General Debate 19 February 2020

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Tony Stuart

A song for Winston Peters (with apologies to Queen for a slight change in the lyrics):

You had your time, you had the power
You’re soon to have your final hour

When Peters pulled his stunt with the media yesterday in the foyer of Parliament, you could almost sense the press secretary accompanying him thinking “This is NOT what I signed up for!”
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February 19, 2020 8:05am
- Paulus Gnome
  
  The media should collectively get Fleetwood Mac on board and play for the NZFraud leader:
  
  ‘Tell me lies
  Tell me sweet little lies
  (Tell me lies, tell me, tell me lies)
  Oh, no, no you can’t disguise
  (You can’t disguise, no you can’t disguise)
  Tell me lies
  Tell me sweet little lies’
  
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  February 19, 2020 8:18am
  - Tony Stuart
    
    I think Jacinda, James and Marama have probably got this song on the brain:
    
    https://youtu.be/f4Mc-NYPHaQ
    
    The lyrics fit perfectly:
    
    I want to break free
    I want to break free
    I want to break free from your lies
    You’re so self satisfied I don’t need you…
    
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    February 19, 2020 9:17am
  - freethinker
    
    Paulus – The Eagles – You cant hide your Lying eyes- could have been written for Cindy.
    
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    February 19, 2020 9:30am
- sooty
  
  Will the media rip him a new arsehole now that he’s gone ga, ga?
  The stink of corruption has been getting worse!
  Comrade Cindy is playing the ostrich game!
  What she doesn’t realise is her arse is waving out in the air and someone will come along and kick it
  
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  February 19, 2020 8:27am
  - RW Capitalist
    
    “The stink of corruption has been getting worse!”
    No…It was always there, it’s the deodorizing perfume, the MSM sprayed him with before the election, that is wearing off.
    
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    February 19, 2020 9:50am
  - pb
    
    The media created Jacinda. They will put out a few puff attack pieces, until the next wonder child comes along. The media is the problem.
    
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    February 19, 2020 6:35pm
  - Nermal
    
    The media won’t offend Winston, he’s their mother lode for clickbait stories
    
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    February 19, 2020 6:58pm
- cas
  
  So with Winston “it had nothing to do with me” Peters, are we left to assume that when the Treasurer or President said that NZ First was on the bones of their arse and all of a sudden they could afford a sign-written bus that Winston didn’t have any idea where the money came from. If this is so then he is extremely negligent in not any idea over his party’s finances. If he did know which is more likely then he is attached at the hip to the NZ first Foundation.
  
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  February 19, 2020 8:32am
  - sooty
    
    Yep, they mortgaged the house to get the bus!
    
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    February 19, 2020 10:17am
  - Bill felt
    
    They found the money to pay for the bus and the bus signage but they only declared the bus signage. The bus was not declared to the electoral commission. Woops!
    
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    February 19, 2020 12:28pm
- The Proper Ghandi
  
  As Winston is known for his irony and keeping his tongue in cheek, perhaps the Beatles’ 1968 classic “Everybody’s Got Something To Hide (Except for Me and My Monkey)”?
  
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  February 19, 2020 1:46pm
Maggy Wassilieff

This little item hasn’t been given much media attention

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/119596675/young-labour-camp-assault-man-seeks-permanent-name-suppression
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February 19, 2020 8:09am
- sooty
  
  Is the original court case been appealed!
  
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  February 19, 2020 8:29am
- Two fish and a scoop thanks Cindy
  
  Priest called the man’s case “unique” and “highly political”, placing weight on the extreme amount of media attention the trial had received.
  
  Really Queen???
  
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  February 19, 2020 8:42am
- Tall Man
  
  He needs to meet a parent of one of the young women he assaulted for a “FGC”.
  
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  February 19, 2020 8:45am
- Bobba Fret
  
  We give out name suppression too easily here in NZ.
  I bet he bloody well gets it.
  
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  February 19, 2020 9:30am
  - Tall Man
    
    While you and I may never know, those within his circle are already well aware of who “he” is. While he may be trumpeting his “dismissal”, his future within the party will be severely impacted as if there are any members with integrity left within the labour party he will be treated with disdain by those people.
    
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    February 19, 2020 9:49am
    - Bobba Fret
      
      TM …I agree totally with you except for that part about Labour party people with integrity…….I don’t think there are any.
      
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      February 19, 2020 4:08pm
    - curry4me
      
      If.
      
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      February 19, 2020 6:15pm
- Greg Ettridge
  
  Maggy unfortunately you and the public are dealing with a very secretive government.
  “Justice whata has reserved his decision”
  This can be easily adjourned and kick the can down the road until after the election.
  The most open government is only open when it suits them.
  This convicted deviate has surely been placed on a watch list for children?
  Name suppression would allow him to freely work with children.
  Matter has been dealt with promptly, started two years ago, has been superbly managed by the minders ever since.
  Maggy, he would be as safe as houses, he is untouchable, it’s just him doing the touching.
  
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  February 19, 2020 10:01am
- SJ Actual
  
  My bet is that name suppression will be lifted, but conveniently not until after the election.
  
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  February 19, 2020 10:43am
  - DeepBlue
    
    Before the election will be a watershed and a litmus test for the judiciary.
    
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    February 19, 2020 12:47pm
hullkiwi

Yes Tony, and with those lines, who was Peters referring to?

The media, or was it really a reference to himself?
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February 19, 2020 8:09am
- Tony Stuart
  
  I think it’s pretty clear that Peters was having a dig at RNZ, but it will end up as an own goal for him.
  
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  February 19, 2020 8:13am
  - freethinker
    
    Tony-peters actions in attacking clearly indicate he knows that Grey will have given Espinor the fine details and that this will be drip fed until the SFO make a decision . Whatever the more important thing is public perception and how that affects voting. Should the SFO prosecute a criminal offence will peters be the first MP to enjoy a holiday at Her Majesty s Expense ?
    
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    February 19, 2020 9:44am
    - sooty
      
      Oh, goody! Pass the popcorn.
      
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      February 19, 2020 10:21am
    - rouppe
      
      Not likely. The SFO is looking at donations to the foundation. He is (legally) arms length from that. Someone else will be put in front of Wonston to take the bullet – if there is one
      
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      February 19, 2020 11:02am
JibberJabber

Apologies to Thomas Sowell

~~Barack Obama’s~~ Jacinda Ardern`s political genius is ~~his~~her ability to say things that will sound good to people who have not followed the issues in any detail — regardless of how obviously fraudulent what he she says may be to those who have.
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February 19, 2020 8:12am
- Swifty
  
  A highly astute observation JibberJabber.
  
  A year or so ago my dear old mother remarked how good it was that Labour had made the Taranaki oil and gas decision.
  
  I asked her how so? She replied that it will be “good for us to get off those fossil fuels.” I replied that for us to get off fossil fuels “we need to reduce demand and by having efficient economically-viable alternatives” and that “merely shifting where we get oil and gas, in our own backyards versus offshore does nothing to lower oil fossil fuel consumption, and that moving to offshore sources will likely just make the situation worse with extra costs and emissions from transportation and lower environmental standards in overseas extraction.”
  
  “It’s the demand we must address, not the source of supply.”
  
  She gave me a look that told me she knew she had been had.
  
  Heh. Since then she’s remarked to me with a grin “Labour don’t know what the hell they’re doing.” or “Labour is just relying on people’s ignorance.”
  
  I just say “Yep.”
  
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  February 19, 2020 8:35am
- freethinker
  
  Jibber – A trait shared by most confidence tricksters.
  
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  February 19, 2020 9:46am
mjw

I see Simon Bridges says he has written to the Electoral Commission to ask what to do with the $100k donation. Good on him, that is the right thing to do.

And he says he knew nothing about the other $100k donation. Looking at the timing that one occurred under Bill English’s watch, so that is understandable, and really nothing to do with Simon.

Still, it shows the left hand doesn’t know what the right hand is doing in National, as JLR could swoop in and take credit for the repeat donation exactly one year later. And also of course that Simon Bridges may not know as much about the SFO prosecution as he thought.

Nonetheless, good to see him doing the right thing.
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February 19, 2020 8:12am
- Random T Person
  
  I’d imagine these things are purposely kept somewhat un- or dis-coordinated for practical purposes.
  
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  February 19, 2020 8:44am
- Tall Man
  
  Stop being a snake in the grass.
  
  Your backhanded insult to the National party is what we normally expect from you.
  
  Unless he was on the “donation” committee or involved with “National Foundation” why would he have a clue about what the party was doing about fundraising?
  
  The primary difference between the operation of the “what’s in it for wynston” party plus foundation and the National party operation is that everything in National is done for the party whereas brian henry and “what’s in it for wynston” operated for one man and one man alone.
  
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  February 19, 2020 8:50am
  - mjw
    
    So, what do you think I should have said?
    
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    February 19, 2020 9:12am
    - Tall Man
      
      “Still, it shows the left hand doesn’t know what the right hand is doing in National,”
      
      That phrase is totally incorrect. There are separate responsibilities I would imagine and because National are well stocked with competent personnel they are able to trust those empowered with the job to actually do it.
      
      “what’s in it for wynston” is surrounded by a ragtag bunch of no hopers and he keeps a watch on every facet of the organisation to ensure that nobody is grabbing what he sees as his alone.
      
      Labour suffer overwatch by the union movement to “ensure” that they are repaid for their service.
      
      ardern is an aberration within the organisation so if she doesn’t bring them “home” in 2020 she will be gone. Ask ardern about funding to the party and you will see a real example of one hand not having a clue what either hand is doing…..
      
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      February 19, 2020 9:39am
      - mjw
        
        So, from a logical point of view, my perception is that your conclusions simply reflect your premises. National good, therefore everything they do should be seen a in good light. Labour bad, therefore everything they do should be seen in a bad light. Well, that’s human nature I guess, but I’m just trying to get a little bit beyond that.
        
        Of course, these kind of discussions do highlight the problem that, for all of us, reason tends to be the slave of the passions. The passions dictate the subject of enquiry, the framing of the problem and the evidence that we accept or reject. Reason comes along later to provide a ‘justification.’
        
        Anyway, I appreciate you responding in good faith. I realise you are unlikely to agree with me, but I’m just hopeful we can shift the discourse a bit to the middle, and erode some of the tribalism. Some of it … but not all of it. It is a political blog after all!
        
        Cheers
        
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        February 19, 2020 9:48am
      - Tall Man
        
        I honestly do not think I am being tribal and over my lifetime have supported different parties at different times.
        
        I was rather ambivalent about politics before the 2017 election and it was the constant lying from ardern and her “tribe” that actually fired me up.
        
        However, the National party is a large organisation and while I have donated to them I am not a member. The size of the organisation and the party would make it very difficult for a man to lead the political side of the party, attend to his own electorate, raise three children and spend enough time with his wife and family to avoid a crisis, deal with media and issues within Parliament and keep a tight rein over who and what is donating to the party. My understanding is that we are talking multiple hundreds of thousands so while he may be aware of the bottom line I very much doubt that he would be aware or concerned with the numbers above it.
        
        The recorded conversation with the dirt bag ross clearly showed he wanted others to deal with the issue and was just happy to be in the loop, albeit with limited info.
        
        It is common knowledge that “what’s in it for wynston” does not operate that way as he is more concerned that there is not too much sharing of donations and he also needs to keep a list of who is doing what for who in return.
        
        Labour, with their union oversight, are also a large enough organisation so that ardern wouldn’t have a clue about what was happening and where, also because she appears to be as thick as a plank.
        
        So it is not tribalism that clouds my judgement but just common sense being applied makes it crystal clear to me.
        
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        February 19, 2020 11:05am
    - Random T Person
      
      mjw, I applaud your willingness to be a little more than one-eyed.
      
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      February 19, 2020 10:03am
  - Tony Stuart
    
    It wouldn’t surprise me to find that all this happened in a certain electorate in East Auckland, which used to have a National Party MP.
    
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    February 19, 2020 9:19am
    - Tricati
      
      I was wondering that myself, and the naming of those being prosecuted by the SFO my be very telling.
      Maybe someone has shot a very large hole in their foot.
      
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      February 19, 2020 11:22am
  - lastmanstanding
    
    Tall Man. That W Peters and B Henry operate NZFF is going to be their downfall with the SFO IMHO.
    
    The SFO will gather evidence that shows W Peters and B Henry are in control and that will mean W Peters will be unable to deny involvement.
    
    Plausible deniability doesnt work when the commands can be traced back to you especially when an SFO investigator is( cough) questioning NZF junior operatives.
    
    SFO investigators dont take shit from no one. They have incredible powers more than any other Agency and the smart ones know how to use them.
    
    W Peters juniors will be shitting their pants when questioned. They will sing like a canary.
    
    Cant wait.
    
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    February 19, 2020 9:40am
    - freethinker
      
      I wonder if the SFO will be talking to NZ1 past treasurer and president??????????????????
      
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      February 19, 2020 9:50am
      - Tall Man
        
        Already done I would think.
        
        “what’s in it for wynston” may have photographs that are causing him a little discomfort I would think.
        
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        February 19, 2020 11:08am
    - KevO'Brien
      
      A lot is going to depend on the documents. The Foundation or whatever they call it could be operated by lawyers as a largely independent trust set up to make loans to NZF on their request.
      I await the SFO report as does Ardern. She has tossed in the towel and has no sense of propriety.
      
      The issue as to whether a donation to a Foundation is a donation to a Party and caught by the Electoral law is yet to be tested.
      
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      February 19, 2020 11:51am
  - MCos
    
    “why would he have a clue about what the party was doing about fundraising?”
    Let’s not be disingenuous.
    Of course the parliamentary members are involved in fund raising.
    I remember there was a fuss when the Nats were in power because they had high priced dinners where you paid a whole lot of money for mince on toast and the chance to talk to the PM and some cabinets members.
    Something along those lines.
    Labour probably does the some thing.
    
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    February 19, 2020 9:40am
    - Tall Man
      
      Of course as an mp he would be aware of activities he was directly involved in but I very much doubt there is regular detailed advice passed around in the party outside of the core senior group.
      
      It would mandatory for the “gap” to be maintained to avoid the appearance of what “what’s in it for wynston” is actually engaging in.
      
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      February 19, 2020 9:54am
    - Swifty
      
      Not quite right MCos.
      
      When Labour first found out about National’s fundraising prowess they yelled and screamed, labelled it corrupt and scandalous and called for heads to roll.
      
      Then, when the dinners were proven to be all above board and perfectly acceptable, they resiled from their hysterics and THEN set about doing dinners themselves.
      
      Stinking hypocrites.
      
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      February 19, 2020 9:57am
      - MCos
        
        As I said there was a fuss at the time.
        
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        February 19, 2020 10:13am
      - Swifty
        
        Well, if you want to call groundless Labour hysterics over a non-issue as a fuss, then yes.
        
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        February 19, 2020 10:31am
- Bobba Fret
  
  Yes hopefully he handles this well. I can imagine the left (including NZ First) will be screaming look at National! They are as bad or worse than us.
  
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  February 19, 2020 9:33am
- Raphael
  
  And the four people charged are:
  
  Jamie Lee Ross, Yikun Zhang (who was the person ultimately making the donation), Shijia Zheng and Hengjia Zheng
  https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12309887
  
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  February 19, 2020 2:43pm
hullkiwi

Tony question for you or someone else with a view.

Given the mess Peters is in, the sheeple will need to be asleep at the wheel for the attrition of the past 2 years not to take its toll, so he is likely to go the way of other political leaders – crash and burn to the ignominy of defeat. I can only think of 4 PMs who bowed out in time – Holyoake, Key, Harold Wilson & Tony Blair – the rest crash at the polls or were pushed by their parties.

So my question is, what makes party leaders so arrogant that they cannot see circumstances of their demise coming?
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February 19, 2020 8:18am
- KevO'Brien
  
  Peters has a gambling personality. Such people I have found hold on until thrown out. They will appeal tax proceedings and fight criminal prosecutions expecting the odds will favour them.
  
  Peters personality will not let him go–he will have to be forced out. He likely has said already he “will be taken out of Parliament with his boots on.” He now is a ‘once was’.
  
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  February 19, 2020 8:34am
- Biscuit
  
  I watched the House yesterday, hullkiwi, and thought exactly that about Jacinda.
  
  Bridges was hounding her to say she had confidence in Peters.
  
  She did, eventually, have to say ‘Yes’.
  
  None of that is going to have anyone favouring a National-led Government at the next election switching allegiance to her.
  
  And there is evidence that a sizeable chunk of those who voted for Peters have already jumped ship in disgust at Peters’ antics.
  
  Does Jacinda – or do her advisors – really think her attempting to stay at arms’ length from NZ First’s latest shenanigans is gonna benefit her?
  
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  February 19, 2020 8:37am
  - Tall Man
    
    “Does Jacinda – or do her advisors – really think?”
    
    That is a better question.
    
    Answer, not clearly.
    
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    February 19, 2020 8:53am
    - alloytoo
      
      or “at all.”
      
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      February 19, 2020 9:27am
  - freethinker
    
    Whilst its nice to think arderns advisers are stoopid because her actions indicate this I reckon they aren’t stoopid so its likely the real reason for her equivocation over peters is that something even worse is being hidden – a classic case of only seeing the tip of the iceberg.
    
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    February 19, 2020 9:55am
oldpark

Notice the NZ residential rental market continues to be under a sustained attack on Landlords by the Labour/Green /NZ First cartel .
It is little wonder that the cost to rent a property has reached sky high proportions.
Landlords have been treated even worse than the poor animals who have suspected M.Bovis Cow Virus .
Now the same cabal are once more about to launch another attack on Landlords with more far reaching punitive regulations . Just one of the many proposed kneecapping tactics to be enacted will be a fine of up to $100,000 for failing to comply with some of the new legislation .
Yet last night on the TV News was Peters gift to NZ . The screaming skull laughing wee girl from Morrinsville who has been well trained by her Mentor Peters to tell lies .Yes she has the gall to blame the National Party on the massive rental price increases in Residential Property and the
huge recent changes to the Residential Tenancy Act .
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February 19, 2020 8:21am
- G152
  
  The coalition is so thick.
  Punishing landlords is going to further reduce the rental stock and the only people punished will be labor voters in minim paid jobs.
  
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  February 19, 2020 8:31am
  - Random T Person
    
    I wonder if they are willfully ignorant, given the abundance of evidence of what their policies do, or if they truly believe ‘it will be different this time’. It is either stupidity or cynicism of the highest order – knowing that ‘the masses’ fall for the ‘intentions’ every time. Socialism is a seductive mistress, particularly to those who don’t understand economics.
    
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    February 19, 2020 8:46am
    - Tall Man
      
      They don’t know and they don’t care.
      
      The whole coalition including the charlatan is about sound bites and suckering the stupid.
      
      Remember how Hitler placed the responsibility for all of Germany’s problems at the door of the Jews.
      
      Blame someone or something long enough and with the connivance of a corrupt media it becomes accepted.
      
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      February 19, 2020 8:57am
    - igm
      
      The effects of this communist-driven unelected bunch of mongs has really started to turn the tide of opinion. Many, including their loyal followers have had enough.
      What has Lees-Galloway to say about this latest disaster?
      https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-element-cse&cx=006730714154542492986:oh6vl0ybuqy&q=https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/small-business/119586863/last-remaining-new-zealandmade-lawnmowers-to-be-manufactured-offshore&sa=U&ved=2ahUKEwiip9m989vnAhXZ4HMBHY7mCdgQFjAAegQIBBAC&usg=AOvVaw24ZfY9khHk_ph7VDXpe5vW
      
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      February 19, 2020 9:10am
  - Ian Boag
    
    This “reduction in rental stock” doesn’t seem to be showing up as an increase in the number of properties for sale or softness in the asking price ….
    
    The “I can’t afford the upgrade” is a bit feeble. $10k of improvements would increase the mortgage by $14/week ….
    
    Personally I think the current rent explosion comes down to landlords and “because they can”. Just business – supply and demand etc. For the last umpty years the rate of increase in property prices has far outstripped the rate of increase in incomes. Yields fell to very low levels. Something had to give and it looks like it has. That of course will underpin further property price rises ….
    
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    February 19, 2020 9:53am
    - Tall Man
      
      Obviously you have never run a rental operation.
      
      $10K wouldn’t add full insulation and a heat pump plus generally a run down property requires substantially more than just an upgrade to the current “standards”.
      
      Having “some” experience in this area I agreed with my son’s decision and a path of “renovate and sell” will be much more profitable in the medium term.
      
      The rise of AirBnB explains the lack of rentals appearing for sale but I’m sure you were aware of that.
      
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      February 19, 2020 10:11am
      - Ian Boag
        
        Obviously you have never run a rental operation
        
        How is it obvious ? Generally $10k would give insulation + heat pump a fright. But make it $15k if you like. $21/week on the mortgage of which $14 is deductible. Not deal breaking stuff.
        
        I was not aware that the “too crappy to rent” places were good for AirBnB. I do know one person who rented a bach like that until AirBnB gave them the flick.
        
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        February 19, 2020 7:06pm
- Tall Man
  
  One of my kids decided a couple of years ago to get into the rental market so cashed up their beautiful home and bought their first rental, planning to live in it with partner and kids and slowly do it up.
  
  Due to the house being built in the 60’s it needed a lot of work to meet the current standards so became uneconomic to become a rental. Funnily enough, although it was “unsuitable” to be a rental as it was, it was a lovely home where they were able to live with young children and luckily managed to avoid mildew and ill health tor themselves and their dog 😉
  
  How can that be?
  
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  February 19, 2020 9:03am
  - stigie
    
    Because they opened all the windows to let the air flow through to be mould free.
    Very hard to educate the ferals, best the government swamp the landlord with endless stupid regulations !~
    
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    February 19, 2020 9:59am
    - Tall Man
      
      Ok, I thought it was because I voted National last election.
      
      Are you sure though? That just seems too easy…..
      
      🙂
      
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      February 19, 2020 10:04am
- freethinker
  
  Old Park – an excellent precedent for legislation on electoral funding offences – suitably retrospective of course – with acknowledgment to Klarkula.
  
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  February 19, 2020 9:58am
- rouppe
  
  I can’t believe the bit where a fixed term tenancy reverts to periodic unless both agree. This means that an agreement for a specified period means nothing.
  
  Imagine if a fixed term employment contract reverts to an hourly rate unless both parties agree!
  
  Ridiculous
  
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  February 19, 2020 1:42pm
- pb
  
  Private ownership is illegitimate under Labour ideology. State seizure of private property incoming.
  
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  February 19, 2020 6:38pm
Maggy Wassilieff

Details about Antarctica temperature measurements that get overlooked by our msm.

https://quadrant.org.au/opinion/doomed-planet/2020/02/antarcticas-hottest-day-not-so-fast/
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February 19, 2020 8:22am
- Maggy Wassilieff
  
  Wait, dear reader…
  
  There is more…..
  In Germany there have been rumours that the alleged Antarctic Seymour Island “all-time Antarctic record high” of 20.75°C set on February 9th is a hoax – originating by the AFP news agency and then spread by The Guardian.
  
  https://notrickszone.com/2020/02/17/is-all-time-antarctic-20-75c-record-high-temperature-just-a-sensational-hoax-station-data-show-only-16c/
  
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  February 19, 2020 8:25am
  - KevO'Brien
    
    “The media as source.” Enough said.
    
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    February 19, 2020 8:37am
    - MCos
      
      The chap who took the reading is Carlos Schaefer and here’s his email
      carlos.schaefer@ufv.br
      Drop him a line and bypass the Guardian and the No Trick Zone.
      
      In the big scheme of things one high temperature reading is little more than a curiosity.
      What really matters is the trend over a period of time and for every scientist who says one thing there will be another who says something else.
      
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      February 19, 2020 8:58am
      - KevO'Brien
        
        The temperature depends on what is used for a thermometer and where it is at any given time. Put it by the stove or on an airport readying area and records are easy to make. Follow the Aussies for guidance on best practice when there are no thermometers within 100’s of kms. “Data” is easy to create with a computer –1/3 of the UN’s climate model has has no actual temperature readings just computer guesses.
        
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        February 19, 2020 12:05pm
  - rightoverlabour
    
    I wonder how Stephieboy is coping reading this. I am sure he has already googled a rebuttal…. So I’ll post a response just in case… Learn some basic science and until you have equalled Maggie’s impressive credentials keep your cut and pastes to your self. Twat.
    
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    February 19, 2020 8:30pm
- Justitia
  
  Thanks Maggy, very useful. The Peninsula and its offshore islands are hardly “Antarctica”. Their proximity to the massive South American landmass makes them susceptible to foehn winds .
  
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  February 19, 2020 8:36am
- Fletch
  
  The problem with original fear-mongering stories like this in the media: the headlines get trumpeted on the 6pm news and I’m thinking, ‘later on this will be proven to not be true’ but by then it’s too late. Everyone hears the headline spin and the real facts are never reported.
  
  It’s that old adage – “A lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes”
  
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  February 19, 2020 10:02am
  - MCos
    
    Maybe it is true.
    I’d be inclined to believe that Carlos Schaefer took the temperature without breathing on his thermometer as the article above infers.
    I note the article doesn’t even mention his name.
    https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7060-1598
    
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    February 19, 2020 10:32am
Harriet

“…..In a press conference in Wellington on Tuesday, ambassador Wu Xi downplayed the risk of the novel coronavirus outbreak in China, which she described as “generally under control” thanks to the “miracle” mobilisation of the Chinese state…..”

Well, that’s not what the press in Aussie is saying today WEDNESDAY, rather that it is far far from being under control.

I’d imagine once it is under control -God only knows when- most Chinese Ambassadors may well find themselves hauled before nation state leaders. As lots of them appear to now be making public the same misinformed claims.

In other words – they are being mislead by the Chinese government – and clearly shouldn’t be making public statements in democratic countries.

It’s disgusting behaviour and Chinese ambassadors should not be taken seriously by the public or our democratic governments.

That appalling behaviour makes them far too dangerous to the welfare of humanity. It should be taught in all our schools that COMMUNISM KILLS – LIKE IT ALWAYS HAS. 😎
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February 19, 2020 8:23am
- hmmokrightitis
  
  The ultimate irony for me is that the Chinese have now shut down travel in how many cities? I think its around 20, with roughly 30 to 50 million people unable to leave.
  
  And yet the ambassador is telling us we should open our borders.
  
  Yeah, frankly, off ya fuck.
  
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  February 19, 2020 8:51am
- Justitia
  
  I agree Harriet. China’s Ambassadors have obviously received instructions from Beijing to begin a campaign of pressuring host governments and spreading disinformation. Reports today indicate the mortality rate of this coronavirus is about 2.2% at present which puts it up there with the 1918 Spanish influenza. Health workers, the sick and the elderly are said to be particularly at risk of dying from it. If the Ardern rabble bows to pressure and reopens our borders they will be knowingly exposing thousands of New Zealanders to a potentially fatal infection.
  
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  February 19, 2020 8:57am
  - freethinker
    
    An initial report by Tencent, subsequently withdrawn and re issued with CCP figure was that infection and death rates were significantly higher than official figures. This is to some extent corroborated by reports of Wuhan crematoria burning 100 bodies a day and now the Chief Biological Scientist is in Wuhan to sort out the mess – CCP is taking this so seriously and acting accordingly that their actions alone confound their figures.
    
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    February 19, 2020 10:07am
- Swifty
  
  After constantly lying to their own people and everyone else around the world for over 70 years now – the Chinese government will have to excuse us, but we are now unable to believe a word they say. Ever.
  
  And it’s all of their own making.
  
  For a better understanding of our view – the ambassador would be wise to read that instructive fable by the Greek storyteller Aesop, “The Boy Who Cried Wolf.”
  
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  February 19, 2020 9:13am
  - rightoverlabour
    
    Probably say the same about Jacinda….
    
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    February 19, 2020 8:32pm
- MCos
  
  All ambassadors are expected to represent the view of their governments.
  
  US Ambassador Brown isn’t going to call a press conference to announce the US trade war tactics are a disaster or the Israel peace plan is terrible.
  
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  February 19, 2020 9:13am
Tauhei Notts

Modern education.
I sought help from a 26 year old woman with sorting out formulae on an Excel spreadsheet. She was excellent.
But something about arithmetic came up and I asked her;
“Can you work out 10% of $80 in your head?”
No.
What about 2% of $100?
“I was never any good at maths, ” she replied.
I have seen that young woman prepare complex schedules for the Tax Dept and Dept of Internal Affairs, but her basic arithmetic is non-existent.
Weird, eh.
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February 19, 2020 8:28am
- Batman
  
  Yep, the modern school system has failed an entire generation in terms of our mathematical and arithmetical skills. That includes me, I will freely admit.
  
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  February 19, 2020 8:47am
  - calendar girl
    
    Cheap calculators everywhere.
    
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    February 19, 2020 7:05pm
- Bobba Fret
  
  Scary would be the word I would use.
  
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  February 19, 2020 9:46am
- Ruahine
  
  It has been stated that in Britain that most most ‘working class’ males learnt their arithmetic down the Pub playing darts.
  
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  February 19, 2020 9:59am
- Fletch
  
  An outside accountant who did work for a company I also worked for relayed an amusing story about a fellow accountant he knew that would lay all his spreadsheets out perfectly in Excel, then go and manually add up all the columns with a calculator and enter the total in the column underneath. Eventually someone noticed and told him, you know, the computer can do that for you right? LOL. Just think of all the time he wasted over the years.
  
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  February 19, 2020 10:06am
- jonno1
  
  The scary bit is when there’s a small error in the spreadsheet, eg a line missed from a summation, that leads to a totally erroneous result of which the operator is oblivious. Whereas we old-school chaps were taught to do a quick and dirty mental calculation first. If the s/s result differed by more than say 10% then every entry and formula was rechecked and the error located. I follow the same principle in restaurants and stores – have a rough cost estimate in my head at checkout time.
  
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  February 19, 2020 11:02am
- KevO'Brien
  
  “New Maths” seems to have been based on the idea that children should all be trained like those who actually have maths brains–rarities. I could do calculus but I don’t think like a mathematician.
  We firstly need people to be numerate even if it takes rote learning. Most need to know basic maths facts like tables and addition of 6+7. Most can handle percentages too if only the concept was taught as a fact not a theoretical framework based on set theory where the application of self discovery will enable the output from the brain matrix after an unreasonable length of time.
  
  A related problem is teaching this “new maths”, where do you get the teachers from? A good years basic maths facts training at the year 8 level should be adequate for all. Advanced levels are possible later for those who may need it. We are wasting opportunities and boring children at school. Who would want to teach the present curricula?
  
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  February 19, 2020 12:22pm
  - Harriet
    
    I’ve got a sister who is an accountant in NZ and she ask me a couple of years back if I still knew mental arithmetic – multiplication – I’ve been labouring all my life and said yes of course, and then started to rattle of 8 x 9 x tables at random.
    She had to think hard with the 3x 4x tables – IN ORDER. Funny as.
    
    I know of people who can’t work out what jar of vegemite is best value – and that’s when it says on the shelf sticker $1.46 per 100gramms and $1.54 on another sticker. They think ‘special’ is the value product. 😎
    
    I tell my 14yld that % will be the most handiest of all with regards to spending, budgeting, investment returns and personal portfolio management. That’s all I ever use.
    
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    February 19, 2020 2:55pm
- hmmm82
  
  Wait for the epidemic of ‘digital dementia’ in 3..2..1.. when these ‘kids’ employer’s realise they have no sense. They have all outsourced their memory and a large part of their sniff-ability to their phones.
  
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  February 20, 2020 9:36am
pdm

`Seymour Island’

Hell Maggie has David Seymour had an Island named after him already.

He is not even Prime Minister.
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February 19, 2020 8:31am
- Random T Person
  
  Well, he HAS achieved more than the PM this term of government.
  
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  February 19, 2020 8:47am
  - Tall Man
    
    Low bar though!
    
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    February 19, 2020 10:02am
tedbear

I’m saddened that Z petrol stations are right into the climate change scam and ‘offering’ motorists the ‘chance’ to offset their carbon emissions. It’s enough to end me filling up there.
It’s only a matter of time before ‘offering’ becomes ‘you will pay more’ every time you fill up.

How much thought goes into these brainwaves?
Pollution does not affect climate or weather.

Z’s head of sustainability and community, Gerri Ward, said “offsetting would be completed via Permanent Forests.”
Oh really?
“Permanent Forests act as critical ‘carbon sinks’ that sequester, or ‘suck up’, carbon.”
Would be completed…in what… 20-30 years when the trees are mature enough to do any sucking up?

Z says “We need to transition away from fossil fuels to combat climate change. Z encourages all motorists to reduce their fuel use wherever they can”
Now there’s a business case that’s going to wow the Z Board.
Here’s what you Board members are voting on today “This petrol company wants to stop selling petrol. All in favour?”
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February 19, 2020 8:32am
- Batman
  
  Z would argue that they’re an energy company, not just petrol and Diesel etc.
  
  If you’re that triggered by a bit of marketing then I don’t know what to say.
  
  And by the way, trees suck up carbon from day one. They’re literally carbon sinks…. Until you cut them down and (possibly) burn them.
  
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  February 19, 2020 8:46am
  - tedbear
    
    Well of course they might suck up from day one.
    I’m guessing here, maybe around 0.000000001 of a micron? and by day 40 it’s grown to a massive 0.000000002 if the weather/growing condition’s been favourable?
    Or they may have died, like my tomato plants did this growing season.
    
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    February 19, 2020 9:02am
  - Tall Man
    
    To be honest, how big a “clip” of the ticket do you think Z will insert?
    
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    February 19, 2020 9:09am
- Random T Person
  
  Yeah I’ll reduce my fuel use by going to BP, you mongs.
  
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  February 19, 2020 8:48am
  - Random T Person
    
    Also, we shall now see socialist principles in full flight. Most here know that if you think more tax should be levied, you are welcome to demonstrate your ardour by voluntarily paying more (which is in effect what Z is asking its customers to do). What’s the best that like all good socialists, voluntary contributions approach nil, because what we really need is coercion from the state to force everyone to pay more so that it is now ‘fair’.
    
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    February 19, 2020 9:08am
  - tedbear
    
    I’ll probably keep going there, for a bit at least, as one thing I love doing is having wee chats with people who think it’s better for the environment to drive an electric-powered car made out of fossil fuels and its battery made from destroying forests and mining.
    
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    February 19, 2020 9:28am
  - Ruahine
    
    Waitomo is a New Zealand family owned company.
    
    https://www.waitomogroup.co.nz/
    
    If I am in the South Island I look for these guys.
    
    https://www.npd.co.nz/about-us/
    
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    February 19, 2020 10:10am
    - fisho
      
      Waitomo and NPD buy their fuel from Mobil, so you’re still helping a multinational get rich.
      Z is an NZ listed company that employs all it’s staff onshore and manufactures and imports all their own product. Still worth supporting me thinks, they’re trying to do the right thing regardless of how virtuous it might seem.
      
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      February 19, 2020 5:41pm
  - Paulus
    
    Still paying $2.55 per litre for 95/98.
    
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    February 19, 2020 1:51pm
- Tony Stuart
  
  Let’s not forget that Z is owned by the NZ Superannuation Scheme, so some pandering to the government of the day is to be expected.
  
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  February 19, 2020 9:22am
- Ed Snack
  
  Actually trees aren’t particularly long term sinks for CO2. They absorb most in their early growth, taper off and eventually become a source as they decay and die. Establishing a permanent forest would be an initial carbon sink but after a period of something like 40-80 years it will become a steady state repository.
  
  The whole carbon credit “thing” is a kind of rort based on the politically created accounting system used. Because so many natural sources and sinks are not counted, one can get a completely false accounting for the actual, real world changes to CO2 levels. Many apparent “carbon reducing” activities are longer term actually net positive on emissions.
  
  A are just pandering to the ignorant poseurs and virtue signallers, won’t buy there ever myself.
  
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  February 19, 2020 9:56am
  - Nigel Kearney
    
    Obviously correct. If the forest is not growing or shrinking, the carbon released by dead, rotting trees must be about the same as the carbon absorbed by growing trees.
    
    In the long term, carbon levels depend only on whether we burn fossil fuels or not. Trees have nothing to do with it.
    
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    February 19, 2020 10:44am
    - cmm
      
      ” the carbon released by dead, rotting trees must be about the same as the carbon absorbed by growing trees. ”
      
      No, according to government approved numbers the carbon released by dead, rotting trees is way worse.
      
      Trees absorb CO2. However when they rot they release both CO2 AND methane and some just goes into the ground as long-term carbon.. According to Hugzilla’s pet scientists, methane is 84x as bad as CO2, therefore if only 2% of the rotting wood turns into methane it is way worse to make long term forests.
      
      From this we can only conclude that the whole carbon accounting game is just nonsense.
      
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      February 19, 2020 11:35am
      - rightoverlabour
        
        We need more CO2 not less. Green life on earth would thrive at about 1200ppm. So I am against any plan to reduce CO2. Moment the fire ban is over I’ll be back to weekly bonfires…. And I’ll chuck a bit of plastic in too. Saves the turtles and acts as a cloud nucleation process…. Burn, baby burn….
        
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        February 19, 2020 8:39pm
    - hmmm82
      
      Carbon levels depend on a lot more than that. Its not like there was no carbon before the 1850’s.
      
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      February 20, 2020 9:41am
- Ruahine
  
  Gerri Ward appears to be another of these wombles that does not know the difference between Carbon and Carbon Dioxide (CO2).
  However unlike another well known womble at least she is not claiming to be able to see Carbon Dioxide in the atmosphere. One of course can see Carbon nearly all the time. For many people they have to only look at their hand(s).
  
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  February 19, 2020 10:13am
  - alloytoo
    
    To be fair we used to see carbon in the air we called it soot.
    
    but we’ve made great strides in cleaning up that pollution.
    
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    February 19, 2020 11:22am
- cmm
  
  I call bullshit here.
  
  Z says they will grow permanent forests. How do those soak up CO2?
  
  For the first approx 15-20 years new planting put on little mass and thus soak up little CO2.
  
  Then from approx 20-35 years the trees put on lots of mass and soak up lots of CO2.
  
  Then from 40 years on, the trees don’t put on much mass and start to fall over and rot. Now the CO2 is released again – a large % of that as methane. Now as the government tells us, methane is 84 times as bad as CO2, so the effect of methane will outweigh the positive effect of soaking up CO2.
  
  The only way to actually take the CO2 out of the system is to harvest the wood and make it into building timber etc. That way it does not rot and go back to the atmosphere.
  
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  February 19, 2020 10:18am
- rouppe
  
  Now that Waitomo and Gull have opened in the Wellington region, I make a point wherever possible to fill up there, even if I can get another 6c off a nearby Caltex or similar.
  
  Those old school fuel retailers obviously could have charged less, but didn’t, and only now dropped their prices. Bugger them, support the disruptor.
  
  I’ll only fill up elsewhere if I haven’t been in the vicinity of one of those area’s before I run out.
  
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  February 19, 2020 2:47pm
- pb
  
  Z are high level sheep. Z want you where global capitalism wants you. Climate cult herds us into predictable patterns. Once you are predictable you can be robbed.
  
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  February 19, 2020 6:43pm
G152

I look up the temperature at Scott every morning as a few of my mates built Scott and its a sort of memorial thing.
One or two times a year it actually gets to 1C
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February 19, 2020 8:33am
Paulus

I see that the Labour Party sexual deviant is seeking permanent name suppression.
Convenient timing.
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February 19, 2020 8:35am
peterwn

So over at BFD they portray Simon Bridges dressed up as ‘I see nothing’ Sergeant Schultz no doubt because Simon was surprised to learn that those charged has put through a second cluster of donations (seems to be a $100000 donation in two successive years). An obvious attempt to smear Simon to help make Winston’s prediction that National will chew through two leaders before the next election come to pass.
The SFO would have easily found the second $100000 while investigating the first $100000. It is a ‘duh’ for Simon Bridges and Peter Goodfellow since National’s war chest is minus $200000 (which will now probably effectively help Shane’s and Grant’s extravagant spending).
The issue is whether National Party HQ could reasonably have spotted these clusters of <$15k donations. The SFO does not think so (at least to a criminal standard) otherwise Greg Hamilton (National's General Secretary) would have been in the dock too. If Greg's people had not spotted them then the party President and Leader would have been unaware of them too.
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February 19, 2020 8:36am
- Tony Stuart
  
  I see the first donation was received in 2017, which would have been whilst Bill English was still leading the party, so it’s no surprise Bridges has no knowledge of it.
  
  But I wonder if this somehow relates to someone within a single electorate cultivating a big donor, and in an effort to impress, cutting corners and not following the rules. If that was the case, you wouldn’t have to be Einstein to work out where this happened.
  
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  February 19, 2020 9:31am
  - peterwn
    
    Precisely! In my opinion there is a clear case for name suppression to be lifted next Tuesday. The National Party will suffer continuing harm while suppression continues which is bad for democracy. This harm would outweigh the harm suffered by the accused if suppression was lifted.
    
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    February 19, 2020 11:13am
  - Paulus
    
    I wonder which constituency this might refer to ?
    Somewhere in South East Auckland perhaps !
    
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    February 19, 2020 1:53pm
- Bobba Fret
  
  BFD site hates Simon and are annoyed that National under him are still maintaining their popularity. They really want him to fail. They would like him to be dumped before the election and replaced by Judith Collins. BFD (and previously Whaleoil) seem to be pro Winston for some unknown reason. Do they really want a left wing govt with NZF propping them up again?
  
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  February 19, 2020 9:54am
- Sacha
  
  Since Cam Slater has rediscovered his voice, the anti-Bridges comments have become more venomous and some are just plain nasty, and now anyone who dares to disagree gets put down.
  I used to go over for the comments on GD and Backchat, now not so often.
  
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  February 19, 2020 11:39am
  - KevO'Brien
    
    Slater can wallow in his own pen. He presents like a rampant socialist activist–his way only, the merits being his beliefs, not your regular National supporter with a free mind and outlook.
    
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    February 19, 2020 12:32pm
  - rouppe
    
    I was losing interest due to the large number of rubbish posts overwhelming anything interesting. I refused to subscribe though.
    
    When the blog was killed off I looked at the bfd maybe twice and haven’t been back.
    
    They are clearly compromised now.
    
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    February 19, 2020 2:51pm
kiwitoffee

Winston Peters.
Dog tucker.
And starting to go off.
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February 19, 2020 8:39am
- Rich Prick
  
  It’s hard work starting each day searching for what’s left of your your marbles.
  
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  February 19, 2020 9:08am
  - Tall Man
    
    Perhaps like a “labour staffer” he’s looking in other people’s pockets!
    
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    February 19, 2020 9:24am
Happychappy

It is a sad predicament in NZ Politics when you have the victim having to forgo the chance of some satisfaction from a sexual assault because Judges want to cover up what happens to often from the Labour party. We now have a situation where a Judge is being persuaded by the Crown after this perpetrator was having the charges dropped for lesser misdemeanour now arguing his name suppression should be hidden for ever and if not until after their coming Election as they believe this will become a political football.

[snipped – NO speculation on court supression please – mod.]
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February 19, 2020 8:44am
curry4me

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3dJcYwP4U0k
Thuringia government crisis: AfD leader Alexander Gauland Bundestag speech, English subtitles. Merkel didn’t like the result. So she wants a do over. Just a coup really.
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February 19, 2020 8:46am
- Random T Person
  
  Good news today Curry. I have left over beef kadai from last night’s dinner procured from the Kope Indian in Whakatane. Curry4me today, too.
  
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  February 19, 2020 9:09am
  - curry4me
    
    That definitely sounds like a plan. -:)
    
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    February 19, 2020 9:20am
  - Biscuit
    
    Random T, what are those words ‘left over’?
    
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    February 19, 2020 12:05pm
    - Tall Man
      
      Meal interrupted by international crisis. That’s the only way they should arise.
      
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      February 19, 2020 3:38pm
- freethinker
  
  Thuringa – uncle Adolfs initial power base – does History repeat – asking for a friend of course?
  
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  February 19, 2020 10:15am
  - curry4me
    
    No.
    
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    February 19, 2020 6:36pm
- Classic Liberal
  
  Gauland calls ‘Die Linke’ (party actually called ‘The Left’): “the heirs of the wall murderers [reference to GDR] who are still calling for expropriation and socialism.”.
  
  If you read the manifesto of the IUSY which our PM was *President of*, you will find just that: demands for expropriation and socialism.
  
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  February 19, 2020 4:07pm
  - curry4me
    
    Yeah, he doesn’t mince words. Good for him.
    
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    February 19, 2020 6:36pm
curry4me

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SHSVEb_gqLc
Will the Coronavirus Break the US Economy? Probably not thank God. A recession is about the only thing that could de-rail President Trump.
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February 19, 2020 8:46am
- MCos
  
  His head might explode
  
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  February 19, 2020 10:36am
  - Tall Man
    
    Do you truly think you are his intellectual superior?
    
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    February 19, 2020 3:36pm
    - Classic Liberal
      
      Pfft, everyone I know who talks about Trump just spouts the MSM pap and believes him to be stupid but, strangely, also incredibly evil and dangerous. Not that they have ever listened to an actual speech of his – no, they just believe the MSM lies about his speeches.
      
      That is their intelligent way of judging a politician…
      
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      February 19, 2020 4:15pm
- Jules99
  
  A global recession would help Trump. Who would you want fixing the economy, a successful business man who puts Americans first, or a socialist who wants to give handouts to foreigners?
  
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  February 19, 2020 11:34am
Swifty

I’d like it to be known that this year I will be changing my party vote.

This year, and for the first time ever, I will be voting Green.

I have made this momentous life change for one reason and one reason only – that the Green Party have just announced that they have unearthed the answer to all our problems.

Behold, the Green wunderkind who is to sweep away the “old and Pakeha” from Parliament and install the fresh thinking to get us out of the mess that the Pakehas have got us into.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/119529440/greens-select-school-strike-leader-luke-wijohn-for-mt-albert-in-2020-election

He is going to deliver the ‘social justice’ that, deep down, we all crave – National supporters especially.

Please join me in laying aside your critical faculties, in surrendering to your emotions and having faith. The Green Party have the answers to all our problems if we would only just trust them.

FFS.
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February 19, 2020 8:51am
- Tall Man
  
  Hockey player ……..
  
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  February 19, 2020 9:08am
- Tony Stuart
  
  Where are all the lefties who slagged off the National Party for selecting William Wood, now 18, to contest the Palmerston North electorate?
  
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  February 19, 2020 10:11am
  - Tall Man
    
    Busy … collecting benefit or head deep in trough .. Come back later.
    
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    February 19, 2020 3:35pm
  - hmmm82
    
    Not all are lefties. I don’t still understand the thinking behind this. Do they imagine they will gain more youth votes than they lose from older people. Based on my own life, I don’t want to see anybody under 30 in parliament [preferably 40].
    What’s going on?
    
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    February 20, 2020 10:00am
- JibberJabber
  
  `kin oath, elect a spotty tweenager while they still know everything…
  
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  February 19, 2020 10:44am
- Classic Liberal
  
  Wait… isn’t he ‘pakeha’? So surely he has no place to be campaigning for ‘Maori rights’?
  
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  February 19, 2020 4:20pm
  - curry4me
    
    Yeah, that’s ‘cultural appropriation’ isn’t it. Isn’t that ‘rayist’? I’m sure I remember the NPC media telling me so.
    
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    February 19, 2020 6:40pm
  - Swifty
    
    Part-Maori.
    
    This is his old man:
    
    https://www.deloitteprivate.co.nz/our-people/leon-wijohn/
    
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    February 19, 2020 7:54pm
hullkiwi

Had to laugh last night at news on the box. While the human impact of the coronavirus is all very sad, what made me smile was the problems of a toy abd clothing manufacturer, both of which have outsourced their manufacturing to Asia. The problem is shops are now having problems getting stock replenishment.

In the case of the toy manufacturer my added glee was the the toy in question – a plastic toy that attaches to a tap or hose and fills balloons with water. All of which creates a whole lot of plastic waste and in current circumstances attempts to encourage kids to waste water, which in northern parts is in scarce supply.

However, on a serious note the situation developing highlights the weakness of economic orthodoxy that says it is good policy to farm out all manufacturing to off shore suppliers and then become dependent on that model. While there are cost advantages in such an economic model there are strategic risks (as is becoming evident) of drety of supply.
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February 19, 2020 9:16am
- freethinker
  
  I think the long term implications of a supply chain overly dependent on China will have a major impact and diversification of future supplies.
  
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  February 19, 2020 10:18am
  - curry4me
    
    Yes, the less stuff with made in China on the label, the better. Diversity is good. So therefore diversity of supply is good.
    
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    February 19, 2020 6:42pm
Jack5

As the EU goes tough on Britain in the trade talks following Brexit, the Telegraph cartoonist, Matt, has EU trade officials doing a haka.

Will Maori allege this is a breach of copyright?

Meanwhile, the EU, prompted by Greece, Cyprus, Spain and Italy, is out to get back for Greece the Elgin Marbles, which are a collection of sculptures, inscriptions and architectural features acquired by Lord Elgin between 1801 and 1805.
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February 19, 2020 9:18am
curry4me

Thanks for the quick work, moderstors.
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February 19, 2020 9:21am
Tricati

Are peoples property tights under attack now in NZ. We have changes to the Housing NZ legislation that allows HNZ to take land it requires for housing, the unknown consequences of the Ihumatao shambles, and now this bloke on the West Coast getting the run around.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/local-democracy-reporting/119619486/elderly-man-to-lose-70-per-cent-of-farm-in-blatant-attack-on-property-rights
There seems to be very little commentary on this from our politicians which is a bit un-nerving.
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February 19, 2020 9:21am
- MCos
  
  It’s not clear from the article if the land is still leased.
  I think there’s a lot more to this story.
  
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  February 19, 2020 10:46am
  - GJM
    
    Even if leased, under the terms of the lease, the land is available for use and the lease terms reflect the value of the land. He would not lease land he cannot use. Indeed, the lease probably would not exist with only 30% of the land area available as it is not economical
    
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    February 20, 2020 8:53am
Right of way is Way of Right

Remember how the Labour Led (in name only) coalition were going to address spiralling house prices for first home buyers?

Well it turns out that if you artificially inflate the rental market through excessive state mandated compliance driving landlords out of the market and decrease supply, while NOT building 10000 houses a year, and at the same time relax borrowing constraints when many kiwisaver accounts finally reach the point where they can be used as a deposit, turns out that it rapidly turns a buyers market in to a sellers market.

Who knew?
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February 19, 2020 9:26am
lastmanstanding

With regard to the right to silence as W Peters is soon to find out the SFO are not bound by that law. If they ask you a question and your refuse to answer that will be used in their case against you as evidence against you.

In addition as regards the IRD you are guilty until you prove yourself innocent.

The Commissioner can issue you with a demand to pay a certain amount of tax and unless you can prove otherwise you are required to pay that tax.

So plenty of precedents to remove the right to silence in a child abuse case.

Whats more important.

A child being abused or killed or a SFO or tax case.

You tell me.
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February 19, 2020 9:28am
- Tony Stuart
  
  Likewise with drink driving. If you refuse to undergo an evidential breath or blood test, you will be arrested and charged, and if found guilty, sentenced as though you had driven drunk.
  
  That said, I have no problems with a law change to break the silence about families who get staunch and refuse to cooperate with the Police after an allegation of child abuse. The right of a child not to be beaten to death or near-death trumps the right of those who are supposed to be protecting the child to clam up every day.
  
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  February 19, 2020 10:17am
- Nigel Kearney
  
  None of these examples involve people being locked up just for saying they didn’t see anything and don’t know what happened.
  
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  February 19, 2020 10:50am
- KevO'Brien
  
  The Commissioner can issue you with a demand to pay a certain amount of tax and ~~unless you can prove otherwise~~ you are required to pay that tax.
  The collection of taxes is not suspended by an objection.
  
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  February 19, 2020 12:38pm
Littletramp

Another typical Phil Twyford success being trumpeted. An official “opening” ceremony held for a project that is neither open nor completed. https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/119614908/the-opening-that-wasnt-at-the-huntly-section-of-the-waikato-expressway
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February 19, 2020 9:35am
- Tony Stuart
  
  I attended the New Zealand Stockcar Championship at Huntly Speedway in January 2016. The Huntly bypass section of the Expressway runs right past the speedway, and it was well and truly under construction at the time.
  
  Just another National Party initiative that Twyford and co are trying to milk for all it’s worth. Thank goodness the government will have changed before Transmission Gully is opened, as Labour opposed the road every inch of the way.
  
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  February 19, 2020 9:56am
  - Ruahine
    
    Labour opposed this road as well. I can remember watching Parliament and seeing the antics of Robertson and Twyford and that Queenslander Russell Norman snarling and sneering at the Waikato Expressway Project.
    Thanks National.
    
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    February 19, 2020 10:33am
Tony Stuart

This appeared right at the foot of an RNZ story on the NZF Foundation/SFO issues:

The four people already facing charges over the donations to the National Party will appear in the Auckland District Court next Tuesday.

Three of them went to the court today to get their name suppression lifted – that application is still with the judge.

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/409801/we-need-to-apply-natural-justice-pm-on-nz-first-foundation-investigation

You don’t hear of many cases where an accused wants name suppression NOT to apply, so I think it’s safe to say that this time next week we’ll know who at least three of the defendants in the SFO case are.
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February 19, 2020 9:38am
- alloytoo
  
  It suggests to me that their defense involves pointing a finger at #4?
  
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  February 19, 2020 9:47am
  - Tony Stuart
    
    That could well be the case, especially if #4 is the person charged with providing false information to the SFO, and not with fraud and deception relating to the actual donation(s).
    
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    February 19, 2020 9:53am
    - freethinker
      
      How about a sweepsteak for No 4 with winners sharing 1000th of the prize fund?
      
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      February 19, 2020 10:36am
    - Souvlaki
      
      [Names have subsequently been suppressed. Not to be repeated here please – mod.]
      
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      February 19, 2020 10:40am
      - Tall Man
        
        Not now.
        
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        February 19, 2020 3:33pm
  - peterwn
    
    Alternatively it could be a damage control exercise on their part. If their lawyer considers SFO has them nailed to the wall, the best approach could be to seek to have name suppression lifted, plead guilty at the first available opportunity and argue for the wet bus ticket, preferably discharge without conviction. The SFO is probably indifferent as to whether name suppression is lifted or not. The fourth defendant would need to make a strong case for name suppression of the three to continue, but may have no standing to make such a case.
    Interesting times.
    
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    February 19, 2020 11:37am
Happychappy

‘Scorched – earth approach to fishing’ : Conservationists say Government Lobbying for fisheries.
A NZ Vessel alleged to fish in a protected part of the Tasman Sea has been removed from the international Blacklist.https://i.stuff.co.nz/environment/119627195/government-officials-accused-of-lobbying-for-fishing-company-it-is-prosecuting
This after Shane Jones made Public that he was going into bat for the company that was a major donar to his political return to NZ politics.
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February 19, 2020 10:01am
- Tall Man
  
  No connection, purely coincidence … Now, what was your address again?
  
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  February 19, 2020 10:13am
Jack5

Apart from the Crown apologising and paying $18 million for not quickly enough freeing Moriori enslaved (the rest were butchered) by Maori before the Treaty of Waitangi, the settlement said the Moriori name for the Chatham Islands, Rekohu, with a macron in the first syllable, would be restored, whatever that means.

Well good luck with that, but shame on Taranaki Maori for not apologising for the committing the atrocities.

Perhaps the mass murder and slavery should become part of school history lessons, along with the revisionist history now being pushed by our woke school system.

For anyone curious about what Moriori looked like, the Radio NZ web-site photograph of descendants at the settlement ceremony won’t help:

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/te-manu-korihi/409498/moriori-treaty-settlement-to-be-signed-it-s-been-a-long-wait
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February 19, 2020 10:01am
- Tall Man
  
  A current “woke” view …
  
  “So yes, some Māori did kill some Moriori, and the story is an awful one – but to attribute this to all Māori is wrong, and if you find yourself wanting to do it you should question your motives in doing so.”
  
  https://thespinoff.co.nz/atea/03-08-2018/the-moriori-myth-and-why-its-still-with-us/
  
  This is despite most Iwi having tribal stories of people being here when they arrived.
  
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  February 19, 2020 10:16am
  - Batman
    
    It’s exactly the same as not all boomers, or not all old white guys.
    
    Entirely reasonable tbh.
    
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    February 19, 2020 10:19am
    - Tall Man
      
      Yet you are comfortable for all “white” , “Asian” , “Polynesian” etc tax payers to fund it.
      
      Should it not be sheeted home to the Iwi that perpetrated the massacre, after all didn’t “we” get to settle the problems from the distant past that maori say should be “sheeted” home to us?
      
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      February 19, 2020 10:27am
  - Ruahine
    
    Oh. I see. Moriori mythology but Maori facts. Cool Eh.
    
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    February 19, 2020 10:45am
    - Tall Man
      
      Too cryptic for me I’m afraid.
      
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      February 19, 2020 11:44am
- KevO'Brien
  
  The carrying out of customary tribal practices requires no apology. That applies equally so why are we being stitched up?
  
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  February 19, 2020 12:41pm
  - curry4me
    
    Because we are supine enough to put up with. After all, any other reaction would be ‘raycist’.
    
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    February 19, 2020 6:51pm
TripeWryter

I was wrong about the story in Stuff and then on NZME about the two uncles of the little boy who suffered head injuries that a detective says are the worst he’s seen in 30 years.

The bouncy castle injuries were separate.

I read now that his father has gone into hiding because, apparently, of death threats against him by spineless would-be vigilantes.

That seems to sum up the situation here: he needs to stop hiding, stop being a coward, be a man, and front up to the police and tell them what he knows.

As I said the other day: his son seems to live in a family who are dangerous to his health and well-being.

If Dad is not the one who is injuring his little boy then what has he been doing to protect him – you know, doing what dads do to protect his kid from harm?
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February 19, 2020 10:13am
- Tall Man
  
  https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/409835/father-of-beaten-flaxmere-boy-goes-into-hiding-after-receiving-threats
  
  Maybe the gutless piece of filth should seek police protection ….
  
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  February 19, 2020 10:24am
- Nigel Kearney
  
  Based on all the other cases, the culprit is unlikely to be the biological father. He’s already said he was at work when it happened. What more, exactly, are people expecting him to do?
  
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  February 19, 2020 11:04am
  - TripeWryter
    
    Nigel Kearney: I’ve tried to imagine myself in this man’s position and the boy was my son or a grandson.
    
    I think – and I know I sound a judgmental, finger-pointing prick – that if I wasn’t the culprit I would be moving heaven and earth to found out who had done this to a kid of mine.
    
    No-one would be safe.
    
    Now, he might well have done all that. But going and hiding away doesn’t convince me.
    
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    February 19, 2020 11:53am
- GoVege
  
  Oh come on!
  He could have ten or fifteen or more kids, like many dudes do in that part of the country.
  How’s a dude supposed to keep track of them all? 🙂
  (One of the reasons of course that many people restrict the number of their offspring to 1 or 2 or 3, or 4 tops.)
  
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  February 19, 2020 12:24pm
- info@cruzpro.com
  
  You can’t be forced to testify against yourself but can’t you be forced to testify if you’re not implicating yourself?
  
  The father said he was at work when the child was injured. This indicates that he knows something. Hindering an official police investigation is against the law. Charge him.
  
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  February 19, 2020 1:00pm
Maggy Wassilieff

PM getting a few questions today as to whether she stands by her answers
https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/order-paper-questions/list-of-oral-questions/oral-questions-19-february-2020/
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February 19, 2020 11:46am
- peterwn
  
  I did not think a Member could ask the same question twice. So we now have two questions from Simon and one from Paula asking Jacinda if she stands by all her statements and actions.
  Perhaps Paula’s one is a standby in case Trevor gives Simon the boot.
  
  Is there a kindergarten that can be visited at short notice?
  
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  February 19, 2020 12:45pm
Biscuit

For Maggy Wassilieff:

Missing mikenmildagain yet?
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February 19, 2020 12:09pm
- All_on_Red
  
  Lol
  Hi Mikey and Stephie
  ??
  
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  February 19, 2020 1:14pm
  - Swifty
    
    Heh.
    
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    February 19, 2020 1:27pm
- Maggy Wassilieff
  
  Not at all…
  
  I read KB for information and other folks’ opinions.
  
  It’s good to have a decent flow … not hindered by petulant abuse and snide comments about fellow commenters.
  
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  February 19, 2020 2:10pm
  - Biscuit
    
    Ah, indeed, Maggy.
    
    I occasionally read something and think ‘Wrong! Buffoon!’ but then move on.
    
    As, presumably, most Kiwibloggers do after I post something they diasgree with.
    
    Life is too short to hold personal grudges…
    
    But if insults to folk I hold near and dear are entered into – and espceillay if those insults are thrown in purely as a diversionary tactic, all bets are off…
    
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    February 19, 2020 5:00pm
rangitoto

I see the Duke and Duchess of Grift are no longer allowed to use “Sussex Royal” brnading.
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February 19, 2020 12:35pm
Hugh Pavletich

New Zealand’s strongest house price growth is in areas where prices are lowest, such as Porirua and Invercargill … Greg Ninness … Interest Co NZ

https://www.interest.co.nz/property/103710/strongest-house-price-growth-areas-where-prices-are-lowest-such-porirua-and

House price growth remains strongest in Wellington and several provincial centres and much weaker in Auckland and Christchurch, according to the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand’s House Price Index (HPI).

The HPI probably gives a better indication of market price movements than either medians or averages because it allows for changes in the composition of housing types that are sold each month. … read more via hyperlink above …
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February 19, 2020 12:36pm
WaveyDavey

WTF was that I just heard?

Andrew Little in full-on attack mode on Magic. F*ckin’ unbelievable.
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February 19, 2020 12:48pm
- skyblue
  
  Twas a shocker. ANGRY side of angry came through.
  
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  February 19, 2020 1:17pm
  - WaveyDavey
    
    Easy election advert hit there
    
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    February 19, 2020 1:24pm
- LTA1955
  
  This could be is an Angry Andy COL showstopper folks!
  
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  February 19, 2020 1:26pm
- Inandout
  
  He can say what he likes, he is a List MP and will crawl back if and when Labour is voted out. An angry ex-union man as Minister of Justice; unbelievable.
  
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  February 19, 2020 2:41pm
Sydney Alvarado

Geoffrey Palmer was editor of Salient magazine at Victoria University in 1963.

I came across this gem that he wrote in that year:

http://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-Salient26011963-t1-body-d6.html

Women And University

“Girls who embrace wildly the party life, girls who drink too much and sleep [around] indiscriminately will not find adjustment easy after the last party is over……

“The most important thing a woman can do is to maintain her femininity. She must maintain her taste in clothes and makeup, while avoiding becoming loud. She must have considered what her standards are. It is easy for a University girl to lose her femininity and her dignity. If she does this, she will never become a lady.”
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February 19, 2020 1:13pm
- Tall Man
  
  I’ll bet helen and heather never read that.
  
  I wonder how he feels about the current crop of labour women…..
  
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  February 19, 2020 2:07pm
- Maggy Wassilieff
  
  Oh shit…
  
  I don’t wear make-up and I can hit 110 db without too much effort.
  
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  February 19, 2020 2:18pm
- Classic Liberal
  
  1963? I can accept that he wrote that a very long time ago when actually that was a pretty moderate opinion. Far worse things were said of women who had a sex life back then!
  
  Also, I’d *still* say that people of either gender who sleep around and wildly party might not be living to standards they will be happy with in future years.
  
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  February 19, 2020 4:42pm
Sydney Alvarado

This seems mad.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/119614486/z-energy-helps-drivers-offset-carbon-emissions-from-petrol

The Emissions Trading Scheme applies to petrol. It puts a price on carbon. You pay that when you fill your car. Now Z Energy is asking people to pay 8.6 cents per litre to “offset their emissions”. LOL.

Uptake of this will be negligible. By stupid people.
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February 19, 2020 1:52pm
Bobba Fret

Angry Little has just done an interview with Sean Plunket on Magic Talk……worth a listen. No wonder he has always been unelectable.
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February 19, 2020 1:55pm
- Prince
  
  He’s a shocker. The grandstander of Pike accuses Plunket of grandstanding.
  
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  February 19, 2020 2:45pm
- Tauhei Notts
  
  Angry Little does more good for the National Party campaign than any number of advertising agencies.
  His performance on that interview was incredibly awful.
  
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  February 19, 2020 4:07pm
Maggy Wassilieff

Three folks have just had their name suppression lifted as they requested

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/119624613/three-of-four-names-revealed-in-national-party-donation-sfo-case
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February 19, 2020 2:37pm
- Inandout
  
  MW, now all we need is the Labour camp chap’s.
  
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  February 19, 2020 2:43pm
- Nick R
  
  And one of them is JLR. What a surprise. I wonder if Simon Bridges will stop saying no National Party members or MPs have been charged? JLR was both at the time the alleged offences were committed.
  
  And the trial will be hilarious. I can guess JLR’s defence now: Simon told me to do it.
  
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  February 19, 2020 2:44pm
  - alex Masterley
    
    Not sure that defence will work as one of the charges is before SB’s leadership started.
    JLR may have an issue spining that one.
    
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    February 19, 2020 3:28pm
  - rangitoto
    
    JLR had already been booted from the party when Bridges said that as you well know.
    
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    February 19, 2020 4:02pm
  - Classic Liberal
    
    FFS, when can we stop hearing about that disgusting heap of s**t JLR?? He seriously needs to retire from politics!
    
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    February 19, 2020 4:47pm
- MrTips
  
  In fact all four have now: https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/409878/national-party-donations-case-jami-lee-ross-named-as-suppressions-lifted
  
  Three Chinese and JLR.
  
  One of the Chinese is charged with misleading the SFO as well.
  
  Interesting times seeing as one of the alleged dates is while Bill English, not Simon Bridges, was leader of National. Politically, it’s pretty much on JLR it would seem.
  
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  February 19, 2020 2:45pm
Prince

Odd that the article names four people !
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February 19, 2020 2:44pm
Maggy Wassilieff

No guesses who is #4 in the SFO case

Jami-Lee Ross among four charged in National Party SFO case
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/409878/national-party-donations-case-jami-lee-ross-named-as-suppressions-lifted
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February 19, 2020 2:45pm
- surfing
  
  JLR — what an incompetent fool. Dobs himself in haha.
  
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  February 19, 2020 2:53pm
  - fernglas
    
    Plus the other guys’ defence is that JLR told them to do it that way. It will get untidy.
    
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    February 19, 2020 4:23pm
- Happychappy
  
  Does that mean Winston Peter’s must apologize to Simon Bridges over the accusations he made in Parliament after taking Jamie Lee Ross word on Simon involvement over the donation saga, or is he allowed to slander Bridges in the house.
  
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  February 19, 2020 2:58pm
Sydney Alvarado

Another example of the useless UN. They send someone here to tell the Government to freeze residential housing rents. Because that has worked so well in the past.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/homed/residential/119643746/un-housing-expert-calls-for-nz-rent-freeze-and-cgt-to-end-significant-human-rights-crisis
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February 19, 2020 3:25pm
- Classic Liberal
  
  Bloody hell. Communists just don’t get it: nobody is going to invest in real estate and *build more housing* if their laws make it increasingly unattractive.
  
  Her communist gems:
  
  “imposing a capital gains tax on the sale of residential properties,” – so people’s homes and rental properties would have their inflation taxed. That does absolutely nothing to motivate the building of new homes. Nor does it motivate people to sell – since there is a huge tax looming.
  
  “In Germany they are looking a five-year rent freeze.” – so absolutely no motivation to build new rental properties. And if it caused a few landlords to throw up their hands and sell up to first home buyers, still no *new* homes built!
  
  “What if every time a landlord had a vacant property they had to offer it to the Government who could rent if or a person in need?” – note “had to”. So basically government seizing your property!
  
  You can bet Taxinda will use this as leverage to push her IUSY manifesto socialist ideals.
  
  Have any of you talked to people who have lived in the old Eastern Bloc countries? The stories of how long it took for a couple to be able to get their own place were horrendous. Single people could basically forget it! *That’s* what happens when there is no free market and people have no motivation to build.
  
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  February 19, 2020 5:09pm
  - sooty
    
    If Cindy gets a bad report card from the UN.
    Is her job withdrawn?
    
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    February 19, 2020 6:20pm
  - Gravelroad
    
    This looks like a convenient jack-up.
    My money is in on ex-UN maestro Helen Clark organising this as a way of promoting again the capital gains tax.
    Poor old Ms Ardern. She has elderly current and ex-politicians telling her what to do in all directions.
    
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    February 19, 2020 7:43pm
    - hmmm82
      
      PM Ardern is exactly where her character placed her. If she was intelligent, honest, and stood for anything other than cheer-leading socialists, she never would have been appointed. No pity here.
      
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      February 20, 2020 10:32am
Harriet

“He’s poured petrol on me”.

Four people, including three children, have died in a car fire on a Brisbane street this morning.
Police were called to Raven St in Camp Hill about 8.30am after receiving reports of a car on fire.
Three children under 10 and a man who was known to them died as a result of the incident, with the ABC reporting the car was allegedly set alight.
A fifth person, a woman, was taken to hospital with “extensive injuries”, police said this morning.
“On arrival, police and emergency services have identified five people that were involved in the fire inside the vehicle. I can confirm that we have three deceased children under the age of 10 in the vehicle,” Detective Inspector Mark Thompson told reporters at the scene.
“We have another deceased adult male who was known to the children, and we also have a victim suffering extensive injuries that are also known to the children and the adult male.”

One resident told The Australian that another witness saw a woman jump from the burning car and yell, “He’s poured petrol on me”.
This was reportedly followed by “four other explosions”.
Mr Thompson said the car was “fully emerged in fire” when police arrived on the scene.

Just bloody terrible.
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February 19, 2020 3:37pm
- Maggy Wassilieff
  
  And the culprit seems to be an ex Warriors player…
  https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=12309960
  
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  February 19, 2020 5:33pm
curry4me

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2G6aQfiYmaI
Things aren’t going so well for the Democrats and their pals at CNN.
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February 19, 2020 4:11pm
Maggy Wassilieff

Our PM repeating misinformation

Middlemore Hospital officials deny Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s ‘sewage down walls’ claim
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12310024
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February 19, 2020 5:35pm
- Gravelroad
  
  Electioneering – no more, no less.
  Who cares if it’s true or not?
  Not Ms Ardern, that’s for sure.
  
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  February 19, 2020 7:18pm
  - Maggy Wassilieff
    
    now, now..
    
    Our PM avoids misinformation and is running a factual and positive election campaign this year.
    
    https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jan/23/jacinda-ardern-calls-for-factual-and-positive-new-zealand-election-campaign
    
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    February 19, 2020 7:47pm
- KevO'Brien
  
  Wasn’t that first claimed shortly after the Selection?
  
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  February 19, 2020 7:36pm
Ian Hawthorn

Just wondering – how do you decontaminate a cruise ship? Is that even possible? It looks to me like the Diamond Princess and the Westerdam have just become worthless pieces of junk. Who is going to want to sail on them and risk getting the coronavirus?
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February 19, 2020 8:16pm
- marcw
  
  Most viruses are relatively easy to remove from inanimate surfaces, but the ship will need a good commercial cleaner with a good coverage with a viricidal disinfectant. Worst to clean up are ‘prions’ which can survive high temps – these are the mad-cow disease type agents.
  
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  February 19, 2020 8:36pm
  - sooty
    
    How do you decontaminate the princess’s private jet!
    
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    February 19, 2020 8:54pm
- fightingtemeraire
  
  Looking at how easy it is for the novavirus to get a hold on vessels this will be extremely hard to eradicate.
  
  The air is recycled through the air conditioning system PLUS any evaporated water in the AC system is used in the flushing and grey water systems of the ships. They take about 2k tonnes of water out of the AC system per day.
  
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  February 19, 2020 8:46pm
Hugh Pavletich

CHINA …

Chinese Companies Say They Can’t Afford to Pay Workers Now … Bloomberg / Yahoo Finance

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/chinese-companies-t-afford-pay-020241284.html

China’s Xi Jinping, under fire from virus outbreak, could also face an ‘economic crisis’ … CNBC

https://www.cnbc.com/2020/02/19/xi-jinping-to-meet-chinas-2020-growth-target-amid-coronavirus.html
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February 20, 2020 3:31am

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