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January 17, 2022 10:19am by David Farrar

Selfies for Tonga

Really puzzled by why the Minister of Defence thinks a selfie of him in the gym is appropriate response to what is happening in Tonga.

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cmm

Almost as baffling as to why he’s Minister of Defence.
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January 17, 2022 10:25am
- Harriet
  
  Labour put their best people in positions to defend Labour.
  
  and their worst people in positions to defend NZ.
  
  Free english learning phone apps are available before immigrants arrive in NZ.
  
  So you don’t have to repeat yourself at work and get on with being productive —- and given the NZ government has already spent $500k on your education — against a free phone app- or even no english education.
  
  Unions, officials, treasury and media. Fucked as. 😎
  
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  January 17, 2022 11:26am
- Bevan
  
  HA! Exactly what I was thinking when I saw this.
  
  15 0
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  January 17, 2022 11:35am
  - Jim
    
    It’s just pure narcissistic vanity, what else could it be?
    
    14 0
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    January 17, 2022 1:37pm
- Charmaine Hawke
  
  I also don’t get the fact the PM said she was waiting for Tonga to ask us for help. You would have thought there was someone in the defense department who knew what was needed, recalled the crew of the ship and had it ready to sail last night, just in case as unlike the climate emergency this is an actual emergency.
  Also am I cynical to think this provides the perfect top up to our PM’s kind credentials, maybe she can go hug Tonga better.
  
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  January 17, 2022 11:46am
  - Deane Jessep
    
    To be fair the NZ Defence force is operationally all over this even if Jacinda isn’t.
    https://nzdf.mil.nz/nzdf/significant-projects-and-issues/tonga-response/
    
    18 0
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    January 17, 2022 12:43pm
    - Charmaine Hawke
      
      Good to hear
      
      6 1
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      January 17, 2022 12:48pm
  - Ehlana
    
    Charmaine, I think that is normal international protocol in these situations. Probably for reasons of sovereignty – it is polite to wait for your neighbours invitation before sending your military into their territory. It also ensures the help sent is the help needed, that it is co-ordinated and that the locals retain ownership of the response.
    But you can of course get likely assistance ready to roll as soon as you are invited in.
    
    11 0
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    January 17, 2022 2:54pm
    - AlphaWhiskey
      
      Exactly right. There is a term for sending one’s military in to another’s territory without invitation……..
      
      7 0
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      January 17, 2022 3:57pm
- AlphaWhiskey
  
  Father in Maori Battalion – its no longer ‘what’ you are – it’s ‘who’ you are – identity politics stuff and the regression into tribal, storage thinking will destroy us, both as a country and as a culture.
  
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  January 17, 2022 3:55pm
westernScientest

WTF, just what? That is so bizarre, I dont understand.

Also, why is the gym completely empty?
57 0
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January 17, 2022 10:26am
- rouppe
  
  Be parliament gym. Probably only about 5 people use it.
  
  Can’t remember whether staffers can use it or only MP’s
  
  19 0
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  January 17, 2022 11:05am
  - Jim
    
    So it’s a diverse gym membership that caters for light weights, heavy weights and dead weights.
    
    21 0
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    January 17, 2022 1:41pm
  - anonymouse
    
    Unlikely, He’s in AK at the moment, He was at the presser with the PM yesterday and again today when she got boosted … So its not the Parl gym in Welly….
    
    8 0
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    January 17, 2022 2:01pm
    - john1234
      
      You think these troughers don’t fly down and back at the drop of a hat?
      
      Cutting GHG emissions is for the proles, not the Politburo.
      
      6 0
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      January 17, 2022 4:35pm
- redqueen
  
  Would you want to be around him…?
  
  Just sayin’… 😉
  
  21 2
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  January 17, 2022 11:14am
- Harriet
  
  Labour and their empty North Korean look. 😎
  
  11 2
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  January 17, 2022 11:56am
- Deane Jessep
  
  Political gym version of this:
  https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=5j47QGZduJs
  
  2 1
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  January 17, 2022 5:34pm
Suze Wainwright

New comms strategy – if a message is worth delivering, make sure you show how ripped you are at the same time.

I’m disappointed he didn’t say get your booster as well – that was a missed opportunity
49 1
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January 17, 2022 10:26am
- Harriet
  
  Steroids are illegal.
  
  8 2
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  January 17, 2022 11:56am
- Flossie
  
  It’s almost like he’s saying “shit happens eh bro”
  Decent of him to let them know he’s thinking of them!
  
  4 0
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  January 17, 2022 2:24pm
WaveyDavey

It’s like the fall of the French monarchy.

In thrall to the Sun Queen and oblivious to world outside the gates of the Palace
47 1
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January 17, 2022 10:29am
- namron
  
  Love his tattooed knees!!
  Starting a new fad??
  
  12 0
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  January 17, 2022 10:42am
  - ISeeRed
    
    Sad to see so many handsome Maori brainwashed into getting permanent graffiti all over their faces. Maybe it enhances their mana but doesn’t do much for their manners, typically.
    
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    January 17, 2022 12:55pm
- TS Child
  
  I live in hope that it will like the fall of the French monarchy (minus actual beheading bc we don’t do that anymore). Alas, I think it is more like a set of damp squibs on bonfire night…. Not even a decent party to be outraged at, just … never ending drizzle ….
  
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  January 17, 2022 11:07am
freedom101

Cringe worthy, embarrassing. Fitting of a banana republic in the making.
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January 17, 2022 10:30am
The Housekeeper

In the meantime … I’m off home to get the barby going cos we’ve got mates coming over. Will post later from the party. Thinking of you. Kia Kaha!
34 3
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January 17, 2022 10:30am
Dave Winefield

Just waiting for the day when brawn baffles brains.
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January 17, 2022 10:31am
In Vino Veritas

No one should be baffled anymore. There is not a single Labour Party Minister that can claim to be across their portfolio. Taking a photo of himself at the gym in response to the Tonga situation is exactly the sort of thing this Government has done since it was sworn in. All slogan talk and photo opportunities, no action. Parliament is the only job they can get that they can keep a hold of for a while whilst collecting a salary.
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January 17, 2022 10:32am
- rouppe
  
  Yeah. Probably sent a message to the department head “let me know what you’re going to do so I can front a press conference later”
  
  12 0
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  January 17, 2022 11:07am
Maggy Wassilieff

Busy man, but still got time to think of others.

Such an empathetic team Our Dear PM has.
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January 17, 2022 10:33am
- Libertarians are right
  
  Never skip leg day.
  
  10 0
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  January 17, 2022 11:24am
gravedodger

Must have a long and almost (actually) invisible “selfie stick”, Eh Bro?
15 0
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January 17, 2022 10:34am
- 3-coil
  
  Peeni prefers/loves to use a mirror…any mirror
  
  9 0
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  January 17, 2022 11:00am
- anonymouse
  
  Nah, He got his Gym Bud Nashy to take it, while they were checking out each other guns…
  
  14 0
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  January 17, 2022 11:03am
slightlyrighty

So tone deaf….

Sorry Tonga, thinking of you between sets…..
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January 17, 2022 10:35am
- Exclamation Mark
  
  “Naturally, I finished my set”
  
  What a wanker.
  
  13 0
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  January 17, 2022 11:25am
Graham Sharpe

Where is his mask?
20 0
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January 17, 2022 10:39am
Maggie Pie

My gran always said… “Never bring home anybody with tattoos”
34 0
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January 17, 2022 10:42am
- Harriet
  
  A gold watch and nice shoes with modern art in between.
  
  Tarts are still T-arts. 😎
  
  8 1
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  January 17, 2022 12:02pm
- Mickey
  
  And I taught my 3 daughters the exact same thing!
  
  I despise tattoos, it shows a misspent youth or some serious personality issues.
  
  I also do not buy the ‘tribal/cultural’ bullshit. If they really want to claim cultural then get the tattoo the old customary way.
  
  If you have the urge to draw grab a pen and paper and some crayons.
  
  Seeing a policeman with a tattoo make me want to vomit!
  
  17 3
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  January 17, 2022 12:10pm
  - Maggie Pie
    
    Yup! In fact the only tribal tatts we EVER see in Remmers, are when the Cops stop off at the Buffalo Cafe for morning tea.
    
    14 2
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    January 17, 2022 12:50pm
  - AlphaWhiskey
    
    “I also do not buy the ‘tribal/cultural’ bullshit. If they really want to claim cultural then get the tattoo the old customary way.”
    
    Totally agree. The same goes for any privilege that is awarded based on the notion of ‘customary rights’ which exclude other citizens. Customary rights should be exercised using customary methods. I am so sick of this, but I have have been for over 40-years.
    
    I do wonder if those ‘clever’ elites, who sent us down this pathway to destruction at the hands of an illiterate stone-age culture, will ever have the self awareness to admit it to themselves – if not to the rest of us?
    
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    January 17, 2022 9:06pm
Tony Stuart

Another sufferer of a serious case of Entitleitis.

Speaking of Henare, I wonder when the PM will answer Tim Van de Molen’s written question about him dated 15 December 2021:

Published date: 15 Dec 2021
57160 (2021). Tim Van de Molen to the Prime Minister (15 Dec 2021): Is she confident that her Minister of Defence has acted with integrity and lawfully throughout 2021; if not, why not?
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January 17, 2022 10:42am
- Suze Wainwright
  
  Henare has a demeanor about him that would appear to indicate – I couldn’t give a sh!t…
  
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  January 17, 2022 11:02am
Doc

Naturally, I finished my set…
11 0
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January 17, 2022 10:44am
Benedict Yu

I saw him on TV last night with Jacinda. What grated with me is that he said “our people are ready to deploy”. Firstly the members of the armed forces are not “your people”. Secondly, it was meaningless drivel. What would have been helpful…:

– which elements of the armed forces are deploying?
– when are they going?
– what is their mission?

Anything meaningful. In all OECD countries the defence Minister is a very senior capable Minister.
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January 17, 2022 10:45am
- Suze Wainwright
  
  Benedict, are you saying Henare’s not competent? Yet more paternal, racist colonialism appears on KB, huh?
  
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  January 17, 2022 11:05am
- rouppe
  
  Exactly. How much food is being taken, how much water or water making facilities, building materials.
  
  Of course if they can suddenly source a whole load of building materials that will raise the question over why no one else can get their hands on it the previous months
  
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  January 17, 2022 11:09am
- septic skeptic
  
  To be fair though, most OECD countries have a capable defense force to be ministered over!
  
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  January 17, 2022 11:45am
pdm

Such is the quality of New Zealands current batch of Cabinet Ministers.

They set high standards of mediocrity.
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January 17, 2022 10:46am
- Suze Wainwright
  
  Oh I don’t know – it takes genuine skill to show you’re one of the people
  
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  January 17, 2022 11:06am
Close Hen Counters

The Labour Party has it in spades for bad optics – this Instagram post is beyond bad taste, madam says nothing about her fiancés foray into covid testing but has plenty to say about prince andrew getting the chop from his military titles and more recently, was able to bring out the tilty head and frowns for Tonga… not to mention her wedding venue and high end friends helping out. Then there is the labour mp who scores a place in miq and another who posted her negative rapid antigen covid test result when others can’t get even the option of getting one at all – real classy bunch!
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January 17, 2022 10:51am
Spoff

Perfect for a caption competition.
Here’s a start:
“Yo Narcissus. Gotta put you on hold while I text my bros in Tonga. Won’t be a mo.”
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January 17, 2022 10:58am
3-coil

Peeni displays the correlation of hubris and vanity to perfection.
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January 17, 2022 11:04am
zulumonster

That’s not a selfie – I wonder if he always has a lackey at the gym with him to record his workouts?
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January 17, 2022 11:10am
- Local Miller
  
  Taken in a mirror, you can see the lines where the mirror panels meet.
  
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  January 17, 2022 1:15pm
Ultima

“We have the team working hard to respond.” Obviously that team doesn’t include himself since he was in no hurry to leave the gym.
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January 17, 2022 11:15am
Lee C

Yup, bit of a major disaster unfolding.

I’ll be right on it, after I’ve done a few more reps.

Kia kaha!
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January 17, 2022 11:25am
Rusty

I didn’t know Henare was the minister of defence in the first place, how often have we heard him in the news talking about defence?

This selfie is a insult to the people of Tonga on many levels.

I’m safe and well and have time to work out at the gym unlike you lot.
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January 17, 2022 11:27am
Local Miller

In the mean time he is working out to get into shape so he can come across and help! //sarc
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January 17, 2022 11:50am
Salacious Crumb

Is it a swingers gym?
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January 17, 2022 12:27pm
Fentex

A good example of why we need airlift capable of operating from short, compromised runways thatcan carry capable all terrain transports.
6 0
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January 17, 2022 12:44pm
gump

Squats and prayers…
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January 17, 2022 2:51pm
ISeeRed

The use of “whanau” is problematic. Definite ethnocentric/racial supremacist undertones. “Spare a thought for the cuzzies in Tonga. We might hate on Tongans sometimes but they’re still family because they’re brown like us.”
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January 17, 2022 3:38pm
Biscuit

Imagine him at a state funeral.

‘Hold up, coffin-carrying fellas, I just needs to get me a pic looking suitably ripped whilst standing over the open grave…’
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January 17, 2022 3:48pm
- ISeeRed
  
  He’s skipping too many leg days by the looks of them.
  
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  January 17, 2022 6:00pm
Prince

Imagine the media outcry if this was a National MP.
The demands for resignations, the Opinion pieces, the cartoons.
But in 2022 Aotearoa, nothing, ‘cos it ‘our team’.
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January 17, 2022 4:03pm
Russ the Muss

Nothing says we are working hard around the clock to help you like a half ass selfie at the gym.
At least turn up at the gym in decent shape, anyway, this type of decision which just seems bizarre,makes you wonder the quality of other more important decisions, dosnt it?
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January 17, 2022 6:34pm

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