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July 20, 2020 8:00am by Kokila Patel

General Debate 20 July 2020

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General Debate

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Flossie

I am wondering where Kelvin Davies is? We seem to be getting Megan Woods popping up everywhere.
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July 20, 2020 8:05am
- pdm
  
  He is in permanent `witless protection’.
  
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  July 20, 2020 9:11am
- sooty
  
  Megan has alot to payback with all the labour support of late. She’s Cindys bitch!
  
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  July 20, 2020 9:21am
- RJ
  
  Megan is kelvin, they are us we are them we are all one, kelvin and Megan are one.
  
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  July 20, 2020 9:27am
  - hilaryt
    
    lol!
    
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    July 20, 2020 11:15am
- Two bob
  
  they couldnt dare let him out to say anything that would get slaughtered by judiths crew. the last couple of nat leaders were mocked constantly but judith seems to be more respected by the media.
  
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  July 20, 2020 9:35am
  - sooty
    
    The media don’t like getting their arses handed to themselves!
    With all the job loses in the media, they are playing safe.
    If anyone got given a Gower, I think it would destroy their career!
    
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    July 20, 2020 11:09am
- Sir Cullen's Sidekick
  
  He is working for Kiwis quietly bro. Do not under estimate him.
  
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  July 20, 2020 9:45am
- Clyde
  
  Who knows, and who cares? Probably the most incompetent of all the Labour front bench – others have been given responsibility and failed, but Kelvin’s only job is to sit between Grant and Jacinda and look concerned. He doesn’t even have any paperwork to work on when fulfilling this onerous task.
  
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  July 20, 2020 9:50am
- Loddenthinks
  
  There was a post from him on the PM’s Facebook account yesterday, which I happened to be visiting for no particular reason.
  
  Unsurprisingly he was worse than useless, said he was sorry for not being up north to support those in Tai Tokerau but the roads were difficult and he’d been advised not to drive. If only there were some kind of flying machines that could have transported him magically through the air to one of those airport places!
  
  Even when he’s trying to help he’s ineffectual and reduced to offering pointless platitudes about ‘staying safe”. You were pretty warm, dry and safe in Auckland, weren’t you Kelvin.
  
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  July 20, 2020 10:22am
  - hullkiwi
    
    Is that why Henerae (Civil Defence Minister) was flying around up North, but not the local Maori MP. The man is a few brain cells short isn’t he?
    
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    July 20, 2020 10:55am
- Jimmy White
  
  The PM likes Megan because she can talk for five minutes without taking a breath and its all one sentence.
  
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  July 20, 2020 11:48am
- The Boss
  
  In the panic room.
  
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  July 20, 2020 12:22pm
- Tall Man
  
  Kelvin wonders that as well …..
  
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  July 20, 2020 2:13pm
peterwn

“We’ve been an accelerator for great ideas and a handbrake for bad ones,” Peters said.
Two ‘bad’ ideas:
1. Kermedecs marine sanctuary.
2. Cameras on fishing boats.
Two ‘great’ ideas:
1. Killing off charter schools.
2. Giving Shane Jones $3B to play with.
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July 20, 2020 8:09am
- Raphael
  
  To give credit where it’s due (and I hate defending Winnie) he stopped them scrapping the 3 Strike law.
  
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  July 20, 2020 12:13pm
  - david
    
    Even a broken watch is right twice a day.
    
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    July 20, 2020 12:28pm
  - herb1
    
    Of course they wouldn’t have been in a position to repeal the 3 strikes act , if he hadn’t appointed them to Government
    
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    July 20, 2020 12:34pm
Vallager

a couple of weeks back we heard about Aaron Banks and his henchmen coming to NZ to work for NZ First and cause mayhem. Has this story died?
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July 20, 2020 8:09am
- Tony Stuart
  
  No, it resurfaced on Newshub’s political programme on Saturday morning. Of course, Winston Peters knows nothing about it…
  
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  July 20, 2020 9:07am
  - peterwn
    
    Winston has denied that the NZF Foundation is still operating. Perhaps NZF Foundation #2 is funding these guys. Anyway if they are that good, why has National not hired them?
    
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    July 20, 2020 10:48am
- doggone7
  
  Can you outline reasons why it’s wrong with overseas ‘henchmen’ coming to New Zealand to help a political party?
  
  Is doing that new? Is doing it wrong because it’s NZF?
  
  In just about every walk of life don’t we applaud getting in overseas expertise?
  
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  July 20, 2020 10:35am
  - hullkiwi
    
    Given your post about overseas expertise (doubtful in this case), you will not complain about US anti-dope campaigners providing support/knowledge/expertise to NZ based anti-drug campaigners then?
    
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    July 20, 2020 11:43am
  - DeepBlue
    
    Electoral Law once again. It is an overseas service i understand it so must be listed (at some point). Does anyone know the specifics?
    
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    July 20, 2020 1:47pm
- [moderated]
  
  Henchpeople. We’re an inclusive church of hating people for being successful.
  
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  July 20, 2020 11:25am
- Nickc2
  
  I believe they are working from home (pomland).
  
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  July 20, 2020 12:14pm
I remember when

Who was that person trying to imitate Winston Peters at the week-end?
They will have to learn how to be a lot more difficult to deal with than that. Very subdued performance and Shane Jones was not looking terribly hopeful.
What is Winston worried about, is it the fact that the Labour and National Party have removed his opportunities.
He has always been considered an opposition politician and there doesn’t seem to be a need this Election.
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July 20, 2020 8:10am
- Tricati
  
  SFO outcome probably a bigger worry
  
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  July 20, 2020 9:07am
- kwkiwigirl
  
  Wouldn’t underestimate Jones’ popularity in Northland. He comes from that region and millions is being put into the area via the NZF regional fund. Hope I’m wrong.
  
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  July 20, 2020 9:29am
  - Sacha
    
    @kwki – but how much is trickling down to the lower ranks? Like the Treaty monies, it’ll get stuck in the top drawer.
    I reckon the nephs are the only ones he can really rely on – if they get off the couch.
    
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    July 20, 2020 12:02pm
  - Tony Stuart
    
    He’s stood for Northland twice in the past, and once for Whangarei. Given that he lost every time, his popularity wasn’t evident then, and it won’t be evident now.
    
    Matt King was out helping people in the Northland electorate on Saturday. Where was Shane “Don Corleone” Jones? Why, he was living it up in Auckland, at the NZF Conference. I bet it didn’t even occur to him to flag the day in Auckland and go and help out up north. And it’s that attitude which will ensure he keeps his perfect record in election contests.
    
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    July 20, 2020 1:03pm
- cas
  
  Did you notice on the clip on newshub how Shane helped him down from the stage?
  
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  July 20, 2020 10:03am
  - sooty
    
    Well he is old and wrinkly, Shanes just been kind!
    
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    July 20, 2020 11:19am
Captain Mainwaring

National announced an admittedly long term plan to build a four-lane expressway from Whangarei to Tauranga. Labour countered with a boardwalk across a mangrove swamp in West Auckland and a few bike tracks.
That pretty well sums up the respective ambition level of the two parties.
Two Ticks Blue !
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July 20, 2020 8:12am
- cmm
  
  Talk is cheap. Labour couldn’t achieve anything as ambitious a boardwalk.
  
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  July 20, 2020 8:17am
  - Rich Prick
    
    KiwiWalk with Twyford in charge? That’ll kill it dead.
    
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    July 20, 2020 9:05am
  - Tony Stuart
    
    Precisely. Phil Twyford is in charge of the projects announced on Saturday, so like Kiwibuild and the Ghost Tram, they’ll never happen
    
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    July 20, 2020 9:08am
  - Lance
    
    I am sure they could struggle through with a $10M report into the possibility of a boardwalk though.
    /sarc/
    
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    July 20, 2020 9:10am
- cmm
  
  And, Cap’n I’m still making a yellow tick for party vote.
  
  For the same price you can have number 50 on the National list or number 2 on the Act list.
  
  No contest.
  
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  July 20, 2020 8:20am
  - MT_Tinman
    
    Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
    Acknowledged.
    
    However, until JC starts telling us how she will allow us to keep our own money to spend on what we want rather than how she will spend it for us I remain skeptical of a National-led Government.
    
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    July 20, 2020 9:03am
    - Charmaine Hawke
      
      Agreed Tinman but history tells us we get a better bang for buck with a National led government.
      The future former PM has done a good job getting us through the first stages of this but now it is time for people with economic experience take over.
      
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      July 20, 2020 9:35am
    - Crisplion
      
      Skepticism is fair – but how do you think the alternative would work out for us? Party vote ACT is the proper response to the dilemma in my opinion.
      
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      July 20, 2020 9:48am
- DeepBlue
  
  Labour policy: “what National said yesterday”.
  
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  July 20, 2020 8:36am
  - Tony Stuart
    
    Indeed; and people wonder why National hasn’t released any policy up until Friday.
    
    The Labour Party needs to employ its own research staff to develop policies, not wait until National has done the work for them.
    
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    July 20, 2020 9:09am
    - sooty
      
      Research staff? Surely you jest, they are called working groups and you the taxpayer pay for them! Certainly not the labour party, they would rather sip chardonnay and scoff canapes all day!
      
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      July 20, 2020 9:27am
  - Paulus Gnome
    
    ‘what National said yesterday’ at twice the cost in double the time with half the efficiency and twice the hubris . . .
    
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    July 20, 2020 9:19am
  - Libertarians are right
    
    But “Greener” so with no real economic benefit which was the entire point of National’s policy.
    
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    July 20, 2020 10:05am
- Sir Cullen's Sidekick
  
  According to Phil Stoner, they have funded his ideas and hence it will happen.
  
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  July 20, 2020 9:46am
- Benedict Yu
  
  I hear JAG on the radio talking about the National announcement . She said “cars are not wanted”. New Zealand has the highest car ownership rate in the world – slightly ahead of the USA and Australia. What is she thinking?
  
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  July 20, 2020 9:59am
  - MikeMan
    
    See there is your issue, expecting thought that makes sense to rational humans from the Greens.
    
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    July 20, 2020 11:38am
  - Nickc2
    
    I don’t give a big rat’s arse what she thinks, cars are here to stay. They will never be replaced by push bikes in NZ. Perhaps some new technology may replace cars but certainly not push bikes.
    
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    July 20, 2020 12:25pm
  - Benedict Yu
    
    Plus there is the arrogant passive voice – “cars are not wanted” – by who exactly? You mean you don’t want them. But everyone else does evidenced by the millions of cars on the road. She says crap like “active transport infrastructure” will “enable” people to leave their cars at home and walk and cycle.
    
    Honestly she sounds like crazy person. How can media in New Zealand give such person serious attention?
    
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    July 20, 2020 6:07pm
    - Benedict Yu
      
      I work in my main day job in an ‘office park’ west of Christchurch CBD. It takes me 14 – 17 minutes to drive to work. I park outside the front door for $16 per week – yes PER WEEK – parking charge LOL 🙂 Or I could take public transport and take 46 minutes. And get frozen at the start and the end. Or wet and frozen.
      
      Sorry to use New Zealand expression these people ‘fucked in the head’.
      
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      July 20, 2020 8:16pm
Paulus

I have just scanned the Herald delivered by mistake this morning (neighbour’s delivery) and am glad that I do not have to pay money for this disgraceful rag.
Prejudice, bigotry, even the Editorial writer is ashamed to put their name to the rubbish he – probably she, writes.
They are working for what we believe is a $50,000,000 bribe by Labour with our money.
As for the cartoon – I can find no words to describe the nastiness that is contained in it.
We can only hope that they go bust as quickly as the $1 Wellington paper.
Oh for a balanced media !
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July 20, 2020 8:13am
- Crisplion
  
  The principle job of a political cartoonist in a democracy is to take the piss out of whoever has the most power. Opposition leaders are fair game, but the Herald cartoonist – aside from being a mediocre artist and not at all funny – seems fixated on them. Meanwhile, the Prime Minister and her ‘government’, who ought to be prime targets, get a free pass.
  
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  July 20, 2020 9:57am
- Raphael
  
  Stuff’s Political cartoonist is very alt-Left.
  
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  July 20, 2020 12:25pm
  - Rachael Membery
    
    And they aren’t that interesting, it is not as if they do much that is momentous.
    
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    July 20, 2020 6:38pm
cmm

Anyone else raising their eyebrows when people talk about a “post Covid world”?

Apparently this has changed everything for everyone the world over.

There seems to be a desire to use this as an excuse and opportunity to make changes that are not required.

So I ask you, did people in the 1920s talk about a post Spanish flu world?

The impact of the Spanish flu was, arguably more than ten thousand times as much as CV19, but I’m pretty sure people went about their business trying to regain normality after the war.

Seen the pictures of the Versailles peace conference? No masks.
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July 20, 2020 8:16am
- kowtow
  
  See one of the post war architects is now a non person .
  
  “….occupied the office of the Princeton University’s president, demanding that the Ivy League institution recognise Wilson’s “racist legacy” and remove his name from all university premises. Princeton refused to budge, citing Wilson’s important contribution to the university.
  
  In the wake of George Floyd’s murder and the massive anti-racist mobilisations that followed, the university recently announced that it will remove Wilson’s name from its School of Public and International Affairs. That battle was finally won.”
  
  https://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/woodrow-wilson-racist-legacy-decolonising-modern-sanctions-200714125436461.html
  
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  July 20, 2020 8:35am
  - Ed Snack
    
    Wilson was a racist though. Reintroduced a lot of new segregation rules and laws. He was of course a Democrat.
    
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    July 20, 2020 6:02pm
- Classic Liberal
  
  Did I just hear that on Morning report we were told Melbourne making masks in public compulsory to avoid the “draconian lockdown“ we had in NZ??
  
  They’re actually admitting, on red radio, that the lockdown by their sweet favourite fairy was – ‘draconian’?
  
  Maybe even the secure bums on seats at red radio are noticing that it is costing jobs in the real world…
  
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  July 20, 2020 8:53am
  - Maggy Wassilieff
    
    Jobs?
    
    Are there any left in NZ?
    
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    July 20, 2020 9:17am
    - mark15
      
      I’ve still got one.I can’t say we’re busy though.
      I wonder what will happen when the wage subsidy stops.
      
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      July 20, 2020 9:24am
    - Jimmy White
      
      The Unions are hiring.
      
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      July 20, 2020 11:52am
    - Jack5
      
      While we’re talking jobs – has Seymour thrown Peters a line on imported workers?
      
      Of course there will always be a need for people to come into a country, even to, or especially to, a remote, isolated nation like New Zealand.
      
      But with soaring unemployment and wage cuts, this will likely be an issue at the election.
      
      This Stuff report focuses on Peters’ blather about boxing, but it has the differing views of ACT and NZ First on imported workers:
      
      https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/122183670/winston-peters-says-david-seymour-wouldnt-last-ten-seconds-in-the-ring-with-me
      
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      July 20, 2020 12:19pm
- Rachael Membery
  
  Judith raises one eyebrow.
  
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  July 20, 2020 6:39pm
Hacked-Off

Judith was in fine form on Mike Hosking this morning. It appears the Winston First Party is screwed as she explicitly ruled him out. Winston First supporters can no longer hold out in the hope that NZF ‘will keep National honest’ with the change of a new leader in National. I predict many who might vote Winston First will walk over to National. Goodbye Winston and the shyster cabal of also ran MPs (especially Shane Jones).
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July 20, 2020 8:19am
- DeepBlue
  
  Lazy Shane should have abandoned the NZFirst conference and rallied his neffs off the couch to help out in Northland over the weekend. That way he could have some real shovel ready photos to shove to the press. But nothing.
  
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  July 20, 2020 9:18am
  - oldfella
    
    I noticed that over the weekend Winston launched NZF’s election campaign by claiming that they were the real green party and referenced Shane’s tree planting project. Winnie has no shame!
    It says a lot when your party’s big ‘win’ is in fact a huge loss. A complete debacle.
    Can’t wait for someone to call him out on it.
    
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    July 20, 2020 10:58am
Paulus Gnome

‘New anti-racism campaign featuring Taika Waititi launched by Human Rights Commission’

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12348941

‘The comments include what the commission calls unconscious racism (“Can I touch your hair”, “There are some cheaper menu items on the back”), assumptions about nationality (“That’s your son? No way”) and verbal and physical abuse (“Go back to your own country”).’

Whatever you do, do not offer directions should someone ask, help the cliché-ridden old lady across the street, the unforgivable fart in a lift or, behave as a normal person in a civilised functioning society because it will be racissssssssssssssssst! (but only if you are white)

“They will hear some of these comments and hopefully say ‘That could be me’. Or ‘that is me’. And hopefully there will be self-correction but also when they go to the workplace, if they hear colleagues making these comments, and they will tell that person to listen to the voice of racism.”

“I was doing geography at intermediate school and I said Lake Taupo [with correct pronunciation]. And the teacher stood me up in the class and told me to say it properly. We’re talking 2004, this is in the 80s or 90s. Basically until I said ‘Towel-po’ I was ridiculed in front of the classroom.”

‘That was part of a pattern of racist treatment. Walsh said she looked different from her mother, and a doctor once expressed surprise during an appointment: “Are you her biological mother?”

The old hoary, ‘I was beaten for speaking maori at school’ chestnut bullshit assertion – utter. fing. tosh!

I am a New Zealander. At this time, I am awaiting my the arrival of my state stanchioned and supplied KKK robes and pointy hat to wear in public as a mark of my shame to atone for my guilt for being white as well as the burning cross that the new order will compel me to have on my front lawn so the non-racists can throw rocks at my windows.

Have the lunatics overtaken the asylum?

‘Aren’t you ashamed? said Nurse Ratched

‘No I’m not’ said Billy
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July 20, 2020 8:20am
- oldpark
  
  @Paulus Gnome 8.20am
  Interesting to see the man known as Taika Waititi being mentioned in the latest imagined type of so called racism in NZ as viewed by the personal friend of Britains Jeremy Corbett ex Labour Party anti semitic bigot . Ponder that claim.
  NZs present regime shouldered tap the man known as Mr. Hunt to be the top dog in laughable NZs Human Rights Commission .
  Getting back to Taika Waititi when the massive protests and complete disruption flared up recently in USA, Waititi wanted to leap aboard .
  He was told in no uncertain language that he was not black enough. Maybe he is getting a second bite of the apple in NZ . Go Figure.
  
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  July 20, 2020 9:27am
  - Paulus
    
    Taika David Cohen does not sound like a real full Maori name, despite being born in Waihau Bay in East Cape.
    
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    July 20, 2020 1:53pm
- Libertarians are right
  
  Isn’t it Toe Paw? How can anyone be expected to pronounce Te Reo correctly when even they can’t agree?
  
  As for being beaten for speaking Maori in school, yes, they broke the rules (created by the Maori MPs at the request of Maori elders) so they got beaten. Just like if you used your left hand or any number of other things. Everyone agrees that full immersion is the best way to learn a language. The policy was sound, just the other policy of beating kids that broke the rules was bad.
  
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  July 20, 2020 10:11am
  - Batman
    
    Regional dialects. Look them up ?
    
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    July 20, 2020 11:07am
    - Sacha
      
      They were separatists among themselves, even then.
      Tradition!!!!
      
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      July 20, 2020 12:11pm
- Classic Liberal
  
  Some do sound fair enough to point out (actual verbal and physical abuse), but ffs what’s the one about the menu? And I live in a suburb where confused-looking tourists often ask for directions or appreciate me asking if they’d like some. So I’m a racist now?
  
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  July 20, 2020 10:14am
- Bobba Fret
  
  Are we still allowed to tell Irish jokes?
  
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  July 20, 2020 10:48am
  - Jimmy White
    
    Three men walked into a Bar. One in each corner the Barman in the other.
    
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    July 20, 2020 11:53am
  - Pharmachick
    
    A Priest, a Monk and a Rabbit walked into a bar… the Rabbit said “I think I’m a spelling mistake”.
    
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    July 20, 2020 4:29pm
  - All_on_Red
    
    Sister Theresa joined a Nunnery.
    Because she was an innocent and shy girl the Mother Superior decided that Theresa could do the weekly shopping.
    Get her out and about.
    First time out she comes back an hour late.
    The Mother Superior was concerned but let it slide.
    After being late the next two times she decided to go with her and see what was going on.
    As they were driving into town, a Cop put his lights on and signalled them to pull over.
    The Mother Superior thought it was odd as she was driving ok.
    Looking back, they saw the Cop walking towards them and as he did he unzipped his fly.
    Sister Theresa turned to the Mother Superior and said ” oh no, not another breathalyser”
    
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    July 20, 2020 4:47pm
- Ruawai
  
  I always think pronunciation depends on accent and native language spoken, anyone not of a race finds it hard to say words with correct pronunciation and often have a different spelling eg non Italians calling Firenz Florence, or non French saying Paris not Pari
  
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  July 20, 2020 2:47pm
Simon

Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
National followed the clown show down the Wuhan virus rabbit hole.

Herd immunity and falling death rates for everyone else.

Labour backed by National crushed the economy in a panic over reaction. All that is left is failure, continual fear mongering and lies about the harm done.
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July 20, 2020 8:22am
Yvette

One of the things that destroyed Todd Muller’s National Party leadership was an apparent lie to reporters during the leaked Covid-19 patient data scandal. Why were so many media outlets reluctant to use the l word to describe his dishonesty? [1]
A lengthy article discusses what may constitute a political lie.

Meanwhile Winston – praised his ministers, saying Shane Jones had “made the biggest green statement of all with the billion trees programme and the Provincial Growth Fund.
“We have opposed woke pixie dust,” he said of his party holding its Coalition partners to account. “Whilst the rest have been politically correct, we’ve set out to correct politics.” – addressing the party membership in Auckland, Mr Peters outlined NZ First’s achievements while in Government.

But on the NZ MPI website the One Billion Trees Progress Chart, running since I January 2018, states Government has directly funded 24,681,000 trees [2] – in two and a half years, when the rate should be about ten times that amount.

The same graphic claims “since the One Billion Trees Programme was announced 149.399,000 trees are planted, counting in commercial forestry figures, which is close to what Ardern told the United Nations Climate Summit – “150 million are already in the ground” about a year back.

But Forestry has a 95% replant rate (as recorded in a Cabinet paper, linked lower in the MPI item) so their share of the total trees planted, 124.72 million, suggests they felled 131.28 million mature trees elsewhere in their forests.

This means the net trees total for the two and a half year period was 18.12 million, actually cutting 6.56 million off Shane’s 24.68 million, when you consider it the way they should in the current policy of 1,800 new Police recruits, but fail to deduct Police retiring, and those leaving the force for ill-health and other reasons.

So, in net accounting, with Government including the trees Forestry re-plants, but not taking into account those trees Forestry cuts down, Winston’s mention of Shane Jones and the the billion trees programme, is itself “woke pixie dust”, or indeed, more simply, a lie.

And is a net number, which is less than one eighth of Ardern’s UN claim that “150 million are already in the ground”, enough to actually make any difference to world climate, or just another version of the lie that Shane Jones and Winston Peters tell. Just as well that school-children, who march for climate change, cannot vote yet.

And is such a small net number of trees to save the planet worth the gesture that can in places be seen to be happening: conversion of good farmland into forests – the easiest thing to do – to line the pockets of investors, as indicated by those connected with NZ First who supposedly applied for benefits under their own schemes.
Those farmers, and the communities to be effected, can vote.

[1] https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/mediawatch/audio/2018754872/the-fine-line-on-lies
[2] https://www.teururakau.govt.nz/funding-and-programmes/forestry/one-billion-trees-programme/about-the-one-billion-trees-programme/
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July 20, 2020 8:23am
- Tony Stuart
  
  And of the trees which Labour/NZF/Greens have planted, most are imported species (pine), planted on prime pastoral land which would have otherwise been used to farm sheep and beef.
  
  Don’t get me started on the deceit from the coalition in leaving a gap in the Overseas Investment Act to allow overseas-based investors to continue to buy New Zealand’s prime pastoral land to plant trees for carbon dollars, all of which will disappear offshore.
  
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  July 20, 2020 9:14am
- mark15
  
  But Nash promised 1800 new police,then 1800 new police ‘staff’,then he went all quiet.
  
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  July 20, 2020 9:27am
  - sooty
    
    What about Phill Twyford selling 147 state houses and he built how many Kiwibuilds?
    
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    July 20, 2020 11:24am
Justitia

In less than one week Judith Collins has dominated the public’s imagination with exciting new policy and her no-nonsense responses to woke idiots like Jack Tame. Even more than this, she has forced Jacinda into the shadows. Instead Robbo has been deployed to feed attack lines to the meretricious media, from behind the threadbare curtains, that have fizzled like a wet firework. There is no way Ardern can foot it with Judith Collins – feelingz won’t cut it. Perhaps she now also joined Labour’s Witless Protection Program? Judith and her team must keep up the momentum. It’s working.
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July 20, 2020 8:23am
- Rachael Membery
  
  Threadbare twitching curtains?
  
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  July 20, 2020 6:53pm
burt

DPF

I see your post on not bringing politicians family into the debate and not to post gossip on this site. I’ll happily comply with the rules but is there some wiggle room for situations where politicians put themselves into the limelight with magazine happy family picks, stories on ‘life with [baby_name]’ etc?

How do we discuss the happy family they have displayed and shared with us for their own PR if we cannot discuss their family?
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July 20, 2020 8:27am
- Inandout
  
  burt, leave the fluffy mag stories to the bewildered, they will vote Labour anyway. We are intelligent enough to read between the lines and so I suspect are the the thousands of newly unemployed. If you want the gossip stories, just Google.
  
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  July 20, 2020 8:52am
- kwkiwigirl
  
  Wonder if the newly relaunched NZ Woman’s Weekly will be out in time to feature a saccharine article about ‘NZ’s first family’ and how much baby Neve has grown.
  
  33 1
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  July 20, 2020 9:32am
  - Paulus
    
    Was talking to lady in supermarket this morning being in charge of the magazine section of the shop.
    She said that almost 40% of the magazines are not sold. I asked what happens to them – they are thrown into the tip.
    Rather different between readership, production and sales PR figures.
    Has changed apparently over recent years to more with continuing chuck outs – hence closing down figures.
    
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    July 20, 2020 1:59pm
- RJ
  
  I think some give and take has to be given with politicians partners, for example Gayford who are constantly interjecting themselves into politics on social media? Mods?
  
  [Mod: if a partner says something political on social media then, within the context of that statement, it’s fine to mention it. It’s not a licence to then throw in any other insults or made-up stories about them]
  
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  July 20, 2020 9:32am
  - RJ
    
    Thanks for that mod.
    
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    July 20, 2020 10:39am
    - sooty
      
      He has been quiet of late, which is unusual!
      
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      July 20, 2020 11:25am
- SmokerGuy
  
  I know what you’re talking about, I don’t think the election should be won by bringing up things like that. Besides how do we even know if it’s real? The opposition should win it fair and square based on policy.
  
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  July 20, 2020 9:53am
- Loddenthinks
  
  If you want to do that in a public forum, there are numerous opportunities on FB and a blog I was directed to yesterday from this one – YSB.
  
  The gossip is rife there and many were quick to ridicule KB and DPF for refusing to allow it on this site. There are many reasons why DPF might wish to take that stance, and since it’s his blog and commenting is a privilege not a right, I’m happy to follow the rules.
  
  YSB isn’t my cup of tea, but each to their own and all that.
  
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  July 20, 2020 10:31am
Maggie Pie

You couldn’t help but feel for the residents of Whangarei after seeing the devastation caused to their homes and businesses over the weekend by what was descbibed as “a one in two hunfred year weather event”
My partner suggested we should head up to Tindalls yesterday morning to check everything was okay at the bach. Just as well we did….

https://i.imgflip.com/47c8x0.jpg
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July 20, 2020 8:27am
- Don Beckett
  
  Actually Maggie, it has been bandied by the woke MSM that it was a 500 year event – how the hell would they know?
  Apparently the 1936 flood was worse – go figure.
  
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  July 20, 2020 8:52am
  - Two bob
    
    think its rainfall in x time that is record, but still its just click bait at the end of the day. Whinge every year about a drought and whinge when they do get rain.
    
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    July 20, 2020 8:58am
  - suzieq
    
    C’mon. It’s quoting MetService.
    
    15 1
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    July 20, 2020 9:02am
    - Paulus Gnome
      
      Metservice – as reliable as a chocolate fire guard, a paper bag for the party ice, a fart after a Saturday vindaloo, NZFirst . . . .
      
      12 1
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      July 20, 2020 9:29am
  - mark15
    
    It’s like saying we’re in the middle of the worst drought/monsoon/heatwave/polarvortex/whatever.
    How do they know?
    
    11 1
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    July 20, 2020 9:28am
  - kowtow
    
    Yeah well the 1981 event flooded Kemp House after 265 mils . This months’ one in 500 year event is reported as 220 mils.
    
    And the fricken Media party , climate scammers etc bristle at being accused for “fake news” and fear mongering .
    
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    July 20, 2020 9:55am
  - lifesgood
    
    Did the maori have meteorological reading equipment 500 years ago?
    
    15 1
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    July 20, 2020 10:05am
  - MCos
    
    If there’s a 10% chance something will happen over 12mths that’s 1 in 10 year event, no matter how many times it happens in that year.
    There are all sorts of people who make a living figuring these things out
    
    4 1
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    July 20, 2020 10:30am
- Maggy Wassilieff
  
  Plastic chairs!!!!!
  
  You need to visit Kaiti..
  https://felt.co.nz/user-images/itemuploads/u80460/i623784/l.jpg
  
  25 1
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  July 20, 2020 8:55am
  - sooty
    
    Shit can you still get the old crates?
    One of my first jobs, had to shout a crate of half gees for a job, new car, engaged, married and anything else, they could think of.
    
    9 1
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    July 20, 2020 9:35am
    - sooty
      
      Will add.
      Didn’t it look a treat! Brings back memories!
      
      4 0
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      July 20, 2020 11:29am
  - Rich Prick
    
    At University those things were handy seats, laundry baskets, bookcases, TV cabinets and nightstands.
    
    4 0
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    July 20, 2020 2:18pm
- David George
  
  It was a one in five hundred year event according to some met boffin Maggie.
  My farmer son in law said we had much worse a few years ago according to his records and observations.
  We drove through Northland and I have to agree; nothing particularly unusual.
  
  Apparently we now get one in five hundred year weather events all the time, everything is record/unprecedented dry, wet, windy, cold, warm etc.’cause Climate Change,
  
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  July 20, 2020 8:57am
  - Happychappy
    
    Didn’t Jacinda and Grant use the same saying over Covid-19 when justifying the billions of dollars they are spending, this a one in a hundred year Pandemic.
    
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    July 20, 2020 9:30am
- LTA1955
  
  June 2014 it flooded up North, took months to drain away, slips on SH1 south of Kawakawa, 2 of them major closed SH1 for weeks, Rinse and repeat, ohhhh its election year Dwarf & Co beating the drum FFS
  
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  July 20, 2020 9:02am
- the deity formerly known as nigel6888
  
  Oooh! that looks bad, Maggie. Might need to get a man in!
  
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  July 20, 2020 9:03am
  - sooty
    
    [Mod: perilously close to an instant ban, as per DPFs post from yesterday morning.]
    
    2 1
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    July 20, 2020 9:36am
    - sooty
      
      Not talking about them that should not be named. She needs a fine young man with tanned body etc, to help keep the section under control.
      Get a life!
      
      5 1
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      July 20, 2020 11:33am
- Paulus
  
  Is this Whangarei flood the last of the 100 year flood or is it the first of it ?
  Some years ago in Mataura the same 100 years flood occurred within 12 years – and nearly again a couple of weeks ago came very close.
  
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  July 20, 2020 10:13am
Happychappy

I wonder whether Jacinda Ardern attended the Warehouse meeting this morning over job losses as she seems to like using the press in showing her displeasure.
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/money/2020/07/the-warehouse-to-announce-job-losses-to-employees.html
It shows how naive she is when if she looks back most of this can go down to her and Labour over the lockdown.
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July 20, 2020 8:30am
- Maggy Wassilieff
  
  950 jobs down the drain!
  https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/300060721/950-jobs-to-go-union-says-the-warehouse-using-covid19-excuse
  
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  July 20, 2020 9:30am
  - the deity formerly known as nigel6888
    
    fortunately warehouse workers can always fall back on safe government jobs to survive?
    
    No?
    
    Oh well, hope we all enjoyed having our economy destroyed to “save us” from a nasty flu that is particularly unpleasant for old folks.
    
    For anyone else, well, lets all be imprisoned on Alcatraz in the Pacific. We will be safe until we have eaten the last sheep!
    
    Has this government even heard of the utility of an “exit strategy” or are they having too much fun reworking the economy into a communist state?
    
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    July 20, 2020 9:54am
  - Maggie Pie
    
    I see the ‘First Union’ guys name is…. Dennis Maga.
    
    Buy that man a cap! 😀
    
    43 2
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    July 20, 2020 10:01am
    - artemisia
      
      Mr Muller has a spare box for Mr Maga’s new hat. Maybe even a spare hat?
      
      When governments add more and more compliance and cost to businesses, those businesses will make more and more decisions in the interests of their owners. ECON101.
      
      Short term, unions will do nicely thanks under a Labour government. Not so much when their subscriptions are falling. Still, they can follow suit by laying off staff and closing locations. Waiting ….
      
      National previously announced that they would be cancelling regulations. Let us see specifically what they propose to cancel to save jobs and cut costs.
      
      I’ll kick it off – scaffolding regs that can easily double the cost of a project. Dr Wilkinson of NZ Initiative wrote an excellent paper on this – looked in vain for official costs / benefits.
      
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      July 20, 2020 10:20am
- Greg Ettridge
  
  I was wondering if they opened up the meetings by saying the managements urgent needs to pay more tax far out weighs our commitment to retain staff.
  
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  July 20, 2020 9:38am
  - Loddenthinks
    
    They probably opened the meeting with 5 minutes of unintelligible, mangled-pronunciation te reo.
    
    17 1
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    July 20, 2020 10:33am
- burt
  
  She could at least turn up and tell the people losing their jobs how lucky they are than when they next find a job they will be earning $1.23 more per hour than the one they have just been fired from.
  
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  July 20, 2020 9:59am
  - Te Rauparaha
    
    $1.23
    
    Don’t forget the tax increase 🙂
    
    10 1
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    July 20, 2020 10:29am
    - Rachael Membery
      
      You have a swimming pool complex named after you, I am not quite sure of the relevance but…
      
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      July 20, 2020 7:10pm
  - Piniwi
    
    Actually burt the Red Sheds are migrating to the living wage according to them which may also be part of what prompts staff cuts.
    
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    July 20, 2020 1:56pm
Nukuleka

No one should be counting Winston First out after his typically feisty display against the hapless Jack Tame in Q and A yesterday. Winston made a fool of the hapless Tame in a way that only he can, appealing to his base with every trick in his repertoire. Love or hate him he is undeniably as cunning as a fox.
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July 20, 2020 8:31am
- Lance
  
  At least he stopped Tame’s ultra annoying talking over the top of his reply and moving onto the next question before the interviewee has a chance to get a word out.
  Winston’s words were all drivel but at least he shut that irritating little twat down.
  
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  July 20, 2020 9:22am
  - Flossie
    
    And to think Tame’s name is being bandied about as potentially TV One’s singular evening news anchor! MARGINALLY preferable to Campbell, but hell no just the same!
    
    12 0
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    July 20, 2020 11:49am
    - sooty
      
      Either, ither,?, no difference going broke!
      They are woke!
      
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      July 20, 2020 12:33pm
- SmokerGuy
  
  It was an embarrassing interview, just a rambling old man well past his use by date. Finally we may see the end of this ridiculous collection of idiots.
  
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  July 20, 2020 9:50am
- septic skeptic
  
  Nah, NZF is stuffed this time around. You need to be a special kind of stupid to fall for this immigration line when this was keynote policy from BOTH coalition parties last election and they have done nothing. No way they get 5% and no way his good self wins Whangarei either because most people see him as a narcissistic wanker.
  
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  July 20, 2020 9:58am
- hullkiwi
  
  Mind you this morning resulting from his speech yesterday, both Garner and Richardson were putting the boot in.
  
  Garner’s comment was he has nobody else to blame for the “woke lefties in the government, other than himself, because it was him (Peters) who put them into government.”
  
  And then Richardson later said, he (Peters) should just say “sorry” (referring to the record of the CoL). They then had fun with photos from 2008 holding up is card with “NO” on it.
  
  And to close it out Bryce Edwards, was interviewed questioning the meaningless slogan of NZF.
  
  Then there is Labour and its failures in the past 4 days.
  
  All in all, the past 5 days have all been good for Judith & National.
  
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  July 20, 2020 10:16am
- Loddenthinks
  
  “Winston made a fool of the hapless Tame in a way that only he can.”
  
  I have to disagree with you there. Judith Collins had already made a fool of him in the earlier interview, much more comprehensively and decisively, and she did it without raising her voice or being nasty and spiteful.
  
  I suggest Jame’s* lunch was rather difficult to digest yesterday.
  
  * I will now forever refer to Jack Tame as “Jame” after Judith inadvertently called him that yesterday. In the same way that John Luvvy Campbell kept referring to Gerry Brownlee as Jerry Collins hahaha.
  
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  July 20, 2020 10:37am
  - Sacha
    
    I wonder if Judith is being ever so slightly clever with her name calling -https://www.facebook.com/jamieschoolgirl/
    
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    July 20, 2020 12:26pm
- MCos
  
  His schtick is to constantly play the victim. I watched him on TV3 the other morning and he was on Morning Report today with the same spiel. You guys treat me so bad. Same as Trump.
  Both of them make a virtue out of being set upon by the meanies in the press.
  
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  July 20, 2020 10:37am
- kwkiwigirl
  
  Tame really needs to be warned about not revealing his voting bias when interviewing someone. It’s really very obvious and he behaved the same with Collins as he did with Bridges. Totally emotional.
  
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  July 20, 2020 8:44pm
JeffW

On TV news, the greetings are always in Maori these days. TV One and I guess Maori TV has Maori language news; imagine the outcry if those services started out and ended with greetings in English before commencing the Maori language broadcast.
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July 20, 2020 8:36am
- sooty
  
  That’s racist!
  
  9 3
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  July 20, 2020 9:37am
  - Rachael Membery
    
    So apparently is being a sooty.
    
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    July 20, 2020 7:15pm
- tf78
  
  I noticed after Jack Tane did his Maori good morning to Winston – Winston just said “good morning” – Neither he nor Judith are buying into the BS thank goodness.
  
  I’ve just realized why “White Island” has had a name change – I’m not slow!
  
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  July 20, 2020 9:50am
Tony

I am loving the way that National is leading the news headlines at the moment and beating Labour to the punch.

The latest example was the announcement from National to require returnees to pay a contribution towards their quarantine costs.

The best Labour could come up with was that they were also planning to do something similar, but hadn’t quite got there with it yet.

Helps build the narrative that National is the “get things done” party while Labour is the announcement party.
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July 20, 2020 8:40am
- kwkiwigirl
  
  Labour were never going to charge anything for quarantine till after the election. Too sh*t scared of annoying a few families who’s family members decided they want to come running back to NZ. Glad National have front footed this issue.
  
  There will be a lot of ifs and buts in whatever Labour brings out to charge for quarantine and probably only ‘rich pricks’ will actually have to pay it. Bit like paying back student loans after you’ve buggered off overseas.
  
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  July 20, 2020 9:36am
- sooty
  
  I thought maybe Bushy was doing it.
  Been missing for a month.
  
  4 1
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  July 20, 2020 9:39am
- hullkiwi
  
  Tony, that is for real. I was with neighbours (a relative term where we live), and that announcement hit a cord. No one believed that Labour were going to do anything (the response was they are in govt, why hadn’t they etc?), and then you get the TV3 poll this morning.
  
  Also as you say, Judith has seized the news agenda and it has all been messages that resonate. The CoL’s messages are now getting lost under COVID and poor economic news (oh dear how sad!).
  
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  July 20, 2020 10:25am
  - Tony
    
    Can’t find anything about the poll this morning. Was it good for National?
    
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    July 20, 2020 11:42am
    - hullkiwi
      
      The poll was about making people pay for quarantine, ie did people want returnees to pay.
      
      All the way through the show, 91% were in favour of making people pay. A very good indication JC has the mood of people spot on.
      
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      July 20, 2020 1:14pm
artemisia

‘Woke pixie dust’ carefully designed to go viral by a clever Mr Peters. And recover his traditional voters of course, the ones star struck but now pivoted.

“Pivot’ is the word du jour apparently. Something to do with making changes so nobody notices what is really happening for the next couple of months.
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July 20, 2020 8:41am
- tf78
  
  artemisia – Judith started the woke comment, Winston just copied her.
  
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  July 20, 2020 9:51am
- hullkiwi
  
  It’s called a “U-turn”, and I’m mindful of the famous excerpt from a speech Margaret Thatcher gave to a Conservative Party conference in the 1980s.
  
  The line went:
  
  “You turn if you want to, but this lady is not for turning!”
  
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  July 20, 2020 10:28am
kowtow

Stuff doing a cancel culture hit job on Mel Gibson.

Open to comments . Great to see the comments massively against.

Just a matter of time before stuff is cancelled.

They need to be very careful about what they advocate .

https://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/celebrities/300056583/mel-gibson-has-a-new-movie-out-please-dont-watch-it
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July 20, 2020 8:41am
- Lance
  
  I see the comments section of that article are vastly against the author, many commenting they will definitely see the movie now and others asking the author what books she wants burned.
  
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  July 20, 2020 9:27am
- kwkiwigirl
  
  Interesting that Stuff have cancelled facebook commenting since July 6 as an experiment/protest against facebook. Was probably more because they can’t afford to employ someone to post the articles on facebook and moderate them.
  
  We’ve seen overseas that advertising boycotts against facebook are not working as it’s such a juggernaut. Stock price has actually gone up. 2.6 billion facebook users aren’t going anywhere.
  
  Maybe explains why we are seeing the odd article on stuff now being opened up for comments, then closed very quickly if they don’t like the look of the comments.
  
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  July 20, 2020 9:40am
- Bobba Fret
  
  Stuff very rarely open up the comments section for any articles now as they just get ripped a new one each time by the majority of commentators.
  
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  July 20, 2020 10:55am
MJHNZ

Does it not seem strange that Jacinda missed her Monday media interviews again this week? We’re in the biggest health crisis of a lifetime, biggest economic crisis and have an election in a few weeks and the part time PM has been absent for the last couple of weeks. This is simply not good enough for a PM of any political party.
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July 20, 2020 8:42am
- Maggy Wassilieff
  
  It’s a Parliament Sitting Week
  There’s been a Civil Defence Emergency in Northland
  We are in Election mode
  Her Party is under attack by her Deputy PM and Coalition Partner
  What is the PM playing at?
  
  51 1
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  July 20, 2020 9:27am
  - sooty
    
    Some where else apparently, there hasn’t been anything happening in NZ of consequence lately, so why should she hang around here!
    Has anyone been watching flight tracker.
    
    6 2
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    July 20, 2020 9:44am
  - Paulus Gnome
    
    Happy families?
    
    12 1
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    July 20, 2020 9:55am
    - Engelbert Humperdink
      
      ISWYDT…
      
      1 0
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      July 20, 2020 1:59pm
  - the deity formerly known as nigel6888
    
    Witless protection programme?
    
    Turns out the idea of Saint Cindy who walks among us ™ is somewhat better than the reality.
    
    Old adage, best to remain silent and be thought a full, rather than open ones mouth and remove all doubt.
    
    Expect to see her kept under wraps as much as possible during the campaign. Photos and puff pieces only.
    
    19 1
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    July 20, 2020 9:59am
    - Two bob
      
      new zealands very own joe biden?
      
      11 0
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      July 20, 2020 12:13pm
      - Ed Snack
        
        At least she can talk in coherent sentences when prompted, and does tend to be able to follow a teleprompter.
        
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        July 20, 2020 7:10pm
  - david
    
    Perhaps it has all got a bit much for her. Poor petal!
    
    6 0
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    July 20, 2020 1:22pm
- KevO'Brien
  
  It’s quite pleasing actually. The lack of a disagreeable physiognomy is no bother.
  
  34 2
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  July 20, 2020 9:27am
  - Maggy Wassilieff
    
    Good Gracious…don’t you get out and about?
    Her face is plastered on billboards at every corner in Gizzy.
    
    And none of them are vandalised in Kaiti – coz we’re couth.
    
    34 1
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    July 20, 2020 9:32am
    - sooty
      
      Youth adjacent, couth!
      
      7 1
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      July 20, 2020 9:44am
    - lifesgood
      
      Or Labour luvvies. 🙂
      
      8 1
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      July 20, 2020 10:08am
- DeepBlue
  
  Last week she was on holiday. This week she is due in the House, so it should have been a normal week. Is her Muller Moment coming? Todd has found his place, maybe Jacinda should move down Labour’s bench too.
  
  22 2
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  July 20, 2020 9:29am
- bruceavon
  
  Don’t complain. We need Judith to control the news everyday at the moment. First parliament clash will be good. Things seem to be going perfectly to me at the moment. Labour and Ardern have been very strangely silent since Judith took over. A friend suggests it is a strategy. works for me so far.
  
  17 1
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  July 20, 2020 9:37am
- GazzaW
  
  Not good at this time for Labour to have Jacinda’s weekly ten minute slot to explain government policies hijacked by Winston for a NZ First party political broadcast. Where is she?
  
  12 1
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  July 20, 2020 9:51am
- Paulus
  
  Is she pregnant again perhaps ?
  
  9 5
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  July 20, 2020 10:14am
igm

How many people are actually coming to NZ for the sentencing of Tarrant.
What precautions are being taken for quarantining these people.
Is it true Lees-Galloway has issued them exemptions?
We, as a nation, are entitled to no bullshit answers.
49 5
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July 20, 2020 8:44am
- RJ
  
  They have to has explained by the government go through the 14 day isolation
  
  8 1
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  July 20, 2020 9:35am
- sooty
  
  Along with Gallopaway away said you are paying for them as well, flights, bed and board, family, spending money as well, why would you not come!
  
  12 2
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  July 20, 2020 9:47am
- peterwn
  
  Where are they going to hold the sentencing? Justice Precinct would be too small. Even the Christchurch Town Hall would be too small. The Orangetheory Stadium, perhaps?
  
  8 1
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  July 20, 2020 10:27am
- Jack5
  
  How many people are actually coming to NZ for the sentencing of Tarrant?
  
  Apart from the Wuhan flu danger, the question is will they go home after the trial?
  
  11 2
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  July 20, 2020 11:17am
Pateke

Oh No! Maggie you must have been gutted. I am shocked that you did not place a trigger warning on your post.
26 1
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July 20, 2020 8:49am
Tom Barker

I have it on very good authority that National’s slogan for this election campaign is “Be Unkind.” Got to love the way Crusher fearlessly sticks it to the opposition like that.
23 9
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July 20, 2020 8:57am
Maggie Pie

When we got back home yesterday I couldnt be arsed cooking dinner, so got a couple of Red Duck Curries from UberEats. We then settled in to watch that Epstein doco on Choice. (Three hours of our lives we’ll never get back). It was nothing more than a boring rehash of all the old news. Learned nothing we didn’t already know.
Still, you do have to feel sorry for all the shite Andy’s copping about spiking that Virginia Roberts though. She was 17 for goodness sake!
As my partner said, he’s actually bloody lucky Jeff wasn’t a mussie.
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July 20, 2020 9:18am
- Random T Person
  
  The issue with the spiking, Maggie, is more that Ms Roberts was apparently traded for sex as opposed to being a willing participant…
  
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  July 20, 2020 9:30am
- Libertarians are right
  
  The “girl” was 17 and from Aussie (legal age 16). He’s from the UK (legal age 16) and the “deed” was done in the UK.
  Apart from being a dodgy old man, did he even commit a crime?
  
  19 2
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  July 20, 2020 10:17am
  - Jack5
    
    Virginia Roberts is an American. She’s now married to an Australian.
    
    Epstein a “dodgy old man”?
    
    He was a paedophile, and if the stories are true about him collecting videos of dirty old big shots, he was ready for blackmail, too.
    
    It’s interesting that the many witnesses confirm Epstein had a penis shaped like and egg, and apparently Harvey Weinstein was also deformed in that department.
    
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    July 20, 2020 11:21am
    - Maggie Pie
      
      Depends what you consider ‘deformed’ Jack.
      I’ve seen a few in my time, and every one has certainly been…. ‘different’.
      
      6 0
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      July 20, 2020 12:50pm
    - Libertarians are right
      
      Sorry, most things I’ve seen have her as Australian so Andy may have committed a crime if he knew she was transported across international borders (which is almost certain but hard to prove).
      Epstein was evil but it was Andy that I called dodgy.
      
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      July 20, 2020 1:16pm
  - RW Capitalist
    
    Apart from being a dodgy old man, did he even commit a crime?
    To answer your question
    1. He was 30 and she was 17 at the time…30?? hardly old.
    2. NO…no crime committed!!!
    
    8 1
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    July 20, 2020 11:22am
    - Jack5
      
      Epstein earlier served a prison term for having sex with under-age girls. This is from Wikipedia:
      
      In 2005, police in Palm Beach, Florida, began investigating Epstein after a parent complained that he had sexually abused her 14-year-old daughter. Epstein pleaded guilty and was convicted in 2008 by a Florida state court of procuring an underage girl for prostitution and of soliciting a prostitute. He served almost 13 months in custody, but with extensive work release. He was convicted of only these two crimes as part of a controversial plea deal; federal officials had identified 36 girls, some as young as 14 years old, whom Epstein had allegedly sexually abused.
      
      Epstein was a seriously bad bastard.
      
      If all the allegations are true of Epstein secretly videoing celebrities having sex with under-age girls, he will be remembered as a notorious criminal.
      
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      July 20, 2020 12:28pm
      - Libertarians are right
        
        We’re talking about Prince Andrew. Epstein was evil.
        
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        July 20, 2020 1:17pm
      - Jack5
        
        Whoops, L.A.R … so we’re talking Royalty.
        
        Why has Randy Andy, as the British tabloids call him, got his head down so far it wasn’t in the photos from his daughter’s wedding?
        
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        July 20, 2020 3:29pm
- RW Capitalist
  
  In the UK the age of consent is 16….no law broken.
  Circumstances are, as far as I know, she went to the UK voluntarily.
  This makes her more akin to a prostitute, for which her payment was, international travel, expensive hotels, meals etc.
  
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  July 20, 2020 11:04am
  - IC5000
    
    It is illegal to buy sex from a person under 18 in England and Wales.
    
    Maybe it’s time to google stuff. I don’t have any issue with prostitution but from trying to justify that it is ok to have commercial sex with coerced teenage girls is beyond the pale.
    
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    July 20, 2020 1:14pm
    - IC5000
      
      Downvotes from posters who think it’s ok to have sex with coerced teenage girls for money? Maybe it’s time to look in the mirror and ask yourself some hard questions.
      
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      July 20, 2020 2:09pm
      - Ed Snack
        
        I think the downvotes are more to do with you…
        
        2 0
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        July 20, 2020 7:17pm
      - IC5000
        
        Really? Hopefully you’re right. People don’t like to be confronted with their own hypocrisy or moral inconsistencies so thats perfectly understandable. I’d rest easier if this was the case than believe that I was being downvoted by paedophiles.
        
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        July 20, 2020 8:27pm
    - Libertarians are right
      
      I think the whole thing stinks but I’m talking about legality and it’s extremely difficult to prove Andy’s legal culpability here. To prove Andy’s culpability there’s two things you have to prove:
      1) that he knew she was being coerced/paid while under 18 (do we even know this now? – is there actual evidence that she was paid/coerced?)
      2) that he knew she was being transported explicitly for sex while under 18 (again, is there actual evidence of this?)
      
      As I said, I definitely think he was dodgy but proving anything more seems impossible without an actual paper trail.
      
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      July 20, 2020 3:16pm
      - IC5000
        
        Apparently it is a strict liability offence to engage in such conduct therefore you don’t need to prove the intent or state or mind that Andrew knew where was coerced.
        
        It would be hard to deny that Andrew didn’t know the girl was 16-17 yo by her physiology and mannerism. Surely the question must have arose in his mind WTF was a teenage girl hanging around with a creepy rich guy?
        
        I await Ms Maxwell’s trial with interest.
        
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        July 20, 2020 3:57pm
      - All_on_Red
        
        ‘It is illegal to buy sex from a person under 18 in England and Wales.’
        
        Correct
        But where’s the evidence that it was Prince Andrew who paid her?
        I think the scam here is get photos of them having sex and then blackmail for favours or money.
        
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        July 20, 2020 4:12pm
      - IC5000
        
        So you think Epstein was shaking down Prince Andrew by having footage of him having sex with teenagers? Not so far fetched I guess.
        
        It will be interesting to see proof of payment is actually needed by the courts. I suspect some form of vicarious liability may be used.
        
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        July 20, 2020 4:23pm
      - Ed Snack
        
        I have seen it speculated the the Prince was able to indulge cost free and possibly even video free, as he was part of the attraction for others to partake of Epstein’s “hospitality”. You know, hobnob with a royal prince and all that.
        
        Presumably Andrew knew that, which makes him pretty close to complicit in the goings on. He will no doubt plead ignorance about Epstein’s other “information gathering”, but whether he can do so with legal effect, who knows at this stage. I’m sure he didn’t want to know
        
        And legally it is probably probable that Roberts was coerced though at the time she may have thought that she was doing it “voluntarily”. Similar to Clinton and Lewinski, a person in a position of considerable power (and wealth is a form of power) can have undue influence and I think at least some courts can recognise this.
        
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        July 20, 2020 7:26pm
Inandout

Another ‘cartoon’ in Stuff paper this morning about Judith loving Thatcher and Muldoon. The Media Party is obviously in panic mode. I think my neighbour comes home tomorrow so he can have the papers back; I wouldn’t waste a subscription.
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July 20, 2020 9:19am
Happychappy

Has the voter started to wake up over Jacinda Ardern and the way she try’s to hang on to disaster and other peoples misery to muster votes. While Judith Collins is out there talking policy and making plans Jacinda is telling the media she has no time for the election as she is to busy focusing on COVID-19.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=12349183
Judith Collins tackles the problem as they arrive telling the media we will not work with Winston Peters or NZ First as that what the Caucus wants and anyhow Winston won’t be around, so has tide turned after seeing a woman that more interested in saving NZand not just some of the people living in it with a plan not the sympathy vote.
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July 20, 2020 9:23am
- Sacha
  
  “so has (the) tide turned after seeing a woman (JC) that more interested in saving NZ and not just some of the people living in it with a plan not the sympathy vote?”
  Maybe.
  I get the feeling that the PM regards the COVID threat as her primary job. She has appropriated the work of the Ministry of Health to herself, and is letting the regular affairs of New Zealand drift on the tide.
  But if somehow New Zealanders realise this in spite of media spin, and vote to steady the ship, we can all start to feel a glimmer of hope.
  
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  July 20, 2020 12:47pm
  - hullkiwi
    
    What, you mean she has given up her other day jobs of saving the children from poverdeeee (will no one think of the children?) and giving culture to the masses via RNZ’s Concert station?
    
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    July 20, 2020 2:56pm
Two bob

think its rainfall in x time that is record, but still its just click bait at the end of the day. Whinge every year about a drought and whinge when they do get rain.
7 1
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July 20, 2020 9:28am
Paulus

Dare I ask at what age did Virginia Roberts become a highly paid prostitute ?
She is very wealthy it us said despite her Lawyers taking possibly 40% of what has been gleaned from huge hush money that has been forthcoming.
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July 20, 2020 10:17am
- IC5000
  
  16 apparently. Maybe younger.
  
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  July 20, 2020 3:59pm
  - Ed Snack
    
    If so she was older than some; but I thought she first encountered Epstein when she was 14, though that may be confusing her with another.
    
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    July 20, 2020 7:30pm
    - IC5000
      
      Dear god that says it all really when there are so many victims of Epstein’s sordid behavior that it becomes that confusing.
      
      So much for the much vaunted British justice system. Hand Prince Andrew over to the Americans to deal with.
      
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      July 20, 2020 8:17pm
      - Ash
        
        They can’t hand him over, he has Diplomatic Immunity. Also I understand that the alleged crime occured in the UK, making it British jurisdiction. Note that the US has declined to send the wife of a CIA officer posted to London who hit and killed a British child.
        
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        July 20, 2020 11:45pm
Happychappy

Winston Peters decides to tell the truth for once and admit NZ First has the two bad boys from Brexit, Arron Banks and Andy Wigmore helping his Party from their home Country for the 2020 General Election in September.
https://i.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/122181820/winston-peters-confirms-brexit-political-operatives-working-for-nz-first-campaign
If this had been National you could bet your bottom dollar tha the media would go after them for the continued lies that Peters has told over the last month about these two, but in saying that the media are politically corrupt and everyone else gets afree pass.
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July 20, 2020 10:20am
- The Boss
  
  Winston is relying on the bad boys of Brexit to save him. All they need to do is increase his popularity by 500%.
  
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  July 20, 2020 12:51pm
  - Nickc2
    
    I think their job is too dig dirt on his opponents. By working from home, they are void of any NZ laws that may/not impact on their activities.
    I think he has learned this trick by studying Hillary Clinton’s Russian scam.
    
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    July 20, 2020 1:53pm
Captain Mainwaring

Phantom token downticker is absent this morning. SB2 is obviously still in bed.
17 3
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July 20, 2020 10:26am
- RJ
  
  Don’t worry there is a COVID post up, he/she will be here to give their medical advice on it ignoring all the past posts they have made about it beforehand contradicting themselves.
  
  8 2
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  July 20, 2020 10:42am
- Captain Mainwaring
  
  Oh, he’s woken up. Everyone now has at least one downtick.
  
  12 3
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  July 20, 2020 11:05am
thetiedarch

Anyone else seen this filth?
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/opinion/122163798/im-a-national-mp-get-me-out-of-here

How on earth was that allowed to be published? Stuff has finally resorted to calling National MP’s names.

I get that the writer is trying to be funny, but surely this violates a bunch of media council rules?
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July 20, 2020 10:47am
- Jack5
  
  If Stuff Ltd were broken into local enterprises, readers outside Wellington would no longer be subject to the meanderings of Bowron and other woke scribblers from the capital city.
  
  12 0
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  July 20, 2020 11:37am
  - sooty
    
    Jane Bowron, no surprises there then!
    
    10 0
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    July 20, 2020 12:39pm
- Prince
  
  Bowron is a rabid Labour Party member. She writes weekly columns, either lauding ‘her’ party or more often, attacking National.
  She has cost the Dompost, and presumably other provincial newspapers about 40% of their potential market capture.
  Why they continue to give her an avenue to spit her bile is beyond comprehension.
  I can only beseech anyone who subscribes to a newspaper that publishes her column to ring the paper, demand to speak to the editor, and cancel your sub, stating her column as the reason.
  
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  July 20, 2020 12:21pm
  - Tony Stuart
    
    Jane Bowron used to be a TV critic, before she dipped her toe into partisan political columns. She should have stuck to the small screen.
    
    15 1
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    July 20, 2020 12:54pm
  - Nickc2
    
    Threaten to boycott the rag’s advertisers!
    
    2 0
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    July 20, 2020 1:33pm
- Tall Man
  
  I see our host asked nicely that everyone cease and desist posting rumours attacking MPs families.
  
  I wonder if Lange felt he should be left alone when he was spotted out and about in a car back in the day. Or John Key’s daughter being the butt of jokes and articles about her lifestyle choices persuing her art studies?
  
  Did any PM in recent years allow the “first family”, “first cat” ” first baby” bullshit to be promulgated in the media? How often was “Thea” paraded around, Lady English or Lady Key?
  
  My mantra is you reap what you sow but rumours are just that, not fact so maybe someone should tell “what’s in it for wynston” that. He has spent his whole life trying to turn rumours into fact.
  
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  July 20, 2020 2:10pm
Maggie Pie

And what about those three Banjo Players that sit on the Court of Appeal in the UK. They’ve voted to allow the Runnaway ISIS Bride ‘Shamima Begum’ back into the country to appeal her citizenship being revoked. Why would they put the rights of an avowed Terrorist ahead of those of their own citizens?
She was found in a Syrian Refugge Camp after having given birth to 3 children – all of whom have died.
This from the BBC….

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-53427197
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July 20, 2020 10:49am
- Tall Man
  
  Rather them than us.
  
  4 0
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  July 20, 2020 2:03pm
RW Capitalist

Just received an email

Labeled: BUSINESS DEBT HIBERNATION
One of my customers has taken advantage of of this under the companies act.
and so it starts……
wonder how many more of these I will get?
10 2
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July 20, 2020 10:51am
- Two bob
  
  depends how exposed you are and how many clients.
  I suspect many will take advantage and the flow on effects will do damage more businesses. Instead of taking one for the team its trying to take the team down.
  
  do you need a reasonable excuse to decline the request or can you take a hardline on it?
  
  8 0
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  July 20, 2020 12:22pm
  - RW Capitalist
    
    I deal business to business, ie supposed payment on 20th of month following invoice.
    So am exposed to this.
    BTW only heard of it today.
    Before this over the past 11yrs in business, only had 3 refusals to pay, one went bankrupt, for less than $1000 of bad debts.
    Like the optimist, who fell off the multi story building, I too can be heard yelling….so far, so good.
    
    7 0
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    July 20, 2020 1:11pm
    - david
      
      It’s not the falling that hurts, it is the sudden stop at the bottom.
      
      7 0
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      July 20, 2020 1:31pm
    - Maggie Pie
      
      My partner insists on 50% upfront and balance COD. If a client welches at least all costs are covered and he still makes a small profit.
      
      5 0
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      July 20, 2020 1:31pm
      - RW Capitalist
        
        On larger product sales, I ask 60% deposit, to cover costs and delays.
        Good customers get a better deal.
        But on service sales, I can’t justify a deposit.
        I do have one customer who’s deal gets him a very good price…he buys 100 units at a time and pays up front.
        
        5 0
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        July 20, 2020 2:03pm
      - Maggie Pie
        
        Never really involved myself in business till i met my partner.
        In the early days, he would often txt me, “Late home tonite. Doing a COD”
        
        I always wondered what a fish had to offer that i didn’t.
        
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        July 20, 2020 3:39pm
Tony

I think the announced roading plan was brilliant.

It is really a very long-term plan, so the cost considerations are a long way in the future, and spread out over a long time. So, the $31 billion isn’t really such a big number.

But what it does is focus the conversation around the weaknesses in Labour’s own infrastructure planning.

People will have their attention focussed on how bad the roads are at the moment, and how useless Labour’s proposals are for fixing this.
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July 20, 2020 10:58am
- Captain Mainwaring
  
  And National’s announcement was clever in that the Warkworth to Cambridge section is already built or under construction.
  
  12 2
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  July 20, 2020 11:17am
  - RW Capitalist
    
    “And National’s announcement was clever in that the Warkworth to Cambridge section is already built or under construction.”
    By the precious NATIONAL govt.
    Labour spent their time in office taking credit for NATIONAL’S plans and achievements.
    
    15 0
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    July 20, 2020 11:25am
    - RW Capitalist
      
      precious…previous……bloody predictive text.
      
      9 0
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      July 20, 2020 11:43am
      - sooty
        
        It’s a wonder Phillip Stoner Twyford never claimed all the existing motorways.
        Slipped up there, didn’t he!
        
        5 0
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        July 20, 2020 12:38pm
    - Paulus
      
      Section to Warkworth appeared to have stopped in the couple of times I went that way recently.
      
      3 0
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      July 20, 2020 2:10pm
      - Captain Mainwaring
        
        Not surprised with Liarbore in charge. Similar thing has happened to Transmission Gully.
        
        2 0
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        July 20, 2020 4:40pm
Batman

Just because I know how much some people love the ‘Biden is senile’ angle, Fox News has a poll for you…

Do you think Joe Biden has the intelligence to serve effectively as president?
Yes 51% (+15)
No 36%
.
Do you think Donald Trump has the intelligence to serve effectively as president?
Yes 42% (-10)
No 52%

@FoxNews 7/12-15
https://t.co/e1m9tX1XNA

Do you think Joe Biden has the mental soundness to serve effectively as president?
Yes 47% (+8)
No 39%
.
Do you think Donald Trump has the mental soundness to serve effectively as president?
Yes 43% (-8)
No 51%

@FoxNews 7/12-15
https://t.co/e1m9tX1XNA

Do you think Joe Biden has the judgment to serve effectively as president?
Yes 52% (+16)
No 36%
.
Do you think Donald Trump has the mental soundness to serve effectively as president?
Yes 40%
No 53%

@FoxNews 7/12-15
https://t.co/e1m9tX1XNA
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July 20, 2020 11:18am
- RW Capitalist
  
  Polls are all very fine.
  But when record numbers of jobs are created per month.
  Achievement is all that counts.
  
  9 2
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  July 20, 2020 11:26am
  - Batman
    
    Just wait for the second slump following this new wave of cases and deaths.
    
    The short term and relatively mild boost in job numbers (worse than Obama’s creation rate btw) will be irrelevant come October/November since McConnell and the administration are trying to avoid doing any proper income support like the rest of the modern world did.
    
    2 13
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    July 20, 2020 12:44pm
    - kloyd0306
      
      Isn’t this interesting.
      Last week the mod stepped in when I suggested that the left were keen to see the Wuhan Flu get worse just so that Trump would lose.
      Here’s proof, yet no moderation……
      Consistency anyone?
      
      [Mod: Can you provide the link to that comment?]
      
      4 2
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      July 20, 2020 1:11pm
      - Batman
        
        Proof that the GOP are on board with the insane Trump strategy of ‘pretend everything is fine’ followed by faux concern about the deficit which they blew out.
        
        It’s the difference between facts versus your apparent thinking that the left actually want people to die. I’m sure Trump and the GOP don’t want people to die or lose their jobs… The only issue is they are now refusing to actually do anything about those two issues.
        
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        July 20, 2020 1:22pm
- UrbanNeocolonialist
  
  You are trying to make a point using an online poll. Seriously?
  
  Biden is not mentally or ethically fit to be president. I’m not a Trump fan either but at least he is Compos Mentis.
  
  15 2
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  July 20, 2020 11:39am
  - Batman
    
    On the subject of polls, you should go read the actual link to the Fox News poll, there’s three of them right in my comment. The poll was landline and cellphone, not online.
    
    On Trump and Biden…Erm, have you seen Trump in the last week?
    
    Banging on about Biden banning cows, windows, suburbs (brown people will come for your house), and giving unintelligible answers to Chris Wallace overnight.
    
    He’s more off the rails than Biden at this point. Poor Melania.
    
    2 11
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    July 20, 2020 12:41pm
    - Engelbert Humperdink
      
      So when are you heading off to join the Biden campaign and give them the benefit of your unparalleled expertise BM?
      
      8 1
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      July 20, 2020 2:02pm
      - RJ
        
        I doubt Batman gives a stuff either way about Biden or trump, just enjoys watching everyone shit themselves every time he posts something about either
        
        1 1
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        July 20, 2020 4:39pm
- Tall Man
  
  Seriously, who fucking cares?
  
  We have our own election in less than 9 weeks.
  
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  July 20, 2020 2:01pm
I remember when

Oh the joys of motoring in the New Age world.
Took an alternative route I often use yesterday and found it is now 20% slower than it was last week.
The road has been painted very recently, marked centre line and bold white lines on both sides, is mostly flat, plentiful white posts with reflective tape and has a number of longish straights. Now 80kph.
From this road I turn onto an arterial road with a 100 kph speed limit. This road is ‘Cinderella’ to the one I have just left. Nothing is better marked and white posts are far less frequent.
I turn from this onto another 100 kph road, with no markings on side, posts are much less frequent and traffic quite heavy.
As usual it is a ‘blanket decision’ as to what the speed limit should be. NO assessment of the individual roads, if the cap fits wear it!
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July 20, 2020 11:23am
- sooty
  
  What no cycle lanes. That can’t be right!
  
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  July 20, 2020 12:35pm
RJ

But, but, it was all legal and bla bla bla Winston, oh my how will anyone buy your vote now.

NZ First leader Winston Peters has confirmed UK political operatives who backed the Brexit campaign are helping his party this election.

Peters also says his party’s controversial New Zealand First Foundation, currently being investigated by the Serious Fraud Office, has been shuttered and is no longer accepting donations.

Stuff
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July 20, 2020 11:31am
- The Boss
  
  So why would they shut down a perfectly legal (according to Winston) operation?
  
  8 0
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  July 20, 2020 12:57pm
  - Rachael Membery
    
    Because nobody wants to donate?
    
    1 0
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    July 20, 2020 7:57pm
- gorse
  
  I wonder how they are paying for them. They don’t ever seem to get any donations.
  
  4 0
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  July 20, 2020 1:43pm
chukar

The big Tahr cull protest down south is continuing on talkback.
The greens are doing their best to destroy another valuable industry.
Sage is back to her crazy green ideologue roots.

Another unqualified minister that needs urgent replacement.
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July 20, 2020 11:36am
- RW Capitalist
  
  I keep repeating:
  Why not live capture?
  They are pest in NZ. (wrong location)
  They are endangered in the Himalayas.(right location).
  Get WWF to pay for it.
  
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  July 20, 2020 12:36pm
I remember when

National Election Slogan:
BE THE OTHER KIND!!
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July 20, 2020 11:45am
- Durden
  
  “Let’s Get Real”
  
  7 0
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  July 20, 2020 12:19pm
  - Tall Man
    
    “Let’s Get Rid ….”
    
    2 1
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    July 20, 2020 1:57pm
RJ

lamington flavoured chips, hmmmm, I think I’d just rather have a lamington and some salt and vinegar or chicken chips

Bluebird’s four new flavours
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July 20, 2020 11:49am
info@cruzpro.com

A radical idea. Stop charging businesses tax on their profits.

If you think about it, who actually pays the business income tax in the end? The customers in higher prices.

The only businesses that can’t increase their prices are the exporters. The exporters compete internationally and are disadvantaged. The exporters bring income into New Zealand that improves the standard of living. Many countries like China are smart enough to realize this and support their exporters instead of taxing them.
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July 20, 2020 11:52am
- Tall Man
  
  They do avoid the gst.
  
  2 1
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  July 20, 2020 1:55pm
Bobba Fret

Nice to actually see the National leader and deputy leader actually stand up for themselves against hostile interviewers.
I particularly liked the Judith Collins and Jack Tame interview and also the Gerry Brownlee and Lisa Owen interview.
Enjoyable viewing and worth watching. Sorry I don’t have links to them.
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July 20, 2020 11:56am
info@cruzpro.com

Just received the new Whangarei rates bill – up 4.55% over last year!
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July 20, 2020 12:06pm
sooty

They have been woked!
6 0
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July 20, 2020 12:34pm
Graham Sharpe

Talking of the PM where is she? MIA?
11 1
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July 20, 2020 1:08pm
- Batman
  
  It’s early afternoon on a Monday, so the answer is level 10 of the Beehive, in Cabinet.
  
  1 8
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  July 20, 2020 1:23pm
- Tall Man
  
  Keeping a low profile. Some in the media are a little pissed with her so the questions are not following her script at the moment.
  
  8 1
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  July 20, 2020 1:53pm
  - sooty
    
    Swotting up answers for her first day back at work after the holidays tomorrow!
    
    5 0
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    July 20, 2020 2:35pm
    - Tall Man
      
      Practicing the “Flomp” more like.
      
      4 1
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      July 20, 2020 6:26pm
Maggie Pie

A twitter bestie from LA asks…
“What has Kamala Harris done to her face?”

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EdUMVrHX0AEly9f?format=jpg&name=large

Tweeted in reply: Looks like her plastic surgeon might have been a Republican 😀
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July 20, 2020 1:24pm
- mandk
  
  Why do people like Harris think plastic surgery will make them look better?
  
  She now looks like an android.
  
  9 0
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  July 20, 2020 1:49pm
- Engelbert Humperdink
  
  All that heavy-duty suction for fast advancement leads to tissue necrosis, surely…
  
  5 0
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  July 20, 2020 2:04pm
- Garbageman
  
  That’s how i look after a couple of cones (not ice-cream)
  
  2 0
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  July 20, 2020 3:06pm
Right of way is Way of Right

https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/news/politics/winston-peters-to-pay-320-000-over-failed-superannuation-leak-privacy-court-case/?fbclid=IwAR2Tz7Wy4BxTbw8-LMyAi69OoixkSDc85s_xCkObeRM9xQoljedyqZPVd-o

Cough up Winston!
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July 20, 2020 1:29pm
Tony Stuart

Winston Peters has been ordered to pay $320,000 in costs over his failed case against Paula Bennett, Anne Tolley and others. Of that, around $100k is to Tolley and Bennett, with the remainder to the other defendants.

If only he hadn’t rorted the taxpayer for all those years, it would have worked out a whole lot cheaper for Peters…

https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/news/politics/winston-peters-to-pay-320-000-over-failed-superannuation-leak-privacy-court-case/
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July 20, 2020 1:30pm
- alex Masterley
  
  Ouch.
  I hope the taxpayer is not the one who will have to stump up the cash.
  
  15 0
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  July 20, 2020 1:35pm
  - Paulus
    
    I have heard that it is the Taxpayer will pay by special permission and agreement from effective Labour minister.
    
    6 0
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    July 20, 2020 2:13pm
- Maggie Pie
  
  That’ll have him feeling down the back of Jan’s couch 😀
  
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  July 20, 2020 1:39pm
  - gravedodger
    
    Not unusual, didnt Jan once reply “sometimes I wake up Grumpy, mostly I just let him sleep on”
    
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    July 20, 2020 3:43pm
- Captain Mainwaring
  
  The bitter old prick will appeal. It will go on forever.
  
  14 1
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  July 20, 2020 1:45pm
  - Paulus
    
    As he is not paying it does not matter.
    It’s Taxpayer’s money after ALL.
    
    8 0
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    July 20, 2020 2:14pm
- mandk
  
  It is no more that the silly old buffoon deserves.
  
  I still believe he engineered the leak himself because he wasn’t getting enough media attention at the time of the last election.
  
  11 0
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  July 20, 2020 1:47pm
  - Tall Man
    
    You and me both …..
    
    5 1
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    July 20, 2020 6:33pm
gorse

Stuff is clearly nervous about the election now. There seem to be a continuous stream of hit pieces and cartoons, all aimed at taking her and National down.
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July 20, 2020 1:39pm
- info@cruzpro.com
  
  Judith Collins could/should inform the MSM that they need to be “fair” in their political dealings because if National wins the election it would be payback time.
  
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  July 20, 2020 7:45pm
Captain Mainwaring

AA has launched a mobile charging service for electric cars.

https://www.autocar.co.nz/autocar-news-app/aa-launches-mobile-ev-recharge-service-2020

But why isn’t the service using an electric-powered van?
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July 20, 2020 1:50pm
- Maggie Pie
  
  Quite right there Capt’n. Watts up with that?
  
  10 0
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  July 20, 2020 2:26pm
  - sooty
    
    Thing in stuffed. Concil suppllied charger used only 1 to 3% of the time.
    
    4 0
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    July 20, 2020 2:32pm
    - info@cruzpro.com
      
      Most EV owners prefer to charge at home at night.
      
      Why connect to a street charger you have to attend to ( go back and unplug so others can use the charger)?
      
      1 0
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      July 20, 2020 2:57pm
      - Captain Mainwaring
        
        A lot of car owners in Wellington can’t park anywhere near their house. EVs have no future in that situation.
        
        2 0
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        July 20, 2020 4:44pm
      - info@cruzpro.com
        
        Sorry Captain, I hit he wrong button and reported you accidentally. I meant to say that you are 100% right in that people without a home based charger should think twice before purchasing an EV!
        
        0 0
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        July 20, 2020 7:48pm
- cmm
  
  Does the thing actually charge from a battery or does it use a filthy diesel engine for the charger?
  
  I see elsewhere that it is a “free” service for AA members. In other words you’re subsidizing it.
  
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  July 20, 2020 4:54pm
Swifty

Biden:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_f2Z30j61aw

What a cock.
5 1
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July 20, 2020 2:04pm
- Tall Man
  
  Batman thinks he’s better than Trump.
  
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  July 20, 2020 6:32pm
Benedict Yu

After I moved to Christchurch last year I needed to find a new mechanic. I got a recommendation but after two services I just had a feeling that he was not on top of his game. So I changed to a new guy.

So it turns out that the previous mechanic had filled the cooling system with plain WATER, instead of the right type of anti freeze coolant. And he did this heading into a South Island winter without telling me.

F**KING IDIOT ?????
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July 20, 2020 3:02pm
Surely Knott

So 1 patient from quarantine is reportedly going to hospital but not for Coronavirus related issues.
So the statistics for today show we have 1554 confirmed and probably cases in nz. And 1506 recovered cases. And 1 in hospital (which is not related to Corona) .
What is amazing is when 3000 people who are healthy enough to travel get Coronavirus, (so it excludes people in resthomes, or with serious disease) then none of them have been sick enough to require hospitalisation. Fingers crossed this good trend continues.
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July 20, 2020 3:05pm
Jack5

Michael Reddell analyses the Judith Collins infrastructure strategy.

Extrapolating from Reddell’s points, I find no political ideas, Left, Right or Centre, targeting New Zealand’s very poor productivity.

Heavy immigration didn’t help with productivity, perhaps because it was skewed to low-wage industries.

We have business-entrant migrants operating corner dairies and IT course newcomers staffing pizza shops, retail chains, and selling electricity plans door to door. Then there are scores of thousands of guest workers picking fruit.

Reddell on the Collins infrastructure plan:

https://croakingcassandra.com/2020/07/20/thinking-big-still/
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July 20, 2020 3:19pm
All_on_Red

https://nypost.com/2020/07/18/the-family-that-owns-the-new-york-times-were-slaveholders-goodwin/
Hahahahahaha
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July 20, 2020 3:40pm
Fletch

I bought one of those pouches of tuna the other day with coconut and lime, from Sealord. I thought it was a NZ brand, but the pouches and all the other cans of Sealord fish say they are made in Thailand from “local and imported ingredients”. ?
4 1
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July 20, 2020 4:10pm
- Benedict Yu
  
  I remember visiting a seafood market in Vietnam. The largest fish on display are about 15 cm long.
  
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  July 20, 2020 6:04pm
Engelbert Humperdink

An interesting few anomalies out there… are they “single spies, or a battalion”, as the Bard would say…

***

Florida’s coronavirus death count includes at least one young man who died in a motorcycle accident, according to a local health official.

After several reports that health organizations in Florida were misreporting data, Danielle Lama of Fox 35 Orlando spoke with Orange County Health Officer Dr. Raul Pino about several specific cases.

Lama asked Pino whether two younger people listed as COVID-19 deaths, both in their twenties, had suffered from any underlying conditions. “The first one didn’t have any. He died in a motorcycle accident,” Pino replied.

When Lama followed up, asking whether his data had been removed from the official tally since his cause of death was the motorcycle accident, Pino said that he couldn’t be sure. “I don’t think so. I have to double check. But you could actually argue that it could have been the COVID-19 that caused him to crash. I don’t know the conclusion of that one,” Pino explained.

OK then Dr Pino…

***

The current CDC nucleic acid test kits for SARS-CoV-2 generate 30% false-positive and 20% false-negative results in the best state public health laboratory, Dr. Sin Hang Lee reported in a peer-reviewed article published in the International Journal of Geriatrics and Rehabilitation, an online journal based in Japan.

Sin Hang Lee, MD, director of Milford Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory, the author of the article (http://www.dnalymetest.com/images/IJGeriatRehabLee_on_SARSCoV2_test.pdf ), re-tested 20 reference samples provided by the Connecticut State Department of Public Health Microbiology Laboratory Division to arrive at this conclusion, according to the published article. These reference samples were tested by the State Microbiology Laboratory with the CDC test kit and used as the standard reference to guide local laboratories to develop their own tests for SARS-CoV-2 in clinical specimens from suspected COVID-19 patients, according to the published article titled “Testing for SARS-CoV-2 in cellular components by routine nested RT-PCR followed by DNA sequencing.”

Dr. Lee is the first scientist developing a protocol to test the cellular components, instead of the cell-free fluid sample of a swab rinse, for SARS-CoV-2 genomic RNA.

“The virus must grow and replicate in a living cell, and one infected cell may contribute thousands of copies of viral genome equivalents to be tested,” explained Dr. Lee.

Thanks Dr Lee

***

The Rhode Island Department of Health just reported that the state had received 113 false-positive COVID-19 test results from a private laboratory.

These false-positive results were reported between July 9 and July 14, according to RIDOH.
RIDOH says the lab identified the issue with the accuracy and concluded that the initial sample handling in the lab produced the false positives with the batch.

RIDOH says 82 Rhode Islanders with positive results were included in that batch and received a positive result when retested.
The department says it will update the data webpage to reflect the true positive count.

Rhode Island isn’t the only state system reporting anomalous number, either.

The Florida Department of Health in its daily COVID-19 report lists multiple laboratories throughout the state – many of them small testing sites – with 100% positivity rates, but Southwest Florida’s dominant hospital system said Wednesday it is incorrect to say 100% of their labs are positive.

The Lee Health hospital system is reporting that its laboratory testing of potential COVID-19 cases has shown an overall positivity rate of about 18%, despite the state report showing that all people coming in for testing at some of its labs have the novel coronavirus.

While it seems a statistical improbability, the state’s reports have shown all-negative and all-positive test results from labs since it began releasing comprehensive daily coronavirus summaries in mid-March.

The Department of Health issued a statement to Florida media blaming the labs for incorrectly reporting data: “In recent days, the Florida Department of Health noticed that some smaller, private labs weren’t reporting negative test result data to the state. The Department immediately began working with those labs to ensure that all results were being reported in order to provide comprehensive and transparent data.”

Luckily this couldn’t happen anywhere else, could it… Ashley? Ashley? Anyone?
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July 20, 2020 5:13pm
- Engelbert Humperdink
  
  Dear Downticker – to quote a famous ‘Goodfellas’ meme:
  
  “FYYFF”.
  
  That is all
  
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  July 20, 2020 7:17pm
RJ

There is something very uneasy about this comment and smirk. Video
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July 20, 2020 6:26pm
Steve Otto(North Shore)

From a FB meme.
I had a converstation with an Amish gentleman while I was loading at the mill, and at the end he asked one question that should make even morons think.
He asked “Do you know why this virus has not infected us yet?”
No.
“Because we don’t have television or radio”
Main stream media – that is your ARSE on a plate.
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July 20, 2020 6:57pm
info@cruzpro.com

When I click on an online video article very often you have to watch an advertisement to see the video.

If the advertisement video is more than 10 seconds long, or if I am not told the length of the video, I hit the ‘back’ button and make a mental note not to purchase anything from the company sponsoring that video.
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July 20, 2020 8:18pm

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