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February 21, 2022 8:00am by Kokila Patel

General Debate 21 February 2022

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General Debate

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mandk

Didn’t spend long at the protest yesterday because Mrs Mandk and I took her 82 year old Dad with us, so he could be there to express his support. I have written about him before, and how he has been deprived of virtually all of his favourite local social activities because he has chosen not to be vaxxed.

I had arranged with the security people to bring the car onto the site at the Hill Street entrance because father-in-law is now quite disabled and only able to walk about 50 metres with his walking frame.

He had a great time, taking in the view over the site and talking to a number of the protesters, including one of the former police officers I mentioned in my post yesterday.

In my brief time there, I met two more professional people whose talents have been lost to the workforce because of the mandate. One was formerly a teacher, and the other a senior theatre nurse. Shame upon shame.

I’ve also been thinking about how the protest might come to an end, but it is impossible to see this happening any time soon. The government has painted itself into a corner by saying they won’t talk to the protesters until they leave, but there is no reason why the protesters should believe any promise Ardern and co might make about engaging in dialogue. Ardern is a proven liar, and the last person the protesters would believe.

Mallard (with his stupid antics) and the media (by their evident determination to misrepresent, smear and denigrate them) have hardened the protesters’ resolve.

Moreover, it is clear that there is substantial public support for the protesters, and it looks like the support may be growing.

On top of all that, the protest organisation and infrastructure is excellent, so the protesters could remain comfortable on site for months to come.

If the government doesn’t crumble, I think it might need an honest broker to mediate a dialogue. But who out there has the credibility to do the job? They would need to have the respect of both sides and unquestionable integrity. Suggestions on a postcard please.

Back to work today, but I will post again after my next session at the protest on Friday.

Thanks for all those thumbs-up to my previous posts, and for the positive comments.
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February 21, 2022 8:00am
- Gravelroad
  
  Did you see the River of Filth, mandk?
  Were there any dairy cows there?
  
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  February 21, 2022 9:32am
  - mandk
    
    Strangely enough, No.
    
    Nor were there any anti-Semites, Islamophobes, far right extremists, baseball bat wielding thugs, loud mouth abusers, etc.
    
    Just lots of decent, ordinary NZers, as revealed by the Curia survey for The Platform.
    
    The exact opposite of what Ardern, Woods and Stuff would have people believe.
    
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    February 21, 2022 9:46am
    - Deane Jessep
      
      I found some “basketball” welding thugs. ???
      https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10224340237506829&id=1031312258
      
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      February 21, 2022 11:44am
- Deane Jessep
  
  “I met two more professional people whose talents have been lost to the workforce because of the mandate…”
  
  Alot of sense on this point from this guy:
  https://fb.watch/bivnxaAL7E/
  
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  February 21, 2022 11:42am
- Aunty
  
  Interesting to see in the paper just now (NZHerald) that none of those who are in the hospital (Auckland and Northland) are doubled vaxxed and boosted. And even though the unvaxxed make up a tiny percentage of the population now, ~5%, they make up nearly 15% of those who are in hospital with Covid.
  
  I hope your father inlaw wore a properly fitted N95 grade mask, mandk.
  
  https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/covid-19-omicron-outbreak-2365-new-cases-today-two-more-deaths-ministry-of-health/GOW33YCRUQKA3PLKQ6TLCHIQT4/
  
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  February 21, 2022 1:28pm
  - ClanMcleod
    
    No Aunty, wrong again. The claim is 95% of those eligible. That isn’t 95%of the country. Its also almost certainly nonsensical. But even if you were right, it still means 85%of those in hideously are fully jabbed. Do how can they claim it is 95% effective? In sure you have enough basic maths ability to work it out for yourself. Or get a 6 year old to explain it to you.
    
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    February 21, 2022 2:51pm
  - Surely Knott
    
    I think you have read it wrong Aunty.: Vaccination status of current hospitalisations (Northern Region only, excluding Emergency Departments): Unvaccinated or not eligible (14 cases / 14.6%); partially immunised <7 days from second dose or have only received one dose (3 cases / 3.1%); fully vaccinated at least 7 days before being reported as a case (78 cases / 81.2%); unknown (one case / 1%).
    It also doesn't say how many of those 78 are also boosted. The hospitalisation stats also do not say they separate out young people who are ineligible for vaccination. It appears to be hospitalisation rates of all ages. NZ's total vaccination rate from the entire population is 77.7%. and yet we have 81% double vaxxed in hospital .
    
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    February 21, 2022 2:57pm
  - Show me the evidence
    
    If you look at the RNZ data this doesn’t sound correct at all:https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/in-depth/450874/covid-19-data-visualisations-nz-in-numbers
    7 day rolling average is 60% of new hospitalisations are fully vaxxed (77% of pop over 12 are fully vaxxed, sorry to burst your bubble). This data is more accurate as it uses the Stats NZ data rather than “Those who have used their DHB services in the last 12 months” . So yes, vaxxed over 12yrs are underrepresented in hospitalisations but they equate to hospitalisation rates of 0.07/100k vaxxed and 0.25/100k for unvaxxed. It is much hgher as a multiple, but both are still very small numbers i.e. it’s not that deadly even if you’re unvaxxed.
    
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    February 21, 2022 7:54pm
  - Pineapple Lumps
    
    Aunty, you have misunderstood the stats.
    
    Weekend herald reports the following:
    
    People aged 5+
    Boosted 44.5%
    2 doses only 40.7%
    1 dose only 6.2%
    
    So max fully vaxed is 85.2%
    Unvaxxed is the remainder 14.8%
    
    So unvaxxed for total population is this 14.8% plus all of the under 5’s. I’d assume this makes unvaxxed about 20-25% of the population.
    
    Now I personally know of under 5s in hospital with Omicron. So if unvaxxed are around 15% of the population then they are significantly less likely to be in hospital than the vaxed.
    
    Because many vaxxed have been made to feel morally superior in this smug hermit kingdom, they still believe like you that it was justified to:
    
    – fire teachers, nurses, drs, dentists, police, firemen, chefs, wait staff,
    – socially exclude the unvaxxed from clubs, churches, cafes, restaurants, entertainment, entertaining others, playing sports, watching sports, participation in the performing arts, music concerts and festivals, shops and businesses that implemented vax pass mandates.
    
    If you have a conscience then start listening to it. You are on the wrong side of history.
    
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    February 21, 2022 8:48pm
NeverMindTheBollocks

MPs are literally representatives. Their very first job is to listen to the concerns of NZ citizens. By refusing to meet protesters they disqualify themselves from the role.
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February 21, 2022 8:00am
- tf78
  
  Does anyone know if these MP’s have broken their parliamentary oath? If so what are the consequences of that.
  
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  February 21, 2022 10:53am
mikenmildagain

Happy International Mother Language Day!
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February 21, 2022 8:01am
- pdm
  
  mike – does that make it Hone Harawira day? He knows some mother………….. words.
  
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  February 21, 2022 9:46am
nathie

Does anyone know where Poto Williams is?

Like Jacinda, she has gone into witless protection?

The problem with that? She is the Police Minster!

Like Jacinda, she is missing from leading the govt response against the protests!

And Poto is being paid $288,000/year!

Labour = as useless as …..
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February 21, 2022 8:02am
- Bob
  
  being paid $288,000………
  clearly this salary is inadequate for the employment of one with such skills as Poto has!
  
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  February 21, 2022 9:26am
  - Positan
    
    “Inadequate” or completely “inappropriate?”
    
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    February 21, 2022 11:56am
- pdm
  
  Par for the course nathie.
  
  Health Ministers Clark and Little have been missing in action during all of the pandemic.
  
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  February 21, 2022 9:48am
  - oldfella
    
    pdm: the other Clarke (Gayford), well known RATs expert, is also missing. Hmmm.
    
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    February 21, 2022 12:44pm
    - FE3O4
      
      I spoke to someone the other day who saw him on the Waiheke Ferry – bound for the Island. Understand he was wearing his G-shock on his leg?
      
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      February 21, 2022 1:35pm
    - NeverMindTheBollocks
      
      Let’s hope they’re not partying together in a bubble-busting manner
      
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      February 21, 2022 6:44pm
    - Jim
      
      Probably asleep (again) in some dude’s truck
      
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      February 21, 2022 8:37pm
- G the giant from Dunedin
  
  Quite sad then that many people are saying they won’t vote Nats at the election
  cause this protest is Nats fault, leaving Poto and Arden as those so called leaders for another 5 years
  
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  February 21, 2022 10:16am
  - Deane Jessep
    
    This is Winston Peters’ fault.
    
    Waka jumping legislation is stopping Labour/Green/National MPs from quiting their party.
    
    Waka jumping legislation has made MMP even worse than FPP.
    
    No way for the incumbent govt to collapse.
    
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    February 21, 2022 11:47am
    - G the giant from Dunedin
      
      No it is not, they can stand down and sit in a by-election, what crap
      
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      February 21, 2022 12:58pm
  - mawm
    
    People are saying they won’t vote Nat because the Nats have sided with Jacinda, support Jacinda’s agenda and at a time when they should have been talking to the people, those who have lost their jobs, their homes, their family, etc, failed to do so and cowered in the Beehive. Don’t try to spin it as something else.
    
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    February 21, 2022 12:38pm
    - G the giant from Dunedin
      
      The fact remains the origins of the protests whee were n they set out from Bluff and Kaitiaia, are not the same rabble that are in Wellington now, Tamikis daughter now addressing the protesters, Nats can not side either these types, why don’t you listen to see what Luxon says on mandates and protests today at 2.30 on a Nat FB live, I bet he sets out a plan that could well be to the protesters advantage, but it may mean waiting a Little longer until the Omicron numbers start to drop enact month
      
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      February 21, 2022 1:02pm
    - G the giant from Dunedin
      
      The Nats have not sided with Ardern, they won’t deal with parts of this crowd who have hijacker’s what was a well intentioned protest
      
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      February 21, 2022 1:03pm
    - Michael Johnston
      
      I agree that National – and ACT – are being cowardly and misreading the mood of their constituents on the protest issue. But COVID will pass and there will still be massive problems facing this country, especially deepening racial division and an economic catastrophe, both of which Labour are largely responsible for.
      
      As angry as people legitimately may be with the centre right, I urge them to think pragmatically when it comes time to vote. For me, that means voting ACT. A government in which they have substantial bargaining power will be the only possible bulwark against ongoing racial separatism and will provide the best prospect of restoring economic sanity.
      
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      February 21, 2022 1:31pm
    - curry4me
      
      Nailed it. They’ve been Labour lite for decades. The protests, and their reaction have made it obvious.
      
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      February 21, 2022 6:53pm
- Sir Cullen's Sidekick
  
  I strongly refute that. Poto is member of the New Zealand Parliament for Christchurch East and she won with a comfortable majority. Sheeple of CHC East adore her and reward her for her good work. Don’t you kiwi bloggers ever forget the will of the CHC East Sheeple.
  
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  February 21, 2022 10:41am
  - G the giant from Dunedin
    
    What does that have to do with people not voting Nats cause protest leaving these muppets In Power the very pro they protest
    
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    February 21, 2022 11:22am
  - Positan
    
    Sidekick, admit it – Poto couldn’t find sand if she fell off a camel.
    
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    February 21, 2022 11:59am
    - G the giant from Dunedin
      
      Bwhahahahahahaha, more chance she roils come up with some dates
      
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      February 21, 2022 1:04pm
      - Pineapple Lumps
        
        G – I’m not perfect with my typing on this blog, predictive text has made a few of my sentences inaccurate. But you take the cake – I suspect your handle is really “F the gnat from Dunedin”
        
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        February 21, 2022 9:03pm
    - Paulus
      
      Of course she can, she is an ex Social Worker.
      
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      February 21, 2022 1:25pm
  - pdm
    
    Sir C – it sounds like Labour could stand a:
    
    `dead dogs donger’ in Christchurch East and win.
    
    Oh they did did they.
    
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    February 21, 2022 12:58pm
- Steve Otto(North Shore)
  
  Useless a trapdoor on a kayak, ashtray on a motorbike
  
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  February 21, 2022 4:27pm
Tricati

The Media wonder why the protesters in Wellington, and other centres, are pissed off with them then they only have to read this article on RNZ.
A 2-day seminar is planned for – quote: Communication manager for the Three Waters Reform project in Hamilton will join the chief political reporter at Newstalk ZB – Jason Walls – to discuss ‘Collaborating with the media for mutual benefit’.
There has been too much media/government collaboration already, to the point the blatant bias has had a detrimental effect on democracy – The 4th estate is there to hold the ‘government’ to account, not to promote their agenda, and/or policies.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/mediawatch/audio/2018830017/public-service-screened-by-communications-complex
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February 21, 2022 8:03am
- tf78
  
  Tricati, if they’re were brave they would have invited Barry Soper who is our last remaining journalist/reporter.
  
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  February 21, 2022 10:55am
  - Michael Johnston
    
    Actually Kathryn Ryan on her RNZ show has been asking hard questions about the way the protest is being represented by most media.
    
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    February 21, 2022 1:33pm
- PeeJay
  
  The media in this country, with a very few notable exceptions, has long since lost the right to be considered the fourth estate, as some arbiter of unbiased reporting and truth.
  
  How anyone can defend the media as unbiased that since 2017 has spent more time holding the oppositions feet to the fire and endlessly speculating about leadership coups and the like, rather than holding the actual bloody government to account is beyond me.
  
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  February 21, 2022 11:03am
iMP

So Her Majesty the Queen has Covid at 95. Mild cold symptoms. Gee, I better wear a mask, get boosters, and impose all sorts of social pariah restrictions on my fellow Kiwis right away, and cancel their jobs, call them all sorts of names. So much for ‘safe’ places and feeling ‘offended.’
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February 21, 2022 8:03am
- krazykiwi
  
  She will be quietly receiving treatments the efficacy of which is disparaged, and the availability of which is denied to the rest of us. Likely monoclonal antibodies.
  
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  February 21, 2022 8:10am
  - Gravelroad
    
    I believe Her Majesty has been a lifelong believer in homeopathic remedies and treatments. Hope they work for her and she is able to keep going to her jubilee celebrations.
    A world leader who puts all the current lot in the shade of irrelevancy.
    
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    February 21, 2022 8:21am
    - cmm
      
      She has survived 95 years of sniffles and colds, so why not one more?
      
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      February 21, 2022 8:27am
      - krazykiwi
        
        I expect she’s survived more Labour governments than colds. The former are definitely more harmful.
        
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        February 21, 2022 8:28am
    - iMP
      
      Well of course she’s had several already since 1977: Silver, Golden, Diamond, and now Platinum Jubilees.
      
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      February 21, 2022 8:37am
    - Benedict Yu
      
      Yeah I draw the line at homeopathy. It is quackery no matter what the Queen says.
      
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      February 21, 2022 8:48am
      - Ra Henare
        
        BY. for many Homeopathy is akin to religion. (Ex Wife of some 30 years was a believer for a number of years until she saw the light)
        
        So by inference then all religion/belief systems are quakery? I support your stance. However I think a majority of people need a belief system to operate in todays society.
        
        Many here have belief systems relating to politics, we know how that works out.???
        Sorta like Protestants verses Catholics, Muslims verses Jews National Verse Labour, Mandates Verse No Mandates.
        
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        February 21, 2022 2:42pm
      - Alan Wilkinson
        
        Don’t underestimate the placebo effect. Happy people do better than worried ones. It works for religions.
        
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        February 21, 2022 3:07pm
    - pdm
      
      She is continuing to work.
      
      Now there is a commitment foreign to members of our current government.
      
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      February 21, 2022 9:51am
    - Drone
      
      Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
      World leading tax avoider and protector of paedophiles and criminals..
      
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      February 21, 2022 10:24am
      - Nukuleka
        
        Drone by name and drone by nature. This has to be ‘the most pitiful post of the day’! Crawl back into the sewer that you call home.
        
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        February 21, 2022 11:29am
  - emmess
    
    Monoclonal antibodies were definitely effective prior to Omicron, but not now
    Florida dropped the use of them.
    The Queen will be fine
    
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    February 21, 2022 8:22am
- Benedict Yu
  
  If Jacinda was running things…
  
  CLOSE CONTACT
  
  Buckingham Palace London SW1A 1AA
  
  Anyone who was in the vicinity of Buckingham Palace betwen 18 February and 20 February.
  
  WHAT TO DO
  
  Self-isolate for 7 days, test on day 5 after you were exposed at this location of interest. Monitor symptoms for 10 days. Test again if you feel unwell.
  
  ????
  
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  February 21, 2022 8:13am
  - krazykiwi
    
    Given how hard she works at 95 years of age I would expect a few days forced ‘self isolation’ would be very welcome. And Buckingham Palace is a bit of an upgrade from Sudima Rotorua MIQ facility. Not likely to be any cockroaches for a start.
    
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    February 21, 2022 8:19am
    - MCōs
      
      Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
      She doesn’t live at Buckingham Palace, partially because it’s a rundown dump.
      
      I note she’s a 95yo lady who can hardly walk. Yet she’s still assigned ‘light duties’ while supposedly suffering only ‘cold like symptoms’ from covid-19.
      Pretty hard on the old girl, if true.
      
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      February 21, 2022 9:00am
      - Hollyfield
        
        I suspect the light duties are her self-imposed work ethic, rather than being “assigned” to her.
        
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        February 21, 2022 4:55pm
  - peterwn
    
    Sorry to spoil the fun, but she has not been at Buckingham Palace for ages. Makes more sense if it read Windsor Castle.
    
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    February 21, 2022 8:25am
krazykiwi

Note from the front line.
1. Police are NOT being hostile to food supplies, and they are supporting getting food and sanitation providers onto the site.
2. The police involved “definitely don’t want to be here” according to my source.
3. This is the best bit. Concrete blocks have been installed for traffic management purposes. An access way through to the food tents is currently blocked by a police car …. because, get this, the police have lost the car keys. So the police are themselves helping lug huge quantities of food past the barricade to the food tents 🙂
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February 21, 2022 8:07am
- Benedict Yu
  
  Thanks for that report. That is reassuring about the food.
  
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  February 21, 2022 8:12am
  - chukar
    
    It is also reassuring about Police activity.
    They certainly appear to be behaving with courtesy and restraint.
    Good on them!
    
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    February 21, 2022 10:36am
    - Loddenthinks
      
      They are now – the first week of the protest? Not so much.
      
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      February 21, 2022 1:22pm
  - tf78
    
    BY, and even more reassuring that our Boys in Blue are good people.
    
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    February 21, 2022 10:58am
    - Mr_Blobby
      
      Until they are told not be.
      
      Police command wont be sitting around, they will be making preparations.
      
      The Government will be putting pressure on the Police to act behind the scenes.
      
      That way the Government can wash their hands of any smell surrounding it.
      
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      February 21, 2022 12:32pm
      - mawm
        
        Yesterday I speculated about the thugs used by Daniel Andrews and whether they are same ones used by Trudeau. It seems as if they have had some help from foreigners – a UN plane has been spotted at a semi-secret military airfield near Ottawa. Also people in the protest have suggested that they are speaking a foreign language. It makes one think. I hope Jacinda does not go the same route.
        
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        February 21, 2022 12:46pm
- mikenmildagain
  
  Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
  https://twitter.com/tukakimatt
  #endtheprotest
  
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  February 21, 2022 8:13am
  - Yabster
    
    Tutaki- be right up your alley wouldn’t he Milkdud.
    
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    February 21, 2022 9:18am
    - G the giant from Dunedin
      
      [deleted by Mod. If you’re going to abuse others, at least make it something not moronic]
      
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      February 21, 2022 10:59am
      - G the giant from Dunedin
        
        What abuse ffs.
        
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        February 21, 2022 11:23am
  - krazykiwi
    
    #endthemandates
    #endthelies
    #endardernsrule
    
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    February 21, 2022 9:19am
    - mawm
      
      # endthecovidpassports.
      # enddigitalcurrency.
      
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      February 21, 2022 12:48pm
      - Pineapple Lumps
        
        #endthehashtags
        
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        February 21, 2022 9:10pm
  - Inandout
    
    m&m, on the subject of Twitter I understand their subscribers have dropped a massive 47% since other platforms have begun. FB also is on a downward trend.
    
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    February 21, 2022 9:27am
    - curry4me
      
      In the case of Meta, it’s because Apple have provided iPhone users with much better privacy.
      
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      February 21, 2022 10:26am
      - mawm
        
        Apple and privacy don’t belong in the same sentence.
        
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        February 21, 2022 12:49pm
  - bronny1
    
    We would all like to end the protest Mikey. Jacinda just needs to engage and commit to ending the mandates ASAP.
    
    Might use that # myself.
    
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    February 21, 2022 9:39am
  - Matt Long
    
    Milkly and his mates, “these protesters are a rabble of Nazi scum, fascists”
    Again Milkly and his mates “Send in the police, the army, bash them, lock them up, put them in reeducation camps, forcibly inject them. ”
    You keep using word “fascists ,” I don’t think you know what it means. It means people like you trying to take away people’s basic rights and freedoms.
    
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    February 21, 2022 9:40am
  - Libertarians are right
    
    Tutaki is a race hustler scumbag who doesn’t represent the majority of us.
    
    Also – most protests don’t represent the majority obviously, otherwise they wouldn’t have to protest. What a moron.
    
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    February 21, 2022 10:34am
  - amospicton
    
    Question for Matthew Tukaki – will he be able to work constructively with the next government of a non-red hue to further the goals and aspirations of Maori? Or is he so blinded by partisan loyalty to the left that they will always be the enemy?
    
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    February 21, 2022 10:53am
    - Vory v zakone
      
      Tutaki got his ass handed to him on a plate last week. (HDPA show on Newsdork)
      Just like the *** [Deleted – don’t go there. mod.] basement occupant gets on a daily basis. ?
      
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      February 21, 2022 3:30pm
- crackle
  
  Wonder what would happen if protestors embraced the blocks, made them a permanent fixture… cut the lift wires, smash the pallets underneath and then they’ll be a real bitch to move.
  Or sneak a pallet jack in there and move em themselves.
  
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  February 21, 2022 8:17am
  - Rusty
    
    They could graffiti those blocks but I hope none of protesters read what I just said — that is vandalism.
    
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    February 21, 2022 2:12pm
  - Colville
    
    forget the pallet jack…just use a long stick.
    
    #thinklikeanegyptian
    
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    February 21, 2022 6:25pm
- My
  
  Thanks KK. NZ Herald “The concrete blocks restricting access onto Lambton Quay are also believed to be stopping cleaning crews associated with the protest from entering the site to clean portaloos, with one protester saying they were investigating ways to remove part of the blockade to allow access.”
  
  If that is the case, it is an action worse than the sprinklers. If not, maybe NZ Herald should give KK a press pass.
  
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  February 21, 2022 8:22am
  - krazykiwi
    
    “are also believed to be stopping” is the salient bit. This is evidence of some low-rent journalist interviewing their keyboard instead of stepping outside and talking to some people.
    
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    February 21, 2022 9:17am
    - ClanMcleod
      
      We’re getting food in but they have made it difficult by stopping us driving it to where it is needed. They are letting the toilets get cleaned.
      There are ten police and 3 traffic wardens harassing the kitchen where the food is cooked. If you see an image of a lady with shaved hair putting her hand over a camera lens is because she asked them not to film her and the camera man said “I can do whatever I want”. The lady is exhausted. Doing this since the beginning. She is an outstanding person. Apologised to the crew afterwards. Had a polite conversation with them which of course won’t be shown.
      W had a fisherman and his two kids arrive with 50kg of tuna. They had traveled for 50 hours on his boat to bring this food.
      Racist, misogynist anti semites obviously. //
      
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      February 21, 2022 3:02pm
      - graham
        
        ClanMcleod: Re the lady with shaved hair putting her hand over a camera lens, that is both sad and infuriating to read.
        
        All too frequently these days, I find myself listening to the news and thinking, “where is the context?” And this sounds like a classic example. Without the context that you have just provided, that lady will be shown in a very bad light, and provide yet more fuel to the fire of “ugly troublemaking rabble.” Add in the context, and suddenly the impression given is very different. Which is why they won’t do it.
        
        And the media still seem bewildered that the public don’t trust them …
        
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        February 21, 2022 3:19pm
      - krazykiwi
        
        .
        
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        February 21, 2022 10:44pm
      - krazykiwi
        
        I have met her on a number of occasions. She is a star, the kind of person who would crawl over cut glass if you needed something. Well done you CM, for defending her against pushy MSM.
        
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        February 21, 2022 10:46pm
- cmm
  
  You wonder whether the cops have “lost” the keys.
  
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  February 21, 2022 8:29am
  - krazykiwi
    
    I expect it’s a logistics error. Cop goes off duty and takes keys. Car was left is irrelevant spot, which then became important as blocks placed on street.
    
    If it was deliberate that would be weapons-grade stupidity. There are 1000s of people ready to walk food on-site from a nearby distribution centre, much like the Canadians did with fuel once Trudeau’s brownshirts blocked the tankers.
    
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    February 21, 2022 8:35am
    - ClanMcleod
      
      It was deliberate. I was there. They moved out to let a resident in 3 minutes later then reversed it back into place.
      I asked the sergeant could we please get the food in. He said no, point blank. They eased up a bit an hour later but we had to get it in by hand for a while.
      
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      February 21, 2022 3:05pm
  - Mr_Blobby
    
    Flat tyre anyone.
    
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    February 21, 2022 9:03am
    - yobi
      
      Yes I saw that the other day. Doesn’t say much for our police force if they can’t change a tyre.
      
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      February 21, 2022 9:40am
- piglady
  
  That is very very good news krazi!
  Food and water should not be denied to anyone.
  Thank you for the update?
  
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  February 21, 2022 8:39am
- coolas
  
  KK … maybe this is a sign the Police will eventually join the unvaccinated patriots in over throwing the Government.
  
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  February 21, 2022 8:42am
  - krazykiwi
    
    No, I think it’s a sign that like most NZers, most police are reasonable human beings. To the best of my knowledge there’s no intent to “overthrow the government” but more a reasonable demand that the government listen to the people who elected them. It’s not rocket science. But being a historian, or at least studying a bit of history might be helpful to understand likely outcomes if that listening doesn’t take place.
    
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    February 21, 2022 10:19am
  - Tom Hunter
    
    Effective trolling from a Leftie worshipper. Eighteen upticks so far.
    
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    February 21, 2022 12:40pm
- Mr_Blobby
  
  Interesting up until recently I did not know anybody who had caught covid. Far to many people who had a bad reaction to the vaccine some a day or two, some are week or two, some very serious one a young male with heart issues, one old man possible vaccine death.
  
  Now I know of two, who have covid, both are vaccinated, both are reporting mild flu symptoms, both isolating, they both say isolation is the hardest part, solitary confinement, mental health etc., both had a negative reaction to the vaccine, one a young male with heart issues.
  
  What the actual fcuk was the point in getting vaccinated?
  
  Strangely camp freedom appears to be covid free and it is the only place where you can party.
  
  You would think by now they would all be collapsing on the ground and dying.
  
  How does jacinda explain this inconvenient fact, that people aren’t collapsing and dying at what some experts said was a super spreader event.
  
  You won’t find that question on the list of pre approved questions.
  
  So what next for our fascist totalitarian regime.
  
  Updating the 1930’s playback from Germany I would say
  
  Blocking the roads to camp freedom, cut them off.
  Freeze bank accounts
  Use of force, arresting the non compliant
  Declare them terrorists, enemies of the state.
  Convert public facilities into detainment camps, not so nice MIQ facilities, for their own safety,
  
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  February 21, 2022 8:59am
  - My
    
    Yep ‘Strangely camp freedom appears to be covid free and it is the only place where you can party.
    You would think by now they would all be collapsing on the ground and dying.’
    ..But five of the Police officers have got the Covid. Jump the barriers immerse yourself in the peace, love, leather sandals and freedom.
    
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    February 21, 2022 2:17pm
- Harry Knuts
  
  my money is that the lose-the-keys was an order from higher above. they did what boss-person said but they didn’t say “don’t help the protestors” – technicality maybe?
  
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  February 21, 2022 3:17pm
herb1

Struggling to understand a news report last night.
The reporter stated that due to pressure on testing centre , those people deemed, after questioning, to not need urgent testing, will be given RAT tests to take home.
Yet I understand critical workers , who desperately need RAT testing, have to go through a rigourous process to get one.
Even teachers can’t get them.
Having just read the interview with Carmel Sepuloni, I can now understand the mental process that our “ leaders” go through.
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February 21, 2022 8:08am
Simon

Luxon. Mad central planner and National Tribal Leader is going to centrally plan around anecdotal stories he hears up and down the county. He is a real problem solver.
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February 21, 2022 8:09am
- 3-coil
  
  Simon: Cindy shuts down the entire country based on anecdotal chit chat from her “friends” in London – who include the brit DJ who was first to bring the highly infectious omnicron into the NZ community via his clubbing before his festival gigs. Cindy is a real problem solver.
  
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  February 21, 2022 9:26am
  - Harry Knuts
    
    he really should have been called DJ Dim.
    
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    February 21, 2022 3:07pm
westernScientest

Mean while in a less insane country:

https://www.stuff.co.nz/world/300522483/uk-people-with-covid-in-england-wont-need-to-selfisolate
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February 21, 2022 8:10am
Observer of Life

KrazyKiwi: We’re finally heading south and plan on being at the protest 25/26 Feb. Is there anything that is required? I’ve somehow managed to lose the bank account number for donations. But is it best to wait until I get there and speak to someone on the ground about that? Cheers.
#freedomconvoy22
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February 21, 2022 8:13am
- krazykiwi
  
  I’m mainly involved with food supply, and not regularly on-site. Suggest you head to the admin and/or volunteer tents when you arrive. In terms of donations our fund has been taking in $ faster than they can be wisely spent, so I’m pushing pause on that for a few days. Safe travels
  
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  February 21, 2022 9:14am
  - Morry45
    
    I am in the deep south, so can’t get to the protest easily with a young family etc.
    
    What else can I do to help?
    
    Thanks!
    
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    February 21, 2022 10:59am
    - piglady
      
      Hi Morry45
      Really feel for you when you would like to go but have family commitments. There will be a lot of people in your position I am absolutely sure.
      I think one way we can all help is to stop complying with these ridiculous rules whenever it is possible.
      I am generally good at following the rules but since I returned from the protest I have not worn a mask into the supermarket or into paperplus to post a letter. I was not questioned by anyone. In fact the lady in the supermarket who served me said “it’s nice to see you” When people see this disobedience or the taking back our freedoms it may help others feel braver and do the same. I was really scared to go into the supermarket maskless but I just had to and I felt really proud of myself for having done so.
      
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      February 21, 2022 11:58am
      - KH
        
        Piglady. Not wearing your mask is an insult to others. Mask does not hurt you but if others want you to, why not.
        
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        February 21, 2022 3:20pm
      - Inandout
        
        I was in a WH stationery shop today and two guys were maskless. The staff didn’t seem to care and it was so nice to actually see a face. Hopefully this trend will snowball and the covid police can just crawl back into their holes.
        
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        February 21, 2022 4:11pm
      - Pineapple Lumps
        
        Bravo PigLady: This is where I have reached also, this thing only ends when we say no.
        
        A year ago it was still odd to wear a mask and to see people wearing them — with the exception of my many Chinese neighbours.
        
        Now after the massive psychological operation and propagandising it has become a norm. I especially get infuriated at cyclists, people outdoors in windy Wellington, at the West coast beaches, on top of the volcanic cones of Auckland, driving in their cars…. It’s become absolutely nuts!! Masks must go.
        
        I used to wear a mask to ease the fear of those around me. Now I feel obligated to mentally confront them. To renormalise a world without masks. But, if we are to reverse the psy-op we have to win hearts and minds. If you don’t wear a mask then please look happy. Be polite when confronted, thank them for caring/doing their job. Explain you are exempt. Explain you do not need to share why you are exempt, that is private. Tell them when they ask for proof, documents, exemption cards, letters from your dr, that these things are not required. Show them the MOH website where it states this about mask exclusions. But do it gently, politely and with a smile, because you are in the right, no need to be defensive or aggressive, and it is vital that we win the psychological war.
        
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        February 21, 2022 9:31pm
    - piglady
      
      Hi Morry45
      Really feel for you when you would like to go but have family commitments. There will be a lot of people in your position I am absolutely sure.
      I think one way we can all help is to stop complying with these ridiculous rules whenever it is possible.
      I am generally good at following the rules but since I returned from the protest I have not worn a mask into the supermarket or into paperplus to post a letter. I was not questioned by anyone. In fact the lady in the supermarket who served me said “ it’s nice to see you”When people see this disobedience or the taking back our freedoms it may help others feel braver and do the same. I was really scared to go into the supermarket maskless but I just had to and I felt really proud of myself for having done so.
      
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      February 21, 2022 12:01pm
  - Mr_Blobby
    
    Careful Cinderella will freeze your bank accounts.
    
    I have financed a team due to arrive Friday.
    
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    February 21, 2022 11:07am
  - ClanMcleod
    
    Keep an eye out for me. We’re doing 6.30am to 2.30pm food run.
    
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    February 21, 2022 4:22pm
- Mummy
  
  You can donate if you want but this thing is being bankrolled to the tune of millions by some of NZ’s biggest companies. And by the way, I donated during the first weekend.
  
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  February 21, 2022 2:27pm
- Pineapple Lumps
  
  This from the main information board at Camp Freedom. For info and to donate go to:
  
  http://www.profestnz.com/donate
  
  I see there are $38k of donations there now.
  
  My observation is with all the sacked chefs, wait staff, health workers, police, firefighters, paramedics, teachers combined it is quite a formidable force with a supply chain the defence force would envy. Probably our biggest contribution is financial.
  
  The next biggest contribution is to spread the real story of what is happening there, not what people are seeing/hearing/being told by legacy media.
  
  Also, if there are businesses around Wellington CBD that will make toilets available and Wellingtonians that will make showers available I am sure that would help morale.
  
  My biggest concern for safety is fire risk, due to the closeness of all the tents and propensity of elements of the crowd for smoking. The protestors should make parliament grounds smoke free and try and secure a fire extinguisher for every tent.
  
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  February 21, 2022 11:04pm
Klondike

Thank goodness Cindy locked us down to stamp it out and save us all….
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February 21, 2022 8:18am
Captain Mainwaring

“the police have lost the car keys”
Keystone cops strike again.
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February 21, 2022 8:22am
3-coil

RNZ interviewer Suzy Ferguson has this morning conducted yet another obnoxious rude interview that again makes us wonder why we listen to this public funded radio station. This time she repeatedly talked over Jacinda (and made many of her answers unintelligible) as they both chattered at full volume whenever she interjected – we can only guess what was being said.

At least Suzy didn’t turn the PM’s volume down (so she could talk over her) as she does with other interviewees who don’t share her political views – as she did last week with her toxic interview/interrogation of National leader Christopher Luxon. That interview descended to a new low, even for Suzy! At one point she worked herself into an hysterical frenzy as she repeatedly asked CL “so you think that’s funny do you?” after he had tried to answer her question. Suzy sounded like an immature street thug with a “what are you looking at” taunt, trying to pick a fight. Edit: Jacinda’s chortled titters this morning did not attract the same hysterical taunt from Suzy…showing her double standards.

Suzy at least needs to attend an anger management course to curb her hysterical partisan aggression, or maybe she is just ready to finally be put out to pasture. Either way, she makes it impossible to hear the content of her interview, so she is not fit for purpose.
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February 21, 2022 8:22am
- Mr_Blobby
  
  Stop, just stop.
  
  Turn off the MSN.
  
  It is just government propaganda from the ministry of misinformation.
  
  You will feel better, be happier, I guarantee it.
  
  Find your news somewhere else.
  
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  February 21, 2022 9:10am
  - Bridgenag
    
    Yes …… But I miss the old RNZ and the old TV1 and now the Listener is going woke. Feel better watching anything except MSM though. 10 upticks
    
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    February 21, 2022 11:10am
- Maggy Wassilieff
  
  Here’s the interview
  
  https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/461945/covid-19-prime-minister-jacinda-ardern-says-time-for-wellington-protesters-to-go-home
  
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  February 21, 2022 9:10am
  - Mr_Blobby
    
    She is looking old and tired, even with the makeup.
    
    “Absolutely ” they are controlling the police, “absolutely ” when it all turns to shit, police will be blamed, “absolutely ” individual officers will be thrown under the bus.
    
    People in power should be aware that one day covid will be consigned to history, the ramifications will carry on.
    
    Why would you stop protesting simply because the person you are protesting against wants you to leave,
    
    Stupid comment of the day.
    
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    February 21, 2022 11:28am
  - I remember when
    
    Jacinda to Suzie, “let me finish that sentence.”
    And, what a sentence it was, it took Jacinda 26 seconds to finish it.
    Thank heavens it wasn’t a paragraph.
    
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    February 21, 2022 2:26pm
- peterwn
  
  Glad the media is starting to be politically even handed.
  
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  February 21, 2022 9:33am
- Morry45
  
  I used to listen to RNZ.
  It is now alarmingly a propaganda outlet for the government. It’s actually frightening. So I switched off.
  Besides, I can’t understand the 50% Maori content!
  
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  February 21, 2022 11:01am
I remember when

Jacinda’s real portfolio – Ad-minister.
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February 21, 2022 8:25am
- Matt Long
  
  Ms Information Ardern
  
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  February 21, 2022 11:44am
Klondike

Remember the happy time Cindy ?https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/360849-new-zealand-prime-minister-mocks-trump-no-one-marched-over-my
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February 21, 2022 8:26am
Yvette

Sorry about the length of this, but that is Michael Wood’s fault – this just hopefully gives as much context to his remarks as is tolerable –

Hon MICHAEL WOOD (Minister of Transport)
I want to talk about something else very serious in this respect. I’ve been concerned by some of the drifting rhetoric I’ve heard from members opposite in this House about the events in the occupation that we see out the front. The words I say now I say with some precision and I say really carefully, because I think we need to take great care with this. Out the front of this place, there are people who I think we all feel for. There are some people who are confused, there are some people who are scared, there are some people who have been manipulated by an avalanche of misinformation. There are some people who have been hurt over the past couple of years and they’re lashing out. We feel for those people. But underneath all of that, there is a river of filth. There is a river of violence and menace. There is a river of anti-Semitism. There is a river of islamophobia. There is a river of threats to people who work in this place and our staff. Those are things that we should not in any way be condoning, things that we should be apologists for, things that we should be overlooking with the rhetoric that it’s all just good people and maybe we should talk about it and maybe we should put the mandates up for negotiation. I would say that there is a river of genuine fascism in parts of the event that we see out the front of this Parliament today. I just urge colleagues in this House—decent and honourable members of the centre-right parliamentary parties in this Parliament—that a lot is actually on them to not give succour and comfort to an emergent and dangerous far right movement. I just ask those members to reflect upon that. – Hansard
https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/hansard-debates/rhr/combined/HansDeb_20220216_20220216_16

Is the portion in bold typeface actually “hate speech” – legislation yet, of course, to be delivered, but “When you see it, you know it” – “hate speech” now perhaps immortalised in Hansard, or is it valid?
Of the people arrested last Wednesday, what, if anything, was each charged with?
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February 21, 2022 8:31am
- Mr_Blobby
  
  Waffle, then double speak.
  
  A fascist calling protesters fascists.
  
  Calling the Oposition you loath honorable.
  
  Then bring out the modern phobias.
  
  So where are these far right white surpremists he speaks of, the Maori at the protest, the labour voters at the protest, the green voters at the protest.
  
  Where are these threats you speak of. Who has been charged.
  
  Where is the crime you speak of, the police complaints, the victims, the ever present video clips, the people who have been charged etc nothing zero Nada.
  
  We have more police around parliament than anywhere else so there should be no crime, unless it is crime they are associated with and are ignoring it.
  
  We feel for you filthy people, let them eat cake.
  
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  February 21, 2022 9:26am
  - Mr_Blobby
    
    No Michael I am not scared of you.
    
    I am not scared of Covid. In particular I am not scared of covid.
    
    But I am angry, I am so angry I am about to make a sign.
    
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    February 21, 2022 9:29am
    - Yabster
      
      hard to be scared of tiny little Mich – hes so small…
      
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      February 21, 2022 10:45am
I remember when

Police instal concrete barriers around Parliament.
Traffic clearance exercise.
Believe they are off to Transmission Gully next.
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February 21, 2022 8:33am
I remember when

Jacinda Ardern: 3 Feb 2022: Reconnecting New Zealand to the World.
I understand that Nanaia Mahuta has taken a very low rope with her.
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February 21, 2022 8:35am
I remember when

There are more than 1000 people, 800 vehicles and 750 tents in the protest area.
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February 21, 2022 8:37am
- NeverMindTheBollocks
  
  You’re suggesting they should have carpooled?
  
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  February 21, 2022 6:57pm
kevn

@kk… This is not the jab queens plan. She is trying for division and heavy handedness.
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February 21, 2022 8:38am
- artemisia
  
  The Prime Minister is in charge but advice from her experts – kitchen Cabinet and academics – is not providing solutions. Good chance there is not a coherent (or any) view of the actual problems. No plan then.
  
  Yes, she is in charge but no idea what to do.
  
  Simple enough. Announce when mandates will end, not even a firm date, just not as so far announced – ‘when I think they should’.
  
  Did I mention she is in charge?
  
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  February 21, 2022 8:56am
- tf78
  
  kevn, yes it’s backfired quite spectacularly hasn’t it. I’ve haven’t seen so many New Zealanders this united for years.
  
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  February 21, 2022 11:17am
iMP

Police have lost their car keys,
Ms Ardern the plot.

Her snarky interview with “Susan…sorry Suzie” and “my dad was a police officer, we are us ” on Morning Report this morning was revealing. I hope Colbert was watching.
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February 21, 2022 8:40am
- Frank the tank
  
  C’mon we all know she’ll be on Colbert when she has her May holiday in the States.
  
  Hopefully there will be a protest outside of Harvard and they have to shut down the woke ceremony.
  
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  February 21, 2022 8:59am
Southern Raider

Anyone else suspicious that the blockade only went up on a Monday morning in time for Jacinda’s organised media breakfast slots? Missing in action for a week and then pops up just to try and suggest she is back in control

Also thought her language once again was very dictatorial and condescending with “they need to realise it’s just time for them to go home” and then of course “no way we will even contemplate dropping our armour in the middle of a pandemic”
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February 21, 2022 8:41am
- Mr_Blobby
  
  The armor is not working it was never going to work at best it slowed down the inevitable.
  
  Covid bypassed all her defenses and introduced itself, I think we can learn to live with each other.
  
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  February 21, 2022 9:49am
- cmm
  
  Why do you need armour if you’re hiding under the bed?
  
  Mandates are not armour. They do nothing to stop the spread of the virus.
  
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  February 21, 2022 9:56am
- Bob
  
  off to Transmission Gully next…….
  to collect more concrete bollards.
  Unintended consequence, Transmission gully may open for business.
  
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  February 21, 2022 10:01am
- pdm
  
  `Also thought her language once again was very dictatorial and condescending’
  
  Especially as 44% of the protesters voted Labour or Green in 2020 as per `The Platform poll covered in DPF’s bolg before the GD..
  
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  February 21, 2022 10:02am
- G the giant from Dunedin
  
  We won’t see her much this week, as Parliament does not sit again till March 4 she has holidays you know.
  
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  February 21, 2022 11:08am
I remember when

It, said Jacinda, was her job to hear the conversations about such things as how long the restrictions last and balance that with keeping as many as possible safe as we move through the latest Covid wave.
The enemy has arrived at the door.
Now is not the time to take off the armour we have built up.

A horse, a horse, my kingdom (or republic) for a horse.
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February 21, 2022 8:49am
- fightingtemeraire
  
  And we all know what happened to Richard 111
  
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  February 21, 2022 9:41am
- chukar
  
  IRW,
  Well there is always the GG from Dunedin!
  
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  February 21, 2022 2:49pm
  - G the giant from Dunedin
    
    BOO
    
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    February 21, 2022 8:47pm
krazykiwi

Gotta love the Babylon Bee: Xi Jinping Criticizes Trudeau’s Heavy-Handed Approach
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February 21, 2022 8:52am
- curry4me
  
  The BB hit the nail on the head as usual.
  
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  February 21, 2022 10:39am
- tf78
  
  krazy, as they say “Feel the burn”.
  
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  February 21, 2022 11:42am
Surely Knott

Musician Nathan Haines went to the protests to see for himself, and reported that contrary to what you see in the media the protests were peaceful, organised and respectful with a huge cross section of people.

For this benign positive post, the twitterati have gone absolutely savage, including the far-left David Farrier who wrote a scathing, unhinged, illogical and unreadable article, comparing Russell Coutts, and Nathan Haines, thoughtful, democratic posts to Jason Kerrison’s posts comparing the Nuremberg Trial. From there Farrier draws his enormously long and curved bow, comparing Kerrison (and he’s tried to link in Haines and Coutts by association) to the capital riots noose, q anon and of course Trump. (It always leads back to Trump. ) Farrier is desperately looking for links to extremists and conspiracy theorists, but he takes normal people and tries to smear them and their career by linking them to extremists. Coutts and Haines are some of our best NZers speaking out at great personal cost.

Haines post: https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FL02PSiVcBA5IF9?format=jpg&name=large
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February 21, 2022 8:58am
- Exclamation Mark
  
  David Farrier is becoming an increasingly loathsome armchair totalitarian. One of that odious bread of NZer who experience some success in their chosen field then proceed to get high on the smell of their own farts and start believing that the world simply must hear their pontifications on every hot button topic of the day (think Gareth Morgen and Nigel Latta).
  
  Farrier is a particularly egregious case, he obviously takes great delight ‘exposing’ wrong-think and ‘gently reminding’ people that this sort of disgusting opinion is unacceptable in his Aotearoa.
  
  As they all eventually do, he will end up over stepping the mark at some point and find himself on the wrong end of a public shaming. I wonder if he will be able to take it as well as he loves dishing it out? I’m picking he’ll be one of the machoists who thanks the mob for correcting him and promises to be better (never works though).
  
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  February 21, 2022 9:44am
  - NeverMindTheBollocks
    
    It’s unfortunate for our revered host that he differs from the repugnant Farrier by just the letter “i”.
    
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    February 21, 2022 7:00pm
- Frank the tank
  
  Is Farrier in the country – last I heard he was in LA.
  
  Or did he get an MIQ spot for a certain (now cancelled) event?
  
  Can someone advise?
  
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  February 21, 2022 9:59am
  - Surely Knott
    
    Yip. His instagram shows he is still there.
    
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    February 21, 2022 10:32am
graham

Heard Mike Hosking mention in his intro this morning that the Te Huia train is “a bust”. Does anybody know if he went on to talk about it in more detail during his program? If so I’d love to listen to it 🙂
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February 21, 2022 8:59am
- graham
  
  Ah … found it. On at around 07:18 this morning.
  
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  February 21, 2022 9:20am
  - G the giant from Dunedin
    
    Did you get to the interview with they guy from Waikato? He says it’s gotta go
    
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    February 21, 2022 11:11am
- peterwn
  
  Predicted that from the beginning. Some decades ago a similar service was started with mayors etc saying how good it was for business people etc, but hardly anyone used the service and it was withdrawn. The reality is summed up by an Auckland businessman who had a days worth of engagements in Hamilton. He hired a taxi to drive him there and back and to take him to the various places he wanted to go to. He obviously considered cost effective and least stressful and no doubt the taxi driver was very happy.
  
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  February 21, 2022 9:28am
  - Weetbix3ways
    
    For practical reasons like this a lot of people go really crazy and, you know, own a car and drive themselves.
    
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    February 21, 2022 11:07am
- Inandout
  
  graham, also mentioned on Hosk that at present 3 destinations in the world are anti external visitors: West Australia (till end of week), New Zealand and North Korea. Unbelievable, but to paraphrase Reagan, ‘Ms Ardern, tear down these walls’.
  
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  February 21, 2022 9:35am
  - Ra Henare
    
    Even with a modicum of research it will show there are more than 3 destinations that are anti external visitors.
    Taiwan is a great example.
    
    https://www.iatatravelcentre.com/world.php
    
    And this folks is how mis information starts!!!
    
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    February 21, 2022 3:03pm
Maggy Wassilieff

You would have thought that information about the speed a motorcycle was travelling at would have been checked long before this case was about to get to court.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/127833060/prosecution-of-former-mp-denis-orourke-on-fatal-driving-charge-dropped
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February 21, 2022 8:59am
- peterwn
  
  Seems to happen not too infrequently. Prosecutor reads the file the day before and suddenly realises the case is not going to stack up. Denis was probably looking forward to his day in court and making mince meat of the prosecutor.
  
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  February 21, 2022 9:23am
- bennerg
  
  In an almost identical situation, my grand daughter got charged with careless driving causing injury. Motorcyclist claimed he was only doing 40km/hr, then changed it to 15-20km/hr, while lanesplitting down the centre lane. A rough calculation of the timing meant he had over 2 seconds to stop (which he could almost have done at 40km/hr) , but somehow managed to write off my gd’s car, cause thousands of dollars of damage to his bike, and according to witnesses, project himself up to 10 metres over and past the car.
  
  Yet the Police in their wisdom charged my gd, opening her up to huge potential costs for repair of said bike and loss of licence.
  
  It took over a year to proceed through the court, and ended with a definitive case dismissal.
  
  Abysmal decision making on behalf of the Police IMHO, and basically another example to reduce the respect for the Police, who at most times do a difficult job. I suspect the loss of experienced managers within the organisation is the basic cause, and with what is being driven down in Wellington by ideologue politicians, it is only going to get worse, with further attrition as they lose faith in their bosses.
  
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  February 21, 2022 9:56am
  - curry4me
    
    I’m glad things turned out alright for her. I guess she didn’t have a dashcam like a lot of Russian drivers have?
    
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    February 21, 2022 10:44am
    - Ehlana
      
      bennerg, I hope your granddaughter is okay and getting confident driving again. Regardless of who is at fault, a crash on the roads is a hard and scary thing to go through. A dashcam would be a great idea for a next birthday/ Christmas present.
      
      At 15-20km/h, I’m surprised to hear a motorbike can’t stop without pitching it’s rider 10m over and past a car. These motorbikes must as tricky and clever as the virus is.
      
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      February 21, 2022 12:33pm
Yvette

7:50am – Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has told the AM she is fed up with the protest outside Parliament.
“They have made their point and it is now time to go home,” Ardern told AM.
_____

Brian Tamaki’s daughter Jamie Warren, speaking at Parliament on behalf of the Freedoms and Rights Coalition, has laid out a list of demands for the Government.
In a statement from the coalition – which praised her for bringing “strong and decisive leadership to the protesters”, Warren laid out her four key points:
• End the mandates by March 1 2022
• Negotiation on March 1 with the Government on behalf of the protesters and the New Zealanders who support them
• A clear end date to the COVID-19 Health Response Acts and all its amendments
• Jobs reinstated to those affected by the mandates, and the back pay of wages lost as a result of them

Warren warns if the Government do not revoke the mandates, then Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern needs to resign and new elections be called.
_____

“Now, this all comes as Prime Minister Boris Johnson will go to Parliament tomorrow to discuss the lifting of all virus restrictions including people won’t have to legally self-isolate if they contract the virus.”

Has Jamie Warren gone home?
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February 21, 2022 9:02am
- coolas
  
  If Jamie’s going to stay until “Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern needs to resign and new elections be called,” she going to be waiting a very long time.
  
  And hotel rooms aint cheap. Thank God daddy Brian the Apostle Bishop Tamaki is flush with cash from his awesome charity work.
  
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  February 21, 2022 9:42am
- greybeard
  
  I watched Ryan Bridge’s interview with the PM this morning.
  I found the PM’s attitude and mannerisms quite disturbing.
  There is something wrong with her.
  And she is incapable of giving an honest, straight simple answer to any question, she just waffles.
  
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  February 21, 2022 9:59am
  - pdm
    
    `And she is incapable of giving an honest, straight simple answer to any question, she just waffles.’
    
    Waffling has all she has done since Winston annointed her as Prime Minister – hopeless at best grossly incompetent and deceitful at worst.
    
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    February 21, 2022 10:05am
  - Local Miller
    
    Very brave of you. I’ve stopped watching anything where the PTPM speaks. I honestly can’t tolerate the waffle, evasive language, lies and obfuscation. I don’t know how others put up with it.
    
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    February 21, 2022 10:09am
  - 70andstilllearning
    
    The pitiful ‘come on peoples – time to go home now’ whine bit was what got me. Hasn’t got a clue now how to shut down the “impromptu” party that a quick word or two at the beginning could have defused. The revolving guest numbers are just growing bigger daily. Such a pathetic excuse for a PM really.
    
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    February 21, 2022 10:56am
  - G the giant from Dunedin
    
    She has her worries you know, all may well be understandable tomorrow
    
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    February 21, 2022 11:15am
    - Littletramp
      
      cryptic?
      
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      February 21, 2022 11:39am
      - G the giant from Dunedin
        
        She told you to read between the lines
        
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        February 21, 2022 8:49pm
    - Weinerpoop
      
      Yeah that is what I have heard as well, hopefully it’s true
      
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      February 21, 2022 12:06pm
  - Nickc2
    
    That’s an indication of a liar who’s discovered they’re completely out of their depth.
    
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    February 21, 2022 11:19am
  - Mr_Blobby
    
    Prime Minister do you still stand by your statement that you never lie.
    
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    February 21, 2022 12:47pm
Ford Prefect

Life in the public service….

Just got in to the office a little late but still before 9am and Im the only one here. Normally around 100-120 on the floor and no-one has turned up to the office.

Could it possibly be that the SLT have decided that we have to wear our masks at our desks and everywhere in the office. No-one seems to want to do this.

Watch productivity plummet from 30% to 0%
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February 21, 2022 9:04am
- NeverMindTheBollocks
  
  I hope you wore your mask all day. That virus is tricky, you know.
  
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  February 21, 2022 7:04pm
  - alloytoo
    
    Just keep an open bag of peanuts or crisps on your desk so the virus knows to stay away.
    
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    February 21, 2022 9:32pm
Rusty

Whatever one thinks of the British monarchy you still have to admire Queen Elizabeth 11 longevity and 70 year reign.

Winston Churchill was PM when she ascended to the throne in 1952!

She has outlived dozens of British and Commonwealth PMs who were of a similar age to her as well as American Presidents.

Some of Britain’s/worlds greatest Scientist’s, Literary writers, entertainers and sportspeople like Stephen Hawking, JR Tolkien, Peter Sellers, Lennon and Harrison of the Beatles, George Best etc are all dead.

Historical events like the Suez canal crisis, UK joining the EEC, the coal miners strikes, Brexit, and now covid.

Yet the Queen is still reigning in 2022. She could pass away at anytime that is just a reality of her age.

When Prince Charles takes over — you can guarantee our PM Jacinda Ardern or whoever is PM will start having conversations about NZ becoming a republic.
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February 21, 2022 9:13am
- yobi
  
  The way things are going, she may well outlive the current prime ministers of Canada and New Zealand!
  
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  February 21, 2022 9:49am
- jon
  
  HM the Queen A CLASS ACT.
  
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  February 21, 2022 12:41pm
- NeverMindTheBollocks
  
  Winnie, her first PM, reported from the Boer War. Imagine having a memory of reaching so far into the past.
  
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  February 21, 2022 7:06pm
- alloytoo
  
  1st condition of becoming a republic is ditching the treaty.
  
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  February 21, 2022 9:33pm
surfing

This Hamilton-Auck Te-huia train is a DPF interest, so no doubt he will make a post shortly.

Each trip costs $294, made of $12 for a ticket, and a $282 government subsidy.

Russ Rimmington should be forced to apologise for the tax payer money he has abused.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/124827197/waikato-council-boss-stunned-by-comments-new-te-huia-train-is-worst-of-both-worlds

Rimmington….
“We’ve produced a wonderful product that will grow from strength to strength.””

Russ Rimmington has been a disaster for the people of waikato, not sure why they keep putting him into positions of competence.
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February 21, 2022 9:34am
- graham
  
  There’s a story in NZ Herald dated yesterday, It’s Premium, so I can’t read it, but the first two lines that are shown spell it out:
  
  Hamilton-Auckland passenger rail service Te Huia continues to use an “extravagant” amount of taxpayer funding to do the job and is not achieving any of the financial environmental goals it was intended to …”
  
  And according to Newstalk ZB, it’s environmentally worse than driving!
  
  A report for the chamber shows per trip driving costs $48 compared to $294 on Te Huia which includes the $12 fare and a $282 subsidy.
  
  Based on the assumption of one person per vehicle, carbon emissions are 20kg per person driving and 31.5kg per person on the train.
  
  Part of me would love for trains to work, I really would. I’ve used the Underground in London and the Metro in Paris, and both work well. But it seems the difference between the Government/local councils and me, is that I’m a realist. I’d look at the figures and if they didn’t add up – no matter how much I REALLY REALLY want them to – then I would admit, however reluctantly, that it just doesn’t make sense and can the scheme.
  
  Why do politicians and councils have such massive love affairs with trains that they’re prepared to squander billions of dollars on something that just doesn’t work?
  
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  February 21, 2022 11:08am
  - Alan Wilkinson
    
    Because the trains are for idiot urban greenies who will never use them but like the sound of them.
    
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    February 21, 2022 11:47am
    - zulumonster
      
      And it’s not their money …
      
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      February 21, 2022 1:27pm
  - mawm
    
    It’s almost as if they built it so that it would not work. They have used old technology and provided a service that does not meet the clients needs. Maybe a bullet train into Britomart running more frequently and taking far less time would have had more uptake.
    
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    February 21, 2022 1:16pm
    - alloytoo
      
      That’s the crux, any solution needs to be quicker and cheaper than a car.
      
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      February 21, 2022 9:35pm
- NeverMindTheBollocks
  
  “Each trip costs $294, made of $12 for a ticket, and a $282 government subsidy”
  
  Unless you’re a Gold Card holder, in which case each trip costs $294, made of $0 for a ticket, and a $294 government subsidy
  
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  February 21, 2022 7:08pm
Nickc2

AFIF, discussions are over. Boris announces Britain free from all Covid related mandates and restrictions on Friday (NZ Time).
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10532263/Boris-declare-THURSDAY-Covid-freedom-day.html
Our Dictator PM can’t/won’t see that far ahead. IMO, she’s waiting for directions from Klaus Schwab (WEF).
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February 21, 2022 9:36am
- mawm
  
  The Daily Sceptic has a report of an article in the Telegram “Is this the first of many SAGE modellers to recant?” Professor Mark Woolhouse has written a book “The Year The World Went Mad”. From what is written in the Daily Sceptic it becomes apparent that they knew as early as Feb 2020 that what they were doing was wrong and “policy became a form of epidemiological communism”.
  
  They knew and yet they continued to destroy peoples lives and livelihoods. And if they are coming out about it now Jacinda also knows.
  
  https://dailysceptic.org/2022/02/20/is-this-the-first-of-many-sage-modellers-to-recant/
  
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  February 21, 2022 1:25pm
fightingtemeraire

Her first PM’s Commission as an Army Officer was signed by her Gt Gt Grandmother!!!
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February 21, 2022 9:37am
- Nickc2
  
  Who are you talking about?
  
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  February 21, 2022 11:20am
  - Fuzzysnuggleduck
    
    The Queen (Elizabeth) & Churchill’s military service & Queen Victoria.
    Must have been meant as a reply to the longevity of the Queen post, above.
    
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    February 21, 2022 12:17pm
  - greybeard
    
    I think he means Queen Elizabeth II.
    
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    February 21, 2022 12:25pm
kowtow

kk

The Sunday Telegraph UK yesterday has reviewed book by Prof Mark Woodhouse ” The Year the World Went Mad.. A scientific memoir .’

Worth a look .
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February 21, 2022 9:39am
Maggie Pie

Despite the whole country being at Code Red, Wellington’s FRINGE FESTIVAL gets underway this week.
It actually sounds a lot like the Auckland City Council’s infamous, ratepayer-sponsored, ‘KIWIFIST’ Event 🙁

Officially opened on Thursday night by ‘Deputy Prime Minister Grant Robinson’, it features a new show by award-winning Drag King ‘Hugo Grrrl’, and is described as being “a completely crappy cabaret” aptly named…. THE SHIT SHOW.
And in keeping with the comedy theme, there will be a guest appearance by the hilarious drag queen from Bulls, PALMELA HANDCOCK.

Honestly, you’d think Grant had bigger things to attend to….

https://twitter.com/NZFringe/status/1494449112456253440
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February 21, 2022 9:42am
- Mr_Blobby
  
  Now that will be a super spreader event.
  
  Not something I would attend.
  
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  February 21, 2022 9:58am
  - Frank the tank
    
    C’mon you know it’s OK when the left do it silly.
    
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    February 21, 2022 10:18am
- Frank the tank
  
  Nice picture of Grunter doing a ‘Stacy’ (observers of US politics will understand what I am implying).
  
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  February 21, 2022 10:03am
- NeverMindTheBollocks
  
  I thought your comment was satire, Maggs
  
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  February 21, 2022 7:12pm
freemark

Austria to drop almost all Covid vax pass restrictions. Lots of countries doing this very quickly. Could something be up? Seems only Klaus Schwarb’s underlings Cindy & Trudeau hanging on. Why?
https://www.breitbart.com/europe/2022/02/17/massive-u-turn-austria-to-repeal-almost-all-corona-apartheid-rules-targeting-unvaxxed/
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February 21, 2022 9:51am
- Frank the tank
  
  People are finally taking the red pill, working out Wokebola is a mild flu, endemic and want to get back to normality.
  
  The political science is being replaced by the science thankfully.
  
  Pretty soon it will only be us, the cannucks, some shithole blue US states and the Chinese left.
  
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  February 21, 2022 10:16am
- westernScientest
  
  Thats a bit odd ae, its only a matter of weeks ago they were having unvax only lockdowns and fining the unvaxed (or maybe just saying they were going to I dont remember if it came into force).
  
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  February 21, 2022 10:50am
Frank the tank

Hey guess what guys.

The government rumor has it, has moved away from Kiwimart and wants to establish “Iwimart”.

What could possibly go wrong………..
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February 21, 2022 10:09am
bronny1

So my main client has contacted me to ask for my vax pass. I said I don’t have one. He said the company (an SOE) has mandated it for all staff and contractors and he was massively annoyed (with company policy) as who would he get to do the technical work I do for him 3-4 times a year?

I haven’t set foot in their facilities for 4 years nor is there any reason I would going forward.

All about health and risk aye.
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February 21, 2022 10:16am
Spam

You know what I don’t get?

We are apparently >95% double-vaccinated, which means >95% “compliant” with the mandates (ignoring whether that compliance was attained by compulsion or voluntarily).

But that has very little to do with the overall vaccination / immunization effectiveness status. With Omicron (and with Delta, that’s circulating too), effectiveness of the jab has significantly waned after three months, and many people had their second dose more than three months ago. And yet, boosters aren’t mandated.

If they really believe in mandates, why are they not mandating the booster shots? Why are the government willing to die-in-the-ditch over a “mandate” that is becoming more and more pointless every day of waning efficacy?
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February 21, 2022 10:16am
- Don Beckett
  
  It is a prime indicator of the govt.’s stupidity & their blind adherence to ideology.
  
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  February 21, 2022 10:55am
  - Clownworld
    
    Moreso NZ is simply part of a different experiment to many other countries.
    
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    February 21, 2022 11:50am
- bronny1
  
  If they mandate the booster (many employers are btw) they risk even more people showing up at party central.
  
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  February 21, 2022 1:18pm
WaynelSexton

Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
95% of people are still wearing masks even though there is no legal requirement to do so. The protest has achieved nothing.

https://covid19.govt.nz/prepare-and-stay-safe/keep-up-healthy-habits/wear-a-face-mask/who-does-not-need-to-wear-a-face-mask/
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February 21, 2022 10:17am
- Weetbix3ways
  
  Meteorologists are forecasting rain for next week.
  The protest has achieved nothing.
  
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  February 21, 2022 11:19am
  - Alan Wilkinson
    
    Was it supposed to stop rain? Who knew?
    
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    February 21, 2022 2:58pm
curry4me

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15tjkMtkwbU

Morning Update from Camp Freedom, Wellington Parliament, New Zealand 21.02.22

Police have blocked all but one exit with concrete barriers. Meanwhile, in Australia ScoMo has welcomed international tourists back. [1:28]
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February 21, 2022 10:19am
curry4me

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ooNH1ZBm2hY

Canada Protest.

It looks like Fidel Trudope has bitten off more than he can chew. [2:08]
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February 21, 2022 10:19am
curry4me

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

Lamestream media chased out of town.

I’m not sure where in Canada this happened. I have mixed feelings. [0:35]
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February 21, 2022 10:19am
kevn

@Spam… arden thinks the 95% ‘compliance’ supports her doubling down stance.
How wrong she be.
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February 21, 2022 10:25am
- Loddenthinks
  
  100% wrong. I rounded up 🙂
  
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  February 21, 2022 3:13pm
Andrew Worth

Watched the PM on Ryan’s Breakfast Show this morning. When asked what would be the result of the lifting of mandates on the unclean she said no one could be sure.
But it seems to me the math is fairly simple, she offered that the unvaccinated are 50% more likely to pass on the virus than the vaccinated. I believe about 93% (?) Of the eligible population is now vaccinated.

So comparing the rate of transmission with a 93% vaccinated population to a 100% vaccinated population we have 93% transmitting at x = 0.93 and 7% at 1.5x = 0.105 add the two and we get 1.035.
So treating all New Zealanders as equal would result in transmission rates 3.5% higher than they would be is we had a 100% vaccination rate.
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February 21, 2022 10:29am
- Debsta
  
  Math is not their thing have you noticed!
  
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  February 21, 2022 11:44am
- Alan Wilkinson
  
  The maths never made sense even before their immunity assumptions failed.
  
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  February 21, 2022 11:51am
- bronny1
  
  They are not more likely to pass it on. That is old propaganda, now disproven everywhere but New Korea.
  
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  February 21, 2022 1:26pm
Phronesis

Looking forward to todays number of “new infections” which will be breathlessly announced by the media and plotted on a little graph. But is that number really the number of positive tests processed over the last 24hrs without any regard for when those tests were taken. Is the data actually running 3, 4 or 5 days behind reality. Add to that the positivity rate around 10% and it would be fair to assume that actual infections are 5-10 times higher than is reported. Yet the the hospitals are no worse off than usual.
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February 21, 2022 10:32am
Maggie Pie

I’ll tell you what does disturb me sometimes.

Our cleaning lady is from the Russia somewhere and has relatives living in Ukraine. She keeps me up to date with what’s happening over there, and to be honest, it’s very very scary. We could be on the brink of another world war.

Yet when I bring it up with any of the girls from Tennis, they all say they’ve never heard a thing about it. How odd.
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February 21, 2022 10:42am
- Alan Wilkinson
  
  Is Putin not on Twitter?
  
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  February 21, 2022 12:00pm
  - Maggie Pie
    
    Absolutely! Vlad was one of my first followers.
    
    (I actually asked him once what Fragrance he wore. That’s all my partner uses himself now.)
    
    https://twitter.com/KremlinRussia_E/status/1495422150529982470
    
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    February 21, 2022 12:15pm
    - Alan Wilkinson
      
      So Trump is a bigger threat to Silicon Valley than Putin. I guess that’s a comfort.
      
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      February 21, 2022 2:55pm
Black with a Vengeance

Add another site to the list I’ve been banned from…

David Farriers Webworm.

I paid 7$ US cos I thought he seemed a rational GC and his subscribers intelligent, enlightened. I figured i would add value and diversity

Ummmm…NOPE!

Seems i unknowingly waded into Sea of Karens and their privileged liberal cuck hubbies. Mostly timid frightful little creatures, afraid of their own shadows enabled and encouraged by a self important twat basking in the adulation of his minor celebrity status.

Couldn’t help but notice the whiteness and whitewashing of many views. Many parroting Farrier’s abd and the mainstream medias views on the protests in Wellington. Ill informed and disingenuous.

Fwiw…I wasn’t warned, didn’t contravene any terms of use, wasn’t trolling, sealioning or greywarbling, a term I just coined for old farts venting spleen.

Tried to post a comment in reply to a question and found I couldn’t. Checked the emails and found my subscription refunded.

Sent an email to Farrier asking what’s up ? No reply. Found he’d deleted some posts I made. No idea why. Asked to delete all my posts. All or nothing. Remove any and all trace of my digital footprint. Hasn’t yet. Asked his hosts Substack to ask him to. Awaiting reply.

It made me wonder and I suppose it’s relevant to here too. Who owns my thoughts and words? Me or the host ? As far as I know, unlike Facebook, I never agreed that any content I create within his or this site became property of the owner.

So in asking to remove all the content I created is he obliged to comply. In essence i just want my thoughts and words back. He’s not worthy.
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February 21, 2022 10:58am
- nathie
  
  BWAV …. oh the irony of you (a leftie) being banned from Farrier’s (far) leftie rabbit hole!
  
  Agree with your points, Farrier is part of the “cancel culture” elite, so it isn’t surprising, sadly.
  
  Hope to see more of your “challenging” posts here!
  
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  February 21, 2022 11:33am
  - Black with a Vengeance
    
    I don’t consider myself a lefty, a righty or any other label one wishes to identify me as.
    
    I’m Pasifikan, we traditionally don’t do left right. I have my considered opinions which vary as evidence forces evaluation. Some are core, most aren’t.
    
    I never considered Farrier as left or far left either, just witty, intelligent and open to alternative views, especially Pasifikan ones.
    
    I was surprised at the anger and vitriol, hopelessness, lethargy and apathy of his subscribers and tried to balance that with peace, hope, activity and authenticity. Sharing is caring.
    
    More and and more it felt like I’d strayed into a cult of personality than anything. Sycophantic idol worshipping of some geeky, needy and insecure asshole parsing pseudo empathetic ‘wisdom’ to his faithful for their continued subscription.
    
    So i watched Louis Theroux and his takedown of White American douchebags. Get the feeling that’s who he wants to be and he’s succeeded. Congrats to David Farrier, he’s a white American douchebag now, doing the same shit in a different toilet.
    
    Not a hard-core racist but employing the same shutdown techniques they employ when their card gets pulled.
    
    As for here. My challenging history with this place goes back a while too. Got banned, twice I think? Hit DPF up. He was good about it.
    
    Fwiw…I’ve also been banned from Public Address and The Standard. I’m incredibly thick skinned, handle rejection better than most and quite frankly just give zeroeffs about not having a voice online.
    
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    February 21, 2022 12:42pm
    - All_on_Red
      
      Hes a Progressive. That very special type of leftie.
      
      “At the core of Progressivism is the spoiled child-miserable as all spoiled children are, unsatisfied, demanding, ill-disciplined, despotic and useless.
      Progressivism is the philosophy of sniveling brats”
      – apologies to PJ O’Rourke
      
      There’s a few of them around.
      
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      February 21, 2022 2:44pm
    - ISeeRed
      
      What’s a “Pasifikan view”? Sounds like a cult.
      
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      February 21, 2022 5:11pm
- Alan Wilkinson
  
  Why is it surprising a loony Lefty protects his safe space? They all do because what they hate most is free markets, especially of ideas.
  
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  February 21, 2022 11:57am
  - Black with a Vengeance
    
    Many were moaning about the lack of critical thinking in society.
    
    Talk about lack of self awareness!
    
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    February 21, 2022 12:45pm
DeepBlue

Ardern on AM Show said we still have Delta and have people in hospital with Delta, so vaccines help. She is also sticking with the vaccines reduce transmission by 50%, therefore mandates are important.

Keep digging PM. Tell us how many of those in hospital have Delta and how many have the Big O. Tell us, as per Wellington ED, how many in hospital have tested positive on admission with no symptoms.

The Big O doesn’t seem to be causing the hospitalisations and serious illness to date. Certainly the ProFest people look well.
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February 21, 2022 11:00am
- Hard Cheese
  
  She is also sticking with the vaccines reduce transmission by 50%, therefore mandates are important.
  
  I’d like someone (optimistic I know) to ask her the source of that statistic. According to the data from the UKHSA posted by Amanuensis (linked to yesterday by KK)
  
  “The data continue to show that for nearly all age groups the more vaccine doses you have the higher your risk of infection with Covid. ”
  
  “The only clear indication is that all age groups for any number of vaccinations have an increased risk of Covid, compared with the unvaccinated.”
  
  In the face of the UKHSA data, Ardern’s statement cannot possibly be true.
  
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  February 21, 2022 11:43am
  - kevn
    
    @Hard… ‘Truth’ pfft, a mere detail in her narative.
    
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    February 21, 2022 1:32pm
  - Alan Wilkinson
    
    She’s lying. Both the NZ and UK data prove it. Useless/corrupt MSM and academia let her get away with it.
    
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    February 21, 2022 2:50pm
- Cinematic
  
  Yes it’s bizarre they’ve dragged the corpse of Delta back into the conversation. There’s no amount of spin they won’t apply to maintain control and avoid a loss of face. Hubris.
  
  Presumably Delta is still circulating in OZ, yet there they are open to international travel etc. The group think of these dimwitted politicians and overzealous academics is destroying our country.
  
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  February 21, 2022 12:05pm
  - RichardF
    
    Cue the stories yesterday about the 40 year old kiwi in Aussie sick with covid: “trust me, you don’t want to catch this”, and the ‘healthy’ 48 year old female teacher who died two days after a positive test. No mention of what actually killed her. For all we know she had an undiagnosed brain tumor!
    
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    February 21, 2022 12:38pm
    - Cinematic
      
      We know that chances of covid having killer the poor teacher are slim to none. Pure fear porn.
      
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      February 21, 2022 12:47pm
    - bronny1
      
      As far as I could see there was no mention of vax status, so they must have been thrice vaxxed too.
      
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      February 21, 2022 1:30pm
  - Hard Cheese
    
    Ardern will hug that Delta corpse all the way to the 2023 election if she can
    
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    February 21, 2022 12:50pm
Yvette

• Although there are claims that portaloos can not now be emptied, or food bought in, protesters still want mandates dropped.
• Mandates can not be dropped because RATs – the necessary replacement system – were not been ordered in time by the Government to be properly distributed by now.
So the mandates can not yet be relaxed

While Ardern is adamant politicians should not interfere in Police operational matters, has she and her Government not created the situation that any Police operational matters are required at all?
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February 21, 2022 11:05am
Rusty

Can someone explain what this Ukraine/Russian crisis is all about?

The media are vague about it all –what I gather its something about the Ukraine wanting to join NATO and Putin doesn’t like that so hes going to start a war over it!

Middle of last week Fox news of all people said Russia would invade the Ukraine within 48 hours.

Whats the hold up?
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February 21, 2022 11:06am
- fightingtemeraire
  
  basically the people in Eastern Ukraine are ethnic Russians and want to be Russian.
  
  2 The Crimea has no water supply and the land is v salty and therefore since Vlad occupied it 7 years ago and they couldnt get water from Ukraine the resulting crop yields have gone down and it is costing Vlad gazillions to supply H2O
  
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  February 21, 2022 11:56am
- BAM
  
  Think of Russia and Ukraine like China and Taiwan.
  
  Also, think of the shit storm the US kicked up when Russia put missile bases in Cuba.
  
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  February 21, 2022 1:58pm
Maggie Pie

And have decided I wont be buying Bread from the Indian Dairy again.
For some reason, I’ve noticed their ‘Vogels Original Toast’ has 2 or 3 less slices than the packets you get from New World.

Very strange.
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February 21, 2022 11:37am
- Nukuleka
  
  In the absence of fellow grammar pedant DG, Maggie, may I step into the breach and point out that it ought to be ‘2 or 3 fewer slices’. I hope you didn’t commit that vulgar grammatical faux pas in the hearing of the gals at the tennis club!
  
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  February 21, 2022 11:51am
  - Maggie Pie
    
    https://i.imgflip.com/45mg4i.jpg
    
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    February 21, 2022 12:02pm
    - kevn
      
      @Maggie… OK, you got me. Where is Clarke?
      
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      February 21, 2022 1:33pm
  - RdM
    
    The Pedants are Revolting
    https://i.imgur.com/LsvVVnj.jpg
    
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    February 21, 2022 12:51pm
    - Maggie Pie
      
      LOL!!
      
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      February 21, 2022 1:58pm
- Bobba Fret
  
  I heard a rumor years ago that some dairy owners take a slice out of each loaf of bread to make up an additional loaf to sell (I guess they have a spare plastic bread bag).
  
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  February 21, 2022 12:45pm
nathie

Silly question of the day … why does Labour refer to the protests at Parliament as being “illegal”?

Ardern used that term again this morning on her TV1 interview (in which she deflected her answers when questioned by the sympathetic John Campbell).

Is it only “illegal” because Mallard “trespassed” the protesters?

If so, how “legit” is his “trespass”? Be interesting if any lawyers challenge this.
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February 21, 2022 11:41am
- krazykiwi
  
  As I understand it, the crown can only trespass an individual, not an entire group. And I believe the right to protest in the grounds of the House of Representatives was confirmed as a precedent after Mallard himself was in volved in a protest there in/around 1977. I’m interested in hearing from jurisprudence experts on this.
  
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  February 21, 2022 1:24pm
  - mtamati
    
    KK…
    Try a search on Police v Beggs…relates to Hipkins’ case which Mallards conviction was overturned on.
    
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    February 21, 2022 3:19pm
    - DeepBlue
      
      I think she means the gathering has illegal activities going on like the blocking of the roads, the more than 100 people gathered under Red settings etc and maybe the camping over night.
      
      You probably also normally need some permission to park portable loo and a kitchen on someone else’s lawn.
      
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      February 21, 2022 4:36pm
      - alloytoo
        
        It’s not really someone else’s lawn though is it?
        
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        February 21, 2022 9:57pm
rouppe

So… Been working from home the last few weeks cause the office has asked only those that really need to, to turn up there.

Decided to have a team BBQ at my house, which was quite successful, about a dozen people turned up.

As a bit of light relief, I’d taken a MinHealth “No vaccine pass required” sign, and modified it a bit to cross out the mask and scan-in symbols. Nothing controversial.

I forgot to take it down, and went away for the weekend. While I was away, I think someone ripped it off the garage wall, scrunched it up and threw it into my yard.

It’s possible that wind ripped it away, but the sellotape was still in place, it wasn’t that windy I’m told, and where it was found, in the state it was found, is unlikely.

Interesting…
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February 21, 2022 11:49am
- Joely Doe
  
  Always have proof…
  
  These are brilliant!
  
  You could invite the neighbours around for a BBQ and reinstall the No Scan sign.
  See who declines…
  
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  February 21, 2022 1:24pm
I remember when

When should Jacinda end the Mandates.
The fact is that Jacinda, and her advisers, now have a date when they know that the Omicron outbreak is going to peak.
They keep referring to the continued existence of the Delta strain but, again, know it is disappearing.
March 14 would sound fine, as Omicron self isolation requirements could have the same overall effect as Mandates until then anyway.
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February 21, 2022 12:24pm
Yvette

Protesters demonstrate against mandates
Mandates could ease if RATs were available for the use of essential workers
Government has fucked up the delivery of RATs
Protesters should be demonstrating against the non-delivery of RATs
Hold Ardern to account for that
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February 21, 2022 12:31pm
- Nickc2
  
  Her Govt should be held accountable for failure to order RATs after saying they had been ordered, theft of other peoples’ RATs and lying about the number of RATs available. Will they?
  Of course they won’t, such are our sycophantic Public Servants, Judiciary and to a larger degree, our Opposition Political parties.
  Incompetence breeds incompetence when nobody is held to account.
  
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  February 21, 2022 12:43pm
Don Beckett

Heard reported yesterday that the protesters had defaced a war memorial and the RSA or Veterans Assn were calling for an apology & restoration.
Can anyone verify if this is true? If so, a lapse by the security team, or perhaps 5th column operators?
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February 21, 2022 1:02pm
- bronny1
  
  I believe the surrounds were chalked. You know, slogans of love and freedom like you’ve probably seen on steps etc in live streams? When someone realised it had been done they got three big strong volunteers to scrub the whole cenotaph top to bottom so it looks way better than it has in years ?
  
  Ironically this bit of propaganda was also used in Ottawa when A statue was given a scarf and a flag to hold.
  
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  February 21, 2022 1:36pm
- coolas
  
  Yes, it’s true Don.
  
  And probably was 5th columnists who tagged memorial with Nazi sign, other graffiti, and set up a piss trough under the dead veterans names.
  
  Now all gone thanks to the peaceful loving protesters listening to outrage from RSA.
  
  Those 5th columnists are responsible for all the negative reporting from the protest.
  
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  February 21, 2022 1:37pm
  - Don Beckett
    
    Thank God for that. The last thing that’s needed is for this type of bad publicity blamed on the Protest. I suppose now the security boys are onto anything like that, and either stop it, or get it cleaned up pronto.
    
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    February 21, 2022 2:13pm
  - Ehlana
    
    It was a shower that was set up adjacent to the memorial, apparently. And it was moved when people started suggesting it was a toilet.
    
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    February 21, 2022 3:01pm
Maggie Pie

Here we go….
for all those like me who wish they were there but aren’t into Glamping 😀

GILDA LIVE

https://twitter.com/Strange_G/status/1495546004854439937
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February 21, 2022 1:22pm
Surely Knott

Newstalk ZB posts “A group called the National Māori Authority said it will organise an online protest to counter the growing occupation of the capital.”

So I looked it up. The National Maori Authority is a charity led by Mathew Tukaki who has a regular commenting spot on Newstalk ZB.

When they became a charity in 2008 their name was: “Nga Ngaru Hauora O Aotearoa Incorporated” now it is “Nga Ngaru Rautahi O Aotearoa National Maori Authority Incorporated”

So my question is how can a charity claim to be an “authority.” . It is misleading.
Oxford dictionary says an authority is :1.
the power or right to give orders, make decisions, and enforce obedience.
2. a person or organization having political or administrative power and control.
“health authorities issued a worldwide alert”

Being an authority is against your charitable purpose. Newstalk calling it the Maori Authority makes it sound like an organisation appointed by the government with some sort of state powers. It also hides the fact that it is a charity and the article doesn’t mention that ZB commentator Tukaki is the chair. So the media commentator’s organisation is starting a petition. He gets a media slot for his opinion, but the protestors can shut up and go home.

https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/news/covid-19/covid-19-omicron-outbreak-residents-fed-up-with-parliament-protest-counter-protest-organised/?fbclid=IwAR2Th_QM_AbK-jN183IeYFQ0JZX93teSM-rJK2UHbI1tB8kGHg1R0HaDVR0
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February 21, 2022 1:39pm
Close Hen Counters

I’m sorry to ask but why aren’t teenagers under the age of 18 years allowed to get boosters? Many weigh more than their parents. Our son’s school is being decimated with kids off either with covie or close contacts waiting for community testing. Many are very sick. Teachers are being stood down with relievers running the show. Why oh why can’t schools have easy access to RAT to prevent kid’s lessons being compromised? Homeschooling on and off over the past three years was not fun but you would think that the ministry of education and health would have predicted this – farking hopeless
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February 21, 2022 1:41pm
- UrbanNeocolonialist
  
  what are you thinking would be achieved by RATs? We are all going to catch Omicron, no avoiding it, so mitigations and attempts to slow it are a pointless, expensive and diverting waste of time. Just get on with your life the same way you have every year of your life during flu season – which is about what Omicrons impact is the same as.
  
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  February 21, 2022 3:26pm
- WaynelSexton
  
  There’s a 99.9% chance that no one at your school will be hospitalized or die.
  RATS will only drag this out.
  Now take off the mask you look ridiculous.
  
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  February 21, 2022 4:58pm
- bronny1
  
  How would a booster help with this situation?
  
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  February 21, 2022 5:35pm
- mawm
  
  Vaccine doses have a cumulative effect. Kids under 18 are at a high risk of developing myocarditis. American data I have seen suggest 1:2500 or so. The new Israeli data which they have tried to bury suggest that 1:250 14 yer olds with 2 jabs get myocarditis. Myocarditis destroys heart muscle fibres. They never regenerate so there is permanent scarring. This means that there will be a decrease in heart function – sometimes debilitating. Maybe Medsafe has decided to look at the data and have made the right choice.
  
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  February 21, 2022 7:33pm
- alloytoo
  
  According to January Data out of the UK the booster didn’t make a stitch of difference to kids under 17.
  
  I suspect you will find that rather than
  Covid many children are being asked to stay at home due to stupid isolation rules taking the teachers out of action for bureaucratic reasons.
  
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  February 21, 2022 10:04pm
artemisia

Mr Luxon live on Facebook shortly – 2.30. From the notification sounds like he is going to walk back a bit previous denunciations of protesters and offer ‘a more sophisticated approach’.
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February 21, 2022 2:07pm
- Nukuleka
  
  Didn’t read the email that way at all. Rabitting on about illegal protesters abusing Wellingtonians. I unsubscribed from future National emails. Talk about being tone deaf Luxon.
  
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  February 21, 2022 2:40pm
- Mobile Michael
  
  Liking what I hear – talking about a pragmatic risk framework to reduce rules and lift mandates, fast tracking treatments and increasing health facilities to deal with cases.
  
  Especially like not wanting to have Government control how people deal with the disease and trusting people to make rational choices about vaccination status in private settings.
  
  All good stuff that’s not rocket science.
  
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  February 21, 2022 2:49pm
  - bronny1
    
    Except he said that the vaccinations don’t prevent transmission tHEN said we should start rolling them back after the omicron outbreak.
    
    WTF?
    
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    February 21, 2022 5:36pm
Little Tons

so…. Chris Luxon is slow walking it live on RNZ…. conversation isn’t going to cut it Chris, action… immediate action and no more pissing about dancing around this issue.

i fear that absolutely nothing will happen until the virus flames out, we will never see a green zone, cindys traffic signal pole will be pulled down before it ever turns green.
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February 21, 2022 2:46pm
- Ehlana
  
  What action do you think Chris Luxon can take? He is not the Prime Minister.
  
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  February 21, 2022 5:11pm
Littletramp

Is it fair and logical to say from latest evidence that if an unvaccinated person catches & recovers from Omicron, they then have a stronger, although naturally acquired, immunity than a fully vaccinated and boosted person?
Is this why the rest of the world is now opening up and dropping all the precautions of the past, to enable them to quickly build an immunity in their populations?
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February 21, 2022 2:48pm
- marcw
  
  Probably does confer stronger immunity, but it is still not 100% effective. There are people who have had repeated Omicron infections – not sure how debilitating each subsequent infection is though.
  
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  February 21, 2022 3:13pm
Jack5

Dileepa Fonseka in my view blots an interesting scribble in Stuff on local body property valuations.

He starts with the assertion that New Zealand is one of the least populated countries in the world. Is it? In population density it’s behind Australia, Canada, Russia, and even the United States, as you would expect, but it’s also behind many other small countries such as Iceland and Mongolia. NZ is pretty much on a par in population density with Finland and Norway.

As a city dweller Fonseka’s probably unaware that New Zealand is a very mountainous country, with less than half total land area being used for agriculture. Some of the cities, notably Auckland encroach on some of the country’s best horticulture land.

Second, Fonseka brings in Woke colonialism. Of land banking, he says the practice arguably runs “all the way back to the New Zealand Company, the original pioneers of holding land and subdividing it …”

He seems to suggest that rating based on total capital value rather than on land value favours land banking, but does not mention another potential stabiliser of property values, capital gains tax, whose possibility was terminated by Ardern, Herself, in a sudden decision.
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February 21, 2022 2:49pm
- Jack5
  
  Edit: ..In population density it’s [i.e., NZ is] ~~behind~~ ahead of Australia, Canada, Russia, and even the United States.
  
  NZ is more densely populated than these four countries.
  
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  February 21, 2022 5:29pm
Loddenthinks

Further to Artemisia’s post, yes Luxon has given a surprisingly good, if somewhat anodyne, speech on a range of issues. He’s drawn attention to the fact the PM is missing in action and what the country badly needs is leadership. Didn’t fall into the trap of slandering the protestors or directly attacking Ardern, and sounded pretty reasonable.

Not to be outdone, the PM has hastily called a presser for 3pm (unfashionably late I’m sure) where no doubt all the Clints and spinners are working up some rebuttals – even though she’ll declare she was unaware of any comments Luxon made as she completely ignores him. Tui ad right there.
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February 21, 2022 3:00pm
- Ehlana
  
  Did she really say that she completely ignores him?
  
  It’s just that, in a representatively governed nation like ours, I expect the Prime Minister to pay attention to what is said by the Leader of the Opposition.
  
  Then again, I guess only competent politicians want to know what their opposition is up to.
  
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  February 21, 2022 3:06pm
- 70andstilllearning
  
  She indicated she would saying “something more” today on the am show. Sounds from bits and pieces I picked up mandates/passes will go, no “specific time frame”, and NOT because people are demanding it. Robbo also throwing out a lolly scramble. Jenna providing the questions that elicit this mornings ‘ you’ve made your point – time to go home” mantra – again .
  Mmmm. Out pointed by protesters in every round – can’t win now – back to the good old announce the future (always planned) promises with some non existent cash thrown in. – Lol. Adrian will announce Both a printing press crank up and OCR jump on Wednesday.
  Also whined that “Opposition” parties reneging on their promise to say nothing – she’s really up set about that.
  
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  February 21, 2022 3:37pm
Gravelroad

For goodness sake – $tuff seems to have gone right over the top claiming that Luxon “attacked” the Prime Minister in his speech (on a social media platform while $tuff is allowing live feed of Ardern to say what she likes).
I saw most of Luxon’s effort. Reminded me of one of the head master’s prize giving talks at son’s boarding school. OK, but not outstanding.
I think $tuff is embarking now on a blatant “ $ave Jacinda” campaign.
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February 21, 2022 3:06pm
- Joely Doe
  
  More funding has been promised, but only if she is around to pay it…
  
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  February 21, 2022 4:41pm
- Trev
  
  That has been obvious for a while. Comments regarding highly debatable Stuff articles either don’t allow comments or have unfavourable comments censored out whilst some pro Labour commentators get free reign. I believe Stuff to be well and truly bought and lacking any objectivity. It has been an epic fall in standards and is bad for democracy. The Press and Dominion were once worthwhile papers that I subscribed to but now they are partisan rubbish that I have turned down when offered for free.
  
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  February 21, 2022 7:22pm
- G the giant from Dunedin
  
  Well , he said she was missing in action, and he pushed the fact she has failed on covid since 2021, so i guess they are right, thing is, media telling the public that is good, because people are now listening, and Luxon is different from the other leaders, he gets cut through when rubbishing the heathen in chief
  
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  February 21, 2022 8:58pm
Maggie Pie

TRENDING..

Missed it unfortunately, but whenever I hear the name ‘Rocksbrah’ on ZB, I give trannie the arse!

Anyway, Twitter has lit up with Barry Soper ripping that snivelling leftard a new one!!

https://twitter.com/mediaspotnz/status/1495561174280286208
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February 21, 2022 3:10pm
- Mike
  
  To which trannie are you giving your arse?
  Asking for a friend near Otahuhu.
  
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  February 21, 2022 3:17pm
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    Stop it Mike, you are being an annoying prick
    
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    February 21, 2022 4:58pm
    - Maggie Pie
      
      And have you noticed Steve, how he’s always posting gay shit?
      
      13 3
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      February 21, 2022 5:46pm
  - KiwiSapper
    
    Jeeez, I gotta be lot more careful about these boxes.. I’m sure they are moving as no way would I intentionally uptick this little post..
    
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    February 21, 2022 7:53pm
- Maggie Pie
  
  Without mentioning names, some people here just drain the f—ing nice right of you.
  
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  February 21, 2022 3:54pm
Centrist

Luxon has a no of flaws but he sounds like an international leader. Ardern sounds like a high school debater (and I’m about the same age as her).
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February 21, 2022 3:14pm
- Joely Doe
  
  She would only be the second speaker in the debate team.
  You know, the one you have to hide between the Leader and the Closer.
  
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  February 21, 2022 4:40pm
- mikenmildagain
  
  NZ doesn’t really do ‘international leaders’, does it?
  
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  February 21, 2022 4:50pm
  - Its only I
    
    Just red ones. Most countries seem to frown on people punching their right hand in the air as a salute. Lucky the PM kinda modified it but still a bad look.
    
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    February 21, 2022 6:57pm
- G the giant from Dunedin
  
  High school debaters do not say Um and Ar.
  
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  February 21, 2022 8:59pm
greybeard

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/127834979/two-teens-expelled-after-assault-on-muslim-student-had-offended-violently-before
We know the name of the Muslim student: why do we not know the names of the ferals who assaulted her?
Would that be giving too much away?
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February 21, 2022 3:54pm
- mikenmildagain
  
  Why is it important for you to know their names?
  
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  February 21, 2022 4:49pm
  - greybeard
    
    Why NOT know the names of the accused?
    You have the name of the victim, why not publish the names of the people who committed the crime?
    Are the accused somehow deserving of anonymity whilst the victim can be exposed immediately to public scrutiny and judgement and disapprobation?
    Naming the accused does not imply guilt: it simply evens-up the playing field when it comes to crimes and misdemeanours.
    Victims are named, accused are not: that is an injustice.
    
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    February 21, 2022 6:17pm
    - Ehlana
      
      It should be up to the victim as to whether or not she is named, especially since, as this happened at school, she is likely to be a minor.
      
      Being minors is probably what is protecting her attackers too. There is a belief that children/young people should always be given another chance and that stigmatising them through public shaming makes positive change less likely. Let us hope that they are actually getting the support and direction they need.
      
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      February 21, 2022 6:25pm
      - mikenmildagain
        
        Exactly right.
        
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        February 21, 2022 6:41pm
- MCōs
  
  The young woman who was assaulted was interviewed on the radio and no doubt permission was obtained before using her name.
  The offenders, who are around 14yo by the sounds and have a history of nasty offending, have name suppression due to their age.
  I would say half Dunedin probably knows who they are and it sounds like there’s a whole bunch of them.
  Now there’s two more kids that no school will want.
  
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  February 21, 2022 5:52pm
Joely Doe

Great article by Marty Verry in The Herald – pity it’s behind a Paywall…
Marty Verry: I’m a protest funder – here’s why

For the record, I’m pro-vax. But I am also pro-choice. Last year my company Red Stag made headlines by repaying the wage subsidy through a $3000 bonus to staff that got vaccinated. …
We did not mandate staff to be vaccinated in order to keep their job, and it makes no sense to me that firefighters, police, teachers and nurses had to lose theirs. I thought we needed more of them, not less.

The smart thing for the government to do is stop trying to discredit the fringe elements and some excessive tactics, and start to engage and listen to the reasons for the protest.

No one, ever, has accused this government of being smart.
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February 21, 2022 4:39pm
- kevn
  
  @Joely… Sensible comment from Verry.
  While the moths just chew away the fabric of NZ.
  
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  February 21, 2022 5:36pm
- Ehlana
  
  Funny how this member of the general public could just find numbers on line, yet our PM, supposedly briefed continuously, doesn’t have any on the effect of mandates. This must be the most studied, recorded and communicated virus in human history, so how come she doesn’t have any?
  
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  February 21, 2022 6:31pm
Steve Otto(North Shore)

Sooks.
https://rumble.com/vtze0e-in-any-other-year-this-would-be-a-comedy-sketch.html?
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February 21, 2022 5:04pm
- bronny1
  
  God they are pathetic.
  Most of my wellington friends are like that.
  
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  February 21, 2022 6:05pm
kevn

@Steve O… Poor petals.
Truckers and others just standing up for everyones rights.
Including the 3 old birds moaning.
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February 21, 2022 5:34pm
pussycat

A another excellent article published on The Platform by Graham Adams on the media bribes
https://theplatform.kiwi/opinions/mainstream-media-chiefs-and-the-five-stages-of-grief
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February 21, 2022 5:39pm
Maggie Pie

I see there’s some silly old bugger sitting there about to lose his life’s savings 😀

https://twitter.com/SamSachdevaNZ/status/1495581012549865475
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February 21, 2022 6:00pm
Yvette

Ardern attempted to pull a nasty trick on 1 News television 6pm bulletin.
That is to state that protesters are against mandates.
National calls for a definite date for the end of mandates,
Therefore National is siding with the protesters.

Perhaps protesters are not the only ones throwing excrement around.
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February 21, 2022 6:26pm
TT500

Just as well Chris Luxon wasn’t in the aircraft
engineering division at Air NZ , as he appears
to have misplaced a couple of nuts.
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February 21, 2022 6:39pm
- Its only I
  
  Righty tighty, lefty loosey
  
  Fits finance ministers anyway.
  
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  February 21, 2022 9:02pm
Its only I

This week we will start to see Labour working toward burying covid mistakes, sanctimonious positions on all things political and non political, distributing blame for everything and testing the suspension of the fall guy buss while trying to dominate the conversation around its positives with the help of those political reporters inquiring about a media top up…on behalf of a friend…..
I bet the media top up will be soon now the finance minister has printed himself more indulgence money.

Looking at the writing history of stuff’n’puff senior contributors its going to be a filthy politics strategy from labour and its personal MSM this election cycle.

Labour will suggest a filthy strategy, MSM will implement the attack, Labour look squeaky clean being artificially distanced while the opposition will be drawn into having to disprove an accusation from the MSM who will be chucking stuff containing a disproportionate amount of undigested corn chunks.

Mondays PM on a podium was the start.
No doubt the realization 40% of those protesting are Labours own has prompted some pre game strategy from Labour.

One thing for sure, this time around Labour wont be distributing “We got this so don’t engage with the media or the peasants” internal memos like they did last time.
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February 21, 2022 6:51pm
- kowtow
  
  I don’t normally watch the Project on tv3 but did as they were advertising someone “fighting back” against the freedom protest.
  
  Well shame on them , the bias was naked and the feeling was it was orchestrated govt propaganda.
  
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  February 21, 2022 7:32pm
  - 70andstilllearning
    
    Bit like the Jenna Lynch comment re – Luxon speech being “opportunistic” in 3’s news segment. You could be forgiven for thinking the way it was said she was implying her princess idol would never do anything “opportunistic” like that for her political benefit.
    
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    February 21, 2022 8:31pm
- G the giant from Dunedin
  
  Looks like most would be lefties, lots of Maori, lots of young, and lots of woman, alongside crackpot bearded hippy types, neither vote Nats
  
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  February 21, 2022 9:03pm
krazykiwi

Canada. Trudeau, that narcissistic little fascist, is struggling in the polls. Excellent. I hope this trend continues. His weapon-grade hubris must sink him, for the good of Canada.
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February 21, 2022 7:04pm

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