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June 20, 2020 8:00am by Kokila Patel

General Debate 20 June 2020

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Steve Todd

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A bit of light relief for Kiwibloggers (held over from yesterday afternoon [1:07PM])—

“A hilariously silly political story to end the week on: The NZ Herald‘s (paywalled) David Fisher reports that Todd Muller’s team brought in a safecracker after taking over National, so they could get access to documents hidden in a safe in the leader of the opposition’s office. The funniest part about it – a member of outgoing leader Simon Bridges’ team had already sent through the combination – it just hadn’t reached who it needed to. As it happens, the safe had been almost entirely cleared out by Bridges’ team on their way out the door.”

Source: The Bulletin from The Spinoff, Friday, 19 June 2020 @ 6:52 AM.

You have to laugh.
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June 20, 2020 8:02am
- Ruahine
  
  Sounds like a Pub story.
  
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  June 20, 2020 9:25am
- Lance
  
  Almost as funny as telling NZ that Labour had the isolation of incoming travelers under control.
  
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  June 20, 2020 9:29am
  - sooty
    
    That story is right up david fishers alley.
    Who leaked that story to him and why?
    
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    June 20, 2020 9:46am
    - KevO'Brien
      
      Leaked or made up?
      
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      June 20, 2020 10:12am
  - Steve Todd
    
    C’mon, Lance. Just imagine the scene. Slapstick worthy of the Marx Brothers.
    
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    June 20, 2020 10:16am
    - JimBobJoe
      
      If I want slapstick I listen to Jacinda Ardern explaining she is appointing someone to border control….
      
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      June 20, 2020 11:26am
      - Loddenthinks
        
        Who has already been in charge of border control for 2 and a half months, since the end of March.
        
        “Oh no I haven’t” says Digby, who clearly has plenty of tickets on himself.
        
        “Oh yes, you have!” says Mark Mitchell, accurately, and Ron Mark, accidentally.
        
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        June 20, 2020 3:57pm
- Fletch
  
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8AiEkLe8K4g
  
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  June 20, 2020 10:40am
- chukar
  
  Should have used the safecracker to get the missing coalition agreement.
  
  Only three months to go
  
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  June 20, 2020 10:44am
artemisia

Minister Woods has heaps of time to take on new responsibilities, because of time freed up from the Kiwibuild programme. April – 11 Kiwibuild homes sold, only 335 unsold and still available to buy. Not counting the new ones being added to the buy pool going forward with 773 currently under construction.

With state house waiting lists climbing and about to explode (we can assume) any guesses how many Kiwibuild homes will be quietly repurposed to help with the waiting list before September 19?

(And just saying, most social housing tenants are on income related rent, subsided by the few remaining taxpayers to the average tune of $300 per week. That’s averaging nearly $16,000 a year in after tax income – nice work if you can get it.)
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June 20, 2020 8:04am
- JibberJabber
  
  Woods has the same elocution and articulation tutor as Ardern or just a liquid lunch before a press conference?
  https://twitter.com/commonsense_nz/status/1273832862500786176
  
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  June 20, 2020 9:25am
  - niggly
    
    I heard (and no doubt many others) Minister Woods being interviewed both by Ryan Bridge on MagicTalk yesterday and then a few moments later by HDPA on ZB.
    
    The important thing I picked up is that Megan Woods doesn’t answer the question!
    
    Instead she has an interesting “deflection technique” – she doesn’t pause and um and ahh – instead she goes full-speed-non-stop-talking mode and talks and talks about anything but the answer!
    
    (By the way, when Ryan Bridge’s topic is politics he is an excellent interviewer, he (somewhat aggressively) kept Megan Woods to account by repeatedly asking her again to answer the question. HDPA needs to harden up with Woods next time and do the same because she would move onto a new question after she seemed to give up over Wood’s long winded answers! What a breeze it was for Woods not be held to account)!
    
    I also heard radio reporters say yesterday that she did a one hour press conference with the Air Commodore and dominated practically all the talking. Although I didn’t hear that interview (apart from a snippet on tv news), after hearing her radio interviews I can now picture why Woods talked and talked and talked and just wouldn’t stop talking!
    
    Ultimately whether this is a good strategy is questionable but that’s clearly her “weakness” (or to her, her “strength” – go figure)!
    
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    June 20, 2020 9:51am
    - Pongo
      
      She epitomizes Labours problem and why nothing gets done properly. She talks and talks and talks and never listens so she never learns and she is pretty limited in her skillset.
      Her performance at Kiwibuild is no better than Twyfords but she talks and talks and talks so everyone just moves on.
      
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      June 20, 2020 10:04am
      - Allan
        
        Just another incompetent, inept person who has been promoted to a position way beyond her ability and intellectual capacity. It would seem to me that incompetence, lack of real world work experience and intellectual ability is a prime requirement in your CV to be able to get into the Labour Caucus as those who are already ensconced there are perfect examples of these attributes.
        
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        June 20, 2020 1:01pm
    - Brian Marshall
      
      I remember working with a young Ryan as he was going through university. I’m glad to see him doing well for himself and I took him as a slightly left of centre guy back then. We seriously need more centralist media in this country.
      
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      June 20, 2020 10:15am
      - greybeard
        
        He is still left of centre: when he follows-on after Peter Williams and Sean Plunket you really notice the change in tenor.
        
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        June 20, 2020 10:49am
      - DaleK
        
        I think that Ryan Bridges is a real up and comer. Sure, he is a bit left of centre for my taste, however he is bright and generally very fair and uncompromising with his questioning. A good sense of self deprecating humour as well. ZB could do a lot worse than to headhunt him to replace Kere in the mornings. Nice person, but she just hasn’t got it in my opinion.
        
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        June 20, 2020 2:15pm
    - KevO'Brien
      
      Woods ability to jabber on sets her apart from labour colleagues many of whom are almost speechless.
      Like Ardern she’s all mouth and no real action.
      
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      June 20, 2020 10:15am
      - gorse
        
        Adern uses the same tactic, when she starts she yabbers away, difficult to get a word in edgeways. Under pressure the yabbering gets worse.
        
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        June 20, 2020 4:54pm
      - NeverMindTheBollocks
        
        I think she talks as an approach to dieting.
        
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        June 20, 2020 5:58pm
    - herb1
      
      She needs to remember she has 2 ears and 1 mouth for a reason
      
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      June 20, 2020 11:37am
- Two bob
  
  we can see where this is going… labour election pledge to gift homes to the needy. if no one wants em givem away
  
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  June 20, 2020 9:59am
- Happychappy
  
  If Megan Woods is the fix it Minister can anyone come up with why she was never assigned the two sexual assault cases that plagued Labour over the last year , the young Labour summer camp sexual assault and the sexual assault by a deviate that worked out of the Prime Ministers Office.
  Steven Joyce appeared to be Nationals Mr Fixit and now it seems Megan Woods is Labours
  https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2020/06/coronavirus-megan-wood-put-in-charge-of-managed-isolation-quarantine.html
  
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  June 20, 2020 10:09am
  - Dougal10
    
    How do you know that she didn’t fix it behind the scenes.
    
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    June 20, 2020 11:33am
    - sooty
      
      Can’t send the per overseas at the moment.
      
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      June 20, 2020 12:30pm
Happychappy

The Prime Minister and Health Director lie their pants off over border testing and incompetence at the border an Stuff come out with a Horizon Poll saying 66% of our voters still want Jacinda Ardern to lead the reovery on CORID-19.
https://i.stuff.co.nz/national/300038718/kiwis-feeling-jacindamania-in-new-poll-while-national-faces-mullermehtum
There is never a dull minute from our politically corrupt media and the lengths they will go to in their quest for Jacinda and Labour to lead the next Government surely apollo like this is fraudulent when they know that the Government have been caught out and incompetence in the days before the poll is published.
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June 20, 2020 8:07am
- tf78
  
  Happy – just received those results and still can’t believe it. Taken 10-14 June, shame it wasn’t this week it would paint a different picture. The truth will find her out I’m sure.
  
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  June 20, 2020 9:16am
- niggly
  
  Meh Horizons, although they play a useful part polling various types of questions and scenarios (IIRC they don’t tend to poll preferred parties but accept I could be wrong on that), this result comes across as the people polled were being asked who is their favorite politician!
  
  Anyway here’s the interesting thing:
  
  “The poll, by Horizon Research, asked voters who was best placed to manage the pandemic response.”
  
  The survey was conduced between June 10 and 14, so it doesn’t take in the period after two positive Covid-19 cases left mandatory self-isolation, sparking a flurry of investigation into lax quarantine measures at the border.”
  
  So of course the people polled were still “enamored” by the people’s Princess!
  
  On the whole I wouldn’t read too much into anything until there is a Colmar Brunton or Reid Research poll.
  
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  June 20, 2020 10:06am
  - Chuck Bird
    
    Horizon is an opt in poll. Go to their site an you can volunteer to be on the panel.
    
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    June 20, 2020 10:56am
  - Sir Cullen's Sidekick
    
    Please don’t ever count on Sheeple. Next CB and RR polls will show increased vote share for Labour and 70% preference for Cindy. Sheeple are still getting free money and baking cakes and scones. They will realise only after the September poll is finished. So get ready for 3 more years of hell. Mullet Muller will not make a dent in Cindy’s popularity. If somebody believes Cindy is a better manager of economy, they should immediately visit a brain surgeon.
    
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    June 20, 2020 11:48am
- Ruawai
  
  Down the bottom of the article it says the poll was done mid May so right when Jacinda etc were flying high, but the average reader wouldn’t look at the date of the poll just see the click bait heading.
  
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  June 20, 2020 11:23am
- C J Southern
  
  It’s almost ironic; if Russia or China influenced our elections then most of the country would be up in arms … and yet when the media blatantly influences our elections few even bat an eyelid.
  
  It’s become a game. Unfortunately it’s a game with real-world consequences for the country. At this point we’re all pretty much fucked.
  
  RIP NZ. Cause of death: “Labour-19”.
  
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  June 20, 2020 12:07pm
Cassandra

Sen Amy Klobuchar, formerly a front runner for Biden’s VP and thus a potential POTUS, has withdrawn her offer, stating that Biden should choose “a woman of color”. This is big. Kamala Harris now goes up a notch, although having prosecutor on your cv is not a positive these days. Mayor Bottoms another option, although Atlanta (where she is mayor) now has a problem too. A week used to be a long time in politics, now it’s 8 minutes.
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June 20, 2020 8:07am
- Benedict Yu
  
  Given his age I hope he chooses a competent running mate, regardless of their skin colour and gender.
  
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  June 20, 2020 9:16am
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    Hillary will make her move soon. We have not seen the last of that evil woman
    
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    June 20, 2020 9:46am
    - Steve Todd
      
      What do you think she’s going to do, Steve? She’s a private citizen, nothing more. She doesn’t appear to hold any position in the Democratic Party. She’s powerless. Joe all but has it in the bag.
      
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      June 20, 2020 9:59am
      - Steve Otto(North Shore)
        
        I will just wait and see. The woman is unpredictable
        
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        June 20, 2020 10:08am
      - All_on_Red
        
        I agree with Steve T
        The Obamas run the Democrats now
        
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        June 20, 2020 10:16am
    - Gravelroad
      
      I saw Hillary on The Graham Norton show just the other day and she was absoludely amazeballs.
      Appeared super confident – smiling, nodding, full of witty repartee – peddling a book with daughter Chelsea called “The Book of Gutsy Women”.
      Not sure if our own St Jacinda of Nodding is included but wouldn’t be surprised.
      Agree Mr North Shore, I think Hills might make a move soon also.
      
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      June 20, 2020 10:14am
    - KevO'Brien
      
      Which Hilary? She presented her body double at at least one occasion.
      
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      June 20, 2020 10:17am
      - Steve Otto(North Shore)
        
        The reptilian shape shifter one
        
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        June 20, 2020 10:46am
    - coge
      
      The bookies have her at second for the Democrats presidential nominee. Longs odds, but still number two.
      
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      June 20, 2020 3:02pm
- Chris Morgan
  
  Given that any VP is likely to be POTUS, that is a big worry. There was also talk of Stacey Abrams (apologies if that is spelt incorrectly). Holey heck….imagine that swearing in ceremony and the following fawning of the new President. I for one will struggle to watch.
  
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  June 20, 2020 9:22am
  - All_on_Red
    
    It’s Harris
    Abrams is dreaming
    Besides, shouldn’t she be busy doing her pretend job of Govenor of Georgia?
    
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    June 20, 2020 9:44am
- yossarian
  
  The Democrats still don’t get it do they? I admit Kamala Harris doesn’t seem like a loonie like most in the party, but this thing about “women of colour requirement” only appeases the large woke states, and the election has never been decided in California or New York, its always been decided in those rust belt swing states. Where jobs are more important than your race or gender…
  
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  June 20, 2020 9:27am
  - All_on_Red
    
    Her background as a Prosecutor is a problem.
    But watch for Obama to come out and smooth the way.
    After all, he has chosen her.
    All his old staff will be in the WH. Rice, Jarrett etc.
    It would effectively be an Obama administration.
    
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    June 20, 2020 9:46am
    - Engelbert Humperdink
      
      Her background blowing (can I say that?) her way to political advancement out to be more of a problem. #SheToo and all that… think fo the poor man she seduced for her career advancement only to abandon him once he’d promoted her!
      
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      June 20, 2020 9:50am
    - Steve Todd
      
      It would effectively be an Obama administration.
      
      What? You mean in the much the same way the Bush 43 administration was effectively a Bush 41 administration?
      
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      June 20, 2020 10:32am
      - Mike
        
        I should have thought that getting in some veterans of the Obama administration would be a huge step up from some of the ‘best people’ who have cycled through the white house in the past few years.
        
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        June 20, 2020 11:02am
Humble Capitalist

I’ll hand over to Ashley as this next bit of news might not be so popular.
Todays confirmed new cases of severe depression in New Zealand is 2509 and there are 817 suspected cases. There are 11 new deaths. This brings the total number of cases of severe depression in New Zealand to 100123 with 17322 suspected cases. Our total number of deaths is now 1017.
We would like to remind you that these numbers are relatively low and would be considerably higher if we hadnt gone hard and gone early.
Questions….Jess…..
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June 20, 2020 8:08am
- Nickc2
  
  and what was Jess Hyphen’s question? “PM it’s not true that you dye your hair is it”? “Of course not Jess, you know me better than that” replied the PM as she quickly strode off the stage.
  
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  June 20, 2020 9:30am
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    True, she does not dye her hair – Clarkie does it for her.
    True Jacindaspeak
    
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    June 20, 2020 9:48am
  - Ruawai
    
    None of the reporters asked JA what she did when she heard of the new cases, did she do a little sad dance?
    
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    June 20, 2020 11:25am
MT_Tinman

My understanding is that the two policemen shot yesterday were shot from a distance by scum with a full sized rifle.

How would arming those gentlemen with side-arms have prevented this shooting?
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June 20, 2020 8:18am
- amospicton
  
  Well perhaps knowledge that the policemen had side-arms might have resulted in second thoughts about the wisdom of confronting them with a weapon?
  
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  June 20, 2020 9:23am
  - Ruawai
    
    Don’t think these sort of scum have any wisdom.
    
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    June 20, 2020 11:27am
  - Engelbert Humperdink
    
    Sadly, with the poor training police have with sidearms, and the number of times they’ve lost their sidearms or shot themselves or others accidentally, one highly doubts the crims would change their modus operandi in media res, so to speak.
    
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    June 20, 2020 1:27pm
- chaos
  
  You’ll never know. If they were armed at the original traffic stop the bastards might not of fled, who knows.
  
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  June 20, 2020 9:31am
  - C J Southern
    
    Police rules of engagement would never allow them to shoot at someone driving away from a traffic stop – so I can’t see how police being armed would act as any kind of deterrent in that situation.
    
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    June 20, 2020 12:11pm
    - Steve Otto(North Shore)
      
      Shoot the fucking tyres – it is that simple. In the sidewall of course
      
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      June 20, 2020 3:11pm
      - C J Southern
        
        It may be “that simple” in the movies but if an officer were to do that here he’d most likely be dismissed from the police and be facing charges.
        
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        June 20, 2020 4:23pm
- Lance
  
  Because cowardly scum don’t like the prospect of being shot at by police with the means to do so.
  A strong deterrent in the first place
  
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  June 20, 2020 9:34am
  - Two bob
    
    or inflame the situation.
    while this instance arming police may have had a different outcome but in many its likely to agrivate.
    just look at the spate of recent gun violence, drugs are part of it but its got worse since armed response teams, the gangs seen a new risk and adjusted and armed themselves more often esp if undertaking transportation etc.
    
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    June 20, 2020 12:05pm
  - C J Southern
    
    That’s the rub, they’re not “cowards” in that sense; they’re aggressive, arrogant, irrational losers who either don’t think of the consequences or don’t care about them even if they do think of them.
    
    I suspect police being armed would be ZERO deterrent to those kinds of people. If anything more of them would probably carry weapons to “even the playing field”.
    
    Personally, I have no problem with those types getting themselves killed – hell, I’ll even chip in to buy the ammunition if police are behind budget – I just don’t want to see police getting shot with their own weapons when they lose control of it in one of the frequent scuffles that occur up and down the country on a daily basis.
    
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    June 20, 2020 4:28pm
- lastmanstanding
  
  I say we either arm the Police or disarm the Gangs. I would prefer the latter.
  But it wont happen because of the racism in our society.
  If the Gangs were all or mostly White they would have been disarmed and kept disarmed many years ago by any and all means.
  But we have mealy mouthed weak Pollies on all sides, mealy mouthed and weak Courts, Mealy mouthed and senior Plod all pandering to the non white Gangs.Think Wally whose a real wally.
  
  Yes Racism is alive and thriving our society.
  
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  June 20, 2020 9:35am
  - MT_Tinman
    
    lastmanstanding, agree completely.
    
    I asked the question to try and get answers I could understand.
    
    Not much luck yet.
    
    The concern with arming the police I have is that so many policemen I have encountered are badly trained and badly disciplined – and quite simply bone-idle lazy as a result.
    
    Far more, the police hierarchy has become heavily racist as you note, something that will I fear lead to serious consequences in the near future.
    
    I suspect arming the police will end up with far more scum being also armed as is the case in many other countries (eg Britain, France).
    
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    June 20, 2020 9:59am
    - Tall Man
      
      Then let’s improve the training.
      
      Drop the woke shit and concentrate on being Police.
      
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      June 20, 2020 10:31am
    - the deity formerly known as nigel6888
      
      How many rounds a year must a cop shoot to stay “qualified” I think its around 50.
      
      an average shoot at my local gun club says bring 120 rounds – for a single morning’s match.
      
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      June 20, 2020 9:12pm
  - Nickc2
    
    Speaking of racism, I heard our Police Commissioner announce on radio yesterday during the shooting incident that police in Tāmaki Makaurau are now armed. I’m assuming this was to provide some sort of safety assurance to Aucklanders. However, I take issue with his use of the words Tāmaki Makaurau. Why not say Auckland, that’s what the damned place is called!
    If he wants to be part of the racist Woke Brigade, he should find another job.
    
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    June 20, 2020 10:14am
    - Brian Marshall
      
      When speaking in Te Reo then Tamaki Makaurau would be correct. When speaking in English, he should show culturally appropriate sensitivity, and call it Auckland. How very racist of him.
      
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      June 20, 2020 10:40am
      - Nickc2
        
        Thanks Brian. I’ve just had a rush of the proverbial to the brain and perhaps he was appealing to the crooks in their native tongue. Am I allowed to say that given they have name suppression?
        
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        June 20, 2020 2:22pm
    - Lance
      
      Imagine having to write that instead of Auckland?
      Most forms wouldn’t have enough boxes or enough room.
      
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      June 20, 2020 11:44am
    - Jack5
      
      He’s a bloody disappointment. Surprised he hasn’t “bent the knee” yet.
      
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      June 20, 2020 11:52am
    - Engelbert Humperdink
      
      He got the job because he is More Than Sufficiently Woke. His CV is proof.
      
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      June 20, 2020 1:28pm
      - Nickc2
        
        Perhaps he also knows where all the Labour Party skeletons are buried. IMHO, he’s a bloody disgrace.
        
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        June 20, 2020 2:10pm
- Steve Otto(North Shore)
  
  The only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun. Good guy has no gun? bad guy does as he wishes
  
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  June 20, 2020 9:51am
  - Dave Winefield
    
    I guess we will not read in the Horrid of the march on Sunday of thousands (breathlessly) marching to support the slain police, and screaming for the blood of the perpetrators? Or better hear of the decriminalisation of West Auckland as a memory to them, Or yet the PM, Minister of Police and other “worthies” taking the knee in their memory. Hypocisy!!
    
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    June 20, 2020 10:29am
  - C J Southern
    
    It’s a nice sound bite, but the flip side is that if you routinely arm police then there is the potential for far more police getting killed when the bad guy without a gun gets hold of the good guy’s gun in one of the frequent scuffles that the good guys have with them when trying to arrest them.
    
    It totally changes the dynamic; at present police generally win those kinds of scuffles because the officers deployed often have poorly fitted shirts (due to the muscle mass in the arms and shoulders if you catch my drift) & training etc. If police are armed however it could easily turn such scuffles into a lottery to the point where there’s a fight over control of the weapon – a fight that police wouldn’t always win.
    
    Police being armed would NOT mean they were able to arrest people at gun point. Being armed MAY (or may not) offer solutions to some problems (like the one under discussion) but it also introduces potential liabilities.
    
    It’s also important to realise that there are significant operational differences to how our police are deployed when compared with countries like Australia and the US.
    
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    June 20, 2020 12:28pm
    - Steve Otto(North Shore)
      
      ‘operational differences?’ Change the Law. NZ Police and Govt are soft cocks.
      Time to HTFU, the crims just don’t give a fuck because they know they can do almost as they please
      
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      June 20, 2020 3:14pm
      - C J Southern
        
        No disagreement there, but that’s an entirely different conversation. And budget.
        
        We’re not like the US where any lone officer calling for assistance will have 6 fellow officers on top of the crim within 30 seconds.
        
        If you routinely arm police here in NZ then you’re going to end up with a lot more police being shot.
        
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        June 20, 2020 4:36pm
  - IC5000
    
    You people should really make up your minds. First you want people to be able to freely own whatever firearms they want which basically arms the gangs through being on sold through the black market and theft. Now you want to arm the police who you condemn as corrupt tools of a communist regime to protect you.
    
    Welcome to the clownworld.
    
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    June 20, 2020 12:33pm
    - Engelbert Humperdink
      
      So IC5liter, you’re the ringmaster of your clown circus? OK then.
      
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      June 20, 2020 1:29pm
      - IC5000
        
        No, they’re unlikely to make me a mod here.
        
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        June 20, 2020 2:53pm
- cmm
  
  TinMan
  
  I’m going to assume you have never been in the position of having to use a firearm.
  
  Sidearms change the dynamics of a situation. Even being able to return fire will make the shooter keep their head down and disrupt their aim giving extra time to withdraw or find cover.
  
  Regardless, policy should never be driven from the details of a single incident.
  
  That’s how we end up with bullshit laws for example those requiring a firearms license for PCP air rifles, but spring air rifles that can be even more powerful are still unlicensed for people over 18.
  
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  June 20, 2020 10:54am
  - MT_Tinman
    
    cmm, Three times I have had a gun aimed at me, once, from a distance and with bird shot, I have been shot.
    
    I have seldom used a firearm and never in a situation involving crime. I have never been licensed to own a firearm.
    
    I do agree my 1,000fps air-rifle, for which I have never required a license (it is a toy), is as dangerous as any PCP air rifle.
    
    I’m sure you are correct in your comments but question just how often these situations occur and suggest the bigger number of incidences that occur are similar to the Auckland one where the bad guys are shooting from ambush, shooting non-armed civilians or, as most reported shootings overseas, shooting before the armed policemen can shoot back.
    
    I have stated my reasons for not wanting NZ police armed permanently.
    
    Tall Man I agree but training will take time and a change of politicians.
    
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    June 20, 2020 11:08am
    - MT_Tinman
      
      Further to my statement about the three times I have had a gun aimed at me.
      
      The first time I had a gun aimed at me was many, many years ago in Brisbane.
      
      I was part of a group of three, including a part-aborigine fellow jay-walking in an outer suburb – on the way to find breakfast after a hard night from memory.
      
      The cop ordered us to stop and when my acquaintance continued on across the road the cop drew his gun.
      
      I, and the other kiwi with us, shat myself but the Abo was unconcerned, treating the cop with nothing but scorn.
      
      He, the Abo, was used to it (I’m bloody sure I wasn’t!).
      
      The fact that the cop had a gun did not gain the cop any respect.
      
      I fear that that is what will happen here should badly trained, ill-disciplined cops take to the streets wearing guns.
      
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      June 20, 2020 11:21am
      - IC5000
        
        QLD police are weak as piss these days. In the days of Sir Joh if you even looked at an officer sideways they’d have you cuffed to a radiator teaching you some respect with a Brisbane phone book.
        
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        June 20, 2020 12:37pm
    - cmm
      
      TinMan
      
      Even as a generally pro-firearm person, I can see there are downsides.
      
      I certainly agree that it’s not cut and dried. There are huge implications to cops routinely carrying firearms.
      
      One of those is accidental discharges. As much as you train people, people still make mistakes and accidental discharges will happen. I’ve seen a few, even on non-operational military bases. Luckily nobody got hurt.
      
      The level of firearms training in NZ police would have to increase substantially to improve safety and for them to learn when, and when not, to use firearms.
      
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      June 20, 2020 2:01pm
    - Steve Otto(North Shore)
      
      The politicians are the problem – they want votes and nothing more. Soft cocks
      
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      June 20, 2020 3:16pm
- Ipanema69
  
  Well we don’t know the exact circumstances of the shooting but if both of the officers had been armed with sidearms I suspect that if they had had the proper training they would have both been able to get a few rounds off prior to the rifle (if that is what it was ) was brought into action.
  
  In recent times the military has been issuing more and more pistols to front line soldiers as a secondary weapons system. Interestingly they now train the troops that in the event of an unexpected “pop up” isolated threat in a situation where a primary weapon is not immediately available (i.e. your rifle is slung over your shoulder) that the best option is to go for the secondary weapon system and to get as many rounds off as fast as possible. The idea being to either eliminate or suppress the threat.
  
  Additionally they also teach the troops in such a situation to advance towards the threat whilst firing, as this is puts further stress on the threat (frankly I don’t think I’d be able to do that).
  
  That all being said hitting something with a pistol is a skill that really needs to be worked at, back in the late ’80’s I was trained in using the Browning 9mm pistol & Stirling Submachine gun. My distinct memory of each range session was that I tended to get more accurate as I’d fired more shots. It always stuck with me that if it had been a real situation I wasn’t going to have the luxury of warming up.
  
  The other thing that also stuck with me was that there was never going to be a situation where I would “kind of” need a weapon. I was either going to not need one at all or really really really need it. So I’m not sure that a lock box in a vehicle situation is any use to the police.
  
  Thoughts are with the officers family and colleagues. They did the best they could with what they had.
  
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  June 20, 2020 12:41pm
  - C J Southern
    
    I really think many here have tunnel vision on this issue; Supposing the two injured policemen were armed (because all police were armed) – and that they were able to draw their weapons and defend themselves in this situation. Wouldn’t that have been a great result. Police 1, scum 0.
    
    But ask yourselves how often this type of confrontation occurs. Now ask yourself how many times a week many officers end up having to get “up-close and personal” with drunken, drugged, aggressive law breakers. Having to restrain them – having to detain them – having to arrest them.
    
    How often would it be that whilst an armed but out-numbered policeman is “giving instructions” to a group of youths when one of their mates grabs the officer’s holstered weapon from behind? Or when some guy being arrested cooperates initially but suddenly “snaps” and turns around trying to get an officers holstered weapon? Or some aggressive thug manages to get a hold of it during a tussle on the ground?
    
    All of those situations occur frequently throughout the country on a daily basis; the scum – fuelled by drugs, alcohol, and an aggressive attitude – have no hesitation in getting confrontational with police. Can we guarantee that every officer is going to win every tussle for their weapon if all are armed?
    
    Situations like we’ve just experienced are rare but un-armed confrontations with police are common. Currently all the bad guys want to do is get away from the police – but if police are armed and the bad guys get control of the weapon they then have a means to neutralise the threat.
    
    I’m all for police having the tools to get tough – I have no qualms what-so-ever about police shooting violent scum (I think they’d be doing society a favour if they shot a lot more), but that’s not the discussion here; police will NEVER be allowed to draw weapons as a means of making an arrest; it will only ever be allowed to be used as a defensive tool when they’re being actively threatened and they can’t handle it by any other means (such as has just occurred). I suspect that most of the time it would be far more of a liability for them than an asset in that they’re frequently in situations where it could potentially be used against them, but they’re only allowed to use it in a VERY narrow range of circumstances.
    
    Are these the kinds of things we want to sign up for here?
    
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5qNbJPNIc9U
    
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pGQgLflwPy8
    
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FAxXsE0ZR4
    
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    June 20, 2020 1:22pm
  - kowtow
    
    ‘Interestingly they now train the troops that in the event of an unexpected “pop up” isolated threat in a situation where a primary weapon is not immediately available ‘
    
    Guessing lesson learned from operations in Afghanistan/Iraq where you’re not safe in base or outpost with “allied” forces……
    
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    June 20, 2020 1:30pm
    - Ipanema69
      
      Yes Kowtow, exactly that is one of the threat situations that has generated this approach. I suspect that like a lot of things in the military they are trying to develop a muscle memory led response when things really turn to custard.
      
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      June 20, 2020 2:01pm
- kloyd0306
  
  These new gun laws have been hugely successful (not!).
  
  When will the left realize that bad people don’t follow the law. The new gun laws have only punished the law-abiders.
  
  Target the crims. Leave the rest of us alone.
  
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  June 20, 2020 5:08pm
Mike

Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
Happy World Refugee Day!
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June 20, 2020 8:18am
- Captain Mainwaring
  
  Happy Downticks for Mike Day.
  
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  June 20, 2020 10:29am
- Kiwi Dave
  
  And on the topic of happy refugees, how is Behrouz Boochani doing?
  
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  June 20, 2020 12:04pm
  - sooty
    
    Very nicely thanks, with the fortnighty handout from winz and free roof over the head and foodbank handouts!
    
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    June 20, 2020 12:44pm
oldpark

Twentieth June 2020 another day another Poll .
Yes from the far left polling company called Horizon. Kiwis trust Ardern with the Economy.
After the crazy things going on with the Coronavirus Quarantine fiasco . Ardern being in charge of the “System” and the angry fallout of such stupidy and the massive sacrifices NZs had to endure over the last three months . Trust her with the Economy. Yes we surely will and believe that type of spin . That is like saying Winston Peters Party and the far left Supremacist “Lunatic Green Party” will enjoin with National and dump “Auntie Cindy Ardern” control freak should by some fluke win the 2020 election. Same as Kiwis trusting Ardern with the economy now in ashes after the panic Covid-19 Lockdown . Just Saying .
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June 20, 2020 8:20am
- MCos
  
  All those polling companies are far left, including the American ones, particularly the one Fox News uses.
  
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  June 20, 2020 9:24am
  - Mike
    
    They are only ‘far left’ if one disapproves of their polling results…
    
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    June 20, 2020 9:48am
    - Two bob
      
      and democracy is only unfair when the left loses.
      
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      June 20, 2020 10:02am
  - Captain Mainwaring
    
    Things were looking pretty good for Cindy at the time the poll was taken. Then we had the border control fiasco when the story went from great PR to Cinders and Ash.
    It would be a different poll result if taken today.
    
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    June 20, 2020 10:32am
- Sir Cullen's Sidekick
  
  Let them all vote Cindy back to power and suffer. No sympathy.
  
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  June 20, 2020 12:01pm
Humble Capitalist

A family member who detests the COL with an unbeatable passion says he may not vote after the Muller appointment. I told him if he doesnt vote NAT or ACT then I dont want to hear any more moaning about Jacinda over the next few years
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June 20, 2020 8:23am
- Simon
  
  George Carlin. If you vote you have no right to complain.
  
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BroU1w5wfC0
  
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  June 20, 2020 9:13am
  - Michael NZ
    
    “don’t vote”.
    
    there fixed that for you..
    you’re welcome 🙂
    
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    June 20, 2020 10:10am
    - artemisia
      
      Fixed? Ruined more like.
      
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      June 20, 2020 7:22pm
- tf78
  
  I’ve come to the conclusion that people just say that, when push comes to shove they know the alternative is Jacinda.
  
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  June 20, 2020 9:22am
- peterwn
  
  That point is critically important. Abstaining is effectively half a vote for Jacinda. If centre-right people strongly feel they have serious issues with National on gun control, environment, law & order etc, the best way they can express these concerns is by voting ACT.
  Last time some voters chose Winston to ‘teach National a lesson’ after drinking Cam Slater’s Koolaid that Winston would never go into coalition with Labour. That badly backfired.
  
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  June 20, 2020 9:39am
  - Michael NZ
    
    mea culpa
    but i didn’t drink cam slators cool aid as i detest him.
    
    john key and bill english over years screwing over little new zealand and kicking the big things down the road did it for me.
    
    this time with soiman being labour-lite and silent on our Freedoms & toddy having no back bone with Labour-Lite next to him will see my party vote go to David Seymour.
    
    Most of those I know who shoot are doing that, so i’ll be in good company. Hopefully 250,000 company..
    
    personally i think National people should give their party vote to ACT too.
    
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    June 20, 2020 10:15am
    - the deity formerly known as nigel6888
      
      I will be. I cannot vote National, they betrayed us on the first firearms bill. Sorry Judith, will never forgive your behaviour on the Select Committee.
      
      I certainly can’t vote for a couple of back stabbing metrosexual “leaders” who clearly wouldn’t know a principle if it bit them on the arse.
      
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      June 20, 2020 9:19pm
  - Simon
    
    you can guarantee that Muller & National will be useless if they get in. Weak on crime, housing, economy & tax. (sorry its a myth about John Key & the economy. )
    
    Virtually one little income tax cut (off set by increasing GST) since Bolger government. In 20 years one slight chicken shit tax cut.
    
    Yep National will be less uesless than Ardern but useless than the less
    
    The other day some Mong from the Maori Party called Muller a racist. Did Muller even fight back??
    
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    June 20, 2020 10:15am
    - Sir Cullen's Sidekick
      
      So by giving your vote to ACT, what are you going to achieve? ACT instead of 1, will have 2 MPs. Still you won’t get a NAT-ACT gummit. It will be Cindy-Frog Shaw gummit which will do much more harm without Winnie to put the handbrake. Cindy-Frog gummit is given. Nobody, not even God can change that outcome.
      
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      June 20, 2020 12:06pm
      - Engelbert Humperdink
        
        “I am God and I disapprove of this message.”
        
        Engel here – He told me so, from a lit-up conifer.
        
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        June 20, 2020 1:31pm
    - Paulus
      
      Simon
      If Muller had fought back he would be blamed by the media for starting it.
      
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      June 20, 2020 1:43pm
- MT_Tinman
  
  HC, I would normally disagree vehemently.
  
  The right to withhold your vote is equal to the right to vote.
  
  In this case however the choice is so clear fence-sitting is laziness.
  
  The choice between continuation of the economic vandalism aimed at turning NZ into a socialist dictatorship (and economic cot case) and the chance to earn an economic recovery is vital to this country.
  
  Non-voters should be shunned!
  
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  June 20, 2020 10:06am
  - peterwn
    
    Withholding a vote is OK as long as people realise that withholding a vote is like giving half a vote to the side you consider worse.
    
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    June 20, 2020 1:29pm
Swifty

Would Maggy, Pharmachick, or anyone else who’d care to, lend me their views please on an issue that’s been bugging me for some years – and which has resurfaced again this week?

On many occasions over the years I’ve seen academics, working in our tertiary institutions, also involved in (political) advocacy activity – and it seems to me that the line between the two is opaque. To me it raises the issue of conflicts of interest and whether the taxpayer is directly or indirectly funding this advocacy work which I would have thought quite wrong.

This week we’ve seen the final reading of the second tranche of law changes following the CHC massacre (The Arms Legislation Bill) and sought for comment this week has been Hera Cook, University of Otago public health researcher and founder of Gun Control NZ:

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12341239

https://www.guncontrol.nz/mission-2

Now, if Hera Cook performs her public health research during the day and then comes home, turns on the lights in her home office and gets to work on her gun control advocacy work then who could object to that? It is nobody’s business but hers what she does in her free time and at her own cost.

But if part of her role at the university is to do with gun control research then where does her academic work stop and her advocacy work start? And are there conflicts of interest that she must manage?

If Hera Cook’s advocacy work is strictly private (like a hobby would be) then why is it listed on her Otago bio page? Would hobbies normally be listed?

https://www.otago.ac.nz/wellington/departments/publichealth/staff/otago048645.html

If gun control advocacvy work is Hera’s private activity, why are there videos of her gun control advocacy work on the Otago University’s YouTube channel showing her giving a presentation in what looks like a university lecture room?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0TDqv0Jb3AY

On the other hand, if Hera’s gun control research work is part of her university duties then should she not maintain a neutral stance on matters of policy? If her research work is objective and seen to be objective – then is it appropriate that she founds a (private) political lobby group and uses university resources to further the aims of that group? Would that not call into question the objectivity of her research? Is her work not now massively compromised?

Would this be a misuse of University and therefore taxpayer funds – to be subsidising private political lobbying in this way?

As I mentioned at the outset, I have seen this a number of times recently – university people also leading the charge on political lobbying and advocacy work and with unclear boundaries between the two.

In the last year or two during all the gender pay gap activity I saw interviews with two (I think AUT) academics who had produced volumes of (taxpayer-funded) research on the subject but who were both senior leaders of the political movement to close the gaps. (I’ll try and dig them out.)

I am a long way from reaching any conclusions about this stuff, but I would hope that we in NZ are not abusing taxpayer funds by diverting them into advocacy work performed in our tertiary institutions. Advocacy work that in every case I have seen aligns with Labour Party policy.

Grateful for your thoughts please.
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June 20, 2020 8:23am
- artemisia
  
  A glance through projects very generously funded by the Health Research Council leads one to the conclusion that BLM certainly matter when it comes to getting big taxpayer bucks.
  
  Nobody ever seems to report on which recommendations (if any) are implemented and whether outcomes (if any) match expectations. Or whether the research and reports just find their way to lists of academic publications, end of, on to the next funding application. Maybe some recommendations are taken up, but if so tell us!
  
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  June 20, 2020 9:22am
- freethinker
  
  If a portion of Hera’s costs are not included on Labours election funding return the electoral commission should be asked to investigate and the University asked to confirm Hera’s pay was proportionately reduced.
  
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  June 20, 2020 9:23am
- Mike
  
  I think you are touching on several issues there.
  She will have duties to her employer, the university, as an employee. It seems unlikely to me that her work for Gun Control NZ would impinge on that. If it did, though, that would be a matter between her and the university.
  It also does not seem that there is any inherent conflict between public health research and gun control. Gun control, of course, is a matter of public health concern.
  Lastly, we would expect academics to have considerable freedom, not just in research activity, but also in public information and even advocacy. The university has long had a role as the ‘critic and conscience of society.’
  
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  June 20, 2020 9:55am
  - Michael NZ
    
    I beg to differ Mikey
    if it supports Woke Culture or Climate Change then no conflict.
    it’s ok when the left do it.
    .
    
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    June 20, 2020 10:19am
  - greybeard
    
    “Gun control” has nothing to do with Public Health: it is 100% to do with Law.
    In the same way that Motor Vehicle licensing and usage has to do with Law, not Public Health.
    
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    June 20, 2020 10:59am
- Ruawai
  
  Ayesha Verrall standing for the Labour party is proof of this.
  
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  June 20, 2020 11:31am
- Phronesis
  
  The simple answer is what would happen if the advocacy in question was pro-gun?
  
  We all know the answer.
  
  The fact is that academia is a monoculture from top to bottom where groupthink reigns supreme. This kind of political lobbying is allowed and even encouraged because it fits the prevailing ideology. This kind of “research” is heavily politically biased anyway and it’s impossible to separate the ideology out. The only answer is to defund it completely.
  
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  June 20, 2020 12:49pm
  - Pharmachick
    
    Yeah…. thanks for that
    /s
    
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    June 20, 2020 1:43pm
    - Phronesis
      
      So Pharmachick, point me to a single pro gun lobbyist in any University in Australasia.
      
      I suspect you have very little experience of how Universities actually function outside of your own faculty. The woman in question here has a PhD in modern history.
      
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      June 20, 2020 5:38pm
      - Pharmachick
        
        “I suspect you have very little experience of how universities function outside your own faculty”
        
        Since I have worked in THREE faculties (Science, Medicine, Pharmaceutical Sciences), previously married to an academic Engineer (Civil, structural) and current partner sits on the council of Deans [that’s ALL faculties, just to be clear], your suspicions are incorrect.
        
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        June 21, 2020 8:10am
      - Pharmachick
        
        PS UNSW Professor Tom Frame – a farmer and sporting gun enthusiast:
        https://www.unsw.adfa.edu.au/what-can-us-learn-australian-gun-reform
        
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        June 21, 2020 8:13am
- Pharmachick
  
  It’s complicated.
  
  I can speak as a private citizen, but must be clear that my views are my own and I am not speaking for the university. That includes this Blog.
  
  Likewise, I can consult for industry in a private capacity up to 8 hrs per week (that’s my institutional limit in the faculty contract), averaged per annum, as a private expert. Disclaimer: I do this on occasion.
  
  Similarly, I can advise government (disclaimer: I am currently doing so for Public Health Agency of Canada) related to my specific area of expertise if tapped for expert opinion. When one signs on to advise the provincial/State or Federal government (I am doing this in Canada and have previously done so the US) the conflict of interest forms run to 10 or more pages. We have to disclose ALL our research funding, stock and options, nominal ownerships, paid work for ANY entity, unpaid volunteer ships and advocacy, what’s in our pension funds, and same for immediate family members (spouse, children).
  
  Where the line could get blurry (but it shouldn’t) is when the $ kick in. Most basic taxpayer funded research is fairly apolitical, but there are conflict of interest (both actual AND implied) sections where similar [but more limited] than the government disclosures are certified. The other side that can get sticky if one is not BRUTALLY honest and careful is accepting industry or other group sponsorship. (Disclaimer: I have accepted monies from drug and biotech companies). In those cases we have to explicitly certify that the monies are not overlapping with any other funding (i.e. no double dipping) and also the forms are as long as for government AND usually there’s binding contractual language where one can actually be prosecuted for direct fabrication and/or lying by omission.
  
  Any academic worth their salt, always discloses these real OR IMPLIED conflicts of interests. As I have done above, even on a Blog. There should be a real distinction between raw academic research, which is neutral and hypothesis testing (in my case, in the case of qualitative research its descriptive), and advocacy which involves an element of opinion. But if you have a reputation for good raw research, your opinion may be sought out by advocacy groups. Each person has to decide their bright-line on that.
  
  Does that answer your question?
  
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  June 20, 2020 1:01pm
- Maggy Wassilieff
  
  @Swifty
  
  I’m long time removed from Academia and was only in the employ of a University as a relieving Lecturer for 6 weeks (in the Geography Dept, VUW), so Pharmachick presents a more hands-on answer.
  
  Whilst Universities have always had a role to play in informing the public of the implications of research, there is no doubt that some university staff are much more involved in advocacy than they were a few decades back.
  
  Partly, that is because topics such as Environmental advocacy, Science policy, Public health advocacy are taught as subjects in their own right.
  
  40 years ago I was very apprehensive about including a chapter on Land-use planning in my thesis on Plant dynamics in the Marlborough Sounds. It was a subjective chapter, rather distinct from the objective data collection and analysis chapters, but as the MS Maritime Park Board had funded my research, they needed some bang for their buck$.
  
  Nowadays, if researchers are going to be successful with grant funding, they are not only expected to outline how their research will benefit some aspect of society/ the environment, they are actively encouraged to show how they engage with stake-holders and how they plan to deliver their outcomes.
  
  I’m least worried by folks like Hera Cook who clearly identify their membership of a lobby/interest group and whose research stands or falls on its own merits.
  
  I’m more worried by Academics who pontificate on topics well out of their research fields… and even more worried by Science-communicators/science journalists who lack the skills/knowledge to critique the research they write about.
  
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  June 20, 2020 3:39pm
  - Pharmachick
    
    “I’m more worried by Academics who pontificate on topics well out of their research fields… and even more worried by Science-communicators/science journalists who lack the skills/knowledge to critique the research they write about”
    Maggy Wassilieff
    
    Very much THIS! Me too (no hashtags).
    
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    June 20, 2020 3:49pm
  - Swifty
    
    Thanks all, particularly Maggy and Pharmachick.
    
    I guess if we’ve reached the point where our tertiary institutions have become engine rooms for political advocacy then political parties benefiting from that advocacy have every reason to divert ever-increasing amounts of taxpayer funds into those institutions.
    
    Why is this not considered a form of corruption?
    
    I can see too that the reputations of those institutions, or at least the relevant departments, can become sullied as when information comes from them the public don’t know which hat the authors are wearing – their academic hat or their advocacy hat.
    
    Their research is now suspect too. What is the likelihood that an academic publishes research which runs counter to their advocacy intentions? How much will their research work become influenced by their advocacy intentions? Is it not the case that if the NZ government wants neutral, independent, objective research on firearms matters then they cannot now go to Hera Cook for it as she is clearly conflicted.
    
    And again I ask (to no-one in particular) should the resources of our public institutions (education or otherwise) be used for political advocacy? Advocacy that nearly always seems to benefit one side of the political spectrum in NZ?
    
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    June 20, 2020 4:17pm
I remember when

So Hilary appears on Seven Sharp, a show that asks viewers to give them feedback.
Geoff thinks that Seven Sharp is a news programme so thinks dress standards should be in line with the BBC.
Unfortunately, Geoff misunderstands that feedback isn’t the same as criticism. So his Facebook feedback to Seven Sharp is poorly worded, and although mild, is considered sexist.
If Jeremy had worn an off one shoulder shirt I have no doubt the complaint/feedback would have been acceptable.
Geoff thought he was giving feedback to Seven Sharp, which he was, and didn’t understand it was public property.
Then his comments on Facebook, the property of Seven Sharp, were placed in the public arena. This is an area was perhaps more clearly defined in the days of letters.
To be fair to Geoff his surname was redacted, but not his image because it was necessary to show Geoff, that this sort of thing would not be tolerated. Also who was in control.
The media are constantly commenting on the problems of bullying but social media is regularly used for this purpose. It is so easy to just uptick without thinking matters though thoroughly. It’s only a little ‘like’ after all.
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June 20, 2020 8:25am
- Jules99
  
  This whole ‘people shouldn’t judge you by what you wear’ has been a feature of the NZ fashion scene for a while. The reality is, people do judge you by what you wear and how you speak. We know that when we put our best foot forward (and suit) for job interviews, and other times when it really matters. If you want to be taken seriously, dress accordingly.
  
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  June 20, 2020 9:47am
  - Durden
    
    Hilary apparently said “I’ll wear what I like, when I like,” suggesting that Geoff had no right to comment
    
    I think she is wrong. She can wear anything — but in her personal time. Not at work. The comment is about what she was wearing on a prime time TV slot. If TVNZ believed that off the shoulder was ok and Hilary went ahead, the general public, who pay TVNZ salaries, have every right to comment and say whatever they want.
    
    18 4
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    June 20, 2020 10:26am
    - Benedict Yu
      
      The public do not pay TVNZ salaries. It is not state funded.
      
      6 1
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      June 20, 2020 11:42am
      - Jack5
        
        Benedict says TVNZ isn’t State funded. Yeah, but …
        
        The State owns TVNZ, the State is forgoing dividends from it at present, and State cash helps TVNZ via NZ on Air funds for independent TV producers.
        
        However, advertising provided 94.4 per cent of TVNZ revenue its 2018-2019 financial year.
        
        2 0
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        June 20, 2020 5:45pm
    - Hollyfield
      
      She wouldn’t last 2 minutes in my workplace if that’s what she thinks is appropriate business attire.
      
      5 0
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      June 20, 2020 4:22pm
      - Observer of Life
        
        Talk about bully poor “Geoff”. Very professional Hilary Barry (sarc) and then to post a pic of herself in a swimsuit (clearly in her own time – not at work) shows it’s more about her ego than anything else. She has dropped to yet another level in my opinion. Clearly this is all OK by TVNZ management. I guess they like this kind of sniping .. good click bait. What a sad world we have become.
        
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        June 20, 2020 5:38pm
- Mike
  
  ‘Geoff’ and his ilk getting upset about a TV presenter wearing an off-the-shoulder top. That’s some Jordan Peterson-level craziness right there.
  
  5 28
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  June 20, 2020 9:56am
  - Tall Man
    
    No one said he was “upset”.
    
    He expressed an opinion as you and others do everyday.
    
    17 3
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    June 20, 2020 10:36am
  - kowtow
    
    Geoff and his ilk are guilty of wrong think .
    
    And therefor must be punished , by public humiliation ,aka “bullying” the very thing the Media Party, leftists, feminists etc pretend to stand against.
    
    10 2
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    June 20, 2020 1:10pm
- Michael NZ
  
  I would love it if Hilary kept to her knitting.
  They are good entertainers some time and when they aren’y woke.
  
  6 4
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  June 20, 2020 10:21am
Swifty

RIP Ian Holm

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ian_Holm
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June 20, 2020 8:31am
G152

Just had a marvelous idea.
On every hour all media should have news bulletins.
You know the sort of thing.
An important item that affects every-one first.
Then local newsworthy items followed by, wait for it, weather
Then foreign news and then and only then the next 5 minutes are the waffle words where the fake news can get its rocks off in a space dedicated to fake news and signaled as such
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June 20, 2020 8:32am
mark15

Saturday.I woke up breathing and there were no BLM riots down my street.
Sorted!
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June 20, 2020 8:34am
Lee C

Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
National announces its plans for electoral domination:
https://youtu.be/Fd53_7n-OlA
3 38
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June 20, 2020 8:40am
- Captain Mainwaring
  
  Another worried Labour fanboy makes stuff up.
  That clip could well be a symbol of the week Cindy has just had.
  
  51 1
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  June 20, 2020 8:47am
  - freethinker
    
    Capt – I think/hope that last weeks clusterfuck over Covid 19 is an electoral turning point, judging by the coalition of clowns reactions I suspect their internal polling is not good news.
    
    25 1
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    June 20, 2020 9:28am
    - Ruawai
      
      A friend with no political leanings or interest in politics said yesterday “I think Labour just lost the election”
      
      18 0
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      June 20, 2020 11:32am
      - Hollyfield
        
        Also interesting the sheer number of negative comments I’ve observed from my work colleagues who have previously made no secret of their support for Labour.
        
        4 0
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        June 20, 2020 4:24pm
- Luke Piewalker
  
  Labour sinking the NZ economy.
  Fixed it for you.
  
  50 1
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  June 20, 2020 8:51am
- herb1
  
  Jacinda Ardern “spray and walk away’
  
  49 1
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  June 20, 2020 8:57am
  - Tall Man
    
    Spway and woke away!
    
    24 1
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    June 20, 2020 10:20am
- surfing
  
  Labour had this election in the bag. . .
  
  That is, until they allowed international arrivals infected with covid-19 to wander the nation untested.
  
  Then, finding out labour were lying about testing all the time. Meaning 5 million kiwis are at risk of a new lockdown.
  
  I’ve rarely seen such anger at a NZ government.
  
  71 1
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  June 20, 2020 9:02am
  - Lance
    
    Not to worry, various MSM are pulling surveys out of their arses to prove NZ loves everything Labour are doing, even now.
    Honest….. would they lie to you?
    
    39 1
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    June 20, 2020 9:38am
Loddenthinks

Very pleased to see the EPL back on our screens, especially since Spurs are up 1-0 over Man United as i write this.

What I’m really disappointed to see is the “Black Lives Matter” on everyone’s shirt, and the “spontaneous” taking a knee before the game by everyone. To me it seems like they’re bending the knee to violent thugs that want to destroy the system that allows these privileged ball-kickers to earn eye-watering amounts of money.

I’d be very happy to see shirt messages condemning racism, you know – like the Kick Racism Out campaign that’s been running for some time now.
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June 20, 2020 8:49am
- oldfella
  
  How about shirts with the slogan: Every Life Matters – Kick Racism Out’?
  That would seem to cover everything.
  
  27 1
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  June 20, 2020 8:52am
  - Paulus Gnome
    
    How about shirts with just a number on rather than a field of moving hoardings?
    
    28 2
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    June 20, 2020 9:33am
    - Michael NZ
      
      Paulus, Absolutely yes!
      
      10 2
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      June 20, 2020 10:23am
    - kowtow
      
      Whoredings.
      
      4 0
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      June 20, 2020 1:13pm
- Simon
  
  Anyone watching this woke shit sport is a mug. Because if you accept this shit from a sports team you will be on your knees next.
  
  When the All Blacks become the All Rainbows that will be it as well.
  
  28 3
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  June 20, 2020 9:11am
  - igm
    
    This bullshit Ayotearower creeping into the game has driven away more than they realise.
    
    17 4
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    June 20, 2020 11:25am
    - Mike
      
      A sold-out crowd at Eden Park last week indicates differently.
      
      3 11
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      June 20, 2020 12:39pm
      - Batman
        
        And I’m very much looking forward to the Canes bouncing back against the cocksaders tomorrow.
        
        Igm is just mad that people don’t hate all things Maori like he does.
        
        3 12
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        June 20, 2020 12:44pm
    - MT_Tinman
      
      IGM, Not half as many as the game itself.
      
      I, for one, will not start watching NZ rugby again until the rugby referees’ outfit starts recruiting deaf mutes for their televised games.
      
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      June 20, 2020 1:12pm
  - kowtow
    
    Well they already did that with the boot laces.
    
    1 0
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    June 20, 2020 1:14pm
  - Loddenthinks
    
    Absolutely I’m a mug for watching it, but not because it’s a woke shit sport, whatever the hell that means.
    
    I’m a mug for watching and supporting Spurs for 37 years since I first went to White Hart Lane. What a day that was – Spurs 5, Arsenal 0. That was pretty much the high point, it’s been mostly dire since.
    
    1 0
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    June 20, 2020 3:59pm
  - NeverMindTheBollocks
    
    All Blacks Lives Matter?
    
    2 1
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    June 20, 2020 6:11pm
lazza

Week One of the election run up: Nats … 8/10 … Lab mob et al … 2/10
32 1
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June 20, 2020 8:49am
Two bob

another day another woke clown trying to rename a place.
foveux straight in the firing line now, some twat at the opposite end of the country has started his virtue signaling campaign. when will this crap stop and how long before they get a phonebook and start targeting surnames?

im totally over this crap and beginning to get angered by the stupidity of it all.
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June 20, 2020 8:49am
- Steve Otto(North Shore)
  
  Seems to be some fuckwit from Auckland named Robert Felton
  
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  June 20, 2020 9:32am
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    https://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/destinations/121881004/auckland-man-starts-campaign-to-change-foveaux-strait-name#comments.
    Poorly written by Damian Rowe. “1987 book “The Fatal Shore”, written by Australian author Robert Hughes during lockdown.”
    How the hell do you write a 1987 book during lockdown?
    
    16 2
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    June 20, 2020 9:41am
    - Jack5
      
      Robert Felton should go to Southland and tell Bluffies the strait’s name should be changed. He would be wise to have a return ticket to Auckland.
      
      However, the Geographic Place Names Board, now called the “New Zealand Geographic Board Nga Pou Taunaha o Aotearoa”, is a worry. It’s disproportionately Maori, and has been Maorifying place names flat tack.
      
      Four of the ten board members are Maori and four of the five official observers are either Maori or represent Maori.
      
      The board says in its annual report:
      
      We consider place name proposals from Te Arawhiti [The Office of Maori Crown Relations] as part of the Treaty of Waitangi claims settlement process.
      
      Restoring traditional Maori place names through Treaty settlements provides visible recognition for a claimant group. It recognises their special relationship with the natural environment and commemorates ancestors and significant events that connect them to those places.
      
      In the board’ s2019-2020 annual report, the chairman, the Surveyor-General, Anselm Haanen, says:
      
      “I am particularly pleased that we made official 823 commonly-used Maori place names, including over 300 with macrons, using the fast track process.”
      
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      June 20, 2020 12:25pm
- Liberty
  
  Anyone above the Bombay hills know where the “foveux straight” is?
  
  26 2
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  June 20, 2020 9:32am
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    Only Robert Felton
    
    21 2
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    June 20, 2020 9:33am
  - Paulus Gnome
    
    It is the bit of road after the last bend leading to Foveaux Strait
    
    15 1
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    June 20, 2020 9:36am
    - G152
      
      Just rename foveux straight foveux gay and no problems
      
      8 0
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      June 20, 2020 12:53pm
  - Lance
    
    Considering I grew up next to it… yeah
    
    And Robert Felton is a twat
    
    20 1
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    June 20, 2020 9:41am
- Jimmy White
  
  Once they start suggesting renaming streets and removing Portraits it will open up a huge can of worei.
  
  9 1
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  June 20, 2020 10:55am
- igm
  
  Are you talking about that woke benign Com of Police yesterday?
  
  8 1
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  June 20, 2020 11:26am
Bobba Fret

Swing low sweet chariot, and an ex UK MP complaining about Coco Pops being racist due to the monkey…….the word has gone crazy.
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June 20, 2020 8:59am
- Benedict Yu
  
  In Australia they want to rename “COON Cheese” an iconic brand of Australian cheese.
  
  23 1
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  June 20, 2020 9:23am
  - Vallager
    
    you can possibly see why
    
    1 27
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    June 20, 2020 10:06am
    - Nickc2
      
      Are you suggesting the family whose name is applied to their brand of cheese should change their sir-name?
      Get real!
      
      16 0
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      June 20, 2020 10:36am
    - kowtow
      
      Why ?
      
      1 0
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      June 20, 2020 1:35pm
    - Benedict Yu
      
      There are 36 people in the Australian White Pages named “Coon”. As most people are no longer listed in the White Pages these days, the number is much greater than that. Are you saying they should all change their names?
      
      https://www.whitepages.com.au/residential/results?name=coon&location=Nationally&whiterabbit=29XYhdWflmNh1Di21nhEIH%2F7Ulaz5KYGNPEIqVrmAMM%3D&page=4
      
      6 0
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      June 20, 2020 1:52pm
      - Hard Cheese
        
        They need to rename the White Pages….appalling discrimination.
        
        8 0
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        June 20, 2020 3:36pm
- Old White Loser
  
  The last time Swing Low Sweet Chariot was banned was by Nazi Germany.
  
  In 1939, Nazi Germany’s Reich Music Examination Office added the song to a listing of “undesired and harmful” musical works.
  
  36 1
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  June 20, 2020 9:28am
  - Paulus Gnome
    
    Remind me again, how did that end?
    
    Were any lessons learned?
    
    26 1
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    June 20, 2020 9:37am
    - Loddenthinks
      
      1. Badly
      
      2. Clearly not
      
      6 0
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      June 20, 2020 4:02pm
  - Lance
    
    That is sooooooooo funny LOL
    
    Considering the woke crowd are probably going to burn books next, the parallels are airily similar
    
    23 1
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    June 20, 2020 9:43am
    - Ruawai
      
      The woke crowd are just like the Nazis only they don’t see it that way, banning free speech and ideas. These same people probably consider themselves the most liberal.
      
      11 1
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      June 20, 2020 11:34am
- Ruahine
  
  Monkeys are racist.
  
  26 1
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  June 20, 2020 9:32am
  - Michael NZ
    
    so are baboons and gorillas.
    
    11 2
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    June 20, 2020 10:25am
- All_on_Red
  
  Swing Low was written by a freed slave after the Civil War and was made famous by a Black singing group
  Shrugs
  
  26 1
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  June 20, 2020 9:51am
- mark15
  
  BF ex MP and ex lawyer too.
  
  1 1
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  June 20, 2020 11:39am
- cas
  
  Well my good news for the day is that there are still lots of packets of Uncle Ben’s rice on sale at the local supermarket today. So I bought some.
  
  3 0
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  June 20, 2020 1:07pm
Inandout

The only time you should kneel is when getting a knighthood and on a comfortable cushion.
https://www.itv.com/news/anglia/2019-02-26/sir-alastair-cook-receives-knighthood-from-the-queen/
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June 20, 2020 9:03am
- Michael NZ
  
  and before a Lady!
  
  10 2
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  June 20, 2020 10:26am
- Ruawai
  
  # inandout or prayer.
  
  2 1
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  June 20, 2020 11:35am
lazza

Read the stellar credentials of the slain Police Officer Constable Hunt… and compare them with the profile of the low life killer … when they come to hand.

Take a stab now based on: …

ethnicity-education- prior convictions or encounters with the law- family background-one or two parent child home-life- income or beneficiary status- gang affiliations-substance abuse particularly “P” etc etc
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June 20, 2020 9:07am
- Jack5
  
  The murdered policeman is a young white man.
  
  What if the killer proves to be non-white? What if he was influenced, even inflamed, by the Black Lives Matter marchers in Auckland?
  
  41 2
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  June 20, 2020 9:29am
  - Inandout
    
    Jack5, the next thing you will be saying is the policeman knew the offender.
    
    6 1
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    June 20, 2020 9:42am
  - septic skeptic
    
    I assume that if that’s the case that evidence will get permanent suppression.
    
    8 2
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    June 20, 2020 10:48am
- kevn
  
  One of the problems is that a police uniform can be considered a force field and will be respected.
  Unfortunately.
  
  4 4
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  June 20, 2020 9:32am
- Jules99
  
  Gosh, he’d achieved a lot in his short 28 years – a man with much potential taken from us.
  
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  June 20, 2020 9:55am
igm

What will this “Stuff” come out with next to get their share of taxpayers’ millions?
This surely is bullshit:
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/300038718/kiwis-feeling-jacindamania-in-new-poll-while-national-faces-mullermehtum
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June 20, 2020 9:07am
- SB2
  
  igm, note the news item states” kiwis feeling…” which does not include obvious minorities like your self!
  
  3 27
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  June 20, 2020 9:22am
  - Tall Man
    
    Nor the “disturbed” I would imagine.
    
    9 3
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    June 20, 2020 10:16am
- Inandout
  
  igm, worry not as the Jacindaites are glued to mobiles and will stay glued unless someone forces their arm to make a voting ‘tick’. Little wonder the left wants us to vote online, right up the warriors’ alley.
  
  15 2
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  June 20, 2020 9:34am
- Ruahine
  
  After the nasty things that they have been saying about our poor hardworking Cindy, word has come down that they need to realign their thinking or no more $50 million for them.
  
  19 2
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  June 20, 2020 9:35am
- Ruawai
  
  Strangely this poll was May 15-20, so finished before Muller was elected leader, so it is odd that he was mentioned in the article. Poll also a month before qurantinegate.
  
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  June 20, 2020 11:38am
SB2

“Australian man jailed for anti-Muslim posts and threats to kill Jacinda Ardern”

https://www.stuff.co.nz/world/australia/300038789/

I see the offender has been jailed for 10 months where he will be required to undergo mental health treatment.

Interesting! I’ve often wondered whether Islamaphobia and Jacindaphobia are in fact simply mental health problems .
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June 20, 2020 9:18am
- peterwn
  
  He was already remanded in custody for 9 and a half months so will be out in a few weeks but still has to receive therapy. Wonder if he will be picked up from jail in a stretch limo with motorcycle escort.
  
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  June 20, 2020 9:47am
  - Engelbert Humperdink
    
    And yet every month in NZ and Australia people who have actually gone ahead and, y’know, actually killed other people – don’t get jail time.
    
    I know, right?
    
    FFS.
    
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    June 20, 2020 5:33pm
- Tall Man
  
  jacindamania certainly is.
  
  19 1
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  June 20, 2020 10:15am
- Jack5
  
  The Soviet Union blazed the trail in using psychiatric treatment to rein in dissidents.
  
  For evidence see “Russia’s Political Hospitals,” by Sidney Bloch and Peter Reddaway (Victor Gollancz, 1977).
  
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  June 20, 2020 12:48pm
I remember when

An article in the ‘Dominion’ relating to the killing of Antipodean Albatross.
The article refers to the catching of four/five by one vessel and highlights the problem the interaction between trawlers and seabirds causes.
Unfortunately, albatross, and other seabirds, and trawlers are very much like cats and refrigerators.
There are regulations that boats have to follow and Forest & Bird and the fishing industry are often at variance on the severity of these.
The New Zealand fishing industry is considered a leader in this field and research into prevention of these deaths is ongoing.
Different seabirds fish in different ways so these all have to be considered when regulating. The diving feeders as opposed to surface feeders. There is also a problem when trawls are being brought onto the boat as many birds are opportunistic.
This is a difficult problem and measures include – only setting lines at night, streamers to control birds behaviour and not being able to discharge fish waste in a way that causes danger for seabirds.
It is an ongoing matter and albatross because of there southern hemisphere presence, long life and breeding habits are a big part of this problem.
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June 20, 2020 9:27am
SB2

Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
Least Covid Pandemic fatigue sets in its time to bring climate change back into the kb arena

92% of Greenlanders attest to the reality of cliamte change in their homeland.

https://www.yaleclimateconnections.org/2019/10/92-percent-of-greenlands-residents-believe-climate-change-is-happening/

The best proof in this case is expereince . Here at home in Auckland climes for example winter has virtually disappeared is another one.
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June 20, 2020 9:28am
- Tall Man
  
  FFS, winter hasn’t even set in yet.
  
  Open your windows in July and see what you see.
  
  21 2
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  June 20, 2020 10:14am
- Durden
  
  Oh no ! Is that Stephie Boy back again under a new name ?
  
  23 1
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  June 20, 2020 11:00am
- Benedict Yu
  
  It has not disappeared in Christchurch. This June has been noticeably colder than last winter.
  
  12 1
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  June 20, 2020 11:49am
- Loddenthinks
  
  Believing something is not the same as “attesting to its reality”.
  
  For example, many people believe in one or many gods. That doesn’t prove that any of those gods are in fact real.
  
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  June 20, 2020 4:07pm
- Parnell Gun Club
  
  The ice age is coming.
  
  4 0
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  June 20, 2020 4:59pm
Old White Loser

Will Jacinda get angry with TVNZ for laying off staff after taking the wage subsidy and getting a large grant from the government?
52 2
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June 20, 2020 9:30am
- Inandout
  
  owl, why do we need two news presenters when just one carried the news for decades, and perhaps more importantly why does the taxpayer have to carry these shows?
  
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  June 20, 2020 10:35am
  - Hollyfield
    
    I think having one presenter is a very small step towards returning the news to being an informative presentation, instead of two people using the “news” as a vehicle for social banter. I want to know the news, not see the presenters chit-chat and opinions that nobody except themselves cares about.
    
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    June 20, 2020 4:30pm
- Benedict Yu
  
  I hope so. I like seeing her angry.
  
  5 1
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  June 20, 2020 11:51am
  - sooty
    
    But which one will they keep?
    The one with, or the one with out!
    
    1 0
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    June 20, 2020 12:55pm
- Loddenthinks
  
  Only if she’s talking frankly. That’s the key.
  
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  June 20, 2020 4:07pm
MCos

“There are decades where nothing happens; and there are weeks where decades happen”
V. Lenin

Seems a long time ago since last weekend.
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June 20, 2020 9:30am
- Tall Man
  
  Probably why a “positive poll” for ardern was a must.
  
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  June 20, 2020 10:11am
  - MCos
    
    Probably
    
    3 0
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    June 20, 2020 12:50pm
  - sooty
    
    If the poll was taken in may 19/20, they have been sitting on it to release at the best time.
    After all it was a month ago!
    
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    June 20, 2020 12:58pm
lazza

add to the list (below) …his history of mental illness of the killer’s CV

Take a stab now based on killers background: … his

ethnicity-education- prior convictions or encounters with the law- family background-one or two parent child home-life- income or beneficiary status- gang affiliations-substance abuse particularly “P” etc etc
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June 20, 2020 9:40am
- chaos
  
  How about we do none of that and let the courts do their job without the public making up shit
  
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  June 20, 2020 10:00am
  - Tall Man
    
    I agree with your sentiment but …….. it seems these days that the courts don’t do their job in line with the expectations of the public so how will they get the message unless the public push back?
    
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    June 20, 2020 10:12am
    - Michael NZ
      
      TM
      Isn’t that why we had 3 strikes Act which the Judiciary are corrupting.
      
      5 2
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      June 20, 2020 10:57am
    - chaos
      
      In the case of a police officer being shot and another killed I’m sure you will find the courts will do their job. People should focus on the police and the families.
      
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      June 20, 2020 11:32am
  - MCos
    
    Rather than concern oneself with what we don’t know here is a list of previous police killed by criminal acts.
    Most of the perpetrators are named if anyone insists on profiling the offenders.
    Maybe not quite what you think.
    https://www.police.govt.nz/about-us/history-and-museum/memorial/officers-killed-criminal-acts?nondesktop
    
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    June 20, 2020 10:24am
    - fernglas
      
      Deranged white men, disproportionately from the Continent?
      
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      June 20, 2020 11:28am
Tall Man

Sorry to labour the point but the following exchange occurred late yesterday and I have reposted because there are a couple of issues that I feel need to be resolved.

“[Mod: get that temper under control if you don’t want a holiday for abusive comments.]

Tall Man
No temper and your comment is offensive suggesting that.

The term “media whore” is an acceptable phrase for someone who pushes herself/himself at every opportunity.

[Mod: no it isn’t. Try us again and we’ll not have much mercy.]”

Now that was in the thread on Hilary Barry and I used the term in question directed at her. I felt it was appropriate, my opinion, and it is not in the list of “naughty” words and has in fact been used before by myself and others.

The warning for abuse citing my “temper” was equally abusive, in my opinion, as I was certainly not not angry and I have no need to get my “temper” under control. Had the mod left the post and deleted the phrase in contention then others would have clearly seen anger was not a factor here at all. Thus we have a mod labeling me as something I am certainly not.

This is not the first time this has happened and it is not the first time I have objected.

Now I understand that we are not permitted to abuse other posters but FFS, half the comments at times are abusing ardern, Muller and many others so I am confused.

Last week on the Pike River thread I posted that little was also a liar like most of the coalition. That was also deleted yet it was a clearly humourous post.

So how about a bit of clarification here please. Is the rule now that no abuse of anyone will be tolerated or is it just Hilary Barry that is protected?
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June 20, 2020 10:08am
- Michael NZ
  
  [Mod: Mods and DPF have approved a one month suspension for threatening the blog owner with court action.]
  
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  June 20, 2020 10:55am
- Michael NZ
  
  Ever wonder Tall Man, whether any of your downticks come from Mods??
  
  Conflict of Interest perhaps or personal animosity??
  Sadly, those who don’t get tarred with the same brush.
  
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  June 20, 2020 11:00am
  - Batman
    
    The fact we approve comments like this, shows that your claims are silly, Michael.
    
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    June 20, 2020 12:11pm
    - Loddenthinks
      
      I’m a bit confused – there are two comments above from Michael NZ. One is timed at 10:55 a.m. and contains a comment from the Mods in brackets, suggesting that he (Michael NZ) had earned a month’s suspension for threatening DPF with court action.
      
      Just below it is a comment from the same poster at 11:00 a.m. which you responded to.
      
      Is he suspended or not? Is he a mod, and it was him making the comment?
      
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      June 20, 2020 4:20pm
      - chaos
        
        You’ll find the comment was held in moderation while the mods and David talked and then he went on holiday for a month
        
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        June 20, 2020 6:18pm
  - chaos
    
    Who cares if they do, mods comment on here as well, they should be free to uptick and downtick and comment.
    
    [Mod: As the moderator who approved this post, I concur]
    
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    June 20, 2020 12:25pm
  - Tall Man
    
    I think it is possible if they are wearing their blogger hat and I don’t have a problem with that. I downtick Batman sometimes and other time I uptick.
    
    Can’t help him with his TDS though, he’s a basket case in that regard 😉
    
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    June 20, 2020 12:44pm
    - Batman
      
      And TM it’s not unheard of for me to uptick you as well. Shocking news for some I am sure haha.
      
      As for the TDS, I’m just here for the MAGA tears when the cesspool drains itself into electoral oblivion.
      
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      June 20, 2020 12:46pm
      - Tall Man
        
        We’ll see Batman, we’ll see.
        
        I for one couldn’t give a toss either way really but am very concerned about 19 September for NZ, in case you hadn’t noticed.
        
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        June 20, 2020 1:18pm
      - Batman
        
        We will see, and that’s the sport of politics.
        
        Yeah this year for NZ will be interesting. National is an outside chance so the best outcome is (and it hurts me to say this) NZF survive and the Greens don’t make it back.
        
        Lab/NZF coalition.
        
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        June 20, 2020 1:21pm
- cmm
  
  Tall Man
  
  I do find it odd that I can often say stuff that you’d get moderated for.
  
  I must agree, media whoring is a well understood phrase and does not imply that the person works in the red light district. It means, and has always meant, doing anything you can to get your face in the media.
  
  Mz “I am the news” Barry’s continual performances would, in my humble opinion, be a textbook example.
  
  I’ve only been moderated twice: once for the way I referred to the Mz Ardern and the second for refering to Sroubek’s choice of gardening equipment.
  
  The first was fair enough and I later apologised to DPF for blighting his blog. The second I thought was a bit OTT, but I was not going to challenge it since it did not detract from the post.
  
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  June 20, 2020 11:10am
  - Batman
    
    CMM, the lawnmower stuff gets deleted because it roots back to a baseless theory about drug use which is untrue.
    
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    June 20, 2020 1:04pm
    - cmm
      
      So what’s the standard then?
      
      Should any unsubstantiated statement be moderated?
      
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      June 20, 2020 2:09pm
- chaos
  
  Media whore is an acceptable phrase that is used quite often on this website by many people and not moderated, maybe you annoyed the mod?
  
  Even David uses it
  
  https://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/2010/04/a_new_record_for_nz_media_whore.html
  
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  June 20, 2020 11:36am
  - Mike
    
    ‘Media whore’ only refers to someone desperate to get coverage by the media. It doesn’t really apply to someone working as part of the media.
    
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    June 20, 2020 12:44pm
    - Tall Man
      
      Rubbish mikey.
      
      Someone “on screen” for their job who then uses every opportunity to gain exposure outside that role would qualify, in my opinion.
      
      However, that’s not the point of my post and I’m certain you’re aware of that.
      
      My opinion is my opinion but the deletion of the comment due to the term being used and then being told to “control my temper” is the problem for me and so far that hasn’t been addressed.
      
      “Mod was having a bad day” is a possible maybe 😉
      
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      June 20, 2020 1:24pm
    - cmm
      
      Barry’s constant “look at me” efforts surely make the threshold of to someone desperate to get coverage by the media.
      
      Whether or not that person is in the media is surely irrelevant because the little cameo pieces have nothing to do with her job in the media.
      
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      June 20, 2020 2:11pm
  - Tall Man
    
    I know, that’s why I have objected as what you and CMM say is correct and in my opinion the shoe did fit.
    
    I do think I receive a heavier hand at times than is necessary which I why I threw this out there to extract comments from others and the mods.
    
    I just want clarity and even handed treatment and a bit less of the stupid “grow up” or “temper control” comments, especially when they are grossly inaccurate and insulting.
    
    I have no problem with receiving abuse if I am able to respond, sadly today, like in the footy, the reaction receives more punishment than the original action 🙂
    
    I have responded to some childish abuse from others only to have my comment deleted while the initial insult remains.
    
    I do accept that I am polarising but so what, treat me the same is all I ask whether you agree or not after all, you don’t know me 😉
    
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    June 20, 2020 12:50pm
  - Michael NZ
    
    so mods are capricious?
    
    Is that fair and Just?
    
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    June 21, 2020 11:18pm
Lance

Opps.. inconvenient truth

Muhammad was a slave owner and slave trade enabler
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-eiR9B-MGU

I am curious on how pin head dancing will cover this up?
Odd the woke crowd haven’t called for an expunging of Muhammad from history, especially since he is considered the perfect man and an example for all to follow?
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June 20, 2020 10:10am
- Tall Man
  
  Slavery is still common throughout the muslim world, it’s just be relabeled marriage 😉
  
  Seriously though, slavery is not uncommon as displayed by ISIS.
  
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  June 20, 2020 10:38am
- Michael NZ
  
  thanks for reminding us Lance
  
  on the west coast of africa, the intermediaries between the western customers and africa were muslims.
  on the east coast of africa it was the muslims as it is today….
  
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  June 20, 2020 10:44am
  - SB2
    
    Michael NZ , sorry you are wrong, There is a deluge of historical evidence the Europeans were actively complicit and colluding in the African slave trade,
    
    https://www.britannica.com/topic/transatlantic-slave-trade
    
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    June 20, 2020 1:31pm
- cmm
  
  Well since people are not allowed to make an image of Mohammed, there are no statues to rip down.
  
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  June 20, 2020 11:11am
  - Lance
    
    But there are lots of books (wink wink)
    
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    June 20, 2020 11:29am
- SB2
  
  Lance, so were many of the founding father’s slave owners,
  
  https://www.britannica.com/topic/The-Founding-Fathers-and-Slavery-1269536
  
  Thoughts?
  
  BTW Western and Christian feudalism imposed virtual slavery over Villiens!
  
  https://www.britannica.com/topic/The-Founding-Fathers-and-Slavery-1269536
  
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  June 20, 2020 1:25pm
  - Lance
    
    And all the Maori chiefs at the signing of the ToW
    
    Odd you forgot to mention them?
    
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    June 20, 2020 2:29pm
  - cmm
    
    We’re surely all going to agree that the standards of 250 years ago, and the Middle Ages, are different to what they are today. Practices then would be unacceptable today and rightly so.
    
    When you draw a parallel between the West in the Middle Ages and Islam then what you’re really saying is that Islam belongs in the Middle Ages and is incompatible with modern Western culture.
    
    After all, what is culture? It is nothing more than that which springs from a set of values.
    
    By saying “what about Villiens” you’re trying to freeze the West in the Middle Ages which is grossly incorrect. At that time slavery was common everywhere and was just part of the human condition. Just picking on Western slavery at the time is disingenuous – there was slavery everywhere.
    
    Why not consider the changes in the West from then until now?
    
    For instance, what about the British putting their military resources (Navy and Army) into fighting to end slavery in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Thousands of sailors and soldiers died – mainly of shitty tropical diseases- in Africa fighting the Arab slave trade. They did more to bring about an end to slavery than anyone else.
    
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    June 20, 2020 2:37pm
    - Tall Man
      
      Pffttt facts, who needs them?
      
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      June 20, 2020 5:03pm
I remember when

Clyde coldest June temperature since 1978.
Middlemarch coldest it has been since 2001.
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June 20, 2020 10:19am
- Tall Man
  
  Thank god for “global warming” or refrigerators would be redundant.
  
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  June 20, 2020 10:40am
Kiwi Investor

The playing out of New Zealand’s response to the Covid pandemic in coming months is potentially coming to an interesting stage, both politically and economically.
Clearly the majority of the world has moved to a policy position of containment, not elimination, preferring to open their economies and learning to live with the virus, even accepting a second wave. The appetite for lockdowns globally has waned and the focus is on the economy, rightly or wrongly.
This places NZ in an interesting position relative to most other countries.
This has significant economic consequences for our country and probably of most interest to Kiwibloggers political implications and a likely need to pivot away from the current policy of elimination at some stage.
A potential scenario is we have likely backed ourselves into a corner and will have to at some stage have a change in policy direction given the dire economic consequences. It is highly likely our current approach and position is not sustainable longer term given developments offshore. Most European countries have opened their borders.
The key being how will this be dropped into the conversation politically.
The current policy position is likely going to be increasingly hard to maintain as the dire economic impacts become more evident and the rest of world recovers more quickly economically. Will this lead to a change in voter support to the Government’s response over time?
Perhaps, we have been focusing on the wrong goal? How is the Policy of focusing on elimination going to play out?
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June 20, 2020 10:19am
- fernglas
  
  It will play out by this country being an isolated and poor backwater, caught at the mercy of Covid-19. New Zealanders will be unlikely to leave for recreational holidays as most countries are beginning to allow travel only to nationals of those countries that offer reciprocal travel rights, which NZ doesn’t. So unless you have a second passport, you will be pretty much stuck. The longer NZ goes without the virus, the more it will become susceptible to it and the many other viruses that circulate regularly. The common cold could be lethal after a while. Those who can leave, will. Those who stay will occupy the remains of a country that was so frightened of a virus that it allowed itself to be destroyed in the name of saving a few lives.
  
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  June 20, 2020 11:37am
  - NeverMindTheBollocks
    
    A bit OTT
    
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    June 20, 2020 6:19pm
greenfinger

Hi y’all, my darling daughter is turning two tomorrow. I’ve heard about the “terrible two stage”. Is that true? I am worried about it because I’ll get blamed for bad parenting even though it is my nanny’s fault. Perhaps I can put it down to nannying SYSTEM FAILURE? If it is, it is clearly UNACCEPTABLE. It is NOT A WITCH HUNT but I reckon the military should be appointed to look into this because they know systems and discipline better than anyone, right? Anyway, I have volunteered to help out at the local fish and chips shop tonight. I am told if you can run the cash register in a fish and chip shop, you can run a country!
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June 20, 2020 10:21am
- Maggie Pie
  
  Hiyaaa – i guess you’ve already heard the joke about Kermit and Miss Piggy then? 😛
  
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  June 20, 2020 11:07am
I remember when

Publishing House on strike over J.K. Rowling’s position on transgender people.
Bullying? My way or no way?
Oh well. Another offshore printing job.
Lucky their economy is doing so well.
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June 20, 2020 10:24am
- Inandout
  
  Irw, many books are now printed in Asia but formed in the UK. Often the book will say published in (?), printed in (?).
  
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  June 20, 2020 10:40am
- artemisia
  
  New Cormoran Strike book coming out in a few months. Maybe the strike is very subtle advance publicity.
  
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  June 20, 2020 11:52am
  - artemisia
    
    Heh, bit too subtle?
    
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    June 20, 2020 7:18pm
Steve Otto(North Shore)

BLM rallies are safe but Trump rallies are not.
https://thefederalist.com/2020/06/18/americans-should-never-again-comply-with-pandemic-lockdown-orders/?fbclid=IwAR3uNlbEhNxfaxLNx2y75lUFbecLBU-WJJhAwQflSL7slZDVgWlEmCo7z_k#.Xuu0P_Vbc0s.facebook
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June 20, 2020 10:39am
Fletch

Can someone remind me of the origin of the Megan “Two Pies” Woods nickname? I can’t remember where it came from.
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June 20, 2020 10:52am
- Batman
  
  Came from people mocking her weight. There wasn’t a specific moment involving any actual pies.
  
  As an aside, moderators will look dimly on commenters getting too far into mocking other peoples’ weight.
  
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  June 20, 2020 11:59am
  - Maggie Pie
    
    Well I’m 58kgs. Mock away 😀
    
    11 2
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    June 20, 2020 12:08pm
    - chaos
      
      Are you sure 58kg isn’t today’s Krispy Kreme order?
      
      13 0
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      June 20, 2020 12:15pm
    - Tall Man
      
      MeToo … on the right side and we won’t talk about the lefty side of me 😉
      
      10 2
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      June 20, 2020 12:41pm
- Lance
  
  Around the Uni of Auckland David Lange was known as “2 pie”, he would eat one pie why waiting to pay for them.
  
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  June 20, 2020 12:20pm
  - Mike
    
    Apparently, James Cook’s Tahitian navigator could tuck them away – the crew named him ‘Two Pie Eh’.
    
    6 2
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    June 20, 2020 12:48pm
- MCos
  
  When I was at school some of the kids called me ‘Hopalong’ because I walk with a limp.
  Another guy was mocked because he suffered from seizures.
  Oh! What fun.
  
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  June 20, 2020 1:05pm
- Nickc2
  
  Didn’t she once have a nickname that was taken from the cast of the Muppets? Perhaps not, but I believe she did have a crush on Kermit.
  
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  June 20, 2020 2:32pm
Durden

The press as usual failed to do their job at yesterday’s press conference fronted by St Ashley.

There are two pillars to stopping the re-emergence of Covid-19 in NZ. One–Stop infected people from getting out into the public. Two–Contain it quickly, if it gets out, using the contact tracing and contact management system.

Not one reporter asked Bloomfailed a single questions about the the second point. Of the supposedly 320 or more people exposed, so far, how many people have been contacted, how many have been tested and how many people have been put into isolation/quarantine? What are the processes for following up on these people and how are we performing ? Remember cops were supposed to regularly follow up on self isolating individuals during lockdown and and it turned out that they did NOT?

Maybe they will read KB and ask the question today.

They could also follow-up with the the hopelessly conflicted labour stooge and list candidate Dr Ayesha Verral who stipulated a target of 4 days to complete tracing and isolation for a good system. She had disappeared out of sight by the time someone suggested her standard was unlikely to met and that it might be 5 days. But others since suggested that the target capability of the system was much worse than that.

The cock-ups have already started coming to light. https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12341322

The inevitable failure of the contact tracing and follow-up system will be the real story in the next few weeks. Compounding the fact that they let two people out into the wild, painfully slow contact tracing and follow-up will have allowed the virus to spread much wider.

Surely journalists would the think the team of five million they represent at these pressers would like to know.

Maybe they should also ask for the current organisation chart clearly showing responsibilities and accountabilities after the recent raft of panicked changes.

Whose neck is on the line ? Is it “Digby”, Bloomfailed, David Clarke or Megan Wood ?
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June 20, 2020 10:55am
- chaos
  
  Last I heard 90% of those had been contacted
  
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  June 20, 2020 11:16am
- Steve Otto(North Shore)
  
  An organisation chart would have everything lading back to Jacinda Ardern – never going to happen
  
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  June 20, 2020 12:06pm
notrotsky

As an example of what this country is dealing with in terms of the thinking within trial Labour supporters..

Greg Presland @ the strandard

So busy pandering to one and all he is unable to call a murderous thug a murderous thug.

‘I accept that the culture war ignited by American Police Force behaviour is spreading throughout the world. Black lives do matter.

To be frank out west the situation is much more complex. You cannot attend any local event involving the police without noticing their commitment to multiculturalism and to Te Ao Maori. Many of our officers are Tangata Whenua or Pacifeka.

After 36 years of this job all I can see is shades of grey. When I first started practising law the police force was hardened and conservative and single minded. Back then everything was black and white. Now like the rest of us local police only want the best.

The causes of this event can very probably be related to poverty and racial disadvantage, and almost inevitably to drug use. But this is not an American like situation or a cause for a call to arms. This is a tragedy.’

https://thestandard.org.nz/west-auckland-shooting/#comment-1721068
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June 20, 2020 10:58am
Chuck Bird

I heard on talk back that the two sisters instead of heading south took the woman who loaned her the car north and then got lost finding their way onto the motorway south and rang her up.

This makes more sense than not being able to get onto the southern motorway from Novotel Ellerslie.

I believe these sisters and the woman who loaned them the car were not properly interviewed the second time.
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June 20, 2020 11:03am
- Michael NZ
  
  Chuck
  What is the reason for a 14 Day Quarantine?
  
  bugger the interviews.
  
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  June 20, 2020 11:08am
  - Chuck Bird
    
    The reason for the 14 day quarantine is the after 14 days and there are no symptoms then it is assumed that they do not have the virus. The reason for the tests is to make doubly sure.
    
    Do you not think it important if the sisters were lying?
    
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    June 20, 2020 12:28pm
    - Tall Man
      
      Chuck, a mate and his wife left quarantine about 4 weeks ago. Not tested once.
      
      10 1
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      June 20, 2020 4:57pm
    - Michael NZ
      
      sorry chuck been away for the day, so only saw this now.
      
      my question is one i asked chris bishop when i queried him as to “in his interaction with the 2 ladies, did he entreat them to stay in quarantine”?.
      
      he didn’t answer that but said the system was an exemption system.
      
      I had said surely he considers himself a % culpable if their trip leads to a Grannie dying.
      He thought that Rubbish.
      I told him I couldn’t fathom his thoughts on that.
      
      i can post you the convo if you want?
      
      i did not know it was an exemption system but erroneously thought it was a legal requirement, under the regs that Ashley Bloomfield works under…
      
      Seriously, the protection of NZ is based on a Voluntary System…..
      Madness.
      
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      June 21, 2020 11:27pm
- cmm
  
  That would make sense.
  
  It is impossible to get lost finding SH1 from Novotel. The Novotel exit is right in the feeder lane for the SH1 onramp.
  
  Turn left, stay in the left lane and keep left and 100 metres later you’re on SH1 pointing to Wellington.
  
  The only possible way to have got lost was a diversion to drop someone off, get some food for the trip or whatever.
  
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  June 20, 2020 11:16am
  - Ruawai
    
    I am wondering how the family are going to have a funeral now since the 2 sisters and surviving parent are now in isolation for 14 days.
    
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    June 20, 2020 11:47am
- Durden
  
  So the “contactless car drop-off” by a relative as claimed by Ashley Bloomfield on day 1 was bullshit?
  
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  June 20, 2020 11:18am
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    If only people told the truth instead of covering up. Just once will do for a start. We are being fed constant bullshit
    
    21 1
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    June 20, 2020 11:57am
    - Lance
      
      In the immortal words of Walter Scott “Oh what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive “
      
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      June 20, 2020 2:33pm
- Jules99
  
  Didn’t the PM say ‘they did nothing wrong’?
  
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  June 20, 2020 12:06pm
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    In reality, the PM did nothing, she told others to carry the can of shit
    
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    June 20, 2020 3:19pm
  - Tall Man
    
    Would she know?
    
    5 1
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    June 20, 2020 4:53pm
Michael NZ

Good Points Durden.

I cannot fathom why the 14 day Quarantine isn’t forced as is the 3rd and 13th day tests and weren’t from day 1.
Similarly why they aren’t in Lockdown as a cohort and fully supervised.

Why is it all Voluntary?

Humans are selfish arseholes and Liars if they choose to be.
Look at the 2 women last week and those going to Countdown.

If Granny dies as a result, the Ashley Bloomfields and Chris Bishop’s of this world are in part, culpable.
But I bet you won’t see them standing up and saying so.
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June 20, 2020 11:07am
- Tall Man
  
  How the fuck is Chris Bishop culpable?
  
  The women had already been released when he sent his email.
  
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  June 20, 2020 4:53pm
  - chaos
    
    Because labour said so? I’m still hoping bishop writes the queen about giving us each $1 billion since he is so powerful that an email after the girls are released is responsible for them being released and all procedures being thrown out, heck even for their constant lying about what they did when they got lost, mum drove their friend to the north shore then got lost, umm. Didn’t stop anywhere on the way, pie anyone? Um. Next we’ll find out Bishop was responsible for all the cock ups of David Clark the past few years and twofold, and hell the whole labour government. Did you hear bishop once wrote on Twitter “Kiwibuild”, damn another failure because of him
    
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    June 20, 2020 6:02pm
  - Michael NZ
    
    he could have replied to their email exhorting them to fufill the 14 day lockdown..
    
    Question
    Why is there need for a 14 day lockdown?
    (one of the questions I asked him).
    
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    June 21, 2020 11:30pm
Fletch

Idiots have torn down a 100 year-old statue of George Washington, and a statue of Lincoln freeing the slaves, which has been in Lincoln Park since 1876, has had a petition to have it removed.

https://www.newsweek.com/george-washington-statue-portland-toppled-covered-burning-us-flag-1512075
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June 20, 2020 11:08am
- rouppe
  
  I found out the other day that the emancipation act didn’t really free slaves. Instead the thirteenth amendment allowed for involuntary servitude of a black person committed an offence under the “black codes”.
  
  For example, if a black person was found guilty of vagrancy they could be placed in involuntary servitude of the original slave owner. Imagine, a slave, newly “freed” not having a place to live…
  
  They could be slaves in all but name for years. The black codes were only repealed in the 70’s. That’s the 1970’s…
  
  Now I’m not a supporter of tearing down monuments or forcing white people to kneel and apologise, but black Americans had it pretty tough.
  
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  June 20, 2020 3:43pm
  - Tall Man
    
    “but black Americans had it pretty tough”
    
    Some did, some did not.
    
    One of my ancestors was “transported” to Australia. That was unpleasant for him I’m sure. Another landed in Auckland, walked over 100 miles through scrub and unmarked tracks, cleared his land by hand and had the bulk of it seized by the bank during the depression consigning his children to a life of servitude working for poor wages for other more successful farmers.
    
    Should I now be protesting against the Crown and the Banks? Should I demand restitution from those currently paying today’s taxes?
    
    10 5
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    June 20, 2020 4:51pm
    - rouppe
      
      Just trying to put some perspective on Fletch’s comment. Lincoln wasn’t the saviour of blacks.
      
      No doubt your ancestors also had it tough.
      
      My parents families had their property and business taken by the nazis. I could ask the same question you did.
      
      There is no value in demanding restitution from history because if we did that, everyone would owe someone for something
      
      1 0
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      June 20, 2020 5:40pm
    - NeverMindTheBollocks
      
      TM, your ancestors’ difficulties do not offer any insights into the comment you quoted from Rouppe.
      
      Undoubtedly, black Americans (generally) have not had it as good as white Americans (generally).
      
      1 1
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      June 20, 2020 6:27pm
Don Beckett

Tony Heller updates the Covid comparison between Sweden & New Zealand.

https://realclimatescience.com/2020/06/new-zealand-vs-sweden/
6 2
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June 20, 2020 11:11am
The Boss

Cam Slater on BFD not so sure about his support for Winston any more! He is furious with Ron Mark. And he thinks JLR has a reasonable chance in Botany! ” Vote for Jami-Lee Ross’ Advance New Zealand party. He has already got enough members to register as a party, he has a reasonable chance in Botany as the National party support slides away, and he too voted against the second tranche.”
Wonder what he is smoking LOL
25 2
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June 20, 2020 11:12am
- chaos
  
  Jamie having a chance at what, not winning that is for sure.
  
  15 1
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  June 20, 2020 12:09pm
- NeverMindTheBollocks
  
  Who cares what Cam Slater thinks?
  
  5 0
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  June 20, 2020 6:28pm
Ruawai

Serious question: We rent one of our commercial properties out to a Tanning Clinic, should we cancel the tenancy and de-platform her for her cultural appropriation and making women in the area brownface in light of Black Lives Matter.
19 4
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June 20, 2020 11:45am
- Jules99
  
  LOL, not if its the one I go to.
  
  3 0
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  June 20, 2020 2:55pm
- NeverMindTheBollocks
  
  Serious question: are all patrons of your tanning clinic white (when they go in)? Or are there also brownish people wanting to be browner for cultural or political reasons?
  
  2 0
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  June 20, 2020 6:30pm
Fletch

Lauren Southern is back.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YhyNqXWqiU
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June 20, 2020 11:49am
- SB2
  
  Fletch, bad news indeed!
  
  Overshadowed by that other bigot, Laura Ingraham?
  
  1 17
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  June 20, 2020 1:34pm
  - Tall Man
    
    Is calling someone a bigot worse than or equal too calling someone a media whore?
    
    Asking for a friend …… 😉
    
    11 2
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    June 20, 2020 4:45pm
    - chaos
      
      I just find it funny when a bigot calls someone a bigot
      
      2 0
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      June 20, 2020 5:58pm
    - Engelbert Humperdink
      
      Calling someone a media whore means there is evidence to support it.
      
      Calling someone a bigot is just slagging off someone who has opinions the caller disagrees with.
      
      FIFY 🙂
      
      2 0
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      June 20, 2020 6:32pm
chaos

Police are seeking a woman from with yesterday’s shooting, keep an eye out, Photo and name at newshub

https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2020/06/police-still-searching-for-a-second-person-after-west-auckland-shooting.html
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June 20, 2020 11:51am
- artemisia
  
  “… known to associate with people that have affiliations to a number of gangs…”
  
  Reading between the lines.
  
  12 2
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  June 20, 2020 12:29pm
  - Durden
    
    Information on the internet suggests that this sort of event was just a matter of when, not if.
    
    5 2
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    June 20, 2020 3:09pm
- Swifty
  
  Her FB page is taking a hammering from good decent Kiwis.
  
  6 0
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  June 20, 2020 3:45pm
  - chaos
    
    I’d say so is she, the police arrested her
    
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    June 20, 2020 5:57pm
emmess

#DefundUniversities
https://spectator.us/defund-colleges-not-cops/#
7 2
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June 20, 2020 11:54am
- Engelbert Humperdink
  
  Certainly, defund any uni which employs Hera Cook. Dogma, meet karma.
  
  9 0
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  June 20, 2020 2:24pm
- hilaryt
  
  Thanks. Good piece.
  
  3 0
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  June 20, 2020 2:28pm
Prince

For those who need a translation of Ashley Bloomfield’s latest conference:
“Two more cases who arrived from India. They arrived June 5, and the testing was done as part of ‘day 12’ process”.
*Translation* – Tested on June 17. It has taken 3 days to get from test to publishing the result. We needed a ‘zero’ on Friday to calm the populace who were getting nervous. We’ll sneak it in over the weekend.

“The family has been transferred from the Grand Millennium Auckland to the Jet Park Hotel in Auckland”.
*Translation*. Security at Grand Millennium is crap.

“They will have tested everyone on the same flight as the couple by the end of Saturday, Bloomfield said”.
*Translation* Jesus it’s been 15 days, guys. Sorry, we have to work on a Saturday everyone.

“Bloomfield said this isn’t a virus that discriminates and asked people to be “compassionate and kind”.
*Translation* No sure why I’m saying this but it works for Jacinda so I’ll give it a go.

“Between June 9 and June 16, 55 people were granted leave from managed isolation on compassionate grounds. The ministry said the “vast majority” had been tested and returned negative results.”
*Translation* Thirty have been tested. We have no idea where the others are.
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June 20, 2020 1:49pm
- Steve Otto(North Shore)
  
  Very good. Hope the ‘covid clowns’ feeding bullshit are reading this blog
  
  12 1
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  June 20, 2020 3:23pm
Left Right and Centre

NZ so-called msm journalists with more tabloid style creep . . .
Hilary Barry ‘claps back’ at body-shaming troll.

‘Claps back’? What the fark is that? Look it up – it’s from a rap song. Stay classy Stuffed. You get what you pay for – Stuffed all.
14 4
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June 20, 2020 1:54pm
- Komata
  
  Lh&c@1354
  
  So not the Wolfman then?
  
  Just asking…
  
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  June 20, 2020 8:04pm
chaos

* There are two new Covid-19 cases in New Zealand – a couple in their 20s who returned to New Zealand from India on June 5.*

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/coronavirus/121892874/coronavirus-two-new-asymptomatic-covid19-cases-confirmed
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June 20, 2020 1:56pm
Fletch

One for Kiwi music fans. Split Enz album True Colours is getting a 40th anniversary release and do-over on the 31st of July.

The album now features a brand-new mix of the record by Enz keyboardist Eddie Rayner, who’s often overseen the sonic quality of the band’s catalogue. “I have both the original stereo masters from the 1979 mixing sessions, and the versions currently held in repositories such as Spotify…and they are radically different, sonically,” Rayner said in a statement. “The original masters are mixed, but unmastered, and the Spotify versions have been brutally, and probably repeatedly remastered…by whom, when, where and why, nobody will ever know. [Note: Rayner personally remastered the band’s catalogue in 2006.] So for me, remixing to both restore and improve the currently-available mix AND the overall sound, for this 40th anniversary release, was a good idea.”

The CD also includes seven previously unreleased live tracks recorded on various Australian and New Zealand tours – all in the years following the release of True Colours, and none featuring songs from the original album. (They’re mostly album cuts, along with later singles like 1981’s “Hard Act To Follow” and 1984’s “I Walk Away.”)

https://theseconddisc.com/2020/06/16/split-enzs-true-colours-shine-bright-on-new-reissue/
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June 20, 2020 2:21pm
Lance

Because we don’t need trained people like Surgeons?
Hmmm
You are familiar with the line “two wrongs don’t make a right” ?
1 0
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June 20, 2020 2:37pm
chaos

I hope this lady gets noticed for her actions in helping her husband, brave woman, another hero from yesterday

“ A member of the public who was filling his car boot in preparation for a trip to Rotorua, was injured. He told Stuff something hit him from behind, causing the boot to hit his head. His son, 12, was sitting in the backseat, while his 2-year-old daughter stood on the footpath.

“I got knocked out, like my eyes closed and I couldn’t hear anything. I was just lying down on the ground. The next minute, when I woke up, I was holding my head and I saw it was bleeding.”

The man told Stuff he called out to his wife who tried to cover him and dragged him to the driveway, where he stayed until help came. His son managed to get his younger sister to the house.”

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12341441
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June 20, 2020 3:09pm
Fletch

On Facebook, the ‘National Party Meme Working Group’ (nothing to do with National Party itself) have posted –

Not one Green MP has expressed their condolences towards the murdered cop

Is anyone surprised?
23 2
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June 20, 2020 3:14pm
rouppe

Stuff reports:

Cahill said these types of incidents were “incredibly fast moving”, so time was needed to paint a clear picture of the incident.

“[We] just need to take a deep breath, work through all the evidence and then have a very clear picture.”

The shootings shouldn’t be used as a launch pad for reconsidering an Armed Response roll out, former senior detective and crisis negotiator, Lance Burdett, said.

“Decisions should never be made in the heat of the moment for anything in life. For anything.”

Except decisions made to criminalise lawful gun owners?
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June 20, 2020 3:24pm
- Engelbert Humperdink
  
  Cahill is not even a hypocrite, he’s just an Angry Andy version cloned for the Police Union.
  
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  June 20, 2020 6:30pm
Maggie Pie

Just home after engaging in a spot of ‘retail therapy’, plus meeting up with the girls, down at the new ‘Commercial Bay’ precinct. (Let me say it will give Westield a run for my money!)

And couldn’t resist buying a fab embroided T-Shirt…
BLACK
AMEX
MATTERS

😀 😀
13 2
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June 20, 2020 4:11pm
- Captain Mainwaring
  
  Are you talking about your money or your partner’s money?
  And who pays the groundsman?
  
  2 0
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  June 20, 2020 9:17pm
niggly

Sigh, hidden deep inside Stuff is Steve Eler’s latest weekend article, well worth a read as he makes several excellent points on the absolute pointlessness of having to forever apologise and apologise and ….

“We are not accountable for historic injustices”.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/manawatu-standard/opinion/300038292/we-are-not-accountable-for-historic-injustices
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June 20, 2020 4:47pm
Inandout

It is getting to the stage when all supermarket shelves will be full of plain packaging so as not to offend anyone. I understand KFC is next to be targetted.
1 0
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June 20, 2020 5:37pm
Maggy Wassilieff

Newshub poll running now

https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2020/06/coronavirus-poll-do-you-have-confidence-in-new-zealand-s-covid-19-border-controls.html

Currently running at:
No – 76%
13 1
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June 20, 2020 5:55pm
- chaos
  
  Shouldn’t it ask, does nz have any boarder controls for covid?
  
  2 0
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  June 20, 2020 6:20pm
lemuzz

White police lives matter. Where are the protesters now.
4 1
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June 20, 2020 6:07pm
- chaos
  
  Down voted, all police lives matter.
  
  0 0
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  June 20, 2020 10:15pm
Maggy Wassilieff

Can these chaps running the quarantine debacle get their stories straight?

Ashley reckons Stamford Plaza Hotel is being used as a managed isolation unit.
Darryn/Digby says Na, it isn’t.
https://thespinoff.co.nz/society/20-06-2020/live-updates-june-19-quarantine-chaos-continues-gun-control-lobby-claims-victory/

Will we get another version tomorrow?
13 1
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June 20, 2020 8:07pm
- chaos
  
  Maybe by tomorrow the govt will stop wasting all this money and put them up in military base
  
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  June 20, 2020 8:18pm
- niggly
  
  No doubt we will get the Megan Woods version tomorrow … trouble is, after lots of long winded (non) answers we will still be none the wiser??!!!
  
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  June 20, 2020 9:28pm
- Prince
  
  It’s all Chris Bishop’s fault.
  
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  June 20, 2020 11:22pm
niggly

Ha, the Greens must have finally figured out that they stand a good chance of being obliterated at the next election (judging by the way that “Jacindamania” has eaten into Green Party support and has seen them hovering around or below the 5% mark in recent major polls) so Chloe Swarbrick is to contest the Auckland central electorate in September.

Excellent! That should help spit the left-wing vote between Labour and the Greens (to National’s advantage)!

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/300038975/green-mp-chle-swarbrick-launches-bid-for-auckland-central-seat-against-national-deputy-nikki-kaye#comments
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June 20, 2020 9:24pm
Kiwi_in_Paris

New Zealand 2020: Zero tourism, zero herd immunity, zero money, zero liberty.

Way to go Cindy!

Your Marxist UN Agenda 30 is nicely on track. Bill Gates is going to give you a gold star, and exempt you from taking his vaccination.
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June 20, 2020 9:26pm
chaos

Oh for goodness sake you idiots, of course Colgate will have a white night in, who the hell wants black teeth

* A PR event involving high-profile New Zealand influencers has not gone down well on social media.

For Colgate’s “White night in” event on Thursday night, several New Zealand influencers took to Instagram dressed in white satin pyjamas to promote Colgate toothpaste.

A Zoom call shows Matilda Green, Hannah Barrett and Simone Anderson were involved.

It has led to a wave of controversy by people who labelled the event “tone deaf” amid world events like the Black Lives Matter protests and all the conversations on social media around systemic racism.*

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/news/article.cfm?c_id=6&objectid=12341514
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June 20, 2020 9:32pm

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