pay reparations- with your money
  
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  February 14, 2020 9:30am
- DRHILL
  
  So I heard this on the news this morning and have some thoughts:
  (1)Recognition comes through the Treaty of Waitangi Tribunal – Did the Moriori actually sign the Treaty of Waitangi?
  (2)The Crown is apologizing – Why? Wasn’t it the local tribes at the time (1835) that were fighting with the Moriori?
  (3)18 Million dollars – again from the Crown that had nothing to do with it?
  
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  February 14, 2020 9:35am
  - GoVege
    
    They weren’t “fighting with the Moriori”.
    The Moriori were pacifists who had given up warfare.
    The Maori tribes invaded and massacred them.
    
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    February 14, 2020 10:13am
    - DRHILL
      
      OK, I see your point.
      
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      February 14, 2020 10:31am
    - Billy Collins
      
      Half true.
      
      The 1835 massacre was committed by some 500 exiled members of two tribes. It wasn’t some top-down coordinated Maori effort.
      
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      February 14, 2020 12:16pm
      - GoVege
        
        Does that make a difference to the tortured and murdered victims, Billy?
        In any case, “Maoridom” were never a united group, as some revisionists like to pretend.
        
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        February 14, 2020 12:28pm
    - jonnycomelately
      
      Maori didn’t fight them, they ate them.
      
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      February 14, 2020 11:12pm
  - Jack5
    
    I’m guessing that the claim is on the ground that though the Chathams didn’t become part of the colony of New Zealand until 1842 (after the Treaty of Waitangi), it wasn’t until 1863 that the NZ legal system officially ended the Taranaki Maori enslavement of local Moriori, which began in 1835.
    
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    February 14, 2020 11:15am
    - GoVege
      
      Apparently the Pakeha did fail the Moriori miserably, even though they weren’t the actual perpetrators of the atrocities on them.
      I still don’t see why Maori can get away with fobbing Moriori off with the “we beat you by conquest” excuse.
      (I mean, why can’t Pakeha use that excuse with Maori to avoid reparations/ settlements?)
      When it comes down to it, the government are easier to get money out of, I suppose…
      
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      February 14, 2020 12:34pm
      - mikenmildagain
        
        The two cases are very different. Maori had a treaty with the British, the benefits of which were withheld. Kiwi had no such obligations towards each other, so no liability arises, today, for their historical behavior to each other.
        Likewise, although it is true that inter-Maori warfare was much intensified by European technology, our government today carries no responsibility for the provision of guns and transport that enabled such massive slaughter.
        
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        February 14, 2020 1:15pm
- Clyde
  
  Dead right Fletch. Unbelievable. It was maori who went over to the Chathams and wiped out the moriori. Read all about it in The Musket Wars by R D Crosby. But of course the truth is now also going to be rewritten as part of the settlement. You couldn’t make this stuff up.
  
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  February 14, 2020 9:39am
  - tedbear
    
    So looks like the TOW will be rewritten AGAIN!
    Next up Moriori language to be taught in schools.
    
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    February 14, 2020 9:59am
    - Ed Snack
      
      Moriori were Maori, fled NZ several hundred years earlier. So they spoke the same language with probably some minor dialectical differences.
      
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      February 14, 2020 12:58pm
      - Nickc2
        
        Where did this stuff about Moriori being Maori come from? Many Pacific Islands have a language similar to Maori and they are not Maori FFS.
        
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        February 14, 2020 2:13pm
      - Ed Snack
        
        Because they are Maori, remants of a tribe who fled to the known but then uninhabited Chathams to escape warfare. They are not a separate people but part of the group that settled NZ originally.
        
        Pacific languages (especially “Cook Island Maori”) are very similar because with very little doubt the people who settled NZ came from the same original group – wherever they were living at the time.
        
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        February 14, 2020 4:54pm
- Nickc2
  
  I’m pleased they have finally been recognised but not pleased with the settlement or who picked up the tab. Now, our history books can be rewritten again. I doubt it will be included in the new school history curricula though unless a Maori favourable spin is included.
  
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  February 14, 2020 9:57am
- GoVege
  
  The Moriori tried suing Maori some years back, but the Maori told them they beat them “by conquest”.
  Probably why they are now going after Pakeha for not stopping it.
  Apparently Maori kept Moriori slaves on the Chatham islands until the 1860s.
  
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  February 14, 2020 10:17am
- Stephieboy2
  
  Fletch, it was, in fact, a certain group of Maoris from Taranaki who sailed forth to the Chathams with fateful consequences for the Moriori.,
  
  “…In 1835 two Māori groups, Ngāti Tama and Ngāti Mutunga, invaded the Chatham Islands. They had left northern Taranaki due to warfare, and were seeking somewhere else to live. Moriori greeted them, but the Māori killed more than 200 Moriori and enslaved the rest.
  
  Māori grew vegetables and traded with the Europeans. By 1870 most of the Māori had returned to Taranaki. Some of the whalers stayed on the islands and there was intermarriage between the different ethnic groups…”
  
  https://teara.govt.nz/en/chatham-islands
  
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  February 14, 2020 10:20am
- Scott
  
  Quite right fletch! I am very confused by the current liberal stance on this? Sometimes they deny the Moriori even existed. Now they want to pay them $18 million compensation for what the Maori did to them??
  
  Can I just say that the grievance industry, gravy train needs to stop. National has set another date to end Waitangi Tribunal settlements. They need to get the courage of their convictions and actually do that.
  
  Labour is hopeless and will keep milking this grievance industry for political gain forever. But we need sensible New Zealanders to stand up and say no more!
  
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  February 14, 2020 10:58am
  - mikenmildagain
    
    Who denies Moriori existed?
    
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    February 14, 2020 1:16pm
- JimBobJoe
  
  What the actual xxxx!!! This Ngati Mutunga and Ngati Tama’s bill to foot. Not mine and not yours.
  
  This is as outrageous as a settlement for Tuhoe who never signed the bloody treaty…
  
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  February 14, 2020 1:54pm
Komata

Cobolt24@0810

This is telling concerning the children: ‘…Yes it was my decision and sometimes we don’t make the best decisions but they’ve all been blessings … we don’t need to be penalised for that.

Lat I heard that was known as ‘consequences’.

Shame there’s no ‘Dad’ to help…
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February 14, 2020 8:59am
- Simon Gotlieb
  
  Yes, this has been an issue.
  
  Penalising the mothers who won’t name the fathers is the wrong way to do it. There are many reasons, and common ones seem to be linked to domestic violence. The mothers often don’t want the fathers to be involved in the childrearing, for obvious reasons, and naming fathers tends to get them involved in their lives again.
  
  Penalising fathers would probably only see otherwise law-abiding good, but estranged men be penalised and the ratbags get away with it.
  
  It’s all so fraught. The only sure solution I can’t support – that we regulate who can and can’t breed – and that’s because we’d never agree on who sets the rules, or worse yet, somebody with a completely different ideology to me could be setting them.
  
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  February 14, 2020 10:28am
  - Nigel Kearney
    
    I agree we can’t physically prevent people having kids they are incapable of raising properly.
    
    We also can’t continue to fund someone’s entire life just because they had a kid and have no job. It’s extremely expensive, bad for the kid, and leads to neglect and abuse.
    
    The least bad solution is to remove the child until the parent(s) have sufficient income and a suitable home environment. In many case this would mean they never get the child back. But I think once the government demonstrated they were committed to that policy, many of these kids woiuld not be produced in the first place.
    
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    February 14, 2020 11:04am
    - Simon Gotlieb
      
      Fair enough, but what then? We’ve shown repeatedly that we collectively have no idea of how to look after children taken from parents. In many cases, a better idea would be pre-emptive euthanasia. And can you imagine what kind of noise that would create if you started forcing abortions on people?
      
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      February 14, 2020 12:13pm
      - Nigel Kearney
        
        I don’t agree we have shown that. We need to compare state care with care by biological ‘parent(s)’ who have already proven themselves hopelessly incompetent and irresponsible, not with some mythical middle class two parent upbringing in a loving home that was never going to happen for that child. Unless they are adopted which is another thing we should be supporting and encouraging.
        
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        February 14, 2020 12:27pm
      - Billy Collins
        
        A dead kid is worse than a living one. Being dead is not healthier than being alive.
        
        Yes, forcing abortions would be the most authoritarian act the world has ever seen, especially if they are done preemptively on people who haven’t committed a crime. It would be a sign of how terrible our country was if no one made any noise about it.
        
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        February 14, 2020 12:47pm
    - tf78
      
      We need great boarding schools like Dilworth that children could grow up and learn in. They would be a wonderful asset to our society.
      
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      February 14, 2020 12:40pm
  - Classic Liberal
    
    “many reasons, and common ones seem to be linked to domestic violence.”
    
    Totally disagree. If a woman is that scared of domestic violence there is only one place for that scumbag ‘father’: prison. Why do we want such creeps free and breeding and beating women and children in our society?
    
    All fathers should be named and held responsible for children.
    
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    February 14, 2020 3:17pm
    - tf78
      
      They won’t dob in their partner’s.
      
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      February 14, 2020 5:36pm
hullkiwi

This week has been a struggle for the CoL, back to work after the holidays and all that and they are not as popular as they thought they were….

The week has seen:
1 both at the start and the end have seen the release of the year’s first polls;
2. In recent days supporters (Salvation Army & the Monte Cecilia Trust) of government social policy have been critical about what the CoL is doing;
3.Not to be irrelevant in the news, there have been the goings on at NZF.

All of which has fot the Labour party, their spinmeisters and their commentators in a quandary as what to do.

To keep the sheeple believing that the kingdom of the fairy princess is sgill all smiles and hugs:

1. there have been puff pieces and Radio interviews about her 40th birthday in July and recycling of pieces by David McCormack;

2. The Standard have tried desperately (like Jacinda) to suggest National is as bad as Winston & NZF. However, reading the Standard, last night’s poll blind sided them (have URM been painting a different picture), so they are calling into question all polls; and then

3. There has been the likes of Bradbury and TDB – he is in complete melt down. First there was Sundsy’s poll and then there was yesterday’s revelation of the antics of NZF associates photographing journalists and passing the photos to Slater & co. This morning hd closed his blog post with a dig at the “Greens woke identity politics” and “he can’t believe things have come to this in just 3 years”.

My take on this, Labour are in a state of panic and don’t have clue what to do….

Thankfully, there is 3 months until the budget.

Oh dear……..
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February 14, 2020 9:07am
- Simon Gotlieb
  
  I tend to agree with you. Sometimes I wish we had an option to vote “I have no confidence in any of the bastards” and we can have three years off from them all and see if it makes any difference.
  
  True anarchy sure has its appeal sometimes, until there’s a mob at your door wanting to steal all your stuff.
  
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  February 14, 2020 10:30am
  - Classic Liberal
    
    Hey, that’s the vote I wanted to take at the last Auckland local elections!
    
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    February 14, 2020 3:20pm
    - tf78
      
      I’d love a picture of how Auckland would look now had John Palino won the election after John Banks instead of what we’ve had since Len Brown onward.
      
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      February 14, 2020 5:38pm
Raphael

Today the traffic in Bethlehem, Tauranga is at a standstill while the cops have SH2 closed following their shooting of the man who shot and killed two men earlier this week.

The gangs are becoming an increasing problem and if the Governemtn doesn’t stamp down hard, they will turn this country into a “third world shithole”.

National’s the only one of the bigger parties that has a plan to actually start dealing with the scum in the gangs. and will most likely be ensuring two ticks from me
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12308505
https://sunlive.co.nz/news/234436-sh2-closed-due-to-police-incident.html
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February 14, 2020 9:14am
- cmm
  
  National need to push harder on this point.
  
  No, targeting gangs is not anti-Maori. If anything, it is pro-Maori. Gangs negatively impact Maori more than anyone else.
  
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  February 14, 2020 9:23am
- Clyde
  
  Gangs are just the modern version of tribes. The only thing that gangs can’t handle – like all bullies – is to receive more than they dish out. Time that happened.
  
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  February 14, 2020 9:42am
  - GoVege
    
    Gangs do seem like a modern version of warring tribes, Clyde, but according to Alan Duff, these young men are from shocking excuses for families where they are brutally abused and neglected from day one.
    Gangs are the only “home” they usually have in the end.
    
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    February 14, 2020 10:31am
    - Engelbert Humperdink
      
      So, some were abused and neglected.
      Some are also coached to claim abuse and neglect to get off lightly.
      
      Some of us others didn’t have a fun trip as kids either but chose not to go feral.
      
      I am sick and tired of the guhdamned excuse industry.
      
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      February 14, 2020 1:12pm
  - Tony Stuart
    
    It certainly happened to the thug who fired on Police yesterday
    
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    February 14, 2020 10:42am
    - Paulus Gnome
      
      He has his own self contained home waiting, six feet down.
      
      ‘Another one bites the dust’ – Freddie Mercury
      
      Shame it was only one piece of feral scrum.
      
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      February 14, 2020 11:31am
Steve Otto(North Shore)

Where is the resident troll Mike today? Top level meeting with PTPM and Helen Clark to discuss how to lose an Election?
21 4
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February 14, 2020 9:32am
- Captain Mainwaring
  
  Probably busy ringing talkback. The Fraser House trolls have been non-stop on ZB this morning telling us how Great Labour is after that TV1 poll last night.
  
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  February 14, 2020 10:10am
- mikenmildagain
  
  Did you miss me, yeah, when I was away?
  
  5 3
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  February 14, 2020 1:19pm
  - JimBobJoe
    
    Frueduan slip there Milky? Are you a fellow traveler not only of Marxists but Gary Glitter as well? Please tell me that it ain’t so…
    
    5 2
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    February 14, 2020 2:00pm
    - sam green
      
      Dirt comment.
      
      1 4
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      February 14, 2020 2:56pm
      - JimBobJoe
        
        Why is that Sam? More humorous than dirt. I leave dirty comments to Lefties like yourself…
        
        5 1
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        February 14, 2020 3:51pm
      - mikenmildagain
        
        Scum just have to be acum, sam.
        
        1 3
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        February 14, 2020 9:14pm
Wangas Feral

I saw some video out of China – cannot confirm it was real or not or what the people were saying, but looked like police executing people who would not be evacuated to quarantine camps.
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February 14, 2020 9:38am
JibberJabber

Chuck Yeager

You won’t believe it. I can’t believe it myself. I am 97 today. 1941, age 18. I joined
@USArmy
Air Corps in WV.1944, age 21; Ace in a day, 1947 age 24; broke sound barrier,1953 age 30 flew 2.5 Mach; now, what’s next?
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February 14, 2020 9:47am
- Raphael
  
  I need to watch The Right Stuff again
  
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  February 14, 2020 9:58am
  - Jack5
    
    Anyone remember John Campbell’s TV interview with Chuck Yeager?
    
    Am I right in recalling, a young, gushing Campbell said (in perhaps not the exact words) to Yeager: “How do you know if someone has got the right stuff?”
    
    Yeager: “Well you haven’t got it”.
    
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    February 14, 2020 11:29am
- rangitoto
  
  Yeager’s autobiography is worth a read. The story about parading planes past an obsessive general with fake numbers on them to meet the generals targets was a laugh.
  
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  February 14, 2020 10:32am
  - Komata
    
    Rangitoto@1032
    
    Sadly, some who had personal interaction when Gen., Yeager during his visits to NZ found him to be obnoxious and arrogant, ‘full of himself’ if you will.
    
    Campbell got off lightly.
    
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    February 14, 2020 4:43pm
    - Raphael
      
      found him to be obnoxious and arrogant, ‘full of himself’
      
      I take it they had never encountered a test pilot before. Let alone one who set so many Firsts.
      
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      February 14, 2020 7:29pm
wreck1080

The poor little kid in Flaxmere who suffered the brunt of his families anger….. was removed from his family by CYFS (easier to say), and returned just before christmas.

I wonder if the child’s return was prompted by Maori wailing against the government removal of children from dangerous environments?

Maori people need to wake up and accept children will be removed if they continue bashing them. This is not racist, it is humane. I’m getting tired of maori crying all the time. Crying their children are being removed, crying when their children are bashed.
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February 14, 2020 9:59am
- rangitoto
  
  Cindy says is was caused by nine years of neglect or Captain Cook.
  
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  February 14, 2020 10:35am
  - Komata
    
    rangi@1035
    
    No, not ‘Captain Cook’ per se’; ‘Colonialism’ (Specifically ‘White’ colonialism) is the current bete noire and the cause of ‘all things terrible’ that happen/ed to Maori.
    
    The sad thing is that this is being pushed at all levels and in the absence of critical analysis is quickly being accepted as the ‘actual, factual’ narrative.
    
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    February 14, 2020 11:06am
- Nigel Kearney
  
  Possibly Melanie Reid’s first victim. Certainly won’t be the last.
  
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  February 14, 2020 11:06am
Harriet

How many times before the election will I have to remind the IDIOT NATIONAL BASE that there is no WHITE MAN’S TAX.

Those that pay income tax CONTRIBUTE to Treaty settlements – and those that DON’T need to be called out for it.

Why should a fraction of Maori have to do all the heavy lifting? 😎
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February 14, 2020 10:11am
Fletch

Bernie Sanders, and what he would do if elected president, would destroy America and its economy.

https://thefederalist.com/2020/02/12/lets-not-forget-bernie-sanders-has-a-lot-of-fringe-crazy-plans/
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February 14, 2020 10:27am
- Simon Gotlieb
  
  So hard to know. It all hinges on what all that money that would be freed up does when it hits the economy. The idea behind it (and yes, it is radical) is that it would end up hugely in the pockets of the middle class, who tend to throw more of their income into the economy than the wealthy.
  1. If we assume that $34 trillion of socialised health frees up that much money, what affect would that have on the American economy? Many Americans pay huge costs for medical insurance. Still, much more money into the economy is bound to be inflationary.
  2. Bailing out student debt I believe would result in millenials entering the housing market en masse, radically elevating house prices. That’s not good for the economy.
  3. I dunno about this one. On the one hand, I’m 53. Tertiary education was still free when I went to university. I kind of like the idea of it, but I fear kids will choose stupid degrees, so I’m put off it.
  4. Sounds bureaucratic to me. Yuck.
  5. Hmmm… really unsure about this one. A disaster in 20 years, or a blessing? Maybe both.
  6. Nope. Don’t do it. Those agencies need to be better directed, sure, but not abolished.
  7. Expensive, but probably necessary. But, again, devil is in the details. Easy to be corrupted by well-meaning, but idiotic, woke idealogues.
  8. WTF? Sounds like 1940s Germany.
  9. I fear this is being misreported. He probably praised some of the things they did. But most likely not all.
  10. I can’t wait for alternative energies to be discovered so we can forget about oil once and for all.
  11. All Presidents do this. Unlikely to happen.
  12. Speculation. It all hinges of what happens to the economy when you free up all that money spent on medical insurance, etc.
  13. I support this.
  14. Support this too for shorter sentences. Anything more than, say ten years, nope.
  15. Good idea.
  16. Half the States have legalised it. It’s inevitable.
  17. Nope.
  18. Nope. But they need to find a way to ensure that those with the most do actually pay their fair share, if they are not already doing so.
  
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  February 14, 2020 10:44am
  - Kiwi Dave
    
    Excuse my ignorance, Simon, but how does socialising 34 trillion of health fees free up that much money? People are still paying it through taxes, unless we continue the fraud of borrowing money, expecting our grand children to pay our bills.
    
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    February 14, 2020 3:17pm
Swifty

What wonderful people we seem to be bringing in to this country.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/117969027/masala-restaurant-tax-evader-joti-jain-loses-name-suppression

We shouldn’t be surprised – you import large numbers of people from corrupt cultures and it’s entirely predictable that many will continue their corrupt practices here.

Immigration rorts, tax evasion, money laundering, widespread breaking of labour laws – but who cares? It’s the diversity that is important.
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February 14, 2020 10:34am
- Simon Gotlieb
  
  Trouble is the bloody media report only the bad stuff. You never hear about immigrants who do really well, only the small few who stuff it up for everyone else. There’s also plenty of ratbags from first world, “good” countries who are absolutely awful too.
  
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  February 14, 2020 10:46am
  - Swifty
    
    “…only the small few who stuff it up for everyone else.”
    
    Prove it.
    
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    February 14, 2020 10:50am
    - Simon Gotlieb
      
      No. You prove that a majority of immigrants are troublemakers. Your proposition is far more problematic than mine.
      
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      February 14, 2020 12:14pm
      - Swifty
        
        Heh.
        
        4 1
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        February 14, 2020 1:04pm
      - Engelbert Humperdink
        
        Item 1: Immigrant Tarrant.
        
        7 1
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        February 14, 2020 1:14pm
      - Swifty
        
        Oh and who said majority? I never said majority.
        
        You said majority.
        
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        February 14, 2020 3:16pm
  - Swifty
    
    Yummy!
    
    https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/better-business/119504653/maggots-found-inside-meatcutting-equipment-at-christchurch-grocery-shop
    
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    February 14, 2020 11:01am
  - hilaryt
    
    Fair point. I would add that many reporters report badly, not just the bad stuff. Half-pie sob stories that one can pass no informed opinion on are a specialty.
    
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    February 14, 2020 12:39pm
- Prince
  
  Corruption starts at the top. Look at our Leaders.
  
  8 1
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  February 14, 2020 11:33am
- Surely Knott
  
  How weird. Joti Jains name was public in all the media in 2017 when it happened. 2017 article –
  https://i.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/90545529/head-of-masala-restaurant-chain-joti-jain-leaves-country
  
  And in the NBR in 2016 https://www.nbr.co.nz/article/masala-boss-sentenced-home-detention-196048
  
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  February 14, 2020 11:40am
  - sooty
    
    Labour membership lapsed?
    
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    February 14, 2020 11:58am
The Proper Ghandi

One of the more disgusting things you could see if you are of European extraction. If this doesn’t wake people up, I’m not sure what will. This exemplifies the Globalisation project:

Edit: now heavily edited because of the backlash. This was much worse when I first saw it last night.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ijhh5J48X9k&app=desktop
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February 14, 2020 10:42am
- The Proper Ghandi
  
  Full version uploaded to this guy’s channel.
  
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmKZOCtXTaA
  
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  February 14, 2020 10:52am
- Inandout
  
  TPG, they happily made their bed with immigration and now they reap the ‘benefits’. Wiser heads in Europe stopped the madness before it happened, you know, those countries closer to Russia. The EU countries will see another war before long, but the enemy will be from within; mark my words.
  
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  February 14, 2020 11:44am
  - The Proper Ghandi
    
    You don’t see the Pols, the Hungarians, nor the Russians apologising for who they are do you. It’s like they take pride in their cultures or something.
    
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    February 14, 2020 12:20pm
Tall Man

https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/video/mikes-minute-mike-moore-shows-how-hollow-politics-has-become/

Another well reasoned yet slightly depressing article from Mike Hosking.
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February 14, 2020 10:58am
- Inandout
  
  On the subject of Hosking, he mentioned that LA has bought an EV fire engine, handy for those narrow alleys around the wealthy Hollywood Hills. Good so far. The machine has up to two hours on electric, but as we know fires often last many hours. No probs, the fire engine has a diesel motor for those lengthy fires; FFS.
  
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  February 14, 2020 11:50am
  - Batman
    
    So it’s not an EV it’s actually a hybrid?
    
    Nothing wrong with that I suppose, it’ll have boatloads of instant torque for speedy drives…
    
    7 2
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    February 14, 2020 11:53am
    - Raphael
      
      Like the electric cars with a range extender (i.e. a petrol generator)
      
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      February 14, 2020 2:46pm
Batman

Look I don’t want to start a flame war over this but I’m gonna post it just because it’s so fucking brutal.

I make no comment about who is right here!

Michael Bloomberg on Twitter:
.@realDonaldTrump – we know many of the same people in NY. Behind your back they laugh at you & call you a carnival barking clown. They know you inherited a fortune & squandered it with stupid deals and incompetence.

I have the record & the resources to defeat you. And I will.

https://t.co/fO4azmZaUg
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February 14, 2020 11:14am
- Fletch
  
  I don’t know that much about Trump’s past dealings, but he is certainly doing right by America now. Much better than Obama did. America is prospering under Trump like it hasn’t in decades.
  
  The liberals will totally ruin this with the policies they are presenting. America is totally energy independent now. They don’t have to rely on oil from the Middle East. It took half a century to get there. And the Dems want to quit fossil fuels and totally depend on wind, solar, etc? It can’t be done.
  
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  February 14, 2020 11:25am
  - Stephieboy2
    
    Fletch,”.. Much better than Obama did. America is prospering under Trump like it hasn’t in decades…”
    
    Rubbish! The foundation of Trump’s policies is borrowing, keeping liquidity high and printing money!
    
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    February 14, 2020 2:24pm
    - Komata
      
      SB@1424
      
      And your academic qualifications for being able to make that statement with such certainty would be?
      
      Thank you.
      
      6 1
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      February 14, 2020 4:36pm
- Inandout
  
  Batman, people in politics shouldn’t throw stones and expect no comeback. The Bloomberg was known for instructing his police to frisk every Latino they saw, and there is more waiting to be made public.
  
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  February 14, 2020 11:55am
- Ed Snack
  
  So says a self confessed racist and misogynist, trying to buy his way to public office. Nice guy.
  
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  February 14, 2020 1:04pm
  - Tall Man
    
    Sorry about the accidental downtick …… steffy made me do it 😉
    
    3 1
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    February 14, 2020 2:24pm
- All_on_Red
  
  Hahahaha
  Poor Mini Mike got triggered by the standing on a Box thing. Not helped by CNN actually fact checking that!
  As for ‘squandered’, Mini Mike has spent over $350 million so far and is no where near being the nominee.
  Trump spent about $70 million and became President.
  So who’s the smart one then.
  
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  February 14, 2020 3:10pm
  - Vory v zakone
    
    Yep. Mini Mike is a 5’4″ Mass of Dead Energy
    
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0pBZ4OFkSos
    
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    February 14, 2020 7:24pm
Maggy Wassilieff

Bob Jones withdraws his defamation case
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/te-manu-korihi/409517/sir-bob-jones-withdraws-defamation-case-against-filmmaker-renae-maihi

One way to fill up your week in your retirement.
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February 14, 2020 11:16am
- Paulus Gnome
  
  And now the crowing begins from Maihi.
  
  Not like Jones to back away from a scrap, wonder what is up? Hope he is ok.
  
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  February 14, 2020 11:37am
  - MCos
    
    ‘wonder what is up?’
    
    It was clear he wasn’t going to succeed.
    
    3 8
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    February 14, 2020 1:18pm
  - Bobba Fret
    
    Yes I was hoping he would see it through and win the case to make an example of her (but thought he would let her off paying the costs even if he won), but he came across as an ill prepared bumbling fool. Firstly his lawyer and Bob calling him a goose, then forgetting his bloody hearing aids it was a comedy of errors.
    
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    February 14, 2020 1:57pm
  - jonnycomelately
    
    He got her or her supporters to pay for her defence and laughed and walked away!
    
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    February 14, 2020 11:22pm
- peterwn
  
  Well, all those who downticked me for my comments about the case earlier in the week – what do you think?
  The case fell flat on its face for two reasons:
  1. She believed what Bob wrote was for real and not satire, a belief she was entitled to (similar to the belief of harm in s48 Crimes Act – self defence). It does not matter that Alan Duff indicated a different belief in his evidence – her belief means everything, Alan’s nothing. And because she believed it was for real, she was entitled to make the comments she did.
  2. I sense Bob recognised he was losing public opinion traction which is not good for the ego. While Bob has $$$ and fists at his disposal, Renae is an actress and would have used that with devastating effect. If it was not for court security one of her friends would probably have brought in a violin (as in the movie “The Pure Hell of St Trinian’s”). Good work Renae!
  
  I hope Renae is awarded ‘solicitor client’ (ie full costs for her legal team) costs, but it will be probably be the usual 2B part cost leaving her somewhat out of pocket. It could have been worse!
  
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  February 14, 2020 12:04pm
  - Libertarians are right
    
    She may have believed that but was it reasonable or “honest”? Did she do due diligence on her claims before going after him? That would be an honest belief. The problem was always going to be that he had to give his evidence before hers even though he was really the one on trial.
    
    It’s also worth noting that she was actively misrepresenting him in the court case as well, bringing in a “blood quantum” “expert” even though he made zero reference to that. His comment was that any non-Maori blood means that you would not exist if not for “colonisation”. This is a statement of fact and has nothing to do with the concept of blood quantum which is generally perceived as a racist idea.
    
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    February 14, 2020 1:03pm
    - peterwn
      
      Bob has answered your first sentence:
      “I now accept, however, Ms Maihi’s offence taking was a sincerely held opinion.
      
      “The parties may never align on what is acceptable humour, however, no malice was intended by either, thus it is sensible to put an end to proceedings,” he said.
      Sir Robert Jones maintained his column was humorous and innocuous.
      
      Seems to have been a little bit of bargaining here as she is taking down the ‘Knighthood’ petition.
      
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      February 14, 2020 2:44pm
  - mikenmildagain
    
    Not like Jones to give up his bullying ways. Perhaps he’ll find an easier target: an employee or a family member maybe.
    
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    February 14, 2020 1:25pm
    - toby1845
      
      Or maybe he could join the Labour Party, sexually assault a few teenagers, and get away with it.
      
      3 1
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      February 14, 2020 7:14pm
  - Maggy Wassilieff
    
    She has agreed to take down her petition to relieve Bob Jones of his knighthood.
    He has accepted that her views were genuine.
    
    https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/119515803/sir-robert-jones-discontinues-defamation-case-against-renae-maihi
    
    Perhaps she’ll end up mates with Jones…as my cousin did after his defamation case against Jones
    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/456838/The-gentleman-cop-dies
    
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    February 14, 2020 2:17pm
- Jack5
  
  Bob Jones has a post on his blog about Rosemary McLeod’s comments about the defamation case – and a great story about a witty Stock Exchange announcement he made back in the day.
  
  https://nopunchespulled.com/2020/02/14/do-facts-count/#more-1063
  
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  February 14, 2020 9:23pm
pb

Who would want to work as conservative in the toxic environment in modern media. News, TV, radio. One or two people are bound to be ideological gestapo and the rest are terrified of going outside the orthodoxy lest they be condemned. No wonder circulation is dying and people are switching off.

I just read a take from a conservative author from inside the belly of the beast. His “workmates” were using anonymous twitter handles to attack him relentlessly until he quit. For years, smiling at the coffee urn, then backstabbing!

This is a similar problem in a group of random people. Try bring up conservative values in a gathering, and watch one or two people SNAP. Hilarious when you know they are crazy. This is what Trump is doing. Goading the crazy like witches: bubble bubble toil and trouble, then, “pop” steal their eyeballs.
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February 14, 2020 11:18am
UrbanNeocolonialist

Reports from Chinese news source that PRC has placed a rush order for millions of body bags.
https://www.ntdtv.com/b5/2020/02/12/a102775027.html
ho-lee-fuk
6 0
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February 14, 2020 12:00pm
- Simon Gotlieb
  
  That is seriously concerning, if true.
  
  3 1
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  February 14, 2020 12:21pm
  - fernglas
    
    I read the entire article from back to front and saw nothing to suggest it is true.
    
    5 0
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    February 14, 2020 12:43pm
    - UrbanNeocolonialist
      
      Even official chinese figures had 4000 new cases today (though it is clear from huge number of other indicators that they are massively under-reporting). But nothing to worry about eh? All totally fine and under control and anyone who says different is hysterical.
      
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      February 14, 2020 1:44pm
      - Stephieboy2
        
        UN,
        
        “But nothing to worry about eh? All totally fine and under control and anyone who says different is hysterical”
        
        That would be correct!
        
        0 8
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        February 14, 2020 2:43pm
- Stephieboy2
  
  Tranlation required otherwise appears to be Tabloid stuff.
  
  Needs to independently verified by WHO, CDC etc .
  
  1 17
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  February 14, 2020 12:30pm
rangitoto

A new logo for Auckland City council?

https://www.officemax.co.nz/Images/ProductImages/500/2401428.jpg
5 0
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February 14, 2020 12:57pm
- sooty
  
  They really, really need to spend money on rebranding when they have so many problems, like shit in the harbor, etc!
  
  6 0
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  February 14, 2020 1:24pm
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    I suggest a new name, something different and modern. How about ‘Pelican’
    Then they can both stick their bills up their arse
    
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    February 14, 2020 3:17pm
- cmm
  
  So steal the Chch logo then?
  
  6 0
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  February 14, 2020 2:24pm
- tf78
  
  Is it a dunce’s hat or a witches hat as it ain’t no wizards hat.
  
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  February 14, 2020 5:42pm
Swifty

Is it time to talk about caucus and cabinet renewal?

I distinctly remember in the early days of Key, DPF making the case for governments to renew a third of their caucus and cabinet every term (excepting some obvious stars) – and therefore after three terms they would have a near 100% renewal rate.

The benefits of this are better government through eliminating the poor performers and enhancing their electability as fresh faces would continually be coming through and staleness would be minimised.

This policy Key closely followed, with significant churn each electoral cycle (nasty lefties foolishly kept banging on about rats leaving ships as Key imperiously kept winning election after election and mounting head after heads of Labour leaders on his billiard room wall – oh how we laughed!)

Interesting to look at what Labour have done or are doing. A few Ministers demoted (Mega Fightery, Twyford) if that but only one MP from memory (Curran) leaving Parliament altogether.

I suppose though that seeing as this will be for many of them the highest paid gig they’ll ever have in their lives they would be hanging on by their fingernails – as well as the daunting prospect of returning to classrooms, union offices or rejoining the local council to bang out press releases about stray dogs, rubbish collection and footpath condition.

I’m sure we’ll all watch with interest what Curran gets up to post what must rank as one of the most short-lived and underwhelming ministerial careers in living memory.

Oh how she could talk the talk when in opposition – but was unable to walk the walk when minister.
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February 14, 2020 1:47pm
- sooty
  
  But just look at the backbenchers.
  Who there is better than the front bench!
  Carpark puddle!
  
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  February 14, 2020 7:46pm
Swifty

Minister Twyford may wish to ask AIAL whether they intend completing the Flexible Contingent Runway project (which would give them greatly longer and more frequent runway maintenance windows) and if not, why not?

https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/119493119/auckland-airport-called-into-meeting-with-transport-minister-over-runway-problems#comments
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February 14, 2020 2:03pm
- Raphael
  
  I’m sure Minister Twyford will try and blame any problems with the Auckland Airport runway on 9 years of neglect and try and blame national MP’s for not personally going there and repairing it over the years
  
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  February 14, 2020 3:29pm
  - Tall Man
    
    That’s just bloody stupid Raphael.
    
    If you can’t clearly see that Donald Trump is the cause of then I have no idea how we can help you.
    
    Maybe you need to download the ardern “comrade” speech and stick needles under your nails when you watch it …. 400 times 😉
    
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    February 14, 2020 4:35pm
Wired-one

It’s a disgrace just how incompetent Ardern is and what our media let her get away with.

https://i.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/119518952/prime-minister-silent-on-winston-peters-covert-photo-controversy
18 1
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February 14, 2020 3:27pm
- Tall Man
  
  Actually, it’s very politically competent, just not the sort of thing a “leader” or even deputy leader would do if they had either a backbone or any integrity.
  
  I think, much like the bloke that called ardern a liar, we are all aware that integrity and honesty are long gone from this group of crooks.
  
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  February 14, 2020 4:38pm
  - DigNap15
    
    So why do they still poll 46%? or whatever.
    
    1 1
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    February 14, 2020 5:54pm
- mandk
  
  Ardern cannot do anything but stay silent on Peters.
  
  Everyone knows Peters is in charge.
  
  You can imagine Peters’ message to Ardern: “Now listen here, girly, if you say anything, I walk and the Coalition is toast”.
  
  2 1
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  February 14, 2020 6:01pm
- Mark Craig
  
  {Gratuitous personal abuse – deleted. Mod]
  
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  February 14, 2020 8:08pm
greybeard

I am a bit confused after reading these two articles from Stuff.

The first denies any such race of people known as the Moriori.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/119534213/concerns-over-secret-search-for-giants-bones-near-huntly

This article contains statements such as:

“The pervasive myth that an earlier population of Moriori was displaced by Māori has been repeatedly rejected by academics.”

“More recent stories by writer Barry Brailsford of a mystical, peace-loving, non-Māori race which colonised New Zealand 2000 years before Polynesians arrived, were described as “virulent myth” by archaeologist Atholl Anderson. As with stories of Moriori pushed to justify British colonisation, Brailsford describes the purported peace-loving race as having been killed by Māori.”

But, our Government obviously has a different view to these esteemed academics as you can see from the second article.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/119521375/moriori-treaty-settlement-to-be-signed-its-been-a-long-wait

“More than a 100 years since Moriori were slaughtered, enslaved and falsely classified as extinct, a true account of their story is about to be entrenched in the law.
Moriori descendants and representatives of the Crown will meet in Rēkohu, or the Chatham Islands, today for the signing of the Moriori Treaty Settlement.
The settlement redress includes an agreed historical account, a Crown apology, and $18 million.”
Not bad going for a race which apparently never existed, could therefore not have been part of the Treaty of Waitangi, but which has some lucky survivors today who benefit from taxpayer $$.

If anyone should pay the Moriori descendants it surely should be the Maori.
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February 14, 2020 3:30pm
- cmm
  
  “If anyone should pay the Moriori descendants it surely should be the Maori.”
  
  New here, eh?
  
  Maroi shoot eachother in the Musket Wars. Fault: white boy.
  Maori beat their kids to death or into Starship. Fault: white boy.
  Maori kill off Moriori: fault white boy.
  
  Get the pattern? Ok, remember it.
  
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  February 14, 2020 3:51pm
  - greybeard
    
    Hey, cmm !
    I’m on your side !
    Take a deep breath and read what I said again.
    
    3 1
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    February 14, 2020 5:27pm
- pb
  
  Kings history of Moriori good.
  
  The Moriori thought the first Englishmen who landed in their bird-ship were women, and sought to drag them away to the nearest grass hut. For tea.
  
  Rite of passage for young men was to dive in one breath and come up with 3 crayfish. One in each hand and one in the mouth.
  
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  February 14, 2020 7:59pm
  - info@cruzpro.com
    
    That was possible before all the crayfish got exported.
    
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    February 15, 2020 5:28am
cmm

Oh, and of course gang wars in South Auckland and Tauranga, smoking, boozing, fighting, imprisonment, P, teen pregnancies – bloody white boy.
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February 14, 2020 3:57pm
greybeard

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/119515803/sir-robert-jones-discontinues-defamation-case-against-renae-maihi

Young, egotistical, narcissistic, pseudo-educated, socialist, protected-species, fleetingly famous feminist vs old , egotistical, narcissistic, educated, self-made, iconic bloke.

Bob, you should have lasted the distance.
You had plenty of support.
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February 14, 2020 4:56pm
- peterwn
  
  I do not think he had ‘plenty of support’.
  It was fast becoming a farce and his Second quite rightly threw the towel in.
  
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  February 14, 2020 5:41pm
mandk

There was a story on Stuff today about Seymour Island in the Antarctic reaching a record high of 20C.

Turns out the island is at a latitude of 64S, i.e. outside the Antarctic Circle.

For comparison, Reykjavik is on the same latitude, and it had record high of 30.5C in 1939.

Funny thing, this climate change.

I blame Donald Trump 🙂
5 2
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February 14, 2020 5:52pm
- Captain Mainwaring
  
  I blame James Shaw.
  
  4 0
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  February 14, 2020 9:40pm
- MCos
  
  The average summer temperature for Seymour Island is 1C.
  For Reykjavik it’s around 14C
  They may well be at about the same latitude, that’s only one of several factor effecting the weather.
  FYI
  The east coasts of NZ experience consistently far hotter temps than the west.
  
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  February 14, 2020 10:39pm
- david
  
  But Jack Tame on TVNZ said quite clearly and categorically that it was “the highest temperature ever “. Perhaps he missed the bit in the dictionary that says “ever is a very, very, very long time and extends for millions of years before either recording instruments or the existence of humans who were capable of writing things down”
  Oh well, business as usual for those who think that you should never let facts get in the way of a good story, and those who would mindlessly repeat the bs publicly.
  
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  February 15, 2020 2:16am
greybeard

https://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/news/119521613/green-school-new-zealand-has-official-opening-to-end-first-week-of-school

This is going to end in controversy and recriminations.
Mark it on your calendars !
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February 14, 2020 6:06pm
Monique Watson

Wow. The Prime Minister is urging the family to speak up over who bashed the Flaxmere boy:

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12308712

“I know we are a country that wants all our children to live free from violence – but that is going to continue to take our ongoing effort and commitment,” Ardern said.
WTF Chippie Girl? Doubt that family reads the Herald. And who’s ongoing effort and commitment? The white families who don’t bash their kids? Generally doing their part.
Are there any other kids in that household? Uplift them and arrest the adults. Problem solved.
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February 14, 2020 6:22pm
wreck1080

I wonder when AGW deniers will finally admit they are wrong? Probably about the same time that vaccine deniers figure out the truth.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/climate-news/119543774/last-month-the-warmest-january-recorded-on-earth-us-agency-says

Heat records will continue to be smashed. It is plain science.
1 2
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February 14, 2020 8:28pm
- alloytoo
  
  It’s a straw man.
  
  Lets return Pre-industrial temperatures.
  
  Do we want the mini ice age or the Midieval warm period?
  
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  February 14, 2020 11:55pm
Jack5

What is going on in Immigration New Zealand?

In a report about a person complaining about a visa application for the brother of an NZ resident is this:

Most visitor visa applications have been handled in INZ’s Beijing and Mumbai offices since the department began processing visa by “product stream” (business, education or tourism) rather than location.

In China, and India? And presumably by local staff.

New Zealand’s immigration administration seems as insane as the country’s lax immigration policies.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/travel-troubles/119482344/vague-visitor-visa-rules-blamed-for-nightmare-wedding-scenario
0 0
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February 14, 2020 8:37pm
pb

The de-nutted board of SAS Airlines whom declared the death of Scandinavia pulled their ad. But it is too late. Their nuts will not grow back. The Scands and their handlers are suffering from full blown cultural insanity and will prefer any order to the chaos of socialism. The order of Islam, and the ethics of harsh doctrine, will come to rule the blonde square heads. Be assured, whilst quarantine rules are lax, the board of SAS can hop on a plane and fly away to Wallenberg Island. Yet the nation need only find faith in its men again, and drive the snakes from the land.
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February 14, 2020 9:58pm
jonnycomelately

Is David Clark dressed as a priest/pastor the same as the Beehive bimbo dressing as a Muslim? I mean I know he is Dr of religion as opposed to health, but?
0 0
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February 14, 2020 10:53pm
Hugh Pavletich

CHINA … CORONAVIRUS …

Over 1,700 frontline medics infected with coronavirus in China presenting new crisis for the government … CNN

https://edition.cnn.com/2020/02/13/asia/coronavirus-health-care-workers-infected-intl-hnk/index.html
0 0
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February 14, 2020 11:47pm
- Hugh Pavletich
  
  Royal Caribbean Cancels 18 Cruises As Thousands Remain Trapped Aboard ‘Diamond Princess’ … Zerohedge
  
  https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/royal-caribbean-halts-18-cruises-cancellation-wave-starts-amid-covid-19-outbreak
  
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  February 15, 2020 12:27am

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