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February 22, 2020 9:00am by Kokila Patel

General Debate 22 February 2020

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General Debate

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kevn

Another year, another magazine cover…
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February 22, 2020 9:06am
- Captain Mainwaring
  
  And another opportunity to ‘turn Ardern’.
  
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  February 22, 2020 9:13am
  - mjw
    
    Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
    Well I say #returnArdern.
    
    These magazine covers are a structural problem for National. They are trying to appeal to the bitter and angry, and to expand their market by encouraging people to become more and more upset over this and that.
    
    But that is still a small segment compared to the happy and content, particularly when the economy is going so well, and the pressure has been taken off with winter energy payments, abolition of letting fees, increased state housing, higher minimum wages, reduced unemployment, better wage growth, better access for first home buyers, falling interest rates, and massive investment in infrastructure.
    
    Tough spot to be in. Not unlike what Labour faced in the John Key years, except now we have Ardern Derangment Syndrome rather than Key Derangement Syndrome.
    
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    February 22, 2020 9:20am
    - G152
      
      I see where Cindy is on another front page because Christchurch..
      WTF did she do?
      It should be the two cops who stopped the perp, disarmed him and
      arrested him.
      And all the Ambulance crews who had to go into those scenes and triaged.
      Again, WTF did she do?
      
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      February 22, 2020 10:01am
      - Matt Long
        
        Her government spent a large amount of resources confiscating guns from people who represent no threat to society while ignoring process. That’s what she did, and now plans to make gun owners fear to talk their GP about mental health issues in case the Armed Offenders Squad come busting their doors down.
        
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        February 22, 2020 12:34pm
      - Tricati
        
        Those two policemen should have got New Zealanders of the year – Not some woke actress that I had never heard of.
        
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        February 22, 2020 1:20pm
    - KevO'Brien
      
      It is not deranged to deprecate someone who was selected as PM rather someone actually able to carry out that High Office.
      
      Politics is not a fashion parade but ultimately holding executive power to carry out executive duties. Candidates for any such roles should have proven abilities otherwise it effectively fraud on the voters. Ideas are not sufficient.
      
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      February 22, 2020 10:19am
    - mjw
      
      Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
      And part of ADS is the inability, or refusal, to see Jacinda’s very many proven abilities. From her first press conference as leader onwards she has been a stunning performer on many fronts. Is she the complete package? Nobody is, including John Key or Jenny Shipley or Jim Bolger. That’s why you have a team. And that’s why leadership is the most important trait of all – for a leader.
      
      Just my opinion.
      
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      February 22, 2020 10:44am
      - adamsmith1922
        
        Leader? What on earth do you mean. She exhibits few traits,if any, of a leader.
        PR skills do not equate to leadership.
        Get real!
        
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        February 22, 2020 11:14am
      - Tall Man
        
        Two responses. 1) She doesn’t have a team, she has a collection of crooks and unemployables.
        
        2) The first press conference I really remember was the one the day the speaker was elected with National support.
        
        First lie after being selected, “of course I knew we had the numbers” and has continued in the same vein ever since.
        
        Last lie I remember was “sewage running down the walls”.
        
        Now you may be happy to have a liar and a fraudster at the head of cabinet but I am not and should any National mp behave in that manner I’d would expect to see them removed from office…. Oh wait, that’s what has already happened hasn’t it?
        
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        February 22, 2020 11:17am
      - rightoverlabour
        
        Do you actually live in New Zealand? She has shown many charming traits, but in terms of leadership, not so much. A good leader would have fired incompetent ministers, hauled Winston in to please explain, and would have some degree of knowledge of the urgent matters of the day. Listening to her interviews is cringe-worthy. Porno Jones shows far more competence.
        
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        February 22, 2020 11:37am
      - KevO'Brien
        
        Being nominated head of a team is not sufficient. The team members must each be personally capable to carry out the executive duties in relation to their portfolios.
        Govt can never be representative of just ideas its primary function is to manage the State.
        
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        February 22, 2020 11:52am
      - lifesgood
        
        Thank god it’s just your opinion mjw. How any intelligent person could think she is of any value is hard to fathom, unless of course, they are not intelligent.
        
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        February 22, 2020 12:28pm
    - Suze Wainwright
      
      Thanks mjw, now I know who writes Robbo’s speeches for him when he has to answer patsies about the economy in the House…
      
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      February 22, 2020 10:48am
    - gravedodger
      
      One massive difference that should preclude such arrant nonsense!
      Key an able manager, financially knowledgable, had standards, actually led his government and had genuine people skills face to face, whether one on one small or large groups with a natural connection to all, and very minor family involvement apart from when wife Bronagh was required for protocol.
      Ardern, totally inept in management, financially ignorant, no standards (lieing a default position), no discernable leadership traits, only comfortable in managed contacts (hence the predilection for children and infants) and blatantly uses the squeeze (first fisherman) and baby Neve at any opportunity. She actually embarrasses herself and the country at will in actions and dress.
      
      I do not have any hint of derangement around the Part Time PM she is a disaster by any political measure.
      
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      February 22, 2020 11:12am
    - mjw
      
      Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
      So if she is a disaster, why is the economy performing so strongly? Why are we going up in all the international rankings? Why do all the National Party predictions of doom and gloom constantly come to nothing.
      
      There is an explanatory gap there.
      
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      February 22, 2020 11:25am
      - rightoverlabour
        
        The economy is not performing strongly, it is limping along despite the government’s incomptetence. We are looking at surging dept and a whole bunch of negetaive economic indicators.
        
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        February 22, 2020 11:39am
      - Tall Man
        
        Maybe you need to stop getting your “news” from fraser house or the standard.
        
        More people living in motels, more people collecting the dole, higher levels of child poverty, higher levels of all beneficiary numbers, more companies either going broke or relocating production off shore and finally, her ridiculous antics over ihumatao will create chaos for future generations as radical maori begin to seek “recovery” of private land.
        
        Your vision is either clouded or you are following ardern a little too closely to see reality.
        
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        February 22, 2020 11:43am
      - mjw
        
        Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
        Wishing doesn’t make it so. You can find some facts at the following links:
        
        https://treasury.govt.nz/system/files/2020-01/nzecp-charts-jan20.pdf
        
        https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/business/409987/nzx-finishes-day-on-record-high
        
        https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA2001/S00081/govts-strong-financial-management-acknowledged.htm
        
        So ratings upgrades, record sharemarket performance, growth well above OECD average … it just goes on an on.
        
        Denying reality? Sounds like ADS.
        
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        February 22, 2020 12:01pm
      - alloytoo
        
        Strongly?
        
        Growth is stalling and inflation has doubled.
        
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        February 22, 2020 1:08pm
      - Tall Man
        
        You need a reality check mjw.
        
        International ratings agencies are a waste of space. Look at the A1 bond issues that went belly up despite their ratings.
        
        When the playskool kids took over with the evil dwarf our borrowings were minimal and our economy was ticking along, just ticking but with an upward trend. Externally we look good, internally we are in deep shit and the borrowing has been to fund vanity projects not sustainable projects or much needed infrastructure.
        
        Having an A+ rating is pointless if the citizens of the country are suffering and unless the stats are being falsified many are much worse off than 2 years ago.
        
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        February 22, 2020 6:01pm
    - RW Capitalist
      
      “Well I say #returnArdern”
      to the secondary school debate swamp, that she came from.
      
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      February 22, 2020 12:43pm
- Luke Piewalker
  
  Back in NZ for a while and I can’t help but nothing the stink of Winston First.
  
  Cindy can’t be enjoying that.
  
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  February 22, 2020 9:53am
  - Tall Man
    
    Masks the stink of her own ineptitude and the incompetence of those around her.
    
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    February 22, 2020 11:19am
    - Suze Wainwright
      
      Oh I don’t know.
      If you read Claire Trevett’s cutting, insightful, political analysis, you’d believe that what looks like simple weakness to us uneducateds is nothing of the sort – it’s Cindy’s shrewd, masterful political genius and acumen coming to the fore…
      
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      February 22, 2020 12:12pm
      - Tall Man
        
        I don’t think I could.
        
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        February 22, 2020 2:22pm
- Yvette
  
  A Year After Christchurch, Jacinda Ardern Has the World’s Attention. How Will She Use It?
  the Time article –
  https://time.com/5787443/jacinda-ardern-christchurch-new-zealand-anniversary/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=editorial&utm_term=world_&linkId=82724188&fbclid=IwAR3aBnEcptTa0f0zi-jrni7lsZcCEwvGMVnwzB7jHFpAAjg9q1HHcw95fZU
  
  “Know us by our deeds,” would seem a quite dangerous by-line, considering Kiwibuild to Ihumātao.
  But it in fact relates to –
  “Know us by our deeds,” Ardern tells the audience at Big Gay Out, a rally in Auckland organized by the New Zealand AIDS Foundation. Enormously popular in the rainbow community, Ardern has come to the festival to announce more funding for LGBTQI+ mental health and research and then meet some voters.
  
  After her speech, she gets so jammed up by selfie takers and huggers that her Labour Party guide, who is wearing a red tuxedo jacket and a striped shorts-and-vest ensemble, has difficulty clearing a path alongside the drag-queen ukulele duos and catwalk contests and military recruiters to the Labour Party’s tent, where a line of about 50 young people are waiting for more selfies and hugs. It’s an exuberant event among her fan base–Ardern gave up her Mormon faith partly because it conflicted with her work to advance LGBTQI+ rights.
  
  Perhaps the world needs to know that for some balance.
  Pity they don’t know about Kiwibuild to Ihumātao for a little more balance
  
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  February 22, 2020 10:28am
  - Brian McDonald
    
    If looking for balance in the ‘world’ housing crises is common, I think a UN spokesperson said that the situation in NZ had continued over successive Governments. I missed where, but Winston claimed that a large number of new homes for Housing Corp had come online.
    There is much support internationally to have ‘land confiscations’ sorted even it transpires as perhaps happening again and again. Aussie is becoming more aware of the issue and I understand there is some formality being dropped for indigenous tests between Aussie and NZ this weekend – probably the National Anthems. At other times now a welcome is extended by a spokesperson for the original Aborigine inhabitants.
    NZ’s old arguments about the TOW being fair and all done and dusted appear to be coming odder by the generation.
    I note that America is heading to becoming an electorate with ‘white’ people in the minority and some are having trouble adjusting to the idea that tomorrow/today’s leaders might not be old white men.
    We don’t want to become small-minded about what the ‘world’ may think of our leaders or leaders because they are of a different political persuasion, unmarried and all that jazz.
    
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    February 22, 2020 11:33am
    - RW Capitalist
      
      and yet…the New World Order, has not naterialized.
      The UN does not run things in NZ yet.
      We still get to determine our own fate.
      Or is the CoL in the process of handing over control?
      
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      February 22, 2020 12:47pm
    - MrLovebucket
      
      Winston is a crook and shouldn’t be listened too.
      
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      February 22, 2020 7:48pm
  - KevO'Brien
    
    The fraud on the people will out. Incompetent to govern but accept High Office on the Selection of the Rt Honourable Winston Peters.
    
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    February 22, 2020 11:58am
  - Paulus
    
    Isn’t Ihumatao to be settled next week when she and Peters are both overseas, by the Taxpayer being screwed, without due correct legislation, by a twist in the designation of the land ?
    
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    February 22, 2020 1:20pm
- Fletch
  
  I posted this around 7.30-ish last night, but it didn’t come out of moderation until after 10, so not sure who saw it 😉
  
  https://www.facebook.com/MAORIMADE/photos/a.438195996263113/2821449694604386/?type=3&theater
  
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  February 22, 2020 10:44am
- rightoverlabour
  
  https://www.google.com/search?q=time+magazine+dictators&rlz=1C1GCEV_enNZ824NZ824&source=lnms&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjmlaXW5-PnAhX9zTgGHXxUAFUQ_AUIDSgA&biw=1536&bih=722&dpr=1.25
  
  Fits in perfectly
  
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  February 22, 2020 12:37pm
Happychappy

‘Excellent ‘ sources tell Simon Bridges Crown is to purchase Ihumatoa Land from Fletcher Building.
This when Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is in Fiji and Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters is in India. Sources say that this was arranged to take the heat out of the decision while they were overseas on Government business.
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2020/02/excellent-source-tells-simon-bridges-crown-is-purchasing-ihum-tao-from-fletcher-building.html
What a bunch of self serving Politicians we have from the Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern right to the bottom of this what many say Corrupt Government.
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February 22, 2020 9:10am
- KevO'Brien
  
  Under what law is that land being expropriated?
  
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  February 22, 2020 10:21am
  - Sydney Alvarado
    
    It isn’t. Fletchers will negotiate a price and be pleased to rid itself of the problem.
    
    And there is nothing surer than we will see an an avalanche of similar “occupations”. If National forms the next government they should make it clear they will never capitulate.
    
    Why on earth did the police not simply remove the trespassers! Every day if necessary.
    
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    February 22, 2020 10:32am
    - KevO'Brien
      
      The COL should resign if that happens. They have lost any moral authority to govern.
      Their duty is to uphold the law, not to strong arm people to reject it. Fletchers giving in is an application of mafioso.
      OUT NOW.
      
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      February 22, 2020 12:05pm
  - pjay
    
    I don’t think it is being appropriated – it’s a private sale between a willing seller and a willing buyer (with deep pockets (ours!)).
    
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    February 22, 2020 10:39am
    - Hollyfield
      
      Fletchers cannot be called a “willing seller” by any stretch of the imagination. They have no choice but to sell after the PM’s interference.
      
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      February 22, 2020 11:44am
    - KevO'Brien
      
      There was no willingness until the mafioso turned up.
      The Govt has a duty implicit in the oath of loyalty sworn to HM the Queen of NZ to uphold the laws of the Realm not do the bidding of other activists.
      Either NZ is for the activists or the rule of law has to prevail.
      
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      February 22, 2020 12:19pm
    - Classic Liberal
      
      Willing seller? Will you be a ‘willing seller’ if an iwi decide to occupy your land? Sounds like a hostage situation.
      
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      February 22, 2020 12:25pm
  - Ruahine
    
    Cindy’s Lore.
    
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    February 22, 2020 10:46am
  - Paulus
    
    What the hell has Law to do with this Government – they make the Laws when it suits them.
    
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    February 22, 2020 10:59am
    - KevO'Brien
      
      They could be out on their ears too if they go too far.
      
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      February 22, 2020 12:20pm
- Nickc2
  
  Don’t forget. the Crown is the taxpayer FFS! Are you happy your hard-earned taxes are being used to satisfy these self-serving mongerals? I’m certainly not.
  Here we go again, the Foreshore and Seabed fiasco is about to kick off again during this election year, all because Cindy opened her big mouth. Prior to doing so, this was just an illegal trespass or occupation crime.
  Her name will forever be remembered in NZ’s history for this act of stupidity. Remember, she is only there because some bitter and twisted old fool put her there. Thanks Winston you arsehole.
  
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  February 22, 2020 10:36am
  - Nickc2
    
    Come on Simon you can make political capital out of this blatant act of stupidity.
    Reminding Winston of his collusion in the matter wouldn’t go amiss either. Remind him he had the power to prevent this but chose to be subservient just to stay at the trough.
    I’m picking he did this in order to retain Cindy’s confidence in himself.
    
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    February 22, 2020 10:47am
    - Prince
      
      Bridges should ignore Peters as irrelevant.
      The battle is with Labour, not some 3% has been.
      
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      February 22, 2020 11:13am
      - Nickc2
        
        I disagree Prince. In life as with everything else, never give a sucker a break (at anything).
        
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        February 22, 2020 11:35am
      - septic skeptic
        
        If they sink Winston and the watermelons the rest will look after itself.
        
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        February 22, 2020 12:00pm
      - Tall Man
        
        Can someone explain why my comment is still in moderation after 6 1/2 hours?
        
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        February 22, 2020 6:03pm
- artemisia
  
  It will be tricky for the Opposition to criticise a deal on Ihumatao without being accused of racism or at least dogwhistling. But there are many many voters who will read between the lines and not be at all happy.
  
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  February 22, 2020 11:13am
  - KevO'Brien
    
    It’s easy to criticise Ihumatao. The rule of law which our selected govt has sworn to uphold has been trashed.
    
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    February 22, 2020 12:22pm
- DeepBlue
  
  This is a risky call by Simon…he is powerless against the comms people to delay the announcement by a week or so. Then he’ll be accused of crying wolf.
  
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  February 22, 2020 12:04pm
  - Tall Man
    
    I don’t know. If they backtrack he could claim to have influenced that by going public.
    
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    February 22, 2020 2:19pm
- buzzler
  
  Great. The protesters can then move next door to the land that the Auckland Airport is building the new runway on. Thats what I would be doing if I was an emboldened protester.
  
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  February 22, 2020 12:14pm
Inandout

Another year, another failure…
https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1606/S00287/labour-mps-to-sleep-in-cars-for-the-homeless.htm
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February 22, 2020 9:10am
- curry4me
  
  I wonder if they’ll be sleeping in their Beemer limos?
  
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  February 22, 2020 12:35pm
  - Tall Man
    
    2016.
    
    No need to virtue signal now, they’ve already got the job …
    
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    February 22, 2020 2:18pm
    - Tall Man
      
      4 hours in moderation …….
      
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      February 22, 2020 6:04pm
Two fish and a scoop thanks Cindy

Who needs achievements when you get given accolades?
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February 22, 2020 9:14am
Sydney Alvarado

If true this is so so wrong.

https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2020/02/excellent-source-tells-simon-bridges-crown-is-purchasing-ihum-tao-from-fletcher-building.html
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February 22, 2020 9:16am
JibberJabber

The struggle is real,
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=601904257022767
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February 22, 2020 9:19am
- Jules99
  
  Content not available to me.
  
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  February 22, 2020 9:36am
- The Proper Ghandi
  
  His grand kids won’t be laughing when they are a minority in the UK and are being ruled over by people who have an historical vendetta they wish to exact. The current normalisation, and even the encouragement, of anti-white prejudice (when white people are still in the majority) will not turn out well when others are culturally and politically ascendant.
  
  Yeah, white people have all of the privilege when if you say anything deemed even slightly ‘discriminatory’ towards a non-white person you are hung, drawn and quartered in the court of public opinion. In contrast, you can be as derogatory as you like towards caucasians. Add that to diversity quotas and its’ pretty hard to identify any actual white privilege.
  
  We would be wise to start thinking and acting tribally, because all of the other groups establishing themselves among us do.
  
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  February 22, 2020 10:04am
  - Classic Liberal
    
    “We would be wise to start thinking and acting tribally,”
    
    Caucasians will be hung, drawn and quartered for even *suggesting* this. It just can’t be done.
    
    A safer bet could be saying: since everyone in woke NZ can claim what they want to be as it suits them (male, female for instance), we’re all part Maori. Only racists would want to disprove that and make caucasians wear some yellow star equivalent to show their inferiority.
    
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    February 22, 2020 12:34pm
    - The Proper Ghandi
      
      If the multicultural experiment turns to shit (which history suggests it will), the woke whites will not be spared, despite what they think. As I say, tribal thinking dictates that they will still be seen as white. The young guy who recently got stabbed in London by the Islamic terrorist was pretty woke and pro-immigrant. But that didn’t save him from the son of Pakistani immigrants.
      
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      February 22, 2020 2:20pm
hullkiwi

Two weeks on from Waitangi and another government scheme is emerging (as tweeted by Simon Bridges yesterday) regarding Ihumatao purchase. This Ayckland council has backed out and now the govt are talking a heritage reserve.

When will this Bul****t stop?
It is not a Reserve and it is taxpayers money, paying off protesters!
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February 22, 2020 9:26am
- KevO'Brien
  
  This COL has no colour of right to acquire Fletcher’s land.
  What law is left now in NZ?
  Time for the GG to step in.
  
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  February 22, 2020 10:23am
  - Sydney Alvarado
    
    It won’t be acquired. It will be a negotiated purchase.
    
    And no the Governor General has no grounds to dismiss the government. ?
    
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    February 22, 2020 10:34am
    - Nickc2
      
      The GG can but only at the Queen’s behest.
      
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      February 22, 2020 11:42am
lastmanstanding

RE the post on poverdy yesterday.

My descriptor is “Living in less luxury”
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February 22, 2020 9:26am
Lee C

https://youtu.be/BqDjMZKf-wg
My baby is a center-fold…
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February 22, 2020 9:26am
- Fletch
  
  They don’t make music like they used to. The only music I stream at home is Casey Kasem’s Classic American Top 40 (ask Alexa to “play classic american top 40 station”) or listen here –
  
  https://www.iheart.com/live/classic-american-top-40-6545/
  
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  February 22, 2020 10:51am
- Tall Man
  
  Is that you ardern?
  
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  February 22, 2020 2:16pm
Tricati

The media obsession with Grace Malone murder is rather macabre and bordering on grotesque. The young woman, or any person, should never have been subjected to the horrific abuse she was, yet I feel she is being used which is really sad.
Of interest is another young woman/mother was killed the same day as Grace – This one had a chain dog collar put on her and strangled, then stabbed and yet other than local news, there is little about this poor soul.
Could it be our PM made a celebrity out of this case for self-serving purposes, yet another woman dies at the hands of a disgruntled partner and it is somehow forgotten – There is something rotten in NZ and I feel it’s getting worse.
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February 22, 2020 9:49am
- BeaB
  
  The media just about drool 0ver rough sex and all the ghastly details. We must all know everything by heart now, they have wallowed in it shamelessly for so many months. As for that m0ck-concerned face they pull before warning us there might be content 0f a sexual and distressing nature…
  Poor Grace. Her poor parents.
  Once was enough and we certainly don’t need every detail being rehashed months later. Our media are disgraceful.
  
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  February 22, 2020 11:06am
  - Tall Man
    
    Yes, our media are disgraceful but even more so is ardern who latched onto this to gain media coverage for herself both here and internationally.
    
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    February 22, 2020 11:31am
Steve Otto(North Shore)

This is where the PTPM and the left are taking us. Vote them out!!
Democratic Socialism is still Socialism and socialism is still communism. Every where Socialism has been tried it has failed. No matter how you dress it up socialism still sucks!
1. You cannot legislate the poor into prosperity by legislating the wealthy out of prosperity.
2. What one person receives without working for, another person must work for without receiving.
3. The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else.
4. You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it!
5. When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work because the other half is going to take care of them, and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work because somebody else is going to get what they work for, that is the beginning of the end of any nation.
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February 22, 2020 10:02am
- Sydney Alvarado
  
  Well Housing New Zealand is borrowing eye watering amounts to build and refurbish state houses. All paid for by future generations.
  
  It is nuts. We are a small population with no shortage of land. And our house prices to incomes are now the second worst in the world after Hong Kong. And our solution is to borrow billions to build welfare housing.
  
  How long before people that can’t afford to buy their own home rebel against being forced to pay for the homes of other people?
  
  New Zealanders are placid in the face of tyranny. Id quite like to see some French style protests against pernicious government policies
  
  https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/118867159/kinga-ora-borrows-up-big-increases-debt-ceiling
  
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  February 22, 2020 10:40am
  - Classic Liberal
    
    The problem with state housing is that people stay in well beyond their need.
    
    Plus the fact that we encourage people to have children they can’t support.
    
    I really want NZ to have a 9 month cut-off date: if you’re pregnant today, OK can’t be helped. Become pregnant beyond that: your options will be work and support your baby yourself, adoption, abortion or normal unemployment benefit.
    
    Then normal job training and help finding a job, just like other unemployed people. But no payment specifically for having children they can’t support!
    
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    February 22, 2020 12:43pm
    - Mark Craig
      
      As a centre lefty CL it pains me to have to agree with you.I live in the north and the number of tangata whenua teenage mothers in Kaikohe is completely demoralising.some of these girls look less than school leaving age ,baby in push chair swelling tummy again and still smoking.Sheesh.I disagree with most of what the libertarian Lyndsay Perigo said years ago but it appears that no hopers are breeding no hopers.Dis claimer ,the problem is their are just bugger all jobs up here ,and getting worse.IN THE PAST ALL SORTS OF LITTLE HEROIC ENTERPRISES THRIVED AND PROVIDED EMPLOYMENT,in the regions .Not so much now.The large proportion of the sort of stuff these little battlers provided is now done by prison slave labour in China.Clothing ,footwear,furniture ,glass manufacture {Whangarei} all gone ,skill sets lost ,houses lost to the banks mortgagee sale ,marriages failed ,distressed children as a result,it just go on.ps If you think the minimum wage is too high you try living on it.Tell DPF to as well.
      
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      February 22, 2020 2:57pm
      - Tall Man
        
        One of the problems is that NZ has had artificial wage increases.
        
        Wage increases tied to productivity increases are sustainable, without productivity increasing, wage increase are just inflation and self defeating.
        
        Perhaps if more local families valued education we would not be importing semi skilled workers from overseas in order to get things done.
        
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        February 22, 2020 8:00pm
    - artemisia
      
      What happened to the policy brought in by National – a new baby while on benefit be work ready from when that little one is 12 months old. Provided the next child is 5 or older. The thinking was that is what working people have to do, so beneficiaries should be no different. Never heard much about how successful it was under National, and suspect not successful at all.
      
      The UK has a policy to cap benefits at 2 children. Recall reading that a lot came off benefit and went to work when that came in. Would it work here? I think it would.
      
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      February 22, 2020 4:56pm
  - GoVege
    
    Sydney, we not only pay for the construction of statehouses, we pay their share of the rates and water rates!
    (Not to mention have to borrow at least half a million for our own mortgages.)
    But so long as we keep paying bludgers to keep pushing out kids, we obviously have to pay not only for their support, but their accommodation.
    Personally I think it’s good Labour are building all these houses, we can’t have people living on the streets, but have you seen the design of some of the bigger blocks?
    Just great blinking boxes with a silly pastel colour thrown in a few places to presumably try to make them more appealing.
    Who the hell designs this cr*p?
    There are some nice ones out Glen Innes way…can’t they make more of those??
    
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    February 22, 2020 12:58pm
  - Tricati
    
    We never hear about the amount of SOE borrowing when Robbo is espousing his financial wizardry.
    I suspect the Joyce 11 Billion will be massively understated when the full government accounts are provided prior to the election.
    Bets on this slippery bunch will withhold the accounts that long there will be little time for scrutiny and for Mr Average to absorb the impact on their wallet.
    
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    February 22, 2020 1:30pm
    - Tall Man
      
      You will find that “disagreeing” with ardern will be the first example of the “hate speech” that labour will “instruct” the media that “contradicting” labour statements will be seen as being “unkind” to ardern and “untruthful” as defined by ardern …….
      
      I think it is an “insurance” term “limiting liars ability”
      
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      February 22, 2020 2:14pm
    - Mark Craig
      
      I will wager$100 that you are wrong.One minor glitch to my supreme confidence is the Chinese virus ,but so far the govt is doing a superb job.If the virus does have a shattering effect on our economy I would suggest a wartime type combined cabinet with National party input.Kills me to suggest but I am a Kiwi first and a centre lefty second.
      
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      February 22, 2020 3:19pm
      - Tall Man
        
        I fail to see any evidence of a “super job”.
        
        I see the highest level of corruption, with ardern turning a blind eye to incompetence and outright fraud, that I have ever seen in New Zealand.
        
        We receive an almost daily dose of lies and obfuscation from someone who promised “open and transparent” government.
        
        I see decisions being made on the basis of “solicitation” from acquaintances of ardern.
        
        I see back room deals emanating from cabinet for the personal benefit of “what’s in it for wynston” and his team.
        
        I see decisions being made that will have a serious and negative impact on New Zealand to the detriment of my future grandchildren.
        
        Despite all this the only cloud on your horizon is a Chinese virus that like most others is being hyped to extreme levels by an hysterical media.
        
        Normally I would suspect that you are drinking the “koolaid” but I think in this instance you are “mainlining” it.
        
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        February 22, 2020 8:09pm
- gravedodger
  
  Yes socialism only lasts so long as funding can be found to feed it, even then it can turn bad, see Venezuela!
  
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  February 22, 2020 11:23am
- Steve Otto(North Shore)
  
  Socialism is great until you run out of other people’s money (or something like that) – Margaret Thatcher
  
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  February 22, 2020 11:36am
MCos

Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
Which ever way you look at it, it wouldn’t have come to this if the government hadn’t stolen this land in the first place (albeit 157 years ago).
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February 22, 2020 10:06am
- MCos
  
  Maybe the Government should agree to buy the land with the settlement date in October. That would give the next administration to chance to renege on the deal.
  
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  February 22, 2020 10:10am
- Tall Man
  
  Maybe the tribe at the time should not have taken up arms against the Government of the day.
  
  Perhaps any maori or settlers killed by that tribe should now be allowed to seek recovery against the criminal perpetrators.
  
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  February 22, 2020 11:35am
  - Classic Liberal
    
    This.
    
    How come the fact that tribal warfare, rape, enslavement isn’t leading to tribes suing each other?
    
    Probably no piece of land in NZ hasn’t been fought over and gained in bloodshed by one tribe from another.
    
    It’s time for tribes to acknowledge that and focus on education, jobs and achievement.
    
    I used to be grateful that we had the ToW and hadn’t actually ‘stolen’ the land of the indigenous people (quite aside from the fact that much was willingly sold to settlers). But if it’s becoming an endless gravy train and unfairly compensating tribes that had violently stolen the land from others, it’s unfair anyway.
    
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    February 22, 2020 12:50pm
    - Tall Man
      
      That post, albeit a little more brief, is what got me banned from stuff.
      
      I also said that the tow was “rewarding” the last in a line of conquest, again a little more brief 😉
      
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      February 22, 2020 2:11pm
    - GoVege
      
      That’s so true, Classic Liberal.
      I think it was Paul Moon who wrote that granting the ownership of land to whoever held it in 1840, is much the same as accepting the boundaries of Nazi occupied Europe exactly a century later.
      Just as Hitler overran Europe, Hongi Hika brutally decimated whole tribes and stole their land in the 1830s musket wars.
      But Maori will never talk about this to Pakeha because they have a “them and us” attitude and need to present a united front to push all their TOW claims through.
      Once those are safely confirmed, then they will try suing each other.
      But will probably just get the old “we beat you by conquest” line the same as Moriori.
      
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      February 22, 2020 3:10pm
- curry4me
  
  Nothing to stop you giving your land back to the local Maori tribe. I’m sure they’d be very grateful.
  
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  February 22, 2020 12:43pm
Yvette

As mention above already –
‘Excellent’ source tells Simon Bridges Crown is purchasing Ihumātao from Fletcher Building

There are claims a Ihumatao solution is finalised yesterday and will be announced early next week when Winston Peters and Jacinda Ardern will be out of New Zealand, “so they don’t have to answer questions”.

Apparently Auckland Council is no longer involved, so one suspects the spin for the government to foot a $40-45 million bill will be made on the grounds of Heritage New Zealand upping the status of Ihumātao to Level One.

It would have seemed logical for that Heritage New Zealand announcement to be made, and then Government pretend to react that, but that seems not so.

And the Winston statement that “no taxpayer funding would be involved”, must have changed, reputedly because if he allows this, Ardern will not stand him down, at least as racing Minister, over the current SFO inquiries.

This is despite his position as Deputy Prime Minister and Racing Minister both being established in the Coalition Agreement, and to change those positions would be to change the Agreement – rather than a simple demotion where the Deputy Prime Minister is of the same party as Leader or Prime Minister.

1 – Where is the Heritage New Zealand decision, due by the end of February?
2 – How does Winston explain taxpayer expenditure when he claimed that would not happen?
3 – Why announce it when both Ardern and Peters will, likely, be overseas?
4 – What is the next Heritage New Zealand “issue” that will suddenly need a similar solution?
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February 22, 2020 10:17am
- Paul Marsden
  
  “4 – What is the next Heritage New Zealand “issue” that will suddenly need a similar solution?”
  
  Possibly your property or mine.
  
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  February 22, 2020 11:43am
- KevO'Brien
  
  Who owns Heritage NZ? Is it a State Agency?
  If so Ardern & CO are accountbale. Even worse collusion and obfuscation about law breaking.
  
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  February 22, 2020 12:25pm
  - Yvette
    
    Jacinda Ardern – Portfolios
    Prime Minister
    Arts, Culture and Heritage – Minister
    National Security and Intelligence – Minister
    Child Poverty Reduction – Minister
    
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    February 22, 2020 12:59pm
    - rockape
      
      3 strikes and your out: lets hope so.
      
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      February 22, 2020 2:34pm
    - sooty
      
      Not working is she!
      Must be on holiday!
      
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      February 22, 2020 5:32pm
  - Maggy Wassilieff
    
    https://www.heritage.org.nz/about-us/heritage-new-zealand-pouhere-taonga-act
    
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    February 22, 2020 3:26pm
rererangihirihiri

WHO are as pathetically limp as the muppets at the UN.
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February 22, 2020 11:03am
Hugh Pavletich

CORONAVIRUS … some further early disruption costs … airlines and shipping …

Coronavirus flight cancellations top 200,000, sending jet fuel prices to more than 2-year lows … CNBC

https://www.cnbc.com/2020/02/21/coronavirus-flight-cancellations-top-200000-sending-jet-fuel-lower.html

Global shipping holds its breath as the coronavirus continues to spread … Hellenic Shipping News

https://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/global-shipping-holds-its-breath-as-the-coronavirus-continues-to-spread/
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February 22, 2020 11:21am
peterwn

There is an article that Auckland Council issued a partial stop work to Fletchers just before the under construction Convention Centre caught fire. This is because the Council officials found that the construction plans submitted for the building permit did not square with the plans submitted for resource consent. Council cannot be blamed for being overly bureaucratic since Councils are being held more and more accountable through the courts concerning resource consents.
The article implies it is Fletchers problem, but it is not. Fletchers job is to build according to the architect’s plans, it has no duty in this instance to check that the plans comply with the resource consent. That is the architect’s job. So the architect and/or client has to bear the cost of the foul-up. It is probably no big deal in the big order of things, but just an awkward foul-up that has to be sorted, probably at the cost of $100,000 – $200,000 for re-design, Council fees and any needed re-working by Fletchers.
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February 22, 2020 11:22am
peterwn

Yet another ‘three strikes’ hiccup at yesterday’s murder sentencing. The judge read the prisoner the ‘first strike’. Someone slipped – the prosecutor should have ensured the judge read the ‘first strike’ immediately the guilty verdict was returned. Why? The prisoner may have seriously assaulted or worse a prison officer or another prisoner (perhaps in the paddy wagon taking him from court) before sentencing in which case that assault should be a ‘second strike’.
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February 22, 2020 11:29am
Maggy Wassilieff

PM’s trip to Fiji next week

https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/410102/new-zealand-pm-ardern-will-visit-fiji-next-week
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February 22, 2020 11:34am
- Steve Otto(North Shore)
  
  27th she goes on to Australia. Too much heat in the kitchen for her?
  
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  February 22, 2020 11:53am
  - peterwn
    
    She has run out of kindergartens to visit.
    
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    February 22, 2020 1:57pm
    - sooty
      
      Been to every single one of them!
      
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      February 22, 2020 3:12pm
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    Parliament is not sitting so who is she running from?? The media? Nooooooo!
    
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    February 22, 2020 4:30pm
  - Sacha
    
    Ante natal check?
    
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    February 22, 2020 6:46pm
- Nickc2
  
  Climate change, supporting women and strengthening democracy eh? Sounds like another NZ taxpayer bribe to Fiji in order to counter Chinese expansion in the Pacific. Fiji will take it of course and why wouldn’t they? There will be no strings attached.
  No doubt, there will be plenty of chances for photo shoots, hugging and twisty faces etc that our PM is renowned for.
  Wake up NZ we are being governed by a bunch of fools.
  
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  February 22, 2020 12:03pm
  - John Warren
    
    Democracy? In Frank’s Fiji? What a joke.
    
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    February 22, 2020 12:23pm
    - Nickc2
      
      I don’t think you know what you are talking about John. I lived there for a few years and every native Fijian I knew and there were a lot because I went to school there are more than happy with what they have got. It’s the Indians that are the problem there. They own a lot of industry but are not in control of the Government and that’s their problem. The Indian’s are descendants of those taken there by the British as part of the Colonial Sugar Refining (CSR) group and when the British pulled out, they neglected to take their Indians with them. The battle there has been for Fijian owned land which Indians want and they can’t currently have and I don’t believe they should either.
      Never mind, maybe China will inherit the problem?
      
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      February 22, 2020 2:10pm
Steve Otto(North Shore)

This morning my son said his ear hurts. I asked him ‘on the inside or outside’ so he walks out the front door, comes back in and says ‘both’
Makes you wonder if it is worth sending them to Uni
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February 22, 2020 11:48am
- mandk
  
  Oh, I don’t know about.
  You could tell him that, if he joins the right clubs, he could become a Labour MP.
  
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  February 22, 2020 12:38pm
  - Tall Man
    
    Not sure about that. He knows the difference between “inside” and “outside” so he’s probably a bit too smart for labour.
    
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    February 22, 2020 1:54pm
  - peterwn
    
    You mean the Princes St one, not the Alfred St one.
    
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    February 22, 2020 4:37pm
rightoverlabour

Poor Syrians. Either being blown to bits or freezing to death. But a Foehn wind in Antarctica gets headline news around the world.

https://watchers.news/2020/02/18/brutal-cold-ice-storms-and-snow-worsen-conditions-for-displaced-in-northern-syria-children-freezing-to-death/

And that white stuff in this article is snow. Snow happens when it’s cold. Must be Global warming which was going to ensure our children may never experience this…

https://watchers.news/2020/02/21/severe-winter-storm-hits-norway-with-heavy-snow-resulting-in-at-least-2-fatalities/

and we have been warned about how warming will be a catastrophe. I see far worse with cold.

https://watchers.news/2020/02/19/intense-bomb-cyclone-over-north-atlantic-set-to-hit-western-europe-following-dennis/
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February 22, 2020 11:51am
rightoverlabour

A few tony Heller videos to upset the alarmists

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mw-FeB0mWU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9mtVzrPYLHk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SSg3h_eIvBw
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February 22, 2020 12:10pm
curry4me

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tChyASUwxh4
China’s Coronavirus “Cure” | China Uncensored. Slapped faces, lock downs, and infighting. Just another episode of General Hostility.
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February 22, 2020 12:14pm
curry4me

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVQh3CP5dxo
Don’t cut Fourth Reich budget says Teacher’s pet. Reich President von der Lyin agrees.
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February 22, 2020 12:15pm
Fletch

It’s been reported to Bernie Sanders that it’s him the Russians are trying to help… lol

https://www.breitbart.com/2020-election/2020/02/21/report-bernie-sanders-briefed-that-russia-trying-to-help-his-campaign/

https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/bernie-sanders-briefed-by-us-officials-that-russia-is-trying-to-help-his-presidential-campaign/2020/02/21/5ad396a6-54bd-11ea-929a-64efa7482a77_story.html

Maybe Trump should get the FBI to spy on his campaign ey? Make sure there’s no “collusion”. You know, he and his wife have praised Russia in the past. They even had their honeymoon there in the late 80s while Russians were starving and queuing in bread lines.
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February 22, 2020 12:18pm
- Steve Otto(North Shore)
  
  When people are quiet when they are not usually quiet you have to wonder what they are scheming.
  Wtf is Hillary up to? Waiting for Mini Mike to be selected so she can be his VP candidate – then suicide him?
  
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  February 22, 2020 4:35pm
  - Fletch
    
    She’s in a new documentary on Hulu where she’s still bitching and moaning about being cheated out of being president…
    
    https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2020/02/hillary-clinton-hulu-documentary-interview
    
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    February 22, 2020 9:23pm
Jack5

Great stuff! US intelligence tells Bernie Sanders that Russia is trying to help him win the Democrat nomination.

Now all we need is Vladimir rescuing Peters:

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8030677/U-S-officials-tell-Democrat-Sanders-Russia-trying-help-campaign-Washington-Post.html
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February 22, 2020 12:57pm
Manolo

Trump also accused of the same, so this time Deep State adds Bernie to the list. Here we go again!

https://www.cnbc.com/2020/02/21/bernie-sanders-reportedly-told-that-russia-wants-to-help-his-campaign.html

U.S. officials told Sen. Bernie Sanders, a leading Democratic presidential candidate, that Russia is attempting to boost his campaign as part of its efforts to meddle in the 2020 election, according to a new report.
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February 22, 2020 1:19pm
- fernglas
  
  At least Sanders listened to them.
  
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  February 22, 2020 4:37pm
pussycat

An excellent article by Melanie Phillips who succinctly sums up the climate BS and its implications

https://www.melaniephillips.com/real-western-civilisation-emergency/
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February 22, 2020 1:20pm
- rightoverlabour
  
  And add this to totally debunk the idea that increasing CO2 is causing the mad NH weather….
  
  http://joannenova.com.au/2020/02/global-confusion-turns-out-global-warming-doesnt-cause-wandering-jet-stream-extreme-weather/
  
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  February 22, 2020 2:09pm
- rightoverlabour
  
  One of the best articles I have read on this issue. A must read. I think I’ll forward it to a few politicians.
  
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  February 22, 2020 2:26pm
Jack5

Philosophy professor Peter Singer, shut out of Sky City as a speaking venue, says he will still be coming New Zealand, and has had offers of three alternative venues.

“I will be speaking on effective altruism in Auckland, and I hope people come along and listen to what I’ve got to say on the topic.”

Singer can be heard in an interview today with Kim Hill on Radio NZ.

“I was not going to talk about disability in NZ,” said of the venue cancellation. “I was not raising this topic. These are issues I wrote about 30 years ago.”

Singer said he spoke about disability issues now just when people protested, and then because the thought the views had some sound basis.

In the interview Singer makes the point that some pregnant women having foetuses tested for Downs syndrome were aborting these.

He indicated that he agreed with some anti-abortionists on the equivalence of abortion and the euthanising of newly born.

“My interest is in helping people in extreme poverty in developing countries, and to raise money for the non-profit [organisation] I founded to do that,” Singer said.

Professor Singer talks to Kim Hill:

https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/saturday/audio/2018735314/moral-philosopher-professor-peter-singer-vs-cancel-culture
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February 22, 2020 2:04pm
- Jack5
  
  Three hours in the moderation queue.
  Obviously a busy day at Kiwiblog.
  
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  February 22, 2020 5:10pm
- info@cruzpro.com
  
  Whether you agree or disagree with his philosophy, we should all agree that he has a right to voice his opinion.
  
  To stop someone from speaking their mind because you disagree with what they are saying is the worst kind of sensorship.
  
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  February 22, 2020 7:40pm
Hugh Pavletich

UNITED STATES …

White House slams big cities on housing, sees GDP growth below 2.5 percent … Zachary Warmbrodt … Politico

https://www.politico.com/news/2020/02/20/cities-housing-gdp-growth-116418

The Trump administration on Thursday warned that affordable housing constraints are a potential threat to U.S. economic growth, blasting New York and 10 other metropolitan areas for excessive regulations that are driving up costs and fueling homelessness. … read more via hyperlink above …
.
.
The White House Reports (pdf)

https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/2020-Economic-Report-of-the-President-WHCEA.pdf
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February 22, 2020 2:13pm
Steve Otto(North Shore)

Las Vegas Nevada – a blue State.
Tell me Trump is not going to win this State.
This is outside the venue.
https://twitter.com/kayleighmcenany/status/1231012086089576448?s=21&fbclid=IwAR3IEzePUoH9CIDILkz6_vmRl5s14ItDKV7If-w2stkPR-8N42tXnu77kOQ
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February 22, 2020 4:45pm
- Steve Otto(North Shore)
  
  This is something you will NOT see on play school TV1 and TV3 news
  
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  February 22, 2020 4:46pm
Aunty

Coronavirus outbreaks (usually in clusters though) are now happening in South Korea, Japan, Hong Kong and Singapore. Fortunately all these countries have advanced hospitals and public health care systems which will hopefully allow these countries to contain the spread of the virus to within their borders and limit the spread among their people. And I am particularly heartened by the numbers in Singapore in this regard which, in these early days at least, appears to suggest that they are getting on top of the outbreak there. Should an outbreak happen here in New Zealand I hope that that would mean we would also be able to get on top of it here.

However, what these clusters show is that even in wealthy medically advanced nations, the virus can and does indeed spread, it spreads very easily and that an advanced economy by itself is no barrier to an outbreak of the disease. This has obvious implications for New Zealand.

I fear that the risk for a global pandemic is increasing and nearing a tipping point as we are now seeing cases in many more countries that do not have such robust public health care systems. These countries have the potential to act as reservoirs for the global spread of the disease in the months ahead. My main concern for us here is that in a few short months we will be moving into the winter and own own flu season and that that combined with the potential for a coronavirus outbreak could have very serious effects on our hospitals and doctors.

If that happens, operations and medical procedures will have to be postponed to cope with the increased numbers of patients who may require hospital level care while they are unwell. As we all know our hospitals barely cope now as it is with a bad flu outbreak, this can only get much worse if we get a flu outbreak and a coronavirus outbreak at the same time. This has me worried.

Under our incompetent current Government, are sufficient preparations and planning being made by the health authorities and hospitals to deal with this potential crisis? Do frankly dumb fools like Arden, David Clark, Twyford, and some of the dumbos in the media, etc., know what questions they should be asking of the officials to ensure that sufficient and the right type of preparations and plans are being made? None have skills or training or backgrounds in much of anything useful, except for student politics, BA degrees, Comms and other pointless ephemera, let alone in infectious disease control, pandemics or medicine. What are our risks and how do we mitigate them? I don’t think they would know.
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February 22, 2020 5:34pm
- Maggy Wassilieff
  
  Don’t forget North Italy and Iran
  Coronavirus cases surge in South Korea, Iran as Italy reports first death
  https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/02/china-coronavirus-outbreak-latest-updates-200221211643953.html
  
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  February 22, 2020 6:03pm
- Ian Boag
  
  No government can do diddly in the face of a pandemic like this if it happens here, especially in the middle of the flu season. They would have to be planning (now) for zillions of new hospital beds, and lots more doctors and nurses etc. Lead time about a 3-6 month from now. Where would these resources come from ….? Money won’t fix this.
  
  So Aunty if you could enlighten us on what sort of plan a competent government might be rolling out about now … A conservative estimate of the impact is that it might be similar in scope to the annual flu thing which already fills up hospital medical wards to a bit over 100%. Just give us a hint of what might work …..
  
  And to be clear – I haven’t a clue. Tony Ryall is no doubt happy that it won’t be his problem either.
  
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  February 22, 2020 6:13pm
  - Ian Boag
    
    Well I had a bit of a think about what I can do. My understanding .. serious cases of this disease end up in hospital with viral pneumonia. The virus knocks off lung tissue so you end up with secondary bacterial infection.
    
    Hospital treatment of pneumonia is oxygen, bed rest and antibiotics as needed for any secondary infection. Clogs up medical wards something terrible. So I figured if I have oxygen at home, I might be able to wait things out there. If this is as bad as feared, oxygen machines will be in short supply. You can buy one from China for about $400-500. So I did.
    
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    February 22, 2020 6:42pm
  - Maggy Wassilieff
    
    Upskilling all hospital staff (cleaners, porters), retirement village care-givers, taxi and bus drivers, school teachers, creche staff, sports coaches, supermarket staff, Librarians, police, corrections staff, religious leaders, rubbish collectors, marae leaders etc with procedures to follow if exposed to an infected cougher or infected surfaces.
    
    Run mass advertising campaigns on basic hygiene practices needed to prevent spread.
    
    Supply paper tissues and disinfectant in classrooms,
    meeting rooms, supermarket entrances, churches/temples.
    
    Start planning for more volunteer first-aid trainees in all communities.
    
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    February 22, 2020 8:01pm
  - Aunty
    
    “And to be clear – I haven’t a clue.”
    
    You have demonstrated that in here more times than I count, Ian.
    
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    February 22, 2020 8:03pm
    - Ian Boag
      
      Like I said
      
      if you could enlighten us on what sort of plan a competent government might be rolling out about now
      
      So tell …. show us that you aren’t just another big mouth KB thicko … after all – insults are obviously OK here.
      
      MaggyW makes sense. Personally I doubt that you could get that stuff going soon enough. I’m not sure that “first aid” is what we are looking for. But in the absence of other ideas ….
      
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      February 22, 2020 8:48pm
      - Maggy Wassilieff
        
        First Aid in a community is going to be bloody important when hospitals are full and doctors/nurses/ambulance drivers are laid low with sickness.
        
        You are going to need a back-up supply of folks who are willing and can provide basic cares.
        
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        February 22, 2020 9:15pm
      - Ian Boag
        
        Sorry MW – a misunderstanding – “first aid” to me was things I was taught on various “first aid courses” – slings and splints and wrapping up people in shock and stuff.
        
        I don’t disagree with the thrust of your suggestions. I have not seen any like that. I think DPF could usefully ask you to do a guest post on the subject …
        
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        February 23, 2020 11:01am
- info@cruzpro.com
  
  If the current government takes corona virus seriously and takes steps to minimize the suffering then it will create confidence in their leadership. If it turns out that numerous people needlessly suffer and many die because tbe government has not done the job they were elected to do then there will assuredly be a change in government soon.
  
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  February 22, 2020 7:51pm
  - Ian Boag
    
    Good stuff. Government definitely needs to control this and minimise the effect. The Wuhan approach perhaps?
    
    Maybe you can suggest some other ways that these aims might be met? Aunty seems unable to do that. The potential new government party is not saying much …..
    
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    February 23, 2020 11:04am
- curry4me
  
  It’s reached Daegu, and Jeonju.
  
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  February 22, 2020 9:10pm
MrTips

Thoughts at the end of the day.

1) it’s great Cindy went on the cover of Time. The people of Southland and Lower West Coast need reminding of what she looks like, she’s ignored them and their plight thus far.

2) Coronavirus is going to kill us all. Well those that eat bats anyway.

3) It’s raining !!!! Sweet mother of God it’s good to hear that on the roof.
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February 22, 2020 5:43pm
rouppe

A proposal that all men be monitored when transitioning out of a relationship

Wow.

Imagine if we said “all Muslims must be monitored that are transiting out of an Islamic country”.

Not to mention the practical considerations. How do you track that someone is IN a relationship? Or do you rely on women to “report” men, like to the Stazi or something. What about the fleeting “relationships”? Do they count? The holiday flings, the weekend getaway, the one night stand?

What a horrifying suggestion!
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February 22, 2020 5:55pm
Steve Otto(North Shore)

Just upgraded from Windows 7 to Windows 10.
Now I have Windows 2020 . How the fuck did that happen??
I know, it is the Russians messing with me – I work with one – I will ask him ….
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February 22, 2020 6:12pm
- nasska
  
  Do what I did Steve. When I needed to upgrade my machine & Win7 was on its last legs I bought a Mac, a decision I’ve never regretted.
  
  I worked on the principle that if I was going to be grossly inconvenienced I’d do it my terms.
  
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  February 22, 2020 6:25pm
greybeard

For weeks we have been told about the droughts in the north. How farmers are distraught. How councils have failed in their basic jobs. How people should do certain things to reduce water use.
Year after year we hear these same things.
Now it is raining up there, and all this water is just draining away and nobody is using it.
What a crock: will there be any more dams built this year ? Will northern councils install water meters so that the real costs are met by the users ?
Will northern councils make it mandatory for all new homes to have water tanks and grey-water tanks?
Will northern councils stop spending rates money on fripperies and spend lots more on basic infrastructure ?
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February 22, 2020 6:37pm
Monique Watson

Oh this is hilarious. The Real (fraudulent) Prime Minister’s minority party axes the Feebate scheme much to the dismay of the feeble Greens:

https://i.stuff.co.nz/national/119713361/nz-first-axe-governments-electric-vehicle-subsidy-plan-while-greens-vow-to-take-the-policy-to-the-election
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February 22, 2020 7:31pm
Maggy Wassilieff

Oh this is great…
wait until late on a Saturday afternoon, before the Labour Party releases this wee gem

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/410130/labour-got-donations-from-two-accused-in-national-party-case
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February 22, 2020 9:18pm
Kabull

De-platforming speakers is a global problem. Dr Patrick Moore has been ‘deplatformed’ from a conference to be held in Regina in May on making the city 100% renewable by 2050. There were to be 45 speakers. Only Moore would be taking an opposing view. The City decided however not to allow him to speak because of his known ‘climate denier’ attitude. Its worth watching this interview Ezra Levant has with Dr Moore about the situation.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EoLpklvRRX4

Ezra Levant and Rebel News are very good at fighting against the mainstream idiots on a number of subjects. Watch some of the Rebel News items – there have some interesting reports on a developing issue with First Nation land protests and blockades that have shut down the Canadian rail network over arguments about a natural gas pipeline in British Columbia. Parallels with whats happening here.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGy6uV7yqGWDeUWTZzT3ZEg
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February 22, 2020 9:42pm
Michael NZ

We can’t trust these people at All.
The distribution networks of the world are falling over because of their lies about COVID@)!(.

https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/insidious-former-asio-boss-warns-on-chinese-interference-in-australia-20191121-p53cv2.html?fbclid=IwAR0TQyERN5lgVHVLWQ3VwKhcSFQqPW_gHzcv_FVeKL50qtEGnZ96A3hQksY
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February 22, 2020 10:16pm
Hugh Pavletich

COMPARING CALIFORNIA AND NEW ZEALAND’S BUILDING PERMITTING / CONSENTING RATES 2019 …

… What is California learning from New Zealand ? …

California Building Industry Association – Building Permit Data

https://cbia.org/cirb-housing-statistics/

New Zealand December 2019 Residential Building Consents – Over 15,000 new homes intended for Auckland … Statistics NZ

https://www.stats.govt.nz/news/over-15000-new-homes-intended-for-auckland

• The standard industry measure is the consent / start / completion rate per 1000 population per annum. Raw figures without reference to the population base are of little use.

• In 2019 California’s population was about 40 million … New Zealand’s about 4.9 million.

• During 2019 California issued about 110,218 dwelling permits … New Zealand 37,538.

• Therefore for 2019 … the permitting rate per 1000 population per annum for California was 2.75 … New Zealand 7.66.

• If New Zealand was permitting at the California rate of 2.75 / 1000 pop pa just 13,475 permits would have been issued during 2019.

• If California was permitting at the New Zealand rate of 7.66 / 1000 pop pa some 306,400 permits would have been issued in 2019 … not 110,218 … comparatively some 196,182 less than the New Zealand permitting performance.

.
.
(a) What is California learning from New Zealand … further information access archival website Performance Urban Planning http://www.PerformanceUrbanPlanning.org ?

(b) Is the New Zealand public … refer Ipsos Monitor https://www.ipsos.com/en-nz/ipsos-nz-issues-monitor-november-2019 … and the Labour – led Coalition government … with the support of the main Opposition … being adequately recognised for their efforts in ramping up new dwelling supply and restoring housing affordability in New Zealand ?
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February 23, 2020 2:31am

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