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August 31, 2023 8:00am by Kokila Patel

General Debate 31 August 2023

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General Debate

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Steve Otto(North Shore)

Play school TV1 at 7.20am.
And that was Labour’s finance spokesperson Nicola Willis.

Did you ever need more proof that TV1 is right up Labour?
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August 31, 2023 8:03am
- pdm
  
  Lost me Steve.
  
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  August 31, 2023 8:08am
  - Tricati
    
    Nicola Willis is Nationals finance spokesperson, not Labours.
    TV1 is wedded to Labour so not surprizing.
    
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    August 31, 2023 8:17am
  - slightlyrighty
    
    At the end of the interview with Nicola Willis, the Host referred to her as “the Labour Party Finance Spokesman”
    
    This was after they had a critique of the new policies from and ‘expert’ whose prior job was as an advisor to Grant Robertson. A fact they conveniently omitted until Nicola Willis pointed that out at the start of the interview with her. That seemed to put the TVNZ host on the back foot……
    
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    August 31, 2023 8:20am
    - Jade Warrior
      
      Evidently, Breakfast were also crossing their fingers in the hope that Nicola Willis wouldn’t have known that either. A timely warning for all in the media as we head into the election – do not underestimate Nicola. She knows her stuff.
      
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      August 31, 2023 9:07am
      - Steve Otto(North Shore)
        
        She is much more switched on that I thought. Let her loose Luxon.
        Time to attack the Party of LIES!
        
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        August 31, 2023 9:27am
      - G the giant from Dunedin
        
        I don’t know why others doubted her ability, you only have to listen to he talk
        
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        August 31, 2023 9:46am
      - alwyn.a
        
        It wasn’t just TV1 that was playing silly buggers.
        On Morning report they talked to the CEO of Barfoot and Thompson. He pointed out that their policy wouldn’t affect first home buyers as they were in a different price bracket.
        This got turned by the reporter, a little later in the program, to that the National Party policy would not HELP first home buyers, as if that was a fault.
        
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        August 31, 2023 10:51am
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    The thick blonde Anna said it. She did correct herself later – nobody else to blame LOL!
    
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    August 31, 2023 8:28am
    - Yvette
      
      A fiendishly clever ploy could be to make mistake like that so everybody talks about the mistake and not the policies – QED
      Although that may require more intelligence than is on display here on TCNZ – oops :o)
      
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      August 31, 2023 8:42am
      - Steve Otto(North Shore)
        
        Could be. Liebour are desperate so will try anything.
        
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        August 31, 2023 9:29am
    - pdm
      
      Obviously a good reason not to have our TV turned on before 1pm when mrspdm catches up on her favourite soaps most days.
      
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      August 31, 2023 8:46am
      - Steve Otto(North Shore)
        
        The speaker of the house insists on watching breakfast.
        Keep the queen bee happy and the whole hive is happy.
        
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        August 31, 2023 9:25am
      - Prince
        
        She’s missing Emmerdale at 12:30.
        
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        August 31, 2023 9:42am
      - Jack5
        
        Labour’s media conglomerate is also trying to revive fears about Covid – obviously as a desperate possible election diversion.
        
        Have a look at this Red Radio web link advising people to bookmark daily Covid-19 figures:
        
        https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/450874/covid-19-data-visualisations-nz-in-numbers
        
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        August 31, 2023 10:12am
    - Steve Otto(North Shore)
      
      Oh dear, I just knew. Lefties never own their own shit.
      In a news item Anna Burns-Francis: ““I’m very sorry for mixing that up. I was listening to something else in my ear and got it wrong,” Burns-Francis said.
      So it is not her fault? No way, how could it possible be her fault?
      
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      August 31, 2023 4:44pm
- Grunter
  
  Steve – why do you put yourself thru this rubbish? Switch it off, maybe find a blog to read that isn’t poisoned by Govt funding.
  
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  August 31, 2023 8:55am
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    See my 9.25 reply to pdm.
    
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    August 31, 2023 9:25am
    - cmm
      
      Bluetooth headphones for Christmas maybe?
      
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      August 31, 2023 1:07pm
      - Steve Otto(North Shore)
        
        Ahh, just going though KB again.
        cmm, I have hearing aids when I need to use them.
        Connects to my phone and connects to the TV thingy.
        Guts of $5K, but man do they work! Cellphone wise it connects.
        Partner does not know if I am asleep or not when going to the VCR.
        Almost invisible – and there is a remote for sound up or down, many other things.
        
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        August 31, 2023 7:04pm
- lastmanstanding
  
  On the matter of elections having worked as an election official I suggest we dont move away from a paper system to an electronic system. Our current system has many checks and balances built in with many people handling the ballot papers counting and recounting and checking.
  My fear is an electronic system can be hacked and or manipulated. I say that is impossible with our current system. Voters can have 100% confidence in it. In addition the system manages to get the count done and the results released on the night except for specials. It is the envy of many other countries which is why our officials are often asked to be scrutineers in other countries elections.
  
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  August 31, 2023 9:52am
  - Sir Cullen's Sidekick
    
    lastmanstanding – Kindly answer the following question. With the current system, you can go to many polling booths and vote. Say a person went to three different polling booths and voted. How will they find out that the same person has voted multiple times?
    
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    August 31, 2023 1:55pm
    - NeverMindTheBollocks
      
      They compare the rolls
      
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      August 31, 2023 7:56pm
    - Ghost
      
      Yeah you can vote more than once, and then you get referred to the police.
      
      https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/election-2020-48-voters-referred-to-police-for-voting-twice/NZ73GDIAHJDWZLGQEBDHFJM7LY/
      
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      August 31, 2023 8:05pm
  - bennerg
    
    As an IT professional I can concur, as anything to do with computer systems opens up so many opportunities that can be hidden by the complexity of the systems. And for what? To get a result a few hours earlier? Save a few man hours?
    
    If computers are to be used, they must be employed in parallel with a paper based system that can (and should) be used to cross check the results, even if only after the event. Any voting machine must print out the choice, allow it to be checked by the voter, and then for them to place the form in the secure ballot box.
    
    Online voting itself also has a big trap – it cannot replicate the isolation and independence of the voting process when we go into the booth. In our homes and businesses we are always potentially exposed to the influence of others in some way or another. As yet there is no technology that can guarantee the same security that a polling booth does.
    
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    August 31, 2023 3:32pm
    - NZer In Exile
      
      Bennerg just curious. As an IT prof do you personally use secure messengers (Session, Signal etc) and also do you use YubiKeys to secure your PW manager and email accounts? Do you stay away from Social Media?
      
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      September 1, 2023 3:35pm
    - Loddenthinks
      
      As a fellow IT professional, and a chartered one at that, I can’t agree with your first two points. If a secure voting platform can be built, tested and securely deployed, it would save a great deal more than “a few man hours”. In fact, many such systems have been built and successfully deployed, and our profession wouldn’t exist if it were not based on the fact that far more data can be captured, stored, processed and exploited by computers and software than by a man’s head. It would save thousands of man-hours.
      
      I’d like to see you attempt to run a general election, or one of any kind really, without the use of computers. In fact they produce the paper forms, they capture the results, they store data and they analyse and report on the results. An election without computers? Tell im he’s dreamin’.
      
      As a complete aside, do you use internet banking?
      
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      September 1, 2023 4:49pm
Grunter

Will a National lead Govt change our economy? Obviously it will be better than Labour, but they are still planning to spend spend spend….. Only $1 billion less than Robertson. That’s $55 billion more than Bill English!

Can ACT have any impact on a Labour Lite National?

I’m worried. Looks like we are in deep economic siht!
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August 31, 2023 8:05am
- Tony Stuart
  
  I suggest you wait a couple of weeks. Nicola Willis emphasised that yesterday’s policy was tax only, and their full fiscal policy isn’t coming out until after the PREFU. That’s because they can’t release a credible plan until they know just how bad the books are. And that’s a perfectly reasonable and responsible position to take, because the books when opened are likely to be in a very bad state indeed.
  
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  August 31, 2023 8:29am
  - Simon
    
    National tax policy was chicken shit. When the books are open then sell off assets to pay for the wreckage. National though would simply continue to over tax the productive.
    
    Those creating goods and services demanded by the real economy are shrinking instead its the govt.borg.nz funny money economy.
    
    When for e.g when will the fake Hamilton to Auckland commuter train be canned? What assets will be sold to cover the losses? To get NZ back on track.
    
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    August 31, 2023 8:51am
    - Steve Otto(North Shore)
      
      Books opened Sept 12th?
      
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      August 31, 2023 9:34am
    - G the giant from Dunedin
      
      ACT are chicken shit
      
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      August 31, 2023 10:36am
      - Grunter
        
        Why do you say that? Which one of their policies do you disagree with?
        
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        August 31, 2023 11:43am
      - NothingLeft
        
        They are trying to maximize their share of the centre right vote, taking votes off National, not necessarily pander to conservative preferences.
        
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        August 31, 2023 12:25pm
      - Fuzzysnuggleduck
        
        G has called Simon an ‘Actoid’ lately so this fits into his fantasy that people saying mean things about National are ACT agents.
        In his vengeance, he directs his nuance-free wrath onto ACT rather than the individual making the shit-posts.
        G both rises to the bait, and stabs in the dark; both being metaphors for poorly rationalised behaviour.
        
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        August 31, 2023 12:55pm
      - G the giant from Dunedin
        
        Grunter
        Because I am sick of a couple of people rubbishing everything the Nats do, so I will say it back, Act have over egged things, and are now losing support to NZF, now mps are being found out for stupid things they have said, and same with candidates, so they can take it or leave it, I know the government will have to be Nats ACT, but why can these few see it?
        
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        August 31, 2023 1:22pm
      - NZer In Exile
        
        G when you counter peoples’ rubbishing the Nats with concise facts, this has a far more powerful effect.
        
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        September 1, 2023 3:40pm
  - Master Mariner
    
    No difference to waking up with the “Mother of all Hangovers” only too find nothing left in the wallet.
    No difference is there?
    
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    August 31, 2023 11:15am
- kowtow
  
  Spend spend spend .
  
  Yes of course , there’s an election coming up.
  
  If they can’t bribe the dumb voter , they wont get in.
  
  We’re constantly reminded here that to win you must gain the centre .
  
  It’s not that we’re in economic shit , the problem is a majority of voters have shit for brains.
  
  How else could Labour have won the 2020 election , an impossibilty they said , an absolute majority under MMP.
  
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  August 31, 2023 8:57am
  - G the giant from Dunedin
    
    MMP has forced the centre into either side to win an MMP election, surely you can see that? Do you really think Nats snd ACT trying to be hard right would gain more than 50% of the vote? It’s as clear as the nose on ya face I would have thought
    
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    August 31, 2023 10:39am
- Wayne Mapp
  
  Quite a lot of the extra spend (the extra $55 billion) is baked in. For instance the nearly 50% increase in pay for teachers and nurses, and this everyone else employed in the education and health sectors. Which cover nearly 200,000 people. This increase is way above either inflation or economic growth and flows through right across all state sector employment.
  
  So we will never get back to the Bill English era, at least as measured in nominal dollars.
  
  The better metric is the size of government as a percentage of GDP. Under National it was basically 30%, though it took some years to get down to that level. Under Labour it has got up toward 35%. The increase in state pay, which is way above economic growth, bakes in a higher percentage than 30%. I reckon National/Act will do well to get the size of government down to 32% by 2026.
  
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  August 31, 2023 9:16am
  - lastmanstanding
    
    IMHO Government should be no more than 20% of GDP. Any more and its sucks the life out of the productive economy. It can be done if a Government has the capacity capability and most important the will to do it.
    If I was in charge it would be zero based budgeting. Blank sheet of paper and officials and CEOs must justify even line of the Budget.
    Not just add 5% onto last years expenditure and then settle for 3%.
    
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    August 31, 2023 9:43am
    - Wayne Mapp
      
      No western nation is anywhere near 20%. Probably the lowest would be around 25%, and even then they rely on compulsory insurance for things that in NZ are paid directly by the government.
      
      Just adding up Health, Education and National Super gets you to around 20%. No-one is suggesting any cutbacks in these three. Then add in Police, Defence, Customs, Courts gets you to 25%.
      National works on around 30% or a bit less as a realistic figure. I imagine Act is closer to 25%.
      
      Twenty percent is unrealistic. At the minimum you would have to indicate what part of education and health you intend to load onto individuals.
      
      What things would you actually cut? Not a few hundred million here and there, but around $40 billion.
      
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      August 31, 2023 11:20am
      - Grunter
        
        You’ve justed Mapped out how a socialist society operates. Based on your view of NZ (status quo with a bit of tinkering), by around 2050 we will have Govt Debt of $1.2 Trillion. This is what Tresury have already projected out. Of course we will go bankrupt/default well before we clock up debt of $1.2 trillion.
        
        So we either increase taxes massively or make significant system changes to live within our means.
        
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        August 31, 2023 11:50am
      - Ra Henare
        
        Wayne, perhaps you should look at some data?
        Singapore is about as west as you can get …17.7%
        
        https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/government-spending-vs-gdp-per-capita?tab=table
        
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        August 31, 2023 3:42pm
      - kiwikidsnz
        
        Singapore is 15%.
        
        https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_government_spending_as_percentage_of_GDP
        
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        August 31, 2023 4:23pm
      - Wayne Mapp
        
        Ra,
        Singapore also requires everyone to buy compulsory insurance for health and superannuation. Effectively a different sort of tax. Add these things in and Singapore will be between 25 and 30%.
        
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        August 31, 2023 5:07pm
      - blue collar
        
        Sir bob had a great article by the Mowbray bloke , on his blog no punches pulled today . Sorry can’t post link .
        Great read on how much the bureaucracy has bloated and the reduction in metrics across the board .
        Some good stats , let Seymour loose , decimate the public service .
        
        OUR BLOATED BUREACRACY
        [Mod – added link for you]
        
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        August 31, 2023 7:32pm
  - Local Miller
    
    What teachers and nurses are getting nearly 50% pay increase? My daughter’s a teacher, and she’s not getting anywhere near that, and what she is getting is only a catch up over what she’s lost out on over the past 3 years.
    A lot of comments on this blog point to teachers as being baked in Liebour voters, but talking to my daughter the indications are Liebour have lost a big chunk of this vote.
    
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    August 31, 2023 9:48am
    - G the giant from Dunedin
      
      Nice to hear
      
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      August 31, 2023 10:41am
    - rockape
      
      Ditto for nurses. My wife posted an anti government comment on the NZNO chat page. She got 24 upticks, that wouldn’t have happened three years ago
      
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      August 31, 2023 11:05am
      - G the giant from Dunedin
        
        That’s great
        
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        August 31, 2023 1:28pm
    - Wayne Mapp
      
      Over the last six years it is nearly 50% when you add in all of the current agreements which flow through to the end of next year. Yes, a fair bit of that is to cover inflation, but quite a lot is not.
      
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      August 31, 2023 11:27am
  - Grunter
    
    So where does the money come from? Tax revenue dropping fast as exports crash.
    
    Add it to our $155 billion debt?
    
    We are getting very close to running out of options. Reality will kick in soon…..
    
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    August 31, 2023 9:52am
  - Mark Hanley
    
    National’s promise to appoint an infrastructure commissioner is a clue.
    
    A commissioner will have goals, metrics, and performance based pay.
    
    A commissioner will staff their own office with competent people,
    
    A commissioner will be held accountable for their (and their staff’s) actions.
    
    And hopefully a commiisiomer will report directly to the relevant Ministers, not via Peter Hughes!
    
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    August 31, 2023 9:57am
  - In Vino Veritas
    
    Agreed Wayne. And their pay rises should stop there for the next 3 years. In terms of Government size, it needs to be reduced. Some Government Depts need to disappear completely. For starters, Ministry of Pacific Peoples, Ministry for Woman, Youth Development, Ethnic Communities, Environment among others.
    
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    August 31, 2023 10:26am
    - G the giant from Dunedin
      
      Ministry for children!
      
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      August 31, 2023 10:42am
    - AitchW
      
      Speaking of pay rises, did the government MPs ever actually suffer the paycuts they promised when Covid hit?
      
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      August 31, 2023 10:54am
    - Pope Punctilious II
      
      Agree completely. But Luxon has stated that getting rid of those useless departments and the HRC is “not National Party policy”.
      
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      August 31, 2023 5:36pm
  - the deity formerly known as nigel6888
    
    No. It’s only “baked” in if you accept the featherbedding and union special pleading. It’s not that hard to unbake. You just need balls and determination.
    
    Funny how Wayne always run interference on behalf of Labour? It’s getting a bit repetitive.
    
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    August 31, 2023 10:48am
    - Wayne Mapp
      
      The diety,
      
      More like interference for National, the things that I know they are committed to keeping. National is not Act and will not cut spending like Act would.
      Nicola Willis was very clear; no cuts in health and education, which are the two biggest spending categories.
      
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      August 31, 2023 11:24am
      - In Vino Veritas
        
        No cuts Wayne, but certainly some accountability in terms of providing outcomes for money spent. I don’t think anyone would have an issue if health and education produced superior outcomes.
        
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        August 31, 2023 11:53am
      - RoboRob
        
        The total failure that is the MOE has more than 1 staff member per school. There is zero need for that level of staffing in an organisation that continues to underperform.
        
        Replacing the MOE with an organisation with 1/4 or less staff would free up cash for schools and might result in some better academic outcomes.
        
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        August 31, 2023 12:48pm
      - Tony Stuart
        
        @ IVV – and that’s all we can ask for; accountability. Labour cancelled targets right across the public sector. And unsurprisingly, when there isn’t a target to reach or exceed, then there’s no measure of success. And that leads to wasteful spending, which we have seen like never before in the last six years.
        
        Thank goodness that competent operators like Dr Shane Reti and Erica Stanford are waiting in the wings. At the National Party conference in June Reti said that he will no longer accept Covid as an excuse for non-performance in health, which is exactly the mentality we need.
        
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        August 31, 2023 1:24pm
      - NeverMindTheBollocks
        
        Why not cut Education. The mini baby boom has more or less worked its way through the primary & secondary sectors. There will be fewer kids in school. Time to think about consolidation of schools.
        
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        August 31, 2023 1:25pm
      - Wayne Mapp
        
        In Vino,
        
        Yes, one of the worst things that Labour did was abandon any proper accountability systems. In doing so that meant they paid more but got less. I totally agree that a lot more can be done within existing budgets.
        
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        August 31, 2023 1:48pm
Paulus

Some Good News
In Tauranga this weekend is the start of the AIMS Games.
There are some 22,000 children, teachers, coaches and various onlookers participating.
This is wonderful spectacle to see some children from around New Zealand participating in many sports.
Am told it is this is the highlight of many children’s year outside school.
There, some very good news for today.
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August 31, 2023 8:07am
- Steve Otto(North Shore)
  
  Good news is why it is not on the idiot box.
  
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  August 31, 2023 8:35am
- pdm
  
  Paulus – also a big gathering of secondary sports kids in Napier/Taradale. Soccer, Indoor Basketball are two I know of so there are probably other sports as well.
  
  We did not know it was on until we heard yesterday afternoon through the family grapevine that a great nephew from Tawa was up here taking part..
  
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  August 31, 2023 8:50am
  - Littletramp
    
    Lots of excellent live coverage via this you tube channel.
    https://www.youtube.com/@WhakaataMaori
    
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    August 31, 2023 9:09am
  - Tony Stuart
    
    It’s Tournament Week, so schools from around the country have been taking party in various tournaments this week. Great to see hoards of young Kiwis out there competing.
    
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    August 31, 2023 1:26pm
    - NeverMindTheBollocks
      
      Hordes
      
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      August 31, 2023 7:59pm
Southern Raider

You can tell the media bias by who they “randomly” interview about Nationals policies.

Was actually surprisingly as hard as they tried cast majority were okay to very happy with the tax announcement.

Grunter though looked like he had been steamrolled by real intellect
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August 31, 2023 8:09am
- Che Guava
  
  Think of the “vox pop” as a microcosm of the entire macro media system. Just as they carefully select which “random person on the street” will feature in a segment in order to create and convey a certain narrative (and necessarily not convey a different narrative), so too do they carefully select, and sometimes even manufacture, the particular events/topics/issues that are or aren’t featured in the “news,” and what issues are or aren’t worthy of discussion or consideration in a broader sense. This is why the common complaint that “the media isn’t balanced and objective and has it’s own agenda” indicates a misunderstanding of what the media is and how it functions.
  
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  August 31, 2023 8:46am
- pdm
  
  SR even Kate Hawkesby made that mistake this morning.
  
  Who the hell was the drongo she had on at about 10 to 6 this morning. A Green or Maori Party or Labour stooge for sure.
  
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  August 31, 2023 8:54am
- RoboRob
  
  I was stunned by the few people I saw talking about it. Comments like ‘its not really enough’ and ‘the two major parties don’t seem to care’.
  
  I mean WTF. You have Labour who NEVER give a tax cut and only increase taxes and then the Nats come through with a decent tax cut of around $100-$250 per fortnight and ‘there’s no difference between them’?
  
  The complaint lines are crazy, if the cuts had been small they would have said ‘its just a block of cheese a week’ or similar. Since they are decent its ‘not really enough’.
  
  To make it worse the Unions ‘Accidentally’ release their attack billboard on the same day as National tax cut announcement. Apparently the unions are concerned that National will ‘harm’ workers. You know, harm them by taking less tax? https://www.msn.com/en-nz/news/other/election-2023-christopher-luxon-attack-ad-accidentally-launched-early/ar-AA1fY4jo
  
  This from the Unions who have fought Labour for 6 straight years with the most strikes this century.
  
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  August 31, 2023 9:21am
  - pdm
    
    RR – a lot of younger – say under 40’s – people do not understand the difference between tax cuts and benefits. Tried to briefly explain to almost 27 year old granddaughter last night. Not sure the message sunk in.
    
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    August 31, 2023 9:36am
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    “Strikes? Not on my watch” Or something.
    
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    August 31, 2023 9:43am
- G the giant from Dunedin
  
  Even the Nat Taieri candidate said in a post last night, he was surprised at the congratulations he received in South Dunedin last night, he is concentrating hard on the farming community in this newly designed electorate, but is door knocking in town, he is getting support, but possibly not voted, but he said the tax announcement had unanimous support
  
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  August 31, 2023 10:45am
Warren

A attack ad pops up early.
A attack ad campaign targeting National Leader Chris Luxon has accidentally been launched early, a digital board spotted in Auckland this morning pictured a black and white image with the slogan “out of touch to much risk”.It was on the corner of Sandrigham and Luke’s road and has since been removed.
The billboard said it was authorized by Richard Wagstaff who is the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions President.
https://www.odt.co.nz/star-news/star-national/attack-ad-pops-early
So now the Council of Trade Unions are paying for attack ads targeting the National Party Leader Chris Luxon.
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August 31, 2023 8:12am
- Tony Stuart
  
  Remember this billboard every time the media rolls out Craig Rennie to critique National’s policies. He is the CTU economist, and previously worked as an advisor to Grant Robertson.
  
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  August 31, 2023 8:31am
  - Suze Wainwright
    
    Heh, Richard Harman refers to Rennie as a ‘leading economic commentator’ in his Politik column today.
    
    With all this discussion about NZ now equating with Equatorial Guinea, could Robbo’s comments about voodoo economics be deemed ‘racist’?
    
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    August 31, 2023 9:20am
    - Tony Stuart
      
      Of course he does. Woe betide that Harman might disclose that Rennie looks at the world through red-tinted glasses…
      
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      August 31, 2023 1:28pm
      - NZer In Exile
        
        These ones?
        
        https://www.zazzle.com/communism_hammer_and_sickle_symbol_retro_sunglasses-256706063941902894
        
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        September 1, 2023 3:44pm
  - RoboRob
    
    I disregard anything said by CTU economists, they are just simply PR people for Labour policy.
    
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    August 31, 2023 9:22am
  - Bobba Fret
    
    Was he the economist the media were quoting the other day, that was saying the increase in wages was not a major source of inflation, but business profits were?
    
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    August 31, 2023 11:20am
- Inandout
  
  Warren, these union ‘organisers’ bring in good salaries paid for by ‘captured’ members.
  https://union.org.nz/vacancies/
  Oh, and they have a vehicle provided.
  
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  August 31, 2023 8:34am
  - alwyn.a
    
    I was intrigued to see how fast the number of staff of the PSA seem to be growing. In the link you provided there are two ads for PSA organisers. The one dated 1 March says they have 180 staff. The one on 30 August says that they have 200.
    That is a 22% increase in only 6 months. Still that is probably in step with how the whole Public Service seems to be growing. What do they all do?
    
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    August 31, 2023 11:38am
- RoboRob
  
  This was no accident. It was purposely done to grab attention from National on the day they announced their tax policy. If you believe otherwise I have a bridge to sell you.
  
  So much for Hipkins claims that National and Act a running a negative campaign based on fear. The Labour / Union advert tag line is ‘Out of touch, too much risk’.
  
  Also I am sick and tired of Labour using the Unions to get around electoral spending rules. They get free labour and vehicles as the unions use their staff to call people and delivery Labour voters to the booths. The union spends mega bucks on advertising solely for Labour. None of this counts to the advertising spend limits for Labour. The unions are a ‘Super PAC’ in American terms and there should be rules around them.
  
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  August 31, 2023 9:27am
  - Tony Stuart
    
    There are rules around them. They have to register as third party promoters, and there is a limit to how much they can spend.
    
    https://elections.nz/guidance-and-rules/for-third-party-promoters/
    
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    August 31, 2023 1:31pm
    - RoboRob
      
      Thanks for that Tony 🙂
      
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      August 31, 2023 2:13pm
    - RoboRob
      
      Had a look at the 2017 result register for third party promoters.
      
      Issues
      
      1. Each union lists as a different promotor so the spend limit for unions gets multipled my each sub union. In 2017 there were 9 different unions registered. That allows them 9 * the 391,000 allowed max spend
      
      2. In 2017 9 Unions registered. Only 1 union submitted a statement of expenses (requiired for > 100,000 spend). Who checks the expenses for the ones that dont submit, do we just trust them?
      
      3. The one union that did submit was only a 40,000 spend. So didn’t even have to submit. Looking at the report the quoted expenses were obviously at mates rates.
      
      4. The only other party that submitted a statement was hobsons pledge that spent ~250,000. Do we remeber hobsons pledges advertising or union advertising? Who do we think is being more honest about their spending?
      
      The Unions are obviously gaming a very loose system.
      
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      August 31, 2023 2:25pm
- G the giant from Dunedin
  
  It will only sicken voters when we see who is out of touch snd a risk to our way of life, let them go for it, you would think they would learn, Bishop has as already posted this ad saying they are desperate and have no record to stand on after 6 years, and only have negative to use
  
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  August 31, 2023 11:15am
Tony Stuart

There’s nothing quite like a good social media pile-on, especially when it’s self inflicted. Someone from Labour’s social media crew posted the following yesterday after National’s tax announcement:

New Zealand Labour
@nzlabour
#CONFIRMED: National’s plan does not add up and will make life harder for Kiwis.
2:08 PM · Aug 30, 2023

https://twitter.com/nzlabour/status/1696706507289796817

When I was online last night, I noticed someone had posted the following – Here for the comments…. And they have not disappointed – so naturally I went and had a look. And there are some doozies!

* You lot have led us to being bottom of the world, bar Equatorial Guinea, in terms of GDP growth. Your opinions on financial matters are no longer valid.

* How’s those 100000 houses going? fucking cheek to be lecturing on figures when yours have been wrong for six years.

* Hahahah, all you have left in the tank is to talk about National. Can’t do anything productive. Pathetic party. Good riddance.

* Remove gst off veges after 6 years of government.??..you fucking clowns 🤡

* This government has the reek of death about it. Desperation has truely set in and the mud slinging has begun

The last comment is spot in. This is a government in its death throes, with no vision, no plan and no hope. Yesterday’s “big announcement” from Labour was integreated crisis teams for urgent mental health callouts. It sounds good, until it was pointed out that this was actually happening when Labour took office in 2017, and they canned it the following year! Now it’s a good idea apparently, so it’s being recycled.

The politicians and pundits are saying it will be close in 44 days time. I have a feeling it won’t be close at all. When the first tranche of results come out after 7pm on election night – the advance votes – the result is likely to be there for all to see. Richard Prebble wrote yesterday that this is threatening to be Labour’s worst result ever, and it’s hard to disagree.

Meanwhile, Labour needs to sharpen up its Twitter game. Yesterday was diabolical.
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August 31, 2023 8:14am
- Opie
  
  Another interesting find on Twitter.
  
  Convo with Akl taxi driver today:
  Me: Many passengers talking about the election?
  Him: All of them.
  Me: What are they saying?
  Him: I put it this way. If I have 10 passengers a day, 8 want a change. They all want a new govt.
  
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  August 31, 2023 8:28am
  - NZer In Exile
    
    Sounds about right. 20% are potatoes.
    
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    September 1, 2023 3:46pm
- Cinematic
  
  This Labour mob was the most useless idle opposition in NZ’s political history. They were well beaten by English and unjustly handed power by the dangerously inept Peters. They’ve never had any quality ideas or policies. Never ever. It’s been a disaster for our beautiful country.
  
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  August 31, 2023 8:31am
  - G the giant from Dunedin
    
    Lest we forget.
    
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    August 31, 2023 11:25am
  - Tricati
    
    Then they used a shit load of tax payers money to employ consultants and working groups to come up with some policies – ‘Millions wasted with nothing to show’ – Should be Labour’s election slogan.
    
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    August 31, 2023 11:59am
- Steve Otto(North Shore)
  
  It won’t be close at all. I am hoping that National can govern alone, but also see more Act members in Parliament as List Members.
  The Politicians and pundits saying is is close is a sign of desperation, and they know it.
  
  Don’t forget people, we have an Election every 3 years. Keep the bastards out. NZ should never go through this again. I has been a good lesson on how ruthless a Socialist Govt can be – at YOUR expense.
  
  See you 2038 Labour. Maybe a name change is in order. No way is Labour now fitting. You are not the Labour of yesteryear, you are just destroyers.
  
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  August 31, 2023 8:53am
  - pdm
    
    Mmmm 2038 Steve.
    
    I will be 92 and probably past being keenly interested on who Governs us – if I am still around of course.
    
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    August 31, 2023 8:58am
    - Steve Otto(North Shore)
      
      I will be 86 and hopefully have all of my marbles, without a hole in the bag.
      
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      August 31, 2023 9:51am
      - G152
        
        82 with hopes of enlarging the number without liebor rising above 40 seats
        
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        August 31, 2023 10:04am
  - Tony Stuart
    
    I’m hoping that between them, National and Act have 65 to 70 seats in the next Parliament, giving them a clear majority coalition, and no need to worry about NZ First.
    
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    August 31, 2023 9:42am
    - Steve Otto(North Shore)
      
      NZF need to die. Go way down the list with the other lesser Parties we never hear from.
      
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      August 31, 2023 9:55am
      - RoboRob
        
        The will happen when Winston dies. I had thought he might retire but all the evidence suggests thats not happening 🙂
        
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        August 31, 2023 12:52pm
  - G the giant from Dunedin
    
    They clearly know it is not close, and they use this tool again to brainwash sheeple, they know if Labour look like losing then they will end up again with the missing million
    
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    August 31, 2023 11:27am
  - thirteenstars
    
    “I am hoping that National can govern alone…”
    
    That’s not going to happen. If it’s a big win for ACT/National it’ll be because the voters have finally worked out that to keep National honest ACT needs to be a significant part of the coalition, on latest polls it’ll be at least 25%, which will be a big enthusiastic tail wagging a rather tame dog.
    
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    August 31, 2023 11:56am
  - G the giant from Dunedin
    
    New name, Laboured
    
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    August 31, 2023 1:40pm
- Ipanema69
  
  I hope you are right Tony but just remember more than half of the population voted for these clowns in 2020.
  
  I wouldnt rule out a desperate last minute play by Labour. Something like student loan writeoffs and an extension to free fees.
  
  In 2005 Mike Williams saved Labours ass by getting the South Auckland vote out. Something like automatic residency for PIs might be on the cards even if as a save the furniture exercise.
  
  As dirty harry said desperation is a stinky cologne.
  
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  August 31, 2023 8:53am
  - G the giant from Dunedin
    
    Yes, but polls are showing they have lost 50% of that support
    
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    August 31, 2023 11:28am
  - Inandout
    
    Ipan, Is it true Helen arranged for the South Auckland pubs to be trawled for potential voters by taking them to the voting booths?
    
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    August 31, 2023 11:50am
sungsamning

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zllqYct6O9c
Prediction Fulfilled: Francis Suarez Becomes the First Also-Ran to Drop Out
Mr Saurez is the Mayor of Miami. Maybe DeSantis will go up 1%. Its a fair assumption President Trump won’t be dropping out soon. The establishment would like to see Chris Christie rise in the polls. He has TDS cred as far as they’re concerned.
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August 31, 2023 8:15am
- Steve Otto(North Shore)
  
  Trump is 40 percentage points ahead of his closest rival Ron De Santis. The others are not in the race, I don’t know why they bother. Even Mike Pompeo is not running.
  De Santis said a while back that he would not run against Trump.
  
  https://www.reuters.com/world/us/republican-candidates-running-us-president-2023-08-30/
  
  There is a game going on between Trump and De Santis. It is just Eletioneering.
  If De Santis runs for Senate, can he still be Governor?
  
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  August 31, 2023 9:06am
  - RoboRob
    
    De Santis’s run as governer is over, Florida only allows two term governers. Thats why he is standing for President. He was (is) super popular in Republican circles and he thought now was the time to go for it.
    
    Unfortunately for him the Dems have gone on an Indictment spree why has really boosted Trumps already strong support amoungst Repbulicans. The first Indictment added 10pts to Trump alone.
    
    That ofcourse is the Dems plan. Get Trump selected becuase they think Biden can beat him.
    
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    August 31, 2023 9:34am
    - Steve Otto(North Shore)
      
      Did not know about the two terms.
      If the Dems want Trump to run, why are they throwing all of the legal shit at him?
      First Indictment also raised $7.1M for the campaign.
      
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      August 31, 2023 10:01am
      - RoboRob
        
        Simple. You throw ‘legal shit’ at Trump. For Rep voters that makes them get behind their man and helps him win nomination.
        
        The very same ‘legal shit’ hardens Dem voters against Trump. The swing voters (not part of the primaries) won’t like the ‘smell’ of all Trumps legal issues and decide to avoid him. Boom win on election day.
        
        p.s. You can’t blame for Desantis going for it now, hes out of a job in couple of years and being governer gives him a great platform.
        
        p.p.s Most of Trumps ‘campaign’ funding is flowing directly to his lawyers. Lucky for Trump the media coverage makes up for the lack of real campaign funds.
        
        p.p.p.s I would much rather next years election was between anyone but Biden and Trump. De Santis, Vivek or Haily would all romp in against Biden, Trump will struggle.
        
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        August 31, 2023 10:25am
      - Steve Otto(North Shore)
        
        Rob, Trump won’t struggle. Watch the rallies, parades on and off the water.
        
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        August 31, 2023 10:30am
      - NothingLeft
        
        Elections are won in the centre, by pulling over swing voters, and Trump, as polarising as he is, with great support amongst his ‘tribe’ will not pull wavering swing voters to vote for him. De-Santis, Ramaswamy or Halley, lacking those high negative sentiments are all better bets for the election.
        
        Seems increasingly unlikely that Biden will make it to the election, or even end of the year given piling up evidence of his corruption. Kamala will be paid to Foxtrot Oscar and it’ll be plastic-politician man Newsom on the ballot for the Dems. Wish it were Kennedy, or Gabbard, or some other ethical outsider.
        
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        August 31, 2023 12:08pm
  - sungsamning
    
    I’m not sure about DeSantis still being governor if he gets into the Senate. I doubt it. Best governor Florida has ever had. Not presidential timber though.
    
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    August 31, 2023 11:23am
    - All_on_Red
      
      lol
      
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      August 31, 2023 2:12pm
  - G the giant from Dunedin
    
    De Santa’s has to be in the race incase the Dems mangaes to shaft Trumps, he then would not be standing against Trump
    
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    August 31, 2023 11:30am
sungsamning

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=keOerbgXP-Y&t=106s

GOP Moves To Finally Impeach Brandon.
Well, its taken them long enough. I wonder when the ‘administration’ will announce President Trump’s fifth ‘indictment’?
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August 31, 2023 8:15am
- Simon
  
  Imagine thinking the Left is happy to jail the opposition as political prisoners in a bid to rig elections but wouldn’t anonymously place ineligible ballots in a drop box.
  
  https://twitter.com/StephenM/status/1696254403668303950
  
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  August 31, 2023 8:39am
  - sungsamning
    
    Of course, they’d do both.
    
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    August 31, 2023 11:24am
- Steve Otto(North Shore)
  
  The admin has over a year to throw indictments at Trump.
  Imo the only way they can stop Trump is assassination. Don’t worry, they are desperate. There will be mentally challenged people being groomed for this. CIA and FBI may be involved. They are part of the swamp.
  
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  August 31, 2023 9:11am
  - sungsamning
    
    Yeah, I wonder if he gets a free presidency with his fifth ‘indictment’.
    
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    August 31, 2023 11:24am
- All_on_Red
  
  They’re not impeaching Biden
  They are going to hold an inquiry first
  
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  August 31, 2023 2:13pm
  - NothingLeft
    
    Rumours of a presidency-ending incriminating recording of Biden to be released in next few weeks:
    
    https://twitter.com/i/status/1696898099866697908
    
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    August 31, 2023 2:20pm
- virtualmark
  
  Prediction 1: There is no evidence of any kind that Joe Biden has acted with any corrupt behaviour (as in, trade off official actions for personal benefit).
  
  Prediction 2: There will either (a) be no impeachment or (b) they will plough on and it will blow up in their face as the lack of credible evidence is exposed.
  
  The GOP strategy is to keep “investigating”, but never allow the dog to actually catch the car, because that would expose that the dog is toothless. Oh, and the car is a clown car. Towing a dumpster. That is on fire.
  
  Meanwhile, the GOP could be spending their time doing something useful, like legislating. Ask yourself … what useful legislation has this GOP-led House actually put forward?
  
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  August 31, 2023 4:45pm
  - NothingLeft
    
    To pretend that Biden hasn’t been extensively caught out with a cascade of statements regarding non-involvement that have one by one being revealed to be lies is at this point just amazing.
    
    “no involvement in hunters business” except for travelling with him on the quiet on AF 2 at least 13times to various 3rd world destinations, meetings with Hunters ‘business partners’ in whitehouse and elsewhere, having phone calls with business associates, getting Burisma prosecutor fired, copying Hunter in on govt emails under pseudonyms, and all those shell companies and 10’s of millions of dollars transferred to miscellaneous Biden family members, Hunters messaged complaint about having to give half of income to Dad, numerous witnesses and whistleblowers attesting to the corruption, oh and very cosy relationships with people tasked with investigating the many many suspicious activity reports – getting tipped off before searches, letting statute of limitations run on clear crimes, trying to slide through immunity deals etc.
    
    The only reason he isn’t in jail is because he belongs to the real (Democratic) Mafia in USA – people who control the Presidency, Senate, DOJ, FBI, CIA (pre-election lies about Hunter’s laptop being Russian), NSA, 90% of MSM, Big Tech, California, Delaware and New York states. They hold all the effective levers of power outside of US Congress and only care about maintaining control – regardless of how corrupt and senile Biden is.
    
    https://youtu.be/ee6-sI9rdtA
    
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    August 31, 2023 9:44pm
Bridgenag

Well I am still in a state of shock that some the Blokes at Bowls are still in the fog of Govt. “truth” and refuse to listen to anything contrary to their brain washing. I am giving up hope for them ever to realise how bad the real situation is. Sheeples forever.!

Further Scientific Verification of the Harms of Covid Vaccination
https://hatchardreport.media/pdf-files/further-scientific-verification-of-the-harms-of-covid-vaccination.pdf
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August 31, 2023 8:16am
- Steve Otto(North Shore)
  
  “These early warnings fell on deaf ears, they should do so no longer.”
  Well the ‘safe and effective’ proponents probably already had the bribe moneys paid by the big drug companies. Millions!
  
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  August 31, 2023 10:07am
- cmm
  
  For many people the pain of realising they were duped is far too much to deal with.
  If you go down that rabbit hole then you’re also taking a large % of self-responsibility – something that many people avoid.
  
  It is far easier to just go with whatever the “experts” and government say. If it goes pear shaped then you don’t have to blame yourself.
  
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  August 31, 2023 1:16pm
Maggie Pie

A bestie retweets a reminder…

Let’s not forget Labor’s Minister-for-Sport Grant Robertson called parents…. “Petty and small-minded” simply for wanting to protect your daughters from trans-sexual males using the girls toilets and changing facilities during sporting events 🙁

https://twitter.com/rosey_nz/status/1696632433578516914
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August 31, 2023 8:22am
- Simon
  
  Yep this is why Luxon should met with Posie Parker
  
  Luxon doesnt have to say much. After meeting wtih her he can say NZ back on track.
  
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  August 31, 2023 8:42am
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    Luxon may have got the tomato sauce from a transistor.
    
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    August 31, 2023 10:10am
- Maggy Wassilieff
  
  Whereas in Stratford, Adults are locked out of the dunnies and changing rooms when school children are at the pool.
  
  https://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/news/300951286/changing-room-ban-at-stratford-pools-angers-regular-swimmer
  
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  August 31, 2023 8:42am
  - Maggie Pie
    
    Imagine the outcry if Stephen had been a Trannie!
    
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    August 31, 2023 8:48am
- Chris Nisbet
  
  Hmm, so having lost the votes of sensible people, Robertson doesn’t want the votes of petty and small minded people such as parents with kids either.
  
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  August 31, 2023 1:11pm
Kiwiguy

Does anyone know when the next poll is being conducted and/or released?
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August 31, 2023 8:30am
- pdm
  
  Roy Morgan next week maybe.
  
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  August 31, 2023 9:00am
  - jon
    
    pdm, i d pick R/M will be out tomorrow, given last two months polls have been released much earlier than normal.
    
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    August 31, 2023 9:25am
    - G the giant from Dunedin
      
      Morgan usually end of the month, it’s TPU that use to be out on the 6th of the month, but has crept forward possibly because weekends falling at the time
      
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      August 31, 2023 11:36am
JJ56

Stuff this morning. Tova really is vacuous.
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August 31, 2023 8:31am
- pdm
  
  JJ – I pointed out in that Happy, Angry etc thing that Stuff have been running recently that if Churches are taxed then so should Iwi – eg Tainui, Ngai Tahu etc.
  
  It will take a government with bigger katangata’s (balls) than Luxon has to do that in todays political environment.
  
  Lets get 3/5/10/All Waters and Co-Governance dealt to first.
  
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  August 31, 2023 9:05am
  - Ehlana
    
    Do people really think their local church is generating huge amounts of income? Surely by the time you pay for the upkeep of the (often old) buildings, the staff wages and salaries and the costs of church activities, they would be no more likely to be in surplus than your local netball club – or do we want to take them too?
    
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    August 31, 2023 9:35am
    - Libertarians are right
      
      They are specifically going after Sanitarium, Gloriavale and Destiny. The others are just caught in the crossfire.
      Of course, they could just remove charitable status from those specific entities.
      
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      August 31, 2023 9:56am
      - Gravelroad
        
        The Bretheren one of the wealthiest outfits – according to discussion on newstalkzb yesterday afternoon.
        
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        August 31, 2023 10:28am
    - Diogenes
      
      It should also be kept in mind that a very high proportion of this country’s charitable services are provided free of charge by churches. My own church has a community trust which provides a wide range of services to the local community, ranging from a nail-cutting clinic and pre-school programmes to food bank and English language classes for migrants. We are a small congregation faced with a major building upkeep bill. We are only one of many providing these services in difficult times. If all the churches around New Zealand stopped the services to the community they provide, the government would be totally unable to fill the huge gap.
      
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      August 31, 2023 10:08am
      - graham
        
        Some weeks ago, there was a community group wanting to reach out to those people who often can’t afford the services that many need. They were running a fair where they would offer health services (hearing checks, bowel screening, skin cancer, breast cancer advice), food, clothing, have the local community constable along – all for free. They just needed a venue.
        
        They asked around various locations, all of whom were going to charge for using their premises. They tried to explain that they were reaching out to the community, providing everything for free – nope, not interested.
        
        They approached our church to see if they could use our premises. No problem, and no charge.
        
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        August 31, 2023 12:27pm
  - kowtow
    
    ‘3/5/10/All Waters and Co-Governance dealt to first.’
    
    Anyone remember 20 odd years back when ‘full and final’ was the theme .
    
    Talk about incrementalism.
    
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    August 31, 2023 11:29am
    - cmm
      
      It was in play when I came to NZ – 1992. IIRC the expectation was that it would all be done in 5 years – maybe a bit longer – but definitely by 2000.
      
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      August 31, 2023 1:20pm
      - Wayne Mapp
        
        The original time frame waa 10 years, from 1992 to 2002. But you knew pretty quickly that was not going to work. Each set of negotiations took longer. When National got back in the 2008 election, I recall that 2020 was seen as the target, but based on experience it was not set as a hard target. The main difficulty is the Ngapuhi settlement. One of the largest, but still not done,. I think it is now going to be done as a hapu/iwi settlement, effectively as 5 separate settlements. I get the impression it is about half way there. A good Treaty Settlements Minister will do it within 3 to 6 years.
        
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        August 31, 2023 1:55pm
      - cmm
        
        Wayne: I am sure you know these details better than me. I distinctly remember a 5 year window, but maybe that had “hopefully” on the front and wasn’t a promise/goal/target.
        
        “When National got back in the 2008 election, I recall that 2020 was seen as the target”. That’s a ridiculous kick the can down the road target like fixing climate change before 2050.
        The chances of a party being in power for 12 years are slim. What’s the point of making targets you cannot deliver on?
        
        “I get the impression it is about half way there. A good Treaty Settlements Minister will do it within 3 to 6 years”.
        
        So the first half, presumably the easier ones, have taken 30 years. Do you really think that 3 to 6 is possible? Seems unlikely to me. As is the possibility of getting a Treaty Settlement Minister with a backbone.
        
        On top of that, how many times has this been opened up again for “top ups”? I’ll wager 50 cents and a servo pie that this is not done by 2100 (a wager I will not be around to honour either).
        
        That said, I really hope this mess all gets sorted very soon. Without that NZ is forever walking with a limp.
        
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        August 31, 2023 4:22pm
- G the giant from Dunedin
  
  There appears to be widespread support for the Nats tax change, but Tova says it’s like warm, even the old battle axe on Newshub has stated it’s a master class, Jessica had the look of fright on her face last night
  
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  August 31, 2023 11:38am
Notsofast

The only way forward is unconditional support and promotion of the very articulate sports advocate Rowena Edge. Current New Zealand politicians are supporting the medical scandal of all time and ruining families.

https://youtu.be/xzTMek2zwuU?si=oX_mAQFY24VkKxCS
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August 31, 2023 8:32am
Ipanema69

And from the how much money this add to my rates bill file.

Today is rubbish day in my part of Auckland.

In my brief walk from home to the bus stop there were 30 standard rubbish bins and 12 of the new food scrap collection bins luanched in July (with great fanfare).

This is a 40% participation rate.

Given that it is a separate truck roll to collect these bins is this even worth it?
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August 31, 2023 8:37am
- Steve Otto(North Shore)
  
  Worth it? Nope, but we still pay as part of the Rates.
  We just send everything down the waste disposal, even chicken bones.
  Can’t be bothered going outside with food scraps. Attracts mice and rats anyway.
  
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  August 31, 2023 10:42am
- septic skeptic
  
  I have a Labrador and a compost bin – ergo no food scraps. The small container is very handy for collecting compost items though.
  
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  August 31, 2023 10:46am
Rusty

Does anybody know what Brian Tamaki meant by his quote that he “had insight from the spirit world” in regards to the campaign strategy of his “New freedoms NZ political party”?

Some christians might view his claim as being un-christian getting messages from the “spirit world” and not the holy spirit of God!
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August 31, 2023 8:38am
- G152
  
  What??
  A self appointed minister of a religious cult he invented not believed that hes talking to the spirit world..
  For shame… or for laughs
  
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  August 31, 2023 10:10am
  - Rusty
    
    @G152,
    
    This “Bishop” title Tamaki was given is from my understanding a rank below a minister or pastor of a church.
    
    So Brian actually got a demotion!
    
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    August 31, 2023 2:01pm
- kowtow
  
  Well he’s in good company .
  
  Tje governor of the reserve bank thinks trees and other animist beliefs can inspire our economic performance.
  
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  August 31, 2023 11:38am
Warren

Oh the pain for Labour after Nationals Tax Cuts were announced.
Jenna Lynch :Nationals Tax Plan announcement is a masterclassin Political. Marketing.
Jessica Mutch McKay : Nationals Tax Policy is a good Political move.
Luke Malpass :A National Tax Package framed by fear of the Labour Machine.
Tova O’Brien : Will Nationals Tax Cuts win it the Election.
And the Bully boy that holds himself in high regard as a Finance Minister slams Nationals Voodoo costing. This from a Labour Finance Minister that has borrowed Billions that will have to be paid back by Generations your children,
Grandchildren and Great Grandchildren.
Wait for the books to be opened on September 15 and see the mess this self confessed expert in Finance has left our Country in .
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August 31, 2023 8:43am
oldpark

Out of the walls and out of their minds were the Labour/Green/Maori Party/CTU putting the boot into Nationals’ Chris Luxon and Nicola Willis for having the gall to help the financially struggling brow beaten families all controlled and manipulated by the Ardern/Hipkins Cabal over the last Six years .A plan at Last to make NZ ” A Nation Once Again”.

How dare they, screamed the so called guard dogs and Pit Bulls in the bribed Mainstream Media as they backed up an experiment gone badly wrong on how through far left communistic puppet masters pulled the strings on hard working NZs almost sending the country into Third World Status . In the process also attempting to destroy hard fought for Democracy . .They lived up to the adage .Control Freaks and Bullies “Scream loudest when challenged” .
The overall results of the betrayal of NZs by Ardern/Hipkins control freaks Socialistic/ Communist ideas bore some fruit for a wee while .
Now it has shown the idea of screaming Comrade ! Comrade ! Comrade ! by you know who, has proven to be a bad call .
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August 31, 2023 8:46am
- Maggy Wassilieff
  
  And how elitist of Stuff’s cartoonist to mock the “squeezed middle-class” as just being AVERAGE.
  
  https://www.stuff.co.nz/opinion/114832273/jim-hubbard-cartoons
  
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  August 31, 2023 10:12am
  - NZer In Exile
    
    I’d describe that cartoon as pretty average. Doesn’t really hit any target IMHO.
    
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    September 1, 2023 3:50pm
ClanMcleod

One of the best reads you’ll find today. El gato malo re the decline of mainstream media and the rise of the ‘reputation economy’.

Trust has been severely damaged, in politics and politicians, but in mainstream media in particular. Around the globe, they have been responsible for the most egregious propaganda campaign against innocent people.

https://boriquagato.substack.com/p/cognitive-carpet-bombing

it’s really all but impossible to overstate the extent to which media saturation was used to stoke fear and spread egregious and irresponsible levels of misinformation over “the covid years.”

it was a ubiquitous, constant, unrelenting barrage of monolithic talking points right down to all the bobbleheads using the exact same words and phrases. they were all obviously getting their scripts and marching orders from some central source.

this does not happen by accident.

Seriously good analysis predicting the death of what we call mainstream media.

it’s boring, joyless ideological tantrum tossing to inflame and annoy its way to prominence but the squalling search for attention has driven it mad and into the arms of fascists they hope can save their failing franchises.

we’re on the steep part of the discrediting curve.

no one cares and pretty much no one wants to hear it.

lights out.

game over.

this is going to make them increasingly desperate.

but they have already lost.

a child born today will, by the time they come of age, be unable to even conceive that there was a thing called “the media” much less that anyone ever trusted it.

the whole idea will seem so implausible that it will literally not compile in their minds.

It can’t happen soon enough. The whole mainstream media behemoth can’t die soon enough.
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August 31, 2023 9:08am
- sungsamning
  
  The Carlson-Trump interview on X was another sign post along this road. The teaser alone got bulk views. Then the actual interview got 80-200 million hits/views. Tuckers best night with Faux News got 5.5 million views. Bye MSM.
  
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  August 31, 2023 11:32am
  - All_on_Red
    
    You don’t understand how ‘views’ work on Twitter.
    
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    August 31, 2023 2:18pm
    - sungsamning
      
      Yes, I know. Views on X can be brief. That’s why I gave a figure of 80-200 million.
      
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      August 31, 2023 9:24pm
- Grunter
  
  Take away all Govt funding, subsidies and advertising and pretty much all of NZ’s mad MSM would fold within weeks. And we would all be better off for it.
  
  RIP
  – ODT
  – Herald
  – Stuff
  – TVNZ
  – RNZ
  – TVS/Newshub
  
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  August 31, 2023 12:01pm
dave_c_

There is a lot of commentary (via alternate news sources) that ‘New Covid Lockdowns, and Restrictions’, are beginning to be rolled out again.
What does the current NZ government know about these plans, and why are we not being told about them ?
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August 31, 2023 9:09am
- Dudley Quaffquaff
  
  Where are these new lockdowns and restrictions beginning to be rolled out again?
  
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  August 31, 2023 9:43am
  - sungsamning
    
    One or two universities in California, or some other blue state. It won’t be Florida.
    
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    August 31, 2023 11:33am
- wsk12345
  
  Well – the election advance voting starts in about 4 weeks. So to stay in government, Liebour and the MSM don’t need to start the fearmongering for about 2.5 weeks.
  
  So that is why it’s only being softly softly drip fed in NZ to date.
  
  I wonder if the NACTs have a plan as to how they will respond when the media starts screaming how they will kill 80000 of YOUR relatives.
  
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  August 31, 2023 9:54am
- Benedict Yu
  
  There is a new COVID variant.
  
  BA.2.86 “Pirola”
  
  https://www.bmj.com/content/382/bmj.p1964
  
  As yet, there is no evidence that it is going to be a major problem in terms of serious illness. Of course you can never tell what politicians might do.
  
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  August 31, 2023 9:57am
  - G the giant from Dunedin
    
    Main thing is they have stated there is no sign of faster transaction or stronger viral load, this will be like all mutated variants, it will weaken as it must to mutate
    
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    August 31, 2023 12:14pm
- Steve Otto(North Shore)
  
  Biden admin is looking at it.
  Not enough time for Labour to do a lockdown? Hold on to your Ps and Qs!
  
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  August 31, 2023 10:59am
- Chris Nisbet
  
  Why not? There’s an election coming up. Granny can die with family around until then.
  /s
  
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  August 31, 2023 1:16pm
bjools

In Napier/ Hastings Tue. and Wed.
Drove right across from Haumoana to Ahuriri, and most points in between.
Are you guy’s that pissed off with Labour?
I saw political signs…approx
6 for Labour
2 for Greens
6 for ACT
30 for National
1. They are Labour seats…aren’t they?
2. Labour must have a HUGE online presence….
Surely?
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August 31, 2023 9:17am
- Kiwiguy
  
  I reckon Labour see the writing on the wall and realise it’s a bit pointless throwing more money at billboards when they know they’re about to lose big time. It’s also less work for them to take them down afterwards, in front of the jeering crowds.
  
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  August 31, 2023 9:23am
  - Tony Stuart
    
    Labour is out of money, and short of volunteers; that’s my read on it. People know the tide has gone out, and they don’t want to waste their time and money on a losing cause.
    
    I know the feeling well, because that’s where National was three years ago. You get to a point where you just want the election over and done with so you can take your hiding and move on.
    
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    August 31, 2023 9:48am
    - wsk12345
      
      Or they are saving the money for advertising / destroying the Nats when the new covid variant is announced 2-3 weeks from now.
      
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      August 31, 2023 9:55am
      - Gravelroad
        
        So if a new Covid variant is announced in 2-3 weeks from now will Ms Ardern come back to save us?
        Dragging with her the pink hair lady and Sir Ash?
        Will that make heaps of people vote for Labour again?
        LoL.
        
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        August 31, 2023 10:35am
    - Steve Otto(North Shore)
      
      “take your hiding?”
      This time Labour will be getting the thrashing of their lives.
      Now you know why she ran. Imagine the shame of a Leader losing that badly – throw it at Chippie!
      
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      August 31, 2023 11:05am
      - kevn
        
        Gravel… cinders and ash, I remember them. Not kindly either.
        
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        August 31, 2023 12:02pm
    - sungsamning
      
      I understand they were short on volunteers and money in 1984-87 too. That surprised me, considering what a good government they were then.
      
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      August 31, 2023 11:35am
- Steve Otto(North Shore)
  
  Looks like they were Labour seats. The worm has changed.
  
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  August 31, 2023 11:01am
  - Don Beckett
    
    Turned…….the worm has turned. 🙂
    
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    August 31, 2023 1:02pm
    - Steve Otto(North Shore)
      
      You are the only one who saw that Don.
      It is a saying from the snooker guys at the club.
      
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      September 1, 2023 9:23am
- kevn
  
  bj… labour is relying on ‘social media’.
  
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  August 31, 2023 12:00pm
  - G the giant from Dunedin
    
    They are getting assholes on social media
    
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    August 31, 2023 12:17pm
Steve Otto(North Shore)

So who wants to go to Canada and get arrested?

https://wiredconservative.com/redbloodedconservative/biological-man-crushes-womens-powerlifting-record-by-440-pounds-by-calling-himself-anne/

The Canadian government will now jail you for a hate crime if you say or do anything that suggests that people like ‘Anne’ are not actual women with all the incumbent lady parts that come with that. Second-place finisher SuJan Gill is obviously so afraid of offending the Trudeau regime that had nothing but praise for the gigantic man who stole her trophy.

This shit has to stop.
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August 31, 2023 9:21am
- Benedict Yu
  
  The tide is turning. At the elite level, the international bodies governing athletics, swimming, cycling, and rowing have all banned biological men from women’s sports.
  
  I have followed this debate closely over the last year or so. It is clear to me that the advocates for ‘trans women’ in women’s sports know nothing about sport. Or data. Or reasoning.
  
  In athletics, post puberty, the gap between women and men in terms of performance is about 10 percent. Now in elite sports, 10 percent may as well be from here to the moon.
  
  Let’s look at 2017. (doesn’t matter which year you look at – it is the same story.)
  
  At the World Championships, USA athlete Tori Bowie won the 100 meters final in 10.85 seconds. In the same year, she ran a personal best of 10.78 seconds.
  
  During 2017, her PB of 10.78 seconds was beaten 15,000 times by men and boys. No that is not a typo. 15,000 men and boys ran faster times than the fastest woman in the world.
  
  https://law.duke.edu/sports/sex-sport/comparative-athletic-performance/
  
  Sadly, explaining this to people who think it is fine for giant men to compete against women will draw, at best, a blank stare, or at worst, screaming and abuse.
  
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  August 31, 2023 9:52am
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    Second paragraph says it all. Why don’t these know nothing advocates set up transistor only sports?
    
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    August 31, 2023 11:08am
  - NoFax
    
    The fastest time for the 100m sprint by a woman is 10.49s set by Florence Griffith Joyner in 1988. There are allegations that she took some performance enhancing drug but never proven. And while that time is incredibly fast, she wouldn’t qualify for the men’s 100m at Paris Olympics in 2024 which require 10s flat. That’s 10 seconds just to qualify. The differences between men and women are real and a person arguing otherwise is either a bad faith actor or delusional.
    
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    August 31, 2023 11:10am
    - G the giant from Dunedin
      
      She died in her 30s and looked like a man, a dead giveaway yo steroid abuse
      
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      August 31, 2023 12:19pm
  - NothingLeft
    
    M/F difference is 10% in speed but 30% in strength.
    
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    August 31, 2023 11:58am
  - cmm
    
    That’s pretty much the same through ALL sports.
    
    One of my sons played a lot of hockey. The U18 B boys would sometimes play against the open A women’s team. And thrash them every time.
    
    It isn’t just in physical strength and speed either. The boys are far more determined to win and practice much harder – rebuking each other if they slack off.
    
    I know an Olympic-level hockey coach who has coached both men and women at high levels. He says that the women need constant chivvying to keep going etc otherwise they stop practicing and stand around talking. The boys will just keep going until you stop them or they fall over in exhaustion. He told me all the women’s coaching is like that.
    
    Extra and more focused practice turns into higher skill.
    
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    August 31, 2023 1:35pm
Maggie Pie

Chatting with one of the girls from tennis earlier. She’s a very successful REA in the area, and being half Chinese has built up a large Asian client base.

Mei reckons the changes National are making in lifting the ban on foreign buyers is very positive for NZ. And by dropping the briteline test back to 2 years, she has hundreds of overseas purchasers literally ‘champing at the bit’ to come here.

I remember her telling us ages ago, that prior to the CCP taking back Honkers, something like $100 billion was moved offshore and looking for real estate investment.
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August 31, 2023 9:22am
- mogg
  
  Lifting the ban will also help the many younger people who are now in ‘negative equity’, recover some of their losses which are thanks to the blundering tub of lard in Wgtn.
  
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  August 31, 2023 10:16am
- herb1
  
  Yes it’s odd that Robertson is claiming it’s heroic to think that there’ll be 2000 sales , yet only a few years ago he was claiming that foreigners were buying the majority of houses in Auckland.
  This morning on Newstalk ZB he was trying to justify his figures by comparing the sales that National need to the number sold AFTER Labour had banned foreign sales. You know they’ve got nothing when all they can do is attack and make stuff up
  
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  August 31, 2023 12:15pm
  - G the giant from Dunedin
    
    Two things, was it not 45000 houses in Auckland being sold a year then, and secondly this policy is only for houses over 2 million, I would suggest a lot of those houses were below 2 million
    
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    August 31, 2023 12:30pm
  - RoboRob
    
    Lefties and many people here were claiming foreign buyers were the cause of our housing crisis.
    
    However 6 yrs of Labours tough on immigrants (and zero during covide) and we have a much worse situation then when National were ‘flooding the country’ with immigrants.
    
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    August 31, 2023 1:05pm
  - cmm
    
    “Yes it’s odd…”
    Not odd at all. Spin everything as a success.
    
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    August 31, 2023 1:36pm
mogg

Very welcome news to hear that a couple on average incomes will be $60 per week better off under National.
Not just many Labour MP’s but also the Wgtn Public service are now like bunnies in the headlights, with total savings required over $1B. Remember ACT will demand much more, Luxon will have to make concessions during coalition negotiations.
In October they will be off the gravy train out of work and back to the arse end of nowhere, where they belong. Happy days.
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August 31, 2023 9:35am
- G the giant from Dunedin
  
  That 1 billion is only for this tax package, heard Willis this morning when Hosking was trying to put the boot in saying you won’t meet these taxes, she wouldn’t have it, stated they have under valued what they and their experts predicts, she also said McAnulty is full of shit, she said 50 million is only for the racing part of the on line market, she said he is not counting the on line pokies which have more than the racing part of the tax.
  
  She said also we will be cutting a lot more from government funding
  
  [Mod – corrected McAnulty’s]
  
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  August 31, 2023 12:28pm
  - G the giant from Dunedin
    
    Sorry Mod, wasn’t sure of the spelling
    
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    August 31, 2023 1:51pm
Benedict Yu

This is a must watch. It is only 1 minute.

Yesterday in Nevada a bunch of protestors blocked a highway protesting about climate change. It did not go well for them. Literally ‘gone in 60 seconds’ 🙂

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sreF6EOF32Q&ab_channel=DailyMail
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August 31, 2023 9:39am
- Tony Stuart
  
  Perhaps the Police dealing with yet another incursion onto SH1 by the Restore Passenger Rail zealots today could learn a few things from that. When you hit them, hit them hard.
  
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  August 31, 2023 9:52am
  - Dougal10
    
    The police used rubber bullets on the protesters at parliament , surely a couple of protesters acting like birds on an overhead gantry should have elected a rubber bullet response .
    
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    August 31, 2023 12:37pm
  - rouppe
    
    Why the fuck the road is closed when they’re on a gantry is beyond me.
    
    Fuck them. You don’t have to remove them. You handcuff them to the same rail and leave them there until they beg to be arrested. As long as there’s nothing on the road, and they can’t fall (see handcuffs) let them die up there for all anyone else cares.
    
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    August 31, 2023 12:58pm
- Steve Otto(North Shore)
  
  It was on here the other day. My comment was if the NZ Police did that they would be on assault charges.
  Also damage to private property. NZ Justice sucks!
  
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  August 31, 2023 11:15am
- sungsamning
  
  Well done Rangers/Police. Pity the cops here aren’t allowed to be so decisive.
  
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  August 31, 2023 11:43am
- G the giant from Dunedin
  
  Hahahaha. I seen it on Fox, that COL drove all over their signs, and he threw them to the ground at gun point and arrested their god damn asses
  
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  August 31, 2023 12:32pm
- rouppe
  
  They’re forgotten to glue their hands to the road.
  
  Note also these were not federal or state police, but Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribal Police. Ain’t no laws on the reservation except the ones they make up
  
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  August 31, 2023 12:49pm
Maggy Wassilieff

I wonder if The Greens realise how much their Climate-change proposals will harm Maori Primary Enterprises.

https://www.nationaltribune.com.au/maori-farm-size-much-larger-than-average-size/
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August 31, 2023 9:50am
- Suze Wainwright
  
  Possibly a sideline issue, but Poto Williams is on record as saying Māori hate DoC…
  
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  August 31, 2023 10:26am
- Cantabrian
  
  I wonder if those Maori Authorities that own these successful farms are paying their fair share of tax?//
  
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  August 31, 2023 10:52am
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    Tax? Oh you mean Tax rebates?
    
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    August 31, 2023 11:18am
  - rouppe
    
    Yes that was one of the biggest omissions in the tax plan
    
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    August 31, 2023 12:46pm
    - RoboRob
      
      You dont announce a plan to tax Maori authorities in your election campaign. That just looses you votes. You do what labour did with cancelling oil exploration, impliment it ASAP after coming in. About time the right started taking a play from the lefts handbook.
      
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      August 31, 2023 1:08pm
      - Tony Stuart
        
        Willis has said they will look at the whole charities issue after the election. If National is in government, then they have the full resources of government and the public service to do the investigation. From opposition, it’s far more difficult.
        
        To be fair, they’re going to have plenty going on once elected, and we don’t yet know just how bad the books are.
        
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        August 31, 2023 1:41pm
Benedict Yu

Sports Bet in Australia has been taking bets on the New Zealand election for the last 3 months, with National shortening to $1.25.

They have now suspended betting. I don’t know much about bookmakers. Has so much money come for National that they were too exposed taking further bets? Maybe the gamblers here can explain 🙂

https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/politics/new-zealand-politics/next-new-zealand-general-election-6227335
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August 31, 2023 10:08am
- Tauhei Notts
  
  I get the impression that Sportsbet have found themselves in a hole with the NZ election. They will have taken too much betting on National that has created a huge liability. At such a time a bookie will suspend betting and review the odds.
  Ladbrokes don’t take betting on the NZ election.
  Betfair have National at $1.20 and Labour at $5.70. But don’t get too excited about that $1.20 dividend. After Betfair commissions etc it would be an effective $1.14.
  Sir Robert Jones was offering 3 to 1 about Labour, but odds of 9 to 2, that is 4 1/2 to 1 would be a more fair option now. You don’t get as rich as Bob by giving money away.
  
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  August 31, 2023 11:16am
- NeverMindTheBollocks
  
  Ask McAnaulty
  
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  August 31, 2023 8:28pm
Maggie Pie

The-Daily-Mail reports 🙁

But imagine if this was before the court here…..
The perp would have received permanent name suppression, three months counselling, and probably still be in the running for Kiwibank’s New Zealander of the Year.

https://mol.im/a/12460773
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August 31, 2023 10:09am
- Steve Otto(North Shore)
  
  Better than cow tipping?
  
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  August 31, 2023 11:23am
Allan

One of the best pieces on Winston Peters that I have read from this mornings Flat White edition of the Australian Spectator Magazine written by Political Commentator Terry Barnes. Link is:
https://www.spectator.com.au/2023/08/winston-peters-is-no-kiwi-messiah/?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=MDS%20%2020230831%20%20GK&utm_content=MDS%20%2020230831%20%20GK+CID_3c5839115eb9e2bd65dcf05d861b6123&utm_source=CampaignMonitor_Australia&utm_term=Winston%20Peters%20is%20no%20Kiwi%20Messiah
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August 31, 2023 10:09am
- Grunter
  
  Very good article
  
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  August 31, 2023 2:45pm
Chuck Bird

Please look at this from the Free Speech Union and consider singning their petition.

[Mod – this was a link to your email, nothing anyone can read]
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August 31, 2023 10:17am
- Waipuk
  
  https://www.fsu.nz/preferredpronounspetition?utm_campaign=230831_preferredpronouns_jonat&utm_medium=email&utm_source=freespeech
  
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  August 31, 2023 2:12pm
Maggy Wassilieff

Looks like Labour and Kelvin Davis are wiping their hands from anything to do with Oranga Tamariki

https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA2308/S00199/kelvin-davis-says-not-my-problem.htm
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August 31, 2023 10:19am
- mandk
  
  This is utterly shameful on Labour’s part, and it epitomises just how incompetent and uncaring Minsiters are.
  
  Oh well, we can all look the other way while Maori babies and children are damaged or murdered by people who should be their strongest protectors.
  
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  August 31, 2023 10:37am
- Ghost
  
  I’d prefer he keeps the same line and does nothing about it, let the next govt investigate it because anything that comes from him will be a whitewash that will result in nothing.
  
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  August 31, 2023 10:43am
Steve Otto(North Shore)

Stop Co-Governance. Julian Batchelor.

https://stopcogovernance.kiwi/blog/brainwashing-make-no-mistake-they-are-out-to-capture-the-minds-of-our-young-people/

Brainwashing link:
https://stopcogovernance.kiwi/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Phase-1-of-the-Common-Practice-Model-May-2023.pdf

All to get the kids to the Waitangi Tribunal rogue Treaty lies!
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August 31, 2023 10:21am
Jack5

The teacher-pupil sex scandal at Christchurch’s up-market Rangi Ruru Girls’ School didn’t end with the departuer of Maori language teacher Taurapa (using one personal name, but formerly known as Connor Matthews).

After resigning from Rangi Ruru, Taurapa/Matthews worked at Hornby High School and at a Christchurch “Maori immersion” school, and then as a Maori translator for Stuff. He was also a “house tutor” at Christchurch’s Christ’s College (a boys’ school).

Looks like another stuff-up by the teacher standards system.

But much respect is due to the young woman who shunned her anonymity to bring Taurapa/Matthews to account.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/education/132841267/three-teachers-asked-to-stand-down-after-review-sparked-by-sex-case
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August 31, 2023 10:31am
- Ghost
  
  That should have been dealt with by the police
  
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  August 31, 2023 10:36am
  - Blog-aholic
    
    Agree, he did in fact groom her before she was 16 so is that not a crime?
    
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    August 31, 2023 10:54am
jon

Re Maori wards on local councils and Nat committment to get rid of them. Will this be simply through an act of parliament and these seats will disappear at the local elections in 2025 OR given that Chris Luxon has told Radio Waatea that his party will remove the 2021 amendment which removed the ability to force a referendum which could overturn a council’s decision to create Maori wards. If its the latter it would suggest that if a council already has Maori wards and their ratepayers wanted rid of these seats, they would have to organize a petition to get the numbers to hold a referendum to dissolve them. Maybe someone can clarify this?
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August 31, 2023 10:39am
- kowtow
  
  In Dunedin , as far as I can tell there is no Maori ward .
  
  But the local tribe gets to nominate two persons onto council .
  
  They have full voting powers and have already been the decisive factor in overturning a vote by the elected democratic representatives .
  
  This is contrary to basic democratic principles and the notion of the rule of law and equality .
  
  Will they get the arse too ?
  
  “Mana whenua representatives on the committee Donna Matahaere-Atariki and Marlene McDonald proved to be decisive in today’s result.”
  
  https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/dcc/george-st-revamp-mayors-push-design-change-fails
  
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  August 31, 2023 1:34pm
  - Taieri
    
    Marlene McDonald
    —————-
    
    Right and proper tribal name this.
    
    This nonsense about “tribes” has outlived its usefulness. There’s no place for “tribes” in the modern society.
    
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    August 31, 2023 1:41pm
Maggie Pie

RESPECT?

It’s behaviour like this that shows you why we need someone the caliber of National’s Mark Mitchell as our Minister-of-Police.

https://twitter.com/BFirstParty/status/1696613996915298329

And anyone know what’s happened to Cuddles?
Haven’t seen or heard from him for yonks!!
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August 31, 2023 11:00am
- Steve Otto(North Shore)
  
  Cuddles gone walkabout with Jaspinda?
  
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  August 31, 2023 11:39am
- G the giant from Dunedin
  
  5 year term up soon early next year
  
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  August 31, 2023 12:36pm
  - Ghost
    
    Appointed 2020, means it ends in 2025
    
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    August 31, 2023 12:41pm
    - Biscuit
      
      Don’t disappoint me, Ghost!
      Clearly Cuddles has been such a stellar success as New Zealand’s Police Commissioner that offers of jobs have flooded in from all parts of the globe.
      Here’s hoping he takes one of them up.
      Mind, anyone doing due diligence on the chap in question might have queries about his opening line in Wikipedia:
      
      Andrew David Coster (born 1975 or 1976)
      
      I always suspected AC didn’t know what day of the week it was but I had hitherto no reason to question whether or not he knew which year he arrived on the planet…
      
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      August 31, 2023 1:37pm
      - Maggie Pie
        
        Maybe even his father didn’t even know if he was coming or going?
        
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        August 31, 2023 3:06pm
    - Tony Stuart
      
      Coster is highly unlikely to last until 2025. To do that, he has to retain the confidence of the Minister of Police. I would suggest that could be a challenge for him.
      
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      August 31, 2023 1:44pm
Maggie Pie

And if any further proof was needed as to what an incompetent moron the Corrections Minister Kevin Davis really is…..read this.

https://twitter.com/nzherald/status/1697008430215467422

SHEESH!!
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August 31, 2023 11:25am
- herb1
  
  Actually Maggie, I think Davis is a highly competent moron. He’s had many years practise at being a moron
  
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  August 31, 2023 11:29am
PaulP

LOL, National being challenged regarding a $130m “hole” in their tax plan.

Gees, that’s chump change to this government if that’s all Labour can find wrong with it! It wouldn’t be hard to find an extra $130m of savings with the way this government spends. That’s one cycleway.

“The party is due to respond to Labour’s accusation of a $130m hole in its tax package.”
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/300961320/election-2023-live-national-holds-news-conference-amid-criticism-of-tax-plan
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August 31, 2023 11:27am
- Steve Otto(North Shore)
  
  $130M hole will be covered by the $4B that Labour just sort of found.
  
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  August 31, 2023 11:41am
  - Benedict Yu
    
    Big deal – $130 million. Even if true, that is 0.09 percent of 2021/22 Crown revenue of $141.6 billion.
    
    It is beyond a rounding error.
    
    Yet no journalist has the common sense to laugh at them.
    
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    August 31, 2023 12:14pm
    - RoboRob
      
      Well there is that.
      
      Why would anyone believe Labours finanacial abilities. They have been caught out with every one of their ‘fully costed’ announcements going right back to Steven Joyces $1b budget hole where it turned out Joyces was wrong and the hole was much bigger!
      
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      August 31, 2023 1:20pm
- Spring Bank Westie
  
  Like we want to be lectured by a government who implemented an EV Rebate system where buyers of new EVs get an $8000 rebate which will be funded by a $5000 additional tax on high emitting vehicles, to save the planet.
  I only got 60% in UE maths but even I can see that in order for the Ute tax to cover the cost of the EV rebate we’d have to sell nearly 50% more utes than EVs.
  Virtue signalling 1, economy and planet Nil.
  
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  August 31, 2023 1:03pm
- Chris Nisbet
  
  Isn’t that about how much Labour spent on KFC in an effort to convince Maori to get jabbed with a ‘vaccine’ they didn’t want?
  
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  August 31, 2023 1:25pm
Suze Wainwright

There seems to be some part insinuation that National had its tax policy fact checked & validated by a reputable organization (Castalia) and that somehow that’s just not fair…

Rubbish! Labour’s got BERL hasn’t it (and Craig Rennie)?
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August 31, 2023 11:31am
- G the giant from Dunedin
  
  Willis stated this morning that McAnulty is only counting racing, she said 50 million was the racing slice but the on line pokies was far more
  
  [Mod – corrected McAnulty’s name]
  
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  August 31, 2023 12:38pm
  - Prince
    
    You’d think that some journalist would be able to understand the policy, and question McAnulty and/or Willis armed with that knowledge.
    But all they seem to do is trudge from one to another parroting what the other says, with no detailed knowledge themselves.
    Can we not find journalists able to read, do maths, and retain information for more than a soundbite ?
    
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    August 31, 2023 1:15pm
Maggie Pie

Brilliant piece in the NZ HERALD from senior journalist Ric Stevens about disgraced lawyer Davinia Murray.

Davinia was the one who was stuck-off after attempting to smuggle contraband into her jailed client, the violent rapist and murderer Liam Reid….who she later married.

What I didn’t know, was that she now works for John Tamihere’s Waiapareria Trust.

https://nzherald.co.nz/author/ric-stevens/

(klik link and scroll down)
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August 31, 2023 12:06pm
slightlyrighty

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qt2AuVQKpq0

what we still have a chance to avoid…
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August 31, 2023 12:23pm
- Blog-aholic
  
  Great doco. Shame that if we overlaid New Zealand it would fit almost like a glove.
  
  I imagine Canada will suffer like we have until their next election as that frog is almost well boiled.
  
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  August 31, 2023 1:25pm
Ghost

Better be a bloody jail sentence and then deportation given to this scum

The 23-year-old man who raped a young Blenheim schoolgirl has been named as a seasonal worker from Vanuatu.

Name suppression lapsed at midday today for Steven Tari Tambean Garae who pleaded guilty last week to charges of rape and unlawful sexual connection over the April attack.

The Crown said earlier the offending was “the stuff of nightmares”.

The facts of what happened can now be revealed.

Article
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August 31, 2023 12:32pm
- Maggie Pie
  
  No words.
  
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  August 31, 2023 12:50pm
Fisiani2

I met a man yesterday whilst campaigning who told me that all 14 people in his household had voted Labour in 2020 but were now all voting National. He also told me that there were 27 Labour voters at his work who were all voting National this time.
Something big is happening that is not being picked up by the polls.
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August 31, 2023 12:35pm
Ghost

Kiwis in the “squeezed middle” that National says its tax plan will help have given it a mixed review saying there isn’t much in it for them.

The party revealed its $14.6 billion tax relief plan on Wednesday, saying it will be funded by reprioritising spending and introducing targeted revenue measures like a new foreign buyer tax on some houses.

Article

I love Facebook

Ria Apiata who complains about it follows the Labour Party on Facebook, so no surprise she is attacking it.
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August 31, 2023 12:40pm
- NZer In Exile
  
  This is the same facebook created by a person who described people who volunteer their personal details on there as “dumbf*cks”?
  
  Do you realise how much info FB is collecting on you (and everyone you come into contact with)?
  
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  September 1, 2023 4:06pm
Maggie Pie

Must admit this made me think about my gran’s old saying…..

“It’s like giving strawberries to pigs” 😀 😀 😀

https://twitter.com/ECA_Beast/status/1670048106422083585

[WATCH full screen/sound up]
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August 31, 2023 1:13pm
- Ghost
  
  Thank goodness for stomach bypass operations, he can eat what ever he wants……
  
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  August 31, 2023 1:16pm
- cmm
  
  Your tax $ at work. I can’t believe we’re enabling this.
  
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  August 31, 2023 1:46pm
  - Don Beckett
    
    Yes – that was a pretty disgusting display, obviously pretty pissed, and videoed to show the world what arseholes they are.
    
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    August 31, 2023 2:07pm
    - Don Beckett
      
      Big ups to the Maori guy who posted it.
      
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      August 31, 2023 2:08pm
- fightingtemeraire
  
  This was on his trip to Paris after the Cambridge Union debate.
  
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  August 31, 2023 3:11pm
NothingLeft

Ukraine have started to make significant territorial gains over last week in south, breaking through Russia’s 1st heavy fortification line at Robotyne and making 5km progress over a wide front towards their target of Tokmak 20km to south, from where they will have critical land-bridge supply roads Russia needs to hold onto Crimea within artillery range. Russians are also starting to lose ground in many other locations along the southern front as they lose capacity to defend.

Ukraine long range drone attacks have also stepped up considerably in number as their manufacturing spools up. Striking high value targets nearly 700km inside Russia. The war, mostly being fought by dirt poor ethnic conscripts from various icky-stans is no longer just a remote issue for insulated Muscovites.

The Ukrainian FPV drone warfare is also getting far more lethal, with greater range to take out vehicles far from the front and greatly increasing numbers. This is compensating for the relative disadvantage Ukraine has in air power and artillery shell supply.

So it appears the long slow-motion attritional phase of summer offensive is starting to bear fruit with severely degraded, stretched and now crumbling Russian defense that is running out of stuff to fight with increasing the odds that Ukraine make it to see of Azov this year. (though probably still only 20% given onset of intractable mud-season in another month or two).
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August 31, 2023 1:29pm
- Grunter
  
  Nothing Left
  The only commentators that agree with you work at the UK govt funded BBC. You know, the same govt that talked the evil Zelenskyy into renegging on the peace deal done in Turkie back in March 2022.
  
  Even Zelenskyy a few days ago made an announcement to the Ukraine public, the few that haven’t fled or been killed, that they shouldn’t expect a quick end to the endless deaths and war. He admitted the offensive was slow and difficult.
  
  Maybe tune into these guys on YT…
  The Duran
  https://www.youtube.com/@TheDuran
  
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  August 31, 2023 2:30pm
  - All_on_Red
    
    The Duran is a far far right website based in Cyprus- that well known home for Russians.
    They have ties to Russian State Media and one of the Directors is also a host on RT
    They have been caught numerous times for copying Russian State propaganda and for peddling fake news.
    But you believe it. Talk about gullible.
    No wonder you know eff all.
    
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    August 31, 2023 3:55pm
    - gorse
      
      Thank you “all on red”. I have friends in Ukraine, Estonia, and a Russian who got out of Moscow days after the invasion started. None would agree with Grunter’s comment. The information I get, almost daily, is that “nothing left” is quite correct.
      
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      August 31, 2023 4:21pm
Burtland

the Universities are in the process of introducing ethnic parity targets . . .

“Māori and Pacific students are failing courses and dropping out at much higher rates than other students – deadlines have been set for ensuring Māori and Pacific students are as successful as other groups of students”

AUT and Waikato are holding out for more money

. . . hopefully this means extra classes to lift the pass rate of the strugglers rather than ethnic scaling, but who would know. Shouldnt all the strugglers get a hand up?

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/496957/some-universities-reluctant-to-set-deadlines-to-ensure-parity-for-maori-and-pacific-students
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August 31, 2023 1:51pm
- rouppe
  
  Is it possible that they are failing at higher rates because the entry requirements for Maori are lower than others?
  
  Just a thought…
  
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  August 31, 2023 4:40pm
NothingLeft

Interesting travel-log videos by an english speaking Russian backpacker who travels to remote parts of Russian federation to visit run-down and increasingly numerous ghost-towns of this inhospitable and swiftly emptying land mass. Really bleak even in summertime. Soviet era infrastructure is fast decaying, with little upkeep and it’s clearly not going to hold together as a cohesive whole for much longer. No one is going to remain living in these shitholes if they have an option, they all have to hide indoors for 6-8months of the year. In a few decades China will just be able to stroll in and annex half of Eurasia.
https://www.youtube.com/@ivantrainsLIVE/videos
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August 31, 2023 1:56pm
- rangitoto
  
  China recently published maps which had annexed some territory from various countries including Russia.
  
  https://www.newsweek.com/china-map-borders-territory-dispute-claims-1823439
  
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  August 31, 2023 2:23pm
  - fightingtemeraire
    
    China seceded territory to Russia in the 19th Century inc Vladivostok and other areas.
    
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    August 31, 2023 3:08pm
- NothingLeft
  
  Russia + St Petersburg are financed by mineral wealth expropriated from far-off regions at the tip of a metaphorical spear. Oil, gas, metals. But if they lose their military power (which is happening now, Ukraine conflict has destroyed more than half of their conventional forces and degraded their military to a great degree), then they will eventually lose their ability to project power over the far flung regions of their federation and in the long run lose the ability to pocket the income to regional govts and warlords.
  
  The economic collapse of Russian Federation then is likely to be dire, and seems likely within next few decades. The climate is barely survivable, and then only with a lot of money and logistical support that corrupt/failing govt won’t provide. Anyone with brains or options will leave, particularly given relatively welcoming west in need of bodies to make up for lack of children.
  
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  August 31, 2023 5:03pm
cmm

There has been a lot of reporting in the media (and from various government heads) that Russia are so desperate for chips for their missiles that they are importing washing machines and stripping the chips out of those.

Yeah right!

I’ve been designing embedded systems (ie. the computer systems that go into stuff like washing machines, microwaves, watches,…) for almost 40 years. You can’t just pull the chips out of washing machines and use those.

The chips we’re talking about are microcontrollers. They are a single chip combining a CPU (the computer bit), memory and sensors (peripherals, but I’ll just roll with sensors here). There are literally tens of thousands of different variants of these (different CPUs, different amounts of memory, different sensors etc).

You most certainly can take a chip, reprogram it and use it for a different purpose, but there are a lot of things wrong with this story:
1) It really isn’t hard to get the actual chips you want. These chips are tiny. Typically a small fraction of a gram. 20,000 will fit in a briefcase. They are easy to source and smuggle. We did that all the time in apartheid-era South Africa when the chips were way larger and harder to smuggle and access was harder. So nobody is going to mess around desoldering $1 chips out of $1000 washing machines.
2) Most washing machines and such will use masked chips or one-time programmed chips. These cannot be reprogrammed (basically they don’t want people messing about with the program on their washing machine).
3) The capabilities of a chip for a washing machine are likely not the same as you’d want for a missile. For example the missile might be doing a lot of floating point calculations that a washing machine does not need to do.

When you understand something and see such obvious mis-reporting in the media it makes you wonder why you believe the things they tell you when you don’t understand.
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August 31, 2023 2:01pm
- Grunter
  
  Exactly. If the MSM are reporting it, then almost certainly the opposite is true
  
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  August 31, 2023 2:32pm
  - kevn
    
    cmm/Grunter… Indeed. One of those urban myths that gets repeated and so it grows.
    
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    August 31, 2023 2:52pm
- bennerg
  
  Similar background, and you can easily purchase the small microcontrollers in their thousands (from China etc) that would do the trick.
  
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  August 31, 2023 4:12pm
- greybeard
  
  Once those ex-washing machine chips hit the “spin” cycle the missiles are useless anyway.
  
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  August 31, 2023 5:04pm
Maggie Pie

Just been out making a pineapple/coconut cake for dessert and had 1ZB on in the background. Unbelievable the number of leftie-whingers phoning in to complain about Public Transport subsides being scrapped by National.

About time! Can’t come soon enuff as far as we’re concerned.
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August 31, 2023 2:29pm
- Benedict Yu
  
  You know that “1ZB” shut down in 1994?
  
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  August 31, 2023 2:38pm
  - Maggie Pie
    
    Still got the wonderful old green plastic ‘Phillips’ valve radio that my gran left me. Goes and looks like new. Even designed part of the Butlers Pantry to display it. Wouldn’t part with it for all the tea in Taiwan. 😀
    
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    August 31, 2023 2:55pm
DimChappie

I just nominated Julian Batchelor for New Zealander of the year. Here is a link to the nomination site and my recommendation which anyone can use:

https://nzawards.org.nz/nominate/

REASON: As the founder of the Stop Co-Governance movement, Mr Batchelor has done more than anyone to expose the attempted takeover of New Zealand by the Maori elite. Using a fraudulent interpretation of the Treaty of Waitangi, the Labour Government has moved to give Maori an undemocratic share of power in health, water and local councils, and many other areas. The sinister plan to seize control of this once proud nation was outlined in Labour’s He Puapua document kept secret from coalition partner NZ First. Mr Batchelor has endured constant harassment from Maori mobs at his meetings around the country but has persisted and distrbuted hundreds of thousands of copies of his book to spread awareness. He believes in equal rights for all New Zealanders and rules out race-based entitlements. Mr Batchelor is a true New Zealand hero raising awareness of the racist Maori elite power grab.
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August 31, 2023 2:33pm
kevn

The ones who don’t even use public transport will be whining the most.
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August 31, 2023 2:35pm
- rockape
  
  Some of us can’t use public transport. Try living in Wakefield and getting to work at odd hours. Yet, my taxes are used to subsidise other transport.
  
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  August 31, 2023 3:40pm
- Ghost
  
  What is public transport? There is one bus early morning into town and one bus late afternoon out of town here, so it’s useless
  
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  August 31, 2023 3:55pm
  - rouppe
    
    Even when that’s not the case…
    
    The place I work has removed half the car parking to put up more buildings. The suggestion to the staff was “we encourage the use of public and alternative transport options”.
    
    Guy on my team lives in Karori. It would take him 2 hours to get from his house to the workplace using public transport. Each way.
    
    You’d have to be mad to think that was viable. Fortunately I live 1.5km away so walk.
    
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    August 31, 2023 4:29pm
cmm

Herald: “Universities reluctant to set deadlines to ensure parity for Māori and Pasifika students”

Well I should damn well hope they are reluctant. The only thing a university really has going for its brand is that its degrees are worth something. Tamper with the value of the degree and the university goes down the gurgler.

Remember the excuse when the gates of universities were thrown open so Maori and PI could get easier access to university? Yup, they said this was just allowing them in. They would still have to pass courses etc.

So the inevitable happens: if you make it easier for one group to get in, then they will fail at a higher rate. Hardly a surprise.

Well that’s not good enough, apparently. The TEC has deadlines that not only must they get in, but they must also pass!

And how to do that? Well it seems more kapa haka groups are the answer! Really.

If universities are forced to pass Maori at the same rate as others, then this can only end in tears. Free-market people will quickly discount the value of any degree awarded to a Maori person (or even from that university).

If I don’t know anything else about a graduate other than (s)he is Maori or white/Asian, then give me the white/Asian. At least I know that the degree (s)he got is real and didn’t have a thumb on the scale.

The people being hurt the worst here are the Maori who genuinely deserve to be there and genuinely earned their degrees. Oh, and society in general who are funding this.

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/kahu/universities-reluctant-to-set-deadlines-to-ensure-parity-for-maori-and-pacific-students/FNZX3ANE6ZAUZOQDKQTKGGXHF4/
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August 31, 2023 3:50pm
- cmm
  
  PS: I wonder what National and Act think of this fiasco.
  
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  August 31, 2023 3:52pm
  - cmm
    
    National and Act will very soon be owning this mess. They will need well thought out opinions and policies here (and all over the show, from health to roading to ….).
    It is soon to be their responsibility regardless of how it got created. “Not my fault” is not acceptable if they want to be treated like grown ups.
    
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    August 31, 2023 4:11pm
- septic skeptic
  
  The stupidity of this reverse racism, positive discrimination or whatever they call it can be illustrated by translating it to a different setting. What should we do about the woeful under-representation of Asian ethnicities in the All Blacks? Toss out those Polynesian props and put a couple of 95kg Chinese guys in to redress the balance?
  
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  August 31, 2023 4:22pm
- rouppe
  
  Is it possible that they are failing at higher rates because the entry requirements for Maori are lower than others?
  
  Just a thought…
  
  I mean look at the entry pathways for Otago med school
  
  Preferential pathway: You have to have NCEA 2 with merit or excellence, OR 140 points in NCEA 3 OR International Baccalaureate Diploma with at least 26 points, OR.., OR…, OR are a Māori applicant, or a Pacific applicant of Polynesian, Melanesian or Micronesian descent, who has not previously studied at a tertiary institution but who holds or is studying towards a New Zealand university entrance qualification.
  The implicatino being if you are Maori etc you don’t need the other requirments.
  
  There’s always the “competitive pathway” where it’s on grades alone, but even then they “expect that the majority of students will ultimately meet the criteria for Preferential Entry.”
  
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  August 31, 2023 4:40pm
  - kevn
    
    Rouppe… Plus the extra med tuition available to special people only.
    From the inside, yes, that’s what happens.
    
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    August 31, 2023 6:31pm
Maggie Pie

And a very interesting FACTOID i just came across….

> 3% of the worlds population are natural Blondes
> whereas only 1% are Gingas.

So what does that tell you?
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August 31, 2023 4:32pm
- Ghost
  
  A lot of people bleach their hair? Or there are more options of who Harry’s father could be than we realised?
  
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  August 31, 2023 4:36pm
- greybeard
  
  It tells me that Anna Burns-Francis was destined to call Nicola a Labourite.
  
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  August 31, 2023 4:59pm
- Jack5
  
  Another factoid for Maggie: the people with the highest proportion of red heads aren’t the Scots or Irish, but the Udmurt people of Russia.
  
  Udmurts, a Finnic-type people with their own animistic religion and traditions, are said to have these sayings: “a person with red hair is the sun’s child,” and ” a redheaded person is closest to the gods. The gods love them.”
  
  Second fact about Udmurtia: it’s main city, Izhevsk (population about 600,000) is where Kalashnikov, the inventor of the automatic rifles lived and developed his weapons.
  
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  August 31, 2023 5:24pm
Steve Otto(North Shore)

Play school TV1 breakfast I said the Anna Burns Francis had no one to blame for saying Nicola Willis was Labour’s finance spokesperson.
Well she did blame someone other than herself!
Oh dear, I just knew. Lefties never own their own shit.
In a news item Anna Burns-Francis: ““I’m very sorry for mixing that up. I was listening to something else in my ear and got it wrong,” Burns-Francis said.
So it is not her fault? No way, how could it possibly be her fault?
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August 31, 2023 4:49pm
- Prince
  
  No doubt a Junior Staffer.
  Anna has her eye on higher positions.
  
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  August 31, 2023 7:16pm
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    I have two short planks that are not as thick as she is.
    
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    September 1, 2023 9:27am
- kevn
  
  StevO…. Someone else ‘made’ her say it. Oh, ok.
  
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  August 31, 2023 8:08pm
Benedict Yu

This is quite a good time to browse through tweets from Green MPs and activists.

https://twitter.com/JulieAnneGenter/status/1696701523475288184?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet

They are not happy campers following the release of the National tax package.

With about 6 weeks to go, IMO the lashing out is a sign that they know the game is up. It will only get worse.
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August 31, 2023 5:14pm
- kevn
  
  BY… No mention of jags husband/partners business scoring big govt contracts.
  Be gone parking consultant.
  
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  August 31, 2023 6:28pm
Maggie Pie

Chris Hipkins warns against change of government.

LOL!!!!!
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August 31, 2023 6:02pm
- Ghost
  
  When your government has that much shit over it, it’s unhygienic to not change it….
  
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  August 31, 2023 6:07pm
kowtow

Greenpeace stunt in the House.

Which MP facilitated it.

How much attention will te media pardy give it.

Surely it’s a major contempt.
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August 31, 2023 6:09pm
Swifty

What a stinking bloody mess.

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/migrants-in-overcrowded-auckland-house-face-eviction-in-the-midst-of-inz-investigation/DIDZR4X7NFAMTCG5EE3P6NHGYU/

Thanks Labour.
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August 31, 2023 6:15pm
miltonF

Working for families is such a communist crock of s$&t. Such a shame to see National increasing it.

We are constantly berated with claims of the gender wage gap, a figment of feminist imagination. It is illegal to pay women less.

Yet we have a situation with WFF, where people are essentially legally being paid less because they are childless. What happened to equal work for equal pay? I can’t help but realise that people are not being paid based on their value and merit, but are being paid based on their wants and needs. It’s straight up “From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs” eh comrades?
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August 31, 2023 6:47pm
Ghost

This is sad, come on usa, time to stop electing older folk to office

Sen. Mitch McConnell appearing to have another scary episode in the media gaggle in Covington today. Aides had to step in to help him out and repeat questions. He was eventually lead away. We’ll have the full video on

Twitter
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August 31, 2023 8:31pm

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