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May 7, 2021 8:00am by Kokila Patel

General Debate 07 May 2021

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General Debate

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Captain Mainwaring

Anyone else think that the Olympic Games has lost the plot when they allow [unacceptable personal abuse – Mod] Laurel Hubbard to compete against women?
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December 7, 2020 8:26am
- Tony Stuart
  
  I wouldn’t use the same terminology as you Captain, but there’s something blatantly unfair about letting a transgender who was formerly a biological male compete against females in a strength event.
  
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  May 7, 2021 8:30am
  - Loddenthinks
    
    I wouldn’t use the same terminology as you Tony – Laurel Hubbard is, and remains, and will always be, a biological male. There’s no other kind, and every cell in his body tells a story that can never be changed.
    
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    May 7, 2021 10:34am
  - oldfella
    
    Tony, NZ Rugby is also trying to come to grips with transgender sport. If you’re a biologically female rugby player, what chance will you stand competing against biologically male footballers who decide to switch camps. This will not end well.
    https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/300169202/nz-rugby-and-sport-nz-addressing-complex-issue-of-transgender-inclusion-in-womens-sport
    
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    May 7, 2021 11:02am
    - Countrygirl
      
      And will a transgender female ever have the chance to be a front row forward for the All Blacks?
      
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      May 7, 2021 5:19pm
      - Exhumed
        
        If she wants to be selected she should take the same journey as the men do, and go through the same selection process. If she’s good enough for say, the Blues, and does battle against say, Joe Moody, and is noticed, she should get at least a run on role, if not a start. If she gets there by merit, I for one would not stand in her way.
        
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        May 7, 2021 8:09pm
  - Aunty
    
    Tony, they still are a biological male. And that’s the nonsense of this whole thing. Laurel Hubbard can call herself a female, identify herself as female, think of herself as female, dress like a female, ask you to call her a female, surgically reshape her genitals to look like a female, and pump herself full of as much estrogen as she likes, but none of that changes the fact that she was born a biological male with a Y chromosome in each cell of her body and she will die a biological male, with each cell in her body still having a Y chromosome. That chromosome has neither been silenced nor removed from her body. She is genetically male whether she likes it or not. And those genes on that Y chromosome – and there are lots of them – matter. They all have a function, they all do stuff. They make biological men, men, and we don’t know the function of them all nor have we characterised them all. And biological females don’t have any of them.
    
    So how is it fair then for Laurel Hubbard with her Y chromosome to compete against female athlethes who posses no such chromosome?
    
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    May 7, 2021 5:46pm
- kowtow
  
  The world turned upside down.
  
  Just another example of what the west has become, madness , but now the new normal .
  
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  May 7, 2021 8:32am
  - MCos
    
    Back in the good old days the East, that is to say the countries of Eastern Europe used to drug the women athletes to the extent they set records a metre and a half better than the PB of four times World Champion Val Adams.
    Even now drug taking is a big problem in weightlifting. The entire Thai team including two previous gold medalists has pulled out of the Olympics due to widespread positive drug tests.
    I would suggest that’s far more of a threat to the sport than the likes of Hubbard who is way down in the world rankings.
    
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    May 7, 2021 9:27am
    - Loddenthinks
      
      “I would suggest that’s far more of a threat to the sport than the likes of Hubbard who is way down in the world rankings.” They don’t need to be compared for each to be a major threat to sport.
      
      Both examples use drugs to alter the status quo, the difference is that Mr Hubbard is praised and celebrated for “making history” by cheating, and simultaneously devaluing if not destroying the hopes and dreams and hard work and talent of every female athlete unfortunate enough to be forced to compete against this circus freak.
      
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      May 7, 2021 10:37am
      - Captain Mainwaring
        
        Whoops, I just got deleted for using that expression, you’ll be next.
        
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        May 7, 2021 11:05am
      - Ruawai
        
        Agreed you should not be able to compete if you take drugs to either enhance or reduce your strength and skills.
        
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        May 7, 2021 11:55am
      - rockape
        
        I just feel sorry for the ‘real ‘ girls who have trained to get to the Olympics and won’t make it because of this fake woman.
        
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        May 7, 2021 12:20pm
      - Bullion
        
        Captain Mainwaring, maybe join the Free Speech Union and they can take up your case to say what the KB mod deems “unacceptable personal abuse” without repercussions.
        
        [That deletion was checked with DPF and OK’d. Feel free to start your own blog – Mod]
        
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        May 7, 2021 12:32pm
      - mikenmildagain
        
        You are seriously deluded if you think the Free Speech Union would care about a blog owner deleting comments that breach his policies.
        Some idiots seem to think ‘free speech’ means speech without consequences, at any time and on any forum.
        
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        May 7, 2021 1:03pm
      - Bullion
        
        @Mod – I was being facetious. Happy for Captain Mainwaring to start his own blog.
        
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        May 7, 2021 2:04pm
    - kowtow
      
      All cheating is a threat to sports.
      
      What about the Spanish para olympians in 2000 .
      
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      May 7, 2021 11:00am
      - mikenmildagain
        
        What about Mussolini fixing the 1934 World Cup?
        
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        May 7, 2021 1:10pm
    - doggone7
      
      Your last comment is right.
      
      As expected everyone’s going to come out of the woodwork for the Hubbard situation and go on about unfair, and cheating and so on
      
      The documented Russian cheating didn’t seem to interest them with the impact that has had on hundreds, thousands of athletes across a range of sports over years. I suppose it’s easier to boot Hubbard around than Russia.
      
      The lack of interest in the travesty and the joke around Russian participation at the 2021 Games suggests that.
      
      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doping_in_Russia
      
      https://www.cbc.ca/sports/olympics/olympics-russia-uniform-colours-1.5988161
      
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      May 7, 2021 1:14pm
  - David George
    
    It’s madness alright, symptomatic of what?
    
    “The culture war has consumed the public conversation, and much of the reality, in my homeland, Britain, and it is hard to watch, even from a distance. Hard to watch the factions at each others throats; hard to watch the endless, performative identity wars consume the brains of the cultural elite like a dose of CJD; hard to watch bizarre terminologies cooked up in California being parroted unquestioningly in London; hard to watch those who are supposed to be the guardians and protectors of your country turn around and knife it between the shoulders.
    No, something else is surely going on in the West, and especially in the Anglosphere, which can’t be explained purely by historical karma. Over the last few years, a new and still-coalescing ideology, which has been gathering steam in the post-modern catacombs of America for decades, has burst out onto the streets and into the studios, and is now coursing through the culture, overturning what was until recently uncontroversial or unquestioned. The energy around it is not that of the self-declared love and justice. It tastes of deconstruction, division, intolerance, hatred and rage.”
    “The resulting cultural tension, the violent language, the polarising stances, the hot-button issues, the radical intolerance, the deepening anger, the cancellations and impositions, the online battles that are distressing so many people – these are the waters we are all forced to swim in now. But the question that haunts me daily is a bigger one: what polluted the spring?’
    Paul Kingsnorth, The Faustian Fire
    
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    May 7, 2021 11:30am
- Maggie Pie
  
  Yet in a strange irony, the fact that ‘Laurel’ will be there, is the only reason I’ll be watching.
  OMG…..remember what happened last time 😀
  
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  May 7, 2021 8:52am
- cmm
  
  This really begs another question: Why do we even have special categories for women at the Olympics?
  
  I understand, of course that women are biologically different from men and are thus challenged in being able to attain the same athletic capabilities as men and thus are very unlikely to achieve top-end performance.
  
  But you know what? 99.99% of everyone – men and women – have those challenges. Supreme athletes are freaks of nature.
  
  If we are going to make a special category for people who are testosterone challenged, then why not categories for people who are short, those with less than perfect muscle structure etc? Maybe an extra category for those who lack the commitment to get up a5 5am every morning for 2 hours of training.
  
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  May 7, 2021 9:03am
  - Surely Knott
    
    Lol CMM. Did you really just call the women’s sport category – “a special category for people who are testosterone challenged”?! Women are not testosterone challenged. We are women and our bodies and hormones are different. Are you seriously suggesting we shouldn’t have a womens category? And where do you stand on youth and disabled olympics?
    
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    May 7, 2021 1:55pm
- Chuck Bird
  
  One thing that is true is that Hubbard is a cheat.
  
  Real woman should boycot the event.
  
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  May 7, 2021 9:11am
  - MCos
    
    The real cheats are those who take drugs and get away with it.
    The Lance Armstrongs of the world.
    
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    May 7, 2021 9:33am
    - I remember when
      
      Lance Armstrong was simply the best at what (almost) everyone in cycling was doing.
      He lost his mana when he became all Trevor Mallardy with those who wanted to expose the extent of the problem.
      
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      May 7, 2021 2:13pm
  - kowtow
    
    A girlcott?
    
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    May 7, 2021 11:00am
  - oldfella
    
    Chuck, it will take a groundswell of females – athletes and otherwise – to stop this trend. Women who will have to face a barrage of hate for standing up for themselves, like J.K. Rowling who has already faced the mob, but has so far refused to back down.
    https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2020/06/jk-rowling-faces-backlash-after-transphobic-tweets
    
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    May 7, 2021 11:09am
  - Batman
    
    Chuck, if the governing body which sets the rules allows it, then it’s not cheating is it?
    
    Your real issue is with the governing body and eligibility criteria.
    
    It’s fanciful to think someone will change their entire life and identity in order to compete in a sport.
    
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    May 7, 2021 12:49pm
    - cmm
      
      “It’s fanciful to think someone will change their entire life and identity in order to compete in a sport.”
      
      To say that you must have never been around top athletes.
      
      They will do ANYTHING to participate at the top levels. Without that hit of sport their lives have no meaning. It is all they live for.
      
      They will take drugs that screw up their organs… if they can get away with it.
      They will do things that will knock 20 years off their life.
      
      If you told them they could compete in the Olympics and then would need a a 90% chance of spending the rest of their life in a wheelchair, most would take it.
      
      Now I am not saying that Hubbard is not genuinely trans, but it is ridiculous to think that this will not be gamed.
      
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      May 7, 2021 2:43pm
  - I remember when
    
    What does Mokgadi Caster Semenya do.
    
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    May 7, 2021 2:28pm
- Im Right
  
  No….Captain, let it be!
  The feminatzies and woke were pushing the transgender is abolute trope (you are a woman, if born a man and vice versa and woe betide anyone who disagrees)
  THIS is the end outcome, most sports will see biological born men competing and winning in sports that require upper body strength and speed….the feminatzies will not know what to do and eventually they will have to back down (which will never happen and as such will break into factions that will turn on each other).
  It is/will be delicious to watch and the woke will have to double down as they are never wrong!
  
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  May 7, 2021 9:13am
- nathie
  
  Somewhere, last year I think, I saw online coverage of some recent or previous competitive games (in the Pacific?), in which Hubbard beat the local Samoan girls/young women who came second/third etc …. the photographs innocently caught the despondent faces of the young Samoan women as they took the podium to have a towering man stand over them (I’ve called him a man because he has xy chromosomes and a cock – I presume he hasn’t had it removed).
  
  The young women looked totally gutted, all that effort and training for nothing. Totally unfair.
  
  However to be clear, like many other critics of transgender men competing in womens sports, I support having a third category where transgenders compete amongst other transgenders. Why not? It would present a fairer representation of their abilities and skills (and should be somewhat “fun and interesting” to watch)! But guess what, the trans activists don’t want this and smear and denigrate those that advocate for this! What a bunch of (swearwords)!
  
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  May 7, 2021 9:18am
  - Loddenthinks
    
    I think “cock-wombles” is the word you’re searching for Nathie, and make no mistake – whether he’s had his meat and two veg surgically removed or not, Mr Hubbard is a male and always will be.
    
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    May 7, 2021 10:39am
- Rich Prick
  
  You would think they would be into fairness in competition. But no, they’re far more into unfair advantage to the detriment of women. The women should boycott the sideshow and leave Hubbard to play with “themself”.
  
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  May 7, 2021 9:20am
  - Loddenthinks
    
    Himself.
    
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    May 7, 2021 10:40am
- Fletch
  
  Even Brietbart has picked it up now..
  
  https://www.breitbart.com/sports/2021/05/06/new-zealand-weightlifter-poised-become-first-transgender-olympian/
  
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  May 7, 2021 9:52am
  - oldfella
    
    Sacre bleu, Fletch, even ze French have noticed.
    https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20210506-new-zealand-weightlifter-set-to-be-first-transgender-olympian
    
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    May 7, 2021 12:26pm
  - Batman
    
    well it is culture war red meat for Breitbart, so of course it has picked it up.
    
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    May 7, 2021 12:51pm
- I remember when
  
  The whole question has, so far, been approached from the wrong point.
  It has looked at the result – the athlete who wants to compete in sport.
  Obviously, the male and female designations don’t allow for notable exceptions to the usual.
  The problem is that there probably aren’t enough athletes, in individual sports, to enable a successful new gender class.
  
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  May 7, 2021 10:03am
  - Loddenthinks
    
    Boo hoo what rotten luck. Oh dear, how sad, never mind.
    
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    May 7, 2021 10:40am
    - Batman
      
      What is your grievance with trans people? They’re not hurting you in any way. You just look like you’re being an asshole?
      
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      May 7, 2021 12:52pm
    - I remember when
      
      Yes. Every Club should let the professionals win all their trophies every year.
      No amateur Clubs.
      After all we must not allow trophies to be won by those of inferior skills.
      Next thing they will all be on welfare.
      
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      May 7, 2021 2:22pm
  - Sacha
    
    There are some equestrian events in which ‘unqualified’ riders can compete. If they win they are ‘acknowledged’ as being first over the line, but the actual first prize is given to the first qualified horse and rider combination which finishes.
    Perhaps human athletes could be treated the same way?
    
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    May 7, 2021 4:23pm
- graham
  
  Even Caitlyn Jenner has said:
  
  “This is a question of fairness. That’s why I oppose biological boys who are trans competing in girls’ sports in school,” Jenner said in brief remarks before getting in her car. “It just isn’t fair. And we have to protect girls’ sports in our schools.”
  
  (Which as you can imagine, has gone down like a warm fish milkshake with all the trendy Californians).
  
  But, as someone who:
  
  (a) is a trans woman; and
  (b) won gold (competing as a man) in the men’s decathlon event at the 1976 Summer Olympics
  
  you might think that Jenner has more authority to speak on such matters than all her critics.
  
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  May 7, 2021 10:55am
  - oldfella
    
    Basically, a mediocre male weightlifter is now a medal contender after becoming a trans woman.
    Hmm, wonder how that works. /s
    
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    May 7, 2021 12:29pm
    - Ed Snack
      
      Ranked 16th in the world in “their” weight class, so not really a medal contender as such. More like just another competitor.
      
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      May 7, 2021 5:58pm
  - virtualmark
    
    Ironically … there were photos today of Caitlyn Jenner competing recently in a ladies golf event …
    
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    May 7, 2021 4:36pm
- Maggy Wassilieff
  
  Australian sportswomen aren’t afraid to call out the problem here
  
  https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/sport/2021/05/tokyo-olympics-laurel-hubbard-s-olympic-inclusion-devastating-says-australian-women-s-group.html
  
  but then Australians do have problems understanding our leniency towards our sporting “heroes”
  
  https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/114218682/victims-of-laurel-hubbard-crash-appalled-at-sentence-and-suppression
  
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  May 7, 2021 12:28pm
- Ehlana
  
  The IAAF requires competitors in female sports events to “maintain serum testosterone levels below 5 nanomoles per liter (nmol/L) for at least six months prior to competition.” According to Science Daily, “Most females have testosterone levels ranging from 1.12 to 1.79 nmol/L while the normal adult male range is 7.7 — 29.4 nmol/L.”
  
  So a transgender female athlete who meets the IAAF qualification has around three times the testosterone level of an average female.
  
  (https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/02/190212160030.htm)
  
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  May 7, 2021 2:38pm
  - cmm
    
    Sure, but most top female athletes are not “average females” and nor are most top male athletes “average males”.
    
    I would suspect that many top female athletes are above the normal range.
    
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    May 7, 2021 2:49pm
- rockape
  
  My greyhound thinks he is human, I am bloody sure he would get a medal at men or women’s 100 m sprint.
  
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  May 7, 2021 6:16pm
  - rockape
    
    Would the fact he still has his balls mean it would have to be the men’s?
    
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    May 7, 2021 6:41pm
Happychappy

Is this a blanant attempt by Labour and the Police to hide figures on crime from emergency housing.
Police, MSD not collecting data on crime at emergency housing.
The Government can’t- or won’t – say if crime is increasing in and around emergency housing, because the police are not collecting that information.
Neither the Police or the Social Development Ministry (MSD) is actively monitoring incidents of violence or family harm in this type of using but encourages people to come forward if they feel at risk.
RNZ has been toldnemerous stories of people being victimized while living in Motels.
In what can be intimidating and violent- with the police often having to tun up.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/442016/police-msd-not-collecting-data-on-crime-at-emergency-housing
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May 7, 2021 8:00am
- Tony Stuart
  
  “The most open and transparent government New Zealand has ever seen” strikes again. It’s simply appalling.
  
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  May 7, 2021 8:11am
  - Suze Wainwright
    
    Yet the msm still print articles saying this govt’s openness and transparency mantle is something they try desperately hard to preserve
    
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    May 7, 2021 8:41am
- The Housekeeper
  
  An elderly friend of mine has lived in a council run social housing unit in ChCh for a couple of years. All the units are 1 bdrm so when she first moved in it was mostly other elderly people and everyone got on well and were supportive of eachother. Since the first lockdown all that has changed and the ferals have arrived to terrorise their neighbours. Standover tactics and bullying are rife and the police are constantly being called for fighting, parties and drug-taking. Anything not bolted down is quickly stolen. Most of them had a little vege garden but all their veges go missing so now they don’t bother. There’s no garaging and my friend has had her car tyres slashed twice. Yesterday she found dents all over her car after she had refused the use of it to one of the new tenants. She got off lightly. The old man next door had to be moved after his unit was set alight at night while he was sleeping. Earlier that day he had confronted the ferals when he caught them stealing his veges. No charges were laid.
  
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  May 7, 2021 8:41am
  - kowtow
    
    Ah , the true kind face of Ayo teayo rower.
    
    The stories the Media Pardy won’t tell you .
    
    The daily misery that New Zealanders are put through by our ever growing Feral Underclass .
    
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    May 7, 2021 8:49am
    - Maggy Wassilieff
      
      and whilst the poor and powerless remain the victims of these unruly thugs, our Government and MSM won’t give a stuff….
      it’s only when nasty things happen in their environs that they take notice.
      
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      May 7, 2021 11:49am
  - Gravelroad
    
    @The Housekeeper- that’s a terrible situation for vulnerable elderly people to be in.
    It must be daunting to live alone in those conditions – frequently disrespected, bullied and robbed by petty criminals.
    If the NZ Police are unable or unwilling to address crime against law abiding residents – who will?
    What about the Maori Wardens?
    Are they still about?
    If so, what is their purpose and who pays them?
    
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    May 7, 2021 8:52am
  - Ruawai
    
    The new tenants will be behaving badly because of the effects of colonisation.
    
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    May 7, 2021 12:00pm
- DeepBlue
  
  Rubbish. All crime reports are recorded down to mesh block and thus address. It would be a simple exercise for MSD to give Police those addresses and they would be able to supply the data to a granulation that would show changed hotspots in relation to accommodation.
  
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  May 7, 2021 8:52am
- kevn
  
  @Happy… So that’s why the current crime stats in RotoVegas are fake. The boss cop there said crime in Vegas was no worse than it had been in the past.
  Same applies everywhere else in NZ.
  
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  May 7, 2021 9:13am
- ex-golfer
  
  It can’t be reported or recorded because to do so would be racist!
  That’s the usual excuse these days isn’t it?
  
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  May 7, 2021 11:24am
- Bobba Fret
  
  You cant manage what you cant / wont measure.
  And you cant be held to account if its not measured, therefore Labour love this as they have not failed.
  
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  May 7, 2021 11:32am
Captain Mainwaring

Time to face reality. Our language is being taken over by stealth.
No such thing as a mountain anymore. It’s now a ‘maunga’ according to TV3.
If you want this creeping racism to continue to infest our country, do nothing.
If you want to call a stop to it, go along with all the bullshit about separate Maori management of health, housing, education etc. and then say:
‘OK let’s have a separate Maori IRD to find the money to pay for all this crap.’
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May 7, 2021 8:01am
- Scott
  
  Agree Captain.
  On that note can I urge all freedom loving Kiwiblog readers to consider signing the petition below? The government has introduced Maori wards against the wishes of the local community. They have introduced a Maori health authority with a veto power over other health services.
  
  If Maori need separate health services then what about separate Maori education? What about separate Maori housing and Maori courts? The same logic applies surely? Sign the petition. Reject separatism, let’s remain one country and one nation and one people.
  
  https://www.hobsonspledge.nz/reject_co-governance
  
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  May 7, 2021 8:13am
  - Loddenthinks
    
    Signed, shared
    
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    May 7, 2021 9:54am
    - doublehappy
      
      Me too.
      
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      May 7, 2021 1:48pm
  - BeeJay
    
    Signed, shared!
    
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    May 7, 2021 10:10am
  - Yabster
    
    signed
    
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    May 7, 2021 10:12am
- Maggie Pie
  
  The thing that has always amazed me, is when you consider that Maori arrived in the country ages before we did, even to this day they still don’t sound like New Zealanders.
  You can pick their accent a mile off.
  
  Just saying.
  
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  May 7, 2021 8:16am
  - KevO'Brien
    
    Taniwha parties? (Better roasted, with stuffed kiwi.)
    
    “When I say the future is Māori, I’m not just talking about Māori people, Māori businesses, or Māori jobs. Perhaps one of the most powerful ways in which Māori will shape the future of Aotearoa New Zealand is through Māori values,” Reserve Bank NZ.
    
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    May 7, 2021 8:26am
    - Benedict Yu
      
      “Perhaps one of the most powerful ways in which Māori will shape the future of Aotearoa New Zealand is through Māori values,”
      
      Sorry I do not buy that. If that were the case, influential business leaders, owners, and directors would, by now, be able to articulate what are “Maori values” and they would be incorporating these into their businesses.
      
      And they are not in any number. Happy for someone to debate me.
      
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      May 7, 2021 8:45am
      - artemisia
        
        I think te ao values are happening in the corporate world. Like in the vision statements that get fanfare followed by filing in the bottom drawer. With just enough ‘delivery’ so there is a defensible sprinkling in the annual report.
        
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        May 7, 2021 9:37am
      - Swifty
        
        “…be able to articulate what are “Maori values” and they would be incorporating these into their businesses….”
        
        I can save you some time on that Benedict.
        
        The ‘Maori values’ being talked about here are:
        
        1. Reflective of a totally rose-tinted view of pre-contact Maori life in NZ, and thrown with a good measure of modern-day spiritual and new-age hocus-pocus with talk of Earth mothers, forest and tree spirits, ancestors ‘calling out to us’ and taniwha etc.
        
        2. Will make no mention whatsoever of the darker, violent, at times murderous and resource-abusing values Maori held or exhibited (remember the many species of moa, the huia, the Haast eagle, Chathams duck, along with assorted other ducks, wrens, shearwaters, ravens and swans etc etc etc) – not to mention inter-tribal raids to slaughter and vanquish the blokes next door and make off with their women and stored food.
        
        3. Will boil down to being not greatly different to the values held by any pre-contact ‘stone-age’ people you’d care to mention – even the native British people pre-Roman etc.
        
        Having said that – I would bet the house that, under Labour and the Greens, within five years unless you can actively and fully demonstrate your company’s adoption of and immersion in Te Ao Maori and have a great fat percentage of your staff and bosses being (part) Maori then you’ll be unable to tender for government or council work.
        
        You might have the best products or services at the best price in the country – but you won’t get a look in unless you comply and NZers will be denied the benefits of your participation.
        
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        May 7, 2021 9:42am
      - RockyJ
        
        Here are some of most important pakeha values (IMHO): 1. Personal responsibility 2. Freedom of expression 3. Democracy 4. Care for others. 5. Equality under the law.
        These are the very values that Maori activists seem to find distasteful. They are also the values our government is seeking to destroy.
        They are worth fighting for.
        
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        May 7, 2021 10:17am
    - Swifty
      
      Pray tell, what exactly are these Maori values and what evidence is there that they were practiced pre-Euro?
      
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      May 7, 2021 9:11am
      - alloytoo
        
        I asked the same thing about “Ubuntu”
        
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        May 7, 2021 10:51am
      - Nickc2
        
        Ah, my granny’s granny’s granny told my sister in law twice removed so it must be true eh. It worked for the Waitangi Tribunal after some koha changed hands.
        
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        May 7, 2021 1:54pm
  - Nickc2
    
    IMO, there are Maori accents and then there are New Age Maori accents. A part Maori friend of mine and his wife (also a part Maori) do not have Maori accents. They have a son who didn’t have a Maori accent before he went to school but now, he has adopted a New Age Maori accent which is only used when he is not around his parents. Funny eh bro?
    
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    May 7, 2021 8:32am
    - kowtow
      
      Maybe they’re watching too many of those so called reality police shows , you know the ones where the white cops all use “street” accents to give themselves what they think is so called street cred .
      
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      May 7, 2021 8:53am
  - lastmanstanding
    
    Maggie funny you should say that I have often wondered about the “maori accent” .
    
    Like ‘youse fellas” etc. Maybe a linguist can enlighten us.
    
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    May 7, 2021 10:03am
  - Batman
    
    Maggie that is truly stupid.
    
    If they arrived first then their accent is the New Zealand accent.
    
    The colonial ‘chups’ accent is just one of many that exists in this country.
    
    Or are you saying there’s one true accent? Yikes….
    
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    May 7, 2021 12:56pm
  - SB2
    
    MP, so what is the NZ accentmeant to sound like . Remuera Rackets Club toffee nosed Queen’s English?
    
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    May 7, 2021 1:09pm
    - KevO'Brien
      
      MTV
      
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      May 7, 2021 2:31pm
  - lifesgood
    
    It’s weird, isn’t it? They have grown up in entirely English speaking homes, gone to school with pakeha children and been educated entirely in English and yet they talk in this dreadful pidgin English. I can’t work it out.
    
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    May 7, 2021 1:10pm
    - Paulus
      
      Peer pressure soon changes accents.
      Like education or the lack of it being as a sissy.
      
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      May 7, 2021 1:54pm
    - doggone7
      
      Have you considered it could be all that mixing with pakeha and all that exposure to English that turns them int0 arseholes?
      
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      May 7, 2021 8:43pm
- Maggie's partner
  
  I’m totally fine with using the lingo, giving them all our money and assets, setting up separate governmental bodies etc for them, but as a quid pro quo, don’t you think we should ask for our names back? I get really peeved being hectored about colonial oppression and it’s consequences by someone called Hamish Macleod or Grant McTavish
  
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  May 7, 2021 9:14am
  - Badger
    
    Careful what you wish for. They might consider it a fair trade.
    
    2 2
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    May 7, 2021 2:39pm
- zulumonster
  
  OK – so it’s going to be Maunga Maunganui now?
  
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  May 7, 2021 12:11pm
  - KevO'Brien
    
    Puketifinau. Mauga is used for everything from a hill to a taniwha palace.
    
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    May 7, 2021 2:34pm
Maggy Wassilieff

the future of Aotearoa’s economy is Māori and “it is bright”.

https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/money/2021/05/understanding-of-te-ao-m-ori-a-core-skill-for-all-new-zealand-business-directors-reserve-bank-assistant-governor.html
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May 7, 2021 8:02am
- info@cruzpro.com
  
  Glad I read that after eating breakfast.
  
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  May 7, 2021 8:08am
- kowtow
  
  Another way for the govt , through its proxies , to get the memo across , in a non subtle manner ;
  
  Get with the programme.
  
  I wonder what message they sent to the Media Party along with the tens of millions of our dollars to “rescue” them . Even Blind Freddy could see some deal was struck . Muanga.
  
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  May 7, 2021 8:13am
  - sooty
    
    Only because other people are paying for it.
    
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    May 7, 2021 10:18am
The Other Enoch

What a great start to the day. I wake (and that is ‘wake’, not ‘woke’) up to see that RNZ has bled a few more 10’s of thousands of listeners. Perhaps, and it is wishful thinking in the extreme here, the RNZ board might start to understand what is driving listeners away in such droves. If not then can I use this forum to shine a little sunlight on some of the reasons:

Lisa Owen, Susie Fergusson and Corin Dann
– Their downright anti everything to do with anything that the National party comments on.
– Their completely hubristic stance that they take on any political issue that doesn’t seem to align with their own beliefs
– The absolutely rude interview techniques that they use in an attempt to play ‘gotcha’ journalism
– The apparent shilling of this current governments Covid policies and the complete lack of in depth and balanced reporting
I could go on and on and then start with Corin Dann’s gradual slide in his balanced presentations of old and then move on to the sanctimonious ramblings of Jesse Mulligan, but I won’t, at this stage.

Having been an avid and very loyal listener for over 50 years (I was there with the very first Morning Report) it dismays me to witness the move away from the interview and reporting techniques that contained a sense of gravitas, of balance, and of ownership, to the continuous flow of interrupted babble that emanates from Moaning Report to Checkpoint.

I have moved away, nah, been driven away by the gradual slide in journalistic standards by our tax payer owned and funded national radio station. As I did when I first discovered RNZ and Morning Report, attempting to convince friends and colleagues to turn their dial towards RNZ, I am now doing the very same but suggesting, rather strongly, that they turn their frequencies in a direction other than RNZ.
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May 7, 2021 8:05am
- kowtow
  
  I haven’t listened to RNZ for a couple of years , then I accidently alighted on their frequency one lunch hour : I couldn’t believe the amount of Maori senetences there were interspersed with the broadcast , it was literally unintelligible and pointless .
  
  I’m delighted to hear people are finally waking up and abandoning them.
  
  Go woke , go broke.
  
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  May 7, 2021 8:18am
  - Prince
    
    The RNZ ‘Midday News’ hour is great entertainment.
    The desperate attempt to cram Te Reo into everything. The assumption that Labour/Greens/Left = good and National/Act/Right = bad…
    It’s the best unintended satire on air.
    
    For a typical example of ‘unbiased’ RNZ reporting, here’s Morning Report’s view on the Separatist policies the Govt is implementing.
    https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2018794510/maori-health-authority-used-as-political-football-iwi-leaders
    
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    May 7, 2021 8:52am
  - Loddenthinks
    
    In that case I strongly recommend you don’t go anywhere near The Spinoff, unless you have a particularly strong constitution.
    
    It seems to be far worse, in that not only do they write in some sort of bastardised pidgin English/Maori, but every other story is about the evils and on-going damage of colonialism, blatant labeling of businesses as either “pakeha business” or “Maori business” and a headlong rush into separatism by stealth. Vomit-inducing.
    
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    May 7, 2021 9:59am
- Maggy Wassilieff
  
  RNZ only gets turned on now when I can’t get to sleep…. it usually does the trick.. I’m back to sleep within a few minutes.
  
  I have found it more preferable to check through their website …where I can read without listening to inane gabble.
  
  https://www.newsroom.co.nz/rnz-national-audience-takes-a-tumble
  
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  May 7, 2021 8:26am
  - fernglas
    
    Their music 101 programme on Saturdays is excellent, but I do miss the Brass Band Hour that was on every Sunday back in the day.
    
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    May 7, 2021 11:09am
  - pussycat
    
    I am one of the RNZ listeners who have dropped them. Can’t stand the Te Reo social engineering.
    
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    May 7, 2021 12:02pm
- Paulus
  
  Agreed – as a RNZ listener for many tens of years and generally believed in what they said.
  Now we cannot believe anything they do – so OK Hoskins every morning – the only one who will express my thoughts.
  Only $105,000,000 shared with RNZ – will soon want more.
  
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  May 7, 2021 8:27am
  - lifesgood
    
    I’m the same, listened to RNZ for most of my life, couldn’t abide the ads on commercial radio, but man oh man, after moving to Newstalk ZB what a joy it is to listen to Hosking in the morning and not have to listen to the pollution that RNZ has become. I’ve got over the ads too and I’m feeling so much calmer.
    
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    May 7, 2021 1:15pm
- KevO'Brien
  
  I don’t even watch the TV “news”. Who needs a rankling diet of ABC and CNN from a NZ Govt agency?
  
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  May 7, 2021 8:31am
  - lifesgood
    
    Me neither but I do pop into Sky News several times a week. It’s great but I just wish they had some NZ content.
    
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    May 7, 2021 1:16pm
- Clyde
  
  Excellent summary The Other Enoch, but if you think that seeing thousands of New Zealanders desert Moaning Report will concern the RNZ Board – think again. The RNZ Board is there because of the Labour Party Maori Caucus – Willie Jackson appointed them and a brief look at the background of the Board members explains why RNZ has now become yet another arm of maori broadcasting.
  
  Control the media, and you control the narrative.
  
  There is no use in complaining to RNZ, nor is there any point in pursuing a complaint to the Broadcasting Standards Authority who have now also become completely maorized.
  
  Judith Collins would have had an open and shut case if she had complained about the “interview” that was held yesterday or the day before regarding Mallard’s performance with Suzie Ferguson, but she knows that there is no point.
  
  Morning Report used to be an excellent source of news delivered by professional broadcasters, now it is a travesty of bias, opinion and woke crap. End of story.
  
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  May 7, 2021 8:47am
- Suze Wainwright
  
  Whatever you do, do NOT call Robertson ‘Muldoonist’!
  
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  May 7, 2021 8:50am
  - RockyJ
    
    Moaning report is a good name. It seems to comprise endless streams of sector representative groups all complaining about what catastrophies their lives are and how much better things would be if only they had more government funding
    It reflects the learned helplessness welfarism has created in our society.
    
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    May 7, 2021 11:01am
  - KevO'Brien
    
    Pooh Bah may need to be Muldoonist to attempt to get the wage/spriral under control. However the plans for further enhancing union wage demands is quiet contrary.
    Pity Robbo hasn’t 1% of Muldoons understanding of the job.
    
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    May 7, 2021 2:38pm
- BananaLlama
  
  Either defund them or take every taxpayer penny that our Media use and give it to Rupert Murdoch on condition he opens a news branch here in NZ.
  I also think NZ Media should be declared a monopoly and broken up into smaller business that are not economically viable.
  At some point you are going to have to hammer them otherwise they will just keep hammering you.
  
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  May 7, 2021 8:52am
  - Batman
    
    Pass on that one. Just look at the cancerous political environment in the markets where Newscorp is present.
    
    We need staid factual news and a few more credible right wing commentators, not a bunch of hacks who end up causing more trouble.
    
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    May 7, 2021 10:12am
    - oldfella
      
      Bats, ‘staid factual news’ as currently provided by whom?
      Our local MSM have a terrible struggle sometimes with the ‘factual’ bit.
      Yes?
      
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      May 7, 2021 11:30am
      - Batman
        
        Oldfella – I wasn’t saying that’s the case currently. That’s where I think we need to be, currently the media are captured by active lefty groups, though not to the extent that many here rant about.
        
        On the whole they do a decent job but of course get it wrong often. Heck, the left complains they’re all right wing corporate media!
        
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        May 7, 2021 1:02pm
    - BananaLlama
      
      Let’s say i agree with you in principle.
      When can we expect a commitment from the NZ Labour party and their supporters in the tax payer funded media to do the same.
      
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      May 7, 2021 11:37am
      - Batman
        
        Don’t ask me, I’m not in media!
        
        2 4
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        May 7, 2021 1:02pm
- Ehlana
  
  Radio NZ is the one where the reporters end their presentations with “Call [Lisa Owen] a ho”.
  Once upon a time it was not considered polite to call adult women ho’s. Now we are invited (commanded?) to do so. If that seems reasonable to them, no wonder they are losing audience.
  
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  May 7, 2021 9:02am
  - Batman
    
    Funny how some enjoy making fun of an entire language, when if it was in French you’d accept it and look up the translation.
    
    Ko – (particle) A particle with no English equivalent used when talking about something specific and used before proper names, pronouns and common nouns preceded by a definitive.
    
    Ko hea tērā tāone? / What’s that town?
    (Te Kākano Textbook (Ed. 2): 3, 13, 43-44; Te Pihinga Textbook (Ed. 2): 64-65; Te Māhuri Textbook (Ed. 2): 135-136;)
    
    Ahau – (pronoun) I, me – unlike other pronouns and personals, does not take a when following ki, i, kei and hei. Does not take a when used as the subject of the sentence. Never occurs after he, te and ngā and is not used after the prepositions a, o, mā, mō, nā, nō or with tā and tō.
    
    Ko Ehlana ahau. I’m Ehlana.
    
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    May 7, 2021 1:10pm
    - Badger
      
      Nice. Including references is a bit over-the-top though. I’m sure no one would doubt you. 🙂
      
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      May 7, 2021 3:11pm
    - Ehlana
      
      Batman, “if it was in French you’d accept it and look up the translation.” No, I wouldn’t accept it and I couldn’t look up the translation if I wanted to. How? I would never have guessed the spellings you supplied.
      
      In any case, it seems the height of arrogance to decide that your audience should be able to remember your phrase exactly enough and work out the spelling of it well enough to look it up hours later to find out what you meant. In fact, if your audience has to do that much work to understand your meaning, you have failed in your task of communication.
      
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      May 7, 2021 4:44pm
  - lifesgood
    
    I had some Americans staying with me a couple of years back. They heard that and nearly feel off their seats. Great laugh all round.
    
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    May 7, 2021 1:19pm
- nathie
  
  How to improve RNZ and the likes of Morning Report?
  
  *Cut down on the use of Te Reo (yes it is an official language and I have no issue having announcers saying a greeting in Te Reo. But it is an English speaking station and what I have an issue with is when the announcers start randomly inserting Maori words into sentences where it is inappropriate. An example I heard, they talked about the weather across the “motu”. I presume “motu” means “island” (as in North and South Islands). However according to the Maori dictionary Motu means a number of things: eg to sever, cut, cut off, set free, separate. Or to be separated, moved to a distance. Or to be set free, escape. OR island, country, land, nation, clump of trees, ship – anything separated or isolated. Or cut, wound. So which one is it? https://maoridictionary.co.nz/search?&keywords=motu
  Honesty, how TF are immigrants (let alone 99% of the rest of the population including everyday hard working Maori) expected to know what randomly inserted phrases mean? Does RNZ expect listeners to drop what they are doing and consult an online dictionary every time they hear a phrase? Sure use Te Reo, but where appropriate but don’t descend to being ridiculous. Perhaps this may help RNZ define when it is appropriate or not eg if one were speaking a sentence in Maori, would it be appropriate to insert some random “English” word into the sentence”? See it’s not hard to figure this out, isn’t it RNZ!
  
  *Secondly, provide the one thing that is noticeably missing on RNZ which is diversity of thoughts, opinions and political views. RNZ leans 99% to the left (“balanced” by the occasional right wing commentator eg on Katherine Ryan’s show … honestly how appalling is this?
  
  *Thirdly ditch their CEO who comes from the commercial newspaper industry (and has no prior experience with “public service broadcasting” and does it show or what).
  
  *Fourthly ditch the weasel Susie Ferguson. I’ve been listening to Morning Report since a kid in the 1970’s and she is their most appalling, unprofessional, gutter trash announcer I’ve ever heard and denigrates the authority of all those fantastic men and women announcers that preceded her. Just FO back to Wales or wherever she is from, with her annoying whinny and patronising accent. Bah humbug!
  
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  May 7, 2021 9:46am
  - Batman
    
    Immigrants are probably already familiar with learning a new language and can take it on board easily enough.
    
    Unlike stubborn monoculturalists who refuse to!
    
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    May 7, 2021 1:12pm
    - lifesgood
      
      Most people only learn other languages that are useful to them, not a language that is of no use whatsoever.
      
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      May 7, 2021 1:20pm
  - Badger
    
    –
    
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    May 7, 2021 3:19pm
Maggy Wassilieff

The power behind the ~~throne~~ Government

https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2021/05/hundreds-of-m-ori-leaders-gather-to-discuss-iwi-kaupapa-new-health-authority.html
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May 7, 2021 8:06am
- fightingtemeraire
  
  Another Maori Gab Fest with lots of stick waving and shouting.
  
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  May 7, 2021 8:09am
  - Maggy Wassilieff
    
    Don’t dismiss it…
    Major policies that will affect our lives for the next decade or so are being developed there.
    
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    May 7, 2021 8:19am
    - nathie
      
      Yep, and in some respects there’s nothing wrong with (govt) consulting with the community, in this case Maori (but for balance why isn’t the govt also consulting all other NZ’ers in parallel, huh Labour, why the racism, Ardern)?
      
      However I’m confused, according to the article the Maori leaders will be talking about 5 things: environment, constitution and Tiriti o Waitangi, climate, people and economics …. WTF has that got to do with a proposed new health authority?
      
      Are they even talking about a proposed new health authority?
      
      Or other topics to do with promoting Maori leadership supremacy?
      
      (Or is it simply poor reporting by RNZ)?
      
      I guess if I were to be cynical, Maori leadership will be talking about these 5 other topics to beat Labour about with, so Labour acquiesces and gives them “what they want”. Frankly I’d like to see Maori leadership spend this (taxpayer funded) time to discuss health issues to improve outcomes for their people (not go onto tangents)!
      
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      May 7, 2021 8:57am
  - Loddenthinks
    
    And sausage rolls. Lots and lots of sausage rolls. But enough about Nanaia.
    
    22 1
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    May 7, 2021 9:59am
  - Paulus
    
    And a feed !
    
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    May 7, 2021 1:59pm
- cmm
  
  Another broreaucracy created for plundering.
  
  It makes me sick that I just wrote IRD a cheque for over $18k.
  
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  May 7, 2021 8:30am
  - MCos
    
    It’s a mean old world, but at least you get something for your money.
    I paid 25% of my salary in tax in Bangkok and got no healthcare, no welfare if I needed it, no education.
    I did get the protection of one of the biggest militaries in the world, an incompetent police force and a fabulously extravagant king who makes Prince Andrew look like saint.
    
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    May 7, 2021 9:54am
    - cmm
      
      You’d hope for something a bit better in The Least Corrupt Country In the World.
      
      It’s a sad day when you’re comparing Thailand (104) with NZ (1) on the world corruption perception index.
      
      https://www.transparency.org/en/cpi/2020/index/nzl
      
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      May 7, 2021 3:15pm
  - Flossie
    
    I seriously doubt that! IRD do not accept cheques.
    
    8 1
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    May 7, 2021 10:05am
    - cmm
      
      Yeah, yeah, and nobody has hung up the phone since the 1990s.
      
      By cheque, bars of gold or direct bank transfer the hole in my account is the same size.
      
      3 1
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      May 7, 2021 3:16pm
  - theoldbloke
    
    Writing a cheque. How quaint.
    Just give IRD your bank details and they can steal your money with magic (digital transfer)
    
    9 0
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    May 7, 2021 11:57am
    - cmm
      
      No thanks.
      They offer to take the money themselves or you can just set up a payment from the bank’s website.
      
      I prefer the latter.
      
      1 0
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      May 7, 2021 3:17pm
- RockyJ
  
  No doubt this talk fest has been funded by the taxpayer. I note that the media are excluded
  
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  May 7, 2021 8:32am
- oldfella
  
  Who’s paying for this gathering?
  How much is it costing?
  And when will the rest of us learn what was discussed?
  
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  May 7, 2021 11:33am
Bobba Fret

You people may have already seen this but it’s worth seeing again:
Great tweet from Judith Collins:
“Now that Labour has it’s delivery unit to help it’s highly paid ministers actually deliver for once, they could look at appointing some kind of head minister responsible for getting the other ministers to do their jobs. The position could be called prime minister or something.”
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May 7, 2021 8:08am
- Tony Stuart
  
  This has probably been Judith Collins’ best political week since the 2020 General Election. I’m looking forward to hearing her speak at the Lower North Island regional conference in Napier this weekend; she seems to have a bit of her old swagger back.
  
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  May 7, 2021 8:14am
  - igm
    
    National need to seriousy address Goodfellow . . . he is, and always has been, a party political drawback.
    
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    May 7, 2021 8:31am
    - kowtow
      
      And their CCP ties.
      
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      May 7, 2021 9:07am
  - Brian McDonald
    
    Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
    I don’t think you actually mean this Tony:
    ‘This has probably been Judith Collins’ best political week since the 2020 General Election.”
    
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    May 7, 2021 8:47am
    - Loddenthinks
      
      Once again, a major comprehension fail.
      
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      May 7, 2021 10:32am
- cmm
  
  C’mon Judith: its, not it’s.
  
  I am not too sure these barbs really work. All people see is “Big Meanie Crusher” attacking the Kind Girl.
  
  We all know Jacinda is incompetent, but she’s not being supported for her competence.
  
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  May 7, 2021 8:17am
  - kowtow
    
    Expect to see a “spontaneous” facebook campaign any time soon to take her down like they did to Bridges .
    There’s a story there , and no one’s telling it.
    
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    May 7, 2021 8:23am
    - cmm
      
      Naah, they’ll wait until closer to the election.
      
      From now until then, just a gentle erosion and chipping away to keep her from getting too firmly established, then 6 months out from the election a complete Bridges-style attack.
      
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      May 7, 2021 8:44am
      - lifesgood
        
        They only attacked Bridges because they feared him. They will do the same to Collins for the same reason and the compliant media will go all out to back their campaign. The msm is an absolute disgrace.
        
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        May 7, 2021 1:23pm
  - KevO'Brien
    
    A arrow shaft without barbs is useless. Go Judith, I know you have a lot more.
    
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    May 7, 2021 8:54am
  - Bobba Fret
    
    The its / it’s was my typing. I am no typist I admit that.
    
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    May 7, 2021 9:22am
    - artemisia
      
      Useful for a common apostrophe situation – the possessive its never splits.
      
      I like an ‘ in the right place but often find myself saying this little ditty to myself to check.
      
      Not getting at you Bobba!
      
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      May 7, 2021 12:24pm
  - SB2
    
    cmm, I think Judith set a world record by crushing but one car in her tenure.
    
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    May 7, 2021 9:58am
    - Paulus Gnome
      
      That one car is one more than policies delivered by the labour government.
      
      A win is a win irrespective of the margin.
      
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      May 7, 2021 11:27am
    - alloytoo
      
      “They say that the best weapon is the one you never have to fire. I respectfully disagree. I prefer the weapon you only have to fire once.” – Tony Stark (Iron Man)
      
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      May 7, 2021 12:59pm
    - doublehappy
      
      It’s on display at MOTAT. Go Crusher Go!
      
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      May 7, 2021 2:15pm
dave_c_

I didn’t see this coming – Have the businesses in this (and no doubt other areas) been consulted?
(oops, wrong word – ‘Consultation’ is another of those failed attributes this current government loves to overlook)
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/may/06/new-zealand-tourism-changes-environment-milford-sound
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May 7, 2021 8:15am
Maggie Pie

And was just about to share some of Trumpy’s wisdom with the group….. and suddenly looks like Twitter has suspended ALL his accounts! 🙁

https://twitter.com/DJTrumpDesk

https://twitter.com/DeskofDJT

https://twitter.com/DJTDesk
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May 7, 2021 8:26am
- Steve Otto(North Shore)
  
  Which is why he did this, he can still reach his supporters. You just can’t comment- yet
  https://www.donaldjtrump.com/desk
  
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  May 7, 2021 8:38am
  - BeeJay
    
    You must be over the moon! You can continue your love affair with loony Trump, but you must be gutted that you can’t comment yet, you must be desperate to send him your love?
    
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    May 7, 2021 10:24am
    - Steve Otto(North Shore)
      
      Go see your Doctor – the one that fixes your head
      
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      May 7, 2021 10:49am
      - Batman
        
        That is perhaps ironic given the mental devotion and associated gymnastics of some to the orange Floridian.
        
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        May 7, 2021 1:14pm
      - Steve Otto(North Shore)
        
        He lives in Florida now, Batman. Take note – he was born in Queens, New York, therefore a New Yorker
        
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        May 7, 2021 2:06pm
- Fletch
  
  His people started a new account for him on Facebook or Twitter and the company suspended it on the same day. Big tech. Big censorship. Meanwhile dozens of BLM rioters will walk away without being charged.
  
  David Bouchard admitted he put a Customs and Border Protection officer in a chokehold. Charles Comfort was indicted by a grand jury of civil disorder for twice charging at Portland Police Bureau officers and hitting them with a makeshift shield then kicking a third officer while being arrested. Both men faced federal charges stemming from their actions during a summer of more than 100 straight nights of often violent protests in Portland. But Bouchard and Comfort are among dozens of Portland federal arrestees whose cases were dismissed or are being deferred without so much as a day behind bars.
  
  Between May 25 and Oct. 7, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Oregon filed federal charges against 97 people connected to the Portland unrest. Since then 58 of those cases have either been dismissed outright or are on track for dismissal through a deferred resolution agreement. Thirty-two cases are still pending, with many likely to also end in dismissal according to sources. Seven people have entered guilty pleas.
  
  Meanwhile, authorities went hard after protesters who were present at the Jan 6 Trump ~~insurrection~~ rally but who did nothing.
  
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  May 7, 2021 9:47am
  - Batman
    
    To Maggie’s comment, it is unclear whether those djt accounts were fan based or real. At the end of the day, they’re trying to evade a ban. You can’t get thrown out of a pub then try and get back in by saying you’re there as a professional and hand them a business card, you’re still the same drunk idiot who got thrown out!
    
    So essentially your argument is that evading the rules of a private company, which you agreed to by signing up to the Toss, is perfectly okay and they’re the bad ones for deciding that you were being an asshole.
    
    This is the problem with the current MAGAworld/GOP, it is full of crybabies who want illiberal and anti-democratic decisions made in their favour when it suits them.
    
    You then move to a whine about ‘BLM’ rioters, ignoring the states’ rights that are so often championed.
    
    Finally, a little whine about the insurrection and how it’s so unfair that people who stormed the seat of power are being held to account for theft, looting, killing cops, and attempting to overthrow the democratic process based on lies from a deranged Florida man and 8kun.
    
    A little consistency might help you but at this point you’re up the credibility creek without a paddle.
    
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    May 7, 2021 10:41am
    - Fletch
      
      No one killed a cop on Jan 6. The only person killed was an unarmed female protester. There was a cop that died much later but he was fine that evening. Texted his brother saying so. His body was hurriedly cremated.
      
      As it turns out, multiple hours after the protest had already concluded, Sicknick texted his own brother Ken that very night he was basically fine, other than being “pepper sprayed twice,” confirming he was safe and “in good shape.”
      
      Then, an odd thing happened. The next afternoon, the Sicknick family began getting phone calls that Officer Brian Sicknick had been declared dead. The phone calls didn’t come from the hospital. They didn’t come from the treating physicians. They didn’t come from the US Capitol Police, or the FBI, or the DOJ.
      
      They came from media reporters.
      
      Certain privileged media personnel were evidently the first to receive sensitive information circulating among “law enforcement officials” that Brian Sicknick was dead.
      
      But then the story got stranger. In a dark, twisted echo of Monty Python’s “bring out your dead” scene, it turned out Sicknick was not dead yet. The US Capitol Police responded in a public statement late that Thursday evening that swirling media reports were untrue. Sicknick was still alive.
      
      Sometime between Sicknick being fine, healthy, and back in his office on Wednesday night, and dead or effectively dead on early Thursday evening, Sicknick apparently suffered a stroke. The sequence of when and how that happened should be the easiest part of this story to put to bed. And yet we are being told to take this on faith — or as the media likes to say: “without evidence.”
      
      Unannounced to anyone except incidentally in that Sicknick’s memorial remains turned up in an urn instead of a coffin, Sicknick’s body has been cremated. That means no further forensic analysis can be done to establish the cause or time of Sicknick’s death.
      
      https://www.revolver.news/2021/02/maga-blood-libel-why-are-they-hiding-the-medical-report/
      
      And it wasn’t an “insurrection” either. Trump didn’t have any reason to believe it would be any different than the dozens of other rallies he held. Text messages show left-wing types planning it all out before the day.
      
      https://djhjmedia.com/steven/ignored-by-media-and-fbi-antifa-blm-activists-are-posting-photos-and-bragging-online-about-storming-us-capitol-on-jan-6/
      
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      May 7, 2021 11:26am
    - oldfella
      
      Has anyone been charged with killing cops? Wonder why not? Maybe that didn’t happen.
      
      6 2
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      May 7, 2021 11:36am
    - mikenmildagain
      
      He’s just riffing off the professional crybabies who constitute the US conservative whine-media.
      
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      May 7, 2021 11:42am
- artemisia
  
  Whatever people think of Donald Trump, 74 million Americans voted for him in 2020. Maybe not all in the basket of deplorables.
  
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  May 7, 2021 12:28pm
  - Batman
    
    And? More people voted for his opponent (nobody give me the fraud bullshit).
    
    Votes don’t give you a legal claim to be allowed to say shit on a private platform.
    
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    May 7, 2021 12:45pm
    - alloytoo
      
      Gotta give Biden credit, he really got his voters out of their graves to vote. (probably did it out of habit)
      
      9 3
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      May 7, 2021 1:02pm
      - virtualmark
        
        Name one. (dead people who voted for Biden that is).
        
        I can certainly name a dead person who voted for Trump. Elizabeth Bartman. https://www.foxnews.com/politics/pennsylvania-voter-fraud-republican-felony-charges-casting-ballot-for-dead-mother
        
        So now it’s your turn.
        
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        May 7, 2021 4:41pm
    - Ed Snack
      
      Oh yeah, no fraud, just like there were police murdered on Jan 6.
      
      Batman, nobody believes a word you say, you are simply parroting the Democrat’s preferred narrative.
      
      Funny how the same people who demand that Facebook and Twitter have the right to serve only those they like also demand that a cake shop be forced to serve whoever demands to be served. Very “flexible” beliefs, but best summed up as “it’s different when WE do it”.
      
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      May 7, 2021 6:48pm
Tony Stuart

Kate Hawkesby opines about Trevor Mallard:

Why is Labour standing by him? How can you expect to set the tone of how MP’s should behave, yet in the same breath still endorse Mallard’s behaviour?

Because this is what stinks; how low do you have to go? This is a party which campaigned on kindness, does not believe in punching down, is allegedly against name calling and wants to be seen as harmonious, woke and inclusive.

Yet, here they are, standing by someone who is repeatedly flouting all of those values and appears morally bankrupt.

The tone of parliament, if Labour MP’s are truly worried about that, is dictated by the speaker.

If the Labour party truly wants that addressed and fixed, then Mallard has to go. You can spout all the morals and virtues you like, but if you’re not prepared to live by them, then it makes you a hypocrite. It’s all just hot air. Until Labour acts and agrees a vote of no confidence in Mallard as speaker, they’re just as bad as he is, and none of us should be having a bar of it.

https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/early-edition/opinion/kate-hawkesby-how-long-til-mallard-goes/

Mallard appears to have survived this week, but it’s hard to see him surviving as Speaker in the long term. The pressure will come on him again if the Employment Court finds against Parliamentary Service GM Rafael Gonzalez-Montero and orders another significant contribution from the taxpayer, but there’s every chance that Mallard will do something intemperate before then anyway.

He really has become the ultimate “lame duck” Speaker, and he has no one to blame but himself.
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May 7, 2021 8:28am
- Maggy Wassilieff
  
  Mallard has been Labour’s fixer for decades.
  He’ll have the dirt on everyone.
  I suspect all in Labour are now scared of him.
  
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  May 7, 2021 8:50am
- yossarian
  
  Well the fish rots from the head. The great Jacinda punches down often, and gets away with it, why not the speaker?
  
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  May 7, 2021 9:17am
- Chuck Bird
  
  I had a laugh when Kate said Mallard is an asshole and then said can I say that? She may have been reading a text.
  
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  May 7, 2021 9:45am
- Chris R
  
  If Mallard is “morally bankrupt” and I believe he is; Mrs Hosking is undoubtedly morally insolvent. She flits from point to point like a drunken butterfly without insight or consistency.
  
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  May 7, 2021 9:46am
- I remember when
  
  A point that hasn’t been stressed is that in essence Mallard is the ‘Judge’ of the highest court in New Zealand.
  What would happen if any other judge behaved in the way he has over the ’employment’ case.
  Is he any better than the social media ‘mob’ decision making crowd.
  Has any accused person been subjected to a harsher penalty and for a ‘crime’ that has not yet had a fair hearing.
  Even the relitigation and review of the previous ‘offences’ smells like victimisation.
  Anything to justify the actions.
  
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  May 7, 2021 9:49am
Paulus

No – Labour must keep the Buggered Duck – he is the best that can be expected from them, and can only get better for the Opposition.
He will not be forgotten in the next 2 plus years.
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May 7, 2021 8:33am
Maggy Wassilieff

3000 jobs promised…. only 158 eventuated

It works out to $610,000 per job.

https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2021/05/provincial-growth-fund-marae-upgrade-announcement-massively-fails-to-deliver-on-jobs.html
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May 7, 2021 8:38am
- sooty
  
  That’s into Shane Jones territory.
  Promise the earth, deliver bugger all!
  
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  May 7, 2021 10:26am
- Yabster
  
  so where the money gone if its not on Salaries? -some will be capital expenditure but not that much- koha anyone??
  
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  May 7, 2021 10:28am
- Swifty
  
  Sickening, but oh so predictable:
  
  https://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/2020/09/general_debate_22_september_2020.html#comment-2806050
  
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  May 7, 2021 10:49am
- lilman
  
  In the naki only 1 builder renders for the jobs on marae fix ups.
  Then then the tender is accepted by those in charge, that being one MP whose husband is the tenderer,coincidence?
  
  This from a local builder,he was told not to tender,if you know what I mean.
  
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  May 7, 2021 11:22am
Benedict Yu

Where are the vaccines?

New Zealand is now DEAD LAST in the entire developed world for COVID vaccine roll out. And by some margin.

https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/covid-vaccine-tracker-global-distribution/

Albania, Costa Rica, and Equatorial Guinea are not known for their fantastic distribution systems. But they are all ahead of New Zealand.
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May 7, 2021 8:41am
- Captain Mainwaring
  
  But Albania, Costa Rica and Equatorial Guinea don’t have a useless celebrity PM in charge.
  
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  May 7, 2021 8:50am
  - nathie
    
    Nor a bunch of useless Ministers surrounding the PM!
    
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    May 7, 2021 9:03am
- RoboRob
  
  Interesting data but I wonder about the accuracy. Labour doesn’t really publish any data so I don’t know where they are getting their data from. I suspect with the actual public rollout starting this week we will discover just how badly prepared / organised they are 🙂
  
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  May 7, 2021 9:09am
- Kiwi_in_Paris
  
  They must have all gone to the Seychelles, the most vaccinated country in the world, and presently having a huge Covid outbreak. Hmmm, why is the entire population of the world being given an untested jab again?
  
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  May 7, 2021 9:09am
- Nickc2
  
  Weren’t we told from the POT (Podium Of Truth) that we were first in line to get the vaccine? Now, it’s reported we don’t have enough of the stuff.
  That’s what happens when children (the Govt) are left to their own devices.
  
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  May 7, 2021 9:28am
  - sooty
    
    They were late with the cheque!
    
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    May 7, 2021 11:38am
    - Nickc2
      
      That’s what happens when the Minister of Finance is also the Minister of Achieving Stuff.
      
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      May 7, 2021 12:49pm
- Steve Otto(North Shore)
  
  Our vaccines are being given away to the Islands, to buy future votes
  
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  May 7, 2021 9:37am
  - sooty
    
    But only the not so good stuff!
    
    6 0
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    May 7, 2021 10:27am
    - Steve Otto(North Shore)
      
      Wrong. Taxpayer is paying, so only the best – the stuff that does not give you blood clots
      
      1 6
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      May 7, 2021 10:52am
- NoFax
  
  According to the the MOH website we had nearly 400,000 doses as of Sunday. I have to wonder why these aren’t been urgently rolled out.
  
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  May 7, 2021 10:16am
  - DeepBlue
    
    Those 400k will be allocated for Group 2 people to have their second shot. In the next few months we need 2x 1.7M more doses for Group 3. There needs to be transparency over the delivery schedule. Robertson, over to you asap.
    
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    May 7, 2021 12:15pm
  - Paulus
    
    Is not the delay in not having ordered enough needles for the vaccinations.
    Has this yet been denied ?
    
    4 0
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    May 7, 2021 2:07pm
- Ceejay
  
  Well, be fair. The Implementation Duplication Unit hasn’t been set up yet.
  
  Give them a chance.
  
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  May 7, 2021 10:35am
Maggie Pie

I’m not sure how true this is, but my partner was saying he heard that the train from Tron > AK, is averaging 15 passengers a day!
But the biggest joke is, the Driver that does the return journey, has to drive from Hamilton to Auckland every day…..in a car supplied by KiwiRail for that very purpose. LOL!!
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May 7, 2021 8:44am
- Ehlana
  
  So, does the train driver have a companion on his drive north – someone to drive the car back to Hamilton so it can be used again the next day?
  
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  May 7, 2021 9:06am
  - Nickc2
    
    The driver who brings the train North drives the car South and the driver who drives the train South drives the car North.
    
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    May 7, 2021 9:34am
- Ruawai
  
  Maybe they could get the train driver a van and he could take all the passengers with him, save the cost of running the train and they would all get to Auckland faster.
  
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  May 7, 2021 9:08am
- cmm
  
  What would make a bit more sense (well I suppose ANYthing would make more sense) would be to run the subsidised train the other way to take commuters from Auckland to Hamilton.
  
  That would make it easier for workers to travel from Auckland to Hamilton and therefore would encourage building more businesses/industry in Hamilton, and, ultimately, encourage more people to move out of Auckland – thereby reducing congestion in Auckland and cutting down on traffic.
  
  Note: I said a bit more sense – not heaps more sense.
  
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  May 7, 2021 9:16am
  - sooty
    
    Why can’t he take the bus?
    
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    May 7, 2021 10:28am
- RockyJ
  
  That is brilliant! The driver could probably take a mini bus and drive those 15 passengers and deliver them home
  
  15 0
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  May 7, 2021 9:17am
- Bobba Fret
  
  If that’s the case, maybe Kiwi rail could supply the driver a mini van and he could take the passengers with him.
  
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  May 7, 2021 9:27am
- Chuck Bird
  
  I have done some research and Kiwi Rail says the train uses 3l per km. A car uses about .08l per km.
  At 15 passengers a trip this mean this train is not helping save the planet.
  
  15 1
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  May 7, 2021 10:36am
- Bullion
  
  Here are some stats on the patronage of the train:
  https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2021/04/transport-minister-michael-wood-dismisses-frenetic-commentary-of-te-huia-auckland-hamilton-train.html
  
  I think the critiques are warranted, slow and stops well short of Akl cbd – given that it’s not doing too bad.
  
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  May 7, 2021 1:33pm
- lifesgood
  
  Um, why doesn’t he catch the train to Auckland and then drive it back? Bugger me, that would make way too much sense.
  
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  May 7, 2021 3:45pm
Steve Otto(North Shore)

So, a song from the Beatles:
Let me tell you how it will be
There’s one for you, nineteen for me
‘Cause I’m the taxman, yeah, I’m the taxman
Should five per cent appear too small
Be thankful I don’t take it all
‘Cause I’m the taxman, yeah I’m the taxman
If you drive a car, I’ll tax the street,
If you try to sit, I’ll tax your seat.
If you get too cold I’ll tax the heat,
If you take a walk, I’ll tax your feet.
Don’t ask me what I want it for
If you don’t want to pay some more
‘Cause I’m the taxman, yeah, I’m the taxman
Now my advice for those who die
Declare the pennies on your eyes
‘Cause I’m the taxman, yeah, I’m the taxman
And you’re working for no one but me.
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May 7, 2021 8:46am
- MCos
  
  Back in those days people on the Beatles income were paying a 95% marginal income tax.
  Here is an article about current income tax rates around the world.
  GST or VAT needs to be taken into consideration.
  https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-26327114
  
  6 0
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  May 7, 2021 12:29pm
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    So. Full. of. shit. Tax with no children 16. Two children – no tax.
    SO MUCH diversion pal – worse than Mike.
    Correct me with some PC bullshit please
    
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    May 7, 2021 5:00pm
Rusty

So yahoo answers forum has shut down for good.
What a mad house/joke forum that was at times particularly in the news and media sections where trolls were rarely censored.
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May 7, 2021 8:48am
Greg Ettridge

I mentioned Seychelles back in late February, had no deaths and very few cases until they started immunising with donated Chinese injections.
This really does open a can of worms.
Has the vaccine introduced the China flu where it wasn’t prevalent, just a few hundred cases, no deaths.
Does NZ health classify people vaccinated Sinopharm same as other vaccinations.
Is someone entering NZ vaccinated with Sinipharm be considered vaccinated?
China are pumping this drug into over 28 countries, without comment from the rest of the world charging 12 times more for it, win win for China.
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May 7, 2021 8:53am
- kowtow
  
  In the week just gone Ozzie has had more hospitalisations due to AZ reactions than they’ve had Wuflu hospitalisations.
  
  Here’s another thought.
  
  On a per capita basis places like Belgium and Hungary have had waaaay more Wuflu deaths than India , but cos they don’t do public funeral pyres it doesn’t make as good a Media Panicporn/ Fear through imagery story .
  
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  May 7, 2021 9:00am
  - Batman
    
    India’s death counts are vastly undercooked thanks to their less than reliable systems and large rural areas.
    
    Even in the US the death toll is thought to be much higher than the official count.
    
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    May 7, 2021 10:17am
    - trout
      
      ‘Undercooked’ is an unfortunate description.
      
      7 1
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      May 7, 2021 10:25am
      - Batman
        
        Yes I did consider that after hitting post but I am hoping people will hold it together and stay on track ?
        
        8 3
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        May 7, 2021 10:46am
    - Maggie Pie
      
      Here we go! Packing ‘Covid Test Kits’ in India 🙁
      
      A helpful Hindu tweeter has provided translation under vid….
      
      https://twitter.com/mjbooth1/status/1390058506980524034
      
      6 2
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      May 7, 2021 10:37am
      - Batman
        
        Maggie this illustrates my point neatly, despite there being no proof of the video’s legitimacy.
        
        India just cannot handle this new strain, and Mhodi is totally out of his depth given he was doing a Trump and obsessed with elections instead of saving lives.
        
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        May 7, 2021 10:59am
      - Steve Otto(North Shore)
        
        Batman always has a dig at Trump when he can. Totally irelevant but you go for it Batman
        
        6 3
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        May 7, 2021 5:04pm
- NoCash
  
  You’re onto something Greg no doubt. I’m also sure that Seychelles has recently reopened for tourists without quarantining would have nothing to do with the increase of cases.
  
  Btw, according to the Washington Post article, AstraZeneca has been used on around 40% of the vaccinated, and 60% using Sinoparm.
  
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  May 7, 2021 10:05am
  - kowtow
    
    Sinoharm.
    
    3 2
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    May 7, 2021 11:33am
- SB2
  
  “Sinopharm”
  
  What’s that? Another form of Chinaphobia?
  
  2 19
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  May 7, 2021 10:24am
  - Maggy Wassilieff
    
    Sinopharm is a Chinese Healthcare/ Pharmaceutical Company.
    http://www.sinopharm.com/1398.html
    
    It has developed 2 vaccines (inactivated virus) for Covid-19.
    
    12 1
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    May 7, 2021 12:05pm
    - Fuzzysnuggleduck
      
      Ha, SB2 – swing and a miss~!
      Tilting at windmills there.
      
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      May 7, 2021 3:03pm
artemisia

I posted yesterday that a book Simon and Schuster banned – Josh Hawley The Tyranny of Big Tech – is scooting up the Amazon Bestseller chart. Yesterday it was #1 in its specific subcategory, but is now #14 in all Books.

Interestingly, the book American Marxism is at #3 in all Books despite still a couple of months away from publication.

Quiet revolution? Could be.

Meantime 200 Simon and Schuster employees have petitioned their employer to drop books they disagree with.
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May 7, 2021 9:01am
- Batman
  
  How can a book be banned if it has ended up being published?
  
  Why are you so against private companies having the right to determine who they do business with?
  
  It’s gay wedding cakes but in reverse these days ?
  
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  May 7, 2021 10:30am
  - artemisia
    
    S&S banned it from being published by them. Sorry if I was not sufficiently definitive.
    
    Did I say private companies can’t choose who they do business with? Point was that there can be consequences.
    
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    May 7, 2021 10:55am
    - Batman
      
      Okay fair enough, I’m unintentionally putting a wider theme onto you personally, so apologies!
      
      Beyond your comment, there is this pervasive and wholly idea that private companies are subject to the first amendment in the US, they are not.
      
      Though we can’t be sure if it isn’t the Senate committee buying Hawley’s book, as they do for other conservative figures to make them seem popular ?
      
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      May 7, 2021 11:02am
      - mikenmildagain
        
        Yes, ‘best-selling’ claims are often manipulated by bulk buying.
        
        6 12
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        May 7, 2021 11:37am
      - Tall Man
        
        The problem is that these companies are being bullied by pathetic numpties within their organisation and a minority externally who are too frightened to be confronted by a differing opinion to the one they proudly espouse on their social media.
        
        7 2
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        May 7, 2021 1:25pm
      - Bullion
        
        Yeah, the NY Times best seller list has a dagger symbol that indicates that some retailers report receiving bulk orders.
        
        3 0
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        May 7, 2021 1:41pm
      - Batman
        
        Oh interesting. I never go near such things so I had no idea ?
        
        3 0
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        May 7, 2021 1:49pm
    - SB2
      
      Anyhow readily available at Amazon.com and Nile books NZ.
      
      Rather like the silly fuss made up by Jordan Peterson’s latest tome.
      
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      May 7, 2021 11:23am
    - virtualmark
      
      S&S didn’t ban it from being published by them. They chose not to publish it. They passed on it.
      
      Private companies choose to pass on opportunities all the time. Any loss from making bad choices is on them.
      
      Have we forgotten that we like freedom to make private choices, and personal responsibility for your own good/bad choices???
      
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      May 7, 2021 4:45pm
- cha
  
  is scooting up the Amazon Bestseller chart.
  
  Wing-nut welfare at it’s best.
  /
  
  A prominent conservative PAC has spent nearly $65,000 on copies of book that hasn’t been published yet as part of its effort to boost Missouri Republican Sen. Josh Hawley.
  
  https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/news-columns-blogs/the-buzz/article249119720.html
  
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  May 7, 2021 1:31pm
  - Batman
    
    Hah! So my guess was correct ?
    
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    May 7, 2021 1:36pm
Maggy Wassilieff

Interesting item on violence in our Prisons.

Seems 3 gangs are responsible for most serious assaults on Prison staff – Mongrel Mob, Killer Beez and Crips

https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/members-three-gangs-carried-almost-half-serious-assaults-prison-guards-in-last-five-years-v1?auto=6252833160001

Kelvin and his mates don’t want to know
https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA2105/S00056/labour-blocks-inquiry-into-prison-violence.htm
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May 7, 2021 9:12am
- yossarian
  
  Fake news, Marama says they’re valuable members of the community!
  
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  May 7, 2021 9:19am
- Brian McDonald
  
  Don has tipped his hat so maybe they should call him in Maggie:
  https://www.msn.com/en-nz/news/national/i-m-not-anti-gangs-why-don-brash-is-supporting-new-mongrel-mob-initiative/ar-BB1gp6MZ?ocid=msedgntp
  
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  May 7, 2021 9:28am
  - Maggy Wassilieff
    
    Yep,
    Education is the key to a hell of a lot when you’re from the wrong side of the tracks.
    
    Maybe you’ll tell us one day what worked for you.
    
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    May 7, 2021 12:08pm
- SB2
  
  [Deleted -trolling. mod.]
  
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  May 7, 2021 10:16am
I remember when

So far in 2021 the sunniest regions are Taranaki (1033 hours), Bay of Plenty (997 hours), Marlborough (992 hours), Horowhenua (964 Hours) and Hawkes Bay (964 hours).
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May 7, 2021 9:20am
- Maggy Wassilieff
  
  I reckon that’s bs.
  
  Gizzy has had a great summer and long sunny autumn to date.
  
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  May 7, 2021 12:10pm
  - softail 1450
    
    M W , No B/S it’s hardly rained since xmas in north Auckland it was the best summer for years.
    
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    May 7, 2021 12:43pm
I remember when

“Out-of-control Chinese rocket Long March 5B:
Dr Jonathan McDowall of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics estimates any individual has a “one in several billion chance” they’ll be hit.”
And that’s the way the odds will stay until very shortly before you are hit.
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May 7, 2021 9:25am
- Tall Man
  
  So less than that of a healthy person under the age of 70 dieing from covid ……
  
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  May 7, 2021 1:21pm
- virtualmark
  
  Clearly Dr Jonathan McDowall is wrong.
  
  If you live north of 41.5 degrees North (north of about Barcelona), or south of 41.5 degrees South (south of about Blenheim, well, south of Ward) then your chances of being hit by it are zero.
  
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  May 7, 2021 4:48pm
Brian McDonald

With heaps of different takes on varioius items of news – I think Mathew Hooten is giving the best value at the moment. Among other things, he has picked up exactly the position and diplomacy of Nanaia Mahuta in the last week re 5 eyes and the Uyghurs.
He assembles all his arguments by looking at both sides rather than using the one he likes or prefers, rare in reporters and even rarer in politicians.
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May 7, 2021 9:26am
- NoFax
  
  Is that you Matt?
  
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  May 7, 2021 2:31pm
artemisia

Social housing numbers now out for February. Waiting list 23,259, up 456 in the month. And up 48% since February 2020. Emergency and transitional housing – 4,414 up 139 in the month. And up 38% since February 2020.

Sounds like a crisis. For taxpayers.

(I’m sure the new Delivery Unit will be looking at why it takes more than two months to produce monthly stats. Staff need a pay rise perhaps?)
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May 7, 2021 9:33am
Maggie Pie

According to Auckland Mayor Phil Goff….

>> Completion of the ‘City Rail Link’ will be late 2024.

>>Passenger numbers are predicted to be 54,0000 AN HOUR!!

Wonder if Phil will still be there for the opening?
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May 7, 2021 9:42am
- Nickc2
  
  He must have plucked that number out of his arse. Is the comma in the wrong place or are there too many zeros?
  
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  May 7, 2021 9:49am
- Ehlana
  
  Pre-Covid train patronage was peaking around 80,000 a day. It’s currently peaking around 50,000. Completing the City Rail Link is supposed to allow more services and faster journey times, especially I think from the west, which should boost numbers.
  
  According to the City Rail Link website, predictions are for 54,000 per hour at peak times in the mid-2030’s. By which time Goff is hopefully no longer mayor.
  
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  May 7, 2021 10:32am
  - Maggie Pie
    
    Thanks for clarifying Ehlana…..that answers Nicky as well 😀
    
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    May 7, 2021 10:42am
  - alloytoo
    
    Will anybody still be working in the CBD by then?
    
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    May 7, 2021 1:32pm
- nathie
  
  “54,0000 AN HOUR!!”
  
  Sounds like Goff has used the services of Shawn Hendy to provide incredible statistics like that!
  
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  May 7, 2021 10:35am
  - NoCash
    
    And with that we will become the envy of the Japanese rail operators.
    
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    May 7, 2021 11:00am
Happychappy

Can anyone believe Labour will be in power when this high speed Rail Project gets going.
Milestone day for Auckland Tunnel boring Machine Launched at City Link. Wow Auckland Mayor Phil Goff said ” it will carry up to 54,000 people a hour and transform Rail travel in New Zealand the equivalent capacity of three Auckland Harbour Bridges or sixteen extra traffic lanes into and through the City at Peak
Times”.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/milestone-day-for-auckland-tunnel-boring-machine-launched-at-city-rail-link/KII2VJ4IYCVHTQXMZISDWRZV5Q/
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May 7, 2021 9:59am
- Steve Otto(North Shore)
  
  It will be just as great as the Hamilton/Papakura train.
  Maybe carry 54000 people a year!
  
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  May 7, 2021 11:36am
Fletch

Just rewatching some of the hilarious “How To Speak Australians” videos by the “Delhi College of Linguistics” ?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NE-al0xSFJo
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May 7, 2021 10:07am
SB2

Hard to fault Aotearoa New Zealmd here,

The Covid Resilience Ranking

The Best and Worst Places to Be as Variants Outrace Vaccinations

A combination of nailing the virus and rolling out vaccines at one of the fastest rates in Asia saw Singapore top Bloomberg’s Covid Resilience Ranking this month, dethroning New Zealand for the first time in our measure of the best and worst places to be in the pandemic era.

The tiny city state has gotten locally-transmitted cases down to near zero thanks to border curbs and a strict quarantine program, allowing citizens to largely go about their everyday lives, even attending concerts and going on cruises. At the same time, Singapore has already administered vaccines equivalent to cover a fifth of its population, an aspect of pandemic control that other virus eliminators like New Zealand, Australia and Taiwan are lagging on.

But if there’s one lesson from April, it’s that vaccination alone isn’t ending the pandemic.

https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/covid-resilience-ranking/
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May 7, 2021 10:13am
- Captain Mainwaring
  
  You lost me at ‘Aotearoa.’
  
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  May 7, 2021 11:08am
  - SB2
    
    Look on your next banknote!
    
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    May 7, 2021 11:18am
    - Captain Mainwaring
      
      That doesn’t make it right.
      
      13 3
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      May 7, 2021 1:02pm
  - Jack5
    
    Taiwan trumps New Zealand because it’s kept businesses and schools running throughout the pandemic. It’s minimised the economic effect.
    
    May 6 figures:
    
    New Zealand – 5m population, 2633 cases, 26 deaths.
    
    Taiwan – 23.6m population, 1160 cases, 12 deaths.
    
    Source:
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_by_country_and_territory
    
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    May 7, 2021 11:39am
    - SB2
      
      Jack5, and what about Australia ?( similar population)
      
      https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/australia/
      
      I would think also rather more authoritarian measures in Taiwan could be at play too.
      
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      May 7, 2021 1:17pm
      - Maggy Wassilieff
        
        authoritarian measures in Taiwan
        
        You’ve been listening to Chris Hipkins too much
        
        https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/123420219/covid19-chris-hipkins-says-taiwan-is-not-itself-authoritarian-after-making-claim-about-mask-use
        
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        May 7, 2021 2:25pm
      - Fuzzysnuggleduck
        
        Taiwan was not ‘authoritarian’.
        They required masks, and people to use apps, and they punished people who breached quarantine with hefty fines.
        But they didnt prevent movement or people, or business, to anything like the degree we did in NZ.
        Resturants and markets open.
        The also PAID a small sum to people who endured quarintine, so carrot and stick! (where NZ had neither carrot not stick, aside from belatedly billing people for MIQ – but not collecting on them very well).
        I have family in Taiwan.
        How much do you actually know about Taiwan?
        (Rhetorical question: self evident: SFA).
        
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        May 7, 2021 3:12pm
  - softail 1450
    
    C M, SB2 has come unknowingly up with a protest solution for the anti aotearoans in NEW ZEALAND just get a black marker pen and add a big G to every banknote that comes into your possession ,it’ll work.
    
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    May 7, 2021 12:50pm
SB2

Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
I see community cases of Covid 19 in NSW which I thought was the exclsuive province of Queensland and Victoria Labour state governments.

Given our Covid resilience ranking, I think we have a lot to be grateful.

Aye?
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May 7, 2021 10:20am
oldfella

This is a great idea. We could do it here and call it Stasi Ayoteearower. Members could wear distinctive armbands with the letters SA on them and carry batons to admonish people who say mean things.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9550819/Hertfordshire-deploys-50-hate-crime-champions-community-groups.html
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May 7, 2021 10:24am
oldfella

A comprehensive reading list about what is known and not known about the origins of SARS-CoV-2, accidents and leaks at biosafety and biowarfare laboratories, and the health risks of gain-of-function (GOF) research, which aims to increase the host range, transmissibility, infectivity or pathogenicity of potential pandemic pathogens.
https://usrtk.org/biohazards/origin-of-sars-cov-2-gain-of-function-readings/
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May 7, 2021 10:28am
I remember when

Do the Labour Government have tutorials every week to advise its members of the relevant PR phrases to be used.
The debate on Trevor Mallard’s accusations seemed to be a classic.
“If you’re arguing against Trevor you’re in favour of the suggested behaviour”
By arguing against the Trevor you are victimising the female parliamentary staff (and all women) all over again.
Jacinda, Hipkins and Grant Robertson always seem to use exactly the same wording.
Is this why people around the world are against politics – its not about informing you its a form of brainwashing.
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May 7, 2021 10:40am
- Tall Man
  
  Look at the troll on here, similar argument.
  
  Attacking the duck means you’re supporting abuse.
  
  Still, such bullshit helps one spot pitiful tossers.
  
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  May 7, 2021 1:18pm
- mikenmildagain
  
  Isn’t that the argument Sir John Key used when asked in parliament to support NZers in Oz facing deportation: “you’re on the side of the criminals”?
  
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  May 7, 2021 2:52pm
Maggie Pie

Even ‘Donald Trump Jr’ has picked up the debate on Laurel Hubbard!!

https://twitter.com/DonaldTrumpJr/status/1390418645273255939
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May 7, 2021 10:50am
- Batman
  
  Does he write his own stuff or does that get in the way of doing lines?
  
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  May 7, 2021 11:15am
  - Maggie Pie
    
    Do you mean like in Detention?
    
    6 2
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    May 7, 2021 12:14pm
    - virtualmark
      
      No we mean like in Adderall.
      
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      May 7, 2021 4:50pm
- Inandout
  
  Maggie, interesting Don Jr hasn’t been de-Twitterised. They must realise Big Don is getting ready for the big one.
  
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  May 7, 2021 12:55pm
  - Batman
    
    Probably just that Don Jr doesn’t have the same audience and knack for sparking violent insurrections. Although his role at the rally beforehand will come under scrutiny eventually
    
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    May 7, 2021 1:22pm
    - Keith White
      
      “Paranoia is its own reward.”
      
      2 1
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      May 7, 2021 5:47pm
Steve Otto(North Shore)

Isn’t our Govt just so wonderful and caring?
Fucking wholesale rubbish, all with your Tax.
https://www.taxpayers.org.nz/turtle

[Do keep up SO: https://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/2021/05/eight_te_papa_board_members_and_staff_flew_to_christchurch_for_a_turtles_funeral.html
(published @ 0933). Mod.]
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May 7, 2021 10:55am
- Steve Otto(North Shore)
  
  Mod, did not see that new post – still wading through General Debate. The turtle link came up on my Facebook.
  I will read the new post when I get time. Some of us work and do not have computer access all day
  
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  May 7, 2021 11:48am
Chuck Bird

The judge is not fit to judge anyone. What do others think?

Discharge without conviction for Dunedin man’s offending against boys

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/discharge-without-conviction-for-dunedin-mans-offending-against-boys/CG32S2U6LWDNRCUFHPLQOGLMDE/
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May 7, 2021 11:09am
- greybeard
  
  I agree.
  Maybe the judge likes that sort of behaviour.
  
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  May 7, 2021 11:21am
- Inandout
  
  CB, this mystery pilot must own a Fokker Friendship.
  
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  May 7, 2021 12:57pm
- burt
  
  Chuck
  
  The man in his 20s — whose name was permanently suppressed…
  
  …Judge Kevin Phillips said giving the defendant a criminal record would “destroy” him and his career opportunities….
  
  He’s obviously either an All Black, an entertainer or a Labour Party member.
  
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  May 7, 2021 1:13pm
  - SB2
    
    burt, why not a National or ACT Party member too?
    
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    May 7, 2021 1:18pm
    - Libertarians are right
      
      Because they would have the book thrown at them?
      Remember John Banks? The prosecutors had evidence that would have got him off but withheld it.
      
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      May 7, 2021 1:50pm
      - mikenmildagain
        
        Was that the same john Banks who couldn’t remember if he flew in a helicopter to beg for donations from an obese German billionaire?
        
        3 9
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        May 7, 2021 2:50pm
- Fuzzysnuggleduck
  
  So kiddie fiddling, or blackmail will not result in consequences, if it interferes with your career?
  What about the underage kids he harmed?
  Needs to be consequences.
  Dudge calls this ‘low level offending’.
  
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  May 7, 2021 3:19pm
surfing

I predict there will be an exodus of young medical staff to Australia and beyond.

Already in just one ward where my partner works, two new’ish nurses are resigning and shifting to Australia. It is not only the pay (60% more in Aus), it is the constant beratement that they are racist.
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May 7, 2021 12:03pm
- Yabster
  
  hmm comparing average reg nurses pay its fairly even according to google- in the $70-75k range? so not sure about 60% more?
  
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  May 7, 2021 12:50pm
  - Keith White
    
    A person working as a Nurse in New Zealand typically earns around 76,800 NZD per year.
    
    The average Nurse salary in Australia is 79,898 AUD per year.
    
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    May 7, 2021 5:49pm
- burt
  
  Not just medical staff.
  
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  May 7, 2021 1:10pm
- Tall Man
  
  Well of course they’re racist, they noticed they’re being called racist …….
  
  9 1
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  May 7, 2021 1:16pm
- kevn
  
  @surfing… Anecdotally, Kiwi nurses are very sought after in outback Aussie because they work so well with the Abo patients. Big money in the challenging outback environment.
  
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  May 7, 2021 5:37pm
burt

Government announces ‘Fair Pay Agreements’ plan in radical overhaul of New Zealand employment laws

The agreements will cover all workers – union and non-union – but as part of the deal unions can apply for union members to receive extra wages up to the value of their union fees.

So unions are now funded by the employer, or in the case of the public service – the tax payer.
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May 7, 2021 1:09pm
- SB2
  
  Unions are funded aby their members and you would begrudge Doctors, Nurses, etc fair pay?
  
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  May 7, 2021 1:20pm
  - septic skeptic
    
    There is precious little justification for unions at all in the current era, but maybe at the very lowest end of the pay scale. Where you are talking about doctors and similar high earners it is simply crazy. It can only serve to reduce competition and increase costs.
    
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    May 7, 2021 1:43pm
  - Libertarians are right
    
    No they aren’t. Read the article – Union members will get more pay to cover their union fees. They receive the same amount regardless of union membership so it is in reality the employers that will be paying the union fees.
    
    Utterly disgusting.
    
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    May 7, 2021 1:44pm
  - Swifty
    
    “you would begrudge Doctors, Nurses, etc fair pay?”
    
    Have you always been this shallow? Or is it a recent thing?
    
    What is fair? Compared to what? Who decides fair? How is fair decided? What is unfair? How would you calculate unfair?
    
    How come it is that an employee who started a job just months ago, is now calling for ‘fair wages’? Were the wages unfair when they took the job or have they just become unfair since?
    
    In every other sphere of humanity fair is what someone is willing to offer and another accept. But with modern unions when they are on another attempt to raise the pay of their members the member’s existing wages or salaries are suddenly ‘unfair’.
    
    ‘Fair’ in this context has become a meaningless term. All it means is “we want more”.
    
    It is no accident whatsoever that the new policy announced by Labour, and keenly supported by the unions, is the ‘fair pay agreement’.
    
    Fair, the operative word, meaning whatever they want it to mean at any point in time – and the longer it remains vague, opaque, non-specific and open to interpretation the better it is for them.
    
    This is exactly why the word was chosen. So the unions can be seen to always opposing ‘unfairness’ – and have the slow ones like you slavishly applauding from the sidelines; your virtuousness on show for all to see.
    
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    May 7, 2021 1:49pm
  - burt
    
    SB2
    
    Unions are funded aby their members and you would begrudge Doctors, Nurses, etc fair pay?
    
    Did you miss this bit both in my quoted reference and the original article?
    
    but as part of the deal unions can apply for union members to receive extra wages up to the value of their union fees.
    
    That says the union members get extra pay to cover their union fees.
    
    Now your next point “and you would begrudge Doctors, Nurses, etc fair pay?”
    
    No I wouldn’t, but given they are about 95% unionised and they are underpaid how do you so blindly correlate better pay with union membership?
    
    Teachers the same, paid very poorly and highly unionised. Yet I bet you also think the union is looking after them.
    
    Here’s the thing – Politicians don’t have their pay negotiated by a union, they normally get circa 9% pay rises every year. Doctors, nurses, teachers – they are lucky to get 2% and they have a union negotiating for them. All of those people are government employees.
    
    Spot the pattern?
    
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    May 7, 2021 3:31pm
    - Swifty
      
      Heh.
      
      It always amazes me burt to see older teachers wailing about having fought for better pay ‘for decades’ and having been part of union collective agreements all that time – the very system that has delivered them the very ‘low pay’ that they wail about.
      
      I guess it has never occurred to them that its the current set up that has and continues to fail them.
      
      I guess these people are not so clever after all…..
      
      🙂
      
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      May 7, 2021 3:45pm
Maggie Pie

One of the gals from tennis used to work as a nanny in London..
She was saying her contacts were telling her the reason H&M wont allow pics of Archie’s face is because he’s got a really funny eye.

Just saying.

https://twitter.com/MailOnline/status/1390477240316698627
6 3
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May 7, 2021 1:49pm
- fightingtemeraire
  
  Prince Edward’s daughter Louise had a funny eye and they were up front and supported people with it. One of Prince Andrew’s daughters had scoliosis and underwent operations and she shows her scar and is supportive of other victims.
  
  But of course H&M are all for caring ( sarc)
  
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  May 7, 2021 2:11pm
- lifesgood
  
  He has. Early photos of him showed it was crossed.
  
  4 1
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  May 7, 2021 3:50pm
Swifty

Laurel Hubbard is simultaneously a proud warrior, a trailblazer and a victim – and don’t you bastards forget it! And any criticism of ‘her’ is just plain nasty!

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/opinion/300302275/tokyo-olympics-trans-weightlifter-laurel-hubbard-set-to-rise-above-abuse-and-boycott-calls

Well, according to Hamish Bidwell of RNZ anyway.

My view? Laurel Hubbard is a man who wishes to be known as a woman and wishes to compete, however unfairly, with natural-born women.

I have no objection whatsoever with Laurel Hubbard following any sport of ‘her’ choice and competing wherever and whenever ‘she’ chooses to – but not against women. It’s not fair to the women.

One final point to consider. If by some strange set of events Laurel Hubbard’s skeleton was discovered during some archaeological investigation – what sex would the skeleton be classified as by the osteoarchaeologists present?
18 3
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May 7, 2021 2:27pm
- Swifty
  
  *some future archaeological investigation
  
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  May 7, 2021 3:46pm
- info@cruzpro.com
  
  The solution might be to add two more genders to sports. Instead of just having men’s and women’s sports, let us allow trans people to compete against similar people.
  
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  May 7, 2021 5:44pm
David Garrett

This Maori liar – and long time opponent of the monarchy and the honours system – has just been knighted.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/300302299/arise-sir-pou-cultural-authority-sir-pou-tmara-knighted-at-government-house

He claims that he thought the knighthood was either a mistake or a joke. This is clearly untrue; all potential recipients of any honour – but particularly knighthoods – are approached first to ask if they will accept.

So this prick was asked if he would accept a knighthood, obviously said “Yes please your majesty”, and then lied about how he got it.

Just the sort of thing that gives rise to resentment towards our Maori brothers and sisters.
27 1
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May 7, 2021 2:47pm
- David Garrett
  
  …and I should have added, causes one to be suspicious if not utterly disbelieving of so called “experts” – such as this guy – about the ways of the pre-European Maori…
  
  Thirty years ago “academics” like him, both here and in other countries, tried to claim that the cannabilism witnessed by Cook and subsequent explorers was some kind of racist myth, and never actually happened….or if it did, only extremely rarely.
  
  I am prepared to bet dollars to donuts that “Sir Pou” plays down – if he even acknowledges – the widespread Maori practice of infanticide…widespread because of shortages of food, which is one of the explanations – probably inaccurate or at least only partly accurate – for the ubiquitous practice of eating each other after battles…Or just when they felt like a meal of roast slave…
  
  I am priviliged to be able to write the above: in a few months, this comment will probably be classed as “hate speech”.
  
  20 3
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  May 7, 2021 2:59pm
  - Chuck
    
    Paul Moon’s book is worth a read.
    https://www.penguin.co.nz/books/this-horrid-practice-9781742287058
    
    8 2
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    May 7, 2021 4:59pm
    - David Garrett
      
      chuck: Yes I have Moon’s book…and entire population suffering paranoid mental illness…not so sure about that conclusion…
      
      3 2
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      May 7, 2021 6:22pm
  - mikenmildagain
    
    Why are you smearing Sir Pou Temara? Can you cite a reference to him endorsing erroneous theories about cannibalism?
    The fixation on cannibalism is an odd thing, too. It appears to be a very widespread feature of prehistoric and early historic societies. No doubt it horrified the early modern European explorers who encountered it in the Pacific. No doubt they preferred much more civilised customs such as hanging, drawing and quartering, or guillotining.
    
    4 2
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    May 7, 2021 7:04pm
- lifesgood
  
  I have just two words to say on this matter “Michael Cullen”. What a bloody hypocrite.
  
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  May 7, 2021 3:52pm
Maggy Wassilieff

Will Mallard bring down Ardern?

https://pointofordernz.wordpress.com/2021/05/07/mallard-looks-like-a-sitting-duck-but-the-nats-may-prefer-to-wait-to-bag-the-pm-as-well/#more-10506
15 1
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May 7, 2021 2:52pm
Maggie Pie

TRENDING….
Just watched this vid taken from a helicopter above the Rio suburb of ‘Jacarezinho’ (pop: 40,000)

The thing that really struck me….
there’s not one swimming pool or tennis court to be seen.

https://mol.im/a/9550843#v-3447290622480527621
8 2
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May 7, 2021 2:54pm
Maggy Wassilieff

Has Ardern backed herself into a corner?

Faced with the reality that universalism hasn’t markedly shifted the dial for Māori over the past four years, but politically unable to adopt the position of her opponents, Ardern may find herself having little choice but to come out in support Māori self-management, self-determination and self-governance, whether cabinet likes it or not.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/may/06/judith-collins-comments-on-maori-health-policy-are-a-diversion
15 1
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May 7, 2021 2:59pm
- Tall Man
  
  What a truly pathetic person this claire robinson is though.
  
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  May 7, 2021 5:00pm
Steve Otto(North Shore)

Nearly time to knock off work for some and start thinking about after work drinkies. Here is something to go along with that – I found a live version. It will stick in your head for the next 4 hours.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EL0au17MypY
2 2
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May 7, 2021 3:09pm
- info@cruzpro.com
  
  Love that song. The version I like best is this one:
  
  https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=KkLhJsHxYxM
  
  Wild Turkey beats Jack however.
  
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  May 7, 2021 5:11pm
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    Crown Royal beats both, but no more Crown Royal.
    Cleaned out the store and today got the last. All of my 24 bottles have gone. Have to find something close.
    Your suggestions are welcome
    
    2 1
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    May 7, 2021 5:34pm
    - info@cruzpro.com
      
      Not tried Crown Royal. Woodford reserve is good but a bit dear. There are more expensive bourbon but not sure if the slight differences are worth the extra cost.
      
      I assume that you drink your bourbon neat ( no ice to delute it).
      
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      May 7, 2021 6:36pm
      - Steve Otto(North Shore)
        
        Whiskey, not bourbon. Even Jacks is a sour mash whiskey. Crown Royal is a Canadian blend.
        I don’t like the smokey stuff
        
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        May 8, 2021 8:37am
Libertarians are right

So todays announcement of Labour’s Unfair Fair Pay Agreements will guarantee a massive increase in Union Fees (since employers, not employees will now effectively be paying for them).
Those Union Fees will then be used to donate to the Labour party to ensure the Unions retain their new power.

How is this not corruption?
12 0
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May 7, 2021 3:41pm
- Swifty
  
  It is corruption.
  
  Next question?
  
  4 2
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  May 7, 2021 6:17pm
MCos

‘The TV made me do it’ defence
https://twitter.com/ryanjreilly/status/1390378913646448644?s=21
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May 7, 2021 4:06pm
Maggie Pie

My partner walked in the door a few moments ago.
And he’s fuming!
Turns out gore site ‘LIVELEAK’ has been shut down 🙁
0 3
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May 7, 2021 5:03pm
- Swifty
  
  It’s been shit for ages – hasn’t he noticed?
  
  0 0
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  May 7, 2021 5:15pm
  - Maggie Pie
    
    TBH – he only ever watched the upskirt clips.
    
    0 4
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    May 7, 2021 5:38pm
    - Swifty
      
      Oh, he’s one of those fellows.
      
      0 0
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      May 7, 2021 6:19pm
70andstilllearning

Got to say it. I’m really confused here in terms of logic. All equations lead to ……oo
https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/opinion/heather-du-plessis-allan-is-this-government-listening-to-itself/
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May 7, 2021 5:46pm
Pheobe

I wonder how many vaccines country wide are being thrown out? In our rural town recently 75 doses arrived at the local pharmacy, they had no idea they were arriving so spent the day asking walk in people if they wanted it and ringing regular clients, at the end of the day 20 doses thrown out.
5 0
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May 7, 2021 6:08pm
James Stephenson

Looks like the North of England is retaining its sanity while the rest of the world goes doo-lally.

Boris might have made a Horlicks of covid policy, but they’re still not buying Kier Starmer’s remoaner candidate in Hartlepool. I guess they’re close enough to the Northern border to learn the lessons of socialism that the Scots are apparently too stupid to absorb.
5 3
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May 7, 2021 6:25pm
graham

How ’bout that – turns out you can’t always get away with raising two rude fingers to the law.

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/driver-with-tino-rangatiratanga-number-plate-arrested-in-hastings/STIJ57F4N2I46NV3GWEKJ2A5YA/

Driver with ‘Tino Rangatiratanga’ number plate arrested in Hastings

A man found driving around Hastings with a set of fake licence plates linked to a sovereignty movement, was arrested for failing to comply with police on Friday morning.

Police stopped a car with fake plates, which read “Tino Rangatiratanga”, a phrase long associated with Māori autonomy and sovereignty, in Mayfair about 9.40am.

Sounds like the court proceedings could be, um, interesting.

A note on the group’s website reads, “We encourage the NZ Police to please contact our friendly Ambassadors – before you arrest any of our Diplomatic Immunity Card bearers”.
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May 7, 2021 7:02pm
Maggy Wassilieff

Get $15M from the Government and put your business into liquidation…
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/silverfern-property-biggest-supplier-of-government-emergency-housing-in-liquidation/VHAEL7U3RURZIJ3BZWXKHZVDDU/
Looks like the Government will need some other folks to do their dirty work.
6 3
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May 7, 2021 7:05pm
- mikenmildagain
  
  How is providing housing for vulnerable people ‘dirty work’?
  
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  May 7, 2021 7:18pm
  - Swifty
    
    I wonder what value the director has extracted for himself pre-liquidation?
    
    6 1
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    May 7, 2021 7:37pm
  - Tall Man
    
    Over simplification from a simple mind….. Surprised .. not.
    
    5 2
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    May 7, 2021 8:03pm
  - Maggy Wassilieff
    
    Placing vulnerable people in unsafe accommodation where thugs, drugs and violence abound is not my idea of providing housing.
    
    The owner of Silverferns Property was one of the folks who revealed the scambo going on with the emergency accommodation around Auckland where MSD was failing to check the condition of the houses folks were being put into.
    
    https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/300090347/state-paid-3000-a-week-for-uninhabitable-houses
    
    7 2
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    May 7, 2021 8:08pm
Maggy Wassilieff

Fast work by the cops…
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2021/05/police-charge-25-year-old-man-for-threatening-national-mp-simeon-brown.html
13 2
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May 7, 2021 7:08pm
- Keith White
  
  How can any sane person downvote that.
  
  6 2
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  May 7, 2021 7:35pm
  - Maggy Wassilieff
    
    This blog is frequented by at least one intrepid downticker…
    
    He works hard everyday for us showing that the blog is not an echo chamber.
    
    8 1
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    May 7, 2021 8:50pm
    - skyblue
      
      On a bonus scheme from 9th floor. Anything to earn a meagre living.
      
      0 0
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      May 7, 2021 11:57pm

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